US3384129A - Draw hook control arrangement - Google Patents

Description

y 1968 J. MULLER 3,384,129

DRAW HOOK CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Filed May 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig-1 Fig.- 2

11 I 9 13 7' g 6' 2 I In renal- /M M L'flr lag-And Ari r- K'J-r- May 21, 1968 J. MULLER DRAW HOOK CONTROL ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 11, 1966 United States Patent 3,384,129 DRAW HOOK CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Jakob Muller, Frick, Aargau, Switzerland Filed May 11, 1966, Ser. No. 549,273 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 13, 1965, 6,692/ 65 Claims. (Cl. 139-138) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Freely turnable draw hooks on the runs of an endless shuttle chain are alternately coupled with a reciprocating knife which causes movement of the draw hooks to an operative position located in the path of the knife when arriving at the end positions of the reciprocating motion.

The present invention relates to a control arrangement for a loom, and more particularly to an apparatus controlling the drive of shuttles in multi-shuttle band looms. It is known to reciprocate a so-called knife along a straight path, and to selectively move endless carrier chains into the plane of the reciprocating knife so that the same engages draw hooks on the selected carrier chain to move the same, and thereby a rack bar connected thereto which, through a suitable gear transmission, operates a row of shuttles.

According to one prior art construction, the knife is rigidly mounted on a slide, and the draw hooks are shifted into the path of movement of portions of the knife by lugs on the knife box, so that during the reciprocating movement of the knife, one or the other draw hook mounted on the carrier chain is taken along with the same.

In another prior art construction, a knife is pivotally mounted on a reciprocating slide, and is angularly displaced to engage one or the other draw hook of a pair of draw hooks which are rigidly secured to two runs of the carrier chains.

The constructions according to the prior art have the disadvantage that the adjustment of the control means which cause the displacement of the draw hooks or of the knife, respectively, is difficult and complicated so that an engagement between the knife and the draw hooks is not assured, which causes omission of a pick, or operation of the wrong draw hook.

It is one object of the invention to improve control arrangements for looms employing a reciprocating knife and draw hooks for controlling the shuttle, and to provide a simple control arrangement in which movable draw hooks are controlled by the knife, or by control means connected to the knife.

With this object in view, the present invention relates to a control arrangement for a loom particularly for a band loom of the type employing a reciprocating knife, and draw hooks mounted on carrier means, such as an endless Coulier chain, and in which the movement of the shuttles is controlled by the Coulier chain over a transmission.

One embodiment of the invention comprises knife means driven to reciprocate along a path between two end positions; two carrier means, such as parallel runs of an endless Coulier chain, connected for simultaneous reciprocating movement in opposite direction along the path of the knife means; two draw hooks respectively mounted on the two carrier means for movement with the same along the path of the knife means between two end positions, and for movement relative to the same between an inoperative position, and an operative position located in the path of movement of the knife means; and control means operable by the knife means in one end position of the same to move one draw hook, which is in one of the end'positions thereof, to the operative position in which it is engaged by the knife means. The engaged draw hook is moved by the knife means with the respective carrier means in one direction along the path to the other end position thereof, while the other draw hook moves in the opposite direction with the other carrier means. When the knife means moves out of the other end position in the opposite direction, the first mentioned draw hook is engaged and moved to the inoperative position by the control means, and particularly by a projecting portion of the knife means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the control means include spring-loaded levers mounted on the knife means and being actuated by stationary stops to move the respective draw hook to the operative position in which it is engaged and taken along together with the carrier means.

In another embodiment of the invention, the knife means has projecting portions directly engaging the draw hooks, or control arms of the same for shifting the draw hooks between the inoperative and the operative positions. Resilient catch means hold the draw hooks in either position, and yield when the draw hooks are displaced.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of the invention in a position in which the knife means has arrived in an end position, and starts the movement toward the other end position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in another position in which the knife means has arrived in the other end position; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a knife 1 has a pair of coupling portions 2, 2', and is reciprocated in the direction of the arrow X between the two end positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by conventional drive means, not shown. A slide rigidly supporting knife 1 may be guided along a suitable guideway, not shown.

Conventional Coulier apparatus 3 is provided, and includes chain drums 5, 5, and a plurality of endless chains, each of which has two runs 4, 4'. One chain 4, 4' is located in the plane in which knife 1 reciprocates, and each of the several chains can be raised in a known manner to a position located at the level of the plane in which knife 1 reciprocates, one chain 4, 4 being shown in this position.

The runs 4, 4 of each endless chain constitute carrier means for two draw hooks 6, 6' which are respectively mounted on chain 4, 4 on pivots 7, 7 and are freely tnrnable between the inoperative position shown for draw hook 6 in the upper portion of FIG. 1 and for draw hook 6' in the lower portion of FIG. 2, and an operative position shown for draw hook 6' in the lower portion of FIG. 1 and for draw hook 6 in the upper portion of FIG. 2. Stops 14 mounted on carrier portion 4, and stops 14 mounted on carrier portion 4' stop the respective draw hooks in the inoperative and operative positions.

Catch means including a catch 16 or 16', and a spring 17 or '17 are also mounted on carrier portions 4, 4 and cooperate with draw hooks 6 and 6', respectively, to arrest the same either in the operative position or in the inoperative position. Upon displacement of the draw hooks, catch means 16, 17 resiliently yield.

Control means are provided for shifting the draw hooks between the inoperative and operative positions. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the control means include actuating means in the form of a pair of double armedangular levers 9, 9 mounted on a pair of pivots 8, 8 on knife 1 and having arms 12, 12 connected by a spring 10 which urges levers 9, 9 to an inoperative position abutting stops 11, 11'. Stationary stops 15, 15 cooperate with levers 9, 9' when knife 1 arrives in the end position shown in FIG. 2 to turn levers 9-, 9' in opposite directions against the action of spring 16 to operative positions in which arms 12, 12' are located in the region of the carrier portions 4, 4' so that one arm, shown to be arm 12 in FIG. 2, engages a projecting control arm 13 for turning the respective draw hook 6 to the operative position in which its hook portion is located opposite the engaging edge 2 of knife 1. If the other draw hook 6' is located in the proximity of knife 1 in the end position of the same shown in FIG. 2, its control arm 13 is engaged by arm 12' of lever 9' so that draw hook 6' is shifted to the actuated position located in the region of the engaging edge 2 of knife 1.

Assuming that a row of shuttles which is controlled by the chain 4, 4' located in the plane of knife 1, is to be picked, draw hook 6 is in one end position, draw hook 6' is in another end position, and knife 1 is in the proximity of draw hook 6'. However, it is also possible that draw hook 6 is located in the proximity of knife 1, and draw hook 6 is located in the other end position.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, knife 1 has moved in one reciprocating stroke toward chain drum 5' while being coupled with draw hook 2' in its operative position so that draw hook 2' and carrier chain portion 4' have also moved toward chain drum 5' to the illustrated end position.

Knife 1 is now driven to start its reciprocating stroke in the opposite direction toward chain drum 5, and at the beginning of this stroke, the projecting portion 18' engages the end of draw hook 6' and shifts the same in counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 1 to the inoperative position shown in FIG. 2 in which catch means 16', 17' resiliently arrests the inoperative draw hook 6'.

If draw hook 6 would have been located in the proximity of knife 1, instead of draw hook 6', it would have been shifted in the same manner by projecting portion 18 to the inoperative position.

Referring again to the drawing, knife 1 moves toward the other end position, and when arriving in the same, arms of levers 9, 5" are engaged by stationary control stop means 15, 15 and levers 9, 9' are turned against the action of spring 10 to an actuated position in which arm 12 engages arm 13 of draw hook 6 to turn the same from the inoperative position shown in FIG. 1 to the operative position shown in FIG. 2 in which the hook is located opposite the engaging portion 2 of knife 1 and located in the path of movement of the knife. The counterclockwise movement of draw hook 6 is indicated by the arrow y.

Knife 1 is now driven to make its next stroke toward chain drum 5', and since draw hook 6 is located in the path of movement of knife 1, it is engaged by the same and carried along, drawing the left carrier chain portion 4 in the direction of the lower head of arrow x, while the other carrier chain portion 4' moves in the opposite direction together with draw hook 6', stops 14' and arresting catch 16', 17'.

When knife 1 arrives in its end position in the proximity .of chain drum 5, draw hook 6 is in the position in which draw hook 6' is shown in FIG. 1, but of course located on the other side of knife 1. The movement of carrier chain portion 4 has carried draw hook 6 to a position located in the proximity .of chain drum 5, as shown for draw hook 6 in the upper portion of FIG. 1, but of course located on the other side of the knife.

When knife 1 is now moved toward chain drum 5, its projecting portion 18 shifts draw hook 6 from its operative 4 position to its inoperative position, as described with reference to draw hook 6' in the position shown in FIG. 1.

- It will be seen that arms 13,13, levers 9' and control stops 15, 15' are control means actuated by the knife 1 and operable to move the draw hooks between the inoperative and operative positions. Chain portions 4, 4 constitute carriers for the draw hooks moving simultaneously in opposite directions for moving the draw hooks between two end positions. During the stroke of knife 1 from the end position shown in FIG. 2 to the end position shown in FIG. 1, a draw hook is engaged by the knife, and both draw hooks move from the initial end positions to the other end positions together with the respective chain 4, 4' which actuates over a rack bar and gears, not shown, the respective row of shuttles to perform a pick.

When knife 1 moves from the end position shown in FIG. 1 to the end position shown in FIG. 2, the draw hooks are in the inoperative position, and the chain 4, 4 is not moved so that no motion is transmitted to the row of shuttles.

The modified embodiment of FIG. 3 operates in substantially the same manner as described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Two draw hooks 6, 6 are mounted on pivot pins 7 carried by carrier chain portions 4, 4', respectively, and are turnable between an operative and an inoperative position defined by the stops 14 or 14. However, levers 9, 9' and spring 10 are omitted. The control arms 13, 13' of draw hooks 6, 6', of which only draw hook 6 is shown in "FIG. 3, define an acute angle with the main portion of the draw hook, as compared with the obtuse angle in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The draw hooks are shifted between inoperative and operative positions, by the projecting portions 18, 18', or by a pair of lugs 19, 19' cooperating with control arms 13 or 13 of the draw hooks 6 or 6' in the ends positions of the knife.

When knife 1 arrives in the end position shown in FIG. 3, lug 19 engages arm 13 and pivots draw hook 6 to the operative position in which the hook is located in the path of movement of the engaging portion 2 of knife 1 so that during the following stroke in the opposite direction, draw hook 6 is taken along together with carrier chain portion 4, while the other carrier chain portion 4' moves in the opposite direction and transports the other draw hook into the proximity of chain wheel 5 where it will be engaged next time knife 1 arrives again in the coresponding end position.

At the start of the movement of knife 1 from the end position in the proximity of chain drum 5' toward the other end position, projecting portion 18 of knife 1 engages arm 13' of draw hook 6 and turns the same to its inoperative position so that knife 1 can move toward chain drum 5 without actuating chain 4, 4'.

Due to the fact that the turning movement of the respective draw hook is effected by control means directly or indirectly operated by the knife, the construction of the invention is considerably simplified as compared with prior art constructions serving the same purpose and using spring-biassed draw hooks, and does not require any fine adjustment. The danger of a malfunction is practically eliminated due to the provision of the resilient catch means which hold the freely turnable draw hooks in inoperative and operative positions, and due to the return of the draw hooks to the inoperative positions by the knife itself and not by springs, a reliable operation of the apparatus is assured.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of control arrangements including a reciprocating knife and draw hooks on a Coulier chain differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a control arrangement in which the draw hooks of a loom are directly or indirectly controlled by a reciprocating knife, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may -be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Draw hook control arrangement for a loom, comprising, in combination, knife means driven to reciprocate along a path between two end positions; two carrier means connected for simultaneous reciprocating movement in opposite directions along said path; two draw hooks respectively mounted on said two carrier means for movement with the same along said path between two end positions, and for free movement relative to the same between an inoperative position, and an operative position located in said path of movement of said knife means; and control means operable by said knife means in one end position of said knife means to move one draw hook which is in one of the end positions thereof to said operative position to be engaged by and coupled to said knife means so that the same moves said one draw hook with the respective carrier means in one direction along said path to the other end position thereof while the other draw hook moves in the opposite direction, said one draw hook being engaged and moved to said inoperative position by said knife means when said knife means moves out of said other end position in said opposite direction.

2. Control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said control means include means mounted on said knife means for movement between an inoperative position, and an actuated position for moving said draw hook to said operative position, and include also stationary means located in the proximity of said one end position for engaging and actuating said last-mentioned means to move to said actuated position when said knife means arrives in said one end position.

3. Control arrangement according to claim 2 and comprising resilient catch means for holding said draw hooks in said inoperative and operative positions, re-

spectively, and resiliently yielding upon movement of said draw hooks between said positions under the control of said knife means.

4. Control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said carrier means are located on opposite sides of said path of said knife means and are portions of an endless chain.

5. Control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said control means include lever means mounted on said knife means; and include also stationary means located in the proximity of said one end position for engaging said lever means and for displacing the same to an actuated position to move said draw hook to said operative position.

6. Control arrangement according to claim 5 and ineluding spring means for returning said lever means from said actuated position to a normal position.

7. Control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said control means include an arm on each of said draw hooks; and wherein said knife means has portions en gaging said arms in said end positions for moving said draw hooks between said inoperative and operative posi-' include also stationary means located in the proximity of said one end position for engaging said levers in said inoperative position during movement of said knife means into said one end position and for moving the same to said actuating positions, one of said levers in said actuating position engaging said one draw hook in said inoperative position of the same and moving the same to said operative position; a portion of said knife means engages said one draw hook when said knife means moves out of said other end position in said opposite direction for moving said draw hook back to said inoperative position; and comp-rising resilient catch means for arresting said draw hooks in said inoperative position and in said operative position, respectively, and resiliently yielding upon movement of said draw hooks between said positions.

10. Control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said control means include control arms on said draw hooks, respectively, said control arms being respectively engaged by leading portions of said knife means in one of said end positions for moving the respective draw hook from said inoperative position to said operative position, said draw hooks being engaged by a trailing portion of said knife means in the region of the other end position so that said draw hooks are moved from said operative position to said inoperative position; and comprising resilient catch means for arresting said draw hooks in said inoperative and operative positions, respectively, said catch means resiliently yielding upon movement of said draw hooks between said inoperative and operative positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 595,417 12/1897 Stadler 139-138 1,513,908 11/1924 Hulme 139-138 X FOREIGN PATENTS 100,453 10/ 1923 Switzerland.

100,661 12/ 1898 Germany.

106,407 11/ 1899 Germany;

396,795 1/ 1966 Switzerland.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner.

I. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner.

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