US3392758A - Pneumatic threaded remover for looms - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1968 G. S.SIMMONS, JR 3,392,758

PNEUMATIC THREADED REMOVER FOR LOOMS Filed Sept. 27, 1966 ii' )lklm mmwmm INVENTOR GEORGE S. SIMMONS JR.

AT TORNEY United States Patent Office 7 3,392,758 Patented July 16, 1968 3,392,758 PNEUMATIC THREADED REMOVER FOR LOOMS George 5. Simmons, Jr., Worcester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 582,416 3 Claims. (Cl. 139-256) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elastomeric pneumatic filling pickup nozzle for a loom; the nozzle having a hook for engaging the filling and a longitudinal reinforcing rib located on the outside of the nozzle. The dimensions of the hook and rib diminish towards the point of the hook to cam a filling engaged by the hook into the opening'of'thenozzle and to prevent the filling from being caught thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in thread removers for looms, and more particularly for the thread left by the outgoing bobbin at the time of transfer.

The invention is especially adapted for use in a form of pneumatic thread remover mechanism which is moved from a normally idle position to a filling pick-up position at the time of transfer. Removers of this type usually con-- sist of an elongated tube which is connected to a nozzle having an intake mouth designed in such a way as to facilitate picking up of a weft thread. The elongated tube and nozzle are supported by a carrier which isconnected to mechanism for movement from neutral to pick-up positions. Subatmospheric pressure is created in an elongated tube which pneumatically communicates with the nozzle to create subatmosp'heric pressure at the intake mouth.

One of the problems encountered with removers of this type is that they are frequently subjected to conditions which may cause damage to the nozzle. One such condition is where the shuttle does not get far enough into the shuttle box or rebounds therefrom at the time of a weft pick-up operation. When this happens, the nozzle may strike the shuttle and be broken or bent, or the intake mouth may become damaged so as to alter its efiiciency. Damage is also likely to occur due to a maladjustment of the parts which move the remover mechanism from neutral to pick-up position thereby causing it to strike the box. This maladjustment may occur during normal operation. Furthermore, a flying shuttle may strike the nozzle also causing damage.

Prior art solutions to these problems have been in the direction of providing yieldable means' between the thread remover mechanism and the mechanism which moves it into position. While these solutions are effective to prevent severe damage to the nozzle, they depend on the nozzle striking a solid object to overcome the yieldable means thereby damaging the nozzle and particularly the intake mouth. After a time, the area around the intake mouth becomes peened over or dented so that either it loses its effectiveness or a weft thread is likely to get snagged on the rough edges of the dents.

Therefore, it is an important object of the invention to overcome 'these disadvantages by the provision of a thread remover nozzle which is made of an elastomeric material, e.g., natural or synthetic rubber, polyethylene or polyurethene or similar materials so that the nozzle will maintain its shape for efiicient thread pick-up and yet be able to yield when striking a solid object and return to its normal shape without becoming damaged.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a detachable filling pick-up nozzle which'can be attached to one end of a tubular extension of a thread remover carrier.

Other objects and the details of the invention will be clear from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated examples of devices embodying the present invention.

In the drawings: v

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation. of one form of weft replenishing mechanism on a loom and having the invention applied thereto, the lay, shuttle box, and part of the loom frame being shown in cross section;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevation of the weft pick-up nozzle in combination with the tubular extension;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the nozzle taken on line 33, FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation of thenozzle showing the weft intake mouth with filling caught there- FIGURE 5 is ,a front elevation of the nozzle shown in FIGURE 1;.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the thread remover mechanism shown in FIGURE 1 at the end of a filling pick-up operation showing in dotted lines the position of the nozzle as it strikes a misplaced shuttle;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of the thread remover mechanism as it strikes the back of the shuttle box;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of the weft pick-up nozzle;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of the weft pick-up nozzle;

Referring to FIGURE 1, the loom frame 10 has mounted thereon a support 12, for the magazine M. The support 12 also carries a transfer stud 14 on which a transfer arm 16 is provided. This arm is of usual construction and has'extending laterally therefrom an operating stud 1-8 which overhangs a finger 20 forming part of a carrier designated generally at C. This carrier is mounted for angular motion on the stud 14 and a friction plate 22 is held against it by a flat spring 24 engaging a nut 26 on the stud 14. The spring and washer hold the flat portion 28 of carrier C against a hub 30 forming part of support 12 as described in more detail in US. Patent No. 2,566,839.

The lay L is provided with a shuttle box B carrying a shuttle S which will be replenished by a bobbin from the magazine on a weft replenishing beat of the loom. The lay L has a hunter 32 which engages a transfer latch 34 normally in the down position shown in FIGURE 1. By means not set forth herein, but well understood by those skilled in the art, this latch will be raised into the path of the advancing bunter 32 as the lay moves toward front center position on a weft replenishing beat of the loom and it is in this manner that the transfer arm 16 is moved in a counterclockwise direction around stud 14, FIGURE 1, to perform its bobbin transferring operation.

As the transfer arm descends, its stud 18 engages the finger 20 to rock the carrier C from the normal pick-up position shown in FIGURE 1 to a pick-up position, such as shown for instance, in FIGURE 7. At a later time, a rod 36 rises to engage a wing 33 on the carrier C to restore the latter to its normal position after the transfer arm has returned to its normal raised position.

It is to be understood that the type of replenishing mechanism shown in FIGURE 1 is set forth merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention and that the matter to be described hereinafter is not limited in its use to the form of magazine M or the type of thread remover carrier C.

There is provided a pneumatic thread remover mechanism designated generally at 35 and includes the carrier C, an elongated pneumatic tube 39 which leads to a source of subatmospheric pressure and a filling pick-up nozzle Carrier C includes a rigid elongated member 42 to v the rear end of which is s'e'c'ured'a thread'deflector or bafide plate 44 fastened to a tubular extension 46 one end of which is connected to the tube 39 and the other end to nozzle 40 as shown in FIGURE 1. I

In thepresent invention; nozzle 40 is made of an elastomeric material of a composition which enables the nozzle to hold its shape and yet be deformable with the application of outside pressure and to further be able to return to its original shape when the pressure is removed. Nozzle 40 can be made of any material which will give the nozzle these qualities such as certain compositionsof natural or synthetic rubber, polyethylene or polyurethane. It has been found that nozzles molded from polyurethane have given good results. V I i Referring to FIGURES 3 and '5, nozzle 40 hasan attaching end generally indicated by'the reference'nume'ral 37 and a thread pickup end generally indicated by the reference character 41. The upper attaching end 37 of nozzle 40 has a reduced cylindrical portion 48 which fits snugly into tubular extension 46. Because of thedeformable nature of nozzle 40, portion 48 can be forcedinto extension 46 and will hold itself in place without the need for mechanical fasteners. Nozzle 40 has an elongated body portion 43 beginning at cylindrical portion 48 where it is substantially circular in cross section and gradually changing to a flattened tubular cross section terminating in an elongated opening 45. A triangular shaped hook 47 projects from one side of opening 45, extending outwardly and bending across the opening for the purpose of guiding a weft thread into said opening during a thread pick-up operation. Nozzle 40 is also provided with a rib 49 which extends along the outside of the nozzle to provide stability to the nozzle in the direction in which the nozzle moves to and from weft pickup position and yet still allow the nozzle to bend when a solid object is struck. The rib also increases in thickness as the body portion 43 increases in flatness to create a condition of uniform stability along the body portion 43. Rib 49 also serves two other functions. One of the other functions is to maintain the nozzle in correct alignment relative to tubular extensions 46. This is accomplished by extending the rib into the reduced portion 48 to form a projecting tongue 50 which fits into a matching groove 51 in tubular extension 46. The other end of rib 49 extends down to the end of hook 47 at a diminishing thickness from a point above opening 45 until there is virtually no thickness to the rib near the end of hook 47. This serves a second additional function by assisting hook 47 to cam a loop of thread drawn about the hook into opening 45. This is a condition which is likely to occur during a weft pick-up operation. Very often when the section of thread to be picked up is cut, the twist in the thread causes it to form a loop 52 and wrap itself around the end of the nozzle as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, while the free ends of the cut thread are drawn up into the tubular body of the nozzle. The taper of hook 47 and rib 49 together with continuing suction through the nozzle causes the loop 52 to be cammed toward opening 45. This is possible because the tapered edges of hook 47 and rib 49 cause the loop 52 to assume a constantly diminishing size in the direction in which the thread is being pulled into the nozzle by the suction forces.

thread. It is to be understood that the thread has previously been cut in known manner from the shuttle at a point adjacent to the delivery eye (not shown) of the shuttle S and is therefore. free to respond to pneumatic attraction. 1 r

tA revo ker arm, an example of which is .Sh'ownat 59 is ordinarily employedto detect whether-or not the shuttle is properly positioned for bobbin transfer on replenishing beats of the loom. If the shuttle iszin proper position, transfer proceeds in ordinaryrnanner but if the shuttle is misplaced and strikes the revoker arm as the lay advances, the latch 34 moves down out of the path of the hunter 32. If for some reason therevo'ker fails to function properly .Or is disconnected by the weaver who may prefer to run the loom without it, the transfer-arm will descend while a misplaced shuttle is protruding from theshuttle box and is directly'under nozzle40. When this has occurred while using prior: art nozzles, damage has resulted either to the shuttle or thread remover, or to both.

In addition to the actual striking of the weft pick-up nozzle on a misplaced shuttle, further damage is likely to occur. When the lay starts 'to' 'move toward back-center position; if the tip of the nozzle is caught on the top of the shuttle, it will be bent out of shape, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6. The improved elastomeric nozzle of the invention will be. bent as shown in FIGURE 6, but will then return to its normal shape as shown in full lines in that figure.

Another condition tending to damage the nozzle, is a faulty adjustment in the thread remover mechanism with the result that the nozzle may strike the back 64 of the shuttle box B as shown in FIGURE 7. The usual spring yielding means such as that shown at 60 will prevent serious damage to the parts involved when a maladjustment occurs but there may still be some damage to the nozzle hook 47. After repeated blows the hook becomes peened over thereby losing some of its effectiveness. In

Normally the parts will be in the position shown in x FIGURE 1 with the thread remover mechanism 35 in its raised or non-pick-up position. When the transfer arm descends, its stud 18 engages wing 20 and rocks carrier C in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby lowering nozzle 40. If the shuttle is properly placed, nozzle 40 will 7 i T to be removed extends across the plush 57. As the lay recedes subsequent to transfer, the thread is moved toward the hook and intake mouth 45, at which time subaddition to the peening over of the hook 47, it is likely to incur dents which could be detrimental to the thread pick-up, as the thread is likely to get caught on the rough edges of the dents. The nozzle of the present invention will be temporarily distorted when striking the back 64 of the shuttle box B, but will then return to its normal shape after the lay L moves back to the left as viewed in FIG- URE 7 without damage to the nozzle or the shuttle box.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects and applications of my invention are not limited to the particular details of construction, of the example illustrated and I contemplate that various other applications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.

What I claim and desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States. is:

1. In a pneumatic thread remover mechanism for looms, supported for a movement to and from a weft pickup positionincident to a replenishing operation, having a tubularv member in which subatmospheric pressure exists, the improvement comprising: a filling pick-up nozzle of an elastomeric material secured to one end of said tubular member, said nozzle comprising:

(a) a cylindrical portion connected to said tubular member;

(b) an elongated body portion extending from a circular cross section at said cylindrical portion and gradually changing to a flattened tubular crossvsection and terminating in an elongated opening;

(c) a substantially triangular shaped hook portion extending from one side of said opening, bending across said opening; and

(d) a rib located on the flattened side of said elongated body portion from which said hook extends, said rib increasing in thickness where said body portion increases in flatness and said rib further extending along the outside edge of said hook portion, diminishing in thickness from a point near where said hook extends from said elongated body portion above said opening until there is substantially no thickness at the point of said hook, whereby said rib provides uniform stability of said elongated body portion and the portion of said rib extending along the outside of said hook assists the hook in camming off loops of yarn drawn about said hook into said opening. 2. The thread remover mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein said tubular member and said filling pick-up nozzle have a complementary tongue and groove connection at their attaching ends, whereby the nozzle will be held in correct alignment relative to said tubular member.

6 3. The thread remover mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein said tongue is an extension of said rib and which fits into a complementary groove in said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,204,455 6/ 1940 Turner 139256.1 2,580,191 12/1951 Peterson 139256.1 2,965,138 12/1960 Cederlund 139256.1

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner.

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