US3570547A

US3570547A - Ground warp shifting means for terry looms

Info

Publication number: US3570547A
Application number: US834716A
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas P Burgess; Gilmer A Williams
Original assignee: Cannon Mills Co
Current assignee: Fieldcrest Cannon Inc
Priority date: 1969-06-19
Filing date: 1969-06-19
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16
Also published as: ZA697054B; SE350286B; DE1953470A1; NL6918269A; JPS4948575B1; BE752203A; NO128496B; CH502458A; FR2052254A5; GB1281600A; AT289675B

Abstract

A terry loom, of the type in which the fell of the cloth being woven is shifted forwardly and rearwardly during terry weaving relative to the beat-up point of the reed, is provided with means for shifting a ground warp tension-sensing whip roll forwardly and rearwardly in unison with like motion of the cloth without adversely affecting the normal function of the whip roll in controlling a letoff mechanism for the ground warps, thus obviating the need for an additional or separate roll or bar for shifting the ground warps incident to terry weaving.

Description

United States Patent GROUND WARP SHIFTlNG MEANS FOR TERRY LOOMS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 139/25, 139/ l 10 Int. Cl D03d 39/22 Field of Search t l 39/ 109, 110, 114, ll5,24, 25, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,737,688 12/1929 Ryon 3,130,756 4/1964 Moberg 3,351,096 11/1967 Burgess et a1 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon v Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson ABSTRACT: A terry loom, of the type in which the fell of the cloth being woven is shifted forwardly and rearwardly during terry weaving relative to the beat-up point of the reed, is provided with means for shifting a ground warp tension-sensing whip roll forwardly and rearwardly in unison with like motion of the cloth without adversely affecting the normal function of the whip roll in controlling a letoff mechanism for the ground warps, thus obviating theneed for an additional or separate roll or bar for shifting the ground warps incident to terry weav- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvzmons: BOUGLAS P Buraqa-ss ATTORNEYS Patented March 16,, 15971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSI if lLMER vi/10:

KP Bu aqess ILUAMS:

GROUND WARP SIIIFI'ING MEANS FOR TERRY LOOMS This invention is particularly concerned with improvements in that type of terry loom in which the cloth and ground warps are shifted forwardly and rearwardly, in alternation, to change the position of the fell of the cloth relative to the beat-up point of the reed in affecting the beat-up of loose picks and fast picks of filling in the formation of terry pile loops. In some of the looms the cloth is shifted forwardly and permitted to be pulled rearwardly, in alternation, by means of an oscillatable cloth shifting roll or bar spaced above the cloth take up roll and carried by pivoted levers operated by a terry cam, as disclosed, for example, in Blanchards U.S. Pat. No. 1,739,205 dated Dec. 10, 1929. In others of such terry looms, the cloth take up roll is oscillated about its own axis by connections with a terry cam so as to shift the cloth forwardly and rearwardly in alternation, as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. of Burgess et al. No. 3,351,096, dated Nov. 7, I967, for example.

In order to ensure effective control of the tension-in the cloth and ground warps in a terry loom, many terry looms now in general use are provided with positive ground warp letoff mechanism of the type in which the rate of letoff of the ground warps is controlled in response to variations in ground warp tension being sensed by a whip roll biased against the ground warps, and operatively connected to the letoff mechanism. l-Ieretofore, in order to shift the ground warps rearwardly to return the fell of the cloth to the beat-up position of the reed concurrent with each rearward motion of the cloth-shifting roll or the cloth takeup roll, as the case may be, and to permit the ground warps to beshifted forwardly without materially affecting the tension therein during each forward motion of the cloth effected by the cloth-shifting roll or the cloth takeup roll, an oscillatable ground warp engaging and shifting roll or bar, operated by the terry cam, has been required in addition to the whip roll. Such ground warp shifting roll along with its supporting and operating structure, not only increases the cost of construction and maintenance of a terry loom, but it presents an obstruction which interferes with exchanging the warp beams, manipulation of the ground and terry warps, and the performance of other corrective work by the weaver or loom fixer. Also, in some installations, the whip roll had to be positioned rearwardly of its normal position to accommodate the additional warp-shifting roll, so that the operator had to reach that much further to install and manipulate the usual stop motion drop wires and to insert broken yarns in the heddles, etc.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means whereby the shifting of the ground warps in a terry loom is effected by the same whip roll which controls the ground warp letoff mechanism, thus obviating the need for a separate ground warp shifting roll or bar in addition to the warp roll.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide means operatively connected to the whip roll of a terry loom for shifting the whip toll roll in opposite directions, in alteration, in a plane angularly disposed with respect to that plane of motion of the whip roll incident to performance of its function of sensing the tension in the ground warps and controlling the letoff mechanism, and wherein the extent and the plane of shifting movements of the whip roll are such as to permit the ground warps to move forwardly and to move the ground warps rearwardly relative to the reed and the terry warps substantially the same amounts as and at the same time as the cloth is being moved by its respective shifting means.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear portion of a terry loom showing a preferred embodiment of the improved ground warp shifting means of the instant invention is association with a positive ground warp letoff mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the loom, with portions broken away, looking substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal vertical sectional view through the loom particularly illustrating mechanical connections between the whip roll shifting mechanism, the cloth shifting mechanism and a terry cam; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the cloth shifting means shown in the right-hand portion of FIG. 3, as embodied in means for shifting the cloth take up roll forwardly and rearwardly in alternation.

Referring more specifically to the'drawings, the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 in association with the positive, variable-speed ground warp letoff mechanism 10 of a terry loom. The terry loom may be of the shuttleless type, such as a Draper DSL, a Sulzer," a MAV" loom or the like, or it may be of the well-known fly-shuttle type. In other words, the loom may be conventional to the extent that it comprises a frame including a left-hand and right-hand side frame members ll, 11' whose rear portions rotatably support a ground warp beam 13 from which tensioned ground warps W pass upwardly in engagement with and over a letoff tension sensing member or whip roll 14. Although whip roll 14 performs its usual function of sensing variations in tension in the ground warps W and controlling the ground warp letoff mechanism 10 in response thereto, the supporting means and operating means for the whip roll 14 are peculiar to the instant invention as will be later described. 1

Above the whip roll, terry pile warps T extend downwardly from a suitable source, such as a terry warp beam, not shown, and then pass partially around and beneath a terry warp guide roll 15. From the whip roll 14 and terry warp guide roll 15, the ground warp W and terry warps T extend forwardly through suitable stop motion drop wires 20 (FIG. 3), shed forming means or heddles 21, and an oscillatable reed 22. The forward ends of the warps T, W are connected to the fell of the cloth C at the beat-up point of a reed 22. The cloth is advanced during weaving over a conventional cloth takeup roll 23 and then extends downwardly to be rolled up on a suitable cloth roll 24, as is conventional.

Any suitable means may be provided for shifting the cloth C forwardly to move the fell thereof forwardly of the beat-up point of reed 22 and thereby to facilitate a beat-up of loose picks of filling in the warp shed, and for permitting the cloth C to be pulled back, at least at the fell thereof, to return the fell to the normal beat-up point of reed 22 to facilitate the beating up of fast picks of filling incident to the formation of terry loops. By way of example, the cloth shifting means is shown as being of the type disclosed in said Burgess et al. U.S. Pat. Nor.

3,351,096, dated Nov. 7, I967, in which the cloth takeup roll 23 is oscillated independently of and during normal operation of the conventional cloth take up mechanism for imparting forward and rearward motion to the cloth engaging the cloth take up roll 23.

As shown, themeans for oscillating cloth takeup roll 23 comprises a takeup roll rocking device broadly designated at 25 shown in the form of a planetary gear system or differential gear unit including first and second or outer and inner sun bevel gears 31, 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4) loosely mounted on the shaft 23a of takeup roll 23'. Sun gear 31 serves as an oscillatable member for positively oscillating or rocking takeup roll 23 without transmitting rotary motion to inner sun gear 32, and gear 32 serves as a' rotary member for rotating takeup roll 23 and effecting normal increments of take up motion of the cloth without transmitting rotary motion to outer sun gear 31. A cloth roll gear 34 is fixed to or formed integral with the hub of second sun bevel gear 32, and cloth roll gear 34 is driven by and constitutes an element of a conventional take up mechanism, other elements of which are not shown in the present drawings, but are clearly shown and described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,096. A pair of diametrically opposed planetary bevel gears 35 (FIG. 4) is disposed between and positioned in intermeshing relation with both

sun gears

31, 32. Planetary gears 35 are journaled on opposite ends of a block 36 keyed or otherwise secured on cloth roll shaft 23a.

A crank arm 37 on first sun gear 31 has the front end of a link 40 (FIG. 3) pivotally connected thereto, the rear end of which is pivotally connected to a lever 41 pivotally mounted on the loom frame, as at 42 (FIG. 3). Lever 41 also has one end of a link 43 pivotally connected thereto and extending rearwardly to the lower end of a cam follower arm 44 having a follower 45 mounted thereon which engages the periphery of a driven terry cam 46. Preferably, the loom is provided with two of such terry cams, two follower arms and two followers adjacent opposite sides of the loom for purposes to be later described. Each follower arm 44 extends upwardly and is pivotally mounted, as at 47, on the frame of the loom. The upper portion of each follower arm 44 has a spring 50 connected thereto which serves to normally urge each follower 45 against the respective cam.

Other details and the operation of the takeup roll rocking device 25 are fully disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,096 and, accordingly, a further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary, it being deemed sufficient to state that,

each time the low surface of each terry cam 46 moves into engagement with the respective follower 45, the spring 50 adjacent rocking device 25 is effective, through intervening connections, to impart predetermined clockwise movement to first sun gear 31 (FIG. 3) and thereby impart corresponding angular motion to cloth take up roll 23 to advance the cloth about three-sixteenths to one-fourth of an inch or more (equal to about 7-10 or more picks of filling), depending upon the desired length of terry loops to be formed. Conversely, whenever the high surface of the corresponding cam 46 moves into engagement with follower 45, rearward angular motion is imparted to cloth take up roll 23 to return the fell of the cloth C to the beat-up point of reed 22 as the ground warps W are pulled rearwardly by whip roll 14 in a manner to be later described.

The ground warp letoff mechanism is a form of variablespeed unit and is shown in FIG. 1 as being of a type known as a Hunt Posi-Tension Let-Off, which is similar to that disclosed in Hunts U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,491, issued March 26, 1957. The ground warp letoff mechanism may take other forms and, for example, may be of a type such as is disclosed in Pfarrwallers US. Pat. No. 2,951,509, issued Sept. 6, 1960.

As shown in FIG. 1, letoff mechanism 10 comprises a frame 55 in which input and output, or upper and lower,

shafts

57 and 56 are joumaled and on which respective expansible or variable-speed pulleys 60, 61 are mounted. Input shafts 56 is operatively connected to a constantly driven loom shaft 62 by suitable sprocket wheels 63,64 and an endless sprocket chain 65. The expansible pulleys 60, 61 are interconnected by an endless belt 66. Output shaft 57 is connected, by suitable gearing, not shown, in a gear box 67, to a pinion 70 which engages a large gear 71 on the corresponding end of warp beams 13 (FIG. 2).

Upper and

lower pivot shafts

72, 73 joumaled in the frame 55 adjacent the pulleys 60, 61 (FIG. 1) have

respective finger levers

74, 75 fixedly mounted thereon and engaging corresponding axially movable flanges of the respective pulleys 60, 61 proximal portions of

finger levers

74, 75 being interconnected by a link 76. Lower fingers lever 75 has a weight arm 77 integral therewith and projecting rearwardly therefrom and from which a suitable weight member or members 80 are suspended. The lower pivot shaft 73 has a hub 81 fixed thereon to which the lower end of a cable 82 is clampingly secured.

I-Ieretofore, the whip roll 14 has been mounted on arms secured to a shaft which a corresponding end of a lever was secured and the latter lever was connected to the upper end of the cable 82 so that the downward force applied to the cable by the weight member 80 substantially balanced the weight of the whip roll 14 and the pressure of ground warps W thereagainst. If the pressure of the ground warps W on the whip roll was increased, the weight member would be moved upwardly, allowing the belt 66 to move upwardly in the pulleys 60, 61 and thereby causing warping beam 13 to move slightly faster. Conversely, if the pressure of the ground warps W on the whip roll 14 was decreased, the weight member would move downwardly and the opposite action would occur.

The function of the whip roll 14 in controlling the output speed of the variable-speed letoff mechanism 10 in conjunction with the instant invention is essentially the same as that described above. However, according to the instant invention, whip roll 14 has the additional function of shifting the ground warps by permitting them to move forwardly with the cloth C whenever the cloth is advanced in the aforementioned manner to move the fell of the cloth a predetermined distance forwardly of the beat-up point of the reed, and to retract or move the ground warps W rearwardly as the cloth is permitted to move rearwardly to return the fell of the cloth to the beat-up position. As is well known, during terry weaving, the fell of the cloth usually occupies a position forwardly of the beat-up point during two out of three picks of the loom in which loose picks of filling are inserted in the warp shed and beaten up to the beat-up point in spaced relation to the fell of the cloth being woven. Also, the fell of the cloth occupies substantially the same position as the beat-up point of the reed, during each third pick of the loom, in which a fast pick of filling is inserted in the warp shed and then beaten up against the fell of the cloth, thus pushing the now slackened terry warps T up to the fell and forming pile loops therefrom.

The whip roll of conventional loom is usually supported upon or joumaled in a pair of support arms fixedly secured on opposite ends of a transverse pivot shaft 86 mounted on the loom side frame members ll, 11 above warp beam 13. According to the instant invention, however, the whip roll is mounted for movement in opposite directions, in alternation, in a plane angularly disposed with respect to that plane of motion of the whip roll in performing its function of sensing the tension in the ground warps and controlling the letoff mechanism. Therefore, reduced opposite ends of whip roll 14 are joumaled in bearing blocks 87 (FIG. 2) carried by medial portions of respective whip roll shifting levers on carrier arms 90. As shown, the axis of whip roll 14 is disposed on substantially the same horizontal plane as the pivot shaft 86, and each whip roll shifting lever 90 extends downwardly a substantial distance below the axis of whip roll 14 and is pivotally connected, as at 91, to a plate member or bar 92 suitably secured to or formed integral with a corresponding support arm 86 fixed on shaft 86.

Each whip roll shifting lever 90 also extends upwardly a substantial distance above the axis of whip roll 14 and has a longitudinally extending adjustment slot 94 therethrough for reception of an adjustable shoulder screw 95 on which the rear end of a corresponding link 96 is pivotally mounted. Although a single terry cam 46 is shown in FIG. 3, as heretofore stated, it is preferred that a similar terry cam is provided adjacent the opposite side of the loom, along with corresponding follower 45 and follower arm 44 so that the links 96 extend forwardly from the respective whip roll shifting lever 90 and may be pivotally connected to respective follower anns 44 below the pivot points 47 thereof.

A bracket 100 is suitably secured to the forward portion of one of said support anns 85, or it may be secured directly on pivot shaft 86, adjacent the letolf mechanism 10. The upper portion of bracket 100 has the rear portion of a control arm 101 suitably secured thereto, to the forward portion of which the upper end of cable 82 is connected. Although the terry warp guide roll 15 is shown positioned between upper portions of the whip roll shifting levers 90 in FIG. 2, guide roll 15 is not carried by levers 90, but may be supported by conventional or other means, not shown.

METHOD OF OPERATION In operation, it will be noted that the downward force of weight applied to weight lever 77 by weight member 80 applies an upward force to whip roll 14, because the hub 81 and cable 82 apply a downward force to control arm 101 tending to rotate the same, along with the bracket 100 and arms 85 on the pivot shaft 86 to which both support arms 85 are secured. In so doing, the support arms yieldably urge the plate members 92, the whip roll shifting levers 90, the bearing blocks 87, and whip roll 14 upwardly in a first'plane generally perpendicular with respect to the ground ground warps W engaged thereby. Thus, whip roll 14 senses variations in the tension of the ground warps W. It is apparent that whip roll 14 controls the output speed of the ground warp letoff mechanism 10, since any upward movement of whip roll 14 is reflected in downward movement of weight. member 80 and any downward movement of whip roll 14 is reflected in upward movement of weight member 80.

During the weaving of terry cloth, whenever the high surfaces of terry cams 46 move into engagement with followers 45 and impart corresponding clockwise motion to follower arms 44, it can be appreciated that this not only returns the cloth C to its normal position, but also imparts rearward movement to links 96, whip roll shifting levers 90, and the whip roll 14, causing whip roll 14 to pull the ground warps W rearwardly a predetermined distance to aid in returning the fell of the cloth C to the beat-up position of reed 22. Conversely, whenever the low surfaces of cams 46 move into engagement with the followers 45 (FIG. 3) follower arms 44 move into a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 3) to impart forward motion to the cloth C and at the same time, whip roll 14 is moved forwardly by means of the whip roll shifting levers 90 and the links 96 connecting the same to follower arms 44.

it is apparent the amount of angular motion imparted to cloth takeup roll 23 in each instance is the same or substantially the same as the amount of forward and rearward motion imparted to whip roll 14 so that the tension in the ground warps W remains substantially constant. Thus, even through whip roll 14 is moved forwardly and rearwardly in the weaving of terry cloth, this does not interfere with the function of whip roll 14 in controlling the operation of the ground warp letoff mechaniam 10. In other words, the amount of forward and rearward movement imparted to whip roll 14 by terry cams 46 is so small as to have no adverse affect on the control of the ground warp positive letoff mechaniam by whip roll 14.

It is thus seen that we have provided supporting and operating means for the whip roll 14 which permits the whip roll to form a bight in the ground warps W and to move in a first plane generally perpendicular with respect to the ground warps W engaged thereby in accordance with variations in the tension of the ground warps and we have also provided means operatively connected to the whip roll for shifting the same in opposite directions in alternation in a second plane angularly disposed relative to the first plane substantially in unison with respect to forward and rearward movement of the cloth as effected by the cloth takeup roll rocking device 25,-and wherein the extent and plane of the shifting movement movements of the whip roll are such that as to move the ground warps forwardly and rearwardly substantially the same amounts as the cloth is moved by the cloth-shifting means embodied in the cloth takeup roll rocking device 25.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

We claim:

1. In a terry loom of the type having means for shifting cloth being woven forwardly and rearwardly in alternation relative to the beat-up point of a reed in the weaving of terry cloth from terry warps and ground warps, control means including a whip roll for controlling the tension in the ground warps with the whip roll engaging and forming a bight in the ground warps, and wherein the whip roll moves in a first plane generally perpendicular with respect to the ground warps engaged thereby to sense variations in the tension of the ground warps; the combination therewith of means operatively connected to said whip roll for shifting the same in opposite directions in alternation in a second plane angularly di s sed relative to said first plane substantially in unison wit the 'and rearwardly substantially the same amounts as the cloth is moved by said cloth shifting means.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said loom includes a warp beam supplying said ground warps, said control means also including a driven variable speed letofi' mechanism driving said beam, a pair of whip roll support arms supporting said whip roll and being operatively connected to said mechanism for controlling the same and normally biased in said first plane and urging said whip roll against the ground warps by said mechanism, said'means operatively connected to said whip roll including carrier arms pivotally supported by the respective whip roll support arms, bearing means carried by said carrier arms and in which opposite ends of the whip toll are rotatably mounted, and means operatively connected to said carrier arms for pivoting the same in said opposite directions in said second plane in alternation and at predetermined intervals.

3. A structure accordingto claim 1, wherein said loom includes a warp beam spaced beneath said whip roll and from which the ground warps pass upwardly over the whip roll and then extend forwardly in a substantially horizontal plane constituting said second plane, said control means further comprising a pair of support arms pivotally mounted to the loom adjacent opposite ends of said whip roll and normally biased upwardly, said means operatively connected to said whip roll comprising a pair of carrier arms supporting opposite ends of said whip roll and having lower portions pivotally supported by said support arms on axesspaced below the level of the pivotal axes of said support arms, rotary cam means driven by the loom, follower means engaging said cam means, and means operatively connecting said follower means to said carrier arms for shifting the same in said opposite directions in said second plane relative to said support arms.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said means operatively connected to said whip roll comprises a transverse shaft rotatably supported by the loom, a pair of support arms fixed on and extending rearwardly from said shaft adjacent opposite sides of the loom, a pair of carrier arms pivotally sup ported by said support arms for movement in said second plane about respective substantially horizontal pivotal axes spaced below and rearwardly of the axis of said shaft, means rotatably mounting opposite ends of said whip roll on said carrier arms adjacent and rearwardly of said shaft; rotary terry cam means operatively connected to said carrier arms for moving the same forwardly and rearwardly in alternation to impart like movement to said whip roll at predetermined intervals, said loom having a warp beam from which said ground warps extend to and over said whip roll, and said control means further comprising a variable speed ground warp letoff mechanism drivingly connected to said warp beam and including a weighted arm for varying the output of speed of said letoff mechanism in response to movement of said weighted arm, a control arm fixed with respect to said shaft and with respect to said support arms, and means connecting said control arm to said weighted arm such that the weighted arm yieldably urges said whip roll in said first plane and against the ground warps whereby the position of said weighted arm and consequent speed of said warp beam are varied in accordance with variations in the tension of said ground warps sensed by said whip roll irrespective of changes in the position of said whip roll in said second plane.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 570, 547 Dated March 16, 1971 Inventor(s) Douglas P. Burgess and Gilmer A. Williams It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, line 7, "letof should be -1etoff; Column 1, line "the" (first occurence) should be --such-, lines and 14, "take up" should be take-up-, lines 29 and 32, "takeup" should be -takeuplines 20, 21, 25, 51, 59 and 72, "letoff" should be let-off, line 21 "mechanism" should be "mechanismsline 55, omit "toll", line "alteration" should be alterna.tion-, line 73, after "FIG. 2" insert (Sheet 2), line 74, "of" should be in-; Column 2, line 5, after FIG. 4" insert (Sheet 1), lines 11, 20 and 23, "letofi should be --letoff, line 17, omit "a", line 31, "warp" should be -warps, line 36, omit "a", lines 37, 49, 54, 55, 59, and 62, "takeup" shoul be takeup--; lines 7, 51, 64 and 68, "cake up" should be take-up Column 3, line 15, after "cam" insert 46-, line 16, "takeup" shoui be -take-up, lines 26 and 32, "take up" should be take-up, lines 36, 40 and 43, "letoff" should be -let-off-, line 44, "57" shou be 56-, line 45, "56" should be -57--, line 46, "shafts" should be shaft, line 52, "beams" should be -beam-, line 60, "fingers" should be -finger-, line 67, after "shaft" insert -to-, line 73, after "member" insert line 75, "warping" should be "warp-- Column 4, lines 5, 36 and 61, "letoff" should be --let-off, line 27, after "of" insert -a--, line 39, "on" should be or-, line 45, "86" should be line 54, after "with" insert -a--; Column 5, line 7 "of" should be in-, line 24, omit "the", line 25, "into" should be lines 30, 52 and 57, "takeup" should be -takeup-, line 33, "throug should be -thoughlines 9, 37 and 41, "letoff" should be "let-offline 51, "movement" should be movements, line 53, omit "mover Column 6, lines 13, 57 and 60, "letoff" should be letoff, line 22 "coll' should be roll, line 31, "to" should be on-, line 59, om IIOfH- Signed and sealed this 21st. day of September 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GO'ITSCHALK :ZDWARD T'LFLETCHER, JR.

Acting Commissioner of Pat Attesting Officer

Claims

1. In a terry loom of the type having means for shifting cloth being woven forwardly and rearwardly in alternation relative to the beat-up point of a reed in the weaving of terry cloth from terry warps and ground warps, control means including a whip roll for controlling the tension in the ground warps with the whip roll engaging and forming a bight in the ground warps, and wherein the whip roll moves in a first plane generally perpendicular with respect to the ground warps engaged thereby to sense variations in the tension of the ground warps; the combination therewith of means operatively connected to said whip roll for shifting the same in opposite directions in alternation in a second plane angularly disposed relative to said first plane substantially in unison with the respective forward and rearward movements of the cloth, and wherein the extent and plane of such shifting movements of said whip roll are such as to move the ground warps forwardly and rearwardly substantially the same amounts as the cloth is moved by said cloth shifting means.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said loom includes a warp beam supplying said ground warps, said control means also including a driven variable speed letoff mechanism driving said beam, a pair of whip roll support arms supporting said whip roll and being operatively connected to said mechanism for controlling the same and normally biased in said first plane and urging said whip roll against the ground warps by said mechanism, said means operatively connected to said whip roll including carrier arms pivotally supported by the respective whip roll support arms, bearing means carried by said carrier arms and in which opposite ends of the whip toll are rotatably mounted, and means operatively connected to said carrier arms for pivoting the same in said opposite directions in said second plane in alternation and at predetermined intervals. 3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said loom includes a warp beam spaced beneath said whip roll and from which the ground warps pass upwardly over the whip roll and then extend forwardly in a substantially horizontal plane constituting said second plane, said control means further comprising a pair of support arms pivotally mounted to the loom adjacent opposite ends of said whip roll and normally biased upwardly, said means operatively connected to said whip roll comprising a pair of carrier arms supporting opposite ends of said whip roll and having lower portions pivotally supported by said support arms on axes spaced below the level of the pivotal axes of said support arms, rotary cam means driven by the loom, follower means engaging said cam means, and means operatively connecting said follower means to said carrier arms for shifting the same in said opposite directions in said second plane relative to said support arms.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said means operatively connected to said whip roll comprises a transverse shaft rotatably supported by the loom, a pair of support arms fixed on and extending rearwardly from said shaft adjacent opposite sides of the loom, a pair of carrier arms pivotally supported by said support arms for movement in said second plane about respective substantially horizontal pivotal axes spaced below and rearwardly of the axis of said shaft, means rotatably mounting opposite ends of said whip roll on said carrier arms adjacent and rearwardly of said shaft, rotary terry cam means operatively connected to said carrier arms for moving the same forwardly and rearwardly in alternation to impart like movement to said whip roll at predetermined intervals, said loom having a warp beam from which said ground warps extend to and over said whip roll, and said control means further comprising a variable speed ground warp letoff mechanism drivingly connected to said warp beam and including a weighted arm for varying the output of speed of said letoff mechanism in response to movement of said weighted arm, a control arm fixed with respect to said shaft and with respect to said support arms, and means connecting said control arm to said weighted arm such that the weighted arm yieldably urges said whip roll in said first plane and against the ground warps whereby the position of said weighted arm and consequent speed of said warp beam are varied in accordance with variations in the tension of said ground warps sensed by said whip roll irrespective of changes in the position of said whip roll in said second plane.