US3750716A

US3750716A - Apparatus for supplying weft yarns

Info

Publication number: US3750716A
Application number: US00058627A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Kimura; H Arimoto; H Nara; T Miyamatsu; M Kitajima
Original assignee: Unitika Ltd
Current assignee: Unitika Ltd
Priority date: 1969-07-26
Filing date: 1970-07-27
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07
Also published as: GB1325604A; FR2053188A1; CH517196A; FR2053188B1; DE2037158A1

Abstract

A method of supplying weft yarns includes the steps of holding the free end of a predetermined length of yarn to be used for a weft yarn by suction and a portion of its length near the end along a fluid flow path and supplying the held yarn into the shed by means of a yarn carrier which grips the yarn end and traverses the shed. The apparatus for accomplishing the method includes a reserve pipe into which a predetermined length of yarn is placed from a supply and held for insertion into the shed and a fluid ejector to feed the free end of the yarn to a suction holding device across the path of the weft yarn carrier. The carrier is provided with a gripper for holding the free end of the weft yarn as the carrier is flown across the shed with the ejector assisting in the weft yarn feed.

Description

Elite States Eatet n 1 Kimnra et al.

11] 3,750,716 1 1 Aug. 7, 1973 l l APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WEFT YARNS [75] Inventors: liiroshiro Kimura;1leiji Arimoto;

Hirohisa Nara; Tsugio Miyamatsu; Mitsuo Kitajima, all of Kyoto, Japan [73] Assignee: Unitka Ltd., Amagasaki, Japan [22] Filed: July 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 58,627

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 26, 1969 Japan 44/59272 Apr. 25, 1970 Japan 45/35579 Apr 27, 1970 Japan 45/36162 [52] US. Cl. 139/122 R, 139/122 W, 139/125 [51] Int. Cl D03d 47/34 [58] Field of Search 139/122 R, 1, 127 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,250 7/1905 Cox 139/127 R 3,105,523 10/1963 Borrell 139/13 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,098,802 1/1968 Great Britain 139/125 183,135 8/1966 U.S.S.R. 139/127 P Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn and MacPeak [57] ABSTRACT A method of supplying weft yarns includes the steps of holding the free end of a predetermined length of yarn to be used for a weft yarn by suction and a portion of its length near the end along a fluid flow path and supplying the held yarn into the shed by means of a yarn carrier which grips the yarn end and traverses the shed. The apparatus for accomplishing the method includes a reserve pipe into which a predetermined length of yarn is placed from a supply and held for insertion into the shed and a fluid ejector to feed the free end of the yarn to a suction holding device across the path of the weft yarn carrier. The carrier is provided with a gripper for holding the free end of the weft yarn as the carrier is flown across the shed with the ejector assisting in the weft yarn feed.

13 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENIEW 3.750.716

RHkU 5 ll? 7 FIG. IIA

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING WEFT YARNS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying weft yarns directly into the shed from cheese or cheeses or from pirn or pirno (hereinafter referred to as cheese) disposed on one or both sides of the loom.

This invention further relates to a method and apparatus for supplying weft yarn in a shuttleless loom, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for supplying weft yarn into the shed by gripping it with a yarn carrier, the weft yarn being flown on the flying line of the yarn carrier, which is actuated by means of a solenoid which is energized instantaneously by a pulse current or a picker by means of a torsion spring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the conventional shuttleless loom, there are two methods of supplying yarn for weft yarn to yarn carrier. These methods include supplying the yarn when the yarn carrier is stationary and supplying it when the yarn carrier starts to fly near the area where the yarn is to be placed.

In the method of supplying the weft yarn into the yarn carrier when the yarn carrier is stationary, since the yarn to be used for weft yarn is supplied while the yarn carrier is stationary, the time required to supply the yarn is longer, thus lowering the mechanical efficiency of the loom.

In the method of supplying yarn to be used for weft yarn into the shed, in the area of the disposition of the yarn, (where the yarn carrier starts to fly) engagement of the yarn to be used for weft yarn by the yarn carrier requires the yarn to be grasped when the yarn carriers starts to fly. This requires a longer time and causes the tension of the weft yarn to become irregular, thereby causing the yarn to become frayed, often causing the weft yarn to be cut or to create a slack in the tension. For this reason, the type of yarn material which may be used is very restricted. Furthermore, in the method of feeding the weft yarn which includes the steps of engaging the yarn to be used for weft yarn by strong tension from entripide of the cloth fell to the cheese by the yarn having right and left hooks at both sides of the yarn carrier and a blade positioned at the root of the hooks approximately 2 cm from the entripide of the cloth fell so as to feed it into the shed, cutting the yarn by the blade positioned at the root of the hook of the yarn carrier so as to rest the shorter yarn and gripping the yarn from the cheese so as to feed the weft yarn thereinto, since the gripping of the yarn to be used for weft yarn and the cutting thereof are carried out at the same time, the yarn has been strongly tensioned and the capability of gripping the yarn is reduced. Thus, the type of yarn material which can be used is restricted, thus presenting the use of fine count yarn and filament.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional method and apparatus, and to provide a method and apparatus for supplying weft yarn without imparting excess tension to the yarn and plying the yarn a very short time before the end of the yarn to be used for weft yarn and to be fed into the shed is gripped by starting the yarn carrier to be flown at high speed so as to shorten the time required for supplying the weft yarn, thereby uniformly tensioning the weft yarn, thus reducing the loss of weft yarn and decreasing the gripping mistakes on the weft yarn.

According to one object of this invention, there is provided a method of supplying weft yarn into the shed which comprises the steps of holding the free end of the yarn to be used for weft yarn and a portion of the yarn near the free end along a fluid flow in the direction of the flow, and supplying the held yarn into the shed held by the yarn carriers.

According to another object of this invention, there is provided a method of supplying weft yarn into the shed (yarn carrier) which comprises the steps of ejecting fluid from an ejecting device, passingthe yarn to be used for weft yarn through the ejecting device so as to fly the free end of the yarn and a portion of the yarn near the end from the ejecting port, holding the free end of the yarn and the portion of the yarn near the end along the fluid flow in the direction of the flow by means of a suction force or holding the yarn to be used for weft yarn by ejecting it, and further holding the free end of yarn to be used for weft yarn by a fluid suction force applied to the free end and the portion adjacent thereto as before.

According to a further object of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for supplying weft yarns which comprises means for gripping the yarn which has a mechanism for gripping yarns intermittently and means for ejecting yarn, includingan inlet for the yarn, an outlet for the free end of the yarn and a fluid flow, means including an inlet for compressed fluid.

According to still another object of this invention, there is provided apparatus for supplying weft yarns which comprises means for supplying weft yarn and provided with means for holding the free end of yarn by applying a fluid suctionforce to the end of the yarn opposite the fluid outlet of the ejecting device.

According to still another object of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for supplying weft yarns which comprises means for supplying weft yarn and having means for holding the free end of yarn for alplying a fluid suction force to the end of the yarns without incorporating an ejecting device.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in'conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of apparatus for supplying yarn of this invention;

FIG. 1A is a longitudinal view of one type of device for adjusting the distance between the ejecting device of FIG. I and the weft'yam cutter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and disposed at one side of the loom;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a yarn carrier used in the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the yarn carrier of FIG. 3 showing the inner structure thereof;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing another yarn carrier;

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing still a further yarn carrier;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further yarn carrier construction;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of-the inner structure of the yarn carrier shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a device for supplying yarn of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a yarn carrier adapted for using the yarn supplying device shown in FIG. 9 and showing the inner structure thereof;

FIGS. 11A to 110 are plan views of the yarn supplying device shown in FIG. 9 in conjunction with the yarn carrier shown in FIG. 10 showing the interrelation of these devices;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal front view of a multi-color changing device of this invention;

FIG. 12A is a detailed view of a mechanism for actuating the weft yarn elevational guides of FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal front view of a part of the multi-color changing device of this invention;

FIG. 14 is' a perspective view of the multi-color changing device shown in FIG. 12 disposed with a yarn supplying device at one side of a loom;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. I, which shows an apparatus for supplying yarn constructed in accordance with this invention, an ejecting device 11 comprises a guide link 11b having high wear resistance which may be obtained by core hardening the surfaces for preventing the end 11a from wearing due to the yarn passing therethrough and the guide link also has a low surface frictional coefficient for preventing the yarn from being frayed; a fluid inlet tube 110 for introducing compressed fluid such as air, and a yarn guide tube lid are formed as part of the ejecting device 11. The yarn guide tube 110' maybe shorter in length than the ejecting device, depending-upon the types of yarn to be used. The ejecting device 11 is positioned in either a stationary or fixedly or a movable manner in a predetermined direction, such as the actual direction of the one side of the shed adjacent the cloth fell by any suitable mounting means which has the yarn inlet Ile as a fulcrum point. A bellows tube 12, constructed of rubber or like material, in between the fluid inlet tube 11c and a source of compressed fluid such as a compressor (not shown). Reference numeral 13 designates a gripping device for holding the end of the yarn by means of a fluid suction force. Reference numeral 15 designates a yarn carrier such as will be hereinafter described for gripping the yarn to be used for weft yarn whichis ejected (hereinafter called ejected yarn) by the yarn carrier. The inner diameter of the end 13a of the yarn end holding device 13 slightly smaller than the width of the end of the guide groove 33 of the yarn carrier 15 shown in FIG. 3, when such yarn carrier is used. The purpose of this making the inner diameter of the end 130 slightly smaller is so that the ejected yarn F will be introduced accurately into the guide groove 33 when the yarn carrier 15 starts to fly so that the ejected yarn 'F will not be displaced from the flying line of the yarn carrier 15 over half of the width of the end of the guide groove 33.

I4 is a bellows tube, constructed of rubber or like material, and is connected between the yarn end holding device 13 and a pressure reducing device (not shown).

16 is a device for holding the yarn, which intermittently grips or releases the yarn F by

electromagnets

16g, 16g and a biasing means such as springs 16 h, wherein the shaft 16d for fixing the yarn gripping plate 16a, non-magnetic spring stop-per 16b, and magnetic plate are movably engaged with stationary yar'n holding plate 16a and

bearing plates

16f, 16f, sothat they are freely movable axially. The

electromagnets

16g, 16g are fixed at a predetermined position relative to magnetic plate 16c and the biasing means 16h, such as a spring, is fixed at one end 16h of the spring stopper 16b and shaft 16d so that it normally forces the yarn holding plate 16a and stationary yarn holding plate l6e together so as to grip the weft yam F. 17 and 17 are feed rollers having a resilient material, such as rubber, on the surface, 18 is a reserve pipe for tentatively reserving an amount of yarn F for weft yarn, 19, 19a, 19b, and are yarn guides, and 110 denotes the cheese supply. The

feed rollers

17 and 17, reserve pipe 18 and

yarn guides

19, 19a, 19b, and 190 are mounted as required. The yarn end holding device 13 may also be used as auxiliary aid to assist if the ejecting device 11 cannot sufficiently eject the yarn.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device of this invention disposed atone side of a loom so that the yarn carrier 15 can be flown by solenoid 21. Reference numeral 22 denoteswarp yarn, 23 a reed, 24 a weft yarn cutter, and 25 the woven fabric.

In operation of. the apparatus according to this invention, the yarn F to be used for weft yarn is drawn from the cheese 110 by the

feed rollers

17 and 17 so that they can be reserved within the reserve pipe 18 in the amount corresponding to one feeding across the loom. In this state, the yarn holding or gripping device 16 grips the weft yarn F, since the yarn holding or gripping plate 16a and stationary yarn holding or gripping plate 16e are forced together by the force of the biasing means, such as spring 16h. In addition, the weft yarn is held by the ejecting force of the fluid of the yarn ejecting device 11 in the direction of fluid flow so that the yarn F may be ejected when the gripping device 16 is released. The portion of the yarn F of the end F of the yarn is held by the suction force of the yarn end holding device 13. The yarn may be ejected from the ejecting device 11 by the ejecting force of fluid without using the yarn end holding device 13, depending upon the types of yarn being used.

The yarn carrier 15 is flown by means of electromagnet 21, which is instantaneously magnetized by a pulse current or a picker (not shown) such as a torsion spring and, at the same time, the electromagnets 16g are energized so that the shaft 16d is moved against the force of the biasing means or spring, 16h by attracting the magnetic plate 16c and releases the contact pressure between the movable yarn gripping plate 16a and stationary yarn gripping plate l6e so as to release the grip on the weft yarn F. The force of the biasing-means, or spring 161: must be less than the magneticforces of the

electromagnets

16g and 16 in order for the pressure on the yarn to be released when the solenoid is energized.

The flying weft yarn carrier 15 engagages the weft yarn near its end and the weft yarn is ejected from the ejecting device 11 under low tension so as to fly across the warp yarn 22 at a constant rate. The weft carrier 15 feeds the weft yarn reserved within the reserve pipe 18 once during each pass.

After the yarn carrier 15 reaches the yarn carrier receiver (not shown) located on the opposite side of the apparatus, the yarn carrier will release the weft yarn and beating will then be done by a reed 23. Upon simultaneously de-energized, thereby causing the weft yarn F to be gripped between the yarn gripping plate 160 and stationary yarn gripping plate 16e, due to the force of the resilient member or spring 1611. In addition, the weft yarn cutter 24 is also actuated to cut the yarn F. The end of the cut weft is again ejected by the ejection of fluid from the ejecting device 11 so that the end F is held by the suction force of the yarn end holding device 13 so as to eject the yarn under low tension.

if the apparatus of the present invention is provided on a loom, it is preferred that the distance between the end 11a of the ejecting device 11 and the weft yarn cutter 24 is equal to the distance between the end 110 of the ejecting device and the end 13a of the yarn end holding device 13, and also that the distance between the end 11a of the ejecting device and end 130 of the yarn end holding device 13 is sufficient to allow the yarn carrier 15 to be flown therethrough. However, if the distance between the end 110 of the ejecting device 11 and the weft yarn cutter 24 is greater than the distance between the end 11a of the ejecting device 11 and the end 13a of the yarn end holding device 13, it is possible to incorporate the'following method of treating the yarn which includes the steps of turning the yarn to the entry side of the cloth fell side, and simultaneously interweaving the warp yarn of the yarn carrier 15 by a suitable means, such as by a crank shaft rotating around an axis passing through the yarn inlet lle of the yarn ejecting device 11, so that the distance between the end lla of the ejecting device 11 and the yarn holding device 14 may be shortened, and resetting it after the weft yarn cutter 24 cuts the weft yarn F. One type of a device which may be used for adjusting the distance between the end of the ejecting device 11 and the yarn holding device 14 as well as the distance between the ejecting device ll and the weft yarn cutter 24, illustrated in FIG. 1A will now be described.

In FIG. 1A, a bevel gear 93 is secured to a crank shaft 95. A transmission Shaft 96 provided at right angles to the crank shaft 95 has a cam 86 and a bevel gear 94 LII site side of the shed, to the left in the drawings, by means of a spring 90. By this pulling force, the lower portion of the swinging shaft 85 is urged against the cam 86. The lower portion of the swinging shaft is slightly bent, and as may be seen from FIG. 1A, has a contact surface 85a with the cam 86 that is slightly larger in width. By this mechanism, the motion of the cam is precisely transmitted to the ejecting means 11. Thus, when the crank shaft 95 rotates, the bevel gears 93 and 94 rotate the cam 86. The elliptical portion 86a of the cam 86 pushes the contact surface 85a to swing said swinging shaft. The ejecting means 11 thus pivots about the shaft 87 in the vicinity of the yarn inlet towards the side of the shed (towards the right in the drawing). The reference numeral 91 represents an angled bracket for securing one end of the spring 90. A screw rod for controlling the strength of the spring 90 is shown at 92, and the spring 90 is hooked at the end of the screw rod. It is prefereable to adopt this method if the weft yarn which is to be woven is difficult to eject by the ejection of fluid of the ejecting device 11 in order to shorten the required minimum length from the end 11a of the ejecting device 11 to the end F of the ejected yarn. Accordingly, if the yarn carrier 15 which is used is of the construction as will be described hereinafter, the portion of the yarn near the end F may certainly be interwoven, as well. As a result, the loss of the weft yarn becomes Practically nil. Furthermore, since the weft yarn F is ejected under tension so that the end F is held by the suction force of the end 13a of the yarn end holding device 13, there is no misengagement of the yarn carrier 15 and the tension of the weft yarn remains uniform.

Though the embodiment described above has the apparatus of the subject invention located at one side of the loom only, this device may also be mounted upside down on the loom. These devices may be aligned not only vertically but also horizontally in the abovedescribed embodiments.

Examples of diameters of the nozzles for ejecting the fluid and the ejecting and suction forces of fluids in actual practice of this invention will now be descrlbed.

Ejecting Suction Dia. of Dia. of Force nozzle Force nozzle Types of weft yarn Types of yarn (kgJcmfl) (mm) (kg/cm!) (mm.) Remarks H d yarn Glass fiber 340 Decitex 0. 05-0. 07 0, 8 7 3am I (filament of 024). 03 l g jBoth e ecting and suction, Hairy yam Blended spun yarn with 0. 01-0. 03 1 0, 03-0, 05 3 D polyamid and wool 60 m. Hard twist yarn or textured yarn of high Polyester (1/245 8001,000 r, j 0. 08-0. 1 3

residual torque. turn/m. 1 0.08-0.1 3 l fixed thereto. The gear 94 meshes with the gear 93, and transmits the rotating motion of the crank shaft 95 to the cam 86. The cam 86 has

curved grooves

86b and 86b, and can be adjusted minutely to control the angle of the cam. To the curved grooves are fitted

bolts

88 and 89 Which extend through a pressure contact plate (not shown) provided behind the cam 86. The bolts cooperate with the pressure-contact plate to hold the cam 86.

The ejecting means 11 has fixed thereto a swinging shaft 85 pivotably mounted on a stationary shaft 87 mounted in the vicinity of the yarn inlet lle. The ejecting means 11 is always pulled in a direction opposite to the flying direction ofa weft, that is, towards the oppoif the following yarn carrier to be described hereinafter is used to accomplish the method of the subject invention, the yarn feeding time can be shortened, the tension of the weft yarn will be more uniform, the space required for the loom frame may be decreased, and yarn mispick may be reduced.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 8, the yarn carrier comprises a nip arm including two arms and also incorporates a yarn gripping portion which is able to grip the yarn by depressing the two arms by the force of a biasing means located at the front of the yarn carrier with respect to the advancing direction of the yarn carrier. The yarn carrier also includes includes a mechanism for forming a gap so as to pass the yarn freely therethrough upon release of the depression of the yarn gripper when the yarn carrier is depressed from exterior against the force of the biasing means located at the ront of the yarn carrier with respect to the advancing direction of the yarn carrier. The yarn carrier also in cludes a mechanism for forming a gap so as to pass the yarn freely therethrough upon release of the depression of the yarn gripper when the yarn carrier is depressed from exterior against the force of the biasing means, and a yarn gripping portion having a convergent width from the front edge rearward to the yarn gripping portion in the feeding direction of the yarn carrier, with a flared end in the same direction as the opening of the gripping portion. Also, a yarn guide groove, is included for guiding the yarn to the yarn gripping pOrtion in such a manner that the connecting line between the end of the groove and the yarn gripping portion is parallel to the flying direction of the Yarn carrier from the feeding portion of the yarn to the yarn gripping portion.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 through 6, which show one embodiment of the yarn carrier.

Reference numerals

31 and 32 designate holder plates which include a V-guidc groove 33 formed in the plates and being gradually convergent from the front to the rear with respect to the flying direction of the yarn carrier or to the yarn gripping portion. 34, 34, 34" and 34" are nip arms which are rotatably held by the

holder plates

31 and 32. 35 is a stationary nip arm fixed by holder plate 31 and/or 32 or pin 35'4. 37, 38 and 39 are guage plates for maintaining the space between the

holder plates

31 and 32 and the nip arm to allow rotation of the nip

arms

34, 34', 34" and 34". These nip arms are fixed to the

holder plates

31 and 32 by means such as screws 317 and pin 318.

The yarn carrier in FIG. 4 includes a long curved groove 310 on the nip arm and a short groove 311 on the stationary nip arm 35 so that most of the bent resilient member 36 is inserted into the long groove 310 while the portion not inserted thereinto is inserted into the short groove 311 at one end. Since the nip arm 34 is movably engaged with a fulcrum A fixed .to the

holder plates

31 and 32, the yarn gripping portion 340 is held by the biasing force of the resilient member 36 so that the

yarn grippers

34a and 35a pass through the yarn guide groove at the end 33a so as to be disposed parallel with the flying direction of the yarn carrier. A gap is provided between the

arms

34 and 35 at the rear thereof with respect to the flying direction of the yarn carrier of the nip. Accordingly, if the area of the rear portion B of the nip arm 34 is urged against the depressing force of the resilient member 36, it rotates around the fulcrum A so that the pressure contact between the

yarn gripping portion

340 and 35a is released.

1n the yarn carrier shown in FIG. 5, the yarn gripping portion 34a of the nip arm 34' is always urged against the yarn gripping portion 3501 by means of the biasing force of the resilient member or curved spring 36', which has one end inserted into the short groove 311 provided at one end of the stationary nip arm 35 and has its other end inserted into the long groove 310' of the nip arm 34' near the end opposite the engaging point of the end 34fof the nip arm 34' and gauge plate 39. Accordingly, if the area B of the nip arm 34' is depressed, the nip arm 34' rotates around a point C of the yarn gripper 34a as a fulcrum so as to be released except for the one point C on the

yarn grippers

34a and 35a.

In the yarn carrier shown in FIG. 6, the nip arm 34" has a projection 312 and nip arm 34" has an engaging groove 313 for engagement therewith. Engaging pins 315 are fixed to the

holder plates

31 and 32 within the guide grooves 314 (due to the pin 315) both being provided in the nip arms. The yarn grippers 34a" and 35a" are urged against each other because the pin 316 fixed to the

holder plates

31 and 32 at the rear end thereof is urged by legs 36b and 360 of the resilient member 36, such as a fork spring, held in engagement with the circular head 36a thereof. If the area of the rear ends B" and B' of the nip arms 34" and 34', are forced inwardly against the legs 36b and 360, the projection 312 and its engaging groove 313 are rotated against each other as a fulcrum so as to cause the release of the contact pressure between the yarn grippers 34a" and 350'. In this case, the guide grooves 314 may perform guiding action to obtain accurate rotation. In this embodiment, the rear portion B" and B' of the nip arms 34" and 34' are projected from the

holder plates

31 and 32, however, they may be formed so as to be depressed inwardly from the exterior in the receiver.

The yarn carrier shown in FIGS. 3 through 6are flown by means of a solenoid which is instantaneously magnetized by a pulse current or by a picker (not shown) such as torsion spring. As shown in FIG. 1, the area of the end of the yarn previously ejected across the flying line of the yarn carrier is guided to the end of the stationary nip arm 35 and nip

arms

34, 34', 34" and 34" by guide groove 33 so that the yarns are accurately positioned between the

yarn grippers

34a and 35a, 34a and 35a, or 34a" and 35a" by rapid insertion of the yarn carrier at a high flying speed, with the result that the yarn carrier flies in the same condition so as to be fed as a weft yarn. When the yarn carrier reaches the other end, since the nip

arms

34, 34', 34", and 34" rotate against the tension of the bearing members 36 and 36' and cause the yarn carrier to release the weft from yam when the rear ends B and B, B" and B' of the nip

arms

34, 34, 34" and 34" are depressed by a fixed projection or pusher (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, which show another embodiment of the yarn carrier of this invention,

reference numerals

41 and 42 designate holder plates, and 43 denotes a slide plate slidably held between the

holder plates

41 and 42 in parallel with respect to the feeding direction of the yarn carrier biased by a biasing member 44, such as spring. In this embodiment the ends 43a of the slide plate extend outwardly approximately 1 mm from the end of the

holder plates

41 and 42. However, they may not alwaYs be projected, by may be aligned with the respective ends or recessed from the end of the

holder plates

41 and 42. Further, the slide plate 43 comprises long holes or slots 43b and engaging grooves 430 for engaginG the projections 45a of the nip arms 45. Reference numerals 42 designate pins for guiding the slide plate 43 and are fixed to the

holder plates

41 and 42 so as to be disposed within the long holes or slots 43b. The nip arms 45 have circular ends and are so mounted that they freely rotate on the contact between the engaging grooves 43c and the projections 45a by the sliding of the slide plate 43, with the pins 45!: acting as a fulcrums. The

holder plates

41 and 42 and slide plate 43 have a guide groove 46 of V-shape and being convergent gradually from the front to the rear end. Reference numeral 47 designates a spring holder plate having a pin 48 to which a biasing member such as spring 44 is mounted. 49 is a gauge plate which is fixed to the

holder plates

41 and 42 by the pins 49a and screw 410 for maintaining the gag between the

holder plates

41 and 42, and slide plate 43 and nip arms 48 for allowing rotation of the nip arms 45. The heights of the spring holder plate 47 and pins 42 are the same as that of the gauge plate 49 so that the slide plate 43 and nip arms 45 may smoothly slide and rotate, respectively.

Reference numerals

411, 412, 413 and 414 are screws, wherein the

screws

411 and 412 are for connecting the

holder plates

41 and 42, and the

screws

413 and 414 are for fixing the

holder plates

41 and 41 with the spring holder plate 47.

The yarn carrier is constructed as prevlously described, and is flown by means of a solenoid which is instantaneously energized by a pulse current or by a picker such as a torsion spring, etc. as shown in FIG. 1. The area of the end of the yarn ejected previously across the flying line of the yarn carrier is guided to the end of the nip arms 45, between the nip arms 45 by quick insertion of the yarn carrier at high flying speed, with the result that the yarn carrier flies in the same state so as to be fed as a weft yarn. When the yarn carrier reaches the other side, it releases the ends 43a of the slide plates by a wall member of the yarn carrier receiver (not shown) so that the ends 430 of the slide plate 43 are lowered to the end position of the

holder plates

41 and 42. If the end 43 a is not projected, a projection is provided in the receiving device so that the projection may depress the end. Thus, the engaging grooves 43c of the slide plate 43 move the engaging projection of the nip arms 45 against the tension of the biasing member such as spring 44, whereby the nkp arms 45 rotate around the pins 45b, which act as a ful-- crum, thereby releasing the engagement of the yarn held therebetween.

The method of the present invention is most suitable for ejecting the yarn and inserting the weft yarn into the yarn carrier. With this method and apparatus, the yarn carrier may be of small size. For example, it may be of 50 mm in length, 12 mm in width and 6 mm in thickness. Also, the surface of the yarn gripper of the nip arm may be rough, depending upon the types of the yarn, or may be coated with a material having a large frictional coefficient.

Though flat holder plates are described above, they do not always have to be of flat design, but may be of any shape in section and may be arcuate. The holder plates may be formed integrally with the gauge plate by casting or cutting. However, a circular section in the normal direction with respect to the feeding direction is not preferred because the holder may rotate while the yarn carrier is flying. The end of the nip arm may preferably be round so as not to scratch the yarn. Although the groove is provided in the holder plates, the end of the nip arm may be broadened so as to form a groove in the yarn gripper. The ejecting is preferably disposed in the area of the flying point.

Although the nip arm is described as being in pressure contact with another resilient biasing member, the nip arm itself may be formed from a resilient material so that it grips the yarn when a force is not applied thereto and when a part of the nip arm is depressed by an outside force. the force is applied against the tension of the nip arm itself so that the yarn gripper is released from a recess in the mechanism.

Another embodiment of a weft yarn supplying device which uses a different ejecting method, as shown in FIG. 9, with the corresponding yarn carrier shown in FIG. 10, will now be described. The yarn carrier used for this embodiment comprises a projection of a nip arm partly extending from the holder plate, where the projection passes within a tube, as will be described, to be depressed so as to open the gripper of the nip arm to grip the yarn.

The device comprises a tube having a diameter small enough to be contacted by the projection of the yarn carrier to be depressed, the yarn end holding device, and yarn gripper. The yarn is first gripped by the gripping device, and is then passed through two small holes in walls of the tube. Thereafter, the yarn is retained by the yarn end holding device so as to extend the yarn across the tube. In this state, a device such as a proximity switch or photoelectric tube is provided in the tube for sensing the approach of the carrier in the tube at the small hole, and acts electrically on the carrier so as to open the carrier electromagnetically, so that the projection of the nip arm contacts the tube in such a manner that the yarn for weft yarn is held in the gripper of the yarn carrier, whereupon the weft yarn is accurately and quickly fed. This is particularly advantageous if the method is used for weaving a yarn having low cohesion of fibers, or easily broken fibers, such as glass fibers or soft twist woolen yarn.

The yarn supplying device and yarn carrier will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and [0. Tube 51 comprises an inlet port 510 large enough for the yarn carrier to pass without contacting the inner wall of the tube, a narrow diameter portion 51b to contact the projection of the yarn carrier when the yarn carrier passes therethrough, and an outlet port 51c large enough to pass the yarn carrier so that the upper and lower walls of the outlet port 510 have small holes 51d and 51d" (small holes 51d and 51d may be provided at the center 51b, if desired. Proximity switch 52 is provided on the wall of the center portion 51b. The proximity switch may be a photoelectric tube and may be located on the wall of the inlet port 51a. Reference numeral 53 designates the yarn end holding device,

with the end 53a of the device being provided in contact with the area of the. small hole 51d, of the tube 51. 53b is a pipe or tube connected to a pressure reducing device provided separately and not shown. As described with respect to FIG. 1, 54 is a yarn gripper using electromagnets for intermittently gripping the weft yarn F.

The device may comprise feed rollers 56 between the cheese 58 and the yarn gripper 54 and a reserve pipe 59 for reserving the yarn by a pressure reducing force and positioned between the feed rollers 56 and yarn gripper 54, depending upon the type of the yarns used. Yarn guides 57a, 57b, 57c and 57d are preferably provided between the tube 51 and yarn gripper 54, between the reserve pipe 59 and yarn gripper 54, between the reserve pipe 59 and feed rollers 56, and between the feed rollers 56 and cheese 58.

62, and a sufficient cavity 63 as required for opening or closing the nip

arms

62 and 62. The nip arms 62 and 62' may open or close at the

fulcrums

64 and 64 as a center so that the

yarn grippers

62a and 62a of the nip arms are depressed by the

leaf springs

65 and 65.

In order to clarify the operation of the weft yarn supplying device, the interreiation of the yarn carrier used with the weft yarn supplying device and the supplying device willnow be described. The interrelation of the weft yarn supplying device and the yarn carrier is shown in FIGS. 11A through 11D.

FIG. 11A shows the condition which exists when the yarn carrier 66 is stationary.

The weft yarn extends vertically across the opening of the tube 51, passing through the small holes 51d and 51d in the walls of the tube 51, because of the gripping of the yarn on one side of the tube 51 by the yarn gripping device 54 and the suction force of the yarn end holding device 53. The yarn carrier 66 is flown by the action of the picker or magnetic force of a magnet energized by a pulse current, and, as shown in FIG. 11B, approaches the proximity switch 52 provided in the tube, upon entering the tube whereupon the proximity switch 52 operates to energize the electromagnet of the yarn gripper 54 through a control device (not shown) provided separately so as to open the yam gripping plates. Almost instantaneously, as shown in FIG. 110, the end of the yarn carrier 66 passes through the proximity switch 52 so that the

projections

62b and 62b of the nip arms of the yarn carrier 66 are in pressure contact with the center of the tube 51, with the result that the

yarn grippers

62a and 62a of the nip arms overcome the force of the leaf springs 65 and 65' so as to open them and allow the yarn to enter therebetween. The required contacting force applied to the

yarn grippers

62a and 62a of the nip arms may be adjusted by changing the location of the fulcrums 64 and 64'. As shown in FIG. 11C the yarn carrier may then pass through the central portion 51b of the tube 51 in such a manner that the weft yarn. may be introduced between the

yarn grippers

62a and 62a of the nip arms. Upon passing through the central narrow portion 51b to the outlet Slc the contacting pressure on the

projections

62b and 62b of the nip arms is released, with the result that the leaf springs 65 and 65' of the yarn carrier are reset so that the nip arms 62 and 62' close the

yarn grippers

62a and 62a as to grip the yarn F.

The yarn carrier then passes into the shed opened in the same manner relative to the other end. The yarn gripping plate of the yarn gripper will continue to be held open electrically by the control device. At the other end of the travel, as described previously, the yarn carrier is introduced to a tube (not shown) similar in structure to the tube 51 and causes the current of the electromagnet of the yarn gripping device to be shut off by the operation of a proximity switch or photoelectric cell provided in the receiving device, so that the gripping device is closed and the yarn is cut at a predetermined position in the area of the outlet of the tube. The cut yarn end is again placed across the tube opening by the suction force of the yarn end holding device 53 and is also gripped by the yarn gripping device. This operation is repeated so as to obtain a weaving process that is accurate and quick.

it should be understood from the foregoing description that the yarn carrier thus constructed is used to feed the yarn which is ejected by the method and appa ratus of this invention so that the weft yarn is accurateiy gripped by the yarn gripper of the nip arm and no mispick occurs.

It should be also understood from the foregoing description that the yarn carrier has a small size and the momentum thereof is very small so as to increase the speed of the loom operation and maintain uniform tension on the weft yarn, as well as reduce the size of the loom frame.

The method and apparatus of this invention may be applied to a multi-color changing device when two or more different weft yarns are used for supplying the weft yarn into the shed directly from the cheese or pirn at one or both sides of the loom to weave the textile in a loom or shuttieless loom.

The multi-color changing in a shuttle loom is performed by a multi-shuttle box on a loom which has a plurality of shuttle boxes on one or both sides thereof, so as to move the shuttle box vertically or rotate it.

In jet loom, two nozzles must be used so that the types of weft yarns which may be used are restricted, with the result that the loom cannot be used to weave various types of weft yarns into the textile.

The weft yarn exchange in a gripper shuttle loom may move a changer mounted with a shuttle feedter of the turret type so as to grip the yarn for weft yarn at the rear end of the gripper shuttle. This must also move the shuttle feeder relative to the shuttle loom so that the revolution of the loom may be restricted. If any one of many weft yarns tensioned by a high tension force from ear to cheese is selected by a selection device, the portion of the yarn approximately 2 cm from the ear is gripped by a gripper shuttle having a cutter positioned at the bend of the hook so as to feed the weft yarn into the opening of the warp yarn, wherein the portion of the yarn approximate-1y 2 cm from the ear is cut so that the weft yarn on the cheese side is gripped. This allows the weft yarn to be fed, whereby the weft yarn is then gripped and cut at the same time, so that a high tension is imparted to the yarn and simultaneously, the gripping capability of theyarn is decreased, with result that the types of the material for weft yarns which may be used is restricted, depending upon the types of filaments. Therefore, thinner fine spun yarn or filaments cannot be used. i

This embodiment of the invention contemplates to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional loom to shorten the color changing time to supply various types of weft yarn, to reduce the weft yarn loss and to reduce the weft yarn thereby improving the efficiency and quality of the textile. This invention provides a method of holding the end and its neighborhood of any one of a number of yarns which comprises the steps of crossing the weft yarn by suction or ejecting fluid, or both to supply and eject any of the weft yarns supplied by a plurality of cheeses by a weft yarn elevational guide, according to the instructions by a punching card. This method further includes the steps of holding the gripped weft yarn partly at its free ends along the fluid flow across the yarn carrier, drawing the portion between the gripped portion and flown portion on the fluid flow with respect to the flowing direction of yarn, wherein any one yarn selected from the supply of weft yarns is flown, and removing said yarn from the feeding path of the yarn carrier so as not to be gripped by the yarn carrier, and selectively supplying weft yarn into the shed by gripping the free end and the area of' the yarn selected from a plurality of weft yarns by a yarn carrier.

In order to perform this method, this invention provides apparatus for supplying weft yarn directly into the shed by gripping the end of the weft yarn by a yarn carrier in a loom which includes one or more yarn ejecting means for ejecting a plurality of weft yarns by ejecting or suctioning and drawn from a plurality of cheeses disposed at one or both sides of the loom at the initial flying position of the yarn carrier with one or more yarn and holding means for holding the end of the weft yarn, and having a plurality of weft yarn elevational guides disposed between the yarn ejecting means and cheese and between a plurality of yarn gripping means and the yarn ejecting means.

In particular, this embodiment of this invention provides apparatus for supplying selectively yarn for weft yarn into the shed by gripping the free end and the adjoining area of the weft yarn by a yarn carrier which comprises a plurality of yarn gripping means including a mechanism for gripping weft yarn intermittently an ejecting means including an inlet port for yarn, an outlet for the free end of the yarn and fluid, inlet prot for compressed fluid, and an inlet for the yarn. Also, a weft yarn elevational guide having the function of elevationally moving the free end of the yarn by drawing and resetting normally to the feeding direction of the yarn for weft yarn between the gripping means and ejecting means is included. i

This invention also provides apparatus for selectively supplying weft yarn into the shed by gripping the free end and the adjoining area of the weft yarn by a yarn carrier which comprises a plurality of yarn gripping means including a mechanism for gripping the weft yarn intermittently, and a warp yarn elevational guide for elevationally moving the free end of the yarn by drawing and resetting it normally to the feeding direction of the weft yarn between the gripping means and ejecting means.

Though this invention will be described withrespect to the apparatus using three weft yarns disposed at one side of a loom, this invention may also include the apparatus for using it at both sides of the loom.

Referring now to FIG. 12, which shows a further embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 71 designates a yarn ejecting device which may include a plurality of yarn guide tubes 71d corresponding to number of yarns to be used and positioned in axial direction in order to prevent tangling of the yarns. Alternatively, the yarn guides may be disposed in the manner shown in FIG. 13.

The yarn ejecting device 71 comprises a guide link 71!), as described in FIG. 1, at the end 71a and a fluid inlet tube 710 for introducing fluid, such as compressed air, at the rear thereof. The area near the end of the yarn guide tube 71d may preferably have a low frietional coefficient and have a high wear resistant mate rial formed thereon. Reference numeral 7le is a fluid inlet into the yarn guide tube 71d. 72 is a bellows tube constructed of rubber or like material and having its other end connected to a compressor (not shown). 73 is a yarn end holding device as shown in FIG. 1 for holding the yarn, which is disposed opposite the end 71a of the ejecting device 71. The number of ends 730 is the same as that of the ejecting device 71 so that the inside of the end 73a is preferably of elliptical shape in its long diameter in the flying direction of the yarn carrier 75. or it may be tubular in shape and similar to the yarn guide tube 71d in structure. 74 is a bellows tube such as made of rubber and connected at one end to a pressure reducing device. 76, 77 and 78 are weft yarn elevational guides and are connected to a

pivot

760, 770 and 780, crank 76a, 77a,

78a piston

76c, 77c, 780

and electromagnets 76b, 77b, 781), as shown in FIG. 12A so as to be horizontally movable according to the instructions of a punch card control. 79, 710 and 711 are yarn gripping devices as described with respect to FIG. 1. 712, 712a, 712b, 713, 713a, 713b, 714, 714a, 714b are yarn guides and 715, 716, 717 are cheese. 718, 719 are tension adjusting devices using tension washers for imparting uniform tension to the yarn for weft yarn F1, F2, and F3. Feed rollers (not shown) may be provided between the

cheeses

715, 716, 717 and

yarn gripping device

79, 710, 71 l, and a predetermined length of yarn may be reserved between the feed roller and

yarn gripping device

79, 710 and 711 by providing a reserve pipe (not shown) The yarn guides 712b, 713b, 714b,

tension adjusting device

718, 719 and 720 and yarn end holding device 73 may be mounted if required.

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of the apparatus in which a plurality of (for example, the same number as yarns yarn ejecting devices 71' and yarn end holding devices 73' are disposed along the flying direction of the yarn carrier 75 and so that the axis of the device is disposed perpendicularly to the, flying direction thereof.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present embodiment of this invention showing the condition when the yarn carrier 15 is ejected by a solenoid 81 at one side of loom. Reference numeral 82 is warp yarn, 83 is reed, 84 is weft yarn cutter and 85 is woven textile. The yarn carrier used for this apparatus may preferably be those previously described.

In operation of the thus constructed apparatus, the yarn F1, F2 and F3 is drawn from the cheeses 715,716, 717 and is inserted between the movable

yarn gripping plates

79a, 710a, 711a and stationary yarn gripping plates 79e, 7l0e, 711e in the same length as is disposed at the end 730 of the yarn and end holding device 73. However, since the

yarn gripping plates

79a, 7100, 711a are normally depressed onto the stationary

yarn gripping plates

79e, 710e, 7110 by the tension of the springs 79h, 710k and 711h of the yarn

gripping devices

79, 710 and 711, the weft yarns F1, F2, F3 are gripped thereby. In this case, only one weft yarn F1 is ejected so as to cross with the flying line of the yarn carrier 75, due to the operation of the

guides

76, 77 and 78 for elevationally moving the weft yarn according to the instructions of a punch card. It follows that the other weft yarns F2 and F3 are pulled between the guides 713 and 713a and between the guides 714 and 714a between the guides 713 and 713a and between the guides 714 and 714a because the weft yarn elevational guides 77 and 78 are moved in the rightward direction in FIG. 12, so that the ends F2 and F3 are disposed in the adjoining area of the end 71a of the yarn ejecting device 71, so that it will not cross with the flying line of the yarn carrier 75. The weft yarn F1 is held by the absorbing force of the yarn and holding device 73 in the area of the end F, but this does not always require the use of yarn end holding device 73, depending upon the types of yarn used, so that it may be ejected only by the ejecting force of the fluid of the ejecting device 71.

The yarn carrier 75 is ejected by the solenoid 81, which is energized instantaneously by a pulse current or by pickers (not shown) with a torsion spring, and, at the same time, the electromagnets, 79g are energized (in this case the electromagnets 710 and 711g are not energized) so as to attract the magnetic plate 790. Thereby the shaft 79d opens the contact pressure of the yarn gripping plate 79a and stationary yarn gripping plate 79c against the tension of the resilient biasing member, or spring, so as to release the gripping of the weft yarn F1. The biasing force of the resilient member or spring 79h must be smaller than the attracting force of the magnetic force of the electromagnets 79g, 79g.

The ejected yarn carrier 75 does not impart excess tension and accurately grips the area of the end of weft yarn F1 between the yarn gripping portion by the quick insertion of the length near the end of the ejected weft yarn Fl, so as to fly it at the same rate into the warp yarn 82.

The yarn carrier 75 reaches the other yarn carrier receiving device (not shown), and, upon completion of the weaving of the warp yarn into the weft yarn, the electromagnets 79g are de-energized simultaneously, whereby weft yarn F l is again depressed by the force of the biasing member 79h on the gripping plate 79a and stationary yarn gripping plate 79e. Further, the weft yarn cutter 84 also operates simultaneously to cut the weft yarn F1. The cut weft yarn F1 is again ejected but if the next flying is programmed to be one of the other weft yarns F2 and F3, the elevational guide 76 of weft yarn Fl moves rightwardly by the instructions from punch card so that the end Fl of the yarn for weft yarn F1 is disposed from the area adjacent the end 71a of the ejecting device in order to eject the weft yarn F2 or F3. The elevational guides 77 or 78 move leftwardly so as to eject the yarn for weft yarn F2 or F3. The energization of the yarn carrier ejecting device and yarn gripping device and movements of the weft yarn elevational guides in horizontal motion may preferably be electrically or mechanically interlocked.

This embodiment of this invention may be positioned upside down from the illustrated position and may be horizontally disposed instead of vertically disposed. Any disposition may be performed without departing from this invention.

We claim:

1. A method of carrying weft yarn into a shed by a yarn carrier, comprising the steps of flowing a fluid stream at right angles and adjacent to the shed, ejecting said fluid stream from yarn ejecting means, rockably mounting said yarn ejecting means for movement relative to said shed, placing a free end of the weft yarn and its adjoining portion in the flow of fluid at substantially right angles to the flying direction of said yarn carrier, passing the weft yarn through said yarn ejecting means, discharging the free end of said yarn and its adjoining portion from an ejecting portion of said yarn ejecting means, adjustably rocking said yarn ejecting means to selectively position the weft yarn in the path of said yarn carrier, passing the yarn carrier through said fluid flow from said yarn ejecting means along a path at right angles to said fluid flow, gripping said yarn in said yarn carrier, and flying said yarn carrier into said shed to carry the gripped yarn into the shed.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of carrying said yarn with the fluid flow a predetermined length, and holding the weft yarn in the fluid flow in the flowing direction of the fluid by the ejecting force of the fluid.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of carrying the free end of said weft yarn and its adjoining portion with the fluid flow therealong,

. l6 and applying a suction force to the free end of said yarn to hold'the weft yarn by the suction force along the fluid flow in the flowing direction.

4. A method of carrying weft yarn into a shed by 'a yarn carrier as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of positioning free ends of a plurality of weft yarns in said fluid flow path, selectively gripping said yarns along the path of fluid flow across the line of travel of a yarn carrier, selectively drawing the portion of said yarn between the gripped point and the portion positioned on the fluid flow, whereby any one yarn may be selected from the plurality of weft yarns while another yarn is carried, and removing said selected yarn from the line of travel of the yarn carrier so as not to be gripped by said yarn carrier.

5. Apparatus for supplying weft yarns to a carrier comprising means for intermittently gripping said weft yarns, and means for ejecting yarns including a yarn inlet, an outlet for a free end of said yarn, and fluid flow means, including an inlet for compressed fluid, and further comprising means for rockably mounting said ejecting means at a point adjacent said yarn inlet of said yarn ejecting means, and means for adjustably rocking said ejecting means about said point.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a yarn introducing tube, said tube having a shorter length than said yarn ejecting means and being located within said yarn ejecting means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising means for intermittently gripping said weft yarns, yarn end holding means for attracting and holding an end of a weft yarn to be supplied to a carrier and being disposed opposite to said yarn gripping means.

8. Apparatus for supplying weft yarns comprising means for intermittently gripping said weft yarns, means for ejecting yarns having a yarn inlet, and outlet for a free end of the yarn, fluid flow means including an inlet for compressed fluid, means for rockably mounting said ejecting means at a point adjacent said yarn inlet of said yarn ejecting means, means for adjustably rocking said ejecting means about said point, and yarn end holding means for attracting and holding the end of said weft yarn, said yarn end holding means being disposed opposite to the outlet of said yarn ejecting means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein yarn inlet tube has a shorter length than said yarn ejecting means, said yarn inlet tube being located within yarn ejecting means.

10. Apparatus for carrying weft yarns to a shed comprising, a yarn carrier, means for intermittently gripping yarns, means for actuating said yarn gripping means to release the yarn said releasing means including a tube having a center portion of a reduced dimension, said yarn carrier having a projection thereon, said reduced center portion acting to depress said projection on said yarn carrier when said yarn carrier passes therethrough, the reduced center portion having sufficient cross sectional dimension to allow said carrier to pass through the interior thereof, said tube further including a plurality of small holes located on opposite walls for passing yarns therethrough, means for sensing the approach of said yarn carrier to said small holes. yarn end holding means disposed adjacent one of said small holes so that the yarn may pass through the respective holes into said holding means, said holding means including a suction fluid flow for holding said yarn end in the flowing direction by said suction force of fluid, said yarn carrier further comprising nip arms including two arms and having a yarn gripping portion thereon for gripping the yarn, said nip arms actuated by depressing said arms by the force of a resilient biasing means located at the front of said yarn carrier with respect to the feeding direction of the yarn carrier, and exterior means for forming a gap for passing the yarn freely upon release of the depression of the yarn gripping portion, when the yarn carrier is depressed by applying an exterior force against said biasing force, said yarn gripping portion including a convergent width from the front of said yarn carrier to the yarn gripping portion in the feeding direction of the yarn carrier, a flared end in the same direction as the opening of said gripping portion, and a yarn guide groove for guiding the yarn to said yarn carrier so that the connecting line between the end of the groove and the yarn gripping portion is parallel with the feeding direction of said yarn carrier at the feeding portion of said yarn to said yarn gripping portion.

ll. Apparatus for supplying weft yarn to a carrier as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, at least one yarn ejecting means for ejecting a plurality of weft yarns from a plurality of cheeses disposed at the yarn carrier starting side of said loom, at least one yarn end holding means for holding the end of said weft yarn, and a plurality of weft yarn elevational guide means disposed between the yarn ejecting means and cheese for selectively positioning a single weft yarn between said ejecting means and said yarn end holding means.

12. Apparatus for supplying weft yarn to a carrier as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, a plurality of yarn gripping means for intermittently gripping the yarn, yarn end holding means for attracting and holding the end of the yarn and disposed opposite the the yarn gripping means, weft yarn elevational guide means to elevationally move the free end of the yarn by drawing and resetting the weft yarn in a direction normal to the feeding and resetting the weft yarn in a direction normal to the feeding direction of the yarn between the yarn gripping means and yarn end holding means.

13. Apparatus for supplying weft yarn to a carrier as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of yarn gripping means for intermittently gripping the yarn, means for ejecting yarns including a yarn inlet, and outlet for the free end of said yarn, fluid flow means and an inlet for compressed fluid, yarn end holding means for attracting and holding the end of said weft yarn, said end holding means disposed opposite the outlet of said ejecting means, and weft yarn elevational guide means for elevationally moving the free end of the yarn by selectively drawing and resetting the weft yarn in a direction normal to the feeding direction of the yarn between the yarn gripping means, and yarn end holding means.

Claims

1. A method of carrying weft yarn into a shed by a yarn carrier, comprising the steps of flowing a fluid stream at right angles and adjacent to the shed, ejecting said fluid stream from yarn ejecting means, rockably mounting said yarn ejecting means for movement relative to said shed, placing a free end of the weft yarn and its adjoining portion in the flow of fluid at substantially right angles to the flying direction of said yarn carrier, passing the weft yarn through said yarn ejecting means, discharging the free end of said yarn and its adjoining portion from an ejecting port of said yarn ejecting means, adjustably rocking said yarn ejecting means to selectively position the weft yarn in the path of said yarn carrier, passing the yarn carrier through said fluid flow from said yarn ejecting means along a path at right angles to said fluid flow, gripping said yarn in said yarn carrier, and flying said yarn carrier into said shed to carry the gripped yarn into the shed.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of carrying the free end of said weft yarn and its adjoining portion with the fluid flow therealong, and applying a suction force to the free end of said yarn to hold the weft yarn by the suction force along the fluid flow in the flowing direction.

4. A method of carrying weft yarn into a shed by a yarn carrier as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of positioning free ends of a plurality of weft yarns in said fluid flow path, selectively gripping said yarns along the path of fluid flow across the line of travel of a yarn carrier, selectively drawing the portion of said yarn between the gripped point and the portion positioned on the fluid flow, whereby any one yarn may be selected from the plurality of weft yarns while another yarn is carried, and removing said selected yarn from the line of travel of the yarn carrier so as not to be gripped by said yarn carrier.

10. Apparatus for carrying weft yarns to a shed comprising, a yarn carrier, means for intermittently gripping yarns, means for actuating said yarn gripping means to release the yarn, said releasing means including a tube having a center portion of a reduced dimension, said yarn carrier having a projection thereon, said reduced center portion acting to depress said projection on said yarn carrier when said yarn carrier passes therethrough, the reduced center portion having sufficient cross sectional dimension to allow said carrier to pass through the interior thereof, said tube further including a plurality of small holes located on opposite walls for passing yarns therethrough, means for sensing the approach of said yarn carrier to said small holes, yarn end holding means disposed adjacent one of said small holes so that the yarn may pass through the respective holes into said holding means, said holding means including a suction fluid flow for holding said yarn end in the flowing direction by said suction force of fluid, said yarn carrier further comprising nip arms including two arms and having a yarn gripping portion thereon for gripping the yarn, said nip arms actuated by depressing said arms by the force of a resilient biasing means located at the front of said yarn carrier with respect to the feeding direction of the yarn carrier, and exterior means for forming a gap for passing the yarn freely upon release of the depression of the yarn gripping portion, when the yarn carrier is depressed by applying an exterior force against said biasing force, said yarn gripping portion including a convergent width from the front of said yarn carrier to the yarn gripping portion in the feeding direction of the yarn carrier, a flared end in the same direction as the opening of said gripping portion, and a yarn guide groove for guiding the yarn to said yarn carrier so that the connecting line between the end of the groove and the yarn gripping portion is parallel with the feeding direction of said yarn carrier at the feeding portion of said yarn to said yarn gripping portion.

11. Apparatus for supplying weft yarn to a carrier as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, at least one yarn ejecting means for ejecting a plurality of weft yarns from a plurality of cheeses disposed at the yarn carrier starting side of said loom, at least one yarn end holding means for holding the end of said weft yarn, and a plurality of weft yarn elevational guide means disposed between the yarn ejecting means and cheese for selectively positioning a single weft yarn between said ejecting means and said yarn end holding means.

12. Apparatus for supplying weft yarn to a carrier as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, a plurality of yarn gripping means for intermittently gripping the yarn, yarn end holding means for attracting and holding the end of the yarn and disposed opposite the yarn gripping means, weft yarn elevational guide means to elevationally move the free end of the yarn by drawing and resetting the weft yarn in a direction normal to the feeding and resetting the weft yarn in a direction normal to the feeding direction of the yarn between the yarn gripping means and yarn end holding means.