US3889326A - Needle looms - Google Patents

Needle looms Download PDF

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Publication number
US3889326A
US3889326A US385249A US38524973A US3889326A US 3889326 A US3889326 A US 3889326A US 385249 A US385249 A US 385249A US 38524973 A US38524973 A US 38524973A US 3889326 A US3889326 A US 3889326A
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United States
Prior art keywords
needle
drive rods
connecting rod
needle board
bearings
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US385249A
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English (en)
Inventor
Trevor Tyas
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WELDSTOW Ltd
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WELDSTOW Ltd
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H18/00—Needling machines
    • D04H18/02—Needling machines with needles

Definitions

  • the invention is concerned with needle board assemblies and driving units for use in needle looms.
  • the needle loom is driven by an eccentric, cam or crank mechanism from a driving shaft, and the connecting rod from this mechanism, is coupled to a drive rod which works like a piston in a pair of spaced apart slide bearings.
  • the coupling is between the two slide bearings, so that there are reduced stresses in the rapidly moving parts.
  • the invention also includes a drive unit in which a single connecting rod mounted between a pair of main journal bearings has av gudgeon pin porjecting on opposite sides, and engaging in bosses on two drive rods connected to a single needle arm.
  • This invention relates to needle looms as used in the textile industry, for binding together a web of fibrous materials. More particularly, the invention is concerned with needle board assemblies, and driving units for reciprocating the needle boards.
  • the fibrous web or batt is subjected to the needling action of a multiplicity of needles, which are reciprocated through the web or batt. It is necessary therefore to provide for reciprocation of the needles in a path usually rectilinear which is transverse to the direction of travel of the batt.
  • the fibrous batt travels along a horizontal path, and the needles are reciprocated vertically. It is to be understood, however, that this is not the only possible arrangement, and that, for example, the batt could travel vertically and the needles horizontally. Furthermore, it is not essential that the needles should travel at right angles to the path of the batt, although this will generally be the case.
  • the invention is concerned with a new driving arrangement, which allows the needles to reciprocate at higher speeds than heretofore, without setting up undue stresses in the loom. Since the frequency of reciprocation of the needles is usually the limiting factor in the speed of operation of the loom, it follows that an increase in needle speed produces an increase in production on the loom.
  • a needle board assembly for use in a needle loom which assembly comprises a needle board; a drive rod attached to said needle board for movement therewith; first and second bearings spaced apart axially with respect to said drive rod and constraining said drive rod to follow a rectilinear axial path; a rotary driving shaft, and a connecting rod; a mechanism for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod from rotation of said driving shaft, and coupling means coupling said connecting rod to part of said drive rod located between first and second bearings.
  • a needle board assembly for use in a needle loom, said assembly comprising a needle board; a pair of drive rods spaced apart longitudinally of said needle board and attached to said needle board for movement therewith; first and second bearings for each of said drive rods, said first and seocnd bearings of each said drive rod being spaced apart axially with respect to their associated drive rods, said first and second bearings constraining their respective drive rod to follow a rectilinear axial path; a rotary driving shaft; a connecting rod; a mechanism for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod from rotation of said driving shaft, and coupling means coupling said connecting rod to parts of said drive rods located between said first and second bearings.
  • said coupling means comprises a gudgeon pin extending on opposite sides of said connecting rod and engaging in parts of said drive rods.
  • a pair of main journal bearings mounting said driving rod for rotation about its own longitudinal axis, said mechanism for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod being located between said pair of main journal bearings, and said driving shaft extending outside each of said main journal bearings, there being a flywheel on each of said outward extensions of said driving shaft.
  • the invention also includes within its scope a needle board unit comprising two needle board assemblies each in accordance with the invention, said assemblies being arranged with their respective needle boards and driving shafts parallel with each other, there being gearing coupling said driving shafts together for contrarotation.
  • the invention also includes within its scope a needle loom incorporating needle board assemblies in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic front elevation of a needle loom, with part of a drive unit housing cut away, to show the interior,
  • FIG. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view
  • FIG. 4 is an end view to a larger scale, of a needle board unit
  • FIG. 5 is a view looking in the direction of arrow V in FIG. 4,
  • FIG. 6 is a section on the line VIVI in FIG. 5, and
  • FIG. 7 is a section on the line VII-VII in FIG. 4.
  • the loom itself is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in essence, is similar to conventional needle looms.
  • the loom comprises a bed beam 10, which extends from end to end of the loom, vertical end columns 12, and a pair of parallel top beams 14, which also extend from end to end of the loom.
  • the loom frame includes other members, which have been omitted from the drawings for clarity, only those basic frame units which are essential to an understanding of the arrangement of the loom having been referred to.
  • Capstan take-off rollers 22 and 24 which are also journalled in bearings (not shown) and driven in the directions illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 4, these rollers being provided for the purpose of pulling the needled batt of fibres (which in consequence of the needling operation is considerably reduced in thickness) out of the needle loom.
  • the loom will also be provided with a take-up means for collecting the needled batt of fibrous material on to a beam. Since however this is conventional, it is not necessary to illustrate it or describe it herein.
  • Two series of bed frames 26 are provided, the bed frames in each series being arranged in abutting end to end relationship as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the two series of bed frames are disposed one in advance of the other (with respect to the direction of travel of the fibrous web through the loom) as is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
  • Each of the bed frames 26, is supported by a pair of bed columns 28, and these columns project upwardly from the bed beam 10.
  • a bed plate 30 is provided on the top of each bed beam 26, and the bed beams are set at such a height, that the top surfaces of the bed plates 30, are substantially tangenital to the zenith of the bottom feed roll 18. It will also be observed by reference to FIG.
  • each bed beam 26 there is a needle board 32, and these boards 32 are arranged in an end to end relationship corresponding to that of the bed beams 26.
  • a multiplicity of needles 34 projects downwardly from each needle board 32, the needles being arranged in ranks and files so that together they cover substantially the entire under-surface of each needle board.
  • the needles themselves are equipped with barbs, and are of the type commonly used in needle looms.
  • Each needle board 32 is carried by a needle arm 36a, 36b, which is built up of angle iron members, and which extends from end to end of its respective needle board 32.
  • a series of drive units 40 is supported between the top beams 14, there being one such unit 40 associated with each pair of needle arms such as 36a and 36b illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.
  • a gearbox 42 At one end of the loom, there is a gearbox 42, the input drive to which is obtained from an electric motor (not shown) which is the driving motor for the loom itself.
  • Each of the drive units 40 has a pair of parallel driving shafts 46a and 46b, as clearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, and these shafts are respectively coaxial with the output shafts 44 of the gearbox 42.
  • All the driving shafts 46a and 46b of the units 40 are arranged to be coupled together and coupled to the output shafts 44, en suite by means of couplings 48. Thus, so long as the loom is in operation, all the shafts 46a and 46b are contrarotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3,4 and 6. It is the driving shafts 46a and 46b, which provide the rotary motion which has to be converted into rectilinear reciprocatory motion, for operating the needles 34.
  • Each of the units 40 comprises an upper housing 50, and a lower housing 52, and the latter is equipped with eight slide bearings 54 arranged in two tiers, one close to the upper portion of the housing 52, and the other extending through the bottom of the housing 52.
  • a pair of drive rods 56 is provided for each of the needle arms 36a or 36b, these drive rods, being fixed to the beams 36 near to the ends of the latter, and extending upwardly therefrom, and being received in the bearings 54.
  • each of the drive rods 56 is able to slide vertically in a pair of bearings 54, one in each tier, and consequently, the bearings 54 provide the necessary constraint for the drive rods, which ensure that the movement of the needle arm 36, and consequently the movement of the needles 34, is in the rectilinear vertical path, required for the needles to pierce the batt 20 at right angles, as it is passing through the loom.
  • Each shaft 46a or 46b is received in a pair of main journal bearings 58, which are mounted in the side walls of the upper housing 50, the shaft projecting outside the end walls of the upper housing 50 and being fitted with a half coupling 480 or 48b at each end.
  • outside the housing 50 there are two flywheels 60 on each shaft, one such flywheel being mounted on each side of the housing.
  • the flywheels 60 on the shaft 46a are offset axially with respect to their shafts, so that it is possible for the flywheels of the shafts 46a and 46b to overlap each other. In this way, the flywheels 60 do not determine the spacing between the shafts'46a and 46b, which consequently can be quite close to each other.
  • the connecting rod 64a, 64b extends downwardly below the shaft 46a or 46b, through the lower open end of the upper housing 50, and into the lower housing 52.
  • the lower end of the connecting rod 64a or 64b has a little end, in which is fitted a gudgeon pin 66a, 66b, the gudgeon pin extending on each side of the little end, and being received in bearing bushes in bosses 68 projecting inwardly from the pair of drive rods 56 associated with one particular needle arm 36.
  • each driving shaft 46a or 46b is connected to a respective one of the needle arms 36, through theeccentric 62, the connecting rod 64, the gudgeon pin 66, and the pair of drive rods 56.
  • the gudgeon pin couples the little end of the connecting rod 64, to part of the drive rods 56, which is located between the upper and lower tiers of slide bearings 54.
  • the shafts 46a and 46b are rotated, and this rotary motion is converted into reciprocatory and oscillatory motion of the connecting rods 64a and 64b.
  • the latter by virtue of their pivotal coupling with the drive rods 56, produce vertical rectilinear reciprocation of the drive rods 56, and consequently reciprocate the needle arms 36 as required.
  • the motion is particularly smooth, partly because of the incorporation of the flywheels to even out the torque, but largely due to the disposition of the coupling provided by the gudgeon pin 66. Any side thrust applied by the connecting rod 64, to its pair of drive rods 56, is resisted by those drive rods, which in relation to this applied side thrust, act as beams simply supported between the bearings 54.
  • eccentrics 62 instead of using eccentrics 62, it would be possible to use crank mechanisms formed on the shafts 46, or cam mechanisms. However, eccentrics are preferred for assisting in the smooth operation of the driving mechanism at high speeds.
  • FIG. 4 shows that the loom is also provided with stripper plates 70 which are formed by channel members, there being one such stripper plate associated with each of the needle boards.
  • the stripper plates 70 are perforated in similar fashion to the bed plates 30, to allow the needles 34 to pass therethrough.
  • the two stripper plates 70 associated with a pair of needle boards 32 as shown in FIG. 4 are supported by rams 72 projecting from jacks 74, attacheu to the underside of the lower housing 52.
  • each needle board descends, its needles pass through the stripper plate 70 and when the needle board is retracted upwardly, any fibrous mass held on i the needles is cleared therefrom by the stripper plate.
  • the stripper plates may serve to compress the needled batt of fibres.
  • a needle board assembly comprising a needle board; a pair of drive rods spaced apart longitudinally of said needle board and attached to said needle board for movement therewith; first and second bearings for each of said drive rods, said first and second bearings of each said drive rod being spaced apart axially with respect to their associated drive rods, said first and second bearings constraining their respective drive rod to follow a rectilinear axial path; a rotary driving shaft; a connecting rod; a mechanism for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod from rotation of said driving shaft, and coupling means coupling said connecting rod to parts of said drive rods located between said first and second bearings.
  • a needle board assembly for use in a needle loom, a needle board assembly according to claim 1, wherein said connecting rod is positioned between said pair of drive rods and said coupling means comprises a gudgeon pin extending on opposite sides of said connecting rod and engaging in parts of said drive rods.
  • a needle board assembly for use in a needle loom, which includes a pair of main journal bearings mounting said driving rod for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said mechanism for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod being located between said pair of main journal bearings, and said driving shaft extending outside each of said main journal bearings, there being a flywheel on each of said outward extensions of said driving shaft.
  • a needle board unit for use in a needle loom comprising first and second needle board assemblies each in accordance with claim 3, said first and second assemblies being arranged with their respective needle boards and driving shafts parallel with each other, there being gearing coupling said driving shafts together for contra-rotation.
  • a needle board unit wherein said flywheels of said two assemblies are offset relatively to each other in the direction of the axes of the driving shafts and said flywheels on one of said driving shafts overlap said flywheels on the other of said driving shafts.
  • a needle board assembly comprising a needle board; a pair of drive rods spaced apart longitudinally of said needle board and fixed to said needle board for movement therewith; bearings for each of said drive rods, said bearings constraining said guide rods to a rectilinear axial path of movement; a rotary driving shaft extending perpendicularly to said drive rods; a connecting rod positioned between said pair of drive rods; means connecting said connecting rod with said driving shaft comprising means for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod by rotation of said driving shaft, and coupling means coupling said connecting rod to both of said drive rods to reciprocate said drive rods and thereby reciprocate said needle board.
  • a needle board assembly for use in a needle loom, a needle board assembly according to claim 6, wherein said coupling means comprises a gudgeon pin extending on opposite sides of said connecting rod and engaging in parts of said drive rods.
  • a needle board assembly for use in a needle loom, which includes a pair of main journal bearings mounting said driving shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said mechanism for producing reciprocation of said connecting rod being located between said pair of main journal bearings, said driving shaft extending outside each of said main journal bearings, and a flywheel on each of said outward extensions of said driving shaft.
  • first and second needle board assemblies each in accordance with claim 8, said first and second assemblies being arranged with their respective needle boards and driving shafts parallel with each other, and gearing coupling said driving shafts together for contra-rotation relative to one another.
  • a needle loom according to claim 9 wherein said flywheels of said two assemblies are offset relatively to each other in the direction of the axes of the driving shafts and said flywheels on one of said shafts overlap said flywheels on the other of said driving shafts.
  • a needle loom comprising a needle board, means for guiding and reciprocating said needle board including two drive rods fixed to said needle board for

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Looms (AREA)
US385249A 1973-04-06 1973-08-03 Needle looms Expired - Lifetime US3889326A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1655373A GB1422546A (en) 1973-04-06 1973-04-06 Needle looms

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US3889326A true US3889326A (en) 1975-06-17

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US385249A Expired - Lifetime US3889326A (en) 1973-04-06 1973-08-03 Needle looms

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US (1) US3889326A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT342879B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE814082A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2224579B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1422546A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4183985A (en) * 1978-01-05 1980-01-15 National Distillers And Chemical Corporation Process of producing a nonwoven needled napped fabric having superior resistance to pilling and shedding
US5822834A (en) * 1994-12-08 1998-10-20 Asselin Needling machine with sliding rod
US5873152A (en) * 1995-01-12 1999-02-23 Asselin Alternating actuation device and needling machine provided therewith
US6003215A (en) * 1998-12-01 1999-12-21 Morrison Berkshire, Inc. Apparatus for replacement of needle boards in a needle loom
US6145176A (en) * 1999-05-28 2000-11-14 Morrison Berkshire, Inc. Apparatus for replacement and alignment of needle boards in a needle loom
US6481071B1 (en) * 1999-06-18 2002-11-19 Textilmaschinenfabrik Dr. Ernst Fehrer Aktiengesellschaft Facility for needling of fleece
CN102337639A (zh) * 2011-08-04 2012-02-01 汕头三辉无纺机械厂有限公司 起绒针刺机的纤网承托机构
US20240141573A1 (en) * 2022-10-31 2024-05-02 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for self-cleaning needles for through thickness reinforcement of resin-infused fabrics
US12297571B2 (en) 2022-10-31 2025-05-13 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for spray cleaning needles for through thickness reinforcement of resin-infused fabrics
US12404616B2 (en) 2022-10-31 2025-09-02 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for robotic arm end effector for tailored through thickness reinforcement

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT395323B (de) * 1991-07-31 1992-11-25 Fehrer Textilmasch Einrichtung zum wechseln der nadelbretter einer nadelungsvorrichtung fuer vliese
AT400152B (de) * 1994-04-28 1995-10-25 Fehrer Textilmasch Vorrichtung zum nadeln eines vlieses
DE10150883A1 (de) * 2001-10-16 2003-04-17 Dilo Kg Maschf Oskar Vorrichtung zum Herstellen eines Nadelvlieses

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3368256A (en) * 1965-01-27 1968-02-13 Fehrer Maschf Dr Ernst Apparatus for needling fiber webs
US3391436A (en) * 1965-11-26 1968-07-09 Fehrer Ernst Apparatus for needling a web
US3798717A (en) * 1972-10-30 1974-03-26 Hunter Machine Co J Needle loom drives

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3368256A (en) * 1965-01-27 1968-02-13 Fehrer Maschf Dr Ernst Apparatus for needling fiber webs
US3391436A (en) * 1965-11-26 1968-07-09 Fehrer Ernst Apparatus for needling a web
US3798717A (en) * 1972-10-30 1974-03-26 Hunter Machine Co J Needle loom drives

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4183985A (en) * 1978-01-05 1980-01-15 National Distillers And Chemical Corporation Process of producing a nonwoven needled napped fabric having superior resistance to pilling and shedding
US5822834A (en) * 1994-12-08 1998-10-20 Asselin Needling machine with sliding rod
CN1063500C (zh) * 1994-12-08 2001-03-21 阿塞尔林 一种带滑动杆的针刺机
US5873152A (en) * 1995-01-12 1999-02-23 Asselin Alternating actuation device and needling machine provided therewith
US6003215A (en) * 1998-12-01 1999-12-21 Morrison Berkshire, Inc. Apparatus for replacement of needle boards in a needle loom
US6145176A (en) * 1999-05-28 2000-11-14 Morrison Berkshire, Inc. Apparatus for replacement and alignment of needle boards in a needle loom
US6481071B1 (en) * 1999-06-18 2002-11-19 Textilmaschinenfabrik Dr. Ernst Fehrer Aktiengesellschaft Facility for needling of fleece
CN102337639A (zh) * 2011-08-04 2012-02-01 汕头三辉无纺机械厂有限公司 起绒针刺机的纤网承托机构
CN102337639B (zh) * 2011-08-04 2013-05-08 汕头三辉无纺机械厂有限公司 起绒针刺机的纤网承托机构
US20240141573A1 (en) * 2022-10-31 2024-05-02 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for self-cleaning needles for through thickness reinforcement of resin-infused fabrics
US12297572B2 (en) * 2022-10-31 2025-05-13 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for self-cleaning needles for through thickness reinforcement of resin-infused fabrics
US12297571B2 (en) 2022-10-31 2025-05-13 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for spray cleaning needles for through thickness reinforcement of resin-infused fabrics
US12404616B2 (en) 2022-10-31 2025-09-02 Rohr, Inc. Systems and methods for robotic arm end effector for tailored through thickness reinforcement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE814082A (fr) 1974-10-24
GB1422546A (en) 1976-01-28
AT342879B (de) 1978-04-25
FR2224579B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-12-29
FR2224579A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-10-31
ATA286374A (de) 1977-08-15

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