US1369489A - Feeler mechanism for looms - Google Patents

Description

M. L. STONE.

' FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1920.

v Patented Feb. 22,1921.,

2 SHEETSS HEET I- Invenfior M. I... STONE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILE-'4 MAR. 19, 1920.

1,369,489, Patented Feb. 22,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN L. STONE, OI LAWRENCE. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION O MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed March 19, 1920. Serial No. 367,040.

, nisms for looms, through the agency of whichfilling replenishment is effected prior to the complete exhaustion of the filling in the active shuttle.

The feeler mechanism of the present invention is of that type wherein the feeler is mounted for -m0vement longitudii'ially of the shuttle or along the surface of the filling carrier or bobbin when the filling in the shuttle has reached a degree of substantial exhaustion, and associated therewith is a train of mechanism for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is thus moved.

The feeler mechanism must be sensitive. It should respond to a substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle and call the change when the filling that remains in the shuttle is of an amount to constitute a minimum waste. On the other hand, it must be sensitive, also, to the presence of a working supply offilling in the shuttle on a detect ing beat. Failure in either of these respects will cause either unnecessary waste of valuable yarn, or imperfect cloth. An important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists of a safety device which normally permits the feeler to perform its feeling function and respond to the substantial absence of filling on a detecting beat, but which Will prevent accidental movement of the feeler laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when suflicient filling remains in the shuttle to continue the operation of weaving perfect cloth. Owing to the rapid-movement of parts, especially the beating-up action of the lay during the weaving operation, the feeler is liable to be deflected laterally when the filling approaches but has not yet reached a substantial degree of exhaustion; and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a safety device which is normally positioned to permit the exercise of the feeler function, but which is moved into a position to prevent functional movement of the feeler accidentally when a working supply of fillmg is present in the shuttle.

In the practical development of the present feeler mechanism, the feeler carries a dog which is adapted to be moved laterally by the feeler when it is laterally displaced,

and a safety device is provided which is normally positioned to permit such lateral movement of the dog by the feeler, and is moved into a position to prevent such lateral movement of the dog by the feeler when the shuttle contains a working supply of filling on a detecting beat.

The invention as above generally outlined, together with other features and noval combinations of parts will be hereinafter .described in connection with the accompanying drawings which show one good, practical form thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective View of the feeler side of a loom, some of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

= Fig. 2 is a plan View on an enlarged scale, showing the action of the feeler mechanism when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the action of the feeler mechanism when filling=is substantially exhausted on at detecting beat;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of portions of the feeler mechanism showing the relation of parts when replenishment of filling is called; and

Fig. '5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3:

The feeler and its associated parts are mounted on the feeler carrier, which is itself supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom. Two general forms of feeler carriers are now well known in the art, one a pivotally supported carrier, and

. may be properly adjusted.

verse of rock shaft 3 which is of usual construction, and which, by rocking movement, calls into action the replenishing mechanism, which, being well understood in the art, ne'eds no special description herein.

Rising from the transverse or rock shaft 3 is the arm 4 having pivoted thereto at 5 the latch 6, the rear end 7 of which is adapted.at times to be engaged by an operating member'S which may be connected to some going part of the loom and which, in the present illustration, is shown as connected to the cam follower or weft hammer.

' The lay 9, has the usual shuttle-box 10 for the reception of the shuttle 11, in whichis mounted the filling carrier 12 having wound thereon the filling 13. The front wall of theshuttle-box is slotted at 14, and the adjacent wall of the shuttle is'also provided with a slot 15 which, when the shuttle is in the detecting box, registers with the slot 14, as usual in this class of looms.

Extending from the shipper stand 16 is the slotted bracket 17 to which may be adjustably-se'cured the bracket 18 for supporting the feeler stand 19. In the present instance, the feeler stand 19 is secured to the bracket 18 by the clamping screws 20 which pass through a slot 21 in the feeler stand, the construction being such that the feeler stand Thebracket 18 is adjustably secured to the slotted arm 17 by a suitable adjusting bolt 22.

Mounted in the feeler stand 19 for movement toward and from the front'of the loom is the feeler carrier 23' which is normally as usual.

Pivotally mounted a; the feelei stand 23' at 25 is the actuator 26, the .front end portion of which has a fan-tail 27 adapted at times, as will presently appear, to engage a transmitter 28 for calling into action thereplenishing mechanism by movement of the transmitter 'frontwardly. Adjustably connected to theactuator 26 is the threaded bolt 29 carrying a'roller30 and provided. with a check nut 31 whereby the position of the roller 30 may be adjusted relative to the actuator 26. The feeler carrier 23 extends rearwardly of the actuator 26 and has pivotall mounted thereon at 32, Figs. 2 and 3, the eeler 33, the rear engaging end 34 of which is shaped to engage and sink into the filling when a working supply is present in the shuttle on a detecting heat. A spring normally holds the feeler 33 in feeling position against a stop 35, and in the present instance the spring is indicated at 36 as passed around the pivotal support 32 and having one end secured to the feeler by a pin 37 and its other end secured to the feeler carrier 38, the construction being such that the feeler is normally held in its feeling position, as indicated in Fig. 2, but with permissive lateral displacement by the frontward pressure of the surface within the shuttle, owing to the offset position ofthe pivotal support 32.

The feeler 33 is extended frontwardly from its pivotal support 32, as at 39, and carries a dog which, in the present instance of the invention, is pivotally mounted to the frontwardly-extending portion 39 of the feeler at 40. The dog 41 has a laterally-extending beak 42, and is normally under the influence of a spring 43 tending to hold the dog in position as indicated in Fig. 2,'with the stop 44 bearing against the side ofthe feeler arm 39.

The beak 42 has a rounded or cam surface 45 which serves to turn the dog upon its pivotal support when the feeler is laterally displaced, as will more fully appear. r

The dog 41 has a cam portion 46 inclined as indicated in Fig. 5, and adapted to ride under the roller 30 of the actuator when the dog isturned upon its pivotal support, the construction being such that when the cam or incline 46 is moved under the roller 30 from the position indicated in Fig. 2 to that indicated in Fig. 3, the actuator 26 will be placed in a position to engage the transmitter 28 as the feeler carrier= moves front wardly on a detecting beat.

The feeler carrier 23 has mounted thereon a safety lock which is provided with an abutment and a recess and is normally so positioned that the recess is opposite the beak of the dog to permit lateral movement of the dog, should the feeler be moved longitudinally of the shuttle or displaced laterally. If a suflicient amount of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat to continue weaving, it is desirable that the dog be prevented from such lateral movement; and to this end the safety lock is moved to position the abutment opposite the beak of the dog to prevent its lateral movement on a detecting beat.

In the present instance of the invention, the :teeler carrier is provided with the guiding lugs 47 through which extends the sliding bar 48 constituting a part of the safety lock. A spring 49 having one end bearing against the front lug 47 and its other end bearing against a collar'or lug 48* on the safety lock normally acts to hold the safety lock in its rearward. position, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. The slide 48 has adjustably connected to its rear end the bunter 50 which, on each detecting beat, is adapted to be struck by a part movable with the lay, and preferably by the filling in the shuttle, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The safety lock or slide 48 carries a block 51 which is provided with an abutment 52 on the side thereof adjacent the beak of the dog, and also is provided, with a slot 53 into which the beak of the dog may pass when the safety lock is properly positioned for this purpose. The construction of parts curved surface 45 of the beak 42 will ridealong the edge of the slot or abutment 52 and cause the dog- 41 to be turned on its pivotal support 40 to thereby operatively position the actuator for engagement with the transmitter as the feeler carrier moves frontwardly.

From the construction thus far described, it will be apparent that the feeler 33 is normally free to be moved laterally, and that the beak 42 of the dog is opposite the recess in the safety lock, so that on a detecting beat, the feeler is free to perform its feeling function unrestrained by the.

safety lock.

The sudden blow of the surface within the shuttle against the end of the feeler on a detecting beat is liable to displace the feeler, even when there is yet sufficient filling in the shuttle to continue weaving; and this may happen even though the feeler itself may enter into the filling to some ex tent. that the feeler be prevented. from thus erroneously calling into action the replenishing mechanism. Such accidental or undesirable movement of the feeler is prevented by the position assumed by the safety lock which is moved frontwardly to present the abutment 52 opposite the end of the beak 42. as shown in Fig. 2, when, on a detecting beat, a working supply of filling still remains in the shuttle.

The parts being in normal feeling position, as indicated in Fig, 1, with the slot or recess 53 of the safety lock opposite the beak 42 of the dog, if a working sup ly of filling is present in the shuttle, as the ay moves frontwardly, the end of the feeler will sink into the filling and will be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle under ordinary conditions. As the end of the feeler sinks into the filling the bunter 50 of the safety lock will engage the filling mass and be moved frontwardly on the feeler carrier, thus moving the slot or'recess 53 frontwardly of the end' of the beak 42 and presenting to the beak the abutment 52 of the safety lock, thus effectively locking the feeler from accidental lateral displacement when the full pressure of the surface within the shuttle is exerted upon it.

Should the filling be substantially exhaust-' ed on a detecting beat, however, the end of Under these conditions it is desirable.

the feeler will first engage the filling carrier or bobbin and be displaced laterally into the position substantially as indicated in Fig. 3; and since the opening or recess 53 is at this time opposite the beak 42 of the dog, the end of the dog will enter into the recess and its curved surface 45 will ride along the end wall of the recess, thus causing the dog to be turned upon its pivotal support 40 and its inclined or cam portion 46 to be moved beneath the roller 30 of the actuator, to thereby operatively position the actuator relative to the transmitter and effect replenishment of filling.

Any one of a plurality of trains of mechanism may be introduced between the trans mitter 28 and the latch 6 for placing its to the loom frame is the rocking arm 58 having the adjustable shoe 59 provided with the cam surface 60 over which the transmitter 28 is moved as it travels frontwardly, to thereby turn the rocker arm 58 upon its pivotal support. The rocker arm 58 has one end of it at 61 extended beneath the latch 6, the construction being such that upon rocking movement of the arm 58, the end of the latch 6 will be positioned for engagement by the operating member 8 as the latter moves frontwardly to thereby effect replenishment of filling.

The actuator 26 may have its fan-tail end 27 normally held in raised position relative to the transmitter 28 by the usual yielding pin 62 which will yield downwardly when the dog 41. is turned upon its pivotal support by lateral displacement of the feeler when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, I

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combmatlon of a feeler carrler, a feeler lateral displacement thereon, a dog pivotally mounted on the feeler and having a laterally extending beak, a safetylock having a beak receiving recess normally positioned to permit entrance of the beak of the dog and displaced frontwardly to prevent entrance of the beak when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat, and means positioned by the dog when it enters the said recess to effect replenishment of filling.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, a feeler pivotally mounted thereon for lateral displacement, a dog mounted on the feeler and having a laterally-extending beak, a safety lock mounted on the feeler carrier for frontward displacement when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat, an abutment on the safety lock which is normally held out of the path of lateral movement of the beak by the feeler and which is moved into'a position to obstruct lateral movement of the beak and prevent accidental movement of the feeler when sufficient filling remains in the shuttle on a detecting beat to continue weaving.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the.

combination of a feeler carrier, a feeler mounted on the feeler carrier for lateral dis placement thereon by the frontward pressure when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a dog mounted on the feeler, a safety lock mounted on the feeler carrier and normally positioned to permit movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle and movable by the frontward pressure of the filling on a d etecting beat to a position to prevent such movement of the feeler by obstructing the movementof the dog when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

' combination of a feeler carrier, a feeler mounted on the carrier for lateral displacement when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and a safety device to prevent accidental lateral displacement of the feeler when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat comprising a dog mounte'd on the feeler and a safety lock which is normally positioned to permit lateral movement of the dog by the feeler and which is moved into a position to obstruct the lateral movement of the dog by the feeler when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, and a safety device comprising a lock normally positioned to permit movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat and movable-into locking position to prevent such longitudinal movement in case a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting bea 7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat and held from such movement by sinking into the filling until the filling is substantially exhausted, and a safety device which is normally positioned to permit such longitudinal movement of the feeler and which is moved into position to prevent accidental movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat.

In a feeler mechan sm for looms, the combination of a feeler, a feeler carrier, an

actuator mounted thereon, a dog connected filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a dog mounted on the feeler and having a curved beak, a safety lock having an abutment and a: recess and normally maintained in a position with the recess opposite the beak and movable'to present the abutment opposite the beak to prevent accidental movement of the feeler when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat.

10. A feeler mechanism comprising a feeler, a dog mounted on the feeler and having a curved beak, a safety lock having a recess and an abutment, the former of which is presented for the entrance of the curved beak to effect replenishment of filling when that in the shuttle is substantially exhausted on at detecting beat, and the latter of which is presented to the beak when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat.

11. A feeler mechanism, comprising a feeler carrier, at feeler mounted on the feeler carrier for lateral displacement, a dog movably mounted on the feeler and having a beak, a safety lock with respect to which the beak is moved by the feeler when it is displaced laterally on a detecting beat to cause the beak to ride along the wall of the lock and cause the dog to be moved relative to the feeler to effect replenishment of filling.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler; mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such movement by the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, a do carried by the feeler, and a safety device which is moved on each detecting beat into a position to prevent filling replenishing movement by the dog when a working supply of filling is present. in they shuttle, and misc another position relative to the dog to permit filling replenishment when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my.

name to this speci fication. MELVIN L. STONE.

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