US1891912A - Means and method of producing fabric - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1932- E. c. BUNNELL MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC Filed July 24. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. f/m 6f Bl/A/NELL. I

v r ATTORNEY 1932- E. c. BUNNELL MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC Filed July 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

1932- E. c. BUNNELL MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC Filed July 24, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

mm c BUNNEILL.

A. TORNEY E. C. BUNNELL.

MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC Dec. 27, 1932.

Filed July 24 1950 INVENTOR. [flfFL C l/N/VELL .E. C. BUNNELL MEANS AND METHOD 0 PRODUCING FA Ic Filed July 24, 1930 Dec; 27, 1932.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f0 INVENTOR.

EARL c BUN/VELL.

TTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES EARL C. BUNNELL, OF S'FRATFOBD, CONNECTICUT MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means and methods of producing fabrics and particularly fabrics woven of metal, reed or other strands.

An object of the invention is to provide .a

machine or loom for the weaving of the fabric disclosed in application Serial No. 456,490, filed May 28th, 1930.

Another object is to provide an improved weaving means or machine including many advantageous features looking to cheapness of construction and efiicicncy in operation.

A further object is to provide an improved method of weaving whereby to produce a superior fabric.

An additional object is to provide an improved loom or weaving means including means for weaving diagonal strands together to form adiamond mesh in combination with 90 means for securing longitudinal strands to strands at right angles to each other, cutter means being associated with the feeder means to cut strands of the proper length from a source, shed forming means being provided whereby said strands are interlocked as they 30 are fed one across the other, and a second shed forming means and other feeder means being provided for securing longitudinal strands to the woven diagonal strands by means of cross strands.

A still further object is to provide an improved strand feeding means for weaving machines.

A further object is to provide an improved strand feeding andassociated cutting means 40 for weaving machines.

A still further object is to provide an imroved means of feeding the strands and fabric woven therefrom through the machine.

Yet a further object is to provide an improved operating means or power distributing arrangement for loomsor weaving machines.

An additional object is to provide a weav- 59 ing machine or loom including means for ing machine inclu ing'a she machine;

1930. Serial No. 470,831.

weaving diagonal strands to form a diamond mesh and other means including a shed forming means to secure a longitudinal strand to the diamond mesh by means of cross strands, said other means including means for offsetting either or both of the diamond mesh and longitudinalstrands whereby the cross strands pass entirely to one side of the diamond mesh and entirely to the other side of the longitudinal strands.

Still another ob'ect is to (provide a Weavforming means and fabric gripping means associated with the shed forming means to prevent the shed forming means from drawing the already woven fabric.

Still a further object is to provide a weaving machine or loom including an improved strand guiding and fabric feeding means.

Yet another object is to provide an improved method of weaving.

, It is also an object to provide improved shed forming means for use in weaving ma chines.

A further object is to provide an improved means for and method of weaving a diamond mesh.

Other and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the. so accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of themeans of the invention. It is, of course, to be understood that the in vention is not limited to the details shown and described but comprehends all such changes or modifications as fall within the scope of theappended claims to which reference must be had for a definition of the limitations of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete Fig. 2 is an end elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing a feed means;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the shed forming means for the diamond mesh, cutters being shown; 3

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the shed forming means of Fig. 6;

Fi 8 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but showing t is shed forming means for the insertion 30 of Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, at 10 is shown the machine frame, the latter including uprights '11 and 12 and horizontal frame members 13 grooved as at 14 to receive the edges. of the table 15. This table is mounted in the grooves 14 for reciprocating movement to feed the fabric forward as it is woven and further the table is cut awa as at 16 and 17 for a purpose to be describe Extending upwardly through openings in table are a. series of guide pins 18 and 19, the pins 18 at their lower ends resting against a cross bar 20 on an arm 21 and the pins 19 resting on a cross bar 22 on the same arm. Coil springs 23 disposed about the spindles of thepins 18 and 19 bear at one end against the heads 24 of the pins and at their other ends against hollow blocks 25 carried by the table; at its underside, the springs serving to maintain the heads of the pins in contact with the cross bars.

Power for operating the machine may be supplied from any source to a pulley or coupling 26 on a shaft 27 arranged at one side of the machine. At its forward end, beyond bearing 28, shaft 27 carries a beveled gear 29 meshing with a beveled gear 30 on a shaft 31 mounted in bearings 32 on the machine frame 10. A second beveled gear 33 on shaft 31 meshes with and drives a beveled gear 34 on a shaft 35 mounted in bearings 36 and 37 and carrying a cam 38.

As shaft 35 is turned, it, of course, carries cam 38 with it and this cam is in en agement with a roller 39 secured to the em? of table 15 as on a pin 40. A coil spring 41 tends to move the table forward or toward the cam 38 and thus maintain the roller 39 in contact with the cam. The high point of cam 38 approaches the roller at the proper time, as will be explained in detail, and against the action of spring 41 moves the table rearwardly to feed the fabric through the machine the spring 41 acting to again return the table to normal position.

. At its end remote from gear 34, shaft 35 carries a beveled gear 42 meshing with and driving a beveled gear 43 on a shaft 44 parallel with and at the side of the machine opposite shaft 27 and mounted in bearings 45 and 46. Mounted above table 15 and guided between uprights 11 and 12 is a sliding gate like member 47 including side members 48, webs 49, a top 50 and a reinforcing rib 51. At its lower end member 47 carries a head 52 cut at an angle along its front end as at 53 and carrying portions 54 and 55 of two sets of shed forming means. 7

Below table 15 is a second gate like member 56 also guided between u rights 11 and 12 comprising side portions 57 a bottom cross piece 59 and a reinforcing rib 60. At its upper end member 56 carries a head 61 including portions 62 and 63 of two sets of shed forming means, the same being adapted to cooperate with the portions 54 and 55 respectively to form front and rear shed forming means, the constructionand operation of which will later be described.

Rearwardly of the .heads 52 and 61, the table 15 has openings through which extend pins 64 for feeding the woven fabric throu h the machine. Pins 64 are quite similar to t e pins 18, 19 and as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 include a head 65 resting or bearing on cross pieces 66 of an arm 67 similar to the arm 21. Further, coil springs 68 surround the shanks or stems of pins 64 and bearing against the heads 65 of the pins and blocks 69 on the underside of table 15 serve to maintain the heads in contact with the cross pieces.

A bracket 70, including a bearing portion 71 is arranged to dispose said bearing por tion above the shaft 31, and in this hearing portion is a short shaft 72. Secured to shaft 31 to turn therewith is a gear 73, meshing with a gear 74 on shaft 72 to drive said shaft. Through the meshing of gears 73 and 74 shafts 31 and 72 turn together. On these shafts, to be turned thereby are lower and upper feed rolls or members 75 and 76 respectively (see Fig. 5). Feed roll 75 is prov ded with a grooved periphery through which a wire 77 is fed. 1

Of course, the wire 77 is used in lengths or out into strands and the rolls 75 and 76 feed it in lengths. To this end the roll 76 has peripheral portions of two diameters and during the time the high or large diameter ortion 7 8 is pressin on the wire 77 it will e fed forward by t e turning of the rolls and each time the small diameter portion 79 of roll 76 is over roll 75 the feeding of the wire is suspended to be resumed as soon as the ortion 78 again comes over the roll 75.

eans are provided for cutting the wire 77 into lengths to provide the diagonal strands 80. On leaving. the rolls 75 and 76 the wire 77 enters a guide 81 adjacent the rolls and at the side of guide opposite the rollers there is disposed a lower stationagy knife member 82 and an upper movable kni e member 83 is carried by member 83. Knife lever member 84 pivoted as at 85 and for the purpose of automatically operating the knife member 83 at the proper time, the upper wire feed roll 7 6 is provided with a pm 86 adapted to engage the free end portion of the lever member 84 to rock the same about its pivot bringing the knife member 83 into web portions 58,

position to cut off a length or strand 80 from the wire 77. Pin 86 is so disposed relative to the high portion 78 of the roll 76 that as wheel 89.

the high portion leaves the roll 75, the knife is actuated.

Arranged on the shaft 35 adjacent the end carrying the beveled gear 42 is a feed means for the wire 87 similar to that used for feeding the wire 77. This means for feeding the wire 87 includes a peripherally grooved roll 88 on the shaft 35 and a gear wheel 89 also on said shaft the gear wheel and roll being adapted to turn with the shaft. A bracket 90 including a bearing portion 91 supports a short shaft 92 in a position above the roll 88 and gear 89 and on this shaft 92 is secured a gear wheel 93 meshing with the gear a roll 94 having high and low portions as in the case of the roll 76 whereby a length of wire is fed each time the rolls 88 and 94 make a complete revolution. These lengths form the cross strands 95 of the fabric.

Disposed adjacent the feed rolls 88 and 94 is a guide 96 (see Fig. 6) through which the wire 87 passes on leaving the feed rolls. This guide 96 guides the wire into the front shed forming means 54, 62 and disposed between the guide and the shed forming means is mechanism for chopping the wire 87 into the strands or lengths 95. The mechanism for cutting the wire comprises a lower knife member 97 which may be stationary and an upper knife member 98 carried by a lever member 99 pivoted as at 100. A pin 101 on the roll 94, corresponding to the pin 86 on the feed roll 76, actuates the lever 99 which corresponds to the previously described lever 84 whereby to cut wire 87 into the lengths 95 as will be understood.

Means are provided fo forcing the heads 52 and 61 toward each other at the proper time to have the shed forming means operate. To this end upright 11 carries an extension 102 to the upper end portion of which is pivoted a bell crank lever 103, the same being pivoted as at 104. The gate like member 47 at its upper side carries an adjustable bolt 105 against the upper end of which the short arm of lever 103 bears. A pull-back spring 106 is secured at one end under a nut 07 of the bolt 105 and the other arm of this spring,

which spring is U-shaped as shown, bears against the upper side of the end portion of the short arm. Long arm 108 of the lever at its lower end carries a roller 109 held in engagement with a cam 110 on the shaft 27 by Also, on the shaft 92 is carried springs 106 and 111 act to elevate the gate member 47 and the head 52 carried thereby.

A means quite similar to that just described is used for elevating the lower gate like member 56 and head 61 and the portions of shed forming means carried by the latter. To this end a bolt 112 is carried at the lower end of the gate like member 56 and the underside of the bolt is engaged by the end portion of the arm 113 of a bell crank lever 114 pivoted as at 115 to the lower end portion of the upright 11. The other arm, that is, the arm 116 of lever 114 carries at its upper end a roller 117 held in engagement with a cam 118 as by meansof a coil spring 119. A U-shaped pullback spring 120, corresponding to the spring 106, has the end portion of one of its arms secured beneath a nut 121 on the bolt 112 and has its other arm disposed over the free end portion of the arm 113 of the lever. As the cam 118, which is carried on the shaft 27, is turned its high and low points alternately engage the roller 117 and when the high point of the cam is in engagement with the roller the arm 116 of the lever 114 is rocked outwardly against the action of spring 119 forcing the gate member 56 and head 61 and portions of shed forming means carried by the latter upwardly toward the portions of shed forming means carried by the head 52 on the gate like member 47. It is to be understood that the heads 52 and 61 are moved downwardly and upwardly respectively at the same time by the action of cams 110 and 118.

Strands 80 are disclosed across the table between the guide pins 18 and 19 as shown and these strands are pushed along by the pins as the table is moved rearwardly by cam 38. The heads 24 of the pins 18 and 19 are as previously stated disposed on the cross bars 20 and 22 of the arm 21. This arm is secured to the shaft 122 and the action of the arm is the same as that of arm 67 since the action of arm 67 is imparted to the shaft 22, the arm being secured to said shaft. will be understood that the pins 18 and 19 projecting up through the forward portion of the table and separating and guiding strands 80 will carry the strands rearwardly as the table is moved rearwardly under the action of cam 38 and that as the pins 18 and 19 are moved below the surface of the table on the high part of cam 124 leaving roller 123, pin 64 will likewise be moved below the surface of the table by springs 23 owing to the dropping of the arm 21 and cross bars and 22. When the table again moves forwardly under the action of spring 41 all of the pins will be drawn forwardly with it and on the high portion of cam 124 again engaging roller 123 the pins will again be projected above the surface of the table in a position to guide and feed the strands 80 and the diamond mesh fabric woven at the front Therefore, it

129 arranged. at right angles to the slots 128 for the passage 0 strands '80. The lower ,portion 62 of the front shed forming means comprises a block having at its upper forward edge depressions 130 and projections 131 the latter in their upper faces being slotted as at 132 for the passage of the diagonal strands 95 and having slots 133 arranged at right angles to the slots 132 for the passageof the diagonal strands 80. Projections 127 enter depressions 130 and projections1131enter depressions 126 (as detailed in Fig.6) as the shed'forming means are moved together. It ,will'be obvious that the shed forming meansjmoves" alternate] strands 80 and up and down to form a shed;

(rear shed forming means or the shed forming v v V a 1 means comprising the upper and lower por- The lower portion or block 62 of the shed.. forming means in the rear of the shed fo m for the passage of strands1 95 hi tt main straight. 9 t

ing means carries a portion 134 forming an anvil a ainst which diamond mesh woven a l of pins 135 carried in the upper shed forming scribed that portion or block 54. A series of these pins is employed and the heads 136 of the pins are engaged by blocks 137 of rubber or other ieldmg compressible material, screws 138 ing adjustable through the head 52 and against the blocks 137 to vary the tension on the individual pins 135. It will be understood that these pins may be individually adjusted and that owing to the means just deortion of the wire which has been woven Wlll be clam ed between the pins and the anvil 134 where y the wire displaced by the shed forming means will be drawn from the free or unwoven portions of the strands 80 and will not draw the already woven fabric. j

Shed forming means comprising the upper and lower portions and 63 respectively are utilized in the attaching fof longitudinal strands to the diamond mesh woven at the front shed forming means, the said lon tudinal strands being attached by means 0 cross strands. As shown in the drawings the longi the table. A'wire feeding means similar to the feeding means previously described is mounted opposite the rear shed forming means and as shown this feeding means'includes a lower roll 142 disposed on the shaft 44 and co-operating with a roll 143 disposed on a short shaft 144 mounted in a bearing 145 on a bracket 146 dis osed above shaft 44.

Gear 147 on sha 44 meshes with a gear 148 on the short shaft 144. Rolls 142 and 143 are the same as the rolls and 76 previously described and act to feed a wire 149 forwardliy in lengths, the length of the wire fed de 'en ing upon the wi th of the material ing woven. On leaving the feed rolls the Wire 149 passes through a guide 150 and then be tween upper and lower cutting blades or knives 151 and 152, the knife 152 being preferably stationary and the knife 151 being carrled by a lever 153 pivoted as at 154 and automatically actuated as by means of a pin 155 on the upper feed roll, to chop the wire 149 into lengths or strands.

As already suggested the longitudinal wires 139 are attached to the woven diamond mesh at the rear shed forming means and this is accomplished by inserting cross or lockstrands 156 out from the wire 149. The

tioiis 55 and 63 comprise essentiall similar blocks. 157 grooved in their abutting faces sat-5158 and each carrying a series of pins i159 and- 160, the pins of the upper series being arranged opposite to and alternating with the pinsi of the lower series.

This structure is detailed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and as shown each p1n160 at its end within the grooves 158 is notched or grooved to accommodate the cross or locked strand 156. Each of the pins 159 has a pair of grooves in its up er end, the grooves 161 accommodating the ongitudinal strands 139 and the grooves 162 accommodating the cross strands 156.

From the drawings it will be apparent that the action of the rear shed forming means is such that the pins 160 engage the intersec-,

tions ofthe diamond mesh woven at the front shed forming means, while the pins 159 enage the longitudinal strands 139 pushing t e same upwardly through the woven dia mond mesh. Thus it'will-be seen that the combined action of thepins 159 and 160 is 7 such that a straight path is cleared for the cross or lock strands 156. However. it is not necessary that the diamond mesh be depressed downwardly while the longitudinal strands be reversed and yet a straight path provided for the cross strand. Also, it will be understood that the positions of the pins may be reversed, the pins 159 being disposed in the upper portion of the shed forming means and the pins 160 disposed in the lower portion thereof.

'are pushed upwardly.since this action could Blocks 157 at each side of their groove faces 158 have side walls the upper block having side wall 163 and the lower block having side walls 164. During the shed forming operation and the insertion of the cross or lock strands, the ends or surfaces of the walls 163 are in engagement with the previously woven diamond mesh pressing the same into contact with the surfaces of the walls 164 whereby the diamond meshand that portion of the fabric which has been finished and passed beyond the rear shed forming means may not be drawn or pulled out of shape.

Means are provided for feeding the finished fabric from the rear shed formin means. This means includes the arm 67 w ich has cross bars 66 on which the heads of the pins 64 bear. The arm 67 has pivotal movement with ashaft 122 and beyond the shaft 122 carries a roller 123 in contact with a cam 124 on the shaft 27. During the time the roller 123 is in engagement with the high portion of the cam 124 the pins 64 are maintained in a position projecting above the table 15. The pins remain above the table during the rearward feed of the table under the action of cam 38 and at the time the high portion of cam asses the roller 39 to permit the table to e drawn forward by the spring 40, the high portion of cam 124 leaves the roller 123 permitting the arm 67 to drop with the shaft 122. This action on the part of arm 67 permits the spring 68 to draw the pins 64 downwardly below the surface of the table 15 and the pins are then carried forward to be again projected above the surface of the table when the latter reaches its former position, the cam 124 being so timed as to operate the arm 67 to push the pins above the table when the table has reached such foremost position.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be seen that the improved weavlng machine of the present inventionincludes many novel structural parts, combination of parts, and modes of operation and it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes in the construction and arrangement of parts and all such variations in the mode of opera-\ tion as fall within the scope of the claims.

It is desired to point out that the wire feeding means is of economical construction and that the length of the strand fed may be varied by placin different sized feed rolls in the various feeding mechanisms. It is also to be noted that owing to the arrangement of shafting about the machine space is economized and the machine frame supports all the shafting in a way to make the machine easily shiftable from place to place as oocasion may require.

In connection with the operation of the machine attention is called to the fact that the alternate diagonal strands are pushed up and down rendering it unnecessary to crimp the strands which are inserted straight. This provides high and low intersections in the diamond mesh woven at the first or front shed forming means and at the second shed forming means the longitudinal strands are so disposed that they pass only under the high intersections in the diamond mesh while the cross or lock strands pass over the low intersections" in the diamond mesh. Owing to this arrangement the fabric is not materially thickened by the insertion or addition of the longitudinal and cross strands.

At the second shed forming means the low intersections in the diamond mesh are held stationary or pushed down slightly by the tools or pins 160 while the longitudinal strands are pushed or offset upwardlythrough the diamond mesh by the pins 159. Therefore, a straight path is provided for the insertion of the lock strands 156 and these strands need not therefore be crimped or offset and may be inserted in a straight condition.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A method of weaving consisting in forming a shed through a series of strands, inserting a strand through said shed, feeding the fabric thus formed forwardly, forming a shed through said fabric and a third strand, and locking the third strand to said fabric by passing a fourth strand through the last named shed.

2. A method of weaving consisting in arranging aseries of diagonal strands in parallel relation, offsetting the alternate strands up and'down to provide a straight path extending over one strand and under the next, inserting a strai ht diagonal strand through said path whereby to form a diamond mesh, feeding said diamond mesh forwardly, clamping together the wires of said mesh at the last formed intersections thereof to prevent the woven portions of said wires being drawn, again offsetting the alternate parallel strands up and down and inserting a straight diagonal strand along the path thus formed.

"3. The method of attaching longitudinal low intersections of the diamond mesh against upward movement, offsetting the longltudinal strands u wardly between the low intersections where y to form a shed, and assing cross strands through the shed thus ormed.

5. In a fabric forming machine, a means for feeding a wire forwardly a determined distance, said means comprising a pair of rolls dis osed adjacent one another, means for rotatmg said rolls in opposite directions, one of said rolls having an enlarged peripheral portion, and the enlarged peripheral portion of the one roll adapted to press the wire against the other roll during a part of each revolution of the rolls whereby a length of wire will be fed forward between the rolls equal to the length of the enlarged peripheral portion of the one roll.

6. In a fabric weaving machine, a shed forming means, said shed forming means including a block having alternate extensions and recesses, a second block having alternate extensions and recesses, the respective recesses and extensions of one block being arranged opposite the res ective extensions and recesses of the other b ock, the extensions of each of the blocks having grooves in their faces for the passage of strands, one of said blocks having an anvil portion to one side of its extensions and recesses, and the other of said blocks having projections to clamp a a woven fabric against said anvil portion to prevent the same from being drawn when pprtions of the strands forming the same are ing acted on by the shed forming means.

7. A shed forming means to be utilized in the addin of strands to a diamond mesh fabric, said shed forming means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed members havmg corresponding grooves in their opposed faces, said diamond mesh fabric adapted to be received between said members, sh ed forming means operatin in the grooves of said members, and the side walls of the grooves of the members adapted to clamp the said diamond mesh between them during the shed forming operation to prevent said mesh from being drawn.

8. The combination as in claim 5, including means for chopping off the fed portion of said length of wire on the high portion of the one roll leaving the other roll, said means including a pivotally mounted knife member, and a means on one of said rolls for actuating said knife member.

9. In a weaving machine, a pair of heads, said heads arranged opposite each other, means to move said head towards each other, and each of said heads carrying its respective porltions of two spaced sets of shed forming too 5.

10. In a weaving machine, a table, and means to ide and feed strands along said table, sai means comprising a plurality of pins having their heads disposed below said table, said table having openings through which said pins may .be projected to have them extend above the table, spring means normally tending to move said pins to dis pose them below the upper surface of the table, means to engage the heads of the pins, and means for actuating said means to project said pins above the table at predetermined times.

11. In a weaving machine, a table, means to reciprocate said table, means to guide and feed strands on said table, said last means comprising a plurality of pins ada )ted to project through the table to cxten above the upper surface thereof, spring means tending normally to move said pins to dispose them below the upper surface of the table, means against which the heads of the pins bear and on which said heads may slide as the table is reciprocated, and means for actuating said means to have the pins project above the surface of the table during movement of the table in one direction and to permit the spring means to move the pins below the surface of the table on movement of the table in the opposite direction.

12. In a weaving machine including a frame, a table mounted for reciprocating movement in said frame, means for feeding diagonal strands across said table from one side, means for feeding diagonal strands across said table from the opposite side thereof, means for feeding strands across said table in the rear of said second strand feeding means, and shafting supported on the frame of said machine and extending about three sides thereof whereby to drive all of said strand feeding means, and means whereby all of said shafting is driven fromasingle source.

13. In a weaving machine, a table, means to reciprocate said table, means to feed strands on said table, said last means including means movable with the table and adapted to cause the strands to move with the table in one direction of movement of the table and to permit the table to move under the strands when the table is moving in the opposite direction.

14. In a weaving machine, a feeding means, said means comprising a series of pins, means for moving said pins in two directions, and said pins adapted on movement in one direction to the woven fabric and on movement in opposite direction to return to normal positions.

15. In a fabric weaving machine, a shed forming means, said shed forming means including a block having alternate extensions and recesses, a second block having alternate extensions and recesses, the respective recesses and extensions of one block being arranged opposite the respective extensions and recesses of the other block, the extensions of each of the blocks having grooves in their faces for the passage of strands, one of said blocks havingan anvil portion to one side of its extensions and recesses, and the other of said blocks having projections to clamp a woven fabric against said anvil portion to prevent the same from being drawn when portions of the strands forming the same are being acted on by the shed forming means, said projections comprising independently adjustable means each including a cushioning means.

16. In a weaving machine, a table, and means to guide and feed strands along said table, said means comprising a plurality of pins, said pins normally'tending toward a position below the surface of the table, and means for projecting the pins through the table at predetermined times.

17. In a weaving machine, a table, means to reciprocate said table, means to guide and feed strands on saidtable, said last means comprising a plurality of pins adapted to project through the table to extend above the upper surface thereof, said pins tending normally to move to a position where they are disposed below the upper surface of the table, means against which the heads of the pins bear and on which said heads may slide as the table is rcciprocated, and means for actuating said means to have the pins project above the surface of the table during movement of the table in one direction and to permit the spring means to move the pins below the surface of the table on movement of the table in the opposite direction.

18. A method of weaving consisting in arranging a series of strands in parallel relation, off-setting the alternate strands up and down to provide a straight path extending over one strand and under the next, inserting a strai ht strand through said path whereby to form a two strand mesh, feeding said mesh forwardly, clamping together the wires of said mesh at the last formed intersections thereof to prevent the woven portions of said wires being drawn, again olfsetting the alternate parallel strands up and down while said wires are so clam ed, and

then inserting a straight strand a ong the path thus formed.

19. In a weaving machine, a pair of heads, said heads arranged opposite each other, means to move one of said heads toward the other, and each of said heads carrying its respective portions of two spaced sets of shed forming tools.

20. In a weaving machine including a frame, a table mounted for reciprocating movement in said frame, means for feeding strands across said table from one side, means for feeding strands across said table from another side thereof, means for feeding strands across said table in the rear of said second strand feeding means, a. cam for moving the tablein one direction, means for moving the table in the opposite direction, shafting supported on the frame and extending about three sides of the machine whereby to drive said cam and all of said strand feeding means, and means whereby all of said shafting is driven from a single source.

21. In a fabric weaving machine, a shed forming means, said shed forming means including a block having alternate extensions and recesses, a second block having alternate extensions and recesses, the respective recesses and extensions of one block being arranged opposite the respective extensions and recesses of the other block, the extensions of each of the blocks having grooves in their faces for the passage of strands, one of said blocks having an anvil portion to one side of its extensions and recesses, and the other of said blocks having projections to clamp a woven fabric against said anvil portion to prevent the same from being drawn when portions of the strands forming the same are acted on by the shed forming means, said projections comprising independent means, and means cushioning said projection.

22. In a fabrlc weaving machine, a shed forming means, and means in the rear of said shed forming means to clamp together the wires of a mesh at the last formed intersections thereof to prevent the woven portions of the wires being drawn during the formation of the next shed.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county ofFairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 19th day of July, A. D. 1930.

I EARL C. BUNNELL.

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