US2665718A - Weft thread cutter and guard - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1954 Filed Aug. 1, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR RALPH L. TICE ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1954 Filed Aug. 1, 1951 R. L. TICE 2,665,718 WEFT THREAD CUTTER AND GUARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 0 Fl G [60 l6 [4 i X L? f I8c D I4 I7 FIG. 3 6

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INVENTOR RALP H L. TICE BY YfiQ/Zarr/ ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1954 R. L. TICE WEFT THREAD CUTTER AND GUARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 1, 1951 INVENTOR RALPH L. TICE fidwuiffia/h v ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEFT THREAD CUTTER AND GUARD Ralph L. Tice, Columbus, Ga. Application August 1, 1951, Serial No. 239,755

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic filling replenishing looms of the type which employ a parting means for parting and clamping the outgoing filling ends adjacent the shuttle box, as exemplified in the U. S. patents to Stafford, No. 1,552,388, granted September 1, 1925, and No. 1,568,481, granted January 5, 1926.

Such a thread cutter functions to cut the cutgoing filling end at the time of a bobbin transfer so that'the yarn of the ejected bobbinmay be drawn out of the eye of the shuttle as the bobbin drops into the can; and additionally functions to hold out of the way of the moving shuttle the severed end of the discarded filling (the outgoing filling end) still attached to the selvage until this end is cut by the temple thread cutter several picks after the bobbin change.

Operation of the replenishing mechanism also incidentally results in the formation of an incoming filling end which normally extends between the cloth selvage and the fixed holder or battery stud of the replenishing mechanism, above said thread cutter and across the path of movement thereof into and from the shuttle box. When this incoming filling end is parted at the cloth selvage by the temple thread cutter following a bobbin transfer, it frequently falls across the said thread cutter. Due to its then slack condition, it may then tend to work between the cutter blades and/or the clamping blades of the thread cutter and wedge or spread these apart to impair either or both the parting and clamping functions of the thread cutter.

In the past it has been necessary to provide for periodic manual removal of the so-called wild yarn or filling ends tending to thus clog the thread cutter. And such clogging, with resulting defective functioning of the thread cutter has resulted in undesirable defects in the cloth, as is obvious and well known to those skilled in the art.

It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a thread guard or deflector associated with the thread cutter in such manner asto deflect and remove such wild yarn or filling ends from the thread cutter. Thus such a guard may serve to automatically maintain the thread cutter clear at all times and enable it to perform its intended functions with greater efficiency than heretofore.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the replenishing side of an automatic loom having the preferred embodiment of the invention operatively applied thereto;

Figure '2, a fragmentary plan view. on an enattached to a fixed holder larged scale, of the thread cutter and associated parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3, a fragmentary side elevation, on a similarly enlarged scale, of the mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4, a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of thread guard employed in conjunction with the thread cutter; and

Figure 5, a view similar to Figure 3, showing a side elevation of the thread cutter employing such modified thread deflector or guard.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the loom therein shown is but fragmentarily illustrated, inasmuch as the parts and mechanism not shown are of usual construction which is well known in the art and forms no part of the present invention. In addition, certain of the parts that are shown are old and well known, they being of the present invention only in that they are illustrative of parts that may be used in the combinations defined by the accompanying claims. The old parts include a loom frame, of which part of a right hand loom side I and a breast beam 2 are shown, and also include a reciprocating lay of which the lay beam 3, reed 4, and shuttle box 5 are illustrated. Shuttle box 5 is located at the replenishing end of the lay at the right hand side of the 100111.

The filling supply is carried by a shuttle 6 which is picked from side to side of the 100111, along the lay beam 3, by suitable means which may include a picker stick 1. As the shuttle is thus picked, it lays filling thread in the shed S and this filling thread is beaten into the fell of the cloth C by the reed 4. A fresh filling supply is provided by suitable automatic replenishing mechanism when the filling supply in the shuttle is substantially exhausted.

The replenishing mechanism may be of any usual construction, such as the bobbin changing mechanism indicated at 8. l

on the bobbins H] are H on the magazine.

The transfer of a bobbin w to the shuttle t and the subsequent picking of the shuttle results in the formation of a length of filling thread which extends from the holder or battery stud H through the shed S. The subsequent beating in of the portion of this thread which is in the shed leaves the end 1 projecting from the cloth selvage. This filling end is known in the art as the incoming filling end. When the loom is operating with a filling feeler, not shown, the replenishing operation results in formation of another filling end 1" projecting from the cloth selvage. This end i extends from the selvage to the outgoing bobbin in the shuttle and is known as the outgoing filling end. These filling ends are thus formed by the operation of the replenishing mechanism, but the formation is incidental to the major function, replenishing the filling supply.

The outgoing filling end I must be parted, at the time of transfer, between the cloth selvage and the shuttle. This function is effected by parting and clamping mechanism comprising the parting and clamping blades 12, pivotally connected at 3 to function in the manner of shears or shear blades.

These blades are normally closed, to grip a filling end f as shown, but as slidably mounted on a stationary supporting bracket it, means being provided for moving them rearwardly toward the shuttle box and opening them, just prior to each replenishing operation. The opening of the blades l2 releases the filling end f held thereby, which filling end normally extends from beneath the lower edge of the blades 12 to the cloth selvage. Then, as the replenishing operation takes place, the blades are again closed to part and clamp the new outgoing filling end and the blades are again moved forwardly or retracted to remain stationary in their normal retracted position until the next replenishing operation. This parting and clamping mechanism is not of the present invention, but is well known in the art as a Stafford thread cutter, it being disclosed and claimed in the Stafford Patent No. 1,552,388 of September 1, 1925.

The filling ends f and J" are parted adjacent the cloth selvage by any suitable means, as exemplified by the usual temple thread cutter 55. It will be apparent that the parting of these filling ends by the temple thread cutter l5 will leave them substantially free and uncontrolled. While the filling ends i will then be suspended from the blades 12 and fall free upon opening of the blades at the commencement of a replenishing operation, it will be noted that the filling ends 1 will normally extend substantially above the parting and clamping blades l2. Thus upon being parted adjacent the cloth selvage, these filling ends or incoming filling ends 1 will often tend to fall on and across the blades l2. When this occurs, portions of the filling ends I may eventually work between the cutting and clamping blades, tending to wedge or spread them apart, with the result that the cutting and/or clamping functions of the blades 12 may be seriously impaired. Because of this it has heretofore been necessary to periodically remove the filling ends 3 from the blades l2 at sufiiciently close intervals to prevent clogging of the blades, with consequent defects in the cloth produced by the loom.

In accordance with my present invention, I provide a thread uard or deflector having a pier"- erably continuous rearwardly presentedthread engaging face and so constructed and associated with the blades i2 as to automatically maintain these blades clear of clogging by thread filling ends 3 or wild yarn, thereby rendering the periodic manual removal unnecessary and also improving the quality of the cloth produced.

Such a thread guard, generally designated G, is fixedly supported on the loom, as by means of a supporting arm l6 bolted or otherwise secured on the cutter knife supporting bracket M by a bolt l! which may be one of the same bolts used in securing together separate parts or sections of the bracket, The bracket, in turn may be supported by a usual dead shaft D in the manner set forth in the aforesaid Stafford U. S. patents.

The bolt opening through said arm preferably comprises a slot 15a extending longitudinally of said arm in order to permit longitudinal adjustment of the arm it, as Well as lateral angular adjustment thereof about the bolt IT.

This arm it extends above and across the cutter blades I? to rigidly support a thread guard member H3 at its free end in operative relation with the parting and clamping blades l2. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the connection between the arm [6 and the guard I8 is such as to permit vertical adjustment of the guard member. Thus the position of the element or member l8 relative to the blades l2 may be adjusted substantially universally to attain the optimum working relation between it and the blades [2.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the free end of the arm I6 is provided with a vertical bore through which is disposed avertical shank lBa of the guard member 18. A set screw H! is operable to maintain the shank [8a in any desired position of adjustment.

Above the arm It the shank I80, is provided with a forwardly extending section or portion lBb, from which a rearwardly presented thread deflecting abutment or guard element depends to its rear terminal end to a level at least somewhat below the upper edges of the blades l2, and to a location somewhat forwardly and to one side of the rearwardly projecting free ends of the blades 52 in their normal retracted position, all as illustrated in Figure 3.

It may be advantageous to have the lower terminal end or free end of the guard element 13c at a level between the upper and lower edges of the blades 12, whereby said element may prevent forward movement of filling ends f above and onto the said blades, but will avoid contacting or interfering with the filling ends f clamped between and extending from beneath the lower edges of the said blades, as the blades 12 withdraw such filling ends f forwardly from the shuttle box.

Preferably the guard element or portion lBc slopes downwardly and rearwardly to its free terminal end, and in a plane passing above and just rearwardly of the blade free ends, as best shown in Figure 3. With such an arrangement, it will be seen that the filling ends falling across the guard element We will be caused by gravity to slide down said element rearwardly and fall clear of the blades l2.

In order to maintain the filling ends in proper operative relation to the guard element I80, the latter may be formed at its upper extremity with a rearwardly overhanging thread depressor or stop portion lBd, beneath which the filling ends j are run by operation of the loom, and which cooperates with the guard portion i8c in defining a rearwardly opening thread receiving notch, as is believed readily apparent. Obviously such a notch is positioned with its apex somewhat below and rearwardly of a straight line extending between the temple thread cutter l5 and the battery stud l I, to deflect the filling end somewhat from such a line and thus cause it to remain in such a notch.

In the operation of such a thread guard, it will be apparent that the filling ends disposed therethrough during operation of the loom and its automatic replenishing mechanism will, when severed by the temple thread cuttezgtend to'slide rearwardly down the guard element I80 and fall therefrom free of the parting and clamping blades I2. Though such filling ends may then remain suspended from the battery stud II, they will be clear of the blades I2 and in a position least apt to interfere with the operation of any of the loom mechanism. As at present, these dangling filling ends may be removed from the battery stud I! at suitable intervals by manual means.

In operation, as above mentioned, the said thread guard element I80 is disposed to One side of the blades I2, but only to the extent necessary to permit rearward movement of said blades toward and from the shuttle box in the course of replenishing operations. Otherwise the element I8 is disposed preferably so close to the blades I2 as to have substantially the same effect on the filling ends 1 as though it were disposed directly over the blades I 2.

The thread guard attachment or member here tofore described is adapted for efficiently handling relatively light threads or yarns, and thus may be emciently formed with its section or member I8 as an integral bent wire construction.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown an alternative construction of thread guard which is applied to and cooperates with the parting and cutting blades I2 in exactly the same manner as the preferred embodiment first described. However, in this alternative form the guard member I8 is formed as an integral metal block. secured to the end of the supporting arm It by a bolt I? for angular adjustment about a horizontal axis substantially in alignment with the arm I 6'. This guard member or block I8 is formed with a rearwardly opening notch N, the lower edge of which has a downwardly sloping surface [300 disposed relative to the blades I2 and functioning in the same manner as the guard element I8c of the preferred embodiment. The overhanging edge Ifilld serves the same purpose as the thread depressor ltld of the preferred embodiment.

Such a relatively heavy type of guard element or member I8 may be used to advantage in connection with relatively heavy threads or yarns.

In this application I have shown and. described only the preferred embodiment of my invention and a single modification thereof. However I recognize that my invention is capable of other and different embodiments and that the several details thereof may be modified in various ways, all without departing from my said invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description herein are to be considered as merely illustrative in nature, and not as exclusive.

I claim:

1. In an automatic filling replenishing loom of the class in which parting and clamping blades are movable rearwardly into the shuttle box to part and withdraw therefrom the outgoing filling end at the time of a replenishing operation, said parting and clamping blades normally being disposed in a forwardly retracted position, the combination With said parting and clamping blades of a thread guard fixedly supported on said loom, said guard comprising a guard element and an overhanging stop portion, said guard element being disposed rearwardly of said blades in the forwardly retracted position thereof and sloping rearwardly and downwardly, and said overhanging stop portion projecting rearwardly from said guard element at the upper extremity of the latter.

2. In an automatic filling replenishing loom or the class in whichparting-and clamping blades are movable rearwardly into the shuttle box to part and-withdraw therefrom the outgoing filling ends at the time of a replenishing operation, said parting and clamping blades normally being disposed in aforwardly retracted position, the combination with said parting and clamping blades of a thread guard fixedly supported on said loom, said guard comprising a depending guard element having its lower end substantially at the level of said blades and to one side of said blades, said guard element normally extending rearwardly of said blades in the retracted position of the latter.

,3. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, a thread cutter comprising a stationary supporting bracket and parting and clamping mechanism supported thereon, said mechanism comprising pivotally connected shear blades and a clamping blade, all of said blades having free ends projecting rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction from their said pivotal connection, in combination with a thread guard comprising a supporting arm rigidly secured to said bracket, said arm extending above and across said mechanism, and a guard element carried by said arm on the side of said mechanism remote from said bracket, said element having a rear terminal end disposed rearwardly of and substantially level with said blades and sloping downwardly toward said end.

4. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, a thread cutter comprising a stationary supporting bracket and parting and clamping mechanism supported thereon, said mechanism comprising pivotally connected shear blades and a clamping blade, all of said blades having free ends projecting rearwardly in a substantially horizontal direction from their said pivotal connection, in combination with a thread guard comprising a supporting arm rigidly secured to said bracket, and a depending guard element carried by said arm, the lower end of said guard element being below the level of the upper edges of said blades and rearwardly thereof, to guide falling filling ends clear of said blades, an overhanging stop portion projecting rearwardly from the upper extremity of said guard element to limit the upward movement of filling ends along said element.

5. In an automatic filling replenishing loom, a thread cutter comprising a stationary supporting bracket and parting and clamping mechanism supported thereon, said mechanism comprising pivotally connected shear blades having free ends projecting rearwardly horizontally from their pivotal connection, in combination with a thread guard comprising a supporting arm rigidly secured to said bracket, said thread guard being adjustable in position, means for securing said thread guard in a desired position of adjustment and a guard element disposed closely adjacent and to one side of said. blades, said element having a rearwardly presented thread engaging face disposed rearwardly of the free ends of said blades.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein the supporting arm is provided with a vertical bore through its free end, the said guard element comprising a supporting shank vertically adjustable in said bore, and means for maintaining said shank in any desired position of vertical adjustment.

7. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein the said guard element is formed with a bore ae'otme therethrough substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said supporting arm, a bolt being threaded into the end of the arm through said bore, the said guard element being adjustably swingable about said bolt.

8. In an automatic filling replenishing loom of the class in which normally forwardly retracted clamping and parting blades are projected rearwardly into the shuttle 'box to part and forwardly withdraw the outgoing filling end at the time of a bobbin transfer, the said withdrawn filling end extending laterally from beneath said blades, the combination with said clamping and parting blades of a guard therefor, said guard comprising a rearwardly presented abutment located to one side of said blades and extending vertically from a level substantially above said blades to a level between the upper and lower edges of said blades to prevent forward movement of wild yarn onto and 8 across said blades. while avoiding interference with the outgoing filling end extending from be neath said blades, said abutment sloping downwardly rearwardly whereby wild yarn falling thereacross may slide down same and fall therefrom clear of the blades, and an overhanging stop at the upper extremity of said abutment to prevent wild yarn from riding up over said abut ment onto said blades.

RALPH L. TICE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,019,265 Lussier Mar. 5, 1912 1,487,074 Northrop Mar. 18, 1924 1,647,103 Davis Oct. 25, 1927 2,001,310 Nichols May 14, 1935 2,424,019 Brown July 15, 1947

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