US1369481A - Feeler mechanism for looms - Google Patents

Description

l SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED mm: H, 1920.

1,369,481 Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2-.SHEETSSHEET l- I. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMSL APPLICATION FILED JUNE II, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC SNOW, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

eeann.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed June 11, 1920. Serial No. 388,276.

2' '0 oil w from it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, whereby filling replenishment is effected when the filling in the shut tle has become substantially exhausted.

Among the several types of feeler mechanism heretofore suggested, is that known as the side swipe feeler mechanism, wherein the feeler is given a movement longitudinally of the shuttle or laterally with respect to the loom when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted; and a train of mechanism is associated with the feeler and actuated by its Side swipe movement for setting in operation the filling replenishing mechanism. The present invention is more particularly directed to feeler mechanisms of this general type, and has for one of its objects to simplify the construction and render the feeler more sensitive to the presence and substantial absence of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

In the side swipe feeler mechanism heretofore suggested, the feeler has been given its side swipe movement either by frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat or by means which acts'upon the feeler independently of the frontward pressure. In this second class of side swipe feelers, the means which gives the feeler its side swipe or lateral movement has usually been devised as a spring which acts constantly upon the feeler. In the present invention, spring means is employed for giving to the feeler its side swipe movement when the filling is substantially exhausted and the spring has one end connected to the fceler and its other end is extended laterally so that as the feeler moves frontwardly on a detecting beat, the laterally-extended end of the feeler spring is tensioned to impart to the feeler a tendency to return to its rearward position, and also to move laterally.

When the feeler moves to its rearward position it is stopped or limited in its movement preferably by providing the laterally-exside of the loom, showing more particularly 7 the feeler mechanism and its associated parts;

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

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

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the feele'r mechanism. i

The loom frame 1 has mounted thereon the brackets 2, one at each side of the loom, 1n which 1s supported the transverse or rock shaft 3 by which motion is transmitted to the train of devices for setting in operation the filling replenishing mechanism,'as usual in this class of looms. Rising from the transverse or rock shaft 3 is the arm 4 to whlch is pivoted at 5 the latch 6 which is adapted to be moved frontwardly to effect rocking movement of the transfer or rock shaft at times, by an operating member 7 which may be associated with the usual cam follower or weft hammer. In the present instance of the invention the latch 6 has a rear engaging end portion 8 which is pivoted to the latch at 9 and is weighted or balanced to normally hold the engaging end 8 out of or below the path of the operating member 7. The engaging end 8 has connected thereto a finger 10 which overlies an arm 11 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 12 on the sup- )ort 13 suitably mounted on the loom frame.

he other arm 14 of the bell crank lever is connected to a transmitter 15, which is itself connected to the feeler, the construction being such that when the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat without being laterally displaced, the engaging end 8 of the latch remains out of the path of movement of the operating member 7 but when the feeler is moved laterally, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the engaging end 8 of the latch is moved into the path of the operating member and the transverse or rock shaft 3 is actuated to eflfect replenishment of filling.

The feeler is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, and also for movement laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, and any suitable means may be employed for mounting the feeler with this capacity of movement. In the present instance of the invention, the shipper stand 16 has extending therefrom the slotted arm 17 to which is connected adjustably the supporting bracket 18 by the adjusting bolt 19. Adjustably supported upon the bracket 18 is the feeler stand 20 which may be connected to the supporting bracket 18 by a bolt 21 passing through a slot 22 of the feeler stand. The feeler stand 20 has suitable bearing portions for the feeler 23 which permit the feeler to partake of the movements hereinbefore described. In the present instance the feeler stand 20 has the front projection or flange 24, and a similar projection or flange 25 at the rear. In the flange 24 an opening 26 is made of suitable size to freely receive the feeler 23 and permitfrontward and rearward movement thereof, as well, also, as lateral movement. The rear projection or flange 25 is provided with a slot or bearing 27 which is extended laterally to permit the feeler 23 to have a lateral as well as a frontward and rearward movement.

The feeler 23 has connected thereto, one end of a spring, the other end of which is extended laterally from the feeler and engages a hearing which is out of the path of frontward movement of the feeler, with the result that as the feeler is moved frontwardly, the laterally-extending arm or end of the spring imparts to the feeler a tendency to move rearwardly and also laterally or longitudinally of the shuttle. In the present instance of the invention, the spring is of the coil type, wherein the coil 28 of the spring surrounds a stud or bolt 29 which is mounted upon the feeler. One end of the spring is adjustably connected to the feeler, and to this end the bolt 29 has mounted thereon the sleeve 30 about which the coil portion 28 of the spring extends, and between the top of the sleeve and the head of the bolt 29 is an adjusting flange or thumbpiece 31 to which is secured the end 32 of the spring. The" lower edge of the flange 3O rests upon the top of the feeler 23 and the lower end of the bolt 29 has. threaded thereto the securing nut 33, whereby the parts may be clamped to the feeler-and the tension of the spring may be adjusted, as desired.

The spring, as will be noted, is preferably of the coil type, and the axis of the spring.

or coil intersects the longitudinal axis or dimension ofthe feeler. The spring has extending laterally therefrom the tensioning arm 34 which-rests upon a bearing or guide, so that as the feeler moves frontwardly the tension of the spring is inincreased, preferably by winding up the coils 28, and thus placing the feeler under a tendency to move rearwardly and laterally to the left, Fig. 2. The bearing or guide for the tensioning arm is conveniently carried by an adjustable support 35 which may be secured in adjusted position laterally with respect to the path of movement of the feeler toward'and from the front of the loom by an adjusting bolt 36 and a slot 37 formed in' the support 35. The bolt 36 may conveniently be threaded into the front flange 24 of the feeler stand. The laterally-extended portion of the support 35 is, in the present instance, bifurcated at 38 as indicated in Fig. 1, and in the bifurcation 38 is supported the rollers 39 and 40, between which extends the tensioning arm 34:. The rollers 39 and 40 are held to the support by suitable pins 41, the construction being such that when the feeler moves frontwardly, the spring is placed under tension by the bearing or roller 39 and exerts its influence to return the feeler to its rearward position and move it laterally to the left, Figs. 2 and 3.

When the feeler returns to its rearward feeling'position it is desirable to limit its movement and position it for the exercise of its feeling action. In the present instance, the tensioning arm 34; is provided with a hook or stop 12, which, as the feeler moves rearwardly under the impulse of its actuating spring, engages the roller 40 and brings the feeler to rest. The spring at such time no longer exerting any force upon the feeler to move it laterally, and the engagement of the hook or stop to pull 42 with the stop and roller I0 acts through the spring to pull the feeler laterally to the normal feeling position, Fig. 1, whenever the feeler is inclinedas it approaches its rearmost position. In other words, when the feeler is in its rearward feeling position, it is and may be conveniently termed dead and has no tendency to move laterally in either direc- 1 tion under the influence of a spring. But when the feeler starts frontwardly on a detecting beat, the spring is placed under tension by the bearing against the tensioning arm 34:, and at once assumes a tendency to .120 move laterally and rearwardly.

The feeler 23 is provided with any usual form of toothed engaging end 43 whlch will sink into the filling when a working supply is present on a detecting beat, and will pro 125 vent lateral movement of the feeler responsive to the spring as the feeler moves front wardly until the filling is substantially exhausted, whereupon the toothed end of the feeler will no longer be held by the filling, 130

and the feeler will move laterally, as indicated in Fig. 3.

In order to utilize the lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler to effect replenishment of filling, the transmitter 15 is connected to the feeler in the present instance of the invention as at 44, and exerts a pull on the transmitter 15 when the feeler moves laterally from the position indicated in Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, thereby placing the train of mechanism in operative condition to effect replenishment of filling.

The lay 45 is provided with an opening 46 in its front wall, which registers with an opening 47 in the adjacent wall of the shuttle 48 when the latter is in the filling re plenishing box 49, as indicated in Fig. 1. The shuttle, as usual, carries the bobbin 50 on which the filling is wound. The parts last described with respect to the lay, shuttle and shuttle-box, are all of usual construction as found in filling replenishing looms, and need no further elucidation.

When a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the feeler 23 is moved frontwardly and the feeler spring is placed under tension. Owing to the fact that the teeth 43 of the feeler sink into the mass of filling, the feeler will not respond to the tendency of the spring to move it laterally, and the parts will assume the position indicated in Fig. 2. When, however, the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the toothed end 43 of the feeler will no longer be held from side swipe or lateral movement and as the feeler moves frontwardly on a detecting beat, the feeler spring will impart to the feeler its side swipe movement and effect replenishment of filling. On the return of the feeler to its rearward position, the hook 42 on the tensioning arm brings the feeler to rest in its rearward position.

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, a spring mounted upon the feeler, an arm extending from the spring, a guide through which the arm extends and by which the spring is placed under tension yieldingly to move the feeler rearwardly to its normal feeling position and tending to move the feeler laterally as the feeler moves frontwardly on a detecting beat.

2. A feeler mechanism, comprising in combination, a feeler that is supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a coiled spring mounted upon the feeler and having a laterally extended arm by which "the coils of the spring are wound up as the feeler moves frontwardly, and a bearing acting upon the laterally extending arm by which the tension of the spring is exerted to move the feeler laterally when filllng is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

1 r 1 3. In a feeler mechanism ror rooms, the coinblnation of a feeler, a coiled spring 'mounted upon the feeler with the axis of the coil intersecting the longitudinal dimension of the feeler, an arm extending from the coiled spring, and means acting on the arm to increase the tension of the spring as the feeler moves frontwardly.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a coiled spring mounted upon the feeler with the axis of the coil in tersecting the longitudinal dimension of the feeler, an arm extending from the coiled spring, means acting on the arm to increase the tension of the spring as the feeler moves frontwardly, and stop which arrests the feeler in its rearward feeling position.

5. A feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, a yielding arm carried by the feeler and extending therefrom, a bearing supported at one side of the path of movement of the feeler against which the extending arm bears, said arm constructed and arranged to yieldingly move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle and rearwardly to its normal feeling position.

6. A feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, a spring having one end connected to the feeler and the other end extending laterally therefrom, a bearing against which the laterally extending end rides as the feeler moves frontwardly, and which tensions the spring to urge the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and a stop acting through the arm as the feeler reaches its rearmost position to move the feeler laterally to its normal feeling position.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler movable toward and from the front of the loom, a spring having one end connected to the feeler and the other end extending laterally therefrom, a bearing against which the laterally extending end rides as the feeler moves frontwardly, and a hook carried by the laterally extending end to engage a fixed part and limit the action of the spring.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for move ment toward and from the front of the loom, a spring having one end fixed to the feeler, an arm extending from the spring, a bearing supported at one side of the path of movement of the feeler and against which the arm bears as the feeler moves frontwardly, and a stop for limiting the rearward movement of the feeler.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for move ment toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a spring connected to the feeler and having a tensioning arm, a bearing supported out of the path of movement of the feeler and against which the tensionin arm hears as the 'feeler moves frontwardly, and a hool; or stop on the tensioning arm for limiting the action of the spring when the :teeler is in rearward position.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a iecler mounted for move ment toward and from the front of the loom and also in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a spring connected to the feeler and hayin a tensioning arm, a hearing supported out oi the path of movement of the feeler and against which the tensioning arm hears as the feeler moves frontwardly, means for adjusting the bearing laterally and a hook or stop on the tensioning arm for limiting the action of the spring when the feeler is in rearward position.

1]. A feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally oi": the shuttle, a yielding arm extending laterally from the feeler, a bearing acting upon the arm as the feeler moves irontwardly to urge the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and a stop acting through the arm as the feeler reaches its rearmost position to pull the feeler laterally into its normal feeling position.

In testimony whereof, I name to this specification.

ISAAC SNOW.

have signed my

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