US1405522A - Feeler mechanism for looms - Google Patents

Description

' C. B. LANE. FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOUTIVIS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1920- 130552 Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

UNETE STATES Learner car es.

CHARLES IB. LANE, OFKNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO DEAPEB CORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIQN OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

Application filed June 19, 1920. Serial No. 390,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county'of Knox and State of Tennessee, 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 a filling is re plenished prior to complete exhaustion.

Heretofore, several different kinds of feeler mechanisms have been suggested to provide a fresh supply of filling when that in the active shuttle has reached a predetermined degree of exhaustion, and amongfeeler causes the feeler to slide or move longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin and eifect replenishment of filling through a train of mechanism actuated by such movement of the feeler. The inclined type of feeler as disclosed, for instance, in the Stimpson patent above mentioned, has

proved to be very satisfactory and efficient in operation, and the present invention relates more particularly to this type of feeler and to improvements thereon.

In operation of the inclined type of feeler, should the feeler accidentally slip or slide along the filling and not be held thereby when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detectingbeat, a premature action of fillingreplenishment occurs and incidentally, the filling on the discarded or rejected filling carrier becomes waste. An important feature of the present invention therefore, consists of a lock which prevents the untimely action of the feeler and permits the inclined feeler to move along the filling carrier or bobbin only after the filling has become nearly exhausted.

The inclined type of feeler is moved frontwardly on each detecting beat of the.

to the inclined feeler so that as the feeler is moved frontwardl'y in its inclined path relative to the lay movement, it will be permitted to partake of the lateral displacement due to its inclined frontward movement. i V

Other features and novel combination of parts will hereinafter be describedin connection with the accompanying drawings which show a good, practical form of the present invention. I

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewshowing a feeler mechanism embodying the presentin-' vention and the relation of parts when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the rela tion of parts when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

It has not been deemed necessary in the drawings in this case, nor in the'present specification, to disclose the filling replenishing mechanism or the train of mecha nism which utilizes the side swipe movement of the feeler to effect replenishment 5 of filling, because such mechanisms are old and well known in the art, and moreover, the train of mechanism between the feeler and the devices which control filling relenishment are shown and described in the timpson patent hereinbefore referred to, and to which-reference maybe had.

The feeler carrier or stand comprises a plate 1 which may be adjustably secured to the loom frame by the bolt 2 which. prefera-blypassesthrough a slot 3'formed'in the feeler stand. The feeler stand aflord's'a 28 formed on or extending from convenient support for the feeler and feeler lock. The feeler lhas a toothed filling engaging end portion and extends frontwardly through a controller or slide 63 ing a slot 7 somewhat larger than the dimensions of the feeler which extends through it. T he front portion of the feeler extends through a rocking bearing 8 pivotally supported at 9 on the feeler stand. The controller slide 6 through wiich the feeler 4 extends is movable laterally of the feeler stand in a suitable guideway 10 and is preferably held in place by an overlying plate 11 which may be secured to the feeler stand by the screws 12. The controller slide 6 is connected by the rod or t ansmitter 13 with the train of mechanism for controlling replenishment of filling.

The feeler l has secured thereto the bridge 14, the side arms 15 and 16 of which may conveniently bear upon the upper surface 17 of the feeler stand and support the feele-r as it is moved toward and from the front of the loom in an inclined direction. A lug 18 is connected to the bridge-piece 1e and is adapted to engage a resetting cam 19. A spring 20 interposed between the bearing 8 and the bridge-piece is normally acts to hold the feeler yieldingly in its rearward posit-ion. The parts thus far described are or may be substantially the same as the similar parts shown and described in the Stimpson patent heretofore men tioned.

The shuttle 21 contains the usual filling carrier or bobbin 22 on which the filling is wound, and the feeler a, as fully described in the Stimpson patent, is adapted to feel through the side opening 23 of the shuttle to ascertain the condition of the filling on each detecting beat.

Mounted for sliding movement toward and from the rear of the loom is the feeler lock, and parts are connected to the fecler lock and to the feeler which normally prevent the feeler from sliding movement along the filling carrier when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting heat. but which permit such movement of the fcelcr when the filling is nearly exhausted.

In the present instance of the invention, the feeler lock comprises a lock carrier as which may be supported for sliding move ment toward and from the front of the loom upon the feeler stand. As shown in the drawings, the lock carrier is provided with slots 25 through which pass the guide screws 26 for guiding the lock carrier in its reciprocating movements. One of the wings of the bridge 14, the wing 16 in the illustrated form of the invention, is provided with a locking recess 27 which, when the feeler is in its rearward feeling position, is engaged by a lockin projection or lug the feeler carrier at. A spring 29 normallyacts upon the lock carrier 24 to move it rearwardly into the position indicated in 1. Une end of the spring may be conveniently secured to pin 30 a fixed part, and the other end of the spring may be secured to a hook 81 formed on or projecting from the lock carrier 24:.

The lock carrier 24- has secured thereto a hunter which, when the filling has become nearly exhausted, engages a surface on the lay, preferably the wall of the shuttle, on a detecting beat, and moves the carrier 24: frontwardly. In the present instance the carrier has the laterally-extending block which carries the slotted arm 33 to which is adjustably secured the hunter 8 1. The adjustable connection between the hunter and the slotted arm 33 may be convei'iiently formed by the locking nuts 85, one at each side of the slotted arm 33. The rear end portion of the hunter is preferably provided with a nonabrasive substance such as felt or a pad 36 so that the surface engaged by the hunter will not be marred or injured.

Since the feeler is supported. for movement toward and from the front of the loom in a direction inclined to the path of the lay or the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, and passes through the bearing 8,

it follows that the rear end portion ofthe inclined feeler will have a slight lateral swinging movement on each detecting beat of the lay, even though the filling-engaging end of the feeler is held from sliding along the filling carrier by engagement of the filling with the teeth of the feel r. The interengaging portions of the fecler and feeler lock, tl'iercfore, are made loose to permit such. limited lateral or swinging movement of the feeler on each detecting beat, but prevent movement of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier or filling. This projection for permitting the limited lateral movement of the feeler due to its frontwai'd inclined movement, is made in the present instance by providing the looking recess 27 of somewhat wider or larger dimensions than the locking projections 28, the construction being such that the interengaging parts 27 and 28 between the feeler and the feeler lock permit the feeler a limited lateral movement on each detecting heat, but loclr'the feeler from sliding or longitudinal movement along the fillingcarrier or filling until the filling is substantially exhausted. When the filling is substantially exhausted, however, the hunter will be moved frontwardly in advance of the frontward movement of the feeler by the frontward pressure of a surface carried by the lay, such for instance, as the shuttle itself, thereby disengaging the locking recess and projection, whereupon the feelcr mosses is freed to longitudinal sliding movement along the filling carrier when the filling reaches the desired degree of substantial exhaustion.

It is found desirable or convenient, in the present instance of the invention, to support the feeler lock on an inclined position relative to the lay movement and substantially parallel to the inclined position of the feeler, so that the feeler lock when moved front-wardly, will move in an inclined path as prescribed by the guides in which the feeler lock or carrier is mounted.

The bunter is preferably connected to the feeler lock for adjustment in three directions, one in a direction toward and from the front of the 100111 as by the nuts 35 and the thread ed portion of the bunter; another in a vertical direction by'means of the slotted arm 33; and the other in a lateral direction in theblock 32, the last of wnich adjustments may be effected by loosening the screw 37 and moving the stem 38 of the slotted arm 38 in the block and then setting up the screw 37.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of afeeler supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and the rear end of which has a normal lateral movement relative to the front of the feeler when aworking supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat and an abnormal lateral move ment along the filling carrier by the frontward pressure upon the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a feeler lock that has interlocking connection with the feeler and permits normal lateral but prevents abnormal lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler relative to the front end thereof on a detecting beatuntil the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion and then permits the increased abnormal lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler due to frontward pressure upon it. I

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle and the rear end of which has a normal lateral movement relative to the front of the feeler when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat and an abnormal lateral movement along the filling carrier by the frontward pressure upon the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a feeler lock, connections between the feeler and feeler lock which permit normal lateral movement of the rear end of the feeler and transmit the frontward pressure on the feeler to the feeler lock on each deand feeler look when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat that the feeler may be abnormally frontward pressure.

3. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler that is sup? ported in a position and for movement in clined to the path of the lay on each detecting beat and is given a sliding movement in a direction longitudinally of the filling car rier or bobbin by the frontward pressure when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a feeler lock, engaging parts, one connected to the inclined feeler and the other connected to the feeler lock,- constructed and arranged to permit limited lateral movement of the feeler on each detecting beat due to. its inclined frontward. movement relative to the lay, and means on the lay for disenga ing said parts and permitting sliding movement of the feeler longitudinally of the filling carrier on each de-' tecting beat when the filling is nearly exhausted. I

4. Ina feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported in a position and for movement inclined to the path of the lay on each detecting beat and held from movement along the filling carrier or bobbin under the ,frontward pressure on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, and thereupon being displaced laterally along the filling carrier or bobbin, a feeler lock, and connections between the feeler lock and feeler which permit limited swinging movement of the feeler on each detecting beat until the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion and which are then disengaged on thebeat-up to permit lateral displacement of the feeler along the filling carrier or bobbin.

displaced by the 5. In a feeler mechanism forlooms, the I combination-of a feeler that is supported in a position and formovement inclined to the path of the lay on each detecting beat, a; feeler lock which is displaced frontwardly by frontward pressure of the feeler against it on each detecting beat until the filling reaches a predetermined degree of exhaustion and is thereupon pushed frontwardly by a surface on the lay independently of the feeler, and locking connections between the feeler and feeler lock constructed and arranged to permit limited lateral movement of the feeler on each detecting beat until the filling reaches a condition of near exhaustion and to be disengaged'during the beat-up when filling is substantially exhausted for freeing the feeler for side slipping movement along the filling carrier or bobbin.

mechanism for looms, the combination of feeler that is supported to enter the shuttle in an inclined position and is given a frontward movement of normal inclination to the path of the lay on each detecting beat until the filling is substan tially exhausted whereupon it is given an abnormal inclination to the path of the lay due to the slip of the feeler longitudinally along the filling carrier or bobbin, a feeler lock that has interengaging connection with the ieeler and permits normal inclined move ment of the feeler frontwardly on each dc tecting heat until the filling reaches a coildition of substantial exhaustion and then permits the abnormal inclined movement of the feeler, and means for replenishing the filling when the feeler is given its abnormal inclined movement.

7. In a ieeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported for movement toward and from the front of the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, a bridge movable with the feeler, a feeler lock including a lock carrier, a locking lug and a locking recess, one on the bridge and the other on the lock carrier, a spring normally acting to hold the lug and recess in engagement to prevent sliding movement of the feeler along the filling carrier until the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat and thereupon becoming disengaged to free the feeler' to movement along the filling carrier due to the frontward pressure upon it.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported for movement toward the front of the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, a feeler lock comprising a lock carrier mounted independently of the feeler, a spring normally acting to hold the lock carrier yieldingly in rearward position, two locking means, one connected to the feeler and the other to the carrier, constructed and arranged to permit limited lateral move ment of the feeler on each detecting beat due to its inclined frontward movement and to free the feeler to longitudinal movement along the filling carrier when the filling is nearly exhausted on a detecting beat.

9 In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

6, In a feelercomhination of a feeler supported for move ment toward the front of the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, a feeler lock, an interlocking projection and recess, one connected to the feeler and the other to the feeler lock, a spring acting upon the feeler lock and normally tending to maintain the projection and recess interlocked to prevent sliding movement of the feeler longitudinally of the filling carrier on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, and a hunter adapted to disengage the projection and recess when the filling is nearly exhausted on a detecting heat.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported for movement toward the front of the loom in a path inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle, a feeler loclrthat is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom independently of the feeler, an interlocking projection and recess, one connected to the feeler and the other to the feeler look, a spring acting upon the feeler lock and normally tending to maintain the projection and recess interlocked to prevent sliding movement of the feeler longitudinally of the filling carrier on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, and a hunter adapted to disengage the projection and recess when the filling is nearly exhausted on a detecting heat.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler supported for move ment toward the front of the loom in a di rection inclined to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle by the frontward pressure of a surface within the shuttle on a detecting heat, a feeler lock, connections between the feeler and feeler lock constructed and arranged to permit a limited lateral movement of the feeler due to its inclined movement toward the front of the loom, a hunter, and means for connecting the hunter to the feeler lock for adjustment in three directions, one toward and from the front of the loom, one vertically, and one laterally.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES B. LANE.

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