Weft Handling Patents (Class 139/450)
  • Patent number: 5794664
    Abstract: A weft feeding device which alleviates an excessive tension acting on the weft upon feeding of the weft and inhibits breakage of the weft includes a gripper to grip the weft at prescribed times, a length measuring roller located downstream of the gripper, and a pinch roller to hold the weft against the roller at prescribed times. Opening and closing of the gripper is linked with movement of the pinch roller into and out of contact with the length measuring roller. A linear or a rotary solenoid is provided to operate the pinch roller and the gripper by a pulse width modulation method or a linear method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Instrument Inc.
    Inventors: Iwao Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 5769132
    Abstract: A projectile or gripper shuttle loom includes a weft-yarn delivery device with an overend-unwinding delivery unit that has a stationary, brakeless drum, a withdrawal eye arranged coaxially downstream of the drum and a yarn brake controlled in accordance with the loom cycle. The thread path is enclosed by at least one hollow body extending from the circumferential face of the drum to the withdrawal eye at least in one axially limited segment. The hollow body has on its inner side coaxial to the drum axis a plurality of ballooning, disturbing and braking elements which protrude inwards without touching the drum while forming projections and deposit surfaces for the weft yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Iro AB
    Inventors: Lars Helge Gottfrid Tholander, Joachim Fritzson
  • Patent number: 5725029
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the load on a weft thread being inserted into a loom shed reduces the necessary number of weft thread monitors or stop motion devices functioning as thread tension sensors while still ensuring a reliable tension measurement, especially in a gripper loom in which a plurality of different weft thread types are to be respectively inserted into the loom shed using a weft thread selector and insertion arrangement. A single first thread tension sensor (14) is provided to be common to all of the weft thread types (6) that are to be inserted. The sensor (14) is arranged in a first arrangement plane at a location downstream of the weft thread selector and change arrangement (8). A single second thread tension sensor (19) is arranged in a second arrangement plane at a location between the first thread tension sensor (14) and the weft thread selector and change arrangement (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Peter Loehr, Rainer Schuster
  • Patent number: 5706868
    Abstract: In a device for guiding and braking a yarn, a yarn brake comprises braking elements that are pressed flexibly against each other and act on the yarn in a pinch zone. The yarn brake is arranged in the yarn running path between a yarn feeder and a yarn receiver. A pneumatic threader also is provided which includes at least one air and yarn guide element that is disposed in the yarn brake and surrounds the pinch zone without contact. The air and yarn guide element comprising a receiving end, a delivery end and a guide channel provided therebetween, which is open towards the braking elements and from which the yarn is introduced into the pinch zone. The yarn is conveyed into the guide channel by means of an air flow past the pinch zone to the yarn receiver and is introduced into the pinch zone under the action of a produced drawing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventors: Joachim Fritzson, Staffan Hagstroem, Per Ohlson
  • Patent number: 5669424
    Abstract: A combined weft thread clamp and cutter apparatus for an air jet loom includes a cutter (3) for cutting a weft thread (1) and a clamp (4) for clamping the weft thread (1). The cutter includes a fixed cutter element (10) and a movable cutter element (9) that is movable relative to the fixed cutter element. The clamp includes a first clamp element (14) and a second clamp element (13). The clamp (13, 14) and the cutter (9, 10) are arranged next to each other, and a spacing distance (8) between the clamp (13, 14) and the cutter (9, 10) is adjustable. The clamping surface of at least one of the clamp elements (13, 14) can be an elastically yielding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbh
    Inventors: Peter Schiller, Josef Hehle
  • Patent number: 5662148
    Abstract: A thread feed system having a measuring feeder, a supply bobbin supplying thread to the measuring feeder and a textile machine which withdraws the thread from the measuring feeder so as to perform a weaving operation. The measuring feeder includes a storage drum and a winding element which removes the thread from the supply bobbin and winds the thread onto the storage drum. A control device is provided for monitoring the operating conditions of the thread system so as to identify increases in thread tension. The control device is operatively connected to an auxiliary conveyor device having a drivable friction roll which is frictionally engaged with the thread between the supply bobbin and the storage drum. The auxiliary conveyor device is operable so as to provide an increased frictional action on the thread so as to advance the thread at an increased rate to the storage drum so as to preparatorily counteract the thread tension increase and eliminate short picks of the thread in the textile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventors: Kurt Arne Gunnar Jacobsson, Lars Tholander, Paer Josefsson
  • Patent number: 5660213
    Abstract: An insertion system for the weft yarn of a jet loom, comprising a jet insertion device in the jet loom for withdrawing the weft yarn and for transporting the same into a shed, and a weft-yarn storage, supply and measuring device arranged upstream of the jet insertion device. The weft-yarn storage, supply and measuring device including a weft-yarn stopping and releasing device which is controllable in response to a weaving cycle. The insertion system also includes a mechanical weft-yarn slip conveyor arranged in the yarn path of the weft-yarn stopping and releasing device relative to the jet insertion device, which comprises at least on conveyor roller rotating in the insertion direction of the weft yarn at a faster circumferential speed than the maximum weft-yarn insertion speed and can be deactivated while the conveyor roller is rotating during the insertion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventors: Lars Helge Gottfrid Tholander, Paer Josefsson
  • Patent number: 5632308
    Abstract: Weft yarn is inserted into the weaving rotor of a series shed weaving machine. Four weft yarns (7; 71, 72, 73, 74) are conveyed into the weft yarn distribution apparatus (9) from four supply units (2a-2d) and four metering apparatuses (1a-1d). The weft yarn distribution apparatus (9) distributes the weft yarns (71-74) delivered to it to the sheds of the weaving rotor (100) which are currently open, with the weft yarns being inserted through stationary fluid nozzles (91, 92, 93, 94) into the rotating weaving rotor (100). During normal operation of the series shed weaving machine, the weft yarn (71-74) is continuously pulled from the weft yarn supply (2a-2d) by the metering apparatuses (1a-1d) and conveyed to the weft yarn distribution apparatus (9) which conducts the weft yarn (71-74) into an opened shed (103a-103d). The speed of conveyance of the weft yarn (71-74) during insertion into the shed (103a-103d) is thus determined by the metering apparatus (1a-1d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventors: Robert Bucher, Ernst Eberhard
  • Patent number: 5624082
    Abstract: An adjustable yarn creel frame for feeding yarn to an associated textile machine in a generally in-line yarn delivery path and a rear frame section; and at least one creel unit carried. The creel frame includes a plurality of creel units each having a yarn eyelet near the front frame section. A first pair of generally level yarn package holders is carried by creel in position for the yarn packages mounted thereon to have a center line extending towards the yarn eyelet. A second pair of inclined yarn package holders is carried by the frame in a vertically spaced position relative the first pair of yarn package holders but with their center line extending towards the yarn eyelet. Adjustable frame elements connect front and rear frame sections to vary a horizontal distance between the yarn eyelet and yarn package holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Lang S. Ligon
  • Patent number: 5617902
    Abstract: A method to prevent fiber distortion in textile materials employed in a modified weaving process. In a first embodiment, a tacifier in powder form is applied to the yarn and melted while on the fabric. Cool air is then supplied after the tacifier has melted to expedite the solidification of the tacifier. In a second embodiment, a solution form of a tacifier is used by dissolving the tacifier into a solvent that has a high evaporation rate. The solution is then sprayed onto the fabric or fill yarn as each fill yarn is inserted into a shed of the fabric. A third embodiment applies the tacifier in a liquid form that has not been dissolved in a solvent. That is, the tacifier is melted and is sprayed as a liquid onto the fabric or fill yarn as it is being extracted from a fill yarn spool prior to the fill yarn being inserted into the shed of the fabric. A fourth embodiment employs adhesive yarns contained as an integral part of the warp or fill yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Gary L. Farley
  • Patent number: 5613643
    Abstract: A creel for feeding groups of yarn strands to a textile machine has a framework of interconnected frame members and vertical support members, each support member carrying a plurality of vertically spaced yarn cone holders. A group of yarn strands is supplied from cones mounted on holders on horizontally spaced apart support members. An outermost cone holder of the group has a yarn guide tube corresponding thereto mounted on a frame member with the inlet of the tube positioned for receiving a yarn from a cone mounted on the outermost holder. Each of the other yarn cone holders has an eyelet on a respective frame member for receiving a yarn strand from a cone mounted on a yarn cone holder carried by a respective horizontally spaced support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Robert S. Weiner
  • Patent number: 5592976
    Abstract: A weft yarn break for a power loom has first and second sets of hoops. Each set of hoops has at least two hoops which are spaced apart and essentially parallel to each other. A mechanism drives at least one of the sets of hoops about a rotational axis so that the first and second set of hoops have a relative swivelling, motion. A transversing hoop is disposed in the running direction of the weft yarn and includes an inclined surface located across the running path or direction of the weft yarn. The weft yarn is shifted up and down the inclined run-up surface as the first and second set of hoops are swivelled relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Saurer Sticksysteme AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Zwiener
  • Patent number: 5568827
    Abstract: A weaving loom provided with a device for positioning at least one weft cutter relative to a sley of the weaving loom in a specific direction includes a holder which carries at least one weft cutter and a bearing piece accommodates the holder. The bearing piece can be fixed immovably on the sley, which itself has at least one sley leg and a first end is rotatably connected to the sley by coupling elements. The holder is mounted inside the bearing piece so that it slides in a specific direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: N. V. Michel van de Wiele
    Inventors: Johnny Debaes, Ferdi Dejaegere
  • Patent number: 5564473
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting an irregularity during the insertion of a weft yarn into a weaving rotor of a series shed weaving machine involves drawing a length of weft yarn from a supply unit and delivering the weft yarn to the weaving machine in synchronicity with the weaving cycle. The length of weft yarn is inserted into a weft yarn conveyor apparatus and wound around a conveyor roller. A sensor is positioned between the supply unit and the conveyor apparatus to detect a weft yarn interruption, e.g., as a result of a weft yarn breakage or the yarn running out of spool. When the interruption is detected, the conveyor roller continues to deliver weft yarn stored in the storage apparatus until a complete weft yarn insertion into the weaving machine has taken place (i.e., weft yarn having a single loom width). The weft yarn is then cut at the insertion side of the weaving machine and the weaving machine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Sulzer Managment AG
    Inventors: Urs Schaich, Rolf Benz, Marcel Christe, Goran Dokic
  • Patent number: 5544680
    Abstract: A weft brake for an airjet loom includes a controlled drive for causing at least one thread guide to deflect the weft and thereby brake it, and a transmission which permits relative motion between the drive and the thread guide. The transmission is placed between the controlled drive and the thread guide to permit relative motion between the drive and the thread guide. As a result, rapid drive motion will not directly cause a rapid thread guide motion, resulting in a reduction in tension spikes during braking. Because the motion of the thread guide depends on the weft tension, when the weft tension is high, the amount of the deflection and consequent braking is less and the increase in weft tension caused by the braking is in turn limited. Moreover, even in the event of slackening of the weft tension, the weft still is kept tension. The drive may be in the form of a rotary drive and the transmission may be in the form of a helical spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Ignace De Ro
  • Patent number: 5544679
    Abstract: A feed mechanism for several weft yarns, each with its own feed device capable of selecting the weft yarn to be inserted, includes sensors for monitoring the weft yarns for quality defects and for, upon detection a defect in a weft yarn, precluding the weft yarn from being selected for insertion until the portion of the weft yarn with the defect has been shunted into a region from where it can no longer be woven into the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Jo Tacq
  • Patent number: 5540261
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-shed warp-wave weaving wherein weft threads are inserted into shed retainers by a stationary weft thread supply chamber. The inserted weft thread is transported through the shed retainer by air jet nozzles cooperatively associated with the shed retainer and in fluid communication with corresponding air supply sources stationarily mounted beneath the pathway of the shed retainers from weft thread insertion towards the fell of the fabric being woven. The weft thread inserting mechanism in combination with the air supply system act to increase the efficiency and reliability of weft insertion in multi-shed warp-wave weaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas F. McGinley
  • Patent number: 5538049
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying twist free flat weft containing a plurality of carbon fibers to a plurality of warps in a rapier weaving loom wherein the weft is transversely removed from a bobbin by draw-off rollers and intermittently supplied to the rapier. An elastic force is applied to the length of weft accumulated between the rapier and the bobbin to take up any slack and obviate its twisting. By this technique a carbon fiber fabric is woven with flat wefts which ensure a high fabric strength since crimped yarns with non uniform densities are avoided as well as a non uniform fabric thickness caused by irregular yarn thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Homma, Akira Nishimura, Ikuo Horibe
  • Patent number: 5531392
    Abstract: A creel for feeding groups of yarn strands to a textile machine has a framework of interconnected support members and vertical posts, each post carrying a plurality of vertically spaced yarn cone holders. Each group of yarn strands is supplied from cones mounted on a group of holders on each post. The uppermost cone holder has a yarn guide tube corresponding thereto mounted on a support member with the inlet of the tube positioned for receiving a yarn from a cone mounted on the uppermost holder. Each of the other yarn cone holders has an eyelet on the frame for receiving a yarn strand from a cone mounted on the respective yarn cone holder. The yarn strand from the lowermost cone is directed by the lowermost eyelet to the next adjacent eyelet and together with the yarn from the cone on the holder associated with that eyelet directs the yarns upwardly to each subsequent eyelet and thus into the guide tube so that all of the yarns are guided by the guide tube to a header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Robert S. Weiner
  • Patent number: 5529094
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for manufacturing a carbon fiber woven fabric by opening and closing a warp sheet formed of carbon fiber warps and by injecting wefts made of carbon fibers by water-jet into the warp sheet when the warp sheet is open. The accumulation of fluffs generated by abrasion between the weft and various guides is reduced by interrupting dispersion of water injected from the nozzle onto the weft as the weft travels from a bobbin to the nozzle, by sucking fluffs from the weft, and/or by causing contact between the weft and fluffs on the surface of the nozzle by loosening the weft, thereby making it possible to conduct a high-speed continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Nishimura, Kiyoshi Homma, Seishirou Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 5501250
    Abstract: Method to delete and reintroduce individual yarns as needed when they are being fed to a textile process by cutting an individual yarn, that is being forwarded to the process, rapidly to prevent producing a disruptive tension change in the process or in other yarns being forwarded to the process to produce an upstream cut end of an individual yarn; holding the upstream cut end of said individual yarn in an elongated condition at a ready position for reintroducing to the process; and reintroducing said yarn at said ready position to the textile process according to the following steps; metering said individual yarn from said source at a controlled rate; passing said cut end of yarn with a first individual yarn forwarding jet for forwarding said cut end from said ready position and maintaining said cut end of yarn in an elongated condition during said metering; directing said elongated, cut end of yarn in a path past an individual yarn cutter; passing for forwarding said elongated cut end of yarn from said cutt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Donald W. Edwards, Peter Popper, David P. Rule, William C. Walker
  • Patent number: 5499590
    Abstract: A thread guide holder device comprises a thread guide holder which is mounted on a spool stand base and has thread guides each for guiding a thread therethrough, wherein the thread guide holder is mounted on the spool stand base by way of damping materials. As a result, it is possible to restrain the oscillation of the thread guide holder during sewing operation so as to smoothly draw out the threads through the thread guides of the thread guide holder and consequently prevent irregular stitches and restrain an eye-offensive oscillation of the thread guide holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: The Singer Company N.V.
    Inventors: Makoto Kamewada, Shinji Kojima
  • Patent number: 5492286
    Abstract: An apparatus for the variable braking of traveling threads, wires, or the like, in particular for use in connection with the introduction of the filling thread in looms, in which the thread (F) passes between two brake parts which can be brought into spring application against each other, one of which forms a spring element and the other an abutment, one of the brake parts being movable in order to vary the braking. In order to improve the efficiency, it is provided that the abutment is developed as a substantially cylindrical body (2) which is acted on rotatably by the spring element (1), having a first partial section (4, 5) which is substantially circular in cross section and a second partial section (8) which has at least one circumferential region (6, 7) of reduced cross section, the abutment being seated on the shaft (1) of an electric motor which is developed as stepping motor (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Sobrevin Societe de brevets industriels-Etablissement
    Inventor: Bruno Motta
  • Patent number: 5492153
    Abstract: A weft yarn presentation apparatus has a weft sequence control having weft thread presenting devices (1), a controlled thread clamping device (2) with several clamps (3a-3f) and a guide member (4) with a slit (5). The association of the weft thread presenting devices (1) with the clamps (3a-3f) guarantees that there is no cross-over of the tracks of the weft threads, and the displacement of the clamps in the reference plane (6) does not influence these tracks. The weft thread is presented to the gripper in the reference plane (6), through matching of the movements of the clamp and of the associated weft thread presenting device (1) so that contact between the weft threads is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventors: Angelo Stacher, Theo Thalmann
  • Patent number: 5487415
    Abstract: A weft feeder for gripper or projectile looms allows an operator promptly to restore the continuity of a weft yarn from a yarn feed spool to members for weft insertion into a loom shed, in case of weft yarn breakage or interruption. Downstream of a first yarn guide outlet, there are mounted a double-leaf brake, a separating element, and a second downstream yarn guide eyelet. The separating element is controlled by an actuator so as to separate two brake leaves of the double-leaf brake and to form a duct to guide the weft yarn from the first eyelet to the second eyelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: Roj Electrotex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Maina
  • Patent number: 5477892
    Abstract: A device for continuously regulating the feeler sensitivity in the control of weft insertion in a loom. The device includes a selector having a memory into which the sensitivity value corresponding to the count of the weft passing through the eye of each rod is fed. The selector is electrically connected to a piezoelectric sensor-comparator, and is controlled by a logic control unit. The logic control unit provides electrical pulses or signals for selecting weft presenter rods of a presenter, and the same signal from the logic control unit is provided to the selector, such that the selector utilizes the signal from the logic control unit for providing the feeler sensitivity information to the sensor-comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Nuovopignone-Industrie Meccaniche E Fonderia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luciano Corain, Ruggero Manzardo
  • Patent number: 5476122
    Abstract: A weft thread brake for a loom has brake force application members controlled by a drive such as a high resolution stepping motor or a continuously adjustable drive for reducing or increasing a gap between the brake force application members. The weft thread moves through this gap. A thread tension sensor is arranged downstream of the brake and produces an actual thread tension signal that is used for producing in a closed loop unit, a brake force control signal for controlling the brake force in dependence on the actual thread tension signal. A rated weft thread tension value may be compared in the control unit with the measured actual weft thread tension signal and the result of this comparison is then used to produce the control signal to adapt the brake force to the thread characteristics and to maintain at all times during a weft thread insertion the required weft thread tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Rainer Schuster, Herbert Muller
  • Patent number: 5469896
    Abstract: A cutter for use with looms has a positionally stable, rotating first cutting member (1) and a rotating second cutting member (2) which is moveable in relation to the first cutting member. The cutting members are connected in a frictional manner by an energy storing device (8) and rotate in opposite directions. The movable second cutting member (2) is mounted so that it can freely rotate on an axle (6), which is retained in a torsionally secure manner in membrane springs (11), which are elastically deformable in the axial direction in order to compensate for the lateral deflections of the rotating, positionally stable first cutting member (1), as a result of which the service life of the cutters is extended. The device is particularly suitable for a series shed loom because a high cutting rhythm can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventors: Marcel Christe, Urs Schaich
  • Patent number: 5441087
    Abstract: A yarn storage and feed device with a main body, a take-up element on which the yarn is wound, a storage surface for yarn storage, a threading device with a compressed-air feeder system and a device for activating direction-jet nozzles. At least one direction-jet nozzle is located between the point of entry of the yarn into the storage and feed device and the feed-out point from the yarn-winding element; this nozzle can be activated independently of the nozzles fitted downstream of the feed-out point so that in the event of a partial failure, where stored yarn remains on the storage surface, the yarn end can be blown below the feed-out point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Iro AB
    Inventors: Ake Alberyd, Jerker Hellstrom
  • Patent number: 5425399
    Abstract: A weft picking system for an air jet loom is provided with a microcomputer as a controller. The weft picking system comprises a weft traction device including a pair of rollers, one of which is driven by an inverter motor. A weft yarn fed from a weft measuring and storing device can be placed between the rollers to be drawn toward a weft posture regulating nozzle. The weft posture regulating nozzle is arranged to project the weft yarn into the shed of warp yarns and regulates the posture of the weft yarn under the influence of air jet ejected from the nozzle and from a plurality of sub-nozzles. The rollers always rotate during a weaving operation of the loom. A change-over device is provided to change the weft yarn from a first state of being placed between the rollers to a second state of separating from the rollers or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Nissan Texsys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Shindo, Takao Ishido, Takatugu Kato, Ryozo Yuzawa, Masaichi Nishijima, Yuji Kato, Nobuhiko Hayashi, Takashi Ogasawara, Kenichi Nakajima, Tetsuhiro Kajiwara, Shogo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5423355
    Abstract: A weft yarn (1) leaving a stationary stock bobbin (2) is led through a compressed-air nozzle (6) and a deflector element (16) movable transversely to the direction of weft insertion (arrow 9), to the weft insertion mechanism (11) of a projectile loom. After each weft insertion the weft yarn (1) becomes deflected by the deflector element (16) from a yarn path (1a) running stretched into a cranked yarn path (1c) and returned towards the stretched yarn path (1a) during a following weft insertion. During a predetermined fraction of the weaving cycle which comprises the return of the weft yarn (1) into the stretched yarn path (1a), the compressed-air nozzle (6) is acted upon by compressed air so that the weft yarn (1) is additionally accelerated for a short time. After the return of the weft yarn (1) the compressed air feed to the compressed-air nozzle (1) becomes blocked during the remaining part of the weaving cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Sulzer Rueti AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Greger, Paul Lincke
  • Patent number: 5417251
    Abstract: A jet loom with a weft yarn insertion brake contains a braking element that is movable from a position of rest, on one side of the weft yarn, across the path of the weft yarn to a braking position. An electric motor, which drives the braking element, can be actuated during each insertion process of the loom. The electric motor preferably constitutes a fast response step or d.c. motor, whose direction of displacement can be switched and whose stroke can be individually adjusted for each set position of the braking element during the insertion process. Operation of the electric motor is controlled by an electronic control device. Programming within the control device can be modified between varying insertion processes so as to adapt the timing, stroke and driving direction of the electric motor. The driving force of the electric motor is transferred to the braking element by a constrained, inelastic link connecting the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventors: Paer Josefsson, Kurt A. G. Jacobsson, Lars H. G. Tholander
  • Patent number: 5406986
    Abstract: A faulty weft separating apparatus in a rapier loom for multiple colors which separates a faulty weft from other normal wefts and removes the faulty weft by way of a weft removing apparatus when a faulty weft insertion occurs. A set of guiding members are disposed on the insertion side of a fabric and when a weft is inserted properly, the guiding members are located at the retraction position to store the inserted weft in a storage section. When a faulty weft insertion occurs, the guiding members swing to the fabric winding side to allow the faulty weft to enter a positioning section, thus separating the faulty weft from other normal wefts. The separated faulty weft is picked up by a hook and wound by a weft removing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoyasu Oda, Akihiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5398732
    Abstract: A modulated thread beating device for weft feeders has a first lamina and a second lamina that are arranged opposite one another and are supported by pairs of fixed and respectively movable bars that engage the ends of the respective laminae, flexing them in an arched shape; the laminae are arranged opposite each other at their convex face. The movable bars are supported by a corresponding movable element which is suspended elastically and is provided with an energization coil that is subjected to the field of a permanent magnet. The coil of the movable element is supplied with an energization current that is modulated in proportion to the advancement speed or mechanical tension of the thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: L.G.L. Electronics S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pietro Zenoni, Giovanni Pedrini
  • Patent number: 5398731
    Abstract: In a weft thread brake mechanism with a controllable braking effect, a controllable braking force is applied to a weft thread as it passes between two lamellar braking members, such as leaf spring members. A servomotor, preferably a stepper motor, rotatingly drives an eccentric brake effect control member that cooperates with at least one of the lamellar brake members. Through the eccentric rotation of the braking effect control member, it presses to a varying degree against at least one of the lamellar braking members. Thus, a varying braking force is applied by the lamellar braking members to the weft thread. A programmable computer control provides control signals for the stepper motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Rainer Schuster
  • Patent number: 5392819
    Abstract: A selvage forming and cord catching device for use in a loom includes a base adapted to be secured to the loom and has two planetary gear systems mounted on it. Each of the planetary gear systems has two planetary gears orbiting about a central axis. A cylindrical yarn guide member is secured at the center of each of the planetary gears to allow yarn to extend through the center of each of the planetary gears. The yarn is brought through a guide arm mounted on each of the planetary gears in an eccentric manner so that when the planetary gears rotate, the yarn passing out of each of the planetary gears of each of the planetary gear systems are fed to the loom in an inter-crossing and inter-winding manner to wind around each other. The yarn from one of the planetary gear systems is fed to the loom to form the selvage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Hunshin Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Yen Lin
  • Patent number: 5363883
    Abstract: The thread braking device comprises a pair of braking members, which are arranged symmetrically in respect to the path of the thread. Each of the braking members has a spring member. Between these spring members a line-shaped, vertically arranged braking zone is defined. For braking, the spring members are pivoted on rockers towards the thread path. Due to this movement as well as due to the vertical arrangement of the spring members, the deposition of contaminations in the braking zone is avoided. The elasticity of the spring members reduces the danger of damage in the presence of thickened thread sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Gebruder Loepfe AG
    Inventor: Erich Weidmann
  • Patent number: 5346154
    Abstract: When forming a transfer tail, a pair of ends extending from a pair of weft packages supported through a supporting member by weft feeding means are moved to a working area of a knotter, and both the ends are knotted together by the knotter while each supporting member or a surface of the weft package holds intermediate portions of both the weft ends. There is provided a transfer tail formation apparatus comprising catching means for picking up the weft end extending from one package and the weft end of the other package, and the knotter for knotting both the weft ends picked up by the catching means together, wherein the catching means is arranged such that an operating portion thereof is positioned on or in the vicinity of a movement locus of the weft end extending from each package when both the weft packages are moved. A suction force of the catching means when forming the transfer tail is set as follows:______________________________________ (suction force at a time of drawing the weft end) .gtoreq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogya Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Mori
  • Patent number: 5343898
    Abstract: A thread feeding system including a thread regulator having a fixed housing, a hollow rotatable shaft extending through the fixed housing, a rotatable winding section secured to the rotatable shaft, an angled thread duct extending through the thread regulator, an inlet positioned at an upstream end of the duct, and ejectors positioned along the duct portions. The ejectors supply a working medium from a pressurized working medium source to the duct to facilitate threading of a thread through the thread duct. The inlet receives a free end of the thread from a thread spool assembly positioned upstream from the thread regulator. The feeding system also includes an arrangement for controlling the ejectors so that the ejectors generate a pressure proximate to the inlet to develop a flow of the working medium into the inlet, and an arrangement for feeding the thread through the thread regulator in a pulsating manner to insure that the free end of the thread passes unobstructed through the thread duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: IRO AB
    Inventor: Lars-Berno Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 5335700
    Abstract: A weft picking system for an air jet loom provided with a microcomputer as a controller. The weft picking system comprises a weft traction device including a pair of rollers one of which is driven by an inverter motor. A weft yarn fed from a weft measuring and storing device can be put between the rollers to be drawn toward a weft posture regulating nozzle. The weft posture regulating nozzle is arranged to project the weft yarn into the shed of warp yarns while regulating the posture of the weft yarn, under the influence of an air jet ejected therefrom and under assistance of air ejection from a plurality of sub-nozzles. The rollers are always driven to rotate during a weaving operation of the loom. A change-over device is provided to change the weft yarn from a first state of being put between the rollers to a second state of separating from the rollers or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ishido, Akio Shindo, Shuichi Kojima, Shuichiro Imamura, Kimimasa Onishi, Hiroshi Tsugane, Takashi Ogasawara, Kenichi Nakjima, Masahiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 5332007
    Abstract: The inclusion of faulty weft threads into a fabric being woven on an air nozzle loom is prevented with a minimal effort and expense for equipment and control components. For this purpose a sensor upstream of the weft thread insertion components provides the signal of a fault and this signal starts a thread removal program under the control of the loom control unit. The program is stored in the memory of the central computer of the control unit. According to the program the beat up motion is stopped and a predetermined length of weft thread is passed entirely through the insertion channel. When a predetermined number of weft shots have been made or a predetermined length of time has passed, the program provides a signal for the cut off of the faulty section of the weft thread and the faulty section is sucked out of the insertion channel and collected in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier GmbH
    Inventor: Adnan Wahhoud
  • Patent number: 5329962
    Abstract: A yarn supply system for a loom includes a yarn supply member changing apparatus for replacing a using yarn supply member with a new one when the weft yarn of the used yarn supply member has been used up or broken. The new yarn supply member is supplied to the yarn supply member changing apparatus at a mounting position from a self-propelled carriage. The new yarn supply member is carried to a yarn supply position by a carrying member movably mounted on the yarn supply member changing apparatus. A weft yarn wound on a bobbin forming part of the yarn supply member has a free tip end section which has been inserted into the central hole of the bobbin. The weft yarn tip end section of the yarn supply member at the yarn supply position of the yarn supply member changing position is drawn out of the bobbin and threaded into a weft winding arm forming part of a weft measuring and storing device under the influence of air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimimasa Ohnishi, Shuichi Kojima, Tokayuki Chikuma
  • Patent number: 5323982
    Abstract: A weft supply system for a loom having a support frame with vertically extending support beams interconnected with substantially horizontal and vertically separated rods which form a plurality of vertically aligned creel support levels. Creel mounting means are provided on an upper surface of certain of the horizontal rods and a multi-bobbin creel is mounted by each of the creel mounting means. The weft yarn supply system includes yarn delivery apparatus associated with each creel support level. The yarn delivery apparatus includes a pneumatic threading system for threading the weft yarn through the yarn delivery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventors: Lang S. Ligon, Joe Wright, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5314139
    Abstract: A transfer tail holding device is provided to hold a transfer tail formed between one weft package and an other spare weft package. The holding device comprises a holding member having at least one notch for receiving the transfer tail. Therefore, it is possible to position the transfer tail for pick-up by another mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Mori
  • Patent number: 5305966
    Abstract: A device for braking traveling threads, wires or the like, in particular for use for the entry of the filling thread in looms (8), having a plurality of brake parts (B, B') which are under spring action with respect to each other and between which the thread (5) travels; in order to obtain optimal use, a cyclic change in the brake force is derived from the rotation by motor drive of one of the brake parts (B, B', C, C').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Sobrevin Societe de brevets industriels-Etablissement
    Inventor: Bruno Motta
  • Patent number: 5303745
    Abstract: A weaving machine, more particularly a projectile weaving machine (100), has weft break clearing devices (1, 2) at the shed entrance and exit. These devices form units with grippers and, for example, a suction device for removing a broken weft (110) and are mounted for pivoting or displacing them with an actuator or manually out of range of the warps. The mobility of the devices (1, 2) allows the weaver unrestricted access, for example, when clearing a warp break in the selvedge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Josef Kaufmann, Heinz Pfenninger
  • Patent number: 5297592
    Abstract: When a weft yarn is broken between a fixed drum type weft yarn measuring and storing device and a picking nozzle, the weft yarn extending to a winding yarn guide is reliably delivered to a yarn suction device by the steps of generating an air current inside the winding yarn guide in the picking direction, generating an air current inside the yarn suction device in the drawing direction while the winding yarn guide is aligned with the yarn suction device disposed in front of the weft yarn measuring and storing device, and keeping a retaining pin from being advanced toward the drum. Thereafter the broken weft yarn on the drum is discharged by retracting the retaining pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yujiro Takegawa
  • Patent number: 5295516
    Abstract: A method of operating a direct weaving apparatus which may include a loop provided with picking nozzles and a weft yarn processing machine having a yarn processing unit for processing yarns, feed rollers and yarn storage drums. The start of the yarn storage drums may be controlled in connection with the start of the weft yarn processing machine. The respective operating speeds of the feed rollers of the weft yarn processing machine may be held constant and the yarn storage drums may be operated in synchronism with the corresponding feed rollers respectively at winding speeds slightly higher than the respective feed speeds of the corresponding feed rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanaka, Yasuhiro Inoue, Hirohiko Iida, Morio Sakurai, Kazuro Tokuda
  • Patent number: 5287895
    Abstract: An equipment for transporting, handling and feeding stock bobbins to a loom having a preparation station (5) for the charging of bobbin holders (12) with stock bobbins (4) and a transport loop (7) for transporting these bobbin holders (12) towards looms. The looms are arranged in groups and for returning bobbin holders (12') containing empty bobbin tubes towards the preparation station (5), as well as at least one storage section (7c) branching off the transport loop (7) for receiving a number of the bobbin holders (12, 12') which corresponds with the need of bobbins at the time by at least one of the groups of looms (1a, 1b, . . . 1n). For the exchange of the bobbin holders (12' or 12 respectively) on the looms a loading mechanism (18) is provided which is mounted on a secondary transport mechanism (10) which may be moved independently of the transport loop (7) towards a number of groups of looms (1a, 1b, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Tonny Raaijmakers, Gregor Gebald, Manfred Langen, Helmut Bungter, Hans-Peter Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5277229
    Abstract: A weft supply system of a loom using an overhead traveling truck between a package supply station and a weft supply station near the loom for holding and carrying a package wherein a package delivery device is connected to the package supply station for delivering specific types of packages to the package supply station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Yoshiaki Yamaguchi