Weft Handling Patents (Class 139/450)
  • Patent number: 5273232
    Abstract: A weft stand of the present invention comprises a post, a supporting member supported on the post and rotatable about a horizontal axis, a supporting shaft for each weft package, supported on the supporting member and rotatable about an axis in parallel with said horizontal axis, and rotation controlling means for rotating the supporting member and the supporting shaft in the respective opposite directions while maintaining each in directionally constant positions. The weft stand allows the disposition of a weft package, from which a weft is released, in a predetermined direction without providing each supporting shaft with a weft package grasping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Mori
  • Patent number: 5247969
    Abstract: A mechanism for feeding weft yarn stock bobbins to a loom includes a bobbin frame (3) for at least two stock bobbins (4) which may be fitted to bobbin holders (38) having longitudinal axes (L) which may be aligned on a common yarn guide member (6). The bobbin holders (38) are each formed on a bobbin carrier (10, 10') intended for receiving one of the stock bobbins (4) and able by means of a holder (30) of a charging mechanism to be fastened to the bobbin frame (3) and removed from the bobbin frame, the bobbin carrier having a yarn guide unit (45) for feeding the piece (A) at the start of the weft yarn (5) wound onto this stock bobbin (4) to the common yarn guide member (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Tonny Raaijmakers, Antonius J. M. Hamer, Gregor Gebald, Manfred Langen, Helmut Bungter, Hans-Peter Schmitz
  • Patent number: 5244164
    Abstract: The yarn brake (1) having electromagnets (12, 12') and a brake lamella (2) has, on that side thereof that is remote from the yarn (3), a segmented layer (5) of soft ferromagnetic material. The layer (5) is effective to strengthen the magnetic attraction. Substantially platelike segments (55, 56) of the layer (5) are disposed in accordance with the operating ranges of the discrete electromagnets (12, 12') and have connections (60, 560) to one another and/or to the brake lamella (2). The connections (60) between the segments (55) are flexible. Because of the segmentation of the attraction-increasing segmented layer (5), the flexibility of the brake lamella (2) remains substantially unimpaired. The yarn brake can be released by electromagnets (12') disposed on one side of the segmented layer (5). By means of a blower (28) having nozzles (29) distributed over the length of the brake gap, fly can be removed from the braking surfaces when the yarn brake (1 ) is released periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Lorant Gacsay
  • Patent number: 5226922
    Abstract: A storage station for full weft packages transferred to a weft package stand of a weaving machine by a carrier or the carrier is provided with a direction adjusting device for arranging the direction of the full packages in a corresponding direction to the full package accepting direction of the weft package stand. A rail for the carrier is composed of a main rail and a subrail, wherein the main rail is composed of a first rail portion extending through the storage station and a second rail portion connected to the first rail portion and extending along each row of weaving machines in a weaving machine installation region, and the subrail is a closed loop subrail connected to the main rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Mori
  • Patent number: 5226459
    Abstract: A thread brake includes a plurality of fixed thread guide elements, at least two movable thread guide elements mounted on a rotatable body which, through rotation, can be brought in opposite directions to cross a path of a thread being guided by the fixed thread guide elements and thereby engage the thread such that the thread is bent in two places, thereby braking the thread. Rotation of the movable thread guide elements may be restricted during braking by taps appropriately positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Picanol N.V. naamloze venootschap
    Inventors: Ignace De Ro, Hugo Markey
  • Patent number: 5201346
    Abstract: Between the supply bobbin and a thread tensioner supplied therefrom, which comprises a thread guide (12) which can rotate around an axis of rotation (11), are disposed a fixed thread guiding component (3) and an optical sensor (20) for monitoring the weft thread (2), which is guided by the sensor (20) and an inlet channel (18), which passes through the thread guide (12) in the axial direction, towards the thread tensioner (5). The inlet channel (18) of the thread guide (12) is eccentrically offset with respect to its axis of rotation (11), so that the section of the weft thread (2) running towards it is laterally deflected and a rotational movement which can be detected by the sensor (20) is imparted to this section, and enables a safe monitoring of the weft thread (2) with minimal thread tension. A guide piece which has a guide channel eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of rotation (11) and can be mounted on the thread guide (12) may also be provided as means to deflect the weft thread (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Gerardus Cox
  • Patent number: 5199468
    Abstract: The weft yarn clearing device is of use for an automatic method of clearing weft breakages in projectile looms. In the event of the yarn breakage in the shed, the weft yarn is engaged in the shed by at least one gripper element, then supplied to the inlet of an extractor and placed between the rollers of a pair of draw-off rollers. The rollers draw the weft yarn out of the shed and the weft yarn is simultaneously supplied by the extractor to a collecting receptacle. The clearing device can also be used for a yarn breakage before the shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Hubertus H. Aarts, Antonius J. M. Hamer
  • Patent number: 5179980
    Abstract: A yarn brake which can be used in projectile looms and rapier looms is actuated by a stepping motor with the rotational movement of a drive shaft of the stepping motor being converted to a linear movement of the braking member of the yarn brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Oskar Hubner, Rudolf Stauner
  • Patent number: 5172734
    Abstract: A weft breaks monitoring system in a loom which examines the trend of the weft break, and comprises a device for measuring a winding diameter of a weft feed package and a tension meter for detecting a weft break, wherein the winding diameter is divided into plural sections and the number of times of weft break detections from the tension meter is counted every section. A yarn release device for the weft feed package which provides an adequate tension in response to a variation of a release tension resulting from a change in the winding diameter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu Matsui, Yasuo Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5159822
    Abstract: The threading and yarn-changing device allows yarn guides each to be equipped automatically and selectively with one of a plurality of yarns (14, 15). It possesses a nozzle head (11) and a yarn-proportioning device (12) with guide parts (30.1, 30.2) for each of the yarns (14, 15) and an additional yarn-clamping and cutting-off device (13) and can be arranged in a stationary or movable manner on a knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: H. Stoll GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Franz Schmid, Fritz Walker
  • Patent number: 5158120
    Abstract: A pivotally mounted yarn guiding member is disposed between a weft yarn injector and a shed of warp yarns to effect drawing in of a fresh weft yarn as well as extraction of a broken weft yarn from the loom. The yarn guiding member is pivotable into a bottom position after receiving a fresh yarn end to deflect the yarn about a centering vane so that a shears may cut the yarn to form a fresh yarn tip for subsequent picking. The yarn guiding member is pivotable between a central position and a top position after receiving a loop of a broken weft yarn so as to extract the broken end of the yarn from within the shed or from the point upstream of the injector nozzle. An extraction duct is also provided on the exit side of the shed to extract the broken piece of the weft yarn via a reciprocating motion and suction. A hooked needle is also provided to effect formation of a loop of yarn for extraction by the yarn guiding member when a brake occurs upstream of the injector nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Josef Kaufmann, Eric Mader
  • Patent number: 5146955
    Abstract: The filling thread distributor mechanism employs a stationary part having arcuate channels through which filling threads are continuously delivered. In addition, the mechanism has a rotatable part mounted on the weaving rotor which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed transfer channels for sequential alignment with each connecting channel of the stationary part. Each transfer channel also communicates with a picking tube through which filling thread can be picked into a picking channels on the weaving rotor. A cutting mechanism is disposed between a picking tube and a picking channel in order to sever the filling thread and form a new tip for subsequent delivery to the next picking tube of the rotating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Alois Steiner, Theodor Wuest, Marcel Christe
  • Patent number: 5144987
    Abstract: In a device for a drawing a weft yarn (2) into a loom a continuous guide duct combined from tubular members (54, 55) is interrupted at places so that various operating elements such as a yarn brake (62) or a yarn tensioner (72) can act on the weft yarn (2). The weft yarn (2) is in these cases deflected transversely to the direction of movement through the tubular members, and so the tubular members (54, 55) are formed near the deflection station with slots extending from one deflecting station (63) to the other (63'). The device enables the weft yarn to be drawn in automatically by means of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Franz Burer, Hans-Jorg Gehrig, Josef Kaufmann, Heinz Maurer, Hanspeter Muller
  • Patent number: 5143125
    Abstract: A transfer tail forming apparatus for weft feeders fed to a weaving machine, wherein a tail end of a feeder now in use and a leading end of a preliminary feeder are connected together using a knotter. The tail end and the leading end are automatically positioned and held in a predetermined position by a positioning apparatus, and the yarn ends are connected together by the knotter to form a transfer tail. Further, by the provision of a stand-by apparatus the transfer tail is held in a predetermined posture, and when the whole quantity of the weft on the feeder now in use has been consumed, the leading end of the preliminary feeder can be introduced into the weaving machine in a continuous manner. Moreover, when the supply of weft from the feeder now in use is discontinued, the introduction of the leading end from the preliminary feeder is made possible by the stand-by apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tamatani, Kanji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5131437
    Abstract: A device for retrieving the end of yarn wound on a yarn-feed spool includes a system for blowing an essentially tangentially directed current of air over a rotating yarn-feed spool so that an end of the yarn wound on the yarn-feed spool can be freed from the spool. A suction nozzle is provided to capture and draw into the nozzle the end of the yarn blown free from the spool. A movable carriage system carrying at least the air current generating means and the suction nozzle is provided so that a yarn-feed spool can be approached, exposed to the air current and the freed yarn end captured by the suction nozzle. The mobile system may also carry a device for engaging the driving the yarn-feed spool in rotation. A conveyor system for moving the retrieving system over a weaving machine is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Picanol N.V., naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Henry Shaw, Roger Ligneel
  • Patent number: 5123455
    Abstract: A weft feeder for gripper or projectile looms comprising a body housing a motor, a drum idly mounted on the motor shaft and held stationary around which a winding arm rotated by the motor winds up a weft yarn reserve, a bracket positioned alongside the drum and carrying sensors to detect and control the yarn reserve as well as a brake to stop the yarn against the end surface of the drum, and three compressed air devices acting on the yarn to automatically restore the continuity of the weft yarn from the feed spool to the loom is disclosed. The first device is positioned at the inlet of the weft feeder to withdraw therefrom broken yarn and introduce therein new yarn fed by the spool. The second device is positioned adjacent to the weft feeder drum to receive the new yarn fed by the first device and by the winding arm to send it to a fixed point. The third device consists of at least a suction nozzle mounted, downstream of the brake, at the end of the weft feeder bracket positioned alongside the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Roj Electrotex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Maina
  • Patent number: 5109891
    Abstract: In a measuring weft feeder for fluid jet looms, the continuity of the weft yarn from the feed spool or reel to the main nozzle of the loom is automatically restored by two compressed air devices acting on the weft yarn, the first of which--positioned at the inlet of the weft feeder, to withdraw therefrom the broken yarn and introduce therein new yarn fed by the spool or reel--comprises a first duct connected to the inlet of the weft feeder, along which duct there are positioned a clamp, a nozzle and a cutter. A second duct branches off from the first, close to its outlet into the weft feeder, which also comprises a nozzle, while the second device--positioned adjacent to the weft feeder drum, to receive the new yarn fed by the first device and by the winding arm and send it to a fixed point for feeding the main nozzle of the loom--comprises a curved profiled duct, which is either open or adapted to open longitudinally towards the drum and has an aerodynamic guide for the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: ROJ Electrotex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Maina
  • Patent number: 5107904
    Abstract: In a loom having at least two weft accumulators (10, 11) disposed lengthwise adjacent the loom, and a bobbin holder (2) to receive weft bobbins (220, 221), one of the weft bobbins (220, 221) mounted on a table (21) is moved into the operative position to deliver weft yarn (31) to a weft accumulator (10). The bobbin holder is disposed compactly in a space which is bounded by the weft accumulators (10, 11) and transversely thereto by the loom (1) and which is longitudinally adjacent the same and laterally adjacent the accumulators (10, 11). At least two tables (21) with the weft bobbins (220, 221) are received one above another in the bobbin holder (2) and the weft yarn (31) are guided substantially transversely to the loom longitudinal axis from the bobbin holder (2) to the weft accumulators. This arrangement increases the number of weft bobbins which can be stored adjacent the loom (1) without any appreciable increase in the amount of space required as compared with a bobbin holder with only one table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Hubert P. Van Mullekom
  • Patent number: 5107905
    Abstract: A device for supplying weft threads in a weaving machine includes a bobbin support over which it is possible to slip a bobbin, a thread guide duct extending axially through the bobbin support and which includes an opening at the top for permitting entry of a yarn end into the thread guide duct, a blower for providing an airstram in the thread guide duct, the airstream flowing towards the top of the bobbin support, a prewinder, and a suction and blower device mounted at an entry of the prewinder. The blower and the suction and blower device are simultaneously switched on to create an airstream between the thread guide duct and the prewinder to carry the yarn end situated in the thread guide duct to the prewinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Picanol N.V., naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Henry Shaw, Roger Ligneel
  • Patent number: 5105856
    Abstract: A guide mechanism for presenting a weft thread to a cutter, especially in an air jet loom, has a weft thread guide pin which is driven up and down in synchronism with the beat-up motion of a loom slay, so that a beat-up weft thread is stretched by the guide pin either due to the return motion of the slay or by a horizontal motion component imparted to the guide pin in addition to its vertical movement. During the forward stroke of the beat-up motion of the slay the guide pin is out of the way of the weft thread. The cutting takes place when the weft thread is stretched across the cutter. The return motion of the slay and a forward motion of the guide pin can be combined for applying the proper tension to the weft thread to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Adnan Wahhoud
  • Patent number: 5050647
    Abstract: When a weft thread is not used for weaving for a certain preset time, at least one weft length of this weft thread is automatically inserted into the shed and removed to prevent weaving errors caused because the weft thread is held too long in the insertion nozzle and consequently may be damaged. The weaving process then continues with a new length of new weft thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.,naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Robert Baeck, Dirk Lewyllie, Jose Vangheluwe
  • Patent number: 5050648
    Abstract: In a system for automatically controlling the tension of weft yarns fed to a loom with continuous weft feed, the extent of braking of the weft yarn is controlled based on signals output from a device for measuring weft yarn tension. Specifically, signals from a weft yarn tension measuring device are output to an electronic interface unit, which processes those signals and directs an actuator to brake the weft yarn more heavily when the detected tension is below a predetermined level, and less heavily when the detected tension is above a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Vamatex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Pezzoli
  • Patent number: 5018557
    Abstract: A shuttleless loom has an injection nozzle that is movable limitedly in the warp direction to one side of the warp and that has a filament-receiving upstream end and a filament-ejecting downstream end from which a weft filament is project in the weft direction through the warp. Separate generally stationary first and second yarn supplies to one side of the warp are associated with respective telescoping feed nozzles to the one side of the warp and each having a generally stationary upstream end and a downstream end displaceable between an advanced position relatively close to the injection nozzle and a retracted position relatively far from the injection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: S. A. Saurer Diederichs (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Roger Fourneaux
  • Patent number: 5016676
    Abstract: In a loom a weft filament is fed from a supply and inserted in a weft direction through a warp so as to project from a downstream edge of the warp and the presence of the filament is detected by a sensor at the downstream edge. If no presence is detected, a deweaving device is operated that in a deweaving step strips the filament from the warp and ejects it therefrom past the sensor. A controller is connected to the sensor and loom for shutting down the loom when the sensor detects that no filament is ejected by the deweaver during and immediately after the deweaving step, shutting down the loom when the sensor detects a filament immediately after the deweaving step, and restarting the loom when the sensor detects a filament during but not immediately after the deweaving step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: S. A. Saurer Diederichs
    Inventors: Roger Fourneaux, Gilles Grandvallet
  • Patent number: 5016679
    Abstract: A thread feed device comprises at least one thread supply from which thread is taken and supplied to an intermediate store. A first thread feed nozzle is arranged before or after the intermediate store. A resilient thread guide element is arranged after the intermediate store and the first thread feed nozzle, which element the thread enters and leaves at an angle to the thread feed direction of a second thread feed nozzle. The thread feed device reduces stress peaks when the thread is abruptly stopped and is particularly suitable for intermittently feeding threads. Air looms with thread feed devices of this kind have a lower number of weft thread breaks among weft threads with a low braking strength. The spring element, which carries the thread guide element, can be mounted directly on the tube of the first thread nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Geradus Cox
  • Patent number: 5002098
    Abstract: A thread brake for braking a weft thread in a weaving machine includes a rigid stop and an elastically deformable blade which has a free end supported to press resiliently against the rigid stop. Thread guides are provided to guide weft threads between the rigid stop and the elastically deformable blade. The thread brake is activated when the deformable blade elastically presses against the rigid stop. When contacted by a switching device, however, the elastically deformable blade is pushed against its resilient force and removed from the rigid stop, at least in the region of the switching device, deactivating the thread brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Bertrand Desmet, Henry Shaw
  • Patent number: 5000231
    Abstract: A yarn package changing method and an apparatus for carrying out the same, for use in combination with a loom which receives the weft yarn from a yarn package. The yarn package changing method carries out automatic yarn package changing operation through steps of removing an empty bobbin set in a yarn package changing position on a yarn package stand, by a yarn package transporting device, supplying a new yarn package to the yarn package stand by the yarn package transporting device, holding the leading end of the new yarn package at a predetermined position by a leading end positioning device; and setting the new yarn package in a feeding position on the yarn package stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuo Takehana, Yasuyuki Tamatani, Masahiro Nagai
  • Patent number: 4987931
    Abstract: A device for supplying weft threads in weaving machines with minimal twisting includes at least one rotatable set of thread supplies and one rotatable set of thread preparation mechanisms per set of thread supplies. The sets of thread preparation mechanisms are rotatable together with corresponding sets of thread supplies forming a rotatable assembly to prevent the weft threads from becoming tangled with one another as the sets rotate, for example to bring one of the thread preparation mechanisms adjacent a repair mechanism, or to change threads. A mechanism is further included which converts the rotational motion of the rotatable assembly into a translational motion essentially in the direction of the axis around which the assembly turns. By a suitable choice of the mechanism, lengthening of the thread after rotation can be fully compensated for by the translational motion of the thread supplies and of the corresponding thread preparation mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Henry Shaw, Roger Ligneel
  • Patent number: 4969489
    Abstract: A weft threading system for threading a weft yarn prior to restart of weaving operations of a fluid jet loom. The weft threading system is comprised of a weft winding arm forming part of a weft storage unit, arranged to wind the weft yarn on a drum under relative rotation between the weft winding arm and the drum. The weft winding arm is pipe-shaped so that an air jet is passed therethrough and ejected from its tip end section. The tip end section of the weft winding arm is bent so that the air jet ejected therefrom is directed to a weft guide disposed separate from the weft storage unit and on the upstream side of a weft inserting or main nozzle. The weft guide ejects an air jet in order to suck the weft yarn and project it therefrom, so that the weft yarn from the weft winding arm is automatically passed through the weft guide into the weft inserting nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Tanaka, Shinji Wakai, Masayuki Koriyama, Keizo Shizuka, Jotaro Uehara
  • Patent number: 4962796
    Abstract: An air jet loom is provided with a brake for braking a weft yarn and a set of deflectors at least one of which is movable in a controlled manner to impart tension in the weft yarn. The movement of the movable deflector can be controlled to reduce the amount of deflection during a braking operation to reduce stress peaks in the weft yarn. The movable deflector may be controlled by a spring, an electromagnet and/or a pneumatic reciprocating actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Peter Grimm, Willam Manfred
  • Patent number: 4951718
    Abstract: A method for repairing a weft thread on a weaving machine, in particular for repairing thread breaks between a yarn supply package and an accumulator, includes the step of providing at least two yarn supply packages, a second package automatically replacing the one in use when the one in use becomes empty. Additional steps include using a thread clip to hold a thread end of the second supply package, monitoring the weft thread for breaks between the supply package in use and the accumulator, and when a thread break is detected, gripping the thread end of the second supply package and joining it to the broken weft section which is connected to the accumulator. An apparatus is provided which includes means for carrying out each of the above-described steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Henry Shaw
  • Patent number: 4949763
    Abstract: A device for greatly damping the oscillations and vibrations of weft yarns fed from a weft feeder to a loom, at the outlet of the feeder, particularly when yarn cutting takes place in the loom, comprises, in association with the conventional fixed yarn guide at the outlet of the weft feeder, a second fixed yarn guide, parallel to the first and downstream thereof, as well as an intermediate yarn guide, movable between a position in which it does not engage the weft yarn on its path between the two guides, and a position in which it engages the yarn and deviates it, forcing it to follow a winding path between the two guides. The positions of the intermediate yarn guide are controlled by an actuator and selected by the electronic circuit of the weft feeder, according to the working of the loom, so as to deviate the yarn when yarn cutting takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: ROJ Electrotex S.p.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Maina
  • Patent number: 4926911
    Abstract: An airjet weaving machine weft thread supply includes at least two thread preparation mechanisms and detectors for detecting thread breaks. When the detectors detect a thread break, a control unit deactivates the thread preparation mechanism in which the thread break has occurred and transfers the task of the deactivated thread preparation mechanism to another thread preparation mechanism. The control unit also activates an alarm signalling system and may also cause the main drive of the weaving machine to shut off in response to detection of a thread break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Henry Shaw
  • Patent number: 4919172
    Abstract: The weft thread or weft threads in an air nozzle loom are plied into multi-strand weft threads directly in the loom. For this purpose one or several plying devices are arranged directly in the loom between a plurality of weft thread strand supply spools or cross-wound bobbins and the multi-ply weft thread insertion nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Riezler, Adnan Wahhoud
  • Patent number: 4917153
    Abstract: A standby weft yarn cutting preventing device is provided for a multicolor fluid jet loom, such as a multicolor air jet loom. In cutting a picked weft yarn among a plurality of weft yarns with the cutter of the loom, the standby weft yarn cutting preventing device drives away the free ends of the rest of the weft yarns from the operating zone of the cutter to prevent the free ends of the weft yarns on standby from being cut together with the picked weft yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Mori, Keiji Kameda
  • Patent number: 4913195
    Abstract: A filling thread feeding device (2) comprises a thread guide (4) for placing at least one filling thread (S.sub.1) into the entrainment region of a gripper (6) which can be extended into and retracted out of a shed (8). A pair of scissors (22) open against a weaving reed (14) is incorporated at the insertion side externally of the fabric edge (20) in the region of a looping edge (16). The scissors serve for cutting off a previously inserted filling thread (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, S.sub.4) during renewed insertion into the shed (8). The scissors (22) are designed and arranged in order to improve the operational security and achieve a simpler construction of the gripper loom. The scissors are, on the one hand, closed during the looping motion of the weaving reed and, on the other hand, an inserted filling thread (S.sub.1) can be conducted above and past the upper scissor blade (24) into a catching hook (32) lying in front (FIG. 2 ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Textilma AG
    Inventor: Francisco Speich
  • Patent number: 4909285
    Abstract: A thread clip including a clamping mechanism (1) consisting of a first jaw (2) and a second jaw (3); a spring mechanism (4) which presses the clamping mechanism jaws (1) together; an electromagnetic device (5) which can open the clamping mechanism against the force of the above-mentioned spring mechanism (4); a cam mechanism (6) which can close the clamping mechanism (1) against the force of the electromagnetic device (5); and a mechanism (7) which on closing of the clamping mechanism (1) by means of the cam mechanism (6) presses the different elements of the clamping mechanism (1) against each other with a certain clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Picanol, N.V.
    Inventors: Philippe Van Bogaert, Frank Ampe, Jozef Verhulst, Hugo Markey
  • Patent number: 4901772
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for adjusting the length of the weft thread to be inserted into the shed of weaving looms that provides an automatic correction of the weft thread length during each weaving cycle of the weaving process by adding to or substracting a variable amount of weft thread from the accumulated length of weft thread prior to insertion of the thread into the shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Philippe Van Bogaert, Ampe Frank
  • Patent number: 4890649
    Abstract: An operation control method of a multiple-phase loom arranged to weave a plurality of fabrics by simultaneously picking weft yarns respectively to a plurality of warp yarn arrays. In this loom operation control method, first the loom is stopped in case mispick is caused in any of the warp yarn arrays. Then, a mispicked weft yarn and a weft yarn normally picked simultaneously with the mispicked weft yarn are removed automatically. Thereafter, detection is made as to whether the mispicked weft yarn and the normally picked weft yarn are present or not in a weft picking channel. Finally, the loom is restarted upon detecting absence of the mispicked weft yarn and the normally picked weft yarn. Accordingly, the loom restart is carried out after completion of removal of the mispicked weft yarn and the like, thereby achieving effective loom operation without operational troubles, thus preventing weaving defects such as heavy filling bar in a woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takao Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4887649
    Abstract: The weft bobbin changer comprises a bobbin turntable comprising a delivery bobbin and at least one reserve bobbin. A sensor continuously monitors the quantity of yarn on the delivery bobbin. Only when the adjustable minimum quantity of yarn on the delivery bobbin has been reached is a piecing-up operation performed to join the yarn of the deliver bobbin to the yarn of the reserve bobbin. The yarn of the previous delivery bobbin being severed between the delivery bobbin and a yarn joint which has been or will be made is such that the previous reserve bobbin becomes the new delivery bobbin. The minimum yarn quantity for high-quality fabrics can therefore be greater than previously without loss of material and the yarn residues left on the bobbin can be further processed in lower-quality products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Hubert P. van Mullekom
  • Patent number: 4875507
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for guiding the weft threads in looms comprising a weft guiding element which moves over three consecutive positions which coincide with the various phases of the weft insertion during weaving. In the carry position, the weft guiding element is positioned so that the weft thread crosses the path of the insertion rapiers and the cut-off end of the weft thread is firmly clamped by the clamping device of the weft scissors. Immediately after the weft thread is carried by the insertion rapiers into the shed, the weft guiding element moves downward towards the lay and forward towards the weft cutting device into the insertion position. The weft thread is now situated in the shed. As the beat-up movement of the reed begins, the weft guiding element moves simultaneously upward with the lay and forward towards the weft scissors, the beat-up position. The weft thread is now held in a virtually straight line, virtually parallel to the reed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: N.V. Michel Van De Wiele
    Inventor: Johny Debaes
  • Patent number: 4875506
    Abstract: The yarn brake includes a rigid brake element and a thin flexible metal foil brake element. Controllable electromagnets are provided for moving the metal foil towards the rigid brake element and for varying the braking force of the yarn brake. During braking, the yarn is braked gently over a relatively long length while the metal foil deforms about the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventors: Lorant Gacsay, Beat Meierhofer
  • Patent number: 4858658
    Abstract: A method for repairing a break in a weft thread which occurs before the thread accumulation space of a weft accumulator includes the steps of drawing the thread reserve present in the weft accumulator after the break back towards the end of the thread which is connected to the yarn package, and subsequently joining it thereto. A weaving machine for practicing the method includes a detection device for detecting a break in the weft thread, a threading device for drawing the thread reserve in the weft accumulator back towards the remaining weft thread, and a thread joining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Henry Shaw
  • Patent number: 4858657
    Abstract: A yarn cutting device for weaving looms having fixed reserves of weft and which operate with a gripper type weft-carrying shuttle wherein the shuttle supports a guiding member which carries the yarn towards the shed on the side of the loom. The guiding member includes two metal plates mounted between two resilient shims which allow the plates to be forced apart to receive a blade moved vertically into the path of the guiding member as the shuttle enters the shed to thereby sever the yarn. In an alternate embodiment, the guiding member is fixed adjacent the shed and the blade is carried by the shuttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: Aime Fabre
  • Patent number: 4856691
    Abstract: A new weft yarn is supplied to a predetermined position in case when the weft yarn in a control unit, particularly in a loom, is broken. Conventionally, the supply of the new weft yarn is effected by a weaver. The present invention provides a yarn guide device for positioning, holding, and transferring a yarn to a predetermined position. The yarn in then drawn inside of a guide tube located in a predetermined position, and thereafter the yarn is automatically guided to a required device such as a measuring and storing device for the weft yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corp.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Takehana, Fumio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 4838319
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing a faulty weft from the shed of a jet loom upon stoppage of the loom and for restarting the loom thereafter. A mechanism generates a detection signal upon detecting the presence of the delivery of weft from a supply source upon removal of a faulty weft from the shed upon activation of a weft removal unit. The loom is allowed to be restarted after complete removal of the faulty weft from the shed and only upon confirming the presence of the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mituru Suwa
  • Patent number: 4834147
    Abstract: A scissors mechanism for cutting the weft thread in a shuttleless loom performs an excess stroke to bring the scissors mechanism, which is combined with a clamping mechanism, as close to the weft thread insertion gripper as possible in order to reduce weft thread waste. For this purpose, the fixed scissors blade is tiltable between a working position and a rest position in a plane extending substantially perpendicularly to the weft thread insertion direction. The movable scissors blade cooperates with a clamping arm for clamping the weft thread just prior to its cutting. For this purpose the movable scissors blade carries a clamping jaw next to its cutting edge and the clamping jaw cooperates with a clamping plate attached to a clamping arm coaxially mounted with the movable scissors blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Alois Eberle, Erich Peter, Rainer Steinberger
  • Patent number: 4832091
    Abstract: Method for repairing the thread supply in weaving machines in the event of an interruption between the weft thread supply package and the weft accumulator, with the characteristic that it consists essentially of: seizing an existing thread portion at a particular point of the thread supply on the weft accumulator drum; removing the portion of thread between this point and the point of the interruption; taking a new thread end from the same weft thread supply package or another and leading it to the old weft thread end; and joining the new end to the old end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Picanol N. V.
    Inventor: Henry Shaw
  • Patent number: 4817681
    Abstract: A weft thread brake for shuttleless looms has a controllable braking effect. For this purpose, two rows of thread guide eyes are arranged in parallel to each other and between the thread supply reels or coils on the one hand and the thread presenting mechanism on the other hand. Brake leaf springs are arranged individually or in pairs for each weft thread, whereby these leaf springs reach approximately in the direction of the respective weft thread movement and into the space between the two parallel rows of thread guide eyes for cooperation with a common control rail which simultaneously presses all threads of a group of threads against the respective brake leaf spring. The braking action is individually adjustable for each weft thread by properly selecting the characteristics of the respective brake leaf spring or leaf springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Valentin Krumm, Siegbert Gsell, Gottfried Cramer
  • Patent number: 4815501
    Abstract: In a fluid jet loom, almost all the faulty picks are attributable to defects in the quality of the weft yarn. The present invention detects matters for evaluating the physical properties of the weft yarn or matters for evaluating the result of the picking operation during the picking operation, discriminates the quality of the yarn package on the basis of data obtained through the detection, and automatically changes the yarn package for a new yarn package when it is decided that the yarn package feeding the weft yarn at present is defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Corp.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Takehana