Optical weft stop motion for a weaving machine

Claim 2

An optical weft stop motion for a weaving machine comprising: a housing disposed for rotation about an axis running parallel to the picking line of the weft yarn, and comprising a transmitter for emitting a beam transversely of the picking line of a weft yarn in the machine, a permeable mirror and a receiver positioned with respect to said transmitter to receive said beam in the absence of the weft yarn and to initiate stopping of the weaving machine in response to the receiving of said beam, and means coupled to said housing for imparting thereto a rotational oscillatory motion about said axis.

Claim 3

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a reflector spaced from said transmitter on the opposite side of the picking line to receive and reflect said beam with said permeable mirror being positioned between said transmitter and reflector for passage of said beam from said transmitter therethrough and for reflecting the reflected beam from said reflector to said receiver.

Claim 4

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means moves said beam through half an oscillation after one pick and through the remaining half of the oscillation after a second pick.

Claim 5

An optical weft stop motion for a weaving machine having a weft yarn directed through a picking line comprising a transmitter for emitting a beam transversely of the picking line to impinge on a weft yarn therein; means for moving said beam transversely of said picking line through a search zone extending on opposite sides of said picking line to impinge on a weft yarn in said search zone; an elongated reflector mounted in a stationary position with respect to said picking line on the opposite side of said picking line from said transmitter for reflecting said beam in the absence of a weft yarn therebetween; and a receiver on the same side of said picking line as said transmitter for receiving the reflected beam from said reflector to initiate stoppage of the weaving machine in response to the reception of the reflected beam.

Claim 6

An optical weft stop motion for a weaving machine having a weft yarn directed through a picking line comprising a transmitter for emitting a beam transversely of the picking line to impinge on a weft yarn therein; means for moving said beam transversely of said picking line through a search zone extending on opposite sides of said picking line to impinge on a weft yarn in said search zone; an elongated reflector mounted in a stationary position with respect to said picking line on the opposite side of said picking line from said transmitter for reflecting said beam in the absence of a weft yarn therebetween; and a receiver on the same side of said picking line as said transmitter for receiving the reflected beam from said reflector to initiate stoppage of the weaving machine in response to the reception of the reflected beam.

Claim 7

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises a housing containing said transmitter and said receiver therein, said housing being pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to said picking line and wherein said means is connected to said housing to oscillate said housing about said axis.

Claim 8

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means is further connected to the main drive of the weaving machine to oscillate said housing in synchronism therewith.

Claim 9

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 5 wherein said axis passes through said housing.

Claim 10

An optical weft stop motion for a weaving machine comprising: a housing disposed for rotation about an axis parallel to the picking line of a weft yarn in the machine; a transmitter mounted in said housing for emitting a beam transversely of the picking line; a receiver positioned with respect to said transmitter to receive said beam in the absence of the weft yarn and to initiate stoppage of the weaving machine in response to the receiving of said beam; a permeable mirror between said transmitter and said receiver for passage of said beam from said transmitter therethrough and for reflecting the transmitted beam to said receiver; and means coupled to said housing for imparting a rotational oscillatory motion to said housing about said axis whereby said beam is given a searching movement transversely of the picking line to intercept a weft yarn located in the path of said beam.

Claim 11

An optical weft stop motion for a weaving machine comprising: a housing disposed for rotation about an axis parallel to the picking line of a weft yarn in the machine; a transmitter mounted in said housing for emitting a beam transversely of the picking line; a receiver positioned with respect to said transmitter to receive said beam in the absence of the weft yarn and to initiate stoppage of the weaving machine in response to the receiving of said beam; a permeable mirror between said transmitter and said receiver for passage of said beam from said transmitter therethrough and for reflecting the transmitted beam to said receiver; and means coupled to said housing for imparting a rotational oscillatory motion to said housing about said axis whereby said beam is given a searching movement transversely of the picking line to intercept a weft yarn located in the path of said beam.

Claim 12

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 8 wherein said axis is located within the housing.

Claim 13

An optical weft stop motion as set forth in claim 8 wherein said axis coincides with the plane of the permeable mirror.