Shuttleless loom

Claim 2

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable throUgh a beating stroke and selectively presenting picked threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to a medial pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for presenting a selected filling thread to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said picktransfer location to transfer the filling thread from said first carrier to said second carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the filling thread for beating into said fell, coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth and means disposed substantially at said picktransfer location for opening the closed jaws of said second carrier as said carriers approach said pick-transfer location, such that the open jaws of said second carrier will receive the picked filling thread from said first carrier.

Claim 3

A loom according to claim 1 wherein said means at said pick-transfer location includes a cam on said assembly projecting into said shed.

Claim 4

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable through a beating stroke and selectively presenting picked threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to a medial pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for presenting a selected filling thread to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said pick-transfer location to transfer the filling thread from said first carrier to said seCond carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the filling thread for beating into said fell, coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth and said filling-selector and presenting mechanisms including plural thread-selection fingers adapted to be moved by a tape control for initially orienting a selected filling thread for presentation to said first carrier, temporary holding means for receiving and gripping the selected filling thread, transfer means movable relative to said thread-selection fingers and operable to place a selected filling thread in said temporary holding means, a thread cutter operable after the selected filling thread is held by said temporary holding means for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and means for orienting the selected, held and cut filling thread to be engaged within the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier.

Claim 5

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable through a beating stroke and selectively presenting picked threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to a medial pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for presenting a selected filling thread to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said pick-transfer location to transfer the filling thread from said first carrier to said seCond carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the filling thread for beating into said fell, coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth and said filling-selector and presenting mechanisms including plural thread-selection fingers adapted to be moved by a tape control for initially orienting a selected filling thread for presentation to said first carrier, temporary holding means for receiving and gripping the selected filling thread, transfer means movable relative to said thread-selection fingers and operable to place a selected filling thread in said temporary holding means, a thread cutter operable after the selected filling thread is held by said temporary holding means for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and means for orienting the selected, held and cut filling thread to be engaged within the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier.

Claim 6

A loom according to claim 3 wherein said temporary holding means includes a stationary abutment providing a reaction surface against which the selected filling thread may be pressed, an elastomeric holding head movable relative to said abutment, a spring normally biasing said holding head against said abutment and latch means for maintaining said holding head in spaced relation to said abutment such that the selected filling thread may be engaged by said temporary holding means, said latch means being operable in response to movement of said combined lay and carrier assembly through said beating stroke.

Claim 7

A loom according to claim 3 wherein said thread-cutter includes a cutting blade and blade-actuating means operable in response to movement of said combined lay and carrier assembly through said beating stroke.

Claim 8

A loom according to claim 3 wherein the orienting means includes a thread lifter cooperating with said temporary holding means for positioning the selected held and cut filling thread in a substantially vertical attitude for engagement by said first carrier.

Claim 9

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a breastbeam and a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable through a beating stroke relative to said breastbeam and selectively presenting selected filling threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to a medial pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for presenting a selected filling thread in substantially vertical orientation to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, said mechanisms including temporary holding means contiguous to said one side of said weaving section for temporarily gripping and holdinG a selected filling thread, a cutter for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and thread-lifting means for engaging the held filling thread and imparting a substantially vertical orientation thereto, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said pick-transfer location to transfer the picked filling thread from said first carrier to said second carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the picked filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the picked filling thread for beating into said fell and coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth.

Claim 10

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a breastbeam and a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable through a beating stroke relative to said breastbeam and selectively presenting selected filling threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to a medial pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for presenting a selected filling thread in substantially vertical orientation to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, said mechanisms including temporary holding means contiguous to said one side of said weaving section for temporarily gripping and holdinG a selected filling thread, a cutter for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and thread-lifting means for engaging the held filling thread and imparting a substantially vertical orientation thereto, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said pick-transfer location to transfer the picked filling thread from said first carrier to said second carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the picked filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the picked filling thread for beating into said fell and coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth.

Claim 11

A loom according to claim 7 wherein the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers are closed at said pick-transfer location and include coacting means which cooperate with each other at said pick-transfer location for transferring a picked filling thread from the closed jaws of said first carrier to the closed jaws of said second carrier.

Claim 12

A loom according to claim 7 including a comblike cam disposed at said pick-transfer location for opening the closed jaws of said second carrier as said carriers approach said pick-transfer location, such that the open jaws of said second carrier will receive the picked filling thread from said first carrier.

Claim 13

A loom according to claim 9 wherein said first and second carriers include first and second cam followers operatively connected to the respective jaws thereof and wherein said first and second jaw-actuating means include first and second cams fixed to said assembly at the opposite sides of said weaving section for opening said carriers when disposed outwardly of the opposite sides of said weaving section.

Claim 14

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a breastbeam and a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable through a beating stroke relative to said breastbeam and selectively presenting picked filling threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to an intermediate pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for orienting and presenting a selected filling thread to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, said mechanisms including temporary holding means contiguous to said one side of said weaving section for temporarily gripping and holding a selected filling thread, a cutter for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and thread-lifting means for engaging the held filling thread and imparting a prescribed orientation thereto, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said pick-transfer location to transfer the picked filling thread from said first carrier to said second carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the picked filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the picked filling thread for beating into said fell and coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth.

Claim 15

In a shuttleless cloth-weaving loom including a frame having a breastbeam and a weaving section and shed-forming means in said weaving section having plural warp threads converging at a fell into which successive filling threads are beat to form the cloth, the improvement comprising a combined lay and carrier assembly movable through a beating stroke relative to said breastbeam and selectively presenting picked filling threads in said shed for beating into said fell, said assembly including first and second carriers movable from respective first and second clearance positions at the opposite sides of said weaving section to an intermediate pick-transfer location relative to said weaving section, said first and second carriers each including cooperating thread-gripping jaws and means normally biasing said jaws into a closed position relative to each other, first jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said first carrier when in said first clearance position at one side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to receive a presented filling thread for advance to said pick-transfer location, filling-selector and presenting mechanisms at said one side for orienting and presenting a selected filling thread to the opened thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier, said mechanisms including temporary holding means contiguous to said one side of said weaving section for temporarily gripping and holding a selected filling thread, a cutter for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and thread-lifting means for engaging the held filling thread and imparting a prescribed orientation thereto, the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier closing in response to movement of said first carrier from said clearance position toward said pick-transfer location, the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers being constructed and arranged to coact with each other in said pick-transfer location to transfer the picked filling thread from said first carrier to said second carrier, the thread-gripping jaws of said second carrier being effective to complete the lay of the picked filling thread into said shed as said second carrier moves from said pick-transfer location to said second clearance position, second jaw-actuating means operatively arranged relative to said second carrier when in said second clearance position at the other side of said weaving section for opening its thread-gripping jaws to release the picked filling thread for beating into said fell and coordinated drive means for moving said assembly through said beating stroke and for moving said first and second carriers relative to each other in timed relation such as to progressively weave said cloth.

Claim 16

A loom according to claim 11 wherein the thread-gripping jaws of said first and second carriers are closed at said pick-transfer location and include coacting means which cooperate with each other at said pick-transfer location for transferring a picked filling thread from the closed jaws of said first carrier to the closed jaws of said second carrier.

Claim 17

A loom according to claim 11 including a comblike cam disposed at said pick-transfer location for opening the closed jaws of said second carrier as said carriers approach said pick-transfer location such that the open jaws of said second carrier will receive the picked filling thread from said first carrier.

Claim 18

A loom according to claim 13 wherein said first and second carriers include first and second cam followers operatively connected to the respective jaws thereof and wherein said first and second jaw-actuating means include first and second cams fixed to said assembly at the opposite sides of said weaving section for opening said carriers when disposed outwardly of the opposite sides of said weaving section.

Claim 19

A loom according to claim 11 wherein said filling-selector and presenting mechanisms include plural thread-selection fingers adapted to be moved by a tape control for initially orienting a selected filling thread for presentation to said first carrier temporary holding means for receiving and gripping the selected filling thread, transfer means movable relative to said thread-selection fingers and operable to place a selected filling thread in said temporary holding means, a thread cutter operable after the selected filling thread is held by said temporary holding means for cutting the selected and held filling thread from the previous fill formed with such thread and means for orienting the selected, held and cut filling thread to be engaged within the open thread-gripping jaws of said first carrier.

Claim 20

A loom according to claim 15 wherein said temporary holding means includes a stationary abutment providing reaction surface against which the selected filling thread may be pressed, a holding head movable relative to said abutment, a spring normally biasing said holding head against said abutment and means for maintaining said holding head in spaced relation to said abutment such that the selected filling thread may be engaged by said temporary holding means, said last-named means being operable in response to movement of said combined lay and carrier assembly through said beating stroke.

Claim 21

A loom according to claim 15 wherein said thread cutter includes a cutting blade and blade-actuating means operable in response to movement of said combined lay and carrier assembly through said beating stroke.

Claim 22

A loom according to claim 15 wherein the orienting means includes a thread lifter cooperating with said Temporary holding means for positioning the selected, held and cut filling thread in a substantially vertical attitude for engagement by said first carrier.