GB2265160A - Gripper axminster type loom - Google Patents

Abstract

A gripper Axminster type loom including a plurality of grippers (18) for transferring tufts of yarn to the fell of the fabric being woven and projectile weft insertion means (32) for inserting weft yarn. The loom has a reed comprising individual fingers (20) movable from a weft-insertion position (solid) to a beating-up position (broken line). The fingers have aligned openings (23) for guiding the projectile (32) and also beating-up portions (21). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to gripper type looms, particularly of the type for weaving Axminster type carpets.

A typical example of a carpet loom of the gripper Axminster type is disclosed in UK Patent No. 1075082. Such looms are provided with grippers which transfer a tuft of yarn from a yarn supply to the fell of the shed for trapping into the weave.

In a typical gripper loom the waft is inserted by a single rigid needle or by a flexible rapier. This can be a limiting factor for operation of the loom, e.g. for a loom weaving say 4 yards width a pick rate of 55 picks per minute is typical.

A general aim of the present invention is to provide a gripper type loom, particularly for Axminster carpet weaving, which is able to operate at higher pick rates.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gripper type loom including a plurality of grippers for transferring tufts of yarn to the fell of the fabric being woven and projectile weft insertion means for inserting weft yarn.

Preferably the loom includes a beat-up reed having reed fingers adapted to define a projectile guide channel.

Preferably the beat-up reed has fingers spaced apart in the weft direction so that each neighbouring pair of fingers define therebetween a dent for the reception of warp yarns, the reed being moveable between a beat-up position and a weft insertion position, each finger including a channel opening positioned so as to be located within the shed opening when the reed is in its weft insertion position, the channel openings of neighbouring fingers co-operating to define the guide channel for a weft insertion projectile.

Preferably each channel opening is generally the same shape in cross-section as the cross-sectional shape of the projectile so as to provide positive guidance to the projectile. Preferably the projectile and openings have co-operating rectilinear sides. Advantageously the projectile and openings are of rectangular cross-section.

Preferably the fingers are of plate-like form and have a thickness in the range of 0.4 to 0.7 mm. Preferably the fingers define dents having a width in the range of 3 to 4 mm.

Reference is made to the sole accompanying drawing which is a schematic side view of a reed according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The reed 10 includes a plurality of individual reed fingers 20 mounted on a sley (not shown). The fingers 20 are spaced apart in the weft direction so as to define a dent between adjacent fingers 20. In the illustrated embodiment the dent has a width of about 3 mm.

In the illustrated embodiment a multiplicity of warp yarns 12,14 are fed through each dent. In addition, a gripper 18 is provided for each dent. In the illustrated embodiment the gripper 18 is located within a dent and is holding a tuft of yarn at the fell in readiness for beat up. The reed 10 is moveable between a weft insertion position (shown is solid lines) and a beat-up position (shown in broken lines).

Each finger 20 is generally of a flat plate-like form and includes a guide portion 22 and a beat-up portion 21.

Advantageously each finger is stamped from a suitable metal sheet of steel and has a thickness of about 0.5 mm.

The guide portion 22 includes a channel opening 23 which is located in the shed opening 30 when the reed 10 is in its weft insertion position. The openings 23 of adjacent fingers 20 are aligned and co-operate to define a projectile guide channel which extends along the reed 10.

A projectile 32 is illustrated located in the opening 23 and, as seen, both the opening 23 and projectile 32 have the same general cross-sectional shape, the projectile being of slightly reduced dimensions to enable it to slide easily along the channel.

Preferably the opening 23 and projectile 32 have rectilinear sides 36,37 respectively which co-operate to guide the projectile during its passage through the channel. This provides positive guidance in the vertical and horizontal planes.

A weft yarn escape slot 24 is provided to enable the weft yarn to move out of the channel during beat-up.

The beat-up portion 21 includes a leading edge 40 for engaging the weft yarn at beat-up. The portion 21 also includes a window 42 through which warp yarns 12,14 are threaded. This ensures that the warp yarns 12,14 are held captive in a given dent at all times.

Claims (9)

1. A gripper type loom including a plurality of grippers for transferring tufts of yarn to the fell of the fabric being woven and projectile weft insertion means for inserting weft yarn.

2. A loom according to Claim 1, including a beat-up reed having reed fingers adapted to define a projectile guide channel.

3. A loom according to Claim 2, wherein the beat-up reed has fingers spaced apart in the weft direction so that each neighbouring pair of fingers define therebetween a dent for the reception of warp yarns, the reed being moveable between a beat-up position and a weft insertion position, each finger including a channel opening positioned so as to be located within the shed opening when the reed is in its weft insertion position, the channel openings of neighbouring fingers co-operating to define a guide channel for a weft insertion projectile.

4. A loom according to Claim 3, wherein each channel opening is generally the same shape in cross-section as the cross-sectional shape of the projectile.

5. A loom according to Claim 4, wherein the projectile and openings have co-operating rectilinear sides.

6. A loom according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the fingers are of plate-like form and have a thickness in the range of 0.4 to 0.7 mm.

7. A loom according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the fingers define dents having a width in the range of 3 to 4 mm.

8. A loom according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein a gripper is located within each dent.

9. A gripper loom substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.