Drawing gripper for weaving looms

#The present invention relates to an improved drawing gripper for use in weaving looms with a continuous weft feed.

#It is known that, in looms with continuous weft feed, the shuttle is replaced by a pair of transport grippers, subject to reciprocating motion so as to alternately move towards and away from each other, the first of which--the carrying gripper--is adapted to grasp the weft threads at one end of the loom just outside the shed and to carry them inside the shed, up to the middle area thereof, while the second gripper--the drawing gripper--is adapted to partially penetrate into an appropriate seat of the first gripper, so as to draw said weft threads in said area and transport them in turn at the other end of the loom, outside the shed, and leave them there.

#The progress in looms of this type is strictly connected with the efficiency of the weft transport grippers and thus it is easily understood why such members are at the center of all the searches in this field and are subject to continuous development in their practical realization.

#The invention is illustrated in detail by the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment thereof. This embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to said drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a prospect view of the drawing gripper according to the invention during transport of the weft thread;

#FIG. 2 is a prospect view similar to that of FIG. 1, but during freeing of the weft thread;

#With reference to the Figures, the drawing gripper draws the weft thread from the carrying gripper at the center of the shed and transports it to the end of the shed opposite to the feeding end. The drawing gripper comprises a gripper body 1, preferably of synthetic plastic material, a fixed rigid claw 2 consisting of an elongated rectilinear metallic body the end of which is bent back towards it-self to form a hook 3, and an oscillating element 4 adapted to cooperate stiffly with the hook of the claw 2. The hook and the end of the oscillating element having profiles which are complementary to each other and which when in contact with each other will hold tightly anything placed therebetween.

#According to the invention, the element 4 is formed by a very elongated (filiform) rectilinear metallic bar 5, terminating at one end with an enlargement 6 shaped substantially to the interior contour of the hook and, on the other end, with a tailpiece forming a loop (or eyelet) 7.

#According to the invention, the element 4 is mounted to oscillate about its own longitudinal axis. In fact, the part of the bar 5 forming the loop 7 pivots in a support 8 of the gripper body 1, and the cylindrical extension of the profiled end of the bar 5 pivots in an appropriate seat obtained inside the hook 3 forming the end of the claw 2. The element 4 is further provided, on the intermediate part of the bar 5, with a transversal tailpiece 9 which engages the end of a return leaf spring 10 carried by the gripper body 1. Leaf spring 10 biases tailpiece 9 in a direction to pivot enlargement 6 into contact with the interior surface of hook 3.