Narrow-fabric needle loom weaving system

In an improved needle loom machine for narrow width weaving comprising means for supplying warp thread, means for supplying weft thread, a header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, a reciprocally movable needle for insertion of the weft thread into the shed during each successive pick, a needle-like pick for picking off a predetermined length of weft thread from the needle during each successive insertion of the needle in the shed at the far end of the travel thereof, a reed assembly for beating-up the warp and weft threads into woven fabric at a beat-up region at the output end of the shed during each pick, and a take-up roll for withdrawing the woven material after it is beaten up in the beat-up region;

• the improvement comprising means for automatically feeding weft thread to the needle during reciprocal movement thereof while weaving, said means for automatically feeding weft thread comprising a rotatable weft thread drive disk rotated synchronously with the movement of the needle and reed, a spring loaded weft thread pressure member in pressure contact with a rotating flat surface of the weft thread drive disk in a line extending along a radius of the disk for engaging and moving the weft thread therebetween, and weft thread length adjustment means positioned immediately adjacent and movable independently of the weft thread drive disk and the weft thread pressure member for adjusting the point along the weft thread pressure member and the radius of the disk engaged by the weft thread to thereby adjust the length of weft thread being supplied during each rotation of the weft thread drive disk.

In an improved needle loom machine for narrow width weaving comprising means for supplying warp thread, means for supplying weft thread, a header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, a reciprocally movable needle for insertion of the weft thread into the shed during each successive pick, a needle-like pick for picking off a predetermined length of weft thread from the needle during each successive insertion of the needle in the shed at the far end of the travel thereof, a reed assembly for beating-up the warp and weft threads into woven fabric at a beat-up region at the output end of the shed during each pick, and a take-up roll for withdrawing the woven material after it is beaten up in the beat-up region;

• the improvement comprising warp thread supply spool tensioning means for braking rotation of the warp supply spools that supply warp thread to the machine, said warp thread supply spool tensioning means comprising a respective brake cord circumferentially surrounding each warp thread supply spool for braking the spool and adjustable tension spring means for adjustably controlling braking effort of the warp thread supply spool provided by said circumferentially surrounding brake cord, the adjustable tension spring means extending between respective ends of each brake cord and an anchor point on the machine housing.

In an improved needle loom machine for narrow width weaving comprising means for supplying warp thread, means for supplying weft thread, a header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, a reciprocally movable needle for insertion of the weft thread into the shed during each successive pick, a needle-like pick for picking off a predetermined length of weft thread from the needle during each successive insertion of the needle in the shed at the far end of the travel thereof, a reed assembly for beating-up the warp and weft threads into woven fabric at a beat-up region at the output end of the shed during each pick, and a take-up roll for withdrawing the woven material after it is beaten up in the beat-up region;

• the improvement comprising an improved header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, said improved header sub-assembly comprising a header frame assembly formed by at least two horizontal header frame bar members spaced apart in an up and down manner and reciprocatingly supported within the needle loom machine for alternate reciprocation up and down in a vertical plane of movement transverse to the direction of movement of the warp threads during weaving, said header frame assembly further including vertically extending header frame members secured to said horizontal header frame members for spacing the set of horizontal frame members apart and securing all of the members together in a header frame assembly movable as a unit, said header frame assembly further including an adjustably movable upper hanger support movably mounted on the upper horizontal frame member of the header frame assembly, a header element support rod removably secured between the adjustably movable support member and a vertical frame member of the header frame, and a plurality of header elements for maintaining separation of the warp threads into desired patterns, each of the header frame elements having a circular opening at the upper end thereof for suspension from the header element support rod and having the lower end thereof grooved for insertion over the lower horizontal frame member of the header frame whereby the plurality of header elements readily may be rearranged while changing patterns.

In an improved needle loom machine for narrow width weaving comprising means for supplying warp thread, means for supplying weft thread, a header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, a reciprocally movable needle for insertion of the weft thread into the shed during each successive pick, a needle-like pick for picking off a predetermined length of weft thread from the needle during each successive insertion of the needle in the shed at the far end of the travel thereof, a reed assembly for beating-up the warp and weft threads into woven fabric at a beat-up region at the output end of the shed during each pick, and a take-up roll for withdrawing the woven material after it is beaten up in the beat-up region;

• the improvement comprising an improved header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp threads spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed and having an improved eccentric drive arrangement for driving the header frames comprising the header sub-assembly, there being at least two header frames arranged in series between a deflector sub-assembly disposed between the warp thread supply spools and the header sub-assembly for spreading the warp threads into a predesigned array of parallel running paths extending through the header sub-assembly, said improved header eccentric drive including return springs secured between each side of a respective horizontal frame member of each header frame for returning the respective frame to an initial starting position, a tension cord having one end secured substantially at the center of the opposite horizontally extending frame member of each respective header frame and acting in opposition to said return springs, the tension cord for each one of the serially arranged header frames being wound around an eccentrically mounted disk drive and having the remaining end thereof secured to the machine housing, there being one such eccentrically mounted disk drive for each respective header frame, the eccentrically mounted disk drives for each set of two serially arrayed header frames being eccentrically offset at angles substantially 180 degrees apart relative to each other whereby rotation of the sets of coacting eccentrically mounted disk drives causes the respective sets of serially arrayed header frames to be moved in opposite direction relative to each other either by tensioning of the tension cord driven by a respective eccentrically mounted disk drive or by the associated return spring for the respective header frame, said header drive sub-assembly providing doubling movement action to the respective header frames for each rotation and resulting displacement of the respective associated eccentrically mounted disk drive.

In an improved needle loom machine for narrow width weaving comprising means for supplying warp thread, means for supplying weft thread, a header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, a reciprocally movable needle for insertion of the weft thread into the shed during each successive pick, a needle-like pick for picking off a predetermined length of weft thread from the needle during each successive insertion of the needle in the shed at the far end of the travel thereof, a reed assembly for beating-up the warp and weft threads into woven fabric at a beat-up region at the output end of the shed during each pick, and a take-up roll for withdrawing the woven material after it is beaten up in the beat-up region;

• the improvement comprising an improved adjustable lever drive for the take-up roll drive comprising a first driving disk coupled to and rotatable in synchronism with the main drive shaft of the needle loom machine, a first connecting rod rotatably secured to a offset position on said first driving disk, an adjustable length lever arm having an intermediate position thereon secured to and driving a needle and reed drive shaft which in turn drives respectively both the needle of the machine via intermediate coupling elements and directly drives the reed, the intermediate position of connection of the adjustable lever arm to the needle and reed drive shaft being adjustable along the axial length of the adjustable lever arm in order to set the number of picks of the latching needle per unit of length of woven material, said adjustable lever arm having said first connecting rod rotatably secured to one end thereof and a second connecting rod connected to the remaining end thereof, the opposite end of said second connecting rod being rotatably coupled to a lever arm secured to a coupling mounted on a first take-up roll drive shaft for imparting partial rotation to said first take-up roll drive shaft, the degree of partial rotation of said first take-up roll drive shaft being controlled by the intermediate positioning of said adjustable lever arm relative to said needle and reed drive shaft, said first take-up roll drive shaft being coupled through suitable coupling gears to a second take-up roll shaft on which the take-up drive roll is secured.

An improved method of operating a needle loom machine for narrow width weaving of the type comprising means for supplying warp thread, means for supplying weft thread, a header sub-assembly for maintaining the warp thread spread in a predesigned pattern and forming a shed, a reciprocally movable needle for insertion of the weft thread into the shed during each successive pick, a needle-like pick for picking off a predetermined length of weft thread from the needle during each successive insertion of the needle in the shed at the far end of the travel thereof, a reed assembly for beating-up the warp and weft threads into a fell of woven fabric at a beat-up region at the output end of the shed during each pick, and a take-up roll for withdrawing the woven material after it is beaten-up in the beat-up region;

• said method comprising automatically feeding weft thread to the needle during reciprocal movement thereof while weaving, providing a hook-like support on the machine on the side of the shed into which the needle enters at the near end of the travel thereof during each reciprocation, the hook-like support having an open jaw hooked end around which the weft thread is supported while the needle is at the far end of the travel within the shed during each reciprocation thereof, the open jaw hooked end being terminated immediately adjacent the beat-up region as close to the fell of the fabric as possible whereby as the reed drives home the weft thread during beat-up, the weft thread segment being beaten-up is supported by the hooked end of the hook and then is forced off the hooked end at the end of the beat-up to form a straight line selvage for the woven material, and providing a leader guide member mounted immediately adjacent the hook on the side thereof away from the shed for engaging and guiding a segment of the weft thread into the open jaw hooked portion of the hook while the needle is withdrawn from the shed during each reciprocation thereof.