[0001] The present invention concerns important improvements in the weft carrying grippers
for shuttleless weaving looms, namely in those members by which the weft yarns are
inserted at one end of the Loom and are carried to the opposite end thereof through
the warp shed.
[0002] Up to date, said grippers have always been made either of metal or of synthetic plastic
material, suffering in the first case from an excess of weight while involving considerable
costs, and in the second case from scarce stiffness. The efforts of designers and
constructors have always aimed at reducing said defects, by acting separately on both
types of grippers. Thus, improvements have been gradually introduced in each type
of gripper, generaLLy concerning the configuration of the gripper itself, said improvements
intending - in the case of metal grippers - to reduce the weights and simplify their
structure and the methods adopted for the construction thereof, and - in the case
of plastic grippers - to stiffen the structure thereof.
[0003] In spite of the progress achieved, the metal grippers as well as those of plastic
material are still, to date, not quite satisfactory, especially if having to equip
the modern Looms working at very high speeds.
[0004] The present invention faces the problem of constructing the members carrying the
weft yarn through the shed in a fully original way, by taking advantage of the positive
aspects of the specific characteristics of the two types of grippers known so far,
while eliminating the defects of both.
[0005] For this purpose, the pair of grippers according to the invention is substantially
characterized in that, each gripper is formed of a composite structure consisting
of two metal sheLLs, stiffly connected with a central body of synthetic plastic material,
wherein said metal shells are partially incorporated.
[0006] PreferabLy, said shells are provided with hooks, projections, recesses, or Like,
for anchorage to the central body of plastic material.
[0007] The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to a preferred
embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the carrying gripper forming the pair of
grippers according to the invention; and
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drawing gripper forming the pair of
grippers according to the invention.
[0008] With reference to figure 1 of the drawings, the carrying gripper P is shown to be
formed of a lower metal shell 1, having a V-shaped section with the sides joining
into a single element 2 at the front and parting into two ears 3 rearwardly, of a
central body 4 of synthetic plastic material, and of an upper metal shell 5, in the
form of a warp guard for the body 4 and having a front hook end 6 and a rear forked
end 7.
[0009] According to the invention, the gripper P has its structure formed by the stiff connection
- obtained by injection molding of the body 4 between the metal sheLLs 1 and 5 - of
the three component elements. Thanks to the shape of the ends of the shells 1 and
5, and to the presence therein of other coupling elements, as recesses 8 or projections,
the connection between said elements is most efficiently achieved. The shells 1 and
5 are moreover substantially incorporated into the central body 4 and, once assembled,
the structure of the gripper appears as a very compact unit.
[0010] The same result is obtained in the drawing gripper T of figure 2, which is formed
of a lower metal sheLL 9, having a shape which is fairly similar to that of the shell
1 of the carrying gripper P, of a central body 10 of synthetic plastic material, and
of an upper shell 11, comprising a frame portion 12 and an extension or tail 13 ending
with ears 14.
[0011] It is understood that, besides the one described and illustrated by mere way of example,
there may be other practical embodiments of the invention falling within the protection
scope of the same.
1) A pair of weft carrying grippers for shuttleless weaving looms, characterized in
that, each gripper is formed of a composite structure consisting of two metal shells,
stiffly connected with a central body of synthetic plastic material, wherein said
metal shells are partially incorporated.
2) A pair of weft carrying grippers as in claim 1), wherein said shells are provided
with hooks, projections, recesses, or like, for anchorage to the central body of plastic
material.
3) A pair of weft carrying grippers as in claim 1), wherein said composite structure
of the grippers is obtained by injection molding of synthetic plastic material between
said shells.
