Driving device for terry motion members in cloth-shifting type pile loom

Abstract

 In a cloth-shifting-type pile loom (1), one of drive-transmission mechanisms (20, 30) that links a supporting unit supporting a let-off-side or take-up-side terry motion member (15, 16) with a driving shaft includes at least two linking members, which may include a first linking member (22, 32, 44) and a second linking member (26, 36). The first linking member (22, 32, 44) is rotatably supported by a supporting shaft fixed in position, and the second linking member (26, 36) is connected to an end of the first linking member (22, 32, 44) proximate the supporting unit (24, 34). The first linking member (22, 32, 44) and the second linking member (26, 36) at the time of a fast-pick beating operation are connected in a manner such that a connection part between the first linking member (22, 32, 44) and the second linking member (26, 36) is positioned on or near a line extending between the supporting shaft for the first linking member (22, 32, 44) and an end of the second linking member (26, 36) proximate the supporting unit (24, 34).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to pile looms, and particularly, to a driving device for let-off-side and take-up-side terry motion members included in a cloth-shifting-type pile loom that forms piles by shifting the terry motion members, which are linked with a driving shaft of driving means via drive-transmission mechanisms, in order to move the cloth fell with respect to a beating position.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172552 discloses an example of a cloth-shifting-type pile loom. According to this pile loom, a ground-warp tension roller, which defines a let-off-side terry motion member, and a take-up-side terry motion member are each provided with a cam mechanism serving as driving means and a drive-transmission mechanism including, for example, a rocking lever that is driven in a rocking motion by the cam mechanism. The ground-warp tension roller and the take-up-side terry motion member are thus driven individually with the designated cam mechanisms and drive-transmission mechanisms.

[0003] It is written in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172552 that the driving means may alternatively be defined by electric motors, such as servomotors, in place of the cam mechanisms. Furthermore, in a case where motors are used, the rocking levers may be driven directly with the motors.

[0004] Specifically, referring to Fig. 7, one end of a rocking lever 22' for a let-off-side terry motion member 15' is attached to an output shaft of a designated driving motor m1, and one end of a rocking lever 32' for a take-up-side terry motion member 16' is attached to an output shaft of a designated driving motor m2. The rocking lever 22' and the rocking lever 32' are driven back and forth in a rocking motion respectively by the driving motors m1, m2. The other end of the rocking lever 22' is linked with a supporting lever 24', which supports the let-off-side terry motion member 15', via a linking rod 26'. Likewise, the other end of the rocking lever 32' is linked with a supporting lever 34', which supports the take-up-side terry motion member 16', via a linking rod 36'. When the rocking levers 22' and 32' are rocked in a reciprocating fashion, the let-off-side terry motion member 15' and the take-up-side terry motion member 16' reciprocate between positions indicated by solid lines and dotted lines in the drawing. In response to this reciprocating motion, a cloth fell CF of woven cloth W is shifted back and forth between a position indicated by a solid line a and a position indicated by a dotted line b. Fig. 7 only shows ground warp yarns GT, and does not illustrate pile warp yarns PT.

[0005] According to such a cloth-shifting-type pile loom, when a fast-pick beating operation is performed (i.e. the state shown in Fig. 7), a reed 5 beats an inserted weft yarn against the cloth fell CF of the cloth W. In this case, a force applied to the cloth fell CF (that is, a force corresponding to the tension of the ground warp yarns GT that is increased in response to the beating motion) acts upon the let-off-side terry motion member 15' via the ground warp yarns GT interwoven with the cloth fell CF. Such a force acting on the terry motion member in response to the fast-pick beating operation will be referred to as a beating force hereinafter. As a result, a force acting in a direction indicated by an arrow k1 is applied to the linking rod 26' via the supporting lever 24'. Moreover, this force applied to the linking rod 26' acts on the output shaft of the driving motor m1 via the rocking lever 22' and thus rotates the output shaft in a direction indicated by an arrow k2.

[0006] When the beating operation is performed, the driving motors m1, m2 electrically maintain the phase of their output shafts in order to regulate the position of the cloth fell CF. However, if the force corresponding to the beating force acts in the rotational direction, the driving motor m1 cannot maintain the phase of its output shaft, thus causing the output shaft to rotate in response to the beating operation. As a result, the cloth fell CF moves in response to the beating operation, causing the force for beating the weft yarn against the cloth fell CF to weaken. Moreover, this also causes the height of the formed piles to become lower than the desired height, and thus impairs the quality of the woven cloth.

[0007] Although the above description is directed to a cloth-shifting-type pile loom in which the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members are driven individually with the designated driving motors, the problems mentioned above are not limited to this type of pile loom. These problems similarly exist in the type introduced as prior art in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172552, in which the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members are driven with a single driving motor.

[0008] Furthermore, these problems apply not only to the abovementioned types that drive the terry motion members with one or more designated driving motors. For example, in looms that apply a main shaft as the driving source, there are cases where the beating force acting on the terry motion member described above gives an adverse effect on, for example, the driving means.

[0009] Although the above description is directed to a case where the beating force acts on the let-off-side terry motion member, the beating force can similarly act upon the take-up-side terry motion member. In detail, when the tension of the warp yarns increases in response to the fast-pick beating operation, the tension of the cloth W also increases as a result of the reactive force of the increased tension of the warp yarns. Thus, a force corresponding to the increase in the tension of the cloth W (i.e. the beating force) acts on the take-up-side terry motion member 16'.

[0010] In the type disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172552 that applies a main shaft as a driving source to rotate the cams in order to rock the rocking levers, the force acting on the rocking levers in response to the beating force applied to the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members acts in a direction that moves cam balls adjacent to the cams away from the cams via cam levers. In the type disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-172552, the cam levers are normally biased with, for example, springs so that the cam balls are constantly in contact with the corresponding cam surfaces. When the above-referenced force is applied to the cam levers, the cam balls move away from the cam surfaces against the biasing force of, for example, the springs. Subsequently, the cam balls are beaten against the cam surfaces again due to the biasing force of, for example, the springs. The cam balls are shifted away from the cam surfaces and then hit against the cam surfaces for each beating operation, thus leading to early damage of the driving means (including, for example, the cams and the cam balls (cam levers)) and the drive-transmission mechanisms.

[0011] As an alternative to the above-referenced cam mechanisms, in a case where the cam mechanisms are given a structure such that the force applied to the rocking levers acts in a direction for pressing the cam balls against the cam surfaces, the above-mentioned problem related with the cam balls being shifted away from and hitting against the cam surfaces does not exist. In this case, however, the above-referenced force acts as a rotational load (e.g. bending moment, torsional stress) on the cam levers and shafts that support the cam levers for every beating operation. This can lead to early damage of these components. These problems related with the damage of the driving means caused by such a load can be similarly seen in a case where crank mechanisms are applied.

[0012] On the other hand, the beating force acting on the take-up-side terry motion member may induce damaging of the components disposed near the cloth fell. In other words, the beating force acts in a direction for shifting the take-up-side terry motion member towards the cloth fell. In the pile loom shown in Fig. 7, when the beating force is applied to the take-up-side terry motion member 16', the output shaft of the driving motor m2 rotates, causing the take-up-side terry motion member 16' to move. This causes the take-up-side terry motion member 16' to hit against components disposed near the cloth fell, such as a temple and a temple bracket, thus damaging these components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the problems existing in the conventional cloth-shifting-type pile looms, which are induced by a beating force acting on the terry motion members in response to a large amount of force applied to the cloth fell at the time of a fast-pick beating operation.

[0014] The present invention provides a driving device for a let-off-side terry motion member and a take-up-side terry motion member included in a cloth-shifting-type pile loom, in which the let-off-side terry motion member and the take-up-side terry motion member are respectively supported by supporting units that are linked with a driving shaft of driving means via drive-transmission mechanisms. Specifically, the drive-transmission mechanisms are provided individually for the let-off-side terry motion member and the take-up-side terry motion member. Moreover, the position of a cloth fell is changed with respect to a beating position by shifting the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members with the driving means in order to form piles. One of the drive-transmission mechanisms may include at least two linking members, which may include a first linking member and a second linking member. The first linking member is rotatably supported by a first supporting shaft fixed in position, and the second linking member is connected to an end of the first linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit. The first linking member and the second linking member at the time of a fast-pick beating operation are connected in a manner such that a connection part between the first linking member and the second linking member is positioned on or near a line extending between the first supporting shaft for the first linking member and an end of the second linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit.

[0015] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the other one of the drive-transmission mechanisms may also include at least two linking members, which may include a third linking member and a fourth linking member. In this case, the third linking member is rotatably supported by a second supporting shaft fixed in position, and the fourth linking member is connected to an end of the third linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit. Moreover, the third linking member and the fourth linking member at the time of a fast-pick beating operation may be connected in a manner such that a connection part between the third linking member and the fourth linking member is positioned on or near a line extending between the second supporting shaft for the third linking member and an end of the fourth linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit.

[0016] In a state where the position of the terry motion member for a fast-pick beating operation (i.e. the connection position between the supporting unit and the second (fourth) linking member) is determined, if the distance (i.e. the lever length of the first (third) linking member) between the supporting shaft for the first (third) linking member and the connection part and the distance (i.e. the lever length of the second (fourth) linking member) between the connection part and the end of the second (fourth) linking member proximate the supporting unit are determined, the position of the connection part is set based on the position of the supporting shaft for the first (third) linking member. On the other hand, if the position of the supporting shaft for the first (third) linking member is determined, the position of the connection part is set based on the distance between the supporting shaft for the first (third) linking member and the connection part and the distance between the connection part and the end of the second (fourth) linking member proximate the supporting unit. Accordingly, in the present invention, the position of the supporting shaft for the first (third) linking member, or the distance between the supporting shaft for the first (third) linking member and the connection part, and/or the distance between the connection part and the end of the second (fourth) linking member proximate the supporting unit is/are set such that the connection part is disposed in the above-referenced position at the time of a fast-pick beating operation. Therefore, the expression "the first (third) linking member and the second (fourth) linking member are connected in a manner such that ..." includes the meaning described above.

[0017] According to the present invention, at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, the connection part between the first linking member and the second linking member is positioned on a line extending between the supporting shaft for the first linking member and the end of the second linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit. Consequently, when a fast-pick beating operation is performed, the direction of a line extending between the end of the second linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit and the connection part, that is, the direction in which the beating force acts towards the connection part from the corresponding terry motion member via the second linking member is aligned with the direction of a line connecting the connection part and the supporting shaft. Thus, the beating force applied to the connection part via the terry motion member at the time of a fast-pick beating operation only acts as a force that pushes a portion of the first linking member between the connection part and the supporting shaft towards the supporting shaft. This implies that the beating force does not act in a direction for rotating the first linking member. Accordingly, since the beating force acting on the connection part does not cause the first linking member to rotate, the problems seen in the prior art mentioned above are solved.

[0018] Furthermore, in the present invention, at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, the connection part does not necessarily have to be positioned on the line extending between the supporting shaft for the first linking member and the end of the second linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit. Alternatively, the two linking members may be connected in a manner such that the connection part is positioned near the above-referenced line.

[0019] In a case where the present invention is applied to the drive-transmission mechanism for the let-off-side terry motion member, the term "near" refers to a position where the cloth fell is shifted only by a distance that does not adversely affect the quality of the woven cloth. Specifically, since the direction of a line extending between the end of the second linking member proximate the corresponding supporting unit and the position of the connection part near the above-referenced line (i.e. the direction in which the beating force is applied to the connection part) is not aligned with the direction extending between the connection part and the supporting shaft, a force component of the beating force applied to the connection part acts on the first linking member in the rotational direction thereof. The connection part is positioned "near" the above-referenced line such that this force component is small enough to an extent that it does not rotate the first linking member (or does not shift the cloth fell), or even if the force component has enough magnitude to rotate the first linking member, the magnitude of the force component is within a range that allows the cloth fell to move only by a shifting distance that does not adversely affect the quality of the woven cloth. This position of the connection part "near" the above-referenced line may include various positions set in accordance with, for example, the rotational speed of the loom (the magnitude of the beating force), the weaving conditions such as the number of warp yarns and the warp tension, the type of cloth being woven, the configuration of the driving mechanisms that link the terry motion members with the driving shafts, and the specification of the cloth being woven. Accordingly, the problems seen in the prior art are solved or are kept to a minimum.

[0020] On the other hand, in a case where the present invention is applied to the drive-transmission mechanism for the take-up-side terry motion member, the connection part is positioned "near" the above-referenced line such that the above-referenced force component is small enough to an extent that it does not rotate the first linking member (or does not shift the take-up-side terry motion member), or even if the force component has enough magnitude to rotate the first linking member, the magnitude of the force component is within a range that allows the take-up-side terry motion member to move only by a shifting distance that does not cause the take-up-side terry motion member to hit against the components disposed near the cloth fell. Furthermore, this position of the connection part "near" the above-referenced line may include various positions set in accordance with, for example, the rotational speed of the loom (the magnitude of the beating force) and the relationship between the position of the take-up-side terry motion member at the time of a fast-pick beating operation and the positions of the components disposed near the cloth fell. Accordingly, the problems seen in the prior art are solved or are kept to a minimum.

[0021] By applying the present invention to the drive-transmission mechanism for the take-up-side terry motion member, the take-up-side terry motion member and the components disposed near the cloth fell are prevented from hitting against each other, which may be caused by an overrun of the driving motor.

[0022] In detail, referring to Fig. 7, the take-up-side terry motion member is driven by a driving motor that is separate from the driving source (i.e. the main shaft) of the loom, and the driving motor rotates in a reciprocating manner. In this case, when the take-up-side terry motion member is shifted from the position for a loose-pick beating operation to the position for a fast-pick beating operation, there are cases where the driving motor overruns without stopping at its inverting position due to an inertia force generated in response to, for example, the high-speed rotation and the weight of the terry motion member. This causes the take-up-side terry motion member to be shifted closer towards the cloth fell than the originally intended position for the fast-pick beating operation, causing the take-up-side terry motion member to hit against the components disposed near the cloth fell, such as a temple.

[0023] In contrast, by applying the present invention to the drive-transmission mechanism for the take-up-side terry motion member, the closest position the take-up-side terry motion member can be shifted towards the cloth fell is limited to the position for the fast-pick beating operation or near that position, whereby the above-mentioned problem can be advantageously solved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] 

Fig. 1 is a side view of a cloth-shifting-type pile loom according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a relevant section of the first embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 includes a schematic view and a partially enlarged view illustrating a relevant section of a second embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a relevant section of a third embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a relevant section of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a relevant section of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 illustrates a cloth-shifting-type pile loom according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a relevant section of the present invention. Specifically, pile warp yarns PT, a take-up-side terry motion member, a driving motor for the take-up-side terry motion member and the like, which are all shown in Fig. 1, are not shown in Fig. 2.

[0027] Referring to Fig. 1, a cloth-shifting-type pile loom 1 includes an upper pile-warp beam 2 around which a plurality of pile warp yarns PT are wound in a sheet-like manner, and a lower ground-warp beam 3 around which a plurality of ground warp yarns GT are wound in a sheet-like manner. The pile warp yarns PT are fed from the pile-warp beam 2 and are wound around two guide rollers 6, 6 and a pile-warp tension roller 7 disposed downstream of the guide rollers 6, 6 so as to be supplied to a cloth fell CF of cloth W via a heald 8 and a reed 5.

[0028] On the other hand, the ground warp yarns GT are fed from the ground-warp beam 3 and are wound around a ground-warp tension roller 15, which defines a let-off-side terry motion member. Similar to the pile warp yarns PT, the ground warp yarns GT guided by the tension roller 15 are then supplied to the cloth fell CF via the heald 8 and the reed 5.

[0029] Together with each inserted weft yarn (not shown), the pile warp yarns PT and the ground warp yarns GT form the cloth W. The cloth W is subsequently guided by a cloth guide roller 16, which defines a take-up-side terry motion member, towards a take-up roller 11 and guide rollers 12, 13 so as to be finally taken up by a cloth roller 14.

[0030] In the pile loom 1 shown in the drawing, the let-off-side terry motion member (i.e. the ground-warp tension roller 15) and the take-up-side terry motion member (i.e. the cloth guide roller 16) are driven individually with designated driving motors and driving means.

[0031] Specifically, opposite ends of the ground-warp tension roller 15 are respectively supported by a pair of supporting levers 24 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 1) defining a supporting unit. The supporting levers 24 are respectively supported by opposite side frames (not shown) of the pile loom 1 in a rocking manner. The supporting levers 24 are linked with an output shaft m1s of a driving motor m1 via a linking rod 26 and a rocking lever 22 that define a drive-transmission mechanism 20. Since only one of the supporting levers 24 is shown in Fig. 1, the supporting levers 24 will simply be referred to as a supporting lever 24 hereinafter in order to provide an easier understanding of the description. Similar to the ground-warp tension roller 15, the cloth guide roller 16 defining the take-up-side terry motion member is supported between the opposite side frames of the cloth-shifting-type pile loom 1 via a pair of supporting levers (supporting unit) 34. The supporting levers 34 are linked with an output shaft m2s of a driving motor m2 via a linking rod 36 and a rocking lever 32 that define a drive-transmission mechanism 30. Similar to the supporting levers 24, since only one of the supporting levers 34 is shown in Fig. 1, the supporting levers 34 will simply be referred to as a supporting lever 34 hereinafter in order to provide an easier understanding of the description.

[0032] According to the pile loom 1 in the drawing, since the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members are driven individually with the designated driving motors m1, m2, the two terry motion members can be driven in an asynchronous manner. In other words, the two terry motion members can be driven at different drive-start timings and different drive-end timings, and by different driving distances. For example, the ground-warp tension roller 15 may be driven in a manner such that the fluctuation of the ground warp tension is moderated during each cycle performed in the pile loom 1.

[0033] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 define the drive-transmission mechanism 20 that links the supporting lever 24 supporting the ground-warp tension roller 15 with the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 serving as a driving shaft. Thus, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 function as linking members.

[0034] The rocking lever 22 is attached to the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1, which is fixed to a base frame of the pile loom 1. In other words, the rocking lever 22 is supported by the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 fixed to the base frame, and is driven in a rocking motion in response to the rotation of the output shaft m1s. The rocking lever 22 corresponds to a first linking member according to the present invention. On the other hand, the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 corresponds to a supporting shaft that supports the first linking member.

[0035] The linking rod 26 has its first end connected to one of the ends of the rocking lever 22 proximate the supporting lever 24. In contrast to the rocking lever 22 defining the first linking member, the linking rod 26 corresponds to a second linking member according to the present invention. Moreover, reference character CP indicates a connection part according to the present invention, which connects the linking rod 26 and the rocking lever 22. Furthermore, the linking rod 26 has its second end 26a connected to an end 24b of the supporting lever 24 that is opposite to the end provided with a rocking shaft 24a. Thus, the motion of the rocking lever 22 is transmitted to the supporting lever 24 via the linking rod 26. The linking rod 26, the rocking lever 22, and the supporting lever 24 are linked with one another in a rotatable fashion.

[0036] In the present invention, since the first linking member (i.e. the rocking lever 22 in the first embodiment) rotates (rocks) while being supported by a stationary shaft, the second linking member (i.e. the linking rod 26 in the first embodiment) connected to the first linking member cannot be supported by a stationary shaft. Accordingly, as shown in the drawings, one end of the second linking member that is opposite to the end connected to the first linking member is connected to a rotatable (rocking) member that rotates around a stationary shaft, such that the second linking member functions as a component that links two rotatable members (one of which is the first linking member) together.

[0037] As described above, the rocking lever 22 is attached to the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 and is driven in a rocking motion by the driving motor m1. Consequently, when the driving motor m1 drives the rocking lever 22 in a rocking motion in a reciprocating manner, the supporting lever 24 is rocked around the rocking shaft 24a via the linking rod 26, thus allowing the ground-warp tension roller 15 to reciprocate in the forward and backward directions.

[0038] The drive-transmission mechanism 30 that links the supporting lever 34 supporting the cloth guide roller 16 with the output shaft m2s of the driving motor m2 has a similar configuration to that of the drive-transmission mechanism 20. Specifically, the rocking lever 32 is attached to the output shaft m2s of the driving motor m2, which is fixed to the base frame, and is driven in a rocking motion by the driving motor m2. The linking rod 36 links the rocking lever 32 with the supporting lever 34 and transmits the motion of the rocking lever 32 to the supporting lever 34. Consequently, when the driving motor m2 drives the rocking lever 32 in a rocking motion in a reciprocating manner, the supporting lever 34 is rocked around a rocking shaft 34a, thus allowing the cloth guide roller 16 to reciprocate in the forward and backward directions.

[0039] In response to the reciprocating movement of the ground-warp tension roller 15 and the cloth guide roller 16 in the forward and backward directions, the woven cloth W and the cloth fell CF are correspondingly shifted back and forth in the forward and backward directions. In Fig. 2, the shifting range of the cloth fell CF is indicated by a solid line a and a dotted line b. By repeating the shifting of the cloth fell CF for a predetermined number of weft-insertion cycles, piles are formed on the cloth W in association with the beating position of the reed 5.

[0040] In the cloth-shifting-type pile loom 1 according to the first embodiment, the drive-transmission mechanism 20 for the ground-warp tension roller 15 defining the let-off-side terry motion member has the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 disposed in the following manner. Specifically, when a fast-pick beating operation is performed, or in other words, when an inserted weft yarn is beaten against the cloth fell CF of the cloth W together with the previously inserted weft yarns that are disposed distant from the cloth fell CF, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 are connected in a manner such that the connection part CP is positioned on a line extending between the end 26a of the linking rod 26 proximate the supporting lever 24 (more specifically, the center of axle of a linking shaft between the linking rod 26 and the supporting lever 24) and the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 (more specifically, the center of axle of the output shaft mls). In Fig. 2, the state (the position) of each component at the time of a fast-pick beating operation is indicated by a solid line.

[0041] When the fast-pick beating operation is performed, the reed 5 beats each weft yarn against the cloth fell CF of the cloth W. For this reason, a large amount of force is applied to the cloth fell CF. The force applied to the cloth fell CF is transmitted to the ground-warp tension roller 15 via the ground warp yarns GT, and acts as a force that pulls the ground-warp tension roller 15 towards the cloth fell CF. More specifically, in response to the force applied to the cloth fell CF, the tension of the ground warp yarns GT is increased, and a force corresponding to the increase in the tension (i.e. a beating force) acts as the force that pulls the ground-warp tension roller 15 towards the cloth fell CF. This creates a force that rocks the supporting lever 24 towards the cloth fell CF around the rocking shaft 24a. This force acts upon the connection part CP via the linking rod 26 in a direction indicated by an arrow k1, which is an extension of the linking rod 26.

[0042] In the first embodiment, at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, the connection part CP is positioned on a line extending between the end 26a of the linking rod 26 proximate the supporting lever 24 and the supporting shaft for the rocking lever 22 (i.e. the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1), and moreover, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 are disposed in a manner such that the orientation of the linking rod 26 and the orientation of the rocking lever 22 are consistent with each other (that is, the two components form a 180° angle with respect to each other). Consequently, at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, the extending direction of the linking rod 26 (i.e. the direction of a line extending between the end 26a of the linking rod 26 proximate the supporting lever 24 and the connection part CP) or the direction in which the beating force acts on the connection part CP via the ground-warp tension roller 15 is aligned with the direction of a line extending between the connection part CP and the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 serving as the supporting shaft for the rocking lever 22. Thus, the beating force applied to the connection part CP entirely acts in the extending direction of a portion of the rocking lever 22 between the connection part CP and the supporting shaft, whereby the entire beating force is applied to the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 via the rocking lever 22.

[0043] As a result, the beating force applied to the connection part CP only acts as a force that pushes the portion of the rocking lever 22 between the connection part CP and the rocking fulcrum thereof towards the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 in the extending direction of the rocking lever 22. This implies that the beating force does not act in a direction for rotating the rocking lever 22. Accordingly, since a force that rotates the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 is not generated, the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1 is prevented from being rotated in response to the beating force acting on the terry motion member at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, thereby preventing the cloth fell CF from moving. As a result, this solves problems, such as a lack of beating force and formation of low piles, which may be caused by a movement of the cloth fell CF at the time of a fast-pick beating operation.

[0044] As described above, when a fast-pick beating operation is performed in the first embodiment, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 are disposed in a manner such that the connection part CP is positioned on a line extending between the end 26a of the linking rod 26 proximate the supporting lever 24 and the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1. Alternatively, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 at the time of a fast-pick beating operation may be disposed in a manner such that the connection part CP is positioned near the above-referenced line.

[0045] Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention in which the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 at the time of a fast-pick beating operation are disposed in a manner such that the connection part CP is positioned near but distant from a line L extending between the end 26a of the linking rod 26 proximate the supporting lever 24 and the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1.

[0046] In this case, as shown in an enlarged view surrounded by a circle X formed of a dot-dashed line, a beating force F applied to the connection part CP via the linking rod 26 acts in a direction different to the extending direction of the rocking lever 22. For this reason, the rocking lever 22 receives a force component f2 of the beating force F acting in the extending direction of the rocking lever 22 and a force component f1 of the beating force F acting in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the rocking lever 22. The force component f1 acts as a force that rotates the rocking lever 22. Moreover, the force component f1 increases as the angle formed between the linking rod 26 and the rocking lever 22 becomes smaller, or in other words, the force component f1 increases as the connection part CP is positioned farther away from the line L.

[0047] In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26 are disposed in a manner such that the magnitude of the force component f1 is within a range that does not rotate the first linking member. Alternatively, even if the force component f1 has a magnitude that can rotate the first linking member, the connection part CP is positioned such that the magnitude of the force component f1 is within a range that allows the cloth fell CF to move only by a shifting distance that does not adversely affect the quality of the woven cloth. Accordingly, in the second embodiment, even when the beating force F is applied to the linking rod 26 at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, the cloth fell CF is prevented from being shifted or is shifted only by a distance that does not adversely affect the quality of the woven cloth. Thus, the quality of the woven cloth is prevented from being impaired.

[0048] Although the configuration of the drive-transmission mechanism according to the present invention is applied to the drive-transmission mechanism 20 for the let-off-side terry motion member in the above embodiments, the configuration according to the present invention may alternatively be applied to the drive-transmission mechanism 30 for the take-up-side terry motion member.

[0049] Fig. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention in which the configuration according to the present invention is applied to the drive-transmission mechanism 30 provided for the cloth guide roller 16 defining the take-up-side terry motion member. In Fig. 4, the state of the drive-transmission mechanism 30 at the time of a fast-pick beating operation is illustrated with a solid line. In the third embodiment, the rocking lever 32, which corresponds to the first linking member, and the linking rod 36, which corresponds to the second linking member, are disposed in a manner such that the connection part CP between the rocking lever 32 and the linking rod 36 is positioned on a line extending between the output shaft m2s of the driving motor m2 serving as a supporting shaft for the rocking lever 32 and an end 36a of the linking rod 36 proximate the supporting lever 34.

[0050] Similar to the above embodiments, even when a beating force is applied to the cloth guide roller 16 at the time of a fast-pick beating operation, the beating force does not act in a direction for rotating the rocking lever 32 since the direction in which the beating force acts on the connection part CP is consistent with the extending direction of the rocking lever 32. Moreover, when the cloth guide roller 16 is rocked in response to the rocking of the supporting lever 34, the limit point of the rocking range of the cloth guide roller 16 proximate the cloth fell CF is restricted to the position of the cloth guide roller 16 for the fast-pick beating operation. Accordingly, the cloth guide roller 16 is prevented from being shifted farther towards the cloth fell CF from the position shown in Fig. 4. This prevents the cloth guide roller 16 and components disposed near the cloth fell CF, such a temple, from hitting against each other.

[0051] Furthermore, in a case where a cam mechanism, for example, is used as driving means as a modification to the third embodiment in Fig. 4, a rotational load does not act upon the cam mechanism and the drive-transmission mechanism since the force applied to the connection part CP does not act as a force that rotates the rocking lever 32. Consequently, this prevents early damage of, for example, the driving means, which may be caused by such a rotational load generated in each beating operation.

[0052] When the configuration according to the present invention is applied to the drive-transmission mechanism for the take-up-side terry motion member as in the third embodiment, the connection part CP at the time of a fast-pick beating operation does not necessarily have to be positioned on a line extending between the supporting shaft for the first linking member (i.e. the rocking lever 32) and the end of the second linking member (i.e. the linking rod 36) proximate the supporting unit. Alternatively, the connection part CP may be disposed near the above-referenced line as long as the take-up-side terry motion member and the components disposed near the cloth fell CF are prevented from hitting against each other.

[0053] According to the above embodiments, the configuration of the drive-transmission mechanism according to the present invention is applied to either the drive-transmission mechanism 20 for the let-off-side terry motion member or the drive-transmission mechanism 30 for the take-up-side terry motion member. Alternatively, the configuration according to the present invention may be applied to both drive-transmission mechanisms 20, 30. In that case, for example, the rocking lever 22 in the drive-transmission mechanism 20 corresponds to the first linking member according to the present invention; the linking rod 26 in the drive-transmission mechanism 20 corresponds to the second linking member according to the present invention; the rocking lever 32 in the drive-transmission mechanism 30 corresponds to a third linking member according to the present invention; and the linking rod 36 in the drive-transmission mechanism 30 corresponds to a fourth linking member according to the present invention.

[0054] Furthermore, although the drive-transmission mechanism 20 is defined by two linking members (i.e. the rocking lever 22 and the linking rod 26), and the drive-transmission mechanism 30 is defined by two linking members (i.e. the rocking lever 32 and the linking rod 36) in the above embodiments, each of the drive-transmission mechanisms according to the present invention may alternatively be defined by three or more linking members. In other words, each drive-transmission mechanism may have any configuration as long as the first (third) linking member and the second (fourth) linking member are included in the plurality of linking members. Furthermore, each linking member may have any kind of shape, such as the shape of a lever or a rod.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, although the supporting shaft that supports the first (third) linking member is defined by an output shaft (driving shaft) of a driving motor, which is fixed to a base frame of the pile loom, the second (fourth) linking member does not necessarily have to be supported by a driving shaft. The second (fourth) linking member may be supported by an alternative shaft that is fixed to the base frame of the pile loom. For example, Fig. 5 illustrates a relevant section of a fourth embodiment in which the configuration of the drive-transmission mechanism according to the present invention is applied to the drive-transmission mechanism for the let-off-side terry motion member. In Fig. 5, the components that are the same as those included in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals.

[0056] In the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a linking rod 42 and an L-shaped crank lever 44 are disposed between the linking rod 26 connected to the supporting lever 24 and the rocking lever 22 attached to the output shaft m1s of the driving motor m1. The crank lever 44 is rotatably supported by a supporting shaft 44a fixed to the base frame. One end of the crank lever 44 proximate the supporting lever 24 is connected to the linking rod 26. In other words, the crank lever 44 functions as the first linking member according to the present invention. Furthermore, similar to the above embodiments, the linking rod 26 connected to the end of the crank lever 44 proximate the supporting lever 24 functions as the second linking member. The crank lever 44 and the linking rod 26 are connected to each other via the connection part CP.

[0057] An end of the crank lever 44 that is opposite to the end connected to the linking rod 26 is linked with the rocking lever 22 via the linking rod 42. The crank lever 44, the linking rod 26, and the linking rod 42 are linked with one another in a rotatable fashion, and moreover, the linking rod 42 and the rocking lever 22 are connected to each other in a rotatable fashion.

[0058] According to the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 5, at the time of a fast-pick beating operation (the state shown with a solid line in Fig. 5), the crank lever 44 defining the first linking member and the linking rod 26 defining the second linking member are connected to each other in a manner such that the connection part CP is positioned on a line extending between the supporting shaft 44a of the crank lever 44 and the end 26a (the linking shaft between the linking rod 26 and the supporting lever 24) of the linking rod 26 proximate the supporting lever 24. Consequently, the same advantages as in the above embodiments are achieved since a force that rotates the crank lever 44 is not generated at the time of a fast-pick beating operation.

[0059] The above embodiments are directed to a cloth-shifting-type pile loom that drives the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members individually with designated driving motors. Alternatively, the present invention is applicable to a pile loom in which the two terry motion members are driven with a single motor. In a cloth-shifting-type pile loom that drives the two terry motion members with a single motor, the same advantages as described above can be achieved by applying the configuration according to one of the above embodiments to the mechanism that links the output shaft of the driving motor with the supporting unit that supports the let-off-side terry motion member.

[0060] Furthermore, in one of the drive-transmission mechanisms according to the above embodiments, the rocking lever is attached to the output shaft of the driving motor, and the rocking lever and the supporting unit supporting the let-off-side terry motion member are linked with each other via a linking mechanism defined by a lever and/or a rod. Alternatively, according to a fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the drive-transmission mechanism may be equipped with a cam mechanism including a cam C attached to a driving shaft 46. In that case, the rocking lever 22 may be driven in a rocking motion by the cam mechanism.

[0061] According to the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the rocking lever 22 is an L-shaped lever disposed rotatably around a supporting shaft 22a, which is fixed to the base frame. An end of the rocking lever 22 that is opposite to the end connected to the linking rod 26 is provided with a cam follower 22b. In this case, the driving shaft 46 for driving the cam mechanism may be defined by an output shaft of a designated driving motor, a rotary shaft rotated by a designated driving motor, or a rotary shaft rotated by a main shaft of the pile loom.

[0062] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications are permissible within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A driving device for a let-off-side terry motion member (15) and a take-up-side terry motion member (16) included in a cloth-shifting-type pile loom (1), wherein the let-off-side terry motion member (15) and the take-up-side terry motion member (16) are respectively supported by supporting units (24, 34) that are linked with a driving shaft (m1s, m2s) of driving means (m1, m2) via drive-transmission mechanisms (20, 30), the drive-transmission mechanisms (20, 30) being provided individually for the let-off-side terry motion member (15) and the take-up-side terry motion member (16), wherein the position of a cloth fell (CF) is changed with respect to a beating position by shifting the let-off-side and the take-up-side terry motion members (15, 16) with the driving means (m1, m2) in order to form piles,
wherein one of the drive-transmission mechanisms (20, 30) includes at least two linking members, said at least two linking members including a first linking member (22, 32, 44) and a second linking member (26, 36), the first linking member (22, 32, 44) being rotatably supported by a first supporting shaft fixed in position, the second linking member (26, 36) being connected to an end of the first linking member (22, 32, 44) proximate the corresponding supporting unit (24, 34),
wherein the first linking member (22, 32, 44) and the second linking member (26, 36) at the time of a fast-pick beating operation are connected in a manner such that a connection part between the first linking member (22, 32, 44) and the second linking member (26, 36) is positioned on or near a line extending between the first supporting shaft for the first linking member (22, 32, 44) and an end of the second linking member (26, 36) proximate the corresponding supporting unit (24, 34).

2. The driving device according to Claim 1, wherein the other one of the drive-transmission mechanisms (20, 30) includes at least two linking members, said at least two linking members including a third linking member (22, 32, 44) and a fourth linking member (26, 36), the third linking member (22, 32, 44) being rotatably supported by a second supporting shaft fixed in position, the fourth linking member (26, 36) being connected to an end of the third linking member (22, 32, 44) proximate the corresponding supporting unit (24, 34),
wherein the third linking member (22, 32, 44) and the fourth linking member (26, 36) at the time of a fast-pick beating operation are connected in a manner such that a connection part between the third linking member (22, 32, 44) and the fourth linking member (26, 36) is positioned on or near a line extending between the second supporting shaft for the third linking member (22, 32, 44) and an end of the fourth linking member (26, 36) proximate the corresponding supporting unit (24, 34).

Drawing