Rapier loom having picking tapes and spacers

Abstract

A rapier loom has rapier heads which are moved by picking tapes into an open shed. Spacing elements are provided for the rapiers to ensure that when the shed is fully opened, a space is present between the tape and the bottom shed to reduce frictional contact between the warp yarns and the picking tape edges when the shed closes. The spacing elements can be in the form of slidable members which are disposed on the underside of the rapier head and/or in the form on spacing teeth which are secured to the sley and which can enter the shed between the warp yarns of a bottom shed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a rapier loom, the combination comprising a sley having a reed therein for passage of a top shed of warp yarns and a bottom shed of warp yarns therethrough; at least one picking .[.tape.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for reciprocation transversely between said sheds;   a rapier head secured to .[.one side of.]. said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for passage between said sheds to convey a weft yarn therewith; and   a sliding member .Iadd.separate of said rapier head and .Iaddend.secured to .[.an opposite side of.]. said .[.tape from said rapier head.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.to space the yarns of said bottom shed from said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.a predetermined distance when the shed is open.   
     
     
       2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said distance is at least greater than one-half the height of said rapier head above said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a common center of gravity of said head, sliding member and .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.is disposed in the plane of said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       4. In a rapier loom, the combination comprising a sley having a reed therein for passage of a top shed of warp yarns and a bottom shed of warp yarns therethrough;   at least one picking .[.tape.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for reciprocation transversely between said sheds;   a rapier head secured to .[.one side of.]. said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.for passage between said sheds to convey a weft yarn therewith; and   a plurality of spacing teeth secured to said sley and projecting through said bottom shed of warp yarns, each said tooth having a flat, uninterrupted upper surface .Iadd.free of projections extending above the flat upper surface over the entire length of the surface and .Iaddend.extending parallel to the warp yarns of said bottom shed for slidably supporting said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.thereon.   
     
     
       5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein each spacing tooth has beveled sides for entering said bottom shed. 
     
     
       6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises a plurality of securing elements secured to said sley, each securing element having at least two of said spacing teeth mounted thereon. 
     
     
       7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises means for securing each securing element to said sley. 
     
     
       8. The combination as set forth in .[.claim.]. .Iadd.claim .Iaddend.4 wherein said upper surface of each spacing tooth is spaced a predetermined distance from said bottom shed during picking of a weft yarn; said distance being at least greater than one-half the height of said rapier head above said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       9. In a rapier loom, the combination comprising a sley having a reed therein for passage of a top shed of warp yarns and a bottom shed of warp yarns therethrough;   a plurality of spacing teeth secured to said sley and projecting through said bottom shed of warp yarns, each said tooth having a flat, uninterrupted upper surface extending parallel to the warp yarns of said bottom shed;   at least one picking .[.tape.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for reciprocation transversely between said sheds;   a rapier head secured to .[.one side of.]. said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.for passage between said sheds to convey a weft yarn therewith; and   a sliding member secured to .[.an opposite side of.]. said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.from said rapier head to slide along said upper surfaces of said teeth to space the yarns of said bottom shed from said .[.tape.]. .Iadd.picking member .Iaddend.a predetermined distance when the shed is open.   
     
     
       10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein each spacing tooth has beveled sides for entering said bottom shed. .Iadd.11. In a rapier loom, the combination comprising a sley having a reed therein for passage of a top shed of warp yarns and a bottom shed of warp yarns therethrough;   at least one picking member for reciprocation transversely between said sheds;   a rapier head secured to said picking member for passage between said sheds to convey a weft yarn therewith; and   a plurality of spacing teeth secured to said sley and projecting through said bottom shed of warp yarns, each said tooth having a flat, uninterrupted upper surface free of projections extending above the flat upper surface over the entire length of the surface and extending parallel to the warp yarns of said bottom shed for slidably supporting said picking member thereon, to space the yarns of said bottom shed a predetermined distance from said picking member when the shed is open. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. In a rapier loom, the combination comprising   a sley having a reed therein for passage of a top shed of warp yarns and a bottom shed of warp yarns therethrough;   at least one picking member for reciprocation transversely between said sheds;   a rapier head secured to said picking member for passage between said sheds to convey a weft yarn therewith; and   a plurality of spacing teeth secured to said sley and projecting through said bottom shed of warp yarns, each said tooth having a flat, uninterrupted upper surface free of projections extending above the flat upper surface over the entire length of the surface and extending parallel to the warp yarns of said bottom shed for slidably supporting said picking member thereon, wherein said upper surface of each spacing tooth is spaced a predetermined distance from said bottom shed during picking of a weft yarn. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The combination as set forth in one of the claims 1-7 and 9-12 wherein said picking member is a picking tape.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.4.  The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said 
     
     
        picking member is a picking tape. .Iaddend..Iadd.15.  The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said upper surface of each spacing tooth is spaced a predetermined distance from said bottom shed during picking of a weft yarn; said distance being at least greater than one-half the height of said rapier head above said picking member. .Iadd.16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said upper surface of each spacing tooth is spaced a predetermined distance from said bottom shed during picking of a weft yarn; said distance being at least greater than one-half the height of said rapier head above said picking member.