Warp tension regulating and warp feed apparatus in circular loom

Abstract

In a circular loom in which at least one shuttle is continuously travelled in one direction along an annular guide member and a plurality of shed forming mechanisms arranged annularly and coaxially with the guide member are sequentially opened prior to arrival of the shuttle to form a successive sheds through which the shuttle is to be inserted and passed, a warp tension regulating and warp feed apparatus is mounted. In this apparatus, an annular supporting member fixed to a frame of the circular loom is disposed outside the shed forming mechanisms adjacently thereto, a plurality of dancing levers guiding corresponding warps through yarn guides mounted on the top ends thereof are pivoted on the supporting member for respective warps and resilient means for absorbing variations of tensions on the respective warps is connected to the corresponding dancing levers. A warp feed roller having a peripheral speed higher than the warp consuming speed of the circular loom and having a frictional surface is disposed between a warp supply source and the dancing levers so that the frictional contact force between the warp feed roller and the warps is utilized to control the feed amounts of the respective warps separately, and maintain the tensions on the respective warps within an allowable range.