21,512. Hollingworth, E., [Crompton & Knowles Loom Works]. Sept. 21. Shuttle - changing mechanism; change - box motions; checking shuttles. - In drop - box looms, the ordinary working box or drop boxes 23, Fig. 1, at one side are combined with a switch shuttle box 24, Figs. 1 and 13, provided with two cells 24<a>, 24<b>, situated in the same horizontal plane above the box or boxes 23. When a shuttle is noticed to be almost ex. hausted of weft, the weaver places a corresponding spare shuttle in the .cell 24<a>, and then moves a lever or indicator 55, Figs. 1, 8, and 11, from its normal position wherein its end 55<1> engages one of a series of lips or rests 54<2> into a particular notch 54<1> in a stand 54 provided with as many notches, as there are shuttles in use, the particular notch corresponding to the exhausted shuttle. When the pattern indicates for the exhausted shuttle to be picked, the switch box is automatically raised to the level of the raceway, and the shuttle enters the cell 24b, being brought to rest by a leather or like buffer &c. 52 on a spring-controlled lever 51. When the pattern mechanism again indicates for the exhausted shuttle to be picked, the switch cells are again automatically brought into'line with the raceway and the fresh shuttle is picked from the cell 24<a>. The exhausted shuttle is subsequently removed by moving the lever 51 downwards. The inner wall of the cell 24<b> is formed by a specially-shaped binder 40 pivoted at 24<1>, and by a spring blade or plate 42 pivoted at 43 to the binder, which is pressed by a spring 41 against the spare shuttle 39. A rear extension 42<1> of the plate 42 engages a projection on the binder, and the plate 42 is thus normally held in the position shown to direct the exhausted shuttle 39<1> into the cell 24<b>. A binder 45, pivoted on a pin 46 connecting the parallel plates 24<b1> of the cell 24b, forms the outer wall of this cell, and is pressed inwards by a spring 48, its outward movement being limited bv a stop 47. In the loom described, there are four drop boxes or cells at one end and three boxes 23, Fig. 1, at the other end of the loom, these boxes being controlled by a Knowles motion, and six shuttles being employed. A pattern chain, which is additional to the usual pattern chain of the head motion, actuates three indicator levers, and, by means of compound-lever mechanism &c., thereby gives six different positions to a connector 89 adjustably bolted to a guiding or positioning segment 92, the position varying according to which shuttle is being picked. The segment 92 has a fork-shaped end 92', Fig. 9, embracing screws 93 on a ring 94, which extends loosely in an annular ring in a collar 95, Figs. 8, 9, and 11, mounted loosely on the extended hub 96<1> of a mutilated gear 96, and the segment positions a vibrator lever 69 having a ring-shaped part 69<2> engaging the screws 93, so that, when the exhausted shuttle is about to be picked, the vibrator lever 69 will be moved to the same height as the lever 55. Levers 64, 65, pivoted on the lever 51 and forced against stops 66, 67 by a spring 68, then interfere with the vibrating movements of the lever 69 (which are effected by a connector 99 as described below) and the collar 95 is forced towards the mutilated pinion 96, being yieldingly held by the engagement of a leaf spring 108 with a projection on the hub of the mutilated gear 96. An extension 95' of .the collar 95 is connected by a pin to a lever 109 pivoted at its central ring-shaped portion on two screws 110, 110<1> secured in lugs or ears 96<2> on the mutilated gear 96. The lever 109 has extended ends 109<1> forming starting-teeth, one of which is engaged by a projection 111<1> on a mutilated pinion 111, Figs. 1, 8, and 11, driven from the upper gear shaft of the head motion, so that the pinion 96 is thus given half a revolution, and subsequently, when the pattern mechanism again indicates for the exhausted shuttle to be picked, is given another halfrevolution. A cam 97 fast to the extended hub of the gear 96 actuates a lever 115 connected by lever mechanism to sliding runs on the vibrator levers that control the boxes 23, whereby the runs are moved away from the box pattern chain, and the switch shuttle box is moved into line with the raceway. A small cam 124 on the cam 97 operates a lever linked to the lever 55, which is thereby returned to its normal position wherein its end 55<1> rests on a lip 54<2> and the latches are out of the path of the lever 69. The sliding runs are returned to normal position by spring action. The connector 99 is adjustably attached to a recessed plate, which is raised and lowered by pattern mechanism to place either its upper or lower recess in engagement with pins on a camoperated lever, whereby the lever 69 is oscillated as required. In a modification, the positioning arm or lever for the vibrating lever is loosely mounted on a stationary stud and carries two upright studs, each having a coiled spring fastened thereto at one end, the other ends of the springs extending into the path of the vibrating lever so as to engage and return it to normal position. This lever is oscillated by connexion with one arm of a lever, two other arms of which are connected to patterncontrolled levers.