GB595591A - Improvements in or relating to automatic weft replenishing mechanisms for looms - Google Patents

Abstract

595,591. Looms with automatic weft replenishment. SMITH, F. L., and SHACKLETON, G. W. Sept. 3, 1943, No. 14389. [Class 142 (iii)] The invention relates to automatic weft replenishing mechanisms for looms having drop boxes at one end and a full bobbin magazine and replacement mechanism at the other. According to the invention, upon weft exhaustion an electric circuit is closed at the drop boxes which passes through contacts associated with the dobby to operate a single electro-magnet controlling release mechanism for a full bobbin selected from the magazine by means connected to the drop box mechanism, so that bobbin replacement is effected when the shuttle next arrives at the magazine end of the loom after indication of weft exhaustion. A contact in each shuttle touches conductive portion of a bobbin in the shuttle on substantial weft failure and each shuttle also has external contacts to associate with contacts in the drop boxes which are in circuit with a magnet 9, Fig. 1, through a dobby plate switch and a wiper actuated by the dobby mechanism. Energisation of the magnet 9, on completion of the circuit, causes a tongue 17 to be placed in the path of a camoperated frog 18 with consequent movement of a lever 20, rod 21, lever 21a and arms 22 and 23. The arm 23 is connected by a rod 24 to a selector slide 16, reciprocated by a system of levers operated from the drop box mechanism, and actuation of the arm 23 by energisation of the magnet 9 releases a selected full bobbin, from the magazine 10 and allows it to fall into an outlet 12, where it is held by levers 25, 26 until forced into a shuttle 1 by a hammer 27. The hammer 27 is mounted on an arm 28 connected to a frog 29 normally held out of contact with a tongue 43 on the loom sley but which is raised into operative position by a rod 39 connected to the arm 22 through' a lever 40, divided link 41 and rod 42, Fig. 5. Divided link 41 has a slot 41x enabling the arm 22 to make an initial movement without raising the frog 29. Arm 22, loosely mounted on the boss of the arm 23, is moved into the bobbin change position by a spring 22a when released from a stop 22c, Fig. 3, and, on moving, causes a shuttle feeler arm 13 to swing behind the shuttle to determine whether it is fully home. If the feeler arm 13 is able to pass behind the shuttle the arm 22 makes a full movement and the frog 29 is raised to operative position, whereupon the weft from the spent bobbin is cut by a knife 31 carried on the feeler arm 13. If the shuttle is not completely-boxed the arm 13 cannot pass behind it.and the arm 22 is prevented from making its full movement, as a result, the frog 29 will not be raised and remains inoperative.