US1728497A - Weaving machine - Google Patents

Description

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Sept 17, 1929' H. R. LowNsBERRY wEAvING MACHIN Filed Sept. 20, 1926 Sept. 17, 1929. H. R. LowNsBERRY WEAVING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1926 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fla/y L ownse my.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oI-Flca wuvme )momma Application led September 20, 1926. Serial No. 136,518.

This invention relates to the art of weaving, and more particularly to improvements in machinery therefor.

' It is an object of this invention to provide a new andv improved shuttle transfer mechanism. p

i It is another object to provide a mechanism in which the shuttle` is thrown through the air" from one shuttle carrier to the other,

but in which the shuttle is always supported.

It is a further object to provide a mechanism for holding the shuttle thread taut during the beating-up operation.

It is a still further object to provide a weaving machine which is capable of handling cord orvstitf materials, such as fine wire, of any desired diameter, and particularly for weavingrubberized cord and heavy fabrics.

Previous attempts to weave rubberized cord have been unsuccessful, partially due to faulty machine design, and partially because the soft rubber adhered to the mechanism and prevented it from functioning properly. Both of these diiculties have been`overcome in the machine which forms the subect matter of the present invention, as will e apparent from what follows.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, I have set forth my invention in the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my new weaving machine, with a portion of the driving mechanism removed in order to show the mechanism behind it;

Fig. 2 is a-plan view, with the wind up mechanism removed to expose the ,parts below;

Fig. 3' is a transverse section, on the line 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4`is an end elevation, looking from the right inFigs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates the frame of my weaving machine, vand consists of the bed 11, front uprights 12, rear uprights 13, upper longituditudinalbraces 14, lower longitudinal braces hence I will therefore describe it by discuss-E ing each of these parts, and then 5. The operation of the machine as a whole.

Thread and fabric supziortz'ngl 'mechanism Supported in any suitable and usual manner, but in proximity to the frame 10, is a spool rack 20, containing the desired number of spools 21 so that there will be one spool for each of the warp threads 22, these spools being mounted for rotation to facilitate unwinding. Each thread 22 passes through an eye 23, and through a hole in a guide: plate 24, the threads being divided into two equal groups, those in one group passing through the top of the guide plate and those in the other group passing through the bottom thereof.' The groups of threads are then passed over and under a pair of tension rolls 25, and then through a harness 26, 27, which facilitates the reciprocation of the two groups of threads to cause them to cross the Woof, as hereinafter explained.

The harness members 26 and 27 each-consist of a series of vertical slats 28, perforated at 29 and held in a framework 30, the latter being provided with rollers 31 adapted to bear against slotted tracks 32 in the front uprights12 and to be reci rocated up and down by pistons 33, 34 wliich cooperate with cylinders 35, 36, as explained later on. The threads of one group go to the harness member 26, and those of the 'other group to the harness member 27, the

division into groups being such that the alternate threads go to different harnesses. From the harness 26, 27 the warp threads extend almost to the fabric support guides 37,

38, carried in bearing plates 40, mounted on the longitudinal braces 14. A piece of previously woven fabric 39 is placed between the guides 37 38 to act as a bait, and the ends of the warp threads 22 are tied to the corresponding threads in this fabric. As the latter is woven it is caused to pass over a rbll 41, under a roll 42, back over the roll 42 and under and around a wind-up roll 43. Rolls 41 and 42 are rotatably mounted in bearings in brackets 44, 45 carried by the longitudinal braces 14, and each of the brackets terminate in upwardly extending parallel guide fingers 46 which form vertically slotted bearings for the ends of the wind-up roll 43.

2. Shuttle mechanism A shuttle 50 carries the woof 49 as usual, but the means for manipulating the shuttle are novel, and are mainly responsible vfor the advance in the art which is produced by the present invention.

The shuttle 50 consists of a tubular member 51, provided with outwardly-flared flanges 52 lto prevent longitudinal movement of the shuttle in its carrier,'with a removable rear end cap 53 to permit the insertion of the bobbin (not shown), and with a conically shaped front end 54 integral with the member 51 and perforated at the tip 55 to allow the woof 49 to be drawn out when the shuttle is manipulated as will now be explained-l The shuttle is carried by oppositely-arranged shuttle carriers 56, 57, each of which consists of open-sided upper 'and lower jaws 58 and 60, respectively, pivoted together at 61, and normally held substantially closed by a spring 62 whose opposite ends bear against the rear end 63of jaw 60 and a projecting lug 64 on the rear end of jaw 58, suitable retaining .pins 65 being provided in 'the parts 63 and 64 to hold the springs 62 in position. The front end 'of each of the jaws 58 and 60 is concave to conform to the shape of the shuttle 50.

The lower jaw 60 of each shuttle carrier is securely attached, as by screw threads or welding, to a connecting rod 66 whose outer end is received in a bearing bracket 67, one

of which-is mounted on each longitudinal brace 14. The top of each upper jaw 58 is provided with a slotted bracket 68 in which 1s secured one end of an operating rod 69 whose outer end is adapted to extend through a stop plate 70, one of which is secured to each of the front uprights 12 and longitudinal braces 14. A collar 71 is adjustably secured to the outer end of each operating rod 69 by a set screw 72 in such a position that on -each instroke of the shuttlecarriers 56, 57 the collars will strike the corresponding stop plates 70 just before the lower jaws 60 of the shuttle carriers come into contact thus compressing the springs 62, opening the jaws 58 and 60, and allowing the impetus caused by the movement of the shuttle carriers to throw the shuttle linkage. Supported on a hub-base 73, carried by the lon 'tudinal braces 15, are a pair of brackets 4, one on each side of the machine, and the lower end of a link 75 is pivoted in each bracket at 76, while the uper end of each link is provided with a slot 7, through which extends a pin 78 secured to the outerl end of each connecting rod 66. Mounted in suitable bearings in brackets 80, carried by transverse braces 79, is a rock shaft 81, which carries a lever 82. Connecting rods 83, are secured to the lever on opposite sides of,- and at equal distances from the rock shaft, and the other end of each connecting rod is attached to one of the links 75 just above its pivot 76. The lower arm of lever 82 is slotted at 84 to receive a pin 85 carried by a piston rod 86, one end of which carries a piston 87 for coo eration with a cylinder 88, to be descri ed later, and the other end of which passes through a bearing in a bracket 90 carried by the sub-base 73. Consequently, when the piston rod 86 is reciprocated motion will be transmitted to the lever 82 by the pin 85, thence to the links` 75 b the connecting rods 83, and then to the siuttle carriers 56, 57 by thel connecting rods 66, tl's moving the shuttle carriers 56, 57 from the sides to the center of the machine, openingy the jaws 58, transferring the' shuttle from one carrier 56 to the other carrier 57,

closing the jaws 58, and moving both carriers to the sides of the machine to com plete the laying of one Woof thread. The operation is then repeated, transferring the shuttle from carrier 57 to carrier 56, and so on.

3. Reed mechanism When -the shuttle carriers have moved from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines therein, the woof thread 49 which extends from the fabric 39 to the shuttle 50 will occupy the position indicated by the dotted line X. To move the woof from this position to that shown by the dotted line Y, I utilize a reed 100, which consists of a cross" bar 101, provided with a series of teeth 102 to provide a notch 103 for each of the warp threads 22. The reed is pivoted on a rock shaft 104, carried by brackets 105 on the transverse brace 109, and is reciprocated by a piston 106 which cooperates with a cylinder 107 supported by the intermediate transverse brace 16.y Movements of the piston 106 are transmitted to the reed 100 by a piston rod 108 and a link 110 pivoted thereto, the opposite end of link 110 being pivoted in a bracket 111 carried by the cross bar 101 on the reed. When thus actuated the reed is reciprocated toward and from the finished fabric 39 which is passing through the guides 37, 38. On the forward stroke the teeth 102 on the reed risebehind the last woof thread 49 and pass between adjacent warp threads 22, moving thread 49 forward and beating it up into proximity with the previous vwoof thread.

To hold the woof thread 49 tight during this beating-up step, I provide a finger 112 on each side of the machine just above the longitudinal braces 14 and just in front of the position occupied by the conical end 54 of the shuttle when it is at the side of the machine, The finger 112 is operated bythe movement ofthe cross bar 101 of reed 100 by the following linkage, which is duplicated on each side of the machine. An offset link 113 is pinned to the side of the cross bar 101 at114, just above its pivotal connection with the rock shaft 104, and to the offset .link is pivoted one end of an extensible connecting rod 115, the other end of which is connected to one end of a bent lever 116 pivoted at 117 on the intermediate brace 17. The opposite end of lever 116 is connected to a link 118, which in turn is connected to the lower end of a guide rod 120 which depends from the finger 112. Guide rod 120 and another guide rod 121, which is parallel thereto, pass through a guide plate 122 carried by the longitudinal-brace 14. Consequently, when the reed 100 is moved forwardly, to beat up the woof, connecting rod 115 is given a simultaneous forward movement, rocking lever 116 on its pivot 117 and pulling downwardly on link 118 and guide rod 120, thus lowering the finger 112 so lthat it tightly grasps the woof thread 49' adjacent to the perforation 55 in the end of shuttle 50, holding it taut and preventing the unwinding of too much thread from the bobbin in the shuttle on account of the pressure exerted on the woof 49 by the reed 100 in the beating-up operation. As soon as the piston 106 is moved in the opposite direction, the reverse movement of the linkage raises the finger 112 and releases the woof thread 49.

Also pivoted to cross bar 101 by pivot 114` is one end of a link 130 whose other end is pivoted to the lower end of a second link 131 at 132. The upper end of link 131 is pivoted on a rock shaft 133 mounted in wind-up bracket 45. The upper end 135 of link 131 is bent forward and a pawl 134 is pivotally connected to it at 136. The outer end of the pawl rests by gravity on a ratchet 137, mounted on the end of the shaft 138 which carries roll 42. Consequently, when piston 106 swings the reed 100 forwardly, for the beating-up o'peration, the link 130 rocks the link 131 on the shaft 133, and causes the pawl 134, which is in engagement with a tooth of rachet 137, to give the latter a counter-clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 1, and advance the finished fabric 39 one step through the guide rolls 37 and 38, as wellas winding up a previous portion of the fabric 39 on the wind-up roll 43, which is guided by the slotted bearings 46 and rests by gravity on the roll 42, being rotated by friction when the roll 42 is rotated. On the reverse movement of the reed 100 the pawl 134 slides freely over the teeth of ratchet 137 and drops by gravity behind the next tooth.

.4. Power train Power from any suitable source, such as a motor (not shown) is conveyed toa pulley 150 (Figs 2 and `4) on a main drive shaft 151, mounted in bearing brackets 152 carried by the bed 11. Shaft 151 is provided with a gear 153 which cooperates with a gear 154 vmounted on a jack shaft 155 that is supported in bearing bracketsv156 on bed 11. Consequently the rotation of shaft 151 is imparted to jack shaft 155, and the power thus transmitted to shaft .151 actuates valve tripping mechanism for the entire operation of the machine, as will now be explained.

Pistons 33, 34, 87 and 106, which have been referred to previously, may be operated by any desired motivepower, but I prefer to use compressed air at about to 90 lbs. pressure, the supply of this air pressure to the cylinders being controlled by a series of slide valves that are operated mechanically by the power'transmitted to the mainA drive shaft 151.

There are three of these slide valves and they all operate alike. Each consists of a cylinder, provided with the usual inlet and exhaust ports for the actuating fluid, a piston, and a piston rod, the latter being provided with a valve-tripping pin, which is moved first in one direction to supply air to one side of the slide valve piston, and then in the opposite direction to supply air to the opposite side of the slide valve piston. The tripping of the pin is effected by a pair of cams on the mam drive shaft or jack shaft, which alternately move the pin in opposite directions.

Piston 87, which controls theA4 shuttle movement, is actuated by a slide valve 160 which is supported by a U-shaped bracket 161 on the bed 11 and consists of a cylinder 162, piston 163 and piston rod 164, the latter n having a valve-tripping pin 165. The opposite end-of piston rod 164 is received in a bearingbracket 166 on bed 11. Mounted on the main drive shaft 151 are a pair of reversely-arranged cams 167 and 168, provided with hubs 17 0 and 171, and reverselyarranged pin-engaging lobes 172 and 173, respectively. The hubs 170 and 171 are rovided with set screws 174, for securing t em tightly to shaft 151 after they have been adjusted so as to time the contact of the lobes 172 and 173 with the pin 165 to give the desired movements to the slide valve 160 and consequently to the piston 87 and shuttle carriers 56 and 57.

Operating air for the various valves and cylinders is conveyed by piping 175 from any suitable source of supply, that for the slide valve 160 being introduced through an opening 176 in the cylinder 162. The air pressure to effect the inward movement of the shuttle carriers isconveyed from the slide valve 160 to cylinder 88 by a pipe 177,

' and that for the outward movement of the shuttle carriers is conveyed by a pipe 178.

A similar slide valve 180 actuates the piston 106 in cylinder 107 which operates the reed 100, fin er 112 and pawl 134, but the same cams 16 and 168 on shaft 151 are used to trip a pin 181, which controlsslide valve 180, as to trip the pin 165 which controls slide valve 160. Slide valve 180 is supported by a U-shaped bracket 182 on the bed 11 and consists of av cylinder 183, piston 184 and piston rod 185, the opposite end of which is received in a bearing bracket 1'86, also on bed 11. Piston rod 185 carries valve-tripping pin 181. Operating air is introduced into the cylinder through an opening 187 in the cylinder wall, and air pressure to effect the beating-up action of the reed is conveyed from the slide valve 180 to c linder 107 by by' a pipe 190, while that or the return movement of the reed is conveyed by a pipe 188. Since the same cams 167 and 168 control both the shuttle and reed operations, these will always occur after the same time interval has elapsed. f

Pistons 33 and 34, which control the up and down movements of the harness 26 and 27, respectively, are actuated by a slide valve 200, which is supported by a U-shaped bracket 201 on the bed 11, and -consists of cylinder 202, piston 203, and piston rod 204, whose opposite end is received in a bearing bracket 205, also on bed 11. Piston rod 204 'is provided with a valve-tripping pin 206,

and the latter is actuated by reversely- arran ed cams 207 and 208 carried by jack sha t 155. Cams 207 and 208 are provided with hubs 210 and 211, and reversely-arranged pin-engaging lobes 212 and 213, respectively, the hubs having set screws 214 for securing them to the jack shaft after they `have been adjusted to time the contact of the lobes 212 and 213 with the pin 106 to give the desired movements to the slide valve 200, and consequently to the pistons 33 and 34, and harness 26 and' 27,.

respectively. y

Y Operating air is introduced into the cylinder 202 through an opening 215 in the cylinder wall, and air pressure to effect the `lifting of harness 26 and the lowering of har- Inasmuch as the operation of each part has been explained in connection with the description of that particular portion of the machine to which it relates, it is believed that theoperation of my new weaving machine as a whole will be clear from the following explanation.

A piece of previously spun fabric 39 is started around the wind-up roll 43, back around rolls 42 and 41, and fed back between guide rolls 37 and 38, leaving the end exposed. The warp threads 22* are then fed from the spools 21 on spool rack 20 through the guide plate 24, around tension rolls 25, and through the harness 26 and 27, the free ends being extended to the guide rolls 37 and. 38, whereupon the ends of the warp threads are then attached to the previously spun fabric 39, as by sewing them thereto. Shuttle 50 is then loaded with a bobbin, the free end of the woof 49 being threaded through the perforation 55, and tied or sewed to one edge of the previously spun fabric 39.

Power is now applied to pulley 150, and compressed air is supplied to piping 175. Pulley 150 drives shafts 151 and 155, and cafrs 167, 168, 207 and 208, and the latter impart reciprocating movements to the valvetripping pins 165, 181, and 206, and hence to the slide valves 160, 180 and 200, which control the admission of the compressed air from piping 175 to the shuttle cylinder 88,

reed cylinder 107, and harness cylinders 35 and 36. l

This results in movements of the shuttle 50, reed 100 and harness 26 and 27 as follows: Assuming that the shuttle- carriers 56 and 57 are in the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig 2, and that the woof v49 extends,`as shown in dotted line Z from the front edge of the fabric 39 to the shuttle 50, the lobe 173 on cam 168 will engage pin 165 on connecting rod 164 of slide valve 160 and move it to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus actuating piston 87 in shuttle cylinder 88 and moving the shuttle carriersn56 and 57 to the position shown in Fig. 3. As indicated in this figure, the lower jaws 60 of the shuttle carriers are thus brought almost but, not quite into contact, and the sudden stoppage of the shuttle carriers, when piston 87 reaches the end of its stroke, produces a jolt which transfers the shuttle from carrier 56 to carrier 57. Stops 71 on operating rods 69 are so set that they will contact with stop plates 70 and compress springs 62, to open shuttle carrier jaws 58, the instant before the carriers are stopped, so that the shuttle can be trasferred by the sudden jolt referred to. The cam' 167 is so adjusted on the lshaft 151 that lobe 172 will engage pin 165 and cause a reverse movement of slide valve 160, piston 87 and the shuttle carriers 56 and 57 t-he instant after the transfer occurs, thus releasing the springs 62 and closing the shuttle carrier jaws 58 to retain the shuttle in carrier 57 and move thecarriers to the sides of the machine, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. At this time the positionof the Woof 49 which has 'ust been laid is indicated by the dotted line Immediately after the shuttle carriers reach the sides of the machine, the lobe,

- 173 on cam 168 actuates the pin 181 on connecting rod 185 of slide valve 180 and moves it to the rear (Fig. 2), thus actuating piston 106 in reed cylinder107, and rocking the reed 100 on shaft 104. This lowers finger 112 into contactwith guide plate 122 andV holds the woof thread 49, shown by the dotted line X of Fig. 2, taut during the continued movement of the reed, whose teeth ass vbetween adjacent warp threads 22 an beat up the woof thread 49 until it reaches the fabric 39, and the reed re'aches the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. As explained above, this movement of the reed 100, through the linkage 130, 131, and 134, winds up the finished fabric 39 on wind-up roll 43. At this'time the free end ofI the Woof thread is in the position shownv by dotted line Z of Fig. 2, and extends from the rear edge of the fabric 39 to the shuttle 50.

Immediately after the beating-up operation, the harness 26, 27 has to be shifted to cross the warp threads 22 around the Woof thread 49 which has just been beaten up. For this purpose, lobe 213 of cam 208 en ages pin 206 on connecting rod 204 of sli e valve 200 and moves it to the rear (Fig. 2), thus allowing compressed air to enter ipe 217, and actuate pistons 33 and 34 in arness cylinders 35 and 36, respectively, to lift harness 27 and lower harness 26.

To return the reed 100 to its inoperative position, lobe 172 on cam 167y actuates the pin 181 on connecting rod 185 of slide valve 180 and moves it to the front (Fig. 2), thus actuating piston 106 and rocking the reed 100 on shaft 104. This raises finger 112 and releases the Woof thread 49, and also causes pqwl 134 to drop behind the next tooth of ratchet 137.

This completes one cycle of operation and the further rotation of -shaft 151 causes lobe 173 on cam 168 to again engage pin 165, on connecting rod 164, thus actuating piston 87 and moving the shuttle carriers 56, 57 to the position'shown in Fig. 3 and transferring the shuttle from carrier 57 to carrier 56.

Immediately thereafter lobe 172 on` cam v167 engages pin 165 and reverses the movement of slide valve 160, piston 87 and the shuttle carriers, thus moving the latter to the sides of the machine, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2( The position of the woof 49 which has just been laid is indicated by the dotted line X.

When the shuttle carriers reach the sides of the machine, lobe 173 on cam 168 againy actuates the pin 181 on connecting rod 185 and moves it to the rear (Fig. 2), thus actuating piston 106 and rocking the reed 100 on shaft 104. This lowers finger 112 into contact with guide plate 122 and holds the Woof thread 49 taut during the con'- tinued movement of the reed, which beats up the woof until it reaches the fabric 39. The free end of t-he Woof thread is then in the position indicated by the dotted line Z of Fig. 2, and extends from the front edge of the fabric 39 to the shuttle 50. l

The harness 26, 27 is then shifted again, lobe 212 of cam 207 engaging pin 206' on connectin rod 204 and moving it to the front (F 1g. 2), thus allowing compressed air to enter pipe 216, and actuate pistons 33 and 34 in harness cylinders 35 and 36, respectively, to lower harness 27 -and lift harness 26. The reed 100 is returned to its inoperative position, finger 112 releases the Woof thread 49, and pawl 134 drops .behind the next tooth o'f ratchet 137 when lobe 172 of cam 167 again moves pin 181 to the front (Fig. 2) to actuate piston 106.

This completes a second cycle of operation and these two cycles are repeated alternately during the entire period of operation of my weaving machine.

Throughout my specification I have fre- (juently used the terms thread and fabric and, in order that no undue limitation on the scope of my invention ma be inferred from the use of these terms, desire to have it understood that they are used 4in the broadest possible sense so that the term thread will include single strands or groups of strands of flexible or semi-flexible material of any kind suitable for weaving, such as cotton, wool, silk, rub'- berized cord, and wire, and so that the term fabric will include the product which results from weaving single strands or groups of strands of the materials referred to, or any similar materials.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have invented a new and useful `weaving machine which is capable of handling awide range of materials. and

B means for reciprocat' that my invention is susceptible of various modifications within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A shuttle carrier provided with upper and lower jaws, which are pivoted together, resilient means for normally maintaining the jaws closed, and means independent of the shuttle for overcoming said resilient means to simultaneously open the jaws when the carriers are at the inner limit of their stroke.

2. A shuttle transfer mechanism which consists of a air of shuttle carriers provided with spring-controlled jaws, means for reciprocating the shuttle carriers toward and from each other, and means for throwing the shuttle from one carrier to the other.

3. A shuttle transfer mechanism which consists of a pair of shuttle carriersprovided with spring-controlled jaws, means for reciprocating the shuttle carriers toward and from each other, and means for transferring the shuttle from one carrier to the other, said means consisting of actuating means for the carriers which stop them suddenly before contactin and thus produce a jolt to eii'ect the trans er. l

4. A shuttle transfer mechanism which consists of a pair of shuttle` carriers provided with pivoted jaws, means for reciproeating the shuttle carriers toward and from each other, and means for opening and clos-fy ing the jaws of both shuttle carriers at the same time, vthe jaws being opened when the carriers are at the inner limit of their stroke.

5. A shuttle transfer mechanism' whicl consists of a pair of shuttle carriers provided with ivoted jaws, means for reci rooating the s uttle carriers toward and rom each other, and meansv for opening and' closing the jaws at the desired time, said means includin adjustable stops attached to the jaws, anfdmeans for limiting the travel of these stops, as the carriers approach one another, in order to simultaneousl open the jaws when the carriers are at the inner limit of their stroke.

6. A shuttle transfer mechanism comprising a pair of shuttle carriers, each of which carriers consists of a pair of pivoted jaws, means for reciprocating said carriers toward and from one another in a horizontal plane, means for abruptly stopping the travel of the carriers at a predetermined point in their travel means for openin the jaws just prior to said abrupt stoppage 1n order to transfer the'- shuttle from one carrier to the other by the jolt of said .abrupt stoppage, and-means 'for retaining the shuttle in the carrier to which it is transferred.

7. A shuttle transfer mechanism comprising a pair of shuttle carriers, each of which carriers consists of a pair of pivoted jaws, 'said carriers toward and from one another 1n a horizontal plane,

means for abruptly stopping the travel of the carriers at a predetermined point in their travel, adjustable means for opening the jaws just prior to said abrupt stoppage in order to throw the shuttle from one carrier to the other, and means for retaining the shuttle in the carrier to which it is transferred.

8. In a shuttle transfer mechanism, the combination of a shuttle, a pair of shuttle carriers consisting of spring-operated hinged jaws, means for moving both carriers toward one another and suddenly stopping them before they come into contact, to throw the shuttle from one carrier to the other, and means for facilitating the proper positioning of the shuttle in the shuttle carrier which is to receive it and for preventing its moving longitudinally with respect to the shuttle carrier.

9. In a shuttle transfer mechanism, the combination of a shuttle, a pair of shutt-le carriers consisting of spring-operated hinged jaws, means for moving both carriers toward one another and suddenly stopping them before they come into contact, to transfer the shuttle from one carrier to the other, and means for facilitating the proper positioning of the shuttle in the shuttle carrier which is to receive it and forpreventing its moving longitudinally with respect to the shuttle carrier, said means consisting of outwardlyared flanges provided on the shuttle at a distance apart which is equal to the length of the jaws of the shuttle carriers.

10. The combination of a shuttle and a pair of shuttle carriers, the former being provided with anges for facilitating its proper positioning in the shuttle carriers,

said flanges being spaced apart a distance equal'to the length of the shuttle carriers, and the latter consisting of pivoted jaws which are normally spring held in closed position, but which are opened at predeter-v mined times to permit the transfer of the shuttle from one carrier to the other.

11..,A weaving machine which comprises a thread supporting mechanism, a shuttle mechanism, a reed mechanism, and a ower train for operating these parts, the s uttle mechanism having shuttle carriers and means for throwing the shuttle through the air from one shuttle carrier to the other, and the shuttle carriers having portions which support the shuttle while it is being thrown, and the power train consisting of separate fluid-actuated pistons for operating the shuttle mechanism, reed mechanism and thread supporting mechanism, a drive shaft, and a series of cam-controlled slide valves actuated by the drive shaft for controlling the supply of fluid to the istons.

HARRY R. L WNSBERRY.

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