US1990065A - Circular loom for weaving - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 1935. w. A. DICKIE ET AL CIRCULAR LOOM FOR WEAVING Filed Nov. 30, 1951' 5 Sheets-Shet 1 I Inventors /%W/M ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. w. A. DICKIE ET AL CIRCULAR LOOM FOR WEAVING Filed Nov. 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invento rs IIII;; I I I I I:! I...

wILLI/Q: A. DICKIE FRANK c. HALE Feb. 5, 1935. w. A. DICKIE ET AL CIRCULAR LOOM FOR wEAv'I'NG 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS].

Filed Nov. 30, 1951 WILLIAM A. DICKIE 11} l 13 F 1111K C. HAL tors 6i- Patented Feb. 5, .1935

CIRCULAR Loom ,roR wnvisq William Alexander Dickie and Frank C'orbyn Hale, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, alcorpcration of Delaware Application November 30, 1931', Serial No. 578,003 In Great Britain December 20, 1930 18Claims. (oi. 139-13) The present invention relates to circular looms, and is particularly concerned with the supply of weft thread and the insertion thereof into'the fabric woven in such looms. Q

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circular loom in which the employment of a shuttle carrying a large body of weft with it through the shed is avoided. It is a further object of the invention to enable the weft inserting means in a circular loom to be light in weight, while at the same time the necessity for frequent stoppages for weft replenishment is avoided.

According to the present invention,the weft thread in a circular loom is provided from a stationary weft supply, i. e. from a supply which does not pass through the warp shed. The .weft may be introduced into the shed by means of a weft carrier providedwith a hook, jaws, or other means to engage the weft thread whichis presented to it, and to release the weft thread when the required length has been laid in the shed.

The weft thread may be laid in the shed in measured lengths which are drawn in theform of measured loops from a stationary supply and may be presented in this manner to a weft carrier at one or more points round the periphery of the warps. Alternatively, the end of the weft thread coming from the stationary supply may be engaged by the weft carrier and carried through the shed, the weft thread being drawn from the stationary supply during the weft laying operation itself. The pull exerted by the weft carrier may be used to pull the'weft from the package.

The weft being drawn from a stationary package, the weft carrier may be made light in weight, and remains constant in weight during the operation of the loom, so being capable of rapid, steady motion through the shed. At the same time large stationary weft packages may be used which enable the loom to runfor long periods without replenishment. As above stated, weft may be presented at more than one point round the loom, weft supply packages being provided at each point, and, moreover, more than one weft carrier may be employed, particularly in the case of looms of large diameter.

The weft carrier or carriers may be propelled through the shed by any suitable mechanism, that described in U. S. application S. No. 578,002 filed November 30, 1931 corresponding to British application No. 38432/30 being particularly advantageous. According to U. S. applications. No. 578.002 corresponding to British application No. 38432/ 30 means are provided to impart a driving impulse to a weft carrier asit reachesa gap in the warps, so that propulsion of the weft carrier takes place without risk of damaging the warps. One or more of such'gaps in the warps may be provided and presentation of the weft as well as driving of the weft carrier may be effected at each of said gaps. 'The'shedding of the warps and beat-up of the weft thread into the fabric may be effected by any suitable mechanism operating in sequence with the picking mechanism.

As stated above, the weft thread may be presented for, insertion into the warps as a. preformed measured loop, which may be sufficient either for one pick or for two picks, the loop in the latter case being laid in the form of a hairpin, the bight of which binds, the warps to form a selvedge at the edge of the fabric. The preformed loop of weft may be drawn by means of a travelling device passing between two trapping devices, in one of which theend of the weft is'trapped, and drawing the weft into a loop between the trapping devices. The weftloop thus drawn is released from the one trapping device and trapped by the other, and is presented to the weft carrier, which pulls it into the shed. Where the loop is sufficient for one pick only, the loop is then out near the second trapper, leaving the weft coming from the supply still trapped ready for the next loop to be drawn. "If. the loop is sufficient for two picks, the remaining length is held in the trapper until the weftcarriercomes round again and is out near the trapper justprior to engagement by the weft carrier.

. The preformed loop may be drawn from the stationary supply in any direction, it being most convenient where a weft loop sufficient for two picks is drawn thatthe bight of the loop should be drawn out to a pointnear the end of the shed. 1 Thus,.,the loop may be drawn from outside the periphery of the warps in towards the end .of the shed orv it may be drawn from inside the loom outwards to the end of the shed, oragain it may be drawn vertically upwards or downwardsor at an angle to the horizontaL- Similar conditions apply inithe case of a loop sufiicient for one pick only, but in this case it is preferable that the loop should be drawn from a point near the periphery of the warps in a direction away from such point, e. g. inwards towards the centre of the loom, so that presentation of the weft to the carrier cantake place near the point where the drawn loop is connected to the supply.

A very convenient form of loop drawing mechanism is described in U. S. application S. No. 484,785 filed September 27, 1930. According to this specification, movable trapping devices are provided, whose motion causes the weft held by one device to be engaged by the other to form a length of thread stretched between the two devices in readiness for engagement by the passage of the drawing device between the two trapping devices.

In the case where the end of the weft thread coming from the supply is gripped, or otherwise engaged by the weft carrier and drawn to the other end of the shed, a trapping device may conveniently be provided for holding the end of the weft thread, in conjunction with means for transferring it from the trapping device in which it is held to a weft trap in the weft carrier itself. As the weft carrier passes through the shed the weft is drawn from the stationary supply and is caused to run through the open trapping device adapted to hold the end of the weft thread, so that when the shuttle reaches the other end of the shed and releases the end of the pick, the trapper may be closed and the pick may be cut off, leaving the trapper once more holding the end of the weft thread coming from the supply in readiness for the next pick to be inserted from that source of supply.

A weft stop motion may be provided at a point round the periphery of the loom, or in the gap or gaps in the warp threads, in order to stop the loom on breakage or exhaustion of the weft supply. Thus, the weft may be carried past a weft fork or similar device adapted to detect slackness or absence of weft, and to operate a stop motion of a type similar to that employed in ordinary looms. In order to maintain the weft thread laid in the shed under tension during beat-up, a suction trapping device of the kind described in U. Ssapplication S. No. 526,317 filed March 30, 1931 may be provided on the reed, adapted to secure the free end of the weft and to hold it under tension until beat-up occurs, when the free end may be cut off, and sucked away.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention in connection with. a loom having driving means for the weft carrier of the type described in U. S. application S. No. 578,002 corresponding to British application No. 38432/30, but it is to be understood that this description is given by way of example only, and is in no way limitative.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 2 a part plan of a loom for carrying out the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan, Fig. 4 a side elevation, and Fig. 5 an end elevation of a dummy shuttle for the purpose of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a radial section through the tail of the reed, showing means for securing the weft end at the edge of the fabric during beat-up;

Figs. 7 and 8 are a sectional side elevation and plan view respectively of driving means for the weft carrier;

Figs. 9 and 10 show details of the mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8;

Figs. 11 and 12 are a side elevation and a plan view of a form of weft-feeding mechanism;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show details of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12;

Figs. 16 and 17 are an elevation and plan of another form of weft-feeding mechanism;

Figs. 18, 19, and 20 are diagrammatic views showing the operation of the loop-drawing means shown in Figs. 16 and 17; and

Figs. 21 and 22 show details of a weft-carrier for use in connection with the mechanism described with reference to Figs. 16-20.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the warp threads 20 are taken from a beam 21 provided with a brake band 22 which is held in tension by means of a spring 23 and a wing nut 24. The threads 20 leaving the beam 21-are threaded through a spacing comb 25 carried on the frame 26 of the machine and pass thence round lease rods 27 to the healds 28, 29 by means of which they are formed in a shed. The threads then pass through the reed 30, and the fabric 31 formed in the loom passes over a spreader ring 32 to a take-up roller 33.

The healds 28, 29 pass over rods 34 carried from the outer pillars 35 of the loom. The healds are loaded with weights 36, 37 and spaced by means of reeds 38. Each heald or each set of healds (say 4) is attached to a member 39 or 40 driven to produce shedding of the-warps 20 by means of cams 41, 42 mounted on a cam plate 43. The cam plate 43 is in the form of an annular plate and carries an annular gear 44 on its inner edge so that the cam plate 43 can be driven by of a gear 45 carried on the main shaft 46 of the loom. The cam plate 43 is carried on the frame 26 of the loom by means of ball bearings 47, and is provided with a cover plate 48.

The main shaft 46 also carries a small pinion 50 meshing with a gear 51 mounted loosely on the stationary central pillar 52 of the loom, and a second gear 53 attached to the gear 51 drives the take-up roller 33 through a chain of gears 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, so that the take-up is effected as fast as the fabric is produced.

As shown in Fig. 2, the loom comprises four reed sections 30 having gaps 61 between the sections through which the shuttle is intermittently driven, in a manner hereinafter to be described. After the passage of the shuttle through each section, the corresponding reed section is lifted to beat the weft just laid into the cloth. For this purpose each reed section 30 slides on vertical rods 62 and carries vertical racks 63 engaging with racks 64 carried on levers 65 which are pivoted at 66'near the central column 52 of the loom. Since the two levers 65 have to be actuated simultaneously in order to keep the reed 30 level during beat-up, they are actuated by separate cams 70, 71 working on the levers 65 through suitable pairs of levers and links 72, 73, 74, 75. The levers 73 and 74 are provided with followers 76, 77 and are pivoted at 78, 79. In Fig. 1 the members 74, 75, 77 and 78 are shown in dotted lines. The pivot points 66 and 78 are carried on a spider, whose boss 78 surrounds the shaft 52, and whose rim 79 is provided with studs 49 screwed into and holding down the cover plate 48.

The gap 61 between the reed sections 30 is occupied by a shuttle box 91 which does not rise and fall with the reed. The weft thread 163 is supplied from a stationary package 162, the end coming from the package 162 passing through a stationary trapping device 151 fixed to the shuttle box 91.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the weft carrier or dummy shuttle 80 (hereafter referred to as a shuttle) is provided with a spring-loaded trap 81 at its nose, adapted to be automatically opened by a weft carrying finger to receive the weft, in a manner hereinafter to be described. The trap 81 is held in a closed position by means of a spring 82, and is automatically opened to release Weft at the end of each pick by means of a small semi-circular projection 83, which is engaged and press'eddown by the top of the shuttle box. In order that the shuttle may run smoothly along the shuttle race constituted by the reed sections, runners 84 are provided along the length of the shuttle. The reed, as shown in Fig. 1, has dents of L-shape, so that the runners on the outer side of the shuttle can bear against the vertical limbs of the dents, while the warps are completely protected against rubbing. A groove 85 is out along the outer side of the shuttle to accommodate the weft thread during picking. A strip 86 of friction material, such as ordinary brake lining, is provided in the bottom of the shuttle, and a slot 87 is cut in the inner side of the shuttle, for a purpose which will be seen later. The weft thread is held during picking in the serrated jaws 88'of the trap 81, and runs back along the groove 85. A sloping surface 89 is provided on the under side of the trap 81 for engagement with the weft carrying finger, in order to open the trap as the weft thread is inserted. Fig.6 is a radial sectionthrough the tail of the reed 30 showing means of the kind described in U. S. application S. No. 526,317 for trapping the end of the weft thread after it has been pickedthroug'h the shed, and released from the shuttle. This device is indicated generally at 191', 193 on Fig. 2, Fig. 6 showing details. Forming part of the reed 30, and rising and falling therewith is a plate member 191 and a suction tube 192 connected by means of a flexible tube to a suction vessel or pump (not shown). .After the shuttle 80 has passed through the shed and as it passes into the shuttle box, the projection 83 is forced down by thetopzof the shuttle box, thus causing the trap 81 to open and release the end of the weft thread. The end "of the weft thread thus released is sucked'through opening 193'into the tube 192. As soon as the reed 30 rises to beat-up the weft threadiinto the fabric shown at 194 at the top of the figure, a sliding plate 195 actuated by a T-shaped lever 196 moves to the left and traps the thread in the opening 193. In the lowest position-of the reed 30, the plate 195 is held backagainst the action of a'spring 197 by means of a. stationary rod 198, working upon one arm 199 of the lever 196, but when the reed rises, the'plate 195 moves to the left under the action of the spring 197. The spring 197 acts at its other end upon a bell-crank lever 200, and holds back to the right aflknife 201 engaged by the upper arm 202 of the lever 200. As the reed 30reaches its top position, a lever 203 secured to the pivot of the lever 200 engages with a stationary vertical rod 204, and is forced down, causing the knife 201 to move to the left and to cut off the end of the weft thread, which is then sucked away through the suction" tube 192. The levers 196, 200,203 are pivoted at 205 andcarried by a bracket 206 attached to the tube 192. The other end of the weft is held during beat-up, as will be described later, and the action of suction through the tube 192 draws the weft out in the shed under moderate and uniform tension during-beat-up, the cutting off of the end being delayed until the last moment so. that the weft is properly tensioned in the shed.

Figs. 7-10 illustrate shuttle-driving means similar to that described in U. S. application S. No. 578,002 filed November 30, 1931 corresponding to British application No. 38434/30. At the end of its travel through the shed, the shuttle 80 enters a shuttle box 91, and is there brought to rest by means of a check member 92 having a projecting tooth.;93" engaging with the slot 87'on the'inner 'side of'the shuttle. The check member 92 is pivoted at 94, and is brought into checking position-by 'means'of a lever 95 pivoted to it-at 96;" 'The lever 95 is operated by means of a-bell-crank lever 9'7, and a plunger 98, through a fcam: 99,- whichis carried in a cam groove {100011 the cam" plate 43', a;.fo1lower 101 being provided atthe'lower end of the plunger 98 toengagewith the cam99. The bell-crank lever 9'7 andthe plunger-98 are "carried by a bracket 102 mounted on the top plate 18 of the cam plate 43.1 Fig. 9showsa-sectio'n throughthe toothed end of thecheck member "92, and through the shuttle and shuttle-box, clearly showing how the tooth 93 of the member 92 passes through a slot 106 into' the side of the shuttle "box 91 to: check the shuttle as it enters the shuttle box; I After coming to rest, "the shuttle driven forward through the" next section of the reed by means of a friction wheel 110 working through a slotlll in the bottom of the shuttle'box 91 and acting on the friction strip 86 in the bottom of the shuttle. The {friction wheel 110 isco-nstantly driven by means of pulleys 112, 113 and a belt 114 from a large pulley 1'15 carried in a bearing 116 attached tc'lv the frame 26 of the loom, and driven'bymeans' of a gear 117 meshing with the annulargear, 44" on the inner edge of the cam plate 43'. In order to'produce the intermittent picking effect required to propel the shuttle through each reed section in turn, the

friction wheel 110 is raised into engagement with the shuttle, andfor this purpose the pulleys 112, 113 are carriedfuponlevers 120, 121 pivoted at 122 and operated th'rough'links 123, 1 24 and a plunger 125 from a cam 126 carried by the cam plate 43, a follower l2'l being,,provided at the bottomof the plungerv 125. The lever 124 and the p un'g f125are mounted in abracket 128 formed in one piece withithe bracket 102 carrying the shuttle-clfi'e ekIoperating mechanism.

In'the operation of L theniechanism, after the shuttle has been checked by themember 92 a fresh end o-f'weftisfed to the'shuttleby mechanismhereinafter to be described, and the cam 126 operates to frai'serthefriction.wheel into engagement .vvith;the shuttle,.the raising of the friction wheel having also the effect of tightening the belt 114. Shortly. after-the engagement of the friction wheel 110thecheck member 92 is withdrawn by operation of-the cam 92 and the shuttle is driven through'the next shed, to be P checked in thev next shuttle box by a further member 92,;and soon. p r

The method ofinserting an end of weft thread into the shuttle will now be described with reference to Figs. 11 and 12. Shortlyafter the projection 83 has been forced down by the top of the shuttle box 91 to release the end *of the inserted weft thread, in the; manner explained above, a weft-carrying finger; 131 mounted upon a horizontal rod 132 carried. in stationary bearings 133 beneath :the, .shuttle box is actuated through a bell-crank lever 134, a link 135, a lever 136, and'a plunger 137 by means of a earn 138 fixed in a groove139 in the cam plate 43, a follower 140 being provided at the lower end of the plunger 137. The fingerg131 is actuated by the cam 138 to move inwardly across'the nose of the shuttle 180, Wherexthefinger is engaged by the sloping surface 89 on the under side of the weft trap 81, (shown i'nFigs.?3 andwl), whichis forced open by the finger. On passage of'the' shuttle 80 past the finger 131 the finger is withdrawn from the trap which automatically closes on the thread under the action of the spring 82. The weft thread extending from the trapping device 151 to the supply package lies across the path of the finger 131 and is drawn thereby into the trap 81, and held there when the trap closes. The finger 131 is held up towards the nose of the shuttle 80, by means of a plunger142 acting upon a horizontal plate 143 fixed to the horizontal rod 132 at 143', 143". The plunger 142, which is loaded by means of a spring 144, is actuated through a lever 145, link 146, lever 147 and plunger 148 from a cam 149 inthe cam plate 43. After the passage of the finger 131 inwardly across the nose of the shuttle, the plunger 142 is allowed by the cam 149 to drop under the action of the spring 144 and the finger 131 falls back from the nose of the shuttle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13, and under the action of the cam 138 passes outwardly across the nose to its original position. This motion clears the finger 131 from the weft thread held in the trap 81. The picking wheel 110 is then raised, and the shuttle travels through the shed with one end of the weft clamped in its jaws, thus withdrawing the yarn from the weft supply. It will thus be understood that while the weft trap 81 is opened by the contact of the projection 83 with the top of the shuttle box 91, to release the inserted weft end, the trap is opened by the finger 131 for the engagement in the trap of a new weft end, both operations being carried out in the same shuttle box. The shuttle 80 is thus enabled to progress round the loom, from shuttle box to shuttle box, releasing inserted weft ends and picking up new weft ends at every box.

In co-operation with the weft carrying finger 131 are two trapping devices 151, 152, the trapping device 151 being fixed to the shuttle box, while the trapping device 152 rises and falls with the reed 30. Both devices are actuated by means of plungers 153, working in guides 154 by means of a lever 155, a link 156, a lever 15,7, and a plunger 158, a cam 159 acting upon a follower 160 at the lower end of the plunger 158. The end of the weft thread is held in the trapper 151 while the finger 131 moves inwardly, the weft coming from a package 162 shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2. While the weft finger 131 is moving back to its original position, after having deposited the weft thread in the shuttle trap 81, the trappers 151, 152 are being opened by means of the cam 159. The shuttle is then picked through the shed and the weft thread drawn by the motion of the shuttle from the supply package runs through the open jaws of the trappers 151, 152. As the shuttle comes to rest in the next shuttle box at the far end of the shed, the lever 155 allows the trappers 151, 152 to close. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the trapper 152 is provided with a cutting knife 161, the preliminary motion of the trapper shown in these figures having the effect of gripping the weft, while the final motion cuts the weft between the knife 161 and the edge of the trapper 152. The reed is now raised, carrying with it the trapper 152 which still grips the thread, and in this manner the weft thread is cut off from the supply and beaten up into the fabric. The end of the beaten up weft is only lightly held by the trapper 152, so that on descent of the reed and trapper, the end is pulled from the trapper. The end of the weft coming from the supply is retained as before in the trapper 151, and held across the path of the weft carrying finger 131 ready for another insertion when the shuttle returns to the same shuttle box after completing its circuit of the loom.

,Figs. 16 and 17 show another form of weft presenting means, embodying a weft-loop drawing mechanism similar to that described in U. S. application S. No. 484,785. In the mechanism shown in Figs. 16 and 1'7, weft thread is drawn into a loop sufficient for a single pick, this loop then being presented to the shuttle and carried into the shed. For this purpose the weft thread 163coming from a supply package 162 by way of a pigtail guide 162 is held in a trapping device 164 mounted together with a similar trapping device 165 upon a rotating plate 166. The rotation of the plate causes the weft thread trapped in the device 164 to cross and pass into the jaws of the trapper 165. The length of weft between the trappers 164, 165 is then engaged by means of a peg 167 carried by a bracket 167 projecting from the side of an endless chain 168. The chain 168 is caused to run round three pulleys 169, 170 and 171, which lead it towards the centre of the loom on its lower run and outwardly on the upper run.

The engagement of the weft thread by the peg 167 drawsthe weft thread out into a loop between the trappers 164, 165 towards the centre of the loom, causing it to pass over the shuttle box 91. A guard tube 172 is provided, carried by brackets 172 and having a slot 173 in one side for the passage of the bracket 167 carrying the peg 167. The loop is shown almost fully drawn in Figs. 18 and 19, and it will be seen that the tube 172 supports the loop of weft as it is drawn towards the centre of the loom, and prevents it from being caught in adjacent mechanism. When the'peg 167 reaches the inner sprocket 169 the weft thread is released by the rotation of the peg round the sprocket, thepeg being of such a height as to draw out the loop on the level of the centre of the sprocket 169. The release of the end of the loop from the peg 167 is shown in Fig. 20. It will be seen that in order to avoid collision between the peg 167 and the tube 172, the top of the tube is cut away at the end.

Immediately upon release of the bight of the Weft loop, the trapper 164 releases one end of the loop, while the other end remains trapped in' the trapper 165. When the dummy shuttle enters the shuttle-box 91 the weft thread near the trapper 165 is pressed down into the shuttle box for engagement with the shuttle by means of a depresser member 174 carried upon the end of the lever 124 (described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8), operated simultaneously with the raising of the friction wheel 110 which drives the shuttle through the shed. The depresser 174 is shown in the downward position in Figs. 18 and 19, in which position it causes the weft to be engaged by the shuttle as the shuttle is picked. In this manner the weft thread which is still gripped in the trapping device 165 is picked into the shed, the free end released from the trapping device 164 being taken to the other end of the shed, and held by means of asuction trapper such as has been described with reference to Fig. 6.

' The rotation of the plate 166 is so timed that the trapping device 165 is at its nearest point to the end of the reed 30 during the beat-up, which subsequently takes place. After beat-up, a cutting device in association with the trapper 165 cuts the weft beyond the trapping device 165, the end of the weft coming from the supply being still gripped therein." The cutting device may be separate from "the trapping device,.as described in U. S. application S. No. 484,785, or it may comprise a cutting blade secured to a jaw of the trapping device, similar to the cutter 161 on the trapper 152. The operation is repeated in similar manner when the shuttle has completed its circuit of the loom, the trapping'devices 16 i, 165, however, having interchanged their positions inthe time that the peg 167 has been passed completely-round the three'pulleys 169, 170, 171. I Y

The whole device is driven through thesprocket 169by' means ofgears 176, 177 from a shaft 178 driven by means of skew gears 179 from the main shaft 46. of the loom. By means of bevel gears 180' this motion'is transmitted from the shaft 178 to four other shafts symmetrically disposed upon the centre column 52 0f the loom, each shaft drivingone of the four loop-forming devices arranged at the pickingpositions. All the gears, bevel gearsand sprockets are carried in a large bracket 181 which is rigidly fixed to the stationary shaft 52 by means ofpa key 183. The chain 168 is driven fromthe sprocket 169 and in turn drives the sprocket 171. The motion of the sprocket-.171 is transmitted by skew gears 185 to a shaft 186 and thence by skew gears 18'? to the plate 166. The plate 166 is carried on a circular plate 188 which, on its under side is provided with cams 189 adapted to operate the trapping devices 164, 165,:and the cutting devices in' association therewith as the devices rotate beneath the plate 188. The whole assembly of, sprockets 170, 1.71, skew gears 185, 187, shaft 186 and plate 188 is carried upon a bracket 190 fixed to one of the side columns 35 of the loom.

Figs. 21- and -22 show details of ;the dummy shuttle for use with the loop-drawing device described above. The shuttle 210 has a. wide groove2111from end'to end of its upperface'and is provided with a shortweft-engaging horn 212 nearits rear end. The horn base 213 is screwed firmly to the shuttle and lies flush with the bottom of-the groove'211. The-end 1750f the depresser member 174 engagesthe weft thread and presses it down into the outer side of the groove 211, so that the, horn212 passes 'over the weft thread as it is impelled through the shed'by the wheel 110; Since the base 213 of the horn 212 is flush withthe bottom of the groove 211, the finger 1'75-may be allowed to remain in, the outer side .of thegroove until the shuttle is passed without injury, since there is nothing on the shuttle to foulit.- g

' What we claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:' 1 1. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the

combination of a weft-carrier race extending round the loom, means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means disposednear-atleastone point along said race adaptedto direct weft from ajstathe weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means disposed near at least one point along said race adapted to draw lengths of weft from a stationary supply for engagement by said weft-carrier as it passes said point during its passage round the race, and means adapted to sever weftfrom the supply so that the-weftcarrier by its passage round said race lays the weft in the form of lengths;

3; In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of a weft-carrier race extending round the loom, means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, gripping means on said weft-carrier adapted to seize weft supplied at at least one point along said race from a stationary supply so that on propulsion the said weft-carrier draws weft from the supply and lays it in the form of lengths, and means adapted to sever weft lengths from the weft supply.

4. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of a weft-carrier race having gaps therein extending round the loom, means disposed at the gapsinsaid race adapted topropel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means adapted to draw from a stationary supply lengths of weft sufiicient'to extend from one of saidgaps to another of said gaps for successive engagement by said weftcarrier at the first of such gaps,fand means adapted to sever weft from the supply so that the weft-carrier by its passage round said race lays the weft in the form of lengths;-

5. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of weft-carrier ,race'extending round the loom, means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means adapted todraw a length of weft from a stationary supply, means'disposed near at least one point; along said race adapted to hold temporarily the end of the weft thread running from the weft supply, gripping means on said weft-carrier, said gripping means being adapted to seize saidweft betweensaid holding means and the supply so; that on propulsion of the weft-carrierthe weft, is laid'in lengths by the weft-carrienand means adapted to sever weft lengths from the weft supply.

'6. In a circular loom. having a weft-carrier,

the combination of a weft-carrier race extending round the 100m, means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one'direction round said race, means adapted todraw a'length of, weft from a stationary supply, means disposed near at least one point along said race adapted to hold temporarily the end of theweft thread running from the weft supply, gripping means on said weft-carrier, means adapted to engagethe weft thread between saidholding means and the weft supply and to carry said weft into said gripping means so that on propulsion. of the weft-carrier the weft is laid in lengths by the weft-carrier, and means adapted to sever weft lengths from the weft supply. '7. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combinationof a weft-carrier race extending round the .loom,-means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means disposed near at least one point along said race adapted to direct weft from' a stationary supply to said weft-carrier, means adapted to guide warp threads as a sheet, shedding means adapted to divide. said warp sheet into a shed adapted tobe penetrated by said weft-carrier so that the said weft-carrier lays the weft within the said warp shed in pick form, and means adapted to sever a pick from the weft supply after insertion of the. pick. in the warp shed. 1

8. In a circular: loom having a weft-carrier,

the combination of a weft-carrier race extending round the loom, means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, meansdisposed near at least one point along said race adapted to direct weft from a stationary supplyto said weft-carrier, a horn on said weft-carrier adapted to engage said weft so that on propulsion'of the said weftcarrier the weft is laid by said weft-carrier, and means adapted to sever weft from the Weft supply so that the weft-carrier by'its passage round said race lays the weft in the form of lengths.

9. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of a weft-carrier race having gaps therein extending round the loom, means disposed at the gaps insaid race adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means adapted to draw from a stationary supply lengths of weft sufiicient to extend from one of said gaps to another of said gaps, means adapted to present-one of said lengths to said weft-carrier at the first of such gaps, means adapted to guide warp threads as a sheet, shedding means adapted to divide said warp-sheet into a shed adapted to be penetrated by said weft-carrier so that the said weft is laid in the warp shed by the weft-carrier on its passage round the race, means adapted to hold the rear of each weft length after its insertion into the warp shed, and means adapted to sever weft lengths from theweft supply.

10. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of a weft-carrier race having gaps therein extending round the loom, means disposed at the gaps in said race-adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means-adapted to draw from a stationary supply lengths of weft sufficient to extend from one of said gaps to another of said gaps, means adapted to present one of said lengths to said weft-carrier at the first of such gaps, means adapted to guide warp threads as a sheet, shedding means adapted to divide said warp-sheet into a shed adapted to be penetrated by said weft-carrier so that the said weft is laid in the warp shed by the weft-carrier on its passage round the race, means adapted to seize and hold the front end of each weft length after its insertion into the warp shed, and means adapted to sever weft lengths from the weft supply.

11. In a circular loom having a weft carrier, the combination of a weft-carrier race having gaps therein extending round the loom, means disposed at the gaps in said race adapted to propel the Weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means adapted to draw from a stationary supply lengths of weft sufiicient to extend from one of said gaps to another of said gaps, means adapted to present one of said lengths to said weft-carrier at the first of such gaps, means adapted to guide warp threads as a sheet, shedding means adapted to divide said warp-sheet into a shed adapted to be penetrated by said weft-carrier so that the said weft is laid in the warp shed by the weft-carrier on its passage round the race, a trapping device into engagement with which the front end of each weft length is drawn by suction after the insertion of said length into the Warp shed, and means adapted to sever weft lengths fromthe weft supply.

12. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of a weft-carrier race' extending round the loom, means adapted to apply propelling impulses to the weft-carrier so that the 'weftcarrierproceeds in one direction round said race by virtue of its momentum, means disposed near at least one point along said race adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to said weft-carrier, and means adapted to sever Weft from the weft supply so that the weftcarrier by its passage round said race lays the weft in the form of lengths.

13. In a circular loom, the combination of a reed, having at least one gap therein, forming a weft-carrier race extending round the loom, a weft-carrier adapted to travel along said reed, means disposed in the gap adapted to impart impulses to said weft-carrier so that the weftcarrier travels inone direction round said reed by virtue of its momentum, means disposed near said gap adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to the weft-carrier, and means adapted to sever weft from the weft supply so that the weft-carrier by its passage round the loom lays the weft in the form of separate lengths.

14. In a circular loom having a weft-carrier, the combination of a multi-section reed forming a weft-carrier race extending round the loom, means adapted to propel the weft-carrier progressively in one direction round said race, means disposed near at least one point along said race adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to said weft-carrier, means adapted to guide warpthreads as a sheet, shedding means adaptedto divide said warp sheet into a shed adapted to be penetrated by said weft-carrier so that the said weft-carrier lays the weft within the said warp shed in pick form, means adapted to operate said reed sections to beat up the weft laid in the shed, and means adapted to sever lengths of weft from the weft supply.

15. In a circular loom, means adapted to guide warp threads as a shed having gaps therein, means for imparting a propelling impulse to a weft carrier at such gaps, means adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to the weftcarrier, so that, by virtue of its momentum, said weft-carrier penetrates the warp shed and lays the weft in pick form in said shed, means adapted to bring the weft carrier to rest prior to each propelling operation, and means adapted to sever lengths of weft from the supply.

16. In a circular loom, means adapted to guide warp threads as a shed having gaps therein, means for imparting a propelling impulse to a weft carrier at such gaps, means adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to the weftcarrier, so that, by virtue of'its momentum, said weft-carrier penetrates the warp shed and lays the weft in pick form in'said shed, means adapted to bring the weft carrier to rest prior to each propelling operation, means to prevent said weft carrier from being propelled by said propelling means until a desired instant,'and means adapted to sever lengths of weft from the'supply.

1'7. In a circular loom, means comprising individual healds for guiding warp threads as a shed having gaps therein, cam means adapted to operate said healds to effect shedding, means for imparting a propelling impulse to a weft carrier at such' gaps, means adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to the weft-carrier, so that, by virtue of its momentum, said weft-carrier penetrates the warp shed and lays the weft in pick form in said shed, means adapted to bring the weft carrier to rest prior to each propelling operation, and means adapted to sever lengths of weft from the supply.

- 18. A circular loom comprising means including individual healds for guiding warp threads as a shed having gaps therein, cam means adapted to operate said healds to effect shedding, means adapted to impart a propelling impulse to a weft carrier at such gaps, means adapted to direct weft from a stationary supply to said weft carrier so that, by virtue of its momentum, said weft carrier penetrates the warp shed and lays the weft in pick form in said shed, means adapted to bring the weft carrier to rest prior to each propelling operation, means adapted to prevent said weft carrier from being propelled by said propelling means until a desired instant, a reed up the weft laid in the warp shed, a rotatable I cam ring adapted to control the weft carrier propelling means, the weft propelling release mechanism, the healds and the reed, and means adapted to sever lengths of weftfrom the supply. WILLIAM ALEXANDER DICKIE.

FRANK CORBYN HALE.

Images