US2005391A - Shuttleless loom and weft-selecting mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1935. I W. POOL 0 2,005,391 SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Fi led Dec. 16, 19s: .10 sheets sneet 1 W 1 MW June 18, 1935. w, OL I 2,005,391

SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Dec 15, 1953 r 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm M June 18, 1935. w. POOL 2,005,391

SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM THEREFOR F'ile d Dec. 16, 1955 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 June; 18, 1935- w. POOL 2,005,391

SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed .Dec 16, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 r so B9 41 s7 I mi 58 75 58 580 June 18, 1935. v w, POOL 2,005,391 SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING'MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Dec. 16, 1933 1o Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGJZ,

June 18, 1935. I v w POOL I 2,005,391-

- SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM THEREFOR F'il ed Dec. 1- 1933 1o Sheets-Sheet 7 Jam-18,1935. f W.PL I 2005,1391

SHUTTLELESS Loom AND WEFT SELECTING MECHAN'IISM THEREFOR 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1933' lOShegts-Sheetfl June 1 1935. f w. PQOL I 2, 05 391 SHUTTLELESS LOOM AND WEFT SELECTING MECHANISM THEREFORv Filed Dec. 16, 1933 I 10 Shets-Sheet *9 zam 25 FIG. Z3.

FIQBZ- Patented June 18, 1935 a i I I N T D" S AT S AT NT. CE?" SHUTTLELESS Loom AND wEF'r-sELEc'r- 1 ING MECHANISM THEREFOR William Pool, Spondomnear Derby, England, as-

signor to Ceianese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware 3 i Application December 1c, 1933, Serial No. 10 2565 In Great Britain December 31, 193 2 I a m I I 1 g 25 Claims. (01. 139-126) 1 v i 'This invention -relates to shuttleless looms, that serving a pair ofwefts. Conveniently, the loop is looms in which the weft supply does not pass drawing means proceeds continuously, as bybeing through the shed, and has particular reference to mounted on an endlesschain, to pass ,the trapthe-presentationof weft to the inserting means ping'meansin one direction only. A succession 5- in such loomsytheprincipal object of theinvenof similar loop drawing devices may be arranged 5,

tion being to, enable weft selection-to be effected to pass the trappingdevices successively,s'o that in looms of the type-in which the weft-is drawn loopscan .be formed in close sequence. a into'loop form prior to presentation to the insert- Means are provided to release each loop when 1113 means r f it-has been drawn to' the requisite length; "If There is described in U. S. application 8.30. each loop is sufficient to form a pick length, any 10. 484,785 filed-27th september, 1930 loop drawing weft can be insertedfrom one side of the loom means comprising movable trapping means either as singlepicksfseparatedby one ,or more adapted to bring weft trapped by said means into picks of: otherweft froinlthat'side, or as a succes-f l position to be. engaged by loop drawing means, sion of picks; Weft maybe 'similarlyinserted said. loop after drawing beingcarried into the from the otherside of theloom. i

warps. The invention relates to the type of weft A pick of one weft is preferably connected-t0" measuring apparatus in whichmovable trapping a further pick of the same weft, .wh'ether or not means bring the weftinto loop. drawing position, following-the first pick in close succession. The

and provides means foroperating'any ofa plutwo picks v are thus laid in the fabric in the form rality of movable trapping means so that selected of'a loop, the bight of the loop binding the edge 20,

wefts can be drawn into loops and inserted into of the fabric, For this purpose, each weft is a the warps in any desired order. severed'fromits package only after every other v Accordingto the invention, there is provided at pick of that weft. I r j the side of the loom aweft-measuring apparatus The trappingmechanism described in U. S.

7 comprising a plurality of movable trapping means application's. No. 484,785.1iled 27th September, 25

- supplied with weft from a corresponding number 1930 is particularly suitable for with the inof packages, drawingrneans adapted to engage vention, each weft bein'g'controlled by a plurality weft held at any one of said trappingmeans and of trapping devices, one device moving'to carry draw it into a loop for insertion into thewarps, the weft to loop drawing position, and another 30 and selectormeans adapted to bring about en'- engaging the weft inreadiness for a further move: 30

gagement between the drawing means and any ment to loop drawing position, and so on. particular weft presented by the trappingumeans, The movements of the trapping mechanism The trapping means not only bringthe selected; maybeefle'cted-bymeans of a differential gear, wefts into loop drawing, position,-but also mainone mechanism being driven by one side ofv the tain control over the weft during loopdrawing and diiferential and the other by the other side. ,A" 35. in the'intervals when a loop is not being drawn non selected mechanism being held against in any particular weft. f I M 3 movement, the other mechanism is freed and Conveniently, weft not .tobe drawn intoaloop: vice versa,.without interrupting thedrive to the" is held by the movabletrapping means in a.posidifferential gear. If a, similar pair of trapping 40 tion where it will not be engaged byloop drawing mechanisms is driven through aifurther differ- 40 means; the selector means operating to bring entialgear and the twog'ears connected t'othe about the necessary movement of the trapping two sides of a third differential gear, locking of means for any weft as-that, weft is required. any three ofthe trapping mechanisms permits Moreovenmeans are preferably provided whereby the fourth to beidriven v 'j V a movement of non-selected trapping meansis Suitable selector mechanism is operated from 45.

, precluded during the operation ofselected trapa part of the loom. driven insynchronism with ping means. v H v v the operatingmechanis'm for thetrapping and Asindicated above, a loop is formed by the loop loop drawing means; e. vg. a dobby or Jacquard,

7 drawing means in any selected weft presented by such selector mechar'iism also "controlling direct- Y 0 the movabletrapping means. Oneloop drawing 1y or indirectlyassociated partsof' the-m'easuring means may serve to draw loops 'in .more than apparatus in accordance with whichever weft is oneweft, or a pluralityof loopdrawing means selected forv loop drawing H a v V I may be provided; in the particular embodiment In the particular embodimentof thefinvention' described below there is acombination of. these described below, each measuring apparatus comarrangements, two .loop drawing devices each prises four diiferential driven'rotatablemembers,

eight wefts can be presented in many orders, the wefts varying in one or more of such characteristics as colour, lustre, dyeing properties, denier or counts, construction, and direction or degree of twist, and also material, e. g. natural or artificial continuous filaments or staple fibres. v

The accompanying drawings show by way of example a shuttleless loom adaptedaccording to the invention to insert from each side of the loom any one of four wefts, the wefts being laid as connected pairs of picks. f

In'the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the loom showing picking taking place of one of the weft threads supplied at the left-hand side of the loom;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view of the loom;

3 is a sideelevationof the loom viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the left-hand end of the shuttle race cut away. Fig. 4 is a part sectional view showing the disc assembly and inechanismof the righthand gear-box shown in. Figs. land 2. In this figure the upper right-hand disc is'theone in operation, and in all subsequent figures of the gear-box the parts of the mechanism are shown inthe positions conforming to 'thisparticular disc being in operation. 7

Fig. 5 is a part sectional plan view of the gearbox taken on the line 5-4 or Fig.4, showing the main drive; f v v Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical part sectional view corresponding-to Fig. 4 but showing part of the disc-selecting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing further parts of the selecting mechanism of Fig.6;

Figs. Band 9 show controlling levers for the selecting mechanism.

Figs. 10-14 are detail views of the trapping and cutting devices carried by the discs shown inFigs.4,5and6;

Figs. and 16 are plan views of the cam mechanism controlling the trapping and cutting demesi taken on the lines l5, l6 respectively of Figs. 17, 18 and 19show details of the weftcarrier mounting including springs for holding the carriers in any selected position;

Figs. 20 and 21 show in part sectional front elevation looking in the direction of the lines 20, 2| and 2|,2l respectively of Fig. 22 the mechanism for bringing one of the weft-carriers into operative position; and

Fig. 22 is anelevationalview looking from the left-hand side of Fig. 20 with the, two left-hand omitted; Fig. 22 also shows the chain sprocket by which the gear-box is driven.

' Fig. 23 is a plan view of the controlling mechanisin for the weft hook mechanismshown in Figs. 24-28, these figuresshowing'the weft,hook in various positions duringits operation.

Figs. 29 and 30 are part-sectional side and front elevations respectively of a weft-length compensator mechanism;

Fig. 31 shows the controlling device for the tor mechanism;

Fig. 32 shows diagrammatically a reversible drive provided for the lower discs shown in Fig. 33 is a detail of the drive to the gear box; and

Fig. 34 shows a preferred form of weft-inserting shuttle.

Figs. 35 and 36 show diagrammatically in side elevation and plan the carrier setting, releasing, and re-setting mechanism; in both of these figures the several different positions assumed by the weft carriers at different points along their run are clearly shown;

Figs. 37-44 show diagrammatically the sequence ofv operations followed in inserting two consecutive connected picks in one disc of a gearbox; and

Fig. shows diagrammatically the operation of the weft hook shown in Figs. 23-28.

General arrangement Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the weft-measuring apparatus as comprising two units arranged one on each side of the loom, a weft length measured and inserted from one unit being followed by a length from the other unit as the shuttle is picked from side to side of the loom. Each unit comprises a rear chain-wheel I mounted on a shaft 2, the shaft 2 being driven by a chain gear 3 from one end of the crank shaft 4. A chain 5 passes from the chain-wheel l to a chainwheel 6 of a gear box I mounted on the front rail 8 of the loom. A platform 9 mounted above each gear-box 1 carries the weft supply packages. The gear-box I is connected by radius rods Hi to a U-frame H mounted on the rear shaft 2, and. bridging the chain-wheel I. The shaft-2 is carried by bearingsl2, the chain-wheels I being adjustable on the shaft from positions quite close to the bearings 12.

Gear-boa: and disc driving mechanism facing each other and the pairs 3011, 30c and 30b,

30d lying side by side.

In the subsequent description, similar parts associated with or operating in connection with each of the discs 30 are given the samereference numeral, and, where the description is applicable to eachor all of the discs generally, such reference numeral is used alone. Where, however, the description relates to the operation of the member in connection with a particular disc, the reference numeral has added to it the sufiix a, b, c, or d to correspond to the appropriate disc 30a, 30b, 300, or 30d.

On the ends of the spindles 28a, 29b, 29c, 29d within the housings 2|, 22 are secured gears 3la, 31h, 3| 0, 3Id, the gears 31a and 3lb being driven by gears 32a; 32b, and the gears 31c and (H11 by gears 32c and 32d. The gears 32a, 320 are loosely mounted on vertical shafts 33, 34 respectively, while the gears 32b, 32d are secured to the lower ends of these shafts. At the upper ends of the shafts 33, 34 are arranged differential gears comprising pinions 35a, 35c secured to the gears 32c, 320 respectively and pinions 35b, 35:! sethrough springs 99 which permit the cords to be pulled against the pull of return springs 94 even though the levers 90, 9I cannot be'moved. Simiprojections iarly the cords 92 can be slackened. Whenthe disc has completed its movement, the projection 50 on the locking lever 58 can drop into the next notch 51 in the rim 58'and the one end or the other of the slide 9i can drop into the next notch",

Either or both of the levers 90, 9I can then move under :the control of the springs 99, 94 to select another one of the discs 90 for rotation. If no'change is made in the setting of the levers 0|, 9|, the same disc continues in operation.

The possibility of setting the disc-selector mechanism while one disc'is in rotation enables selection to be performed unhurriedly, and also allows of selection being carried out by mechanism which need not be accurately in phase with the disc operation, as will appear later.

. "As will be seen from Figs. 6 and '7, the notches 51' of the rims 55 connected to the lowerdi'scs 30b, 90d have one edge inclined, the corresponding 59 being similarly shaped. The notches 51'and'projections59 of the upper discs $011,100 are square sided. Thus if by any mischance, such as the breaking of one of the control cords 92, the levers 58 arrive at an inter-- mediate position, the inclines on the lower pairs of notches and projections 51, 59 will force the lower levers 58 out of engagement as that disc rotates and bring the upper levers 58 into engagement.

Similarly, the notches on the left-hand plate 86 have one side inclined, the left-hand end of the slide 8| being correspondingly shaped. Hence, rotation of the plate 86 against the slide 8| will force the slide firmly into engagement with the other plate 81 if theslide has been incompletely moved.

The above provisions preventserious damage occurring to the mechanism if the selection gear fails to operate properly.

Though the drive may suddenlybe transferred from one of the side difierentialsto the other, the robust, directly-controlled slide II easily brings the one differential to rest, there being relatively little force needed to drive the mechanism. This leaves the levers 58 to effect only the transfer of drive between the top and bottom bevels- 35 of the side differentials. The levers 59 are made stout enough to make this transfer without danger of bending and buclrling.

Disc construction The discs 30a, 30b, 90c, 3011 are arranged in pairs symmetrically about the centre line of the gear-box I and also symmetrically above and below. the lower run of the chain 5 as it passes from the chain-wheel 6 to the chain-wheel I, this lower run following a substantially horizontal path through "the tunnel 25. Each disc 30. is bored at diametrically opposite points to receive sleeves I00 forming bearings for spindles IOI (see Figs. 10 and 14). v

At the sides of the discs 30 facing towards the chain 5, each spindle IN is provided with a fibre pad I02 and a rubber washer I03 heldin place by a slotted clip I04 (Fig. 11) slipping into slots I05 near the end of the spindle IN, and at its other end with a projectionl06 adapted to be engaged by a cam during rotation of the disc 30 so as to push the fibre pad I02 away from the projecting end of the sleeve I00, thus leaving a gap into which weft thread can enter. A spring III secured to the disc 30 and having its ends acting in slots I08 under the projections I06 on the spindles IOI normally urges each fibre pad I02 into contact with the end of its sleeve I00, the tendency being for the pad to trap any thread lying between it and the end of the sleeve I0 I.

The cams operating the spindles IOI of the several discs are carried by circular plates I09, IIO clamped against the walls of the housings 2i, 22 facing the discs30, the plates carrying curved cam projections II2,'II3 which have a certain amount of angular overlap (see Figs. 15 and 16), the operative portion of the cam thus extending from the free end of the one piece II2 to the free end of the other piece H3.

The projections I06 on, the spindles IOI of the trapping devices of each disc are carried by the rotation of that disc into contact with the projections H2, H3, riding up a ramp Ill on the free end of the projection H2 and dropping sharply on reaching the square end of the continuing projection II3. I

The combined length of the projections H2, H9 may be. adjusted by means of worm gears II5 engaging teeth II50 extending round part of the circumference of the plates I09, IIO so that both the commencement and the finish of the cam operation may be accurately adjusted to any required point in the rotation of the disc. The

worms H5 are carried by bearings IIG formed by cam plates I09, IIO can be rotated by the worms Fig. 15 shows cams Il2a, H342 and H20, H30 for operating the spindles IOI carried by the discs 30c, 300, the cams for discs 30b, 30d being shown in Fig. 16. The arrows show the cam-settings for discs 30a, 30b and 30d to be arranged for anticlockwise rotation of the discs, whereas the cams for disc 300 are arranged for clockwise rotation of the disc. The reason for the reverse rotation of the disc 300 will appear below.

One of the spindles ml of each disc 30 is provided with a notch II9 whose one edge I20 (see Fig. 10) is adapted to pass the endof the sleeve I00 as the cam permits the spring I01 to retract the spindle I0 I. A weft thread which has entered the gap between the sleeve I00 and'the fibre pad I02 and lies close to the spindle IN is thus severed by the cutting action between the edge I20 of the notch I I9 and the inner edge of the sleeve I00. One end of the thread adjacent the point of severing remains held between the pad I02 and the end of the sleeve I00, while the other end is freed from the pad, the pad having a notch I2I on oneside to clear the thread. There being no notch IIS on the other spindle IOI of the so, no cutting takes place at that spindle. The pad I02 is held in correct position on the spindle IOI by the squared end of the spindle IOI engaging a corresponding shaped hole in the pad.

The functions of the trapping and severing devices on the spindles IOI are clearly seen in Figs. 10 to 14'. In these figures (as also in some'subsequent figures), trapping devices provided with cutting devices are designated as A" and noncutting trapping devices as 13". At the left-hand side of Fig. 10 a non-cutting trapping device B is shown with its spindle-head I06- depressed by the cams H2, H3 to bring the pad clear of the end of the sleeve I00. When the disc 30 is rotated to bring the head I06 of the spindle IOI clear of of any disc comes to rest oppositefa short-lift cam ative position and the other in a trailing or idle 7 the run formed by the overlapping cams I I2, I I3, the spring I01 snaps the head upwardly so that the'pad I02 closes quickly onto thread lying be tween itself and the sleeve I00.

Whenever the non-cutting' trapping device B I22 securedto the cam plate I09 (as happens after every full revolution of the disc), the cam I22 engages an inward extension I23 0! the head I06 and depresses the head slightly, as shown in Fig. 12, to relieve the full pressureof the, pad I02. The rubber washerI03 ensures, however, that the, pad I02 continues to press lightly on thread which (as explained hereafter) lies between the pad and the sleeve I00when the spindle IOI occupies this position. The cutting trapping device A has no such extension I23 and so avoids the relieving action of the cam I22 as it passes the cam.

The head I06 of thenon-cuttingtrapping device B also has forwardand rearward extensions I24 and I I24 which vary the timing of the device B as compared with the timing .of the device A. The purpose of these timing provisions'will be explained later. J

At the right-hand side of Fig. 10, the head, I05 of the device A is shown clear of the cams 2, I I3. The thread having been cut" by the edge I20, oneend of the thread lies over the notch I2I (see Fig. 14:)- and is released while the other isheld by the padi02.

The sleeve I00 is ofv hardened metal and its lower face is ground to forma sharp cutting edge 'roundits bore for co-operation with the. edge, I20

on the spindle:IOI. A spring I25 keeps the side of the spindle IOI bearing the edge I20 firmly. against the side of the sleeve I00 to ensure clear cutting of the threadh: The-sleeves I00 are held in place by screws I25. I

Weft-drawing" carriers provide a hearing at each end for a short sleeve I3I to which is secured a. carrier bracketI32.

1 Each bracket bears a pair of pegs I33 at distances from the centre line of the chain which brings thepegs to symmetrical positions with respect to the centre line of the discs 30 on that side of the chain (seeFigsJl and 21).

, Thesleeve I3I being freelymounted on the extended pivot pin I30, the bracket I32v can be swung towards either of the discs 30 on its side I of the chain 5, and also to an intermediate'posi- 4 tion. In Fig. 4, the right-handcarrier bracket I32 has been swung upwardly to bring'the pegs.

I33 between the trapping devices of the disc 300 in operation. The carrier bracket I32 on the lefthand side lies at to the right-hand -bracket so that the pegs I 33 trail behind the link pin I30 and pass clear of both the discs 30a and 30b.

Carrier controlor intermediately to trail between the'discs, each bracket carries a pair of short pins-I34 and a long pin I 35 arranged equidistantly from the link pin I30, and projecting towards the chain. As

the chain 5 follows its run, and before the carv riers reach the discs 30 controlmembers operatedv in accordance with the particular disc in rotation engage the pins I34, I35 .to set one carrier in operposition.

' The horizontal run of the chain 5 from the chain-wheel 6 through the tunnel 251s controlled by means of upper and lower-guides I40, I4 I- which are generally of U-sec'tion so as to be rigid in character (see Fig. 17). Formed on the outer are thus held against vibration; at the same time,

since the contact ofthe guides I40, I is only against the rollers, thechain can be drawn veryeasily along the guides. 4

Wherethe, guides m pass through the tunnel 25, their flanges arecut away, as shown clearly'in Fig. 22, leaving'only the portions of the guides carrying the grooves I42 to pass between the discs 30. These portions are rigidly Immediately in advance of the discs 30, i.'e., just as the chain 5 is entering on-itshorizontal run after'leaving'the chain-wheel 0; the carriers pass projecting teeth I45 on the forked ends of levers I40, In, there being two teeth men each lever, all pointing towardsjthe chain 5. Two opposing teeth liejon oneside jof-thecha'in andtwo on the other. This isclearly shown in Fig. 35,

connected togetherv by strips" I49 and links I50 heldby brackets 40, I I carried by thegearwhich also shows how the levers I45, I4I'lie between the flanges of the guides I40, I to rock on pivots I48 on the guidesf'The 'forkedends of the levers I40, I4'Ijcarrying the teeth I45 are passing round the carrier pegs I33 (see Fig.20)

so that the leversI43, I41 must move simultaneously either downwards to'bring the upperpairs of teeth I45 at their forked ends into the'paths of" the pins I34 on the carrierbrackets I32, or

upwards to bring the lower teeth I45 into'the paths of the pins I34.

The levers I46, I41 are, controlled in the fol- Q lowing manner in accordance ,with the rotation being onan upper or lower pair." Referring to Figs. 20 and 22, it wilfbe seen thatjthe underside of the slide 53 is provided in-a substantially central position with a notch I5I'hav i'ng an inclined side I52 lying above the, head of a plunger I53 passingthrough the lower wall of the housing 2| and pivoted at its lower end to the upper lever I46. I

With the slide 59 pushed to the left to enable one of the upper discs 30a, 30c to rotate, the head of the plunger I53 lies freely inthe notch I5I and the lever I46 is held in a raised position brackets I32.

' When the slide as is pushed to the rightto enable one of the lower discs 30b, 30d to rotate, the, inclined, edge I52 of the notch I5I forces theplunger" I53 downwardly'against the pull of the spring I54yand the teeth use, ma on the upper lever I46'c0me intothe paths'of the short pins I34 on the carrier-brackets.

"The carrier brackets I32 onthe two sides of the chain 5 approach the teethI45 'with the pegs the teeth us causedby either of the upperdiscs 30c, 300 being in rotation brings the lower teeth I450, I45c into the path of the lower pins 134a, I340 on the brackets I32 at each side of the chain and throws the brackets counterclockwise about the link pin I30, i. e. the carrier pegs I33 are thrown upwardly towards the discs 30a, 30a.

If, on the other hand, either of the discs 30b, 30d is in rotation, the upper teeth 51), Set engage theupper pins I346, I34d to throw the carriefbrackets clockwise and the carrier pegs downwardly towards the discs 30b, 30d. In this way, a preliminary setting of carrier pegs towards the upper or lower pairs of discs 30 of which one is in rotation is effected;

The carriers are shown facing both discs 30a and 30'cinFi8.2I.

Further controlling 'means are, provided to returnone set of carrier pegs to idle position away from the non-rotating disc of the pair, leaving only the one set of pegs in operative position with respect to the one disc in rotation. ljThis further control is effected by means of the lever 80 controlling the slide 8| 'to'efi'ect selection between left? and right-handpairs of discs.

After passing through the slot 82 in the slide 8|, the lever 80 is forked at I55 to embrace a lever I56 mounted on a pivot spindle I51 passing through the lower wall of the housing 2I.

A lever arm I56 extends forwardly from the lower end of the spindle I51 and passes through a clearance slot in the bracket H40 to enter a hole I59 in a lever I60 pivoted on an extension of the'bracket H40. A similar lever [H is pivoted on the, lower bracket II4I. I

The levers I60, I6I are connected together by a stirrup I62 surrounding the run of the righthand carrier bracket I32 and pivoted at I63 to a freely hanging lever I64 carried by the wall of the shaft housing 24. By this connection, the lever I6I moves simultaneously with the lever I60.

The ends of the levers I60, I6I engage prongs I65 on slides I66, I61 carried by the chain guides I40, I 4| and terminating at their ends in teeth I68a, I681), I680, I68d pointing towards the chain 5. Movement of the slide to the left to permit one or other ofthe plates 86, 81 to rotate under the control of the shaft 16 produces through the connections just described a corresponding movement to the left of the slides I66, I61, thus bringing the tooth I68a into the path of the long pin I35'carried by the left-hand carrier bracket I32, which pin I35 has previously been brought to a position above the link pin I30, as in Fig. 21. The engagement of the pin .I35 with the tooth I68a returns the pegs I33 on the left-hand bracketv I32 into a trailing, that is non-operative,

position. The movement of the tooth I680 to the left simultaneously with the tooth I68a brings the tooth clear of the long pin I35 of the right-hand carrier bracket I32, thus allowing the pegs I33 of that bracket to remain in operative position with respect to the rotating disc 300.

A similar. pre-setting of both sets of carrier pegs I33 towards one pair of discs 30 comprising the one in operation followed by a returning of one set of pegs I33 away from the disc not in operation is eifected if any one of the other discs 30a, 30b, or 30d is in operation, the setting of the teeth I45, I68 being automatically controlled by the disc-controlling mechanism.

In order to retain the carrier brackets I32 in the positions to which they have been set, either operative or non-operative, each sleeve I3I to which the brackets are secured is provided with a square I69 embraced by the two blades of a U-spring I10 having its free ends clamped to an out-turned extension I1I of a chain link I12. Thus, the sleeves I3I are free to turn by expanding the springs I10 when the carrier I32 is rotated by engagement of the teeth I45, I68 with the pins I34, I35, this overcoming the pressure of the springs on the faces of the squares I 69. When the carriers have been set, the springs I10 are strong enough to hold an operative carrier in position against the pull of a weft thread engaged by the pegs I33 of that carrier, as well as to hold an inoperative carrier against accidental displacement.

It will later be described how weft thread is led to each of the discs 30, but for the moment it will suflice to say that as a selected disc freed for rotation, weft thread held by one trapping device of that disc is engaged by the other trapping devlce, and the length of thread extending between the two trapping devices is engaged by the pegs I33 of the carrier which has been selected and brought into a position where they will be carried-by, the chain to pass between the two trapping devices. One end of the thread Weft-hook mechanism As will be explained more fully later, consecutive picks of weft drawn from any disc 30 are connected together, so that after the first pick of each pair has been inserted it extends from the edge of the fabric to one of the trapping devices of the disc. With three of the four discs, this length of weft lies clear of the loop-drawing mechanism; with the upper disc on the side of the chain 5 remote from the fabric, i. e., in the right-hand gear-box, the disc 300, it is necessary to draw the length of weft connected to an inserted pick and running back to the non-cutting trapping device on the disc 300 into a, position where it will not be engaged by the carrier pegs I33. For this purpose a rod I90 terminating in a hook I9I is provided to engage this length of weft and to draw it out of the path of the carrier. In the mechanism illustrated, the length is drawn to a position below the carrier run. The book I9I is controlled from the disc 300 in the following manner:

Carried within the housing 2I by the gear 3lc connected to the disc 300 is a plate I92 carrying on its upper surface two diametrically opposed rollers I93, and lying across the plate I92 in a position to be engaged by the rollers I93 when they are rotated with the plate is a lever I94 pivoted at I951: and having its free end connected by a link I96 to a lever I91 on a spindle I980: extending through the rear wall of the housing 2|. Outside the housing, the spindle I982: carries a lever I99 to which is pivotally connected at its lower end a lever 200 carrying the hooked rod I90.

A stop 20I formed by bending over the end of the lever I99 limits the movement of the lever 200 in a clockwise direction. A spring 202 connected to the lever I99 above the spindle I98a: urges the lever I99 in a counter-clockwise direcclockwise until thepin 203' reaches the righthand endof the plate 204, as shown in Fig. 24.

As the plate I92, rotates with the disc 300, one of the rollers I93Jis carried against the edge of the lever I94 (see Fig. 23), so moving the lever to the right and causing the lever I99 to move in a clockwise direction vagainst the pull of the spring 202 to move the lever 200-and;-with*it the hook I9I underneath thedisc;30c. The lever 200 outweighs the rod I90@and .keeps,the pin 203 clear" of the lowerface of; thecam plate 204.

' In Fig. 25, correspondingv to the showing ,of disc 30c in Fig; 4, the disc is'half-way through its half-revolution of movement, and the hook I9I is moving towards the position at whichit-meets the thread. Fig. 26showsthe leverIQS substantially' at the limit of, its clockwisemovement, with the hook I! lifted to engage the length of weft thread held by the non-cutting trapping device B shown at the left-hand side of the disc 30c. The disc isrotating clockwise,(see the arrow in Fig. 23), and the trapping device 3 is thereiore receding-from the plane of Fig. 26 and moving to the right. l I v The disc 30c completes each half revolution of movement with the trapping devices occupying, a central position shown dotted" in Fig. 26,

the further rotation of the ,plate I92 with the .disc permitting the lever I94 to return to its original position and" allowing thefspn'ngy202 to move the lever I99 in-a counter-clockwise direction until the lever 200 and-the hook I9I have reached the position shown in dotted lines, corresponding to the ,idle position of the hook I9I shown in Fig. 24'. r This time, however, the

'hook I9I holds the weft length, and retains the length in the position shown dotted in Fig. 26.

This thread is thus drawn into a position where it will not be engaged by the carrier pegs I33, and is held in that; position until the disc 300 makes a further half-revolution; whether or not such further half revolution follows immediately after the one through which the weft is engaged or after aninterval occupied by the insertion of weft drawrrat other discs. r

The second of the rollers I93 on the plate I92 Comesinto contact "in such" further half-revolution with the lever I94 and again-causes the lever I99'to move in a clockwise direction. This time, however, the pull of the threadon the hook I 9| overcomes the over-balancing effect of the lever 200 and brings the pin 203 into contact with the lower edge'of th'e cam plate 204, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 27. Instead, therefore, or the pin remaining'clear of this edge; it is carried intoand along a slot no out in' the plate 204 to "cause the lever m to ris'ewith respect to the lever I98 and the hook -I 9I to bed'epres'sed; bringing the hook toe tionof the hook in Fig. 27) y The left-hand end of the slot 205 slopes sharply upwards as shown at 206 to bring about a sudden depression of the-hook I9I, so. permitting the engaged weftto bereleased. Thissudden release is assisted by a small projection 201 (see Fig. 23) on the face of the lever I94 engaged ,34 rotate in oppositedirections.

by 'the rollers was thatthe lever learand with it the, lever I99 is given a rapid movement atthe instant when the hook I9I is moving sharply downwards because of the pin 203'passing ,up the inclined portion 206 r the slot 205.

Fig.- 28 shows thefinal position ofthe advanced hook I 9| and the released weft proceeding directly from the trappingdevice towards the edge ofthe fabric. H I v r, I

It will be understood from the foregoing 'description that the weft hookjlsl only engages weft from the disc 30.0,. When any of the other discs isin operation no su'ch drawing of the weft to one side is necessary. If, therefore only three wefts have to be inserted from one gear-- box, thedisc 30c can be heldperinanentlyfout the disc, 300 having ,to .be drawnjaside by, the hook I9I between consecutivepicks, to, change the direction of rotation of the disc 306 so that instead of all discs rota ting in the same direc- 'tion,, the upper pair of discs rotate in opposite directions. This is effected in the first place by the pairs of gears;40, 42 and ill, 43 (see. Fig. 5 being. of opposite hand, so that the, shafts 33, Secondly, in the drive to one-of the lower discsiin the'right- .hand gear-box, the disc 3011) is inserted an idle gear., Forthispurposea stubaxle I80 is arrangedwithinthe housing 22, as shown in Fig. 4,. to carrya pair of connected pinions I8I, I82, the

pinion I8I meshing (asin Fig. 32 (b)) with the gear 3| d connected to the disc 30d, and the pinion I82 meshing (as in Fig. 32 ((1),) with the gear 32d at the lowerendof the shaft, so that instead of the gears3ld, 32d meshing di rectly and rotating in opposite directions, they mosh indirectly through the pinions I8I, I82 and so rotate in the same direction. Therefore, notwithstanding the reverse rotation of shaft 34,

thedisc 30d driven by .theshaft rotatesin the 'same directionas the discs 30% 30b driven by shaft 33. 1 p g When the gear-box is used on the other side of the loom, the discs 30b, 30d must rotate in the same direction asdisc 30c, leaving upper and outer disc 30a rotating in'the opposite direction 3 to work in conjunctionwith a weft hook I9I. In

orderv to reverse discs30b, 30d, the pinions. I8I, Y

I82, are removable, and the gear-32d .can be inverted on the shaft 34 so asto mesh d'irectiywith I82, -(sec Fig. 32 (cl).

the gear 3Id instead of through the pinions I8I,

Provision ismade at I 83 s for a similarstub axle I80 to bemountedadjacent' the gears 3Ib, 32b driving the .otherlower disc 30b, sothat by similar interposition of the pair of pinions 18L I82 and inversion, .of the gear 32b,

the direction of rotation of the disc 30bas well as of disc 30d may be reversed for operation of the v gear-box at the other sideof the loom.

; compensator control mechanism I As has previously been ,describedonly one trap-- ping device-A oneach discispr vided'With weft cutting means, the cutting only takingplace after the insertion oftwo picks from that disc so, that the fi st pickinsertedfrom a particular disc remains connected tothe supplyand is held for the time being by the non-cutting trapping device B of thatdisc. It follows, therefore, that between cession or with an interval between. Such compensating meansJare shown in Figs. 29 and 30 and are controlled by means of a rod 2 I II running parallel to the chain and passing throughthe rear wall ofthe gear-box (see Fig. 31). The rod2ll| terminates in a head 2I I between which and the wall of the gear-box is arranged a compression spring 2I2 urging the head 2 against the end 2I3 of a lever 2I4 pivoted at ,2 I51: within the shaft housing 24. A similar lever 2I8 pivoted at 2I'Ia:

inthe shaft housing 23 at the other side of the gear box isconnected to. the lever 2 by a link 213.

Below the gear 32a and secured thereto is a cam 2 I Sq, and immediately below the cam and secured to the shaft, 33 is a similar cam 2I3b. Similar cams 2I3e and 2I9d are secured to the gear 32c and the shaft 34 respectively.

The lever 2I5'is engaged at its end 220 by either of the cams '2I3a, 2I3b when these cams rotate, i. e., when either of the discs 30a, 30b rotates, and the lever 2 is similarly engaged at its end 2I3 adjacent to the head 2I I on the rod 2I3 by one of the cams 2I3c, 2I3d when either of the discs "0.3M rotates. The cams 2I3are so positioned relative to the axes of the shafts 33, 34 that in the half-revolution of any of the discs 35 in which a first pick is to be drawn, the corresponding cam 2|! (though rotating with the disc) moves into contact with its lever 2 I4 or 2 I3 "and by overcoming the spring 2I2 moves the compensating device through the rod 2I3 into a position in which it causes extra-weft to be taken into the loop being drawn, the compensating device operating in conjunction with all the discs 30, as described below.

' In the half-revolution of any of the discs 30 in which a second pick is drawn, the corresponding cam rotates clear of its lever 2 I4 or 2 I5, and the spring 2I2 acting through the rod 2! renders the compensating device inoperative.

[It may here be pointed out that the above description with reference to Figs. 4-28 and 31 and 32 completes the explanation of the construction and function of the gear-box 1 and the parts mounted in or on the gear-box (with the exception of a mere detailof drive adjustment shown in Fig. 33 and'an explanation of the different adjustments between rightand left-hand gearboxes), and it will therefore be clear that the gear-box is a complete unit entirely self-contained as regards the various mechanisms operating the discs to bring anyselected weft into position to r be drawn into a loop.] a v Compensatormechanism Adjustably mounted on the radius rods I5 is a bracket 22'! surrounding the path of the carriers as they pass towards the rear of the loom. On

one side of the bracket 221 is pivoted a lever 223 connected at its upper end to the link 2 I 3. Forming the pivot of'the lever 223 in the bracket 22! is a spindle 223 lying below the chain run, a similar spindle 233 pivoted in the bracket 22'I ,above the chain run being connected by alever 23I to the Whenever one of the discs 30 is being used to draw the first of a pair of connected picks, the link 2J0 is pushed by one of the cams 2 I3 against the action of the spring 2I2 to move all the four rods 233 simultaneously, the upper rods downwardly and the lower upwardly, thus bringing all the guides 234 towards the paths followed by the pairs of carrier pegs I33. The rods 233 are so positioned moreover that one of the guides 234 lies between a pair of carrier pegs I33 (see Fig. 25) whatever the pair of pegs in operation, so that as the length of weft lying between the pegs.I33 in loop-drawing operation is engaged by the guide 2 34 the continued motion of the pegs I33 results in an additional compensating loop being drawn by the guide 234 within the main loop. Such a compensated loop is shown drawn from a left-hand disc of the left-hand gear-box in Fig. 2.

when, however, the loop under formation is a second pick loop, the corresponding guide 234 is held by the link 2H1 under the pull of the spring 2I2 (all'of the cams 2|! being inoperative) clear of the loop drawing carrier pegs I33 sothat a simple main loop is drawn. The length of each compensating loop for the first picks can be adjusted by varying the extent to which the rods 233 project forwardly from their supporting levers 23I, 232.

The link U0 is made in two parts for ease of assembly, the part terminating in the head 2 Loop release mechanism Release. of each weft loop is effected as soon as the carrier pegs I33 have travelled sufficiently towards the rear of the loom to have drawn the loop to the requisite length by bringing about a rearward rotation of the carrier bracket I32. For this purpose toothed members 235 are provided on the rear ends of the levers'I46, I41 which carry at their forward ends the carrier setting teeth I45. As shown in Fig. 35, the members 235 extend respectively downwardly from the upper lever I46 and upwardly from the lower lever I41 and are each provided with pairs of teeth 236a, 23Gb,

236e, me adapted to engage the pins I34, I35

on the carrier brackets I32.

A downward movement of the levers I46, l4!

pins I34, I35 on the carrier drawing a loop from one of the lower discs 30b, 30d to release that loop.

Since the ends of the levers I45, I41 are raised at the gear-box 1 to throw the carriers towards the upper pair of discs 351:, 330 (as described with position.

reference to Figs. and 22), the simultaneous downward movement of the other ends'of the levers I46, I41 automatically brings the'teeth 236a or 2360 into position to engagepins I34, I35 on the one carrier bracket I .32'which the teeth I68v (see Fig. 21) have allowed to remain in its'upward It is. preferredto providetwo weftreleasing teeth236. oneach member235 because then the carrier brackets are given a full half-revolution of releasing movement, and clean release of the weft loop is thereby ensured. j o

The members 235 are adjustably positioned on the levers, I46, I41 so that. weft release can be adjusted to any point along the rearward run ofthe carriers; in accordance with the loop length required. Since, however, the upward'a'nd down ward movement of themembers235 will 'varyin extent in accordance with their distance from the pivots I48 of the leversjl'46, I41 on which-the members 235- lie (it being noted'that theiup'ward or downward movement of. the forward endsof the levers I46, I4! is fi'xedby themovement of the lever I), the pivots I48 of the levers I46, I41 are adjustable al'ongthe chain guides; I40, I so that whatever the positions'of the members 235 they have substantially the same up and down movement. Accordingly, a plurality of pivot holes .23'Iis provided alongeachof the guides I40, I

the teeth 236 at the same time in each pickinserting cycle, and so reach the discs earlier in the cycle when a longer loop is [to bedrawn and later in the case of a short loop. The gearbox I being .driven bythe chain 5, the setting of the chain run to effect loop-release at the correct moment automatically advances or retards the disc operation in accordance with the'difie'rent time in the cycle at which the carriers I33 may arrive at the discs when the apparatus'is set to weave different widths of fabric. 'As the selection of the discs 30 can take place while any disc is in rotation (as'described with reference to Figs. 6-9) any variation in the point in .the cycle at which the discs must commence their rotation need not interfere with the setting of the control mechanism 'for selecting the discs.

The uniform time of release for all the loops necessitatesthe teeth 236'being arranged at sub- .stantially the same distances from the discs-30,

sess

and calls for the equi-distant spacing of the car"- rier brackets I32 along'the chain 5. In practice, two carrier brackets I32 form a convenientnumher to enable the loops to be drawn in close suc- Carrier re-s'etting mechanism Since afterrelease of the weft loops the carriers are given a rotation to 180, they continue their travel projecting to either the upper or the ,low'er side of the chain 5. In order to return -them to'the trailing position in which they are rcady'to besetby the teeth 1 I45,jthe pins on the carriers encounter fixed teeth 238 mounted on the 'chainguides I I0, I4I towards theirrear end.

One of these teeth engages 'the pin I35'on'the carrier which has beenin operation androtate's the carrier rearwardly. through 90","1. e.,into,

trailing position. g

' mo ma" Before idescribingthe operation of the l weit". measuring apparatus as a whole and the manher "in which weft selection is fob tamed, the

method .of loop formation at any, particular willbe described with reference. to.,t he diagram-f."

matic Figs. 3'7.-44'.-.-. Thefoperations shown in these figures correspond to discs 30:1,, 30b, and 30d of the geaFbox I at the'right-hand side of the loom. .With thereversed disc 30c thereis a slight variation in operatiomthis being shown by Fig. 45. Figs. 37-44 should be read particularly in conjunction withFigslO-lfi.

The position of rest of any disc iswiththe two. Y

trapping devices lying along the line of travel of theecarrler servingthat disc. If. theilrst of a pairof connectedpicks is to be .inserted fro'm the disc, the trapper.A incorporating a cutter (shown as a solid circle in Figs. 37-45) holds the.

end of aweit thread, while the trapper B having no cutter (shown-as open circle) lies just clearj of the lengthof weft 250 extending from the. guide 25 I by which the thread is directed'to the disc and to the trapper A (see Fig. 37)

I All the discs 30a; 30b, 30d move with a counter clockwise rotation, i. e., thetrapper A moves to the left-(i. e., towards the edge of the fabric 252) and the trapper B to the right so that the trapper B engages the weft thread (see Fig. 38) At this time, the'head I06 of the spindle IOI of the trapper B is helddepressedby the cam H2, and the weft 250 therefore passes between the pad I02 and the sleeve I00. A length of thread is thus carried between the trapping devices-A, B transverselyto the path of the carrier pegs I33 which, as soon as'the trappers A, B have rotated sufficiently, pass betweenthe trappersand commence to draw the length of weft into a loop 254, as shownin Fig.i39.

During the loop-drawingoperation the trapper B' remains open,-.so that the weft is drawn freely from the supply throughthe guide 25L The loop being intended for a first piclnithe compensatorpeg 234 has been brought into position'to engage theweft between the pegs I33 so that an additionalloop 255 is.drawn within the main loop 254 to provide for the length'of. weft 256 extending between theedge253 of. the fabric and the. disc30 after-insertion of; the pick (see Figs. Y40 and 42). The carrier pegs I33 continue to draw the locp'until the pins I34, I35 on the carrierbracket I32 encounter theteeth 236, the

pegs I33 then being thrown rearwardly to release the loop as shown in Fig. 41.,

The end of the loop 254 is released by the trap- I per]; leaving the continuation cam II3 to; seize per A encountering thecarn I I2, theoth er.trap

the other'part of the loop leading back to: the

guide 25I, and the loop is presented tby means to be described hereafter). to thedummy'shuttle 251, theshuttle at this instant being picked across to the left-hand side of the fabric to carry the thread in the loop into the warps (see Fig.41) I The lag extension ,I I24 on the head I06 of the trapper B delays the trapping action of the trapper until the weft hasbeen released from thespegs I33. 'This avoids strainingof the weft. Thecam H2 is so adjusted, that the trapperA retains its hold on the end of the loop 254 until "the shuttle has passed part-way into the shed,

thus' preventing the shorter part of the loopbetween theshuttle and the trapper A from being drawn out of the shuttle until the shuttle has end ofthe loop 258is not seized by the trapper.

crossed the whole width of the warps.

The shuttle releases the weft end as it leaves the other side of the warps and the weft thread is.

drawn taut and beaten up, leaving the length 258 extending'between the inserted pick and the trapper B. The trappers come on completion of close succession, in which case the same disc conl5 tinues its rotation, but on the other hand, the second pick may not be inserted until one or more .picks have been inserted from any of the other three discs on the same side ofthe loom. In fact, a'considerable number of picks from other discs may separate first and second picks from one particular disc, and the length of weft 254 connecting the first pick to the trapper ,B may be subjected to tension as the first pick moves with the fabric towards the take-up roll. In order to avoid straining. or breakage of the weft during such inwhen the disc isfreed once more for pro duction of a loop to form the second pick, the

trappers move counter-clockwise to bring the trapper A (still open) into-engagement with the weft between the trapper B and the guide 2". as carrier p gs Ill pass between the trappers to engage this length of weft and draw the second loop't'ia as shown in Fig. 43. No compensation'in the loop length is necessary in this instance, the simple loop having to be merelyof such length that together with the length 256 connected to the first pick, it forms; a pick length. m

The'compensation' effected in thedrawing of the first pick is sufiicient to enable the correct length of weft to be available in both first pick and second pickyloops with the carrier pegs I33 releasing the loops at the same point in their travel. Thus, when the second loop is drawn to the full length, the pegs I" are swung backwardly by the operation of. the same teeth 234 as before; the trapper B releases the end of the loop I 259 connected to th'e'first pick 25!, and the'trapper A is closed to seize the end of the weft proceeding from the guide "I and to sever the second loop from the supply; The notch III in the pad I02 ofthe'trapper A ensures that the The lead extension I24 on the head I04 of traperjB efiects early release of the loop 258 toavoid straining the length 255 by reason of the movement of the trapper B. Closing of the trapper A (which has no extensions to its head I04) occurs slightly later so that cutting takes place while'the pegs I32 are drawing theweft taut 7 through the trapper, so giving'clean cutting.

therefore timed for early release. Similarly, on

the second'pick the trapper B ;has early release. There is thus nonecessity for either lag or lead extensions on the trapper spindles, and the timlength of thecam The timing of the trappers on the reversing disc 300 is substantially similar to that of discs 30a, 30b;

The second loop 259 on release is presented to the dummy shuttle 251 and carried into the warps.

This series of operations is shown in Fig. 44. The second half-revolution of the disc 30 comes to an end with the trappers A and B again in the positions shown in Fig. 37 so as to be in readiness for the formation of a loop for the first pick of a further connected pair of picks.

Fig. 14 shows clearly in the dotted positions of trappers A and B the small head I06 of the trapper A and the larger head of the trapper B, this latter including. in addition to theinward extenslon. I23 for engagement with the cam I22, the lead,and lag extensions I24, II24. By the provision of the extensions I24, H24, thetiming of both opening and closing of the trappers A and B in the twohalf-revolutions of the disc 30 may be caused to vary slightly for the purposes set out above, notwithstanding that both trappers are controlled by the same cam runi I2, H3. Thus,

while-adjustments of the cams H2, H3, them-' selves affect both trappers equally,slight variations in timingcan be effected by suitably dimen sioning the extensions I24, -I I24.

Since the rotation of the disc 30 1s in such a direction that the trapping device B, which is holding the length 256 during the formation of a second pick loop, is towards the fabric, the rotation of the disc doesnotput the length 254 under tension, release of the weft from the trapper B taking place'as shown in Fig. 44 before the length 258 has been 'drawn taut. Apart, however, from this provision, it is necessary to arrange that the length 256 connecting a first pick inserted from amr disc to the trapping device B of that disc must be arranged to lie out of the path of any of the carriers so that any disc can remain idl after insertion oithe first pick for any de-' sired period of time.

Reference to .the right-hand side of Fig. 1,

which shows to a small scale the gear-box illustrated in the more detailed drawings, shows that the lengths 2561x2562; and 256d from the ,upper disc-30a and the two lower disc's 301), Nd respectively at all times lie clear of the carriers. In the case, however, of the discflIc, if the length 258a proceeded directly fromthat disc to the level of the'i'abric, the length would lie across'the path followed by the carriers and so would be broken. The hook mechanism shown in Figs. 23-28 is provided to enable'the length 2580 held by the disc 300 to be drawn into a position clear of the carriers. r

3 After the insertion of, the'first pick from the disc 30c the hook I9I controlled by the rotation of the disc itself advances until it engages the length 255c near the trapper B and then is withdrawn to pull the length into a loop consisting of the length I 251 lying below the level of the pegs I33 at the right-hand side of the chain (see Fig. 26), even when such pegs have been set to operate with the lower disc 3Ild. Between the hook and the trapper B the length 258c'forms a short .leugth 258 lying to one side of the pegs I 33.

Since instead of the connecting length 2540 proceeding direct tothe edge 253 of the fabric from the trapper B,.the weft proceeds in the length 258 in a direction away from the edge of the fabric, a counterclockwise motion of the disc "0 as in thecase of the other discs 30a, 30b, ":1 to commence the formation of a second ing can adjusted by regulating thepick loop would result inthe length I251 being

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