US2025901A - Shuttle changing loom - Google Patents

Description

` 3 Sheets-Sheelt 1 Dec. 31, 1935.

w.w. ROBERTSON SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Aug. 17, 1934 Dec. 31, 19.35. w. w. ROBERTSON SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Aug. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v J7( 713407" WM weriw @1MM Dec. 31, .1935. w, w ROBERTSN l2,925,901

SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Aug. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 SHUTTLE CHANGENG LOOM Wiiiiam W. Robertson, Worcester, Mass., assigner to Crompton t Knowles Loom Werks, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Appiication August i7 6 Claims.

reserve incoming shuttle is inserted into the same box. The normal condition of the box is changed during the replenishing operation and is then restored preparatory to picking the new shuttle. If the latter is improperly boxed, or if the outgoing shuttle fails to be completely ejected, the shuttle box cannot return to normal condition, and I use the resultant abnormal condition to prevent restarting of the loom.

In double shuttle looms it is convenient to supply a single box front for both shuttle boxes and raise it preparatory to a shuttle changing operation. The front is lowered after the shuttle change just before the loom resumes operation, and if a shuttle is misplaced in either box, due to faulty ejection or defective transfer, the front cannot reach its normal position. It is a further object of my invention to prevent the loom from starting up should a shuttle remain misplaced in a double shuttle loom after the normal time for shuttle changing.

It is customary in looms of this type to employ protector mechanism to stop the loom after restarting should either shuttle fail to enter its box properly and such protector mechanism may be used in conjunction with my invention. Previously proposed methods for controlling looms of the type specified, however, have contemplated the restarting of the loom regardless of improper transfer of shuttles an-d reliance has been had upon the protector mechanism to stop the loom should a shuttle not be properly boxed. This is always an abrupt harsh action which subjects the loom to considerable strains and it is an important' object of my present invention to relieve the loom of these strains by making it impossible forV the loom to resume operation when a shuttle is improperly transferred.,

More particularly Ythe type of loom to be set forth hereinafter includes in its construction a change shaft which rotates during the shuttle changing operation and carries cams forV performing the several functions incident to a shuttle change, the last of which is to move a restarting rod connected to the shipper mecha- 193i, serial No. 740,315

(ci. rse-227) nism, by means of which the loom is connected to its driving motor. My invention contemplates means for breaking the connection between the restarting rod and the shipping mechanism should the incoming shuttles fail to be properly transferred. This result I prefer to accomplish electrically by means of a circuit which can be closed by failure of the box front to return t0 its normal position after theshuttle changing operation. cuit from the change shaft so that there is no opportunity for said circuit to be closed and therefore waste electric energy except during a shuttle changing operation.

I nd it convenient to control the cirwe While the invention will be set forth lmore 15u particularly as adapted to a double shuttle loo-m, yet certain features of the invention are not limited to this type of loom and are equally adaptable to a form of loom wherein one shuttle is changed at a time.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my in` vention resides in the combination and arrange-Y ment of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a loom having my invention applied thereto showing the loom in position to start a shuttle changing operation,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the upper central part of Fig. 1, showing the parts carried by the lay,

Figs, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing parts of Fig. 2 in different positions, Fig. 3 with the shuttles properly boxed and Fig. 4 with one of the shuttles improperly boxed,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, indicating the means for controllingthe restarting rod,

Fig. 6 'is an end elevation taken in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view ofthe electric circuit, and

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section on line 8 3 of Fig. 3 showing the relation of the parts which permit closure of the circuit shown in Fig. 7 during shuttle changing operation only.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a loom frame itl having a lay i i movable about an axis i2 and having upper and lower shuttle boxes i3 and i4, respectively, for shuttles S and S which are picked together through upper and lower warp sheds W and W respectively. The lay has a lay end I5 to the upper part of which is pivoted a lever I6 at Il and having pivoted thereto as at I8 a box front structure I9. An arm 28 moving with the lever I6 is connected to a link 2| the lower end of which is attached to a second arm 22, and the latter is rocked by a reciprocating rod 23. A link 24 is threaded into a block 25 connected pivotally to the box front I9 moving with lever I6. The rear end of the link 24 is pivoted as at 26 to the lay end. y l

A cam not shown is operative during a shuttle changing operation to depress rod 23 and rock lever I6 in a counter-clockwise direction around its axis to raise the box plate structure I 9. At the same time link 24 acts to give box front structure I9 an upward and slightly outward motion.

An ejector lever 38 is pivoted at 3| to the lay end and has an operating screw 32 to be engaged by the block 25 as the box front structure I9 nears the upper limit of its travel. Upper and lower ejector ngers 33 and 34, respectively, are supported by and move with the lever 38 and pass through the lay end to engage the shuttles and eject them forwardly so that they will move downwardly along an apron 35 leading to a spent shuttle receiver box 36.

The reserve shuttles are held in magazines M and M' which feed the upper and lower shuttle boxes, respectively, through front and back conveyors 48 and 4|, respectively, movable under their respective magazines. These conveyors are mounted on conveyor levers 42 and 43, respectively, which are moved by cams 44 andV 45, respectively, secured to a change shaft 46 normally at rest. These cams cooperate with rolls 4l on the levers, and springs 48 pull the conveyor levers rearwardly.

The means for restarting the loom includes a cam 58 secured to the change shaft 46 and cooperating with a lever 5l movable about a fixed axis 52 and having an upright arm 53 operatively related to the rear end of a restarting rod 54. The forward end of this rod carries a head 55 provided with a horizontal slot 56 the rear end of which has an upright bend 51 to receive a stud 58. VThe latter is carried by an arm 59 secured to a shipper shaft 68.

When the loom is at rest prior to the beginning of a shuttle changing operation, cam 58 is to the right, or just ahead of, lever 5| in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. As the shaft rotates by a control exercised preferably from the opposite end of the loom through weft detector mechanism, not shown, the cams 44 and 45 operate in known manner to actuate the conveyor levers and release the bottom shuttles from the magazines and place them on the conveyors. The conveyor levers do not start backwardly until time has been allowed for the ejection of the spent or outgoing active shuttles, after which said levers perform their shuttle inserting function while the box front structure i9 is raised. After the fresh shuttles are inserted in their boxes, continued rotation of shaft 45 moves the conveyor levers forwardly toward normal position, and at about the same time the box front I9 descends.

The last major function of shaft 48 so far as the shuttle changing operation is concerned is to cause cani 59 to rock lever 5| in a counter-clockwise direction and move rod 54 rearwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. normally be in the bend 57 in slot 55 and therefore rearward motion of the rod will `rock arm 5S in a clockwise direction. It is suiicient for purposes of the present description to state that Stud 58 Will such a movement on the part of arm 59 will roc shipper shaft 58 in a direction to connect the loom with its driving motor not shown so that loom operation will be resumed.

The matter thus far described of itself forms no part of my present invention and may be substantially the same as set forth in patent to Cowan No. 1,906,544. Certain features of the matter already described are similar to .those found in patents to Jackson Nos. 1,434,211 and 1,133,802.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide means for preventing cam 50 or its equivalent from restarting the loom should a fault occur in the transfer of either of the incoming reserve shuttles. Accordingly, I secure a switch K to the lay and provide for opening the same when the box plate is down but otherwise the switch will be closed. This switch comprises upper and lower contacts 78 and 1|, respectively, which are insulated from each other and from the loom, the upper prong being connected to wire 'I2 while lower prong is attached to wire 13. A control lever 14 is pivoted as at 'I5 to the lay and has a forward end 'I8 positioned for engagement with the bottom of the box front structure I9. A tension spring Il is interposed between the lay end and lever 'i4 and tends to hold the latter yieldingly in raised position so that a switch closing finger 'i8 can raise the bottom prong 1| against the upper prong 18 to close the switch K. During normal loom operation, however, with box front structure I9 down the lever 'I4 is in a position shown in Fig. 3 and the switch is open.

In order that the control for restarting may be exercised only during a shuttle changing operation I have provided a second switch L. I have provided a contact arm 80 secured to shaft 45 and having a spring contact 8| as shown in Fig. 8. A fixed stand 82 has a Contact 83 formed with the head of a screw 84 which passes through the support or stand and is insulated therefrom by a bushing 85. Wire 13 is connected to the screw 84 while the contact spring 8| is grounded."

through the metallic connections of the shaft and arm 88.

The controller for the rod 54 comprisess a lever 88 pivoted at.89 and having the forward end Vthereof'connected to a link 98 thalower end of which is connected to a core 9| ofga solenoid 92. The latteris secured to a xedpart of the loom, such as a bracket 93a which forms the outer part of support for the magazine end. The rear end of lever 88 may be forked as at 93, Fig. 6, to receive the restarting rod 54. Downward movement of the core 9| will rock lever 8| in a clockwise direction to raise the forward end ofj rod 54 and lift the horizontal slot 56 into alignment with the stud 58 of the shipper mechanism.y An arm 96 fastened to lever 88 depends from the latter and has attached thereto the lower end of a yielding lock spring 81A the upper endl of.`

which is attached to a fixed part of the loom..

Normally the spring is to the right of the pivot 89v but when a solenoid rocks lever 88, the arm96 moves the spring so that the same is; to .the left of said pivot for the purpose of holding the leven will be depressedso that prongs 'l0 and 1| are out of contact with each other. As the shuttle changing operation nears completion shaft 46 will turn to a position where the spring 8| is in engagement with the contact 83, but inasmuch as switch K is open the closure of contacts 8| and 83A will be without effect.

As previously stated, failure of the ejectingv or transferring mechanisms will leave a shuttle improperly placed relatively to the shuttle boxes and the latter will not be able to return to normal position. As shown herein this failure to return to normal is represented by inability of the box front to return to its down position due to the lower shuttle projecting forwardly from its correct position. As the shaft 46 moves the parts to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, switch L closes and cam 50 is approaching, lever 5|.

With the box front IS held up, switch K is closed, and as a result current will flow through the circuit shown in Fig. 7 as follows: Source of electric power |00, Wire to the ground which may be any part of the machine, up from the ground indicated by wire |02 to the shaft 46 and contact 8| metallically connected thereto, contact 83, wire 13, lower prong 1|, upper prong 10, wire 12, solenoid 92, and wire |03 back to the battery. Current flowing in this circuit due to closure of switch K will energize the solenoid and rock lever 58 to raise the restarting rod as already set forth.

As cam 50 moves rod 54 rearwardly, immediately thereafter, the stud 58 will slide along the horizontal slot 5S and the arm 59 will remain in stopping position as shown in Fig. 1. Shaft 4B will thereafter come to rest in the usual way as for instance according to the disclosure of Vose application Serial No. 603,051, or any other well-known way, and the loom will be at rest.

In order that the lever 'ld may not interfere with ejection of the lower shuttle I may if desired provide said lever with a stop 6| which engages a part of the lay and to hold said lever below the path of ejection of shuttle S when the box front structure I9 is raised. Reference to Fig. 1 will show that one of the springs 48 is connected as at 53 to the arm 53 of lever 5|, tending to hold the latter in operative relation with respect to its acuating cam and serving also to hold arm 53 yieldingly in forward position so that the restarting rod 5 can be held yieldingly in proper position to effect register between stud 58 and bend 51 through the action of a coil compression spring 53 around rod 5d and interposed between the arm 53 and the collar 64 secured to said restarting rod. A nut 65 behind arm 53 permits adjustment and limits forward motion of the rod head 55 relatively to the shipping mechanism. If desired, the rocking of lever 30 may be accomplished by engagement of screw 32 with a surface El on the box front structure instead of by engagement with the block as previously described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for preventing the restarting of the loom should a defect occur either in the ejection of the outgoing active shuttles or transfer of the incoming reserve shuttles. This result is conveniently accomplished as set forth herein through a control exercised by a part of the shuttle box structure. When applied specifically to a double shuttle loom the box front I9 is the controller for the switch K, and this front serves for both boxes, but the invention is not limited to double shuttle looms. Looms of the general Vtype set forth herein are usually constructed so that thefailure of the outgoing active shuttles to be ejected will result in locking the conveyor levers in. ltheir forward positions as shown for instance in JacksonY Patent No. 1,434,211, or copending Vose application Serial No. 739,097

- and such a featurecan be used with the invention structure.. From this it will be seen that any con- `dition of shuttles on the lay which prevents the restoration of the shuttle box structure to normal condition as by movement of the plate I9 to its down position, will result in preventing restarting of the loom.

V Having thus described my invention it will .be

seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the detailsherein disclosed, but what I claim is:Y Y

1. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle change, a shuttle box having a part movable from normal to abnormal position during shuttle change and returnable to normal position after shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electromagnetic controller for the mechanism, and means delining an electric Contact controllable by said part of the shuttle box, said contact effective to actuate the electromagnetic controller when said part of the shuttle boxis prevented from returning to normal position after a shuttle changing operation.

2. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle change, a shuttle box having a part movable fromY normal to abnormal position during shuttle change and returnable to normal position after shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electromagnetic controller for the restarting mechanism, and an electric contact connected to the electromagnetic controller and controlled by said shuttle box part and eective to cause said electromagnetic controller to prevent the restarting mechanism from restarting the loom when said shuttle box part fails to return to normal position after a shuttle changing operation.

3. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to Y rest to effect shuttle change, a shuttle box having a part movable from normal to abnormal position during shuttle change and returnable to normal position after shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, a change shaft to be operatively related to the restarting mechanism, an electromagnetic controller for the restarting mechanism capable of rendering the latter inoperative to restart the loom, two contacts, and an electric circuit including said contacts and the electromagnetic controller, one of said contacts controlled by said part of the shuttle box and the other contact being closable by operation of the change shaft, said contacts jointly effective to cause the electromagnetic controller to prevent the restarting mechanism from restarting the loom when said part of the shuttle box fails to return to normalposition after a shuttle changing operation.

4. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttle change, a shuttle box having a part movable from normal to abnormal position during shuttle change and returnable to normal position after shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electromagnetic controller for the restarting mechanism to render the same ineffective to restart the loom when said controller is actuated, a change shaft rotatable during a shuttle changing operation and operatively relatable to the restarting mechanism, a contact to be closed when said part of the shuttle box moves to abnormal position and to be open when said part returns to normal position, a second contact to be closed by rotation of the change shaft, and a circuit including both of said contacts and the electromagnetic controller and effective when said part of the shuttle box fails to return to normal position to prevent operative relation between the change shaft and restarting mechanism.

5. In a shuttle changing double shuttle loom which stops to change shuttles and has two shuttle boxes to cooperate with two active shuttles, a part cooperating with the shuttle box movable from normal to abnormal position during Shuttle change and returnable to normal position after shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electro-magnetic controller for the mechanism, and means defining an electric contact controllable by said part, said contact eiective to actuate the electromagnetic controller when said part is prevented from returning to normal position by faulty position of a shuttle in either shuttle box after a shuttle changing operation.

6. In a shuttle changing double shuttle loom which stops to change shuttles and has two shuttle boxes to cooperate with two active shuttles, a box front common to both boxes and movable from normal to abnormal position during shuttle change and returnable to normal position after a shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electro-magnetic controller for the restarting mechanism, and an electric contact connected to the electro-magnetic controller and controlled by said box front and effective to cause said electro-magnetic controller to prevent the restarting mechanism from restarting the loom when said box front fails to return to normal position because of faulty position of a shuttle in either shuttle box after a shuttle changing operation.

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON.

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