US2056694A - Shuttle changing filling mixing loom - Google Patents

Description

@652, 6, 1%36 R, TURNER 2,05,$94

SHUTTLE CHANGING FILLING MIXING LOOM Filed. May 5, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snuentow Richard (1.11m new (kit, 6, 1936. R TURNER 2,056,694

SHUTTLE CHANGING FILLING MIXIBKYLOQM Filed May 3, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L M noentov Riaham GTurner' Gd. 6, 1936. R TURNER 2,056,694

SHUTTLE CHANGING FILLING MIXING LOOM Filed May 3, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5) noentor Richard G.Turner W7 (lttorneqs FIE 5 ct. 6, 1936. R. G. TURNER 2,056,694

SHUTTLE CHANGING FILLING MIXING LOQM Filed May 3, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gnoentor Richard G. Turner Q. torneqs Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES SHUTTLE CHANGING FILLING MIXING LOOM Richard Greenleaf Turner, Worcester, Mass., as-

signor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 3, 1934, Serial No. 723,730

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in filling mixing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a shuttle changing loom in which single picks of filling can be mixed.

When weaving a plain fabric in a loom operating with but one shuttle objectionable shading is likely to result due to the fact that successive supplies of weft may not be exactly alike either as to size or color. Heretofore this has been corrected by using two or more shuttles which run in alternation to mix their respective wefts. When such looms have been made weft replenishing it has been customary to weave two picks of one bobbin followed by two picks of another.

Where very coarse yarns are used the variation in size is likely to be considerable, and with prior practice a ribbed effect may occur. In non-automatic weaving it is customary 'to weave such a fabric on a socalled 2 by 2 loom having two shifting shuttle boxes at each end of the lay. The shuttles are picked in a regular sequence and follow each other in rotation being each active for a single pick.

In rendering a 2 by 2 loom automatic as to weft supply, I prefer to use a shuttle changing mechanism rather than a bobbin changer. In my copending application Serial No. 460,746 I show shifting shuttle boxes at each end of the lay, those at the magazine end shifting only at the time of renewal of weft supply. Because of these boxes at the magazine end, I find that by adding to them an extra cell, I can operate in the usual manner for a 2 by 2 loom, and have an abnormal shift at the time of shuttle change. This modification of a principle already proposed by me is found to operate satisfactorily. The three weaving shuttles all carrying the same kind of weft arrive in regular order in the top shuttle box at the magazine side and can be replaced by shuttles drawn from the magazine. All the reserve shuttles in the magazine have weft of the same kind, so that a single stack of shuttles will suffice.

It has been proposed heretofore to use so -called pick and pick automatic looms having provision for replenishing any one of several shuttles where any shuttle can be active on any pick for one pick only, if desired. The sequence of shuttles already referred to is a specific case of the automatic pick and pick type of loom referred to, examples of which are found in Patent No. 1,674,860 of June 26, 1928 to Gordon and Patent No. 1,605,271, November 2, 1926 to Nelson. In such loom, where it is desired, the color can be the same for all the shuttles and pick and pick cloth can be woven automatically by two, three or more shuttles depending upon the capacity of the loom.

Such looms are bobbin changers, however, and have certain undesirable features. The shuttle is not threaded on the first pick across after transfer and because of this fact the weft is loose and is likely to leave a mark in the cloth. Furthermore, the outgoing bobbin will usually have its trailing end threaded in the shuttle eye to be drawn back into the shed on the first pick after transfer and there are likely to be short double picks unless some special provision is made for handling the thread ends at the time of transfer. In bobbin changing looms also it is necessary to have a cutter in addition to the selvage trimmer, to remove the thread of the outgoing bobbin which remains threaded in the shuttle.

There is still another condition existing in bobbin changing looms which renders desirable an alteration in the change of the center filling stop motion. In looms employing shifting boxes at both ends it is desirable to have a center stop motion to detect weft every beat of the loom, and the stop motion should be as near the center of the cloth as possible, so that detection on all picks will be the same. The thread holder of a bobbin magazine must be set back far enough to assist shuttle threading, and in many looms is in the same vertical plane as the fell of the cloth. As the lay moves backwardly the weft will be oblique with respect to the fell, starting from a point considerably behind the fell at the magazine end and leaving the shed at a. point much farther behind the fell on the side remote from the magazine. The tines of the center filling fork will ordinarily not be able to reach this pick should the stop motion be central of the lay, and in order to detect on the transferring beat the stop motion is moved oil center in a direction toward the magazine. This results in an uneven character of detection, permitting the fork to be held up by a short end extending in from the magazine end. Should the new thread break at transfer and a thread end drawn in by the shuttle, such end might reach the offset fork to support it, and a shift of boxes would permit weaving past the mispick.

When using shuttle changing looms the threading, pulled in ends, cutting, and stop motion defects are eliminated. The reserve shuttles are fully threaded, hence the thread holder can be placed considerably in advance of the fell, and the first pick after change will have the same rela-- tion to the stop motion as all other picks. The center stop motion can therefore be placed centrally of the cloth. In shuttle changing looms the outgoing shuttle carries its thread with it, and there is no necessity for cutting at any point other than at the selvage trimmer. This latter can take place several picks after the change. Furthermore, there is no opportunity for pulled in ends.

In the loom described more particularly hereinafter there are two weaving shuttle boxes at each end of the loom which cooperate with three Weaving shuttles to place the shuttles in active position according to a regular sequence with each shuttle active for but one pick. A magazine of reserve shuttles is supplied at one end of the loom and there is located at that end an auxiliary shuttle box which normally does not take part in the regular sequence but which is placed in the path of a depleted shuttle which is moving toward the magazine. The means which accomplishes this placing of the auxiliary shuttle box also moves one of the regular weaving boxes into a, position where it can receive a fresh shuttle from the magazine. The general shuttle changing operation may be substantially the same as shown in my previously mentioned application but one of the weaving shuttle boxes will be located between the auxiliary box and the box which receives fresh shuttles from the magazine.

It is another object of my invention to extend the interval of complete shuttle change so that the movement of the boxes at the magazine end of the loom will be short and this result I accomplish by operating according to a method whereby a shuttle can be picked from the magazine end during the interval occupied by shuttle change, this shuttle being purposely located at the magazine end to facilitate shuttle change although it takes no part in the actual exchange of shuttles.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement 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. 1 is a side elevation of the detector end of the loom, the shuttle boxes and part of the lay shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the loom showing a single color magazine, with parts in section,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to the upper part of Fig. 1 but with the detector in a different position,

Fig. 4 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a series of shuttle relations setting forth the normal sequence in which the shuttles are picked,

Figs. 6 and '7 show the structure set forth in Fig. 2 in different positions and on a smaller scale,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section through the shuttle boxes and part of the lay at the magazine end of the loom,

Fig. 9 is a front elevation in the direction of arrow 9, Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section on line Ill-l0, Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to- Fig. 1, I have shown a loom frame If! and a lay ll moimted on swords l2. A top shaft l3 moves connectors M to reciprocate the lay. A pair of upper and lower shuttle boxes l6 and II, respectively, are mounted on the upper end of a box rod !8, the lower end of which is connected to a lifting link l9 operatively related to a cam lever 29. The lever is pivoted at 2! to the loom frame and has a roll 22 to cooperate with a box lifter cam 23. The latter moves with a gear 24 mounted on a stub shaft 25 and meshing with a gear 26 of half its size on the bottom shaft 21 of the loom. By means of upper and lower gears 28 and 29,

left hand part of Fig. 1 the cam 23 completes a rotation every four picks of the loom. This cam has a high dwell 30 and a low dwell 31 connected by inclines 32. The effect of the cam 23 is to hold the boxes [6 and I! in elevated position with respect to the lay for two picks and then to permit the boxes to move down for the following pair of picks. In this way each shuttle box is rendered active for two consecutive picks and then inactive for the next two picks.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the bottom shaft 21 has mounted thereon at the other side of the loom another box lifter cam 35 having high and low dwells 36 and 31, respectively, connected by inclines 38. A cam lever 39 similar to lever 20 is pivoted at 40 to the loom frame and is connected to a two part link 4!. This link cooperates with a stud 43 on the lever 39 and is pivotally connected indirectly, as at 44, to the bottom of the lifter rod 42. The cam 35 moves with a gear 41 meshing with a gear 48 of half its size, and since the latter gear is secured to the bottom shaft 27, the cam 35 makes a complete rotation every four picks of the loom.

The cam 35 is set so that its inclines 38 operate to shift top and bottom boxes 5!! and Bi supported by the rod 42 at a time when the boxes shown in Fig. 2 at the opposite side of the loom are at rest. In other words, the cams 23 and 35, while each rotating in four picks of the loom, are operative to shift their respective boxes at different times so that the boxes at one end of the loom are at rest with respect to the lay while the boxes at the other end are shifting. I do not wish to be limited to this particular mode" of setting the cams 23 and 35 in the practice of all features of my invention, but I have found that the shuttle sequences produced by such a shift are convenient for the purposes of my present invention.

In Fig. 5 there are set forth 12 different positions of the shuttle boxes, together with three weaving shuttles which are placed in picking position by the boxes according to a definite sequence. The shuttle race R is indicated diagrammatically as defining the path along which the shuttles travel across the loom. Pickers P and picker stick S are indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2 to propel the shuttles which are in picking position, as usual.

For purposes of description, it may be assumed that the shuttles and boxes start as shown in position I, Fig. 5, where shuttles S and S are at the right hand shuttle changing side of the loom with boxes 50 and 5| in low position, and shuttle S is in the low box I! at the opposite detecting side of the loom, shuttle box IE being opposite the race ready to receive a shuttle. The positions shown in Fig. 5 are indicated with the lay approximately at bottom center, at which position the active shuttle is supposed to have been just boxed so that the shifting of the shuttle boxes can start.

The box shift which follows the bottom center indicated in position I places the boxes and shuttles in position II, where the boxes at the right hand side are raised so that shuttle S can be picked into box 16, leaving box 5| opposite the race.

On the next shift of boxes indicated in position III the left hand boxes rise so that shuttle S can be picked into bottom box I, leaving box I? opposite the race.

As shown in position IV the left hand boxes remain up but the right hand boxes have been lowered so that S can be picked from box 5I which is left opposite the race into the left hand box II.

Position V shows the left hand boxes lowered so that shuttle S is moved into action and is picked to the right into the top box 50.

Position VI shows the right hand boxes raised to position shuttle S for picking into the top box I 6 at the left hand side.

In position VII the left hand boxes have been raised to pick shuttle S to the right side into box 5i, leaving box I! opposite the race.

In position VIII the boxes at the right hand side are lowered and shuttle SS is picked from box 59 across to the left hand lower box II.

In position IX the right hand boxes remain in down position but the left hand boxes are lowered so that shuttle S can be picked out of the top left box It into the top right box 59.

In position X the right boxes are raised so that shuttle S is picked from box 5I to the left hand upper box I6.

In position XI the left boxes are raised to place lower box I? opposite the race so that shuttle S can be picked from it into the lower box 5! at the right hand side.

In position XII the left boxes are retained as they were in position XI but shuttle S is placed opposite the race by lowering the right boxes and is picked into the bottom box I I.

Position XIII is the same as position I and it is therefore seen that after a sequence of twelve picks the shuttle gets back into the same relative position with respect to the shifting boxes.

It will be seen by inspecting the different positions of Fig. 5 that at regular intervals each shut tle will appear at a given point or position in the sequence. As shown in position IV, for instance, shuttle S is in raised position in box I6 and four picks later shuttle S is in box It in raised position as shown at VIII, and in position XII shuttle S is in the raised top box I5. This sequence of shuttles is well-known in non-automatic looms and is used for instance in looms for weaving paper machinery felts and also on cam worsted looms. It will be seen that each shuttle is active for but one pick at a time. An auxiliary shuttle box 99 is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 but it is normally inactive and does not enter into the normal sequence.

The detecting mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, comprises brackets 65 secured to the lay and extending backwardly therefrom to support small shaft 66'. Detector arm 61 is secured to the shaft 65 and has a detector 68 through the body of which extends a pair of electric detector prongs 69 and ID, respectively, insulated from each other by the material of which the body is made. These prongs are indicated in Fig. 4 as connected electrically to lead wires II and I2, respectively, and when they are electrically connected at weft exhaustion, the following circuit is established, see Fig. source of electric power E, lead wire "I2, prong I9, metallic ferrule 86 on bobbin 85, prong 69, lead wire II, solenoid I3, and wire 74 back to the source E. This energization of the solenoid initiates a shuttle change motion of parts to be described.

In order to time the operation of the detector there is secured to the inner end of the shaft 66 an actuating arm i5 attached to the upper end of an operating rod I5. This latter rod is connected to a lever 11, see Fig. l,.having a roll I9 to rest on a cam I9. Cam I9 is secured to the shaft 25 and completes a rotation every four picks of the loom and this cam has a high dwell 89 which may extend around the greater part thereof. A low dwell 8i is so timed with respect to the box movements at the detector end of the loom as to dip the' detector into the top shuttle box I6 when the lay is rearmost just preceding that position of. the sequence in which box It is to move down from inactive to active position. The shuttle contained by box I6 will therefore be rendered'active to be picked across to the magazine side of the loom shortly after its con dition of weft has been detected.

The time of starting the descent of the detector need not be exactly as described, but should be such as to permit completing of the circuit already described in sufficient time to permit energization of the solenoid some time prior to the time that lifting of the boxes at the magazine end of the loom can start. While I have designated this position as with the lay at back center, yet it could if desired occur when the lay is at some point between top and back center.

It is to be understood that the downward movement of the boxes will pull the exhausted shuttle away from the detector and that the box IE will be in low position for two picks. Hence there is no necessity for a quick return of the detector to its elevated inactive position. This restoration of the detector to its normally raised inactive position can occur at any time prior to a subsequent rising of a shuttle in box I6.

At the opposite end of the loom from the detector there is provided a shuttle changing mechanism including a magazine M having a single stack of reserve shuttles SR arranged one over the other. This magazine may be supported by a bracket 99 secured to the loom frame and the lowermost shuttle rests on a platform or plate 9I swinging about pivot 92 on the magazine. A set screw 93 on lever 94 which pivots about center 92 andcarries the plate BI is positioned for engagement with a boss 95 secured to the shifting shuttle box structure which includes the cells 59 and 5|. The previously mentioned auxiliary shuttle box 50 is located below the cell 5| and all three of these boxes or cells are supported by and give vertical movements through action of rod 42. A light Spring 96 acts to move the plate 9i back to normal position after transferring movement.

A single binder 91 is substantially fixed to the.

lay to cooperate with the shuttle box which is in active picking position, see Figs. 8 and 9. The binder has top and bottom horns 98 and 99, respectively, which cooperate with the cells above and below the race plate R.

A box cover I99 for cell is pivoted as at IDI to a part of the box and has a lug I02 to engage a cam I03 on the magazine frame when the boxes are in their highest position.

Box rod 42 normally receives movements from the cam 35 to shift cells 50 and 5| so that they will take part in the previously described sequence but this rod is also subject to an additional lifting movement at'the time of shuttle change through the action of a lifter latch I95 pivoted to a regularly moving lever I96 moving about the center 49. Lever I96 is moved by a cam Iil'I secured to the shaft 25 so that it completes a revolution every four picks of the loom. This cam is shaped substantially as shown in the lower part of Fig. 2 and has a low dwell I08 which holds the latch downv when the shifting shuttle boxes 50 and 5! are in their low position. The cams 35 and I0! turn in the direction indicated at arrow a, Fig. 2, and a lifting surface I09 on cam I01 leads from the dwell I08 to a high dwell lie. The cams are so related that the lifter surface I09 comes into action to elevate the latch during those picks of the sequence when cell 553 would normally be in line with the race to receive the shuttle coming from the detector side of the loom.

In operation, the pairs of weaving boxes at the two ends of the loom will shift in regular order to render the three shuttles active as described. Every fourth pick the detector will descend when there is a shuttle in box 16 and the latter is raised. This may occur, for instance, when the loom is between the positions III and IV just before the detected shuttle becomes active. The latch IU5 and its lever rise regularly at four pick intervals, being all the way up when the shuttle from box IE reaches the magazine side. So long as enough weft is present in all the shuttles this sequence continues without interruption.

When an empty shuttle is raised by box I6 toward the detector and the latter has descended, a condition will exist such as that shown in position VIII of Fig. 5, where it is assumed that shuttle S is being detected and is depleted. The detector will act to close the previously traced circuit and cause the solenoid to throw the latch from the full to the dotted lines in Fig. 10, the latch and its lever being in low position at this time. During the time that the lay is in the forward half of its movement and when shuttle S is being lowered from position VIII to position IX there will be simultaneously a raising of the boxes at the right hand side of the loom so that boxes 50, 5| and 60 will be in the position designated at IXA, Fig. 5, with auxiliary box 60 aligned with the race. The depleted shuttle S will therefore enter this latter box when arriving at the right hand side of the loom.

It is to be understood that the shuttle is picked when the lay is moving rearwardly and in socalled top center or midway position and that the boxes are in the position IXA prior to the picking. As the lay moves rearwardly, therefore, the projection I02 will be placed to engage cam I03 to lift the cover of the box 50 and lug will be placed toengage the screw 93 to move the plate 9| rearwardly, and as the lay reaches its rearmost position the bottom reserve shuttle of the magazine will drop into the top box 56. It is this box 50 which shuttle S would normally enter were its supply unexhausted, and it will be seen therefore that by applying a fresh shuttle into this box the sequence can be reestablished after the temporary interruption accompanying shuttle change.

The boxes at the magazine end of the loom will remain in their highest position until the lay reaches bottom center, after which these boxes will be lowered one step by action of surface H2 on cam ill! and lever we so that box 5! is aligned with the race. Since shuttle S was last picked it is now the turn of shuttle S to be picked and this shuttle is in the middle box 5!. This onestep down motion, which is as slow and easy as the usual box shift will therefore place shuttle S in picking position so that it will be driven to the left hand side of the loom as indicated in position X. The boxes at the magazine side of the loom remain in this position for another pick, lever 39 having returned to high dwell 35 to be supported thereby as the latch continued down, so that shuttle S can be picked back to the magazine side as indicated in position XI, whereupon box 50 is lowered to render new shuttle S active.

It is this downward movement of the boxes to place the freshly inserted shuttle into action which lowers auxiliary box 613 and depleted old shuttle S to discharging position below the depending prongs of the binder. On the forward motion of the lay, therefore, the depleted shuttle will be ejected forwardly into any form of receiver not shown. This particular mode of ejecting the exhausted shuttle, as well as the mechanism for applying a fresh reserve shuttle to the box 50, may be as set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 460,746 and the magazine and associ ated parts may if desired be more particularly as shown in Chevrette. Patent No. 1,834,302.

During the actual transfer of the shuttle from the magazine to the box 50 the lowest reserve shuttle together with all those resting on it will drop when the plate Si is in back position. As the lay moves forwardly, however, the plate 9| will advance to move under the next lowest magazine shuttle before the latter is entirely unsupported by the shuttle being changed.

While I have shown the weft detector as associated with the top box on the left hand side of the loom, yet I am not necessarily limited to this position of the detector inasmuch as it could be placed to detect in the bottom shuttle on the left hand side if desired. A corresponding reversal of the movements of the boxes at the right hand side of Fig. 5 would place the shuttles correctly for operation under this alternative arrangement. The point to be. borne in mind is that the shuttle which is being detected when next active should be picked into the top box at the magazine side of the loom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a shuttle changing loom wherein each of three shuttles is active for but one pick at a time according to a predetermined normal sequence and that means are provided for interrupting this sequence at the time of weft exhaustion to move one. of the normal weaving boxes which is temporarily empty into receiving relation with respect to the magazine, and to place a normally inactive auxiliary box in position to receive the exhausted shuttle. By two separate subsequent single box downward motions the boxes at the magazine side. act first to permit picking of the shuttle which is in box 5| and unaffected by transfer and then the freshly inserted shuttle is rendered active and the depleted shuttle expelled. These two steps avoid a quick two box shift which might interfere with proper shuttle changing motions. The outgoing shuttle is moved forwardly so that its thread which extends to the selvage does not cross the path of the active shuttles, and the freshly inserted reserve shuttle is fully threaded so that the tension of the first pick is normal. No selvage cutter has been set forth herein but any of the well-known mechanisms of this type can be employed and can be set to cut at any desired time without regard to the replenishing interval.

I have found that under certain conditions the shuttles which are in boxes 50 and 60 may tend to move inwardly toward the cloth when these boxes are not opposite the stationary binder. In order 9. In a shuttle changing loom operating with three weaving shuttles all containing weft of the same kind, a magazine of reserve shuttles all having weft of the same kind and located at one end of the loom, a pair of shifting shuttle boxes at each end of the loom, means to move the boxes at the magazine end of the loom toward and from the magazine in a normal sequence of movements of the boxes at both ends of the loom by which the shuttles are rendered active in r0- tation for but one pick at a time, and additional means dependent upon exhaustion of weft in the weaving shuttle to give the boxes at the magazine end of the loom an additional motion toward the magazine to render the latter operative with respect to one of said boxes at the magazine end of the loom.

10. In a shuttle changing loom operating with three Weaving shuttles which are active in rotation and each for but one pick at a time, a magazine of reserve shuttles, a pair of shifting shuttle boxes at that end of the loom adjacent the magazine, normally acting means to give said boxes shifting movements to assist in placing the shuttles in active position in rotation, and other means to give said boxes an additional motion at the time of weft exhaustion of the active Weaving shuttle and move said boxes to an operative position with respect to the magazine.

11. In a shuttle changing loom operating with three weaving shuttles which are picked in rotation so that each shuttle is active for but one pick at a time, a reserve shuttle magazine, a lay having a shuttle race, three shuttle boxes on the lay adjacent the magazine, regularly acting means to move two of said shuttle boxes into alignment one at a time with the shuttle race during normal operation of the loom, and additional means dependent upon substantial exhaustion of weft in the active shuttle to move the third shuttlebox into alignment with the shuttle race to receive the depleted shuttle.

12. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weaving shuttles any one of which may become active, a set of shifting shuttle boxes movable in a regular sequence to place each box in active position, one at a time, to receive a weaving shuttle, the boxes in inactive position capable of holding an inactive weaving shuttle, a reserve shuttle magazine, and means controlled by weft exhaustion in any weaving shuttle to interrupt the regular sequence and move one of,

the shuttle boxes of the set toward the magazine in position to receive a reserve shuttle.

13. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weaving shuttles any one of which may become active, a set of shifting shuttle boxes movable in a regular sequence to place each box in active position to receive a weaving shuttle while the other boxes are in inactive position, the boxes in inactive position capable of holding an inactive weaving shuttle, a reserve shuttle magazine,iand means controlled by Weft exhaustion in any weaving shuttle to interrupt the regular sequence and move one of the shuttle boxes of the set to an abnormal position near the magazine in positionto receive a reserve shuttle.

14. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weaving shuttles each of which may become active, a set of shifting shuttle boxes movable in a regular sequence to place each shuttle box in position to cooperate with the active weaving shuttle, an auxiliary shuttle box moving with the set in the regular sequence and normally held out of position to cooperate with an active weaving shuttle while the shuttle boxes are moving according to said regular sequence, a reserve shuttle magazine, and means dependent upon exhaustion of weft in the weaving shuttle to interrupt the normal sequence of movements of the shuttle boxes and move one of the boxes of said set into an abnormal position to receive a shuttle from the magazine and at the same time move the auxiliary shuttle box into active posi tion to receive an active weaving shuttle.

15. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weaving shuttles any one of which may become active, at set of shifting shuttle boxes movable in 'a regular sequence so that all but one of said shuttle boxes is movable to active position to receive an active weaving shuttle, a reserve shuttle magazine, and means dependent upon exhaustion of weft in a weaving shuttle to interrupt the normal sequence of movements of the set of shuttle boxes and place one of said shuttle boxes in an abnormal position to receive a reserve shuttle from the -magazine and at the same time place said one shuttle box in position to receive an active weaving shuttle.

16. A shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weaving shuttles each one of which may become active, a set of shifting shuttle boxes movable in a regular sequence so that all of the shuttle boxes except one is movable to active position to receive an active weaving shuttle, and means controlled by weft exhaustion in any weaving shuttle to interrupt the regular sequence of movements of the set to operatively relate one of the shuttle boxes with respect to the active weaving shuttle and place another box of the set in an abnormal position to receive a reserve shuttle.

17. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weaving shuttles any one of which may become active, a set of shifting shuttle boxes, pattern mechanism to cause said boxes to shift in a given sequence, each of said shuttle boxes capable of being in active position and only one shuttle box being active at a time, shuttle changing mechanism, means actuated by depletion of a weaving shuttle to call an operation of the shuttle changing mechanism, and mechanism controlled by said means and additional to the pattern mechanism to interrupt the given sequence and give one of said boxes a movement to active position to receive the depleted shuttle, said movement of the boxes being out of said given sequence.

18. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of Weaving shuttles any one of which may become active, a set of shifting shuttle boxes each capable of moving to active position, mechanism to cause the boxes to shift in a given sequence, a magazine to supply a reserve shuttle, detector means to indicate weft exhaustion in any weaving shuttle, and means under control of the detector means to interrupt the given sequence and move one of said shuttle boxes to a position to receive a reserve shuttle from the magazine, the last means effective to move the same one box to reserve shuttle receiving position regardless of which weaving shuttle causes indication of Weft exhaustion.

RICHARD GREENLEAF TURNER.

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