US2814316A

US2814316A - Two or more shuttle looms with automatic weft supply

Info

Publication number: US2814316A
Application number: US574225A
Authority: US
Inventors: Defraiteur Louis Joseph Ma Ida
Original assignee: Houget SA Vervietoise Pour La
Current assignee: ATELIERS HOUGET VERVIETOISE POUR LA CONSTRUCTION DE MACHINES SA; Houget SA Vervietoise Pour La
Priority date: 1955-03-30
Filing date: 1956-03-27
Publication date: 1957-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1957 L. J. M. l. DEFRAITEUR Two 0R MORE SHUTTLE LooMs WITH AUTOMATIC WEFT'- SUPPLY Filed March 2v, 195e 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1957 L. J. M. l. DEFRAlTl-:UR 2,814,316

Two 0R MORE SHUTTLE Looms WITH AUTOMATIC wEFT SUPPLY Filed March 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Nov. 26, 1957 L. J. M. l. DEFRAITEUR 2,814,316

TWO 0R MORE SHUTTLE LOOM-S WITH AUTOMATIC WEF'T SUPPLY Filed March 27, 1956 '7 Sheets-SheetA 3 Nov. 26, 1957 L.. J. M. 1. DEFRAlTl-:UR 2,814,316

Two 0R MORE SHUTTLE LooMs WITH AUTOMATIC wEFT SUPPLY Filed March 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet A4:

F7620 54 Z f /QVMQLMJW MM Nov. 26, 1957 L.. J. M. l. DEFRAITEUR 2,814,316

TWO OR MORE SHUTTLE LOOMS WITH AUTOMATIC WEFT SUPPLY Filed March 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 26, 1957 1 ,.1. M. l. DEFRAITEUR 2,814,315

TWO 0R MORE SHUTTLE LOOMS WITH AUTOMATIC WEFT SUPPLY Filed Maron 27. 195e 7 sheets-sheet e Nov. 26, 1957 L.. J. M. l. DEFRAITEUR 2,814,316

Two oR MORE SHUTTLE Looms WITH AUTOMATIC wEFT SUPPLY Filed Mgrcn' 2 7. 195e '7 sheets-sheet 7 i United States Patent TWO 0R MORE SHUTTLE LOOMS WITH AUTO- MATIC WEFT SUPPLY Louis Joseph Marie Ida Defraiteur, Heusy-Ververs, Belgium, assignor to Ateliers Houget Societe Anonyme Vervietoise pour la Construction de Machines, Verviers, Belgium Application March 27, 1956, Serial No. 574,225

Claims priority, application Belgium March 30, 1955 12 Claims. (Cl. 139-232) The present invention relates to a two or more-shuttle loom with automatic weft supply comprising two cop sensing devices, two cop-changing mechanisms and a set of two shuttle boxes mounted, with their driving members, on each side of the sley.

The main object of the invention is to effect the automatic changing of the cops, without stopping the loom, during weaving with two shuttles pick and pick, and for all the combinations of arrangemens of picks in two or more colours, while still permitting the alternation of even and odd picks.

This loom is characterised primarily in that the boxes in each set placed side by side are designed in such a manner as to comprise a charging compartment and one or more normal compartments and that there is provided on each side of the loom at least one distributor member containing cops of a given colour with which the corresponding cop-changing mechanism co-operates in such a manner that when a sensing device has indicated the need for renewal, the replacement of the empty cop is effected when the shuttle associated with the yarn of the colour in use appears in the front compartment of the `shuttle box opposite the feed orifice, said compart ment being in a position of alignment in relation to the reed.

The loading compartment may be in front or behind the normal compartment or compartments.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the-loom comprises up to eight shuttles or more adapted to carry different colours and comprises on each side of the sley a compound box having a casing forming a single front compartment sliding on guides rigidly connected to the sley and carries at the back vertical slides in which is disposed a box comprising several compartments.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, in side elevation of part of the sley of a loom according to one embodiment of the invention, the sley being in its front dead centre position.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view in plan, showing the relative positions of the shuttle boxes, in Figure l.

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically, in side elevation, the position of the left-hand shuttle boxes, in Figure l.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 but shows to the righthand shuttle boxes.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shows, more diagrammatically, the position of the various members when the sets of shuttle boxes have changed position, the sley again being in its forward dead centre position.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views respectively similar to Figures 2, 3 and 4 but show the arrangement of Figure 5. e

Figure 9 is a detail view of the arrangement of the blocks in Figure l, seen from the front.

A a Patented Nov. 26,1957

ice

Figures 10 to 12 are diagrammatic views showing three different positions of the locking device.

Figure 13 is a `view similar to Figure 5 but shows the position of the parts when the detent device is in action.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 9 but shows the` arrangement of the blocks shown in Figure 13.

Figures 15 and 16 are part diagrammatic and partplan views of the shuttles used.

Figure 17 is a diagram of the distances covered by the sets of boxes as a function of the time taken to cover them. i

Figures 18 and 19A are part diagrammatic and part elevational views of a modification showing mechanism for controlling'the horizontal movements of the whole of the box and the vertical movements of the rear compartments as well as that of the magazines at different stages of operation. l Figure` 20 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the position of the shuttle boxes in Figures 18 and 19A Figure 21 is a part diagrammatic and part elevational view showing the mechanism for moving the magazine.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale showing the magazine in a position moved away from the lposition of Fig. 2l.

Figures 23 and 24 are detail views showing the cooperation of the front compartment and the rear compartments.

Figure 25 is a diagram of the electrical connections between the sensing devices and the magazines.

Figures 26, 27 and 28 are part diagrammatic and part elevational views showing the mechanism for controlling the cop holding flaps. p Figure 29 isa detail view part sectional and part elevational showing the co-operation `of the sensing device and a cop compartment.

Figure 30 isl a detail elevational View of picking device.

In the various figures, the like reference numerals de-v note like parts.

'Ihe loom, certain members of which are illustrated, is a two-shuttle lloom with automatic weft supply, which, in order to facilitate the explanation, will be assumed to be equipped respectively with red and black cops.

- The loom comprises four shuttle boxes numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4; the boxes 1 and 2 on the one side, and 3 and 4 on the other side, constitute two sets of boxes disposed respectively to left and right of the loom. The boxes 1 and 4 may receive the black shuttle for example, and the boxes 2 and 3 the red shuttle. In a manner known per se, the ends of the shuttle boxes are arranged in such a manner that the picking of each shuttle can be effected by a picker stick which traverses the centre portion of the corresponding box and is in the axis of the shuttle, said picker stick pivoting about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the sley of the loom.

The loom is provided with two oop sensing devices acting in the boxes 1 and 3 for the black cop and the red cop respectively, and with two cop-changing mechanisms acting

inthe boxes

2 and 4 for the red shuttle and the black shuttle respectively. The cop sensing devices and the cop-changing mechanisms are not Iillustrated because they do not differ from the members of this type hitherto known, and the constructional detailsof which vary ac, cordng to the preference of the designers.` l

A cop distributor magazine is provided (not illustrated) onA each side of the loom. The cops n the left-hand magazine supply the red shuttle which is of the type shown in Figure 15, and those in the right-hand magazine supply the black shuttle which is of the type illustrated in Figure 16.

1 Theitwoboxes n eachset are mounted on a seating 5 which has a projection 6 to which is fixed one end of a spring 8, the other end 9 being fixed to a second projection 10 carried by a rack 11, which is thus connected to the seating 5 by means of a resilient coupling; thus, if the rack 1,1 is moved, it is possible to immobilize the seating 5l for a certain length of time, relative displacement of said seating in relation to the rack being rendered possible as a result of the resilient coupling. e

The rack 11 is in mesh with a toothed segment 12 pivoting at 13 on the axis of the sleys 14 of the loom. The segment 12 is articulated to the end 15 of a rod 16, the other end 17 of which is mounted on a collar 18 on the eccentric 19, rotating on shaft 20 of the sley 14. The eccentric 19 is rigidly connected to a toothed wheel (not illustrated) and, as in the known devices with alternating movement and stopping, is turned through half a revolution each time it is necessary to change boxes.

Figures 1 to 4 show the position of the various members when the red shuttle is in operation; actually, the boxes 2 and 3 are opposite the race board 21; Figures l and 3 show that the boxes 1 and 2 are on both sides of the plane of the comb or reed 22, while the boxes 3 and 4 (Figure 4) are on the same and the far side of the reed 22.

When the black shuttle is to replace the red shuttle, the hub 19 turns half a revolution (Figure 5), the collar 18 turns in relation to the hub and the rod 16 moves the segment 12 in the direction of the arrow 23; the rack 11 then moves towards the front of the loom with the support 5 and the'set of yboxes 1 and 2. The support 5 is provided with a' bar 24 in the' form of a spur which projects and passes freely between the small blocks and 26 which are mounted on the frame 44 of the loom (Figure l) and which form a movable stop, the function of which will be explained below.

The

blocks

25 and 26 are mounted parallel, the two blocks 25 being one on each side of the axial plane of the block 26 (Figure 9); the

edges

27 and 28 of the

blocks

25 and 26 are chamfered and can overlap when the

blocks

25 and 26 are displaced transversely to bring them closer together, as will be seen below. I

Thus under the action of the rod 1 6 and without the resilience of the coupling having to benu'sed, the boxes' 1 and 2 occupy the position shown in Figure 5 in which the sword' of the sley is not shown but only the axis 14 of the latter; since the same displacements take place inversely to the right of the loom, the four boxes appear as seen in Figures 6 to 8; the boxes 1 and 4 are opposite the track 21, the boxes 1 and 2 outside the' plane of the reed- 2'2 and the boxes 3 and 4l one on each side of said plane. The black shuttle can therefore come into oper- 311011;

In order to obtain a perfect ksta-bility of the boxes during the shuttle course, a locking device is provided foreach set of boxes. This device comprises a pin 29 cooperating with two

notches

30 and 31, provided in the support 5 and urged by a spring.32 which constantly tends to move it away frorn asn'pport 33 on the sley 14, and hence to cause it to engage with one or other of the notches 30`and Y e The pin 29 is controlled by al lever 35, pivoting at 36 on the sley 14, the pin being connected to one end 34 and can be displaced longitudinally in relation to said end 34. A roller 37 is supported by theA other end of the lever 35 and rolls on a fixed cam 38, the outline of which is selectedl in such a manner thatthe pin 29 is engaged in one of the notches- 30 and 31 during the parti of the travel of the sley` which corresponds to the movement of the shuttle through theshed,tha`t is to say substantially while the sley is passing from its central position to reach its rear dead centre-position'andfreturn to its central position. I

Figure l shows the position of the` pin' whenthe set of boxes 1 and 2 has been released. In spite of the opposing action of the spring 32, the pin 29 is held away from the support 5, because the end 34 of the lever 35 is lowered by the roller 37 which has climbed the ramp 39 of the cam 38. At this moment the sley is in its forward dead centre position. As it passes towards its rear dead centre position, the sley passes through its central position (Figure 10). The roller 37 now moves down the ramp 39 so that, under the action of the spring 32, the pin 29 can enter the notch 31. The `set of boxes 1 and 2 is again immobilised in relation to the sley and the red shuttle can be picked.

When the sley continues its movement towards the rear of the loom and passes beyond the position in Figure 10,' the roller 37 passes beyond the ramp 39 but the pin 29 remains in the notch 31 as seen in Figure ll.

Figure l2 shows the locking of the set of boxes 1 and 2 when the sley is in its rear dead centre position and the black shuttle is in operation. The relative positions of the cam 38, the roller 37, and the pin 29 are the same as in Figure 11 but the pin 29 is engaged in the notch 30.

The sets of boxes are therefor immobilized in relation to the sley when the latter passes from its centre position to its rear dead centre position and returns to its centre position, that is to say during the picking of the shuttles. On the other hand the sets of 4boxes are released when the sley passes from its centre position to its front dead centre position and returns to its centre position.

In this case, as will be seen below, it is possible to hold one or other set of boxes fixed in relation to the sley which is displaced when the replacement of the cop and the arrangement of the weft require it.

Everything which has been said so far applies to the normal action of the shuttles. But when the cop of one of the shuttles is almost empty, the cop sensing device comes into action, which is normally provided in looms of the type described and which, since it may be identical with those which are therefor known, is not illustrated. In the following example, this sensing device is provided in the box 3 for the red cop; when said sensing device indicates that the red cop requires replacing, it normally controls the changing of the cop so that, in a manner known per se, the removal of the empty cop and its replacement in the shuttle by a new cop, take place immediately after the red shuttle has re-entered the box 2, when the sley is at its forward dead centre position.

But, in the present case, when the shuttle has to be reloaded', there are three possibilities:

(a) The shuttle in question, that is to say the red, being at the right in the box 3, may continue its course without interruption, return to the left and enter the box 2, be re-loaded there and return once more into the box 3 without having left the race board 21. This event occurs when there is no change in the colour of the weft, in the two picks which follow the one corresponding to the reentry of the red shuttle into the box 3, just before the sensing `device indicates that the red cop needs replacing.

(b) Or the red cop, being at the right in the box 3. returns to the leftinto the box 2, should be re-loaded there but has to surrender the race board to the black shuttle before returning to the right. In other words, there isv only one more `red kweft thread followed by at least one black weft thread, after the one which corresponds to the return of the red shuttle into the box 3, just before the sensing device shows that the red cop needs replacing. c

(c) Or the red shuttle, being at the right in the box 3. has to surrender the race board to the black shuttle and therefor cannot return immediately to the left so as to be rer-loaded there. This event occurs when a black weft thread has to follow immediately after the red weft thread which corresponds to the re-entry of the red shuttle into the box 3, just before the sensing device finds that the red cop is going to have to be replaced.

asuste In the iii-'st eventuality, the `change takes place, `in a manner knownper se, exactly as'f'iftlie're was" vonlyoie shuttle, the red one, that is to say as if the black onedid not exist. l Y

"In the second eventuality, assoon as the red vshuttle has returned to the left and re-entered the box 2, and while the sley continues its movement towards its front dead centre position, the set of boxes 1 and 2 move towards the front of the loom to bring the box 1 in line with the race board 21. A change therefor takesplace from that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, to that illustrated in Figures 5 to 8. If the movement of the boxes were to'talce place normally, as described above, when the sley reaches the front dead centre position, the set of boxes 1 andV 2 would have completed substantially half its travel towards the front and the box 2 would be in a too advanced position for the red cop to be able to be replaced. This is why, according to the invention, a detent device is provided for each set of boxes, said device being brought into action at the same time as the cop-changing mechanism. The detent device comprises the bar 24, mentioned above, and the movable stop 25-26 In the Figures 1 and 5, the stop 25-26 is inoperative. But, when the sensing device of the red cop brings the red cop-changing mechanism into action a control member of some kind,`which is not illustrated, is brought into action when the butter which controls the cop-changing hammer has to be brought into the operation position, brings the

blocks

25 and 26 closer together and brings them into the position in Figures 13 and 14, the tip of the bar 24 abutting against the

chamfers

27 and 28 forming a notch. At the same time, two pivoted

pawls

40 and 41 carried by the frame 44 and constituting a locking device for the stop 25-26 a-re brought from each side of the

blocks

25 and 26 and hold the latter in the operative position during the time neces` sary for the cop-changing. The set of boxes 1` and 2 which are released in relation to the sley by the locking of the pin 29, are fixed in relation to the frame 44, but the collar 18 and the eccentric 19 continue their movement; they are illustrated in Figure 13 in the position which they occupy after a quarter of a revolution. The sley is then in its front dead centre position.

The spring 8 is stretched between the

projections

6 and 10 which move apart from one another. As soon as the cop has been changed and the sley executes its return movement, and its displacement towards the rear dead centre position, release studs, actuated by the sley and not illustrated, move the

pawls

40 and 41 apart and restore them to the position shown in Figures l and 5; under the action of the spring 8, the tip of the bar 24 separates the blocks 25 from the blocks 26, and the set of boxes 1 and 2 are released. The spring 8 being released rapidly moves the projection 6 to its normal relative position in relation to the projection 10, which position is the one illustrated in Figures l and 5. The resilience of the coupling ceases to be utilized and the` movement of the boxes 1 and 2 continues and is completed normally, bringing the box 1 to the race board.

The strength of the spring t; is calculated so that the kinetic energy accumulated during the immobilisation of the projection 6 by the stop 25-26 is -suficient to enable the boxes 1 and 2 to travel their whole course in a time which is equal to the time of the travel which is left to the toothed segment 12, that is to say a time substantially equal to the diiierence between the normal time for the complete displacement, which is substantially equal to half the duration of the movement of the sley, and the time of immobilisation. Figure 17 shows diagrammatically the distances e travelled by the boxes 1 and 2 as a function of the time t. If the stop 25-26 is inoperative, it is the curve 42 which is used whereas if the stop 25-26 is brought into action, the displacement is effected along the curve 43.

In the third eventuality, the box 3 has to .surrender the race board 21 to the box 4. The displacement of the `'set of boxes 3 and 4 towards the rear, or the displacement of the set of boxes 1 and 2 towards thefront, causes the red cop-changing mechanism, which is provided on the left-v hand side of the loom and which has already been brought into action, to be held in suspense. Actually the red cop sensing device has brought into action the various movements intended to eifect the changing of the red cop, but these movements are not initiated and remain in suspense. Nevertheless, as soon as the speciied arrangement of the weft threads requires that the black shuttle should give way to the red shuttle, that is to say that the box 3 should return to the race board 21, as Well as theI box 2, the movements of the red cop-changing mechanism are resumed at the point where they were held in suspense, that is to say that the first or the second eventuality is restored, depending on the arrangement of the weft. The red shuttle is re-loaded in the box 2, the stop 2526 having been brought into action or not depending on whether there have to be one or more red weft threads before the following black weft threads.

The holding in suspense and the return to normal activity of the cop-changing movement are effected in the manner which is usual on automatic fou-r-colour looms.

In Figures 18 and 19, the sley carries at each end a front compartment 52 provided with vertical slides 53 in which a rear box, with four compartments 54 slides from top to bottom and vice versa under the control of a rod 55 in turn controlled by a lever S6, which is connected to a conventional box-controlling mechanism (not illustrated).

The horizontal movement given to the front compart- -ment moves the whole of the compound box whilst the vertical movement only relates to the rear compartment.

At the same time, the box or compartment 52 can be aligned with the reed 22 or move forward so as to bring one of the four compartments 54 into line with race board 21.

For this purpose, the compartment 52 is carried by two arms 51 centered on the axis ofthe sley foot S7; the positioning of the unit 52-53-54 in relation to the reed 22 is effected by means of a rod 58 connecting said unit to a crank 59 which is actuated by rod 60 the end engaging with pivot 61 rigidly connected to a plate 62 which can occupy one or the `other of the positions illustrated in Figures 18 or 19. In Figure 18, the compartment 52 is at the reed, whereas in Figure 19, it is the second compartment in the rear box 54 which is at the race board.

Figures 18 and 19 also show two positions of'a fourcolour cop-magazine 63.

lIn Figure 18, the channels 64 can eject a cop 65 (Figure 21) which moves down the loading mouth 66. The opening of this mouth should be in vertical alignment with the front loading compartment 52 when this is at the race board and comes into the vicinity of the upper dead centre position (position in Figure 18). But if the bow is working on its rear compartments, the loading mouth of the magazine should move aside and the magazine then occupies the position illustrated in Figure 19. i

Figure 20 is a figure similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the shuttle boxes of Figures 18 and 19.

Figure 21 shows more clearly the magazine displacement mechanism. Said magazine 63 which is suspended from a iixed shaft 67, is controlled by a pair of

levers

68 and 69 articulated at 70, 71 and 72, the shaft 70 being iixed. Under the action of a rod 73, the magazine assumes the position illustrated in Figure 22.

The rod 73 itself receives its movement from an eccentric pivot 61 which at the same time controls the horizontal movement of the unit 52-54.

The selection of the cops in the magazine 63 is effected by means yof flaps 74 and 74 (Figure 26). These aps permit the fall of a cop 65 by moving towards the outside ofthe magazine. The movement of said liaps is -con- 7 trolled by a rocking lever 76 fixed at its centre 77 to the ap 74 and 'controlled by rods 7S and 75.

The rod 75 is pulled towards the left each time the rear compartment corresponding to the row of cops is brought to the race board. It returns to the right if there is a change of compartment (colour). The rod 75 is dependent on the sensing device of the same rear compartment at the race board. If the lsensing device shows that any of the cops are empty, an electro-magnet pulls the rod 75' towards the left and said electro-magnet remains energized until the cop is supplied to the shuttle.

The replacement of the cop will take place at the first turn of the loom when the proper shuttle is offered to the front compartment. The electro-magnet controls the change to be effected. The

flaps

74 and 74 are actuated by the rod 78 to move simultaneously and in `opposite directions.

Figure 26 shows one channel of the magazine out of action. In Figure 27, the compartment at the race board is pulling the 'rod 75 towards the left, the

flaps

74 and 74 have slid through half their course, the cop still being held in its channel. In Figure 28, the sensing device has detected the exhaustion of the cop on the race board and the electro-magnet has pulled the rod 75` towards the left. The rocking lever 76 and the

aps

74 and 74 `are -at the end of their course, and the cop falls.

Figure 25 also shows diagrammatically electrical connections between the sensing devices and the magazines.

On each side of the loom, a sensing device 80 with an electro-magnet 81 determines the condition of the rear compartment at the race board.

A conventional connection shown diagrammatically at 82 and 82 between a given sensing device and the magazine situated on the opposite side selects the colour t-o be supplied depending on the colour detected.

. The supply of a detected colour actually depends on the coincidence of two essentials:

(a) An empty colour detected.

(b) The presence at the race board of this same colour. Figure 30 shows how the picking of the shuttle is effected.

The picker stick 85 which is connected by a rod 86 through a pivot 87 drives a tappet 38 sliding in guides 89 in line with the compartment at the race board.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1B-30, the horizontal movement of the shuttle boxes is effected in the same manner as in the form in Figs. l to 17.

The mechanical embodiments are only given by way of example and may be replaced by equivalent constructions, the various relative movements remaining the same. Nevertheless, since the system is applicable to very different looms, the constructional details should obviously be modified according to the circumstances.

What I claim is:

1. .A two-shuttle loom with automatic weft supply comprising two cop sensing devices, two cop-changing mechanisms, a set of two shuttle boxes with their driving members mounted on each side of the sley, characterised in that the two boxes in each group placed side by side are designed in such a manner as to comprise a front compartment and one or more rear compartments and in that on each side of the loom there is provided at least 'one distributor member containing cops of a given colour with which the corresponding cop-changing mechanism co-operates in such a manner that when :a sensing device has indicated the need for renewal, the replacement of the empty cop is effected when the shuttle associated with the thread of the colour detected appears in the front compartment of the shuttle box opposite the feed orifice, said front compartment being in a position of alignment in relation to the reed.

2. A loom -as claimed in claim l, characterised in that each set of shuttle boxes slides horizontally on slides fixed to the frame and in that, during weaving pick and pick the two sets slide simultaneously and in opposite directions in such a manner that a rear compartment and a front compartment are always at the race board and that each of the two shuttles is :always travelling between the front compartment in one set of boxes and the rear compartment in the other set.

3. A loom as claimed in claim l, characterised in that each set of shuttle boxes is connected to its control mechanism by a resilient coupling and that for each'box there is provided a locking device which is actuated at the same time as the corresponding cop-changing mechanism and, when a driving member acts on its set of boxes to displace it and when the corresponding locking device is in action, permits a relative displacement of the set of boxes and of the driving member during one part of the travel of the set of boxes which corresponds to the time needed for the replacement of the cop, the power of the resilient coupling being determined in such a manner that during the aforesaid time the accumulation of kinetic energy is suicient to enable the arrested set of boxes, when it is later released, to cover the whole of its normal travel in a time substantially equal to the difference between the normal period of displacement, which is substantially equal to half the period of the movement of the sley, and the aforesaid immobilization period.

4. A loom as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each set of boxes is connected by at least one spring to the corresponding driving member.

5. A loom as claimed in claim 3 characterised in that the driving member, for each set of boxes, is a toothed segment pivoting in relation to the sley and rigidly connected to one end of a rod, the other end of which is driven by an eccentric having the same pivotal axis as the sley and set in rotation, in a manner known per se, each time it is necessary to change the box, the toothed segment being in mesh with a rack connected to the set of boxes.

6. A loom as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a locking device is provided for each set of boxes, in the two positions which correspond to bringing each of the boxes opposite the race board.

7. A loom as claimed in claim l, characterised in that it comprises up to eight shuttles and more adapted to carry different colours and in that it comprises on each side of the sley a compound box having a casing forming a single loading compartment sliding on guides substantially horizontal and rigidly connected to the sley and carries vertical slides in which is disposed an upright box with a plurality of compartments.

8. A loom as claimed in clairn l, characterised in that it comprises at least eight shuttles, carrying different colours and in that it comprises on each side of the sley a compound box having a casing forming a single front compartment sliding on guides rigidly connected to the sley and carries at the back vertical slides in which is disposed an upright box with a plurality of compartments.

9. A loom as claimed in claim 7 characterised in that an independent mechanism controls the vertical movements of the compartments of the rear box and in that said vertical movements are independent of one another.

10. A loom as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that on each side there is provided a magazine for cops of various colours which magazine can occupy two positions and in that an arrangement is provided whereby the orifice of the loading mouth is in vertical alignment with the front loading compartment when the latter is at the race board and comes into the vicinity of the upper dead centre position while the magazine occupies a position in which the loading mouth is moved aside when the box is working on` its rear boxes.

11. A loom as claimed in claim l0 characterised in that the selection of the cops in the magazine takes place by means of flaps which permit the fall of one cop by moving towards the outside of the magazine and the movement of which is controlled by a rocking lever or another 12. A loom as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that member subject to the action of two rods, in that each for the picking, the shuttles are actuated by a pusher which time that the rear compartment corresponding to the row enters the compartments axially.

of cops is brought to the race board, one of said rods is attracted and returns if the compartment (colour) is 5 References Cited in the le 0f this Pawnt changed and in that the other rod is subject to the sens- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing device of the same rear compartment at the race board in such a manner that if the feeler detects the exhaustion grompon e; a; F16 b 2g of a cop, an electro-magnet acts on said latter rod while romp on e a une remaining locked until the cop is supplied to the shuttle. 10 1817138 Gordon Aug' 4 1931