US692932A

US692932A - Electric filling-changing mechanism for looms.

Info

Publication number: US692932A
Application number: US1083100A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry W Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-03-30
Filing date: 1900-03-30
Publication date: 1902-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1919-02-11

Description

No. 692,932, Patented vFeh.-l|, I902.

H. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC FILLINGCHANGING MECHANISM FORLOOMS.

(Application filed Him. 30. 1900. (No ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet L No. 692,932. Patented Feb. ll, I902.

H. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC FILLING CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed Mar. 30. 1900.) (No Model.) 4 $heets-Sheat 2,

1n: Nonms r-zrzas co. Puma-urns wAsHmcToN. a. c.

No. 692,932. Patented Feb. n, I902. H. w, SMITH. ELECTRFC FILLING CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LODMS.

(Application filed Mar. 30 1900.)

4 Sheets- Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

10' a-s-e.s-: a? 4 jar wanw T: upnms FETERS on Pnmo-u'ruoq WASHINGTON. n. c.

N0. 692,932. Patented Feb. ll, I902.

- H. W. SMITH.

ELECTRIC FILLING CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LUONIS.

I Application filed Mar. 30, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheeI IIIIIIIIIIIIIII. I: f

Tu: norms PETERS co. num'o-ufuo. mmnumu, a. c.

NITED STATES S'ATENT Fries.

HARRY IV. SMITH, OF NORTH GRAFTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC FILLING-CHANGING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SFECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,932, dated February 11, 1902.

Application filed March 30, 1900. Serial No. 10.831. (No model.)

To all whom 2 2 may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY W. SMITH, of North Grafton, county of WVorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Filling-Changing Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to that class of looms wherein fillingchanging mechanism is employed to supply fresh filling without stopping the operation of the loom, and more particularly to such looms employing shifting shuttle boxes. It has been heretofore proposed in this class of looms to eifect a change of the filling when that in an active shuttle has become exhausted or broken; but in such cases the operation of the filling-changing mechanism has been dependent upon a mechanically-operated feeler, which at suitable intervals would feel for the filling and on detecting its absence would set in operation the filling-changing mechanism. It has also been proposed in a single-shuttlebox loom, or a' loom using only one character of filling, to anticipate the complete exhaustion of the filling in an activeshuttle, at which time when only sufficient filling remained upon the carrier tomake one or two picks electrically-controlled devices were set in 0pcrntion to eject the nearly-depleted carrier and substitute a fresh supply at the end of the same pick. 7

In the present invention I have sought to improve upon the class of looms employing shifting shuttle-boxes, or those using diiferent character or colors of fillings, by rendering the detection of approaching exhaustion of the filling in the active shuttle more sensitive by the use and adaptation of electrically-controlled devices comprising two or more 0pposing contacts, which are held out of electric connection so long as a sufficient supply of filling is present in the active shuttle, but which upon depletion of the filling to a certain amount will come into electric connection and complete an electric circuit, which in turn will set devices to be engaged by a moving part of the loom to effect the change of filling necessary. In adapting such mechanism to a shifting-shuttle-box loom I haVe also found it desirable to delay the action of the filling-changing mechanism after the inlaidt'wo or more shots of filling, whereby sudden strains incident to the quick action of the changing mechanism are avoided and the operation of the latter rendered more certain and positive.

\Vhile I have selected as the preferred embodiment of my invention a loom wherein as the filling in an active shuttle approaches exhaustion the cop, bobbin, or carrier is ejected from the shuttle and a filled cop, bobbin, or carrier is substituted therefor, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto, but is equally applicable to a loom wherein the shuttle is ejected as the filling approaches exhaustion and a filled shuttle is substituted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of a loom embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of one end of the loom. Fig. 3 is a side view of the loom opposite that in Fig. 1. Y views of devices for controlling the operation of the filling-changing actuator. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the pivoted actuator-support or positioning-bracket. Fig. 7 is a detail of the shuttle-box at the filling-changing end of the loom, showing the shuttle in place and the electric contacts. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a top view of one end of the shuttle,parts being shown in section; and Fig. 10 is a top view of the same with the fillingcarrier in place.

I have shown in the drawings my invention as applied to the type of shifting-shuttle-box loom provided with filling-changing mechanism as disclosed in Patent No. 600,053, dated March 1, 1898, to which reference may be had.

The loom-frame A, crank-shaft 0, having the gear 0 engaging a gear 0' on the lower or cam shaft B, the latter having an arm provided with a stud to, engaging intermittingly slotsin the master-Wheel D, the pinions c and d, the shafts c and 02 on which said pinions are splined, the said pinions being fast on the shafts and having cooperating with them movable teeth, which derive their motion through levers e rods e 9 and fingers a", resting upon Figs. 4 and 5 are detached detail a pattern-surface e the lay I'I, connectingrods H, the shuttle-box rod n, having at its upper end a series of shuttle boxes, the shuttle-box lever E and rod 01 the brackets G, rock-shaft G, having two arms Gr G the former being connected by link G with the shuttle-box lever E and the latter arm G being connected to the rock-bar G the said link, rock-shaft, arms, rack and connected parts constituting means for actuating a systern of epicycloidal gearing for moving the filling-feeder G backward and forward in unison with the rising and falling movements of the shuttle-box, and the said epicycloidal gearing and its operating connection are and may be all as fully set forth in said Letters Patent No. 600,053 and need not be more fully described herein.

The filling-feeder is supported on a stud G extending horizontally from one side of a stand G fixed to the breastbeam A of the loom-frame and supports groups of fillingcarriers, the number in each group corresponding to the number of cells in the shifting shuttle-box employed. In the present instancethenumberofsuchcellsis two. Therefore the number of filling-carriers in a group is likewise two, and by the mechanism fully set forth in said Letters Patent No. 600,053 the filling-feederis moved forward and backward as the shuttle-boxes change, so as to always present to the active shuttle a fillingcarrier containing filling of the same character as that in the shuttle.

The transferrer 26 of the filling-changing mechanism, which may be of any preferred constructionas, for instance, that set forth in said Letters Patent No. GO0,053--is pivoted to oscillate on a stud 47 and is normally held in position above or over the filling-carriers, as indicated in Fig. 1, by a spring 48, which, however, will yield under suitable force to permit the transferrer to push afresh filling-carrier from the feeder into a shuttle and expel the carrier at the time therein. Extending from the transferrer at its pivotal connection with the stud 47 is the pendent arm 49, to which is pivotally connected at a the actuator a, the toe or of which is normally out of the path of movement ofa hunter 1), carried by the lay H; but when a filling is to be changed the toe a is raised by means hereinafter described into position to be engaged by the hunter b and operate the filling-changing mechanism.

Mounted on the cam-shaft B is the facecam B, in the groove 1) of which runs a pin or roller I), carried by the arm b of the lever B pivoted to the loom-frame at b. To the other end of lever B is pivotally connected, preferably by a pin-and-slot connection b the upright or positioning arm I), which under the influence of cam B and lever B is given a vertical reciprocation. It will be noticed in the present instance the gearing connection between the cam-shaft B and crankshaft 0 is such that there will be two beats of the lay to each full reciprocation of the positioning-rod b From this construction it will be evident that should the path of movement of the positioning-rod b be such that it will raise the actuator into the path of the hunter b then such actuator will cause the filling-changing mechanism to operate to supply fresh filling; but so long as the positioning-rod reciprocates in a path as not to raise the actuator the loom will continue to weave and the filling-changing mechanism will remain at rest. As it is desirable that the latter condition shall maintain as long as there is a sufficient supply of filling in the active shuttle and that the former condition shall be instituted only when the supply of filling in an active shuttle has approached exhaustion, sufiicient filling, however, still remaining in the shuttle to lay two or more picks, I have placed the positioning-rod under the control of the filling-detector, so that when a sufficient supply of filling is present in the active shuttle the path of movement of the positioning-rod b will be such as not to raise the actuator, but when the filling in an active shuttle approaches exhaustion the path of movement of the positioning-rod b will be changed to cause the rod to raise the actuator into the position to be struck by the hunter 1), all as will presently appear.

The shuttle herein illustrated is of that general type wherein there is a passage through it from one side to the other in order that the fill iug-carrier put into it at one side may be ejected from it at the opposite side, the said shuttle having suitable filling-carrier holders 28 of such shape as to receive rings or projections 29 of the filling-carriers 22, to thereby properly hold the filling-carriers in place in the shuttle. Each filling-carrier is provided with an electric conductor 30, preferably in the.

form of a metal or other ring,though the form and character-of such conductor maybe varied as desired. Attached to the shuttle and nor mally bearing upon the filling on the carrier when in place in the shuttle are the

detectors

31 and 32, which through the binding-

screws

33 and 34 are electrically connected to the

contacts

35 and 36, preferably extending lengthwise of the shuttle on the upper surface thereof in position to be engaged by the contacts37 and 38, secured to the lay I-I adjacent the shuttle-box. The

detectors

31 and 32 are preferably formed of spring metal, so as to normally press toward each other and yet yield to the ejection of the practically exhausted and entrance of the filled carrier. Also the

contacts

35 and 36 are preferably extended lengthwise of the shuttle, so as topresent a more extending contacting surface for engagement with the

contacts

37 and 38,whereby electric contact may be made between them even though the shuttle may not be in exact position in the box. By extending the

contacts

35 and 36 from end to end of the shuttle electric connection with the

contacts

37 and 38 may be made at either end of the shuttle. The contacts37 and 38 are preferably formed of yielding character and are supplied with the adjusting-

screws

39 and 40, whereby their position. may be adjusted to cause them" to press with more or less force upon the

contacts

35 and 36 when the shuttle enters the box. Connected with

such contacts

37 and 38 by the binding-

posts

41 and 42 are the

wires

43 and 44 of an electric circuit, which may derive its electric energy from any suitable source not necessary to illustrate, and included in said circuit is the electromagnet 45 and its armature 46, normally pressed from the poles of the magnet by the spring 50. The armature at its free end engages the positioning-rod b,which may thus freely reciprocate through the end of the armature, but is caused to move in a direction to and from the magnet on the making and breaking of the electrical circuit, as will be evident.

Pivoted to the actuator aat 0, preferably on the side thereof next the loom-frame, as more clearly indicated in Fig. 5, is the positioning bracket or support 0, (shown enlargedin Fig. 6,) which normally rests upon an adjustingscrew 0 Fig. 1, carried by the arm 0 of the bracket d Projecting from one side of the positioning-bracket c is the flange 0 on which the actuator normally rests, as will be seen in Fig. 5, and extending horizontally fromthe positioning-bracket below the said flange is the ledge 0 which is adapted to be engaged by the positioning-rod b on its upward movement when the latter is drawn by the armature 46 toward the magnet 45 on the completion of the circuit through the detectors and contacts before described. The gear connection between the crank-shaft and cam-shaft B is such, however, that the positioning-rod is moved its full stroke upward only on each second beat of the lay, and as the shuttle leaves the box immediately'after an indication or detection of a practical exhaustion of filling and the circuit is therefore interrupted the positioning-rod would, under the stress of the armature-spring 50, at once be moved out of the path necessary for it to engage the ledge c and lift the positioning-bracket and actuator if some means were not devised to prevent such movement. I have therefore given the positioning-rod a slight upward movement just before the shuttle leaves the indicating-box and have provided the ledge c with the retaining means or flanges c c", which will retain the positioning-rod 5 under the ledge and cause it in its further upward movement to raise the positioning-bracket and actuator into operative position, provided the shifting shuttle-boxesare not'changed when the practically depleted shuttle reaches its cell. Should this last contingency occur and the shuttle-boxes be changed to bring a shuttle having a suflicient supply of filling or filling differing from that in the indicating-shuttle into line with therace, it becomes necessary to suspend the operation of the fillingchanging mechanism until a subsequent return of the practically exhausted shuttle in positionto have its filling changed, and to this end I have provided an. opening between the flanges c and 0 which, if the end of the positioning-rod is moved length- Wise of the flanges, will permit the armaturespring to assert itself and move the said rod outward through the opening and from under the ledge 0 and consequently fail to position the actuator a to be engaged by the hunter b. To effect this movement of the end of the positioning-rod b and place it under the control of the shifting shuttle-boxes, the following mechanism'is provided: Pivotally mounted upon the bracket (1 is the bell-crank lever or controller 01, having its slotted end d engaged by the positioning-rod 12, so that while the said rod is free to move back and forth in the slotted end 01 of the controller cl it always remains in engagement with said slotted end (1 and may be moved thereby lengthwise of the flanges c and 0 The other arm of the bell-crank or controller is engaged by an arm 01', projecting upward from the rock-shaft G, which through the arm Gr and link G is moved from and in unison with the positioning-rod b -into position such that on its upward movement it will engage the ledge c of the positioning-bracketc' behind the retaining means or flanges c or c, and if the shuttle-boxes are not changed on the arrival of the indicating or practically-exhausted shuttle in its cell then the said rod will raise the positioning-bracket c and the actuator a to a position such that the end a of said actuator will be in position to be engaged by the bunter b on a subsequent return of the practically exhausted shuttle to the V supply end of the lay. Should the shuttleboxes be changed, however, when theindicat ing or'practically exhausted shuttle reaches its cell therein, then the movement of said shuttle-boxes will through the rock-shaft G,

arm 01*, and controller cl move the end of the positioning-rod 1) into the space between the retaining means or flanges c and c whereupon the spring-pressed armature will move the said rod through said space from beneath the ledge 0 and the actuator a will not be raised and no change of filling will take place. Since the positioning-rod b is a moving element and it is desirable that the actuator to be held in proper position to be engaged bythe hunter 1), I have pivoted to the breast-beam at f a bell-crank latch f,

the hooked end of which is adapted to engage a small flange f, projecting from the side of the positioning-bracket 0', while its other end being sufficiently heavy to hold the hooked portion into position to engage the flange f will normally rest upon the breastbeam at f \Vhen held up by the bell-crank latch f the actuator is in position to be engaged by the hunter, which will force the actuator and its pivotally-connected positioning-bracket toward the front of the lay, and such movement of the bracket 0 will carry the flange f clear of the hooked end) of the latch f so that upon the backward movement of the lay the actuator and positioning-bracket will drop into the lowered position upon the supporting set-screw 0 In the form of loom herein disclosed I have shown the

contacts

37 and 38 as provided on the single shuttle-box side of the loom adjacent the filling-changing mechanism. Therefore the practically exhausted shuttle after having indicated for a fresh supply of filling will make at least two picks prior to having its filling-carrier changed, and a sufficient supply is provided on the carrier for this purpose.

lVhile I have shown the above form of shuttle detectors and contacts and their connected parts as the preferred construction new con templated, it is evident that any form of such parts may be employed, it being necessary to the proper carrying out of my invention only that as the filling on an active shuttle approaches exhaustion and while yet there is sufficient remaining in the said shuttle to lay a plural number of picks that the detectors indicate this condition and through connected devices cause the positioning instrumentalities to place the actuator for the filling-changing mechanism in operative position. More over, my invention is not to be understood as limited to the particular mechanism employed and above described for moving the positioning-rod from under the positioning-bracket ledge to thereby suspend the operation of the filling-changing mechanism Whenthe shifting shuttle-boxes change after the reception of a practically exhausted shuttle from the indicating-box; but the invention is designed to and is to be understood as embracing any form of devices which will place the opera tion of the filling-changing mechanism under the control of the shifting shuttle-boxes, nor is my invention limited to a two-box loom, as it is evident that any number of boxes may be employed, as desired, it being necessary only that the retaining devices or flanges on the positioning-bracket for holding the positioning-rod in operative position after the interruption of the circuit due to the detecting-shuttle leaving the indicating-box shall have opening therebetween to permit the said rod to pass from under the bracket when the shuttle-boxes change. Likewise the character of the positioning devices, including the positioning rod and bracket, may be varied Without departing from my invention.

From the above it will be clear that I have provided a shifting-shuttle-box loom or one using different charactors or colors of filling and having filling-changing mechanism adapted to supply the .proper character or color of filling as that in an active shuttle becomes practically exhausted, with means for controlling the time of operation of said filling-changing mechanism, said means being controlled by an electric circuit, including an electroniagnet, and said circuit being normally held open by the presence of a sufficient supply of filling in an active shuttle and adapted to close by the substantial absence or exhaustion of filling therefrom, also that I have controlled the time of operation of the changing mechanism, so that the shuttle may make a plural number of picks prior to being replenished, and that I have also controlled the operation from the shifting shuttle-boxes in a manner to insure that the changing mechanism will operate only when the proper indicating-shuttle is in position to have its filling changed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Inaloom the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling prior to complete exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, means for detecting the near approach to exhaustion of filling in a shuttle, and means to operate the fillingchanging mechanism and cause it toact after IXC to operate the filling-changing mechanism and practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, an actuator for said mechanism, positioning devices connected to the shifting shuttle-boxes to move said actuator into operative position.

5. In a loom the followinginstruinentalities,

viz: a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling prior to complete exhaustion of the [illing in an active shuttle and electrically-controlled means to operate the filling-changing mechanism and cause it to act after the filling has been laid a plurality of picks by the nearly-exhausted shuttle subsequent to the detection of the near approach to exhaustion of the filling.

6. In aloom the followinginstrumentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling prior to complete exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, means for detecting the condition of the filling in the shuttle, shifting shuttle-boxes, and electrically-con trolled means to operate the filling-changing mechanism and cause it to act after the filling has been laid a plurality of picks by the nearlyexhausted shuttle subsequent to the detection of the near approach to exhaustion of the filling.

- 7. Inaloom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling on the practical exhaustion of the fillingin an active shuttle,shifting shuttle-boxes, and electrically controlled means connected to the shifting shuttle-boxes to control the time of operation of the filling-changing mechanism.

S. 'Inaloom the following instru mentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling on the practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, an actuator for said mechanism, electrically-controlled positioning devices connected to the shifting shuttlehoxes to move said actuator into operative position. 1

9. Inaloom the followinginstrumentalities', viz: shifting shuttle-boxes, a filling-changing mechanism to supply filling on the practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, electrically-controlled devices to cause said filling-changing mechanism to operate on a subsequent arrival of the shuttle in the box adjacent the filling-changing mechanism, and connections between said devices and the shifting shuttle-boxes, whereby should the boxes be changed after an indication of practical exhaustion of filling in an active shuttle, the said devices are rendered inoperative.

10. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism, an actuator for said mechanism, positioning devices for said actuator, means, including an electric circuit extending through the shuttle, to place said'positioning devices into operative position on a practical exhaustion of the fillingin an active shuttle, and provisions to cause the positioning devices to move the actuator into the path of movement of a part of the loom upon a return of the shuttle to the box adjacent to the filling-changing mechanism.

11. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism, an actuator therefor, positioning devices to move the actuator into the path of movement of a part of the loom, means including an electric circuit extending through the shuttle to place the path of movement of the hunter on a subsequent arrival of the practically-exhausted shuttle in the box, and means for retaining the actuator in the path of movement of the hunter. g

13. A series of shuttl'eboxes, actuating means therefor, a filling-carrier feeder, means for moving the filling-carrier feeder in unison with the shuttle-boxes a transferring mechanism, actuating means therefor, anddevices connected to the shuttle-boxes for controlling the operation of said last-named actuating means.

14. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: a filling-changing mechanism, 'an actuator therefor,positioning devices to move the actuator into position to be struck by a moving part of the loom, means including an electric circuit extending through the shuttle to place said devices in operative position on a practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, and retaining means to hold the said devices in such position after the shuttle has left the box and the electric circuit is interrupted to delay the operation of the filling-changing mechanism until a subsequent arrival of said shuttle in said box after practical exhaustion of the filling in the .ties, viz: a filling-changing mechanism, an

actuator therefor, posit ioning devices to move the actuatorinto position to he struck by a moving part of the loom, means including an electric circuit extending through the shuttle to place said devices in operative position on a practical exhaustion of the filling in an active shuttle, and retaining means to hold the said devices in such position after the shuttle has left the box and the electric circuit is interrupted, shifting shuttle-boxes and means controlled therefrom whereby when the shuttle-boxes change the positioning devices are moved to assume their inoperative position.

16. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttle boxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for supplying filling of different characters or colors to replace that practically exhausted, and means for controlling the time of operation of said filling-changing mechanism, and cause it to act after the filling has been laid aplurality of picks sub- I sequent to detection of the near approach to exhaustion of the filling, said means includexhaustion of the filling, said means being controlled by an electric circuit including an electromagnet, and said circuit being completed by the substantial absence of filling from an active shuttle.

18. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttle boxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for furnishing filling of different kinds or colors to replace't-hat practically exhausted, and electrical means, controlled by the active shuttle, for controlling the operation of said filling-changing mechanism and cause it to act after the filling has been laid a plurality of picks subsequent to detection of the near approach to exhaustion of the filling.

19. In a loom, the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttle -boxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for furnishing filling holders or carriers containing diiferent kinds or colors of filling to the shuttle to replace that practically exhausted, and electrical means controlled by the active shuttle to control the operation of the filling-changing mechanism and cause it to act after the filling has been laid a plurality of picks subsequent to detection of the near-approach to exhaustion of the filling.

20. In a loom, the followinginstrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttle boxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for supplying filling of different kinds or colors to replace that practically exhausted, and means for actuating said supplying mechanism after a plurality of picks of filling have been laid subsequent to practical exhaustion, including a magnet and circuit extending from the magnet to a circuit-closing device, the latter being controlled by the filling in the active shuttle.

21. In a loom the following instrumentalities, viz: shifting shuttle boxes, a fillingchanging mechanism for supplying filling of different kinds or colors to the shuttle to replace that practically exhausted, and means for actuating said changing mechanism after a plurality of picks of filling have been laid subsequent to practical exhaustion, including a magnet and acircuit extending from the magnet to a circuit-closing device, the latter being controlled by the filling in the active shuttle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY V. SMITH.

W'itnesses:

M. G. MATTHEWS, M. 'l. OOONNELL.