US805497A - Filling-replenishing loom. - Google Patents

Description

No. 805,497. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

A. E. STAFFORD.

FILLING REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Hill HUN IH'I ll T u W Mi w No. 805,497. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. A. E. STAFFORD.

. FILLING REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED E. STAFFORD, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

FlLLlNG-REPLENISHINGLOOM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed May 29, 1905. serial No. 262,807-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Filling Replenishing Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specificatiomlike characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to looms provided with means to replenish automatically the running shuttle with a fresh supply of filling, as in the Northrop type of loom, wherein the fresh filling-carriers are held in reserve in a feeder or hopper at one side of the loom, filling replenishment being effected when the shuttle is boxed at the adjacent end of the lay, as in United States Patent to Northrop, No. 529,9A0, and others of later date. If for any reason" the replenishing mechanism is operated when the shuttle is in the opposite box, the transferred filling-carrier is deposited in the empty shuttle-box, whence it may pass without causing any damage, or considerable damage may be caused by interference with adjacent parts of the loom mechanism or with the incoming shuttle on the next pick. Entirely irrespective of the tendency to cause damage it will be manifest that such operation of the replenishing mechanism is wholly superfluous and that a full filling-carrier has been withdrawn from the feeder unnecessarily and diminishing the reserve supply of filling therein.

My present invention has for its object the production of novel and exceedingly simple means to prevent the operation of the replenishing mechanism when the shuttle is in the wrong shuttle+box, and it is particularly adapted to filling replenishing looms equipped with two filling-detecting instrumentalities. In such looms means were formerly provided for causing a change in the operation of the take-up upon detection of filling failure at either side of the loom and to effect the operation of the replenishing mechanism primarily through the detecting instrumentality at the non-replenishing side of the loom. This arrangement required certain important adjustments of parts, lost motion, orsome variation in the stroke of the two weft-hammers,

and in the latter case the two actuating-cams for the weft hammers were different. In United States Patent No. 759,854, granted May 17, 1904:, to Benson a construction is shown whereby lost motion is obviated and the use of like cams and cooperating parts for both of the filling-detectors made possible, greatly simplifying the construction and making the operation more positive and direct; but such construction necessitated the provision of means to prevent the operation of the replenishing mechanism when the shuttle was lodged in the wrong shuttle-box, and accordingly the hunter on the lay adapted to engage a member or dog of the controlling means for the replenishing mechanism was made movable with relation to the lay. The dog was moved into its operative position by or through detection of filling failure by either detector; but if the shuttle was in the wrong box the hunter on the lay was moved into inoperative position, so that it could not cooperate with the dog, and no operation of the replenishing mechanism took place until the shuttle was in the replenishing shuttle-box.

In accordance with my invention I secure the same result, but inadifferent and simpler manner, as I prevent the operative positioning of the member or dog referred to if the shuttle is not in the replenishing shuttle-box. Herein this is effected by the attachment of a detent to the weft-hammer at the replenishing side of the loom to cooperate with the shuttlefeeler, which latter tends to move rearwardly upon detection of filling failure at either side of the loom. The weft-hammer at the replenishing side is so positioned, however, at the instant the shuttle-feeler is tending to move rearwardly, the shuttle then being in the non-replenishing box, that the detent engages the shuttle-feeler and prevents its operative rearward movement. The feeler in turn controls the operative positioning of the dog, as the latter can only attain its operative position when the shuttle-feeler moves into its own operative position. Consequently as 'the detent arrests the shuttle-feeler the latter prevents the dog from becoming operativeand replenishment of filling cannot take place. The control of the dog, and hence of the action of the replenishing mechanism, by or through a shuttle-feeler is not of my invention, as the same is shown in numerous patents-such, for instance, as No. 628,228, dated July 4, 1899.

The novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, centrally broken out, of a sufficient portion of an automatic filling-replenishing loom to be understood equipped with double filling-detecting instrumentalities and having one form of my present invention applied thereto, the weft-hammer at the right-hand side being shown in position to prevent filling replenishment even if called for by detection of filling failure. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking toward the right, the parts being in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in position to effect filling replenishment on the beat-up of the lay, the shuttle being in the proper shuttle-box.

The lay A having shuttle-boxes B B at opposite ends, the filling-replenishing mechanism comprising a feeder F and a transferrer f to remove the filling carriers or bobbinsb one by one from the feeder to the shuttle S, the controlling rod or rock-shaft 01, extending across the loom and having rigidlyattached upturned arms d al fast thereon and cooperating, respectively, with the outer ends of the slides f 9 on which are mounted the filling detectors or forks f g, one at each side of the loom, and the vibrators or weft-hammers M N, arranged to cooperate with the fork-tails when upon absence of filling either of the forks is not tilted to move the corresponding slide outward, and thereby turn the rock-shaft d in the direction of arrow 200, may be and are all substantially as in Patent No. 7 59,854, hereinbefore referred to,the vibrators or weft-hammers being given the same stroke by like and interchangeable cams, but moving in opposite directions.

As the hammers have the same stroke, whichever fork by detection of filling failure causes the rock-shaft d to be turned will cause it to turn through the same angle, and such angular movement can be readily arranged to change the operation of any suitable takeup instrumentalityas, for instance, to arrest it-by means of an arm 03, (see Fig. 1,) fast on the rock-shaft and adapted to govern the operation of an instrumentality such as shown in United States Patent No. 7 27 ,014.

Referring to Fig. 2, the dog m operatively connected with the transferrer in wellknown manner, is normally held in the position therein shown by connections between the dog and the controlling rock-shaft (Z. Said connections, as herein shown, include a yoke y y pivoted on the loom-frame at y and having a lug y, on which the arm (Z is held by the spring (i said arm being fast on the controlling rock-shaft, the branch y constituting a shuttle-feeler, while the branch rests against a lateral lug m on the dog. The parts are arranged to operate in usual manner, rocking of the controlling rock-shaft d 'in the direction of arrow 200 lifting the arm (Z and permitting the dog m to move into operative position to be engaged by the hunter C on the lay if the shuttle is properly boxed, all substantially as in Patent No. 628,228, hereinbefore referred to. If the shuttle projects part way out of the box B the shuttlefeeler g cannot complete its movement into operative position, and the branch y then prevents the operative positioning of the dog at.

In accordance with my present invention I have secured to the weft-hammer N a detent, shown as a rigid laterally-extended arm or rod 80, (best seen in Fig. 1,) long enough to pass behind the shuttle-feeler or some part thereof, such as the lateral lug 81, as herein shown, and across the path of movement of such lug and so arranged that when the wefthammer is back the feeler can move rearward into position to feel for the shuttle. When the weft-hammer is forward or moving forward, however, the detent will engage the lug 81 on the shuttle-feeler and prevent it from moving into operative position even should the rock-shaft d have been turned to permit it, and consequently the dog m will be prevented from moving into its operative position, and no operation of the replenishing mechanism will take place.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the drawings, the operation will be readily understood, for if filling fails as the shuttle is moving to the box B, Fig. 1, the detector f will usually detect such failure, and the shaft d will be turned to permit the dog m to become set or operatively positioned on the next pick, as the hammer N will be moving back, and on such next pick when the shuttle enters the box B the hunter C will engage the dog and effect filling replenishment, supposing the shuttle is properly positioned.

Should the filling fail when the shuttle is moving to the box B such failure will be detected by the fork g, its slide will be moved forward to rock the rock-shaft d, as before, and the dog m will tend to become operatively positioned on the next pick; but on that next pick the shuttle will have been thrown from the box B to box Bthe nonreplenishing box. The weft-hammer N will,

however, be so far forward at that time that it will act through the detent to arrest the rearward movement of the shuttle-feeler y as the lay heats up. This shuttle-feeler in turn holds back the dog, so that it cannot complete its movement to operative position, and hence no actuation of the replenishing some? mechanism can take place when the shuttleboX 13 is empty and will not take place until the fork f has detected filling failure.

The change in the operation of the take-up is effected each time the rock-shaft d is turned, so that a thin place will not be made in the cloth. Thus the position of the weft-hammer at the replenishing side of the loom determines whether or not actuation of the replenishing mechanism can take place when called for by angular movement of the controlling rock-shaft cl, due to detection of filling failure by either detecting instrumentality. If said weft-hammer is back at the time the dog and hunter would cooperate, filling replenishment can be accomplished, because the shuttle must then be in the proper shuttle-box; but if the said weft-hammer is forward or moving forward cooperation of the dog and bunter is prevented, because the replenishing shuttlebox must then be empty and filling replenishment is prevented.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as the same may be varied in different particulars by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, one particular embodiment whereof is herein shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1 In a loom, filling-replenishing mechanism at one side thereof, a filling-detecting instrumentality at each side of the loom, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member tending to be operatively positioned when filling failure is detected by either instrumentality, and means operative independently of the shuttle to prevent such operative positioning of said memher when the shuttle is at the non-replenishing side of the loom.

2. In aloom, filling-replenishing mechanism at one side thereof, a filling-detecting instrumentality at each side of the loom, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member tending to be operatively positioned when filling failure is detected by either instrumentality, and means governed by the detecting instrumentality at the replenishing side of the loom to prevent such operative positioning of said member when the shuttle is at the opposite side of the loom. V

3. In a loom, filling-replenishing mechanism at one side thereof, a filling-detector and its cooperating vibrator at each side of the loom, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member tending to move automatically into operative position upon detection of filling failure by either detector, and means governed by one of said vibrators to prevent such operative positioning of said member unless the shuttle is in the shuttle-hox at the replenishing side of the loom.

at. In a loom, a lay provided witha hunter and having a shuttle-box at each end, fillingreplenishing mechanism at one side of the loom, a filling-detecting instrumentality at each side of the loom, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member tending to move automatically into the path of the hunter when filling failure is detected by either detecting instrumentality, and means governed by or through one of said instrumentalities to prevent the movement of said member into the bunter-path when the replenishing shuttle-box is empty.

5. In aloom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a lay, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member on the lay and a member movable into position to cooperate therewith, two filling-detectors, means tending to effect cooperation of the said movable member and the member on the lay by or through detection of filling failure by either detector, and a device operative independently of the shuttle and the filling therein to counteract such tendency and thereby prevent the operation of the replenishing mechanism if the shuttle is not at the replenishing side of the loom.

6. In a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism, a lay provided with a shuttleboX at each end thereof, means to controlthe time of operation of said mechanism, two filling detectors, connections between said controlling means and the detectors tending to effect the actuation of the replenishing mechanism by orthrough detection of filling failure by either detector, and a device operative independently of the shuttle and the filling therein to counteract such tendency and thereby prevent filling replenishment when the shuttle is in the non-replenishing shuttle-box.

7. In aloom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism at one side thereof, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a normally-inoperative member, two filling-detecting instrumentalities operating on alternate picks and both adapted to permit movement of said member into operative position upon detection of filling failure, and means governed by one of said instrumentalities to prevent such operative positioning of said member when the shuttle is at the non-replenishing side of the loom.

8. In a loom, in combination, filling-replenishing mechanism, filling-detecting devices at opposite sides of the loom, a rod or rock-shaft extending across the loom and having in connection therewith means to effect the actuation of the filling-replenishing mechanism, operative connections between said rock-shaft and both detecting devices whereby the rockshaft is operated when either device detects filling failure, and means governed by one of said detecting devices to prevent the operation of said actuating means after operation of the rock-shaft unless the shuttle is at the replenishing side of the loom.

9. In a loom, a lay provided with shuttleboxes, two filling-detecting devices located at opposite sides of the loom and adapted to change the operation of a take-up instrumentality upon detection of filling failure, fillingreplenishing mechanism, means to control the time of its operation, including a member tending to move automatically into active position upon detecting action of either detecting device, and means governed by or through one of said detecting devices to prevent the automatic movement of said member into active position if the shuttle is not in the replenishing shuttle-box.

10. In a loom, a lay provided with shuttleboxes and a bunter, two filling-detecting instrumentalities located at opposite sides of the loom and adapted to change the operation of a take-up instrumentality upon detection of filling failure, filling-replenishing mechanism, means to control the time of its operation, including a dog tending to move automatically into position to cooperate with the bunter upon detecting action of either of said detecting instrumentalities, and means governed directly and positively by one of said instrumentalities to prevent the automatic movement of the dog into operative position if the shuttle is not in the replenishing shuttle-box.

11. In a loom, in combination,filling-replenishing mechanism, a lay having a bnnter and two shuttle-boxes thereon, two filling-detectors located at opposite sides of the loom, a weft-hammer to cooperate with each upon detection of filling failure thereby, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member adapted to move automatically in to position to cooperate with the bunter upon detection of filling failure by either detector, and a detent on one of the wefthammers to prevent such operative positioning of the said member if the replenishing shuttle-box is empty.

12. In aloom, in combination,filling-replenishing mechanism, a lay having a hunter and two shuttle-boxes thereon, a filling-detector and a cooperating weft-hammer at each side of the loom, means to control the time of operation of said mechanism, including a member movable automatically into operative position with relation to the hunter upon detection of filling failure by either detector, a shuttle-feeler to prevent such positioning 'of said member when the shuttle is'improperly positioned in the replenishing shuttle-box, and a detent on the weft-hammer adjacent the shuttle-feeler and adapted to cooperate therewith at times, to prevent movement thereof into shuttle-feeling position, and thereby to prevent operative positioning of the said member controlled thereby, when the shuttle is out of the replenishing shuttle-box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED E. STAFFORD.

Witnesses: GEORGE OTIS DRAPER, ERNEST W. Woon.

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