US964580A - Automatic weft-replenishing loom. - Google Patents

Description

E. s. STIMPSON. AUTOMATIC WEPT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 12, 1907.

Patented July 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A I/IIII/I/l/IA E. s. STIMPSON. 7 AUTOMATIC WBFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

AIPLIOA'IIION FILED NOV. 12, 1907.

,5 0, Patented July 19,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIGA.

E. S. STIMPSON. AUTOMATIC WEPT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1901.

19 64 5800 Patented July 19, 1910.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses;

TE 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. STIMPSON, OF I IOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAIPER COM- PANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, AND HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

AUTOMATIC wnrr-nnrnnivismne Loom.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed November 12', 1907. Serial No. 401,831.

To all whom it may concern:

tain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Weft-Replenishing Looms, of which the following is a specification.

In the now well-known Northrop or Draper loom, the principles of which are described in United States Letters Patent No. 529,940, dated November 27, 1894, wherein weft-replenishment is effected by ejecting the spent weft-carrier (bobbin, copspindle, or the like) from the working shuttle and transferring a fresh weft-carrier from a magazine or hopper into the working shuttle, it is highly important that the shuttle should be properly positioned with respect to the magazine containing the spare weft-carriers when the weft-replenish ing action takes place. In order to secure this proper relative position between shuttle and magazine the looms in commercial practice have been provided with two expedients. In case the shuttle is too near the middle of the loom when the weft-replenishing mechanism is called into action, the transferring operation is prevented by means of a shuttle feeler whlch, coming in contact with the misplaced shuttle, renders the transferring mechanism inactive, as set forth in United States Patent No. 529,943, November 27, 1894. On the other hand, should the shuttle be too far out from the middle of the loom, the transferring mechanism acts and reliance is had upon the construction of curately placed in the shuttle in order that the jaws may securely grasp and hold an inserted weft-carrier. As shown in- Patent No. 538,507, just mentioned, the shuttle is provided with an inclined bridge in the vicinity of the weft-carrier-holding jaws which engages the butt end of a fresh weft-carrier while being transferred and thereby directs the weft-carrier to the holding jaws in case the shuttle occupies a position. too far from the middle ofthe loom. While this provision of an inclined directing bridge has been employed in the very large number of Northrop or Draper looms which have been put into commercial use, its action has not been wholly satisfactory. As will be evident from an inspection of the drawings of the aforesaid Patent No. 538,507, a relative longitudinal movement between the misplaced shuttle and the incoming weft-carrier takes place while the spent weft-carrier is being ejected under the impact of the incomin weft-carrier. At the same. time, the incoming weft-carrier is being ressed down by the transferrer, whose frictional contact with the weft-carrier tends to interfere with any longitudinal movement of the weft-carrier. It also may happen during the transferring action that the projectlng ribs of the incoming and spent weft-carriersmay interlock and hence interfere with the relative'longitudinal movement between the incoming weft-carrier and the misplaced shuttle. The result is that weft-carriers are sometimes broken, and occasionally the inserted weft-carrier is inefficiently grasped by the shuttle jaws so that a portion of the weft-carrier may be outside of the boundaries of the shuttle with resulting damage ishin mechanism is brought into action and in a Vance of any contact between the incomm and outgoing weft-carriers and before t e incoming weft-carrier comes into contactwith the shuttle jaws, or any partof the shuttle. The shuttle feeler is retained so that the transferring mechanism is rendered inactive in case the shuttle is too near the middle of the loom when the wft-. replenishing mechanism is called into action; while, on the other hand, should the shuttle be too far out at the critical moment, the tion to the transferring mechanism is nownew shuttle placer moves the shuttle longiso well knownas to require no detailed illustudinally and inwardly into just the right position relatively to the magazme to receive the incoming weft-carrier.

One embodiment of the present lmprovements is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-' Figure 1, is a vertical section through the lay, transferring mechanism and a portlon of the magazine of the modern form of the Northrop or Draper loom showing the present improvements and illustrating the transferrer in the act of inserting a fresh weftcarrier, the period illustrated belng just in advance of the incoming weft-carrier contacting with the spent weft-carrier. F1g. 2, is a similar section on a larger scale of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1,

showing the transferrer in its most depressed position and illustrating the fresh weft-carrier in position within the shuttle. Flg. 3, is a similar section illustrating the shuttle placer in the same position as in Fig. 1 but on a larger scale, this figure slmply illustrating the relation between the shuttle placer and the shuttle. Fig. 4, 1s a longi- 'tudinal section through the shuttle and the neighboring portion of the weft--replenishing mechanism, illustrating the shuttle 1n a misplaced position too far from the middle of the loom. Fig. 5, is a sect1on s1m1lar to Fig. 4, illustrating the parts just after the shuttle placer has acted and, hence, by comparison with Fig. 4, indicating the effect of the shuttle placer in moving the misplaced shuttle toward the middle of the loom.

. Fig. 6, isa plan view of the end of the shuttle which is equipped with the weftcarrier jaws. Fig. 7 IS a longitudinal vertical section of the same end of the shuttle. Fig. 8, is a perspective view of the shuttle abutment against which the shuttle placer acts.

The drawings show, with suflicient fullness to enable the present improvements to be understood, certain of the ordinary parts of the well-known Draper loom in one of the present commercial forms.

A, is the lay; B, is the shuttle with its resilient weft-carrier holding jaws a, a, C, is the spare weft-carrier magazine; D, is a portion of the fixed stand or framework on which the magazine is mounted; E, E, are weft-carriers, each with projecting annular ribs 6, b, at its butt end; F, is the swinging transferrer; G, is the transferrer dog which, when the weft-replenishing mechanism is called into action, is moved up into position to be struck by the hunter 0, on the lay; and H, is the shuttle feeler which prevents action of the transferrer in case the shuttle is misplaced and is too near the middle of the 529,943, above mentioned, or as shown in more recent United States Letters Patent, as, for example, in Patent No. 664,790, dated December 25, 1900. All of these parts act and cooperate in the same way as customary in the Draper loom. The added parts illustrated in the present drawings relate to the devices -for moving the shuttle longitudinally into correct position relatively to the magazine in case the shuttle is too far out (that is, away from the middle of the loom) at the moment when a transfer of weft-carriers is to take place. The principal illust-rated factors in placing the shuttle in correct position are a shuttle placer I, on the magazine stand, and an abutment J, carried by the shuttle. The abutment J, within the shuttle has a vertical face d, extending the entire width of the shuttle chamber. (Jonveniently, as shown, the abutment is part of a piece of sheet metal pressed into suitable shape for secure attachment to the shuttle body, no part of the same extending beyond the outer boundaries of the shuttle. Beneath the abutment proper there is a horizontalledge e, and a vertical wall f, which are located between the shuttle jaws a. The wall f, is close to the butt'end of the weft-carrier E, held by the jaws. This wall is distant from the abutment face to the extent of the ledge 6, thus affording a space between the abutment face and the butt end of the bobbin for the action of the shuttle placer I.

The shuttle placer I, is best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. It is pivotally connected at g, to the fixed stand D, of the spare weftcarrier magazine C, and is spring-restored to and maintained in a normal horizontal position, as, shown in Fig. 4, by a spring 71.. When thus occupying its normal horizontal position theshuttle placer is directly beneath (but out of contact with) the butt of the weft-carrier in the magazine which is next to be transferred to the working shuttle, and is also directly beneath the driving end of the transferrer F. The shuttle placer is also located directly over the shuttle box at the transferring end of the lay when the lay is at and near front center, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. Also, as shown in these figures, the portion of the shuttle placer which enters the shuttle chamber is sufliciently narrow as compared with the width of the shuttle chamber and the length of the abutment J, to allow for the traverse of the lay during the transferring operation. When a transfer is to take place, the transferrer F, descends coming into contact with the butt end of the spare weft-carrier beneath it and forcing the same downwardly Fig. 4 to the vertical-position shown in Fig; 5.

Should, the shuttle be then occupying a position too far out as compared with the middle of the loom and the position of the magazine, the shuttle placer will come in contact with the abutment J and thereby force the shuttle longitudinally and inwardly and into correct position to receive the incoming weft-carrier. A comparison between Figs. 4 and 5, will indicate approximately the maximum distance that the shuttle can be moved by the shuttle placer, which is sufficient to provide for all contingencies whichmay arise in practice with respect to the outward displacement of the shuttle. As shown in Fig. 5, the shuttle is moved inwardly (relatively to the magazine and the middle of the loom) so as to bring its inner end close to the plane of the shuttle feeler I. Shouldthe shuttle not be far enough out relatively to the magazine and the middle of the loom at the time a transfer is called, the shuttle feeler will encounter the shuttle and render the transferrer inactive in the heretofore usual way. The shuttle feeler can be so located and the throw of the shuttle placer can be so regulated as to provide for all contingencies which may arise in practice. The slight play indicated in Fig. 5 not compensated for by the shuttle feeler and the shuttle placer is sufficiently taken care of by the grooves in the shuttle jaws and the shape of the projecting ribs 5, on the weft-carriers. Even this slight play indicated need not exist, since the throw of the shuttle placer may readily be made suflicient to bring the ribs of the incoming bobbin directly in line with the grooves of the shuttle jaws. As shown in Fig. 5, the' shuttle placer performs its office of moving the shuttle inwardly and longitudinally to the right place before the incoming shuttle in its descent touches the spent weft-carrier or comes into contact with the shuttle jaws. Conse uently during the ejection of the spent we t-carrier by the incoming weft-earner and during the passage of the ribs of the incoming weftcarrier into place between the shuttlejaws, there is no relative longitudinal movement between the incoming and outgoing weft-v carriers and hence no liability of breakage nor of improper grasp of the inserted weftcarrier by the shuttle jaws. When the fresh weft-carrier reaches its position between the shuttle jaws, it is wholly free from the shuttle placer, which thereupon is restored to its normal horizontal position before the transferrer C, rises, as shown in Fig. 2. An

important characteristic of this shuttle placer isthat it acts only when atransfer is to be made and hence is subject to minimum wear onl I 1 The present invention is not limited to the detailed mechanism illustrated and specifically' described, it being obvious that other specific devices may embody the principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automatic weft replenishing loom having,'in combination, a magazine for spare weft-carriers a shuttle with weft-carrier jaws and an abutment; a transferrer to transfer a weft-carrier from the magazine to the shuttle and eject the spent weft-carrier; mechanism to prevent the action of the transferrer in case the shuttle is misplaced inwardly relatively to the magazine when a change of weft-carriers is called; and a spring-restored shuttle-placer moved by the fresh weft-carrier when acted upon by the transferrer, said shuttle-placer encountering said shuttle-abutment and moving the shuttle inwardly when the shuttle is too far out relatively to the incoming weft-carrier.

2. An automatic weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a magazine for spare weft-carriers; a shuttle with weft-carrierv jaws and an abutment; a transferrer to transfer a weft-carrier from the magazine to the shuttle and eject the spent weft-carrier; mechanism to prevent the action of the transferrer in case the shuttle is misplaced inwardly relatively'to the magazine when a change of weft-carriers is called; and a shuttle-placer moved by thefresh weft-carrier when. acted upon by the transferrer, said shuttle-placer encountering said shuttleabutment and moving the shuttle inwardly when the shuttle is too far out relatively to the incoming weft-carrier.

3. An automatic weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a magazine for spare weft-carriers; a shuttle -with weft-carrier jaws and an abutment; a transferrer to transfer a weft-carrier from the magazine to the shuttle and eject the spent weft-carrier;

and a shuttle-placer moved by the fresh weft-carrierwhen acted upon by the transferrer, said shuttle-placer encountering said shuttle-abutment and moving the shuttle inwardly when the shuttle is too far out relatively to the incoming'weft-carrier.

4. An automatic weft replenishing loom having, in combination, a'magazine for spare weft-carriers; a shuttle; a transferrer to transfer a weft-carrier from the magazine to the shuttle; and a shuttle-placer moved by the fresh weft-carrier when acted upon by the transferrer, said shuttle-placer encountering said shuttle and moving it inwardly when too far out relatively to the incoming weft-carrier. j

I 5. An automatic weft replenishing loom having, in combination, amagazine for spare weft-carriers; a shuttle; a transferrer to transfer a weft-carrier from the magazme to the shuttle; mechanism to prevent the action of the transferrer in case the shuttle is misplaced inwardly relatively to the ma azine when a change of weft-carriers is calle and a shuttle-placer acted upon through the transferrer, said shuttle-placer acting to move the shuttle inwardly when the shuttle is too far out relatively to the incoming weftcarrier.

'6. An automatic Weft replenishing loom having,- in combination, a magazine for spare weft-carriers; a shuttle; a transferrer to. I transfer a weft-carrier from'the magazine to the shuttle; and a shuttle-placer above the lay and acted uponthrough the'transferrer to position the shuttle relatively to the incoming weft-carrier.

7. An automatic weft replenishing loom having in combination, a magazine for spare weft-carriers; a shuttle; a transferrer to transfer a. weft-carrier from the magazine to downward movement of said device automatically into engagement with the shuttle when the weft in the shuttle is to. be replenished.

9. A loom having, in combination, mechanism to replenish automatically the working shuttle with weft, a shuttle placer located above the shuttle path and downwardly movable to engage and' move the shuttle inward to thereby insure proper positioning of the shuttle at the time of weft replenishment, and means to effectdownward movement of said shuttle placer automatically into engagementwith the shuttle when the weft in the shuttle is to be replenished.

10. A loom having, in combination, mechanism to replenish automatically the working shuttle with weft, a shuttle placer located above the shuttle path and downwardly movable to engage and move the shuttle inward to thereby insure proper positioning of the shuttle at the time of weft replenishment, and means to effect downward movementof said shuttle placer automatically into engagement with the shuttle when the weft in the shuttle is to be replenished, said action being in advance of any contact between the incoming weft carrier and the shuttle. v

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the witnesses.

EDWVARD S. STIMPSON. Vvitnesses GEORGE OTIS DRAPER, ERNEST W. Woon.

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