Weft processing and releasing apparatus in a jet loom

A weft processing apparatus includes a weft releasing device for releasing or detaching a leading end of a weft from the peripheral surface of a weft cheese, a fluid jetting device for moving the released weft leading end to a weft introducing port of a weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus, and a guide device for guiding the weft leading end and the jetted fluid stream. The weft releasing device is in the form of a blow nozzle device or a suction pipe. In the former case, the blow nozzle device serves also as the fluid jetting device. The suction pipe has an intake port provided with a holding member such as a net or brush for temporarily holding the weft in a congregated state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a weft processing apparatus for guiding 
the leading end of a weft fed from a weft supply source in the form of a 
cheese to a weft winding type weft length-sizing and reserving apparatus 
when a weft feed failure such as breakage of the weft occurs between the 
weft cheese and the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus or when 
a weft of a new cheese is to be used upon exhaustion of the weft cheese 
used till then. 
2. Prior Art 
A weft processing apparatus of the type mentioned above is disclosed, for 
example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 264949/1988 
(JP-A-63-264949). In the disclosed apparatus, a suction guide tube of a 
conical configuration is set at a suction position in the vicinity of the 
peripheral surface of a weft cheese for drawing out by suction the leading 
end of a weft from the weft cheese and is then displaced to a stand-by 
position far away from the weft cheese, wherein the leading end of the 
weft being held under suction is inserted into an introducing port of the 
winding type weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus. The leading 
end of the weft sucked by the suction guide tube and positioned at the 
introducing port is then inserted into the introducing port under the 
sucking action thereof to be thereby threaded into and through the weft 
length-measuring and reserving apparatus. In this manner, the suction 
guide tube is changed over between the sucking position where it encloses 
the weft cheese and the stand-by position far away from the weft cheese. 
Since the prior art apparatus is of such a structure that the drawing-out 
of the leading end of the weft from the cheese and the introduction of the 
weft drawn out to the introducing port of the weft length-measuring and 
reserving apparatus are performed by using one and the same suction guide 
tube, the latter is restricted in respect to the configuration size and 
the location for installation and thus suffers from a problem that the 
freedom in design is seriously limited. For example, the sucking position 
of the suction guide tube has to be set so as to match with the full 
bobbin weft cheese. Consequently, when failure occurs in the course of 
feeding a weft under the condition that the diameter of the weft cheese 
has been decreased smaller than that of the full bobbin cheese, the 
sucking position of the suction guide tube will no longer be optimal for 
the weft cheese of concern. As a result, the sucking action of the suction 
guide tube becomes lowered particularly when the weft cheese has been 
reduced in the diameter, giving rise to the unwanted possibility that the 
drawing-out of the leading end of the weft from the weft cheese results in 
failure. Also, the structure of the apparatus is inevitably more 
complicated because of the necessity for moving the suction guide tube 
toward the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus in order to 
introduce the weft leading end into the introducing port of the weft 
length-measuring and reserving apparatus. 
Further, it is noted that the leading end of the weft sucked by the suction 
guide tube lies in a linear form. In this conjunction, it is clear that 
the area presented by the weft of a linear form and subjected to the 
action of a transporting air flow such as suction or blowing is very 
small. Consequently, displacement of the linear weft to another place or 
location under the action of the transporting air flow lacks in 
reliability. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a weft 
processing apparatus which can guide the leading end of a weft from a weft 
supply source to a weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus with a 
significantly improved reliability. 
Further, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a weft 
processing apparatus which is capable of drawing out with a high 
reliability the leading end of a weft from a weft cheese regardless of its 
diameter. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a weft processing 
apparatus which is capable of drawing out the leading end of a weft from a 
weft cheese and transferring it to a weft length-measuring and reserving 
apparatus by utilizing a transporting or carrier fluid flow. 
According to a general aspect of the present invention, a weft processing 
apparatus for a jet loom is provided, which comprises means for releasing 
the leading end of a weft from a peripheral surface of a weft cheese, 
means for jetting a fluid to move the released leading end of the weft to 
a weft introducing port of a weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus 
by the jetted fluid, and means for guiding the travel of the leading end 
of the weft toward the weft introducing port together with the jetted 
fluid into the weft introducing port. 
The leading end of the weft drawn out from the peripheral surface of a weft 
cheese by the weft releasing means is moved to the weft introducing port 
of the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus by the fluid jetting 
means in cooperation with the guide means to be thereby placed in the weft 
introducing port. In this way, the drawing-out of the weft from the weft 
cheese as well as insertion of the weft into the weft introducing port can 
be accomplished substantially without fail. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weft releasing 
means is constituted by suction means in the form of a suction pipe 
through which a suction air flow is generated, wherein the suction pipe 
has a suction opening or port which is preferably provided with weft 
holding means such as a net, brush or the like for holding the weft in a 
congregated state for the purpose of allowing the weft held temporarily in 
the congregated state to be moved to the introducing port through the 
medium of a fluid jetted from the fluid jetting means. When the leading 
end of the weft is to be drawn out from the weft cheese, the weft 
congregating and holding region of the weft holding means is disposed at a 
weft receiving position located in the vicinity of the weft cheese so that 
the leading end of the weft is received by the weft congregating and 
holding means from the weft cheese. When the weft congregating and holding 
region of the weft holding means now holding the weft leading end is 
changed over to a stand-by position, the congregated weft leading end 
undergoes the transporting action of the fluid jetting means, whereby the 
weft held in the congregated state at the weft congregating and holding 
area is moved or carried to the weft introducing port by the jetted fluid. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, a blow nozzle is used for 
serving as both the weft releasing means and the fluid jetting means. By 
blowing the air stream jetted from the blow nozzle onto the peripheral 
surface of the weft cheese, the weft leading end is detached from the 
peripheral surface of the weft cheese regardless of whether the diameter 
of the weft cheese is large or small. The leading end of the weft thus 
detached from the peripheral surface of the weft cheese is placed in the 
weft introducing port of the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus 
by the fluid jetted from the blow nozzle. In that case, the guide means 
should preferably be constituted by a cover means which encloses 
substantially a whole weft path extending between the weft cheese and the 
weft introducing port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 a first 
embodiment incorporating the present invention. In FIGS. 1 to 11, disposed 
on a lateral side of a frame structure (not shown) of a weaving machine or 
loom is a weft feeder frame assembly 1 having an upper frame 1a on the top 
surface of which a supporting shaft 2 is rotatably mounted in an 
upstanding position. A turn table 3 is supported by the supporting shaft 2 
at a top end portion thereof. Mounted on the upper frame 1a at the lower 
side thereof is an electric motor 4 having an output shaft on which a 
driving gear 4a is mounted and adapted to mesh with a driven gear 5 which 
is mounted on the supporting shaft 2 at a bottom end portion thereof. 
Thus, the turn table 3 can be rotated by energizing the motor 4. 
A pair of bobbin holding brackets 6 and 7 are rotatably supported on the 
turn table 3 at angularly symmetrical positions with an angular difference 
of 180.degree. therebetween. These bobbin holding brackets 6 and 7 have 
respective lower end portions on which driven gears 6a and 7a are fixedly 
mounted, respectively. An electric motor 8 is mounted on the top surface 
of the upper frame 1a of the weft feeder frame assembly 1 and has an 
output shaft on which a driving gear 8a is mounted at a position lying on 
a circular path along which the driven gears 6a and 7a are revolved as the 
turn table 3 is rotated. An air cylinder 9 is mounted on the upper frame 
1a in an upstanding position below and within a radial extension of the 
turn table 3 in such an arrangement in which the tip end of a cylinder rod 
9a of the air cylinder 9 can be moved to intersect with or away from the 
lower surface of the turn table 3. The air cylinder 9 is connected to a 
pressurized air supply tank (not shown) by way of a three-way type 
electromagnetic valve V.sub.1. 
Formed on the lower surface of the turn table 3 are a pair of positioning 
recesses 3a and 3b at angularly symmetrical positions with an angular 
difference of 180.degree. therebetween so as to be each engageable with 
the free end portion of the rod 9a of the air cylinder. In the state in 
which the rod 9a engages the positioning recess 3a, the driving gear 8a 
meshes with the driven gear 6a, while in the state which the rod 9a 
engages in the positioning recess 3b, the driving gear 8a meshes with the 
driven gear 7a. When the electric motor 8 is actuated in the state in 
which the driving gear 8a meshes with the driven gear 6a, a weft cheese 
10A supported on the bobbin holding bracket 6 is caused to rotate, while 
upon actuation of the motor 8 when the driving gear 8a meshes with the 
driven gear 7a, a weft cheese 10B supported on the bobbin holding bracket 
7 is caused to rotate. 
Installed at positions in the vicinity of the bobbin holding brackets 6 and 
7 are winding diameter sensors 47 and 48, respectively, each of which may 
be constituted by a reflection type photoelectric sensor, for the purpose 
of detecting the presence or absence of the weft cheeses 10A and 10B on 
the bobbin holding brackets 6 and 7, respectively. 
In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 11 denotes a tail holder for holding a 
trailing end of a weft Y.sub.1 of the weft cheese 10A and a leading end of 
a weft Y.sub.2 of the weft cheese 10B. 
A pair of upstanding supporting brackets 1b are disposed at lateral sides 
of the weft feeder frame assembly 1. Supported between these supporting 
brackets 1b at free end portions thereof is a suspended suction arm 12 
rotatable about a supporting shaft 12a. The suction arm 12 has an end 
portion located remotely from the supporting shaft 12a which is formed 
formed integrally with a weft releasing suction pipe 13 so as to rotate 
together with the suction arm 12. The rotational radial path or trajectory 
along which the suction pipe 13 is moved is so established as to intersect 
with a peripheral surface of the weft cheese (10A in the case of the 
illustrated embodiment) at the side where the electric motor 8 is located. 
Mounted at the suction opening or intake port of the suction pipe 13 is a 
net 13a for temporarily holding the weft in a congregated state with a 
roller 13b being disposed in the vicinity of the net 13a, as can best be 
seen in FIG. 5. Installed on a bottom frame 1c of the weft frame assembly 
1 is a blower 14 to which a base end portion of the suction pipe 13 is 
connected by way of a hose 15, a dust box 16 and a filter 16a. 
Further supported on the supporting brackets 1b at the free end portions is 
a suspended channel-like transporting guide 17 which serves to guide a 
weft and which extends downwardly to a base end or bottom of the weft 
cheese at the side where the electric motor 8 is located. A window or 
notch 17a is formed in the transporting guide 17 at the bottom end portion 
thereof at a depth reaching the innermost surface of the guide 17 with 
such a positional relation to the rotational trajectory of the free end 
portion of the suction pipe 13 and thus the net 13a that the window 17a is 
generally aligned with the intake port of the suction pipe 13, and the 
suction pipe 13 can swing into and out of the window 17a. Further, mounted 
on the transporting guide 17 at the base or bottom end portion is a blow 
nozzle 18 which serves to move the weft with the aid of air jet. To this 
end, the blow nozzle 18 is fluidly communicated with the pressurized air 
supply tank (not shown) by way of a two-way type electromagnetic or 
solenoid valve V.sub.3. The jet direction of the blow nozzle 18 is 
oriented along the innermost surface of the transporting guide 17 so that 
the jet stream from the blow nozzle 18 is directed upwardly along the 
transporting guide 17. 
Mounted on the top end portion of the supporting bracket 1b is an air 
cylinder 19 which has a driving rod 19a connected to the suction arm 12 
and which is communicated with the pressurized air supply tank through a 
three-way solenoid or electromagnetic valve V.sub.2. When the 
electromagnetic valve V.sub.2 is deenergized, the driving rod 19a projects 
from the air cylinder 19. As a result, the suction arm 12 is held at a 
stand-by position shown in FIG. 1. In this stand-by position, the position 
of the net 13a coincides with that of the window 17a formed in the 
transporting guide 17. Upon energization of the solenoid valve V.sub.2, 
the suction arm 12 is swung downwardly about the supporting shaft 12a 
under the action of gravity, whereby the roller 13b is brought into 
contact with the peripheral surface of the weft cheese. 
Further, for the purpose of guiding the weft, a weft insertion guide 20 is 
horizontally disposed above the weft feeder frame assembly 1 in such an 
orientation as to orthogonally intersect with the axis of rotation of the 
turn table 3. A blow nozzle 21 is disposed at one end portion of the weft 
inserting guide 20 and is communicated with the pressurized air supply 
tank through a two-way electromagnetic valve V.sub.4. The weft inserting 
guide 20 has a bottom surface formed with an introducing or inlet port 20a 
which is disposed at a position where the axes of the paired bobbin 
holding brackets 6 and 7 and the axis of rotation of the turn table 3 
intersect with one another. The top end of the transporting guide 17 is 
directed toward the introducing port 20a. 
Installed immediately before the weft inserting guide 20 is a known winding 
type weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus generally denoted by 
22, which is provided with a weft winding tube 22a adapted to be 
rotationally driven by a motor M (refer to FIG. 10) provided separately 
from a loom driving motor (not shown). The weft is delivered from the weft 
winding tube 22a, as it rotates, to be wound around a weft winding surface 
22b. On the other hand, delivery of the weft from the weft winding surface 
22b is controlled by a retainer pin 23a which is adapted to be pulled out 
or in by an electromagnetic coil assembly or solenoid 23. Installed in 
association with a weft introducing member 22c communicated with the weft 
winding tube 22a are a weft breakage sensor 24, which may be constituted 
by a transmission type photoelectric sensor, and a weft inserting blow 
nozzle 25 which is communicated with the pressurized air supply tank by 
way of a two-way type electromagnetic valve V.sub.5. The jet stream from 
the weft inserting blow nozzle 25 is directed from the weft winding tube 
22a communicated with the weft introducing member 22c of the weft 
length-measuring and reserving apparatus 22 toward a weft inserting main 
nozzle 26. 
There are mounted on a guide duct 27 having a convergent configuration and 
supporting the electromagnetic solenoid 23 a plurality of weft removing 
blow nozzles 28 each adapted to discharge a jet of air oriented towards 
the weft winding surface 22b. The jet streams from the weft removing blow 
nozzles 28 sweep the weft winding surface 22b in such a manner that the 
weft wound on the weft winding surface 22b can be removed therefrom when 
the retainer pin 23a is positioned away from the weft winding surface 22b. 
The weft removing blow nozzles 28 are connected to the pressurized air 
supply tank through respective two-way type electromagnetic valves 
V.sub.6. 
Referring to FIG. 2, disposed at a location immediately succeeding to a 
reduced-diameter opening of the converging guide duct 27 are a blow nozzle 
29 and a suction pipe 30 in opposition to each other across the weft path. 
The blow nozzle 29 is connected to the pressurized air supply tank through 
a two-way type electromagnetic valve V.sub.7 while the suction pipe 30 is 
connected to a blower 31. Mounted stationarily at the entrance of the 
suction pipe 30 is a cutter blade 30a. A weft detector 32 which may be 
constituted by a transmission type photoelectric sensor is provided within 
the suction pipe 30. 
An arm 33 is installed adjacent to the suction pipe 30 in a manner to allow 
the arm 33 to be rotated or swung by means of an electric motor 34. A 
stationary gripper 33a is mounted at the free end of the arm 33. 
Additionally, a movable gripper 33b is rotatably supported on the free end 
portion of the arm 33 so as to be brought into contact with the stationary 
gripper 33a and is operatively connected to an electromagnetic coil or 
solenoid 35. Both the grippers 33a and 33b are normally in the open state. 
However, when the electromagnetic solenoid 35 is energized, the path 
region defined by both the grippers (hereinafter referred to as the weft 
gripper) intersects with the region defined between the blow nozzle 29 and 
the suction pipe 30 and is disposed in the vicinity of the entrance 26a of 
the weft inserting main nozzle 26. 
A weft breakage sensor 36 comprising a transmission type photoelectric 
sensor is installed within the entrance 26a of the weft inserting main 
nozzle 26. Additionally, a stationary blade member or cutter 26b is 
mounted on the weft inserting main nozzle 26 at the tip end thereof so as 
to project slightly beyond the latter. 
A blow nozzle 37 is installed immediately below the weft inserting main 
nozzle 26 in such an orientation in which the jet direction of the former 
intersects with the path of the jet air stream from the weft inserting 
main nozzle 26. A weft introducing duct 38 is installed immediately above 
the weft inserting main nozzle 26 and has an entrance 38a or which is 
positioned opposite to the jet orifice of the blow nozzle 37 across the 
jet path of the weft inserting main nozzle 26 and an exit or outlet 38b 
which is directed toward the downstream side of the weft inserting main 
nozzle 26. 
An air guide 39 is installed downstream of the exit 38b and has an tapered 
inner passage at which a weft detector 40 constituted by a transmission 
type photoelectric sensor is mounted. Installed downstream of the air 
guide 39 is a suction pipe 41 having an exit portion bent toward a dust 
box (not shown). A blow nozzle 42 is connected to the bent portion of the 
suction pipe 41 so as to be directed toward the dust box. 
The weft inserting main nozzle 26, blow nozzle 37, weft introducing duct 
38, air guide 39 and suction pipe 41 are all mounted on a sley so as to be 
movable as a unit, accompanying the swinging movement of the sley. 
Disposed downstream of the region where the above-mentioned members 26, 
37, 38, 39 and 41 are swung is a weft receiving motor 43 to which a 
driving roller 44 is operatively connected. Installed immediately above 
the driving roller 44 is an air cylinder 45 having a driving rod on which 
a driven roller 46 is rotatably supported in opposition to the driving 
roller 44 so that the former can be pressed against the latter through the 
pushing operation of the air cylinder 45. 
All of the weft inserting main nozzle 26 and the blow nozzles 37, 42 are 
connected to the pressurized air supply tank through two-way type 
electromagnetic valves V.sub.8, V.sub.9 and V.sub.10, while the air 
cylinder 45 is connected to the pressurized air supply tank through a 
three-way type electromagnetic valve V.sub.11. 
As seen in FIG. 10, the individual electromagnetic valves V.sub.1 to 
V.sub.11, the motors 4, 8, 34, 43 and M, the blowers 14 and 31 and the 
electromagnetic solenoids 23 and 35 are controlled under the command of a 
control computer C which is provided separately from a loom control 
computer. The control computer C performs on/off (open/close) control of 
the electromagnetic valves V.sub.1 to V.sub.11 in response to the 
detection signals generated by the weft breakage sensors 24 and 36, the 
weft detectors 32 and 40 and the winding diameter sensors 47 and 48 and 
additionally controls electrical energization and deenergization of the 
motors 4, 8, 34, 43 and M, the blowers 14 and 31 and the electromagnetic 
solenoids 23 and 35. 
FIG. 11A to 11D show flow charts for explaining a weft processing program 
activated when weft breakage takes place between the weft cheese 10A or 
10B and the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus 22, i.e. when 
the weft breakage sensor 24 detects the absence of the weft during 
operation of the loom. The weft processing procedure will be described 
below by reference to the above-mentioned flow charts. 
Now, it is assumed that the loom is running and the weft feeding is 
effectuated from the weft cheese located on the side to the transporting 
guide 17 (the weft cheese 10A in the case of the illustrated embodiment). 
The state in which the weft is drawn out from the weft cheese 10A during 
operation of the loom is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the weft cheese 10A 
becomes empty, this empty state is detected by the winding diameter sensor 
47. On the basis of the detection signal from the winding diameter sensor 
47, the control computer C commands the opening of the electromagnetic 
valve V.sub.1, whereby the positioning rod 9a is retracted from the 
positioning recess 3a. Subsequently, the control computer C issues a 
command to allow the electric motor 4 to rotate over a predetermined 
angular distance for rotating the turn table 3 by a half-rotation. In this 
manner, the weft cheeses 10A and 10B are exchanged with each other, 
resulting in that the weft cheese 10B being set at a position for allowing 
the draw-out or delivery of the weft therefrom. 
Assuming that the weft Y.sub.1 is broken on the weft feeding path between 
the weft cheese 10A in the weft delivery position and the weft 
length-measuring and reserving apparatus 22, the weft breakage is detected 
by the weft breakage sensor 24, as a result of which a weft feed fault 
signal is supplied to the control computer C. In response to this weft 
feed fault signal, the control computer C sends a loom operation stop 
signal to the loom control computer which responds thereto by issuing a 
loom operation stop command. As a result, the weft inserting main nozzle 
26 on the slay is caused to stop at a position in the vicinity of the 
cloth fell of the fabric being woven. After the loom has been stopped, the 
loom control computer issues a command for causing the loom frame to 
rotate reversely for a predetermined angular distance to move the weft 
inserting main nozzle 26 to the most retracted position (weft threading 
position) shown in FIG. 8. 
In succession to the reverse rotation of the loom frame mentioned above, 
the control computer C issues a command for energization of the 
electromagnetic solenoid 23 and the opening of the electromagnetic valves 
V.sub.9 and V.sub.8, whereby the retainer pin 23a is moved away from the 
weft winding surface 22b while the blower nozzle 37 and the weft inserting 
main nozzle 26 jet air streams, respectively. When the weft remains wound 
on the weft winding drum surface 22b, the remaining weft is then ejected 
from the weft inserting main nozzle 26. However, due to the intensive 
blow-up action of the blow nozzle 37, the remaining weft is introduced 
into the weft introducing duct 38 to an extent to reach the position where 
the weft detector 40 is installed within the air guide 39. 
The control computer C responds to the weft presence detection signal from 
the weft detector 40 to issue a command for closing the electromagnetic 
valves V.sub.8 and V.sub.9 while commanding the opening of the 
electromagnetic valve V.sub.11. Thus, the weft inserting main nozzle 26 
and the blow nozzle 37 stop the air jetting operation, while the rollers 
44 and 46 are pressed against each other. In this manner, the weft 
introduced into the air guide 39 is gripped under pressure between the 
rollers 44 and 46. 
The control computer C commands the opening of the electromagnetic value 
V.sub.10 and the actuation of the electric motor 43, as a result of which 
the blow nozzle 42 jets air flow and at the same time the weft transfer 
operation by the rollers 44 and 46 is started. When the weft has passed 
through the paired rollers 44 and 46 therebetween, the weft detector 40 
detects the absence of the weft. In response to the weft absence detection 
signal of the detector 40, the control computer C commands the stoppage of 
the transfer motor 43. Additionally, the control computer C commands the 
closing of the electromagnetic valves V.sub.10 and V.sub.11 as well as 
deenergization of the electromagnetic solenoid 23. Thus, the air jet 
discharge from the blow nozzle 42 is stopped. Further, the rollers 44 and 
46 are caused to move away from each other. The retainer pin 23a engages 
the weft winding drum surface 22b. 
In case no weft remains wound on the weft winding surface 22b, the weft 
detector 40 can never detect the presence of the weft. Unless the weft 
presence signal is obtained within a predetermined time period, the 
control computer C performs a weft feed operation, which will be described 
below in detail. 
The control computer C commands actuation of the blower 31 and at the same 
time opening of the electromagnetic valves V.sub.7, V.sub.6, V.sub.5 and 
V.sub.4. Consequently, between the blow nozzle 29 and the suction pipe 30, 
there is developed an air flow or stream directed toward the suction pipe 
30, while the blow nozzles 29, 28 and 25 jet the air streams, 
respectively, causing the air to flow through the weft winding tube 22a in 
the direction from the tip or outlet end of the weft winding tube 22a 
toward the converging guide duct 27. The air flow blown out from the weft 
winding tube 22a is caused to be discharged in a convergent condition from 
the outlet of the convergent guide tube 27 under the converging action of 
the latter into a region between the blow nozzle 29 and the suction pipe 
30 and merged to the air flow or stream developed between the blow nozzle 
29 and the suction pipe 30 to be thereby introduced into the suction pipe 
30. After the air flow has taken placed along the path extending from the 
weft inserting guide 20 to the suction pipe 30, the control computer C 
commands energization of the electromagnetic valve V.sub.2 to thereby 
trigger the retracting operation of the air cylinder 19. As a consequence, 
the suction arm 19 rotates downwardly about the supporting shaft 12a under 
gravity, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, which in turn results in that 
the roller 13b mounted on the suction pipe 13 is caused to bear against 
the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 10A. In this state, the net 13a 
in the suction pipe 13 is positioned closely to the peripheral surface of 
the weft cheese 10A. Subsequently, the control computer C commands 
actuation of the blower 14, whereby suction takes place at the tip end of 
the suction pipe 13. Thereafter, the control computer C commands a 
predetermined amount of rotation for the motor 8, resulting in that the 
weft cheese 10A is caused to rotate for a predetermined angular distance. 
Due to the sucking action of the suction pipe 13 and the rotation of the 
peripheral surface of the weft cheese 10A, the leading end Y.sub.11 of the 
weft on the weft cheese 10A is sucked by the suction pipe 13 through 
interposition of the net 13a, whereby the weft leading end Y.sub.11 is 
held on the net 13a under suction. In this manner, the weft leading end 
Y.sub.11 is held on the net 13a densely or in a congregated condition by 
suitably setting the amount of rotation of the weft cheese 10A. 
After rotation of the weft cheese 10A for a predetermined angular distance, 
the control computer C issues a command for deenergization of the 
electromagnetic valve V.sub.2, whereby the suction pipe 13 is restored to 
the stand-by position. As a result of the restoration of the suction pipe 
13, the leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft held on the net 13a in the 
congregated state under suction is disposed in the vicinity of the 
innermost surface of the transporting guide 17. Starting from this state, 
the control computer C issues a command for opening the electromagnetic 
valve V.sub.3, which is followed by jetting of air from the blow nozzle 
18. The jetted air flow from the blow nozzle 18 sweeps over the innermost 
surface of the transporting guide 17, whereby the leading end Y.sub.11 of 
the weft held on the net 13a in the congregated state is carried or 
transferred to the weft inserting guide 20 along the transporting guide 
17, as illustrated in FIG. 7. 
The leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft held on the net 13a in the congregated 
state effectively undergoes the jet action of the blow nozzle 18 because 
of the congregation thereof. More specifically, the area placed under the 
pressure brought about by the jet is extremely larger when the weft is in 
the congregated state as compared with the single weft lying linearly. 
Thus, by slightly increasing the jetting action of the blow nozzle 18 over 
the suction effect of the suction pipe 13, the transportation of the 
leading end of the weft in a satisfactory manner can be realized. In this 
manner, the leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft led out from the periphery of 
the weft cheese 10A can be positively transported to the weft 
length-measuring and reserving apparatus 22. In other words, this ensures 
the transportation of the leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft to the weft 
length-measuring and reserving apparatus 22 from the weft cheese 10A which 
is prerequisite for the successful threading to the weft length-measuring 
and reserving apparatus 22. 
In this conjunction,. it is noted that in the case of the suction and 
gripping structure adopted heretofore for introducing the leading end of 
the weft under suction into the suction pipe, it was necessary to trim 
neatly the leading end of the introduced weft by a cutter. Unless this 
trimming is performed, the leading end of the weft placed in the suction 
pipe would present resistance to the transportation of the weft leading 
end to another place by the air flow, making it more difficult to 
transport the weft leading end gripped in a linear form. In contrast, in 
the case of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, there 
exists no necessity for performing the trimming by a cutter as mentioned 
above, which in turn means that the relevant structure as well as the 
control involved can be much simplified to great advantage. 
The suction pipe 13 provided with the net 13a which ensures the positive 
weft transportation is ordinarily disposed and held at the stand-by 
position by means of the air cylinder 19 in the extended state. 
Accordingly, operation for causing the net 13a mounted at the tip end of 
the suction pipe 13 to approach to the periphery of the weft cheese 10A 
can be validated simply by retracting the air cylinder 19, i.e. simply by 
energizing the associated electromagnetic valve V.sub.2. More 
specifically, when the electromagnetic valve V.sub.2 is energized, the 
suction arm 12 swings downwardly under gravity until the roller 13b bears 
on the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 10A. This operation can take 
place independent of the diameter of the weft cheese 10A. Thus, the 
control for positioning the net 13a mounted at the tip end of the suction 
pipe 13 closely to the periphery of the weft cheese 10A can be simplified 
extremely regardless of the diameter of the weft cheese 10A. 
In the structure which allows the tip or free end of the suction pipe 13 to 
be automatically positioned under gravity in the vicinity of the periphery 
of the weft cheese 10A, the disposition of the weft cheese 10A at the weft 
drawout position provides an important factor. Thus, when the weft cheese 
10A at the weft delivery position has been exhausted and the other weft 
cheese 10B must be moved to the weft delivery position, as in the case of 
the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is necessary to dispose 
the weft cheese 10B at the weft delivery position with the same 
orientation and configuration as the weft cheese 10A, i.e. to exchange the 
weft cheese 10A by the weft cheese 10B. To accomplish such exchange, the 
turn table 3 is rotatable in a horizontal plane in the case of the 
illustrated embodiment of the invention. This supporting structure is very 
advantageous from the standpoint of the balance in weight. In other words, 
by virtue of the supporting structure described above, the turn table 3 
can be rotated very smoothly, which means in effect that the electric 
motor 4 may be of a small capacity. 
In case the weft threading has resulted in failure, e.g. the leading end of 
the weft Y.sub.1 can not pass through the weft length-measuring and 
reserving apparatus 22, the weft Y.sub.1 reaches short of the suction pipe 
30. In that case, the weft presence detection signal is not obtained from 
the weft detector 32 within a predetermined time period. Accordingly, the 
control computer C commands the closing of the electromagnetic valves 
V.sub.3, V.sub.4, V.sub.5, V.sub.6 and V.sub.7 as well as inhibition of 
operation of the blowers 14 and 31 and at the same time issues an alarm 
indication to an alarm device 49. 
When the weft Y.sub.1 can be successfully threaded into the suction pipe 
30, the control computer C commands the closing of the electromagnetic 
valves V.sub.3, V.sub.4, V.sub.5, V.sub.6 and V.sub.7 as well as stoppage 
of the blower 14. At this time, the blower 31 still continues to rotate, 
whereby the leading end of the weft Y.sub.1 is held under suction by the 
suction pipe 30. Starting from this state, the control computer C commands 
operation of the motor M by a predetermined amount to thereby cause the 
weft winding tube 22a to be rotated by a predetermined amount. In this 
way, there is preparatorily wound a predetermined amount or length of the 
weft Y.sub.1 on the weft winding surface 22b. 
Subsequently, the control computer C commands a predetermined amount of 
rotation of the electric motor 34 and the energization of the 
electromagnetic solenoid 35. As a result, the weft grippers 33a and 33b 
now in the opened state are caused to pass through the tensioned region of 
the weft Y.sub.1 while rotating, after which the weft grippers 33a and 33b 
are closed, whereby the weft Y.sub.1 is gripped by the weft grippers 33a 
and 33b. The weft Y.sub.1 as gripped is brought into contact with the 
stationary cutter blade 30a mounted on the suction pipe 30 to be cut and 
separated upon moving of the gripped weft Y.sub.1 toward the entrance 26a 
of the weft inserting main nozzle 26. In this manner, the weft y.sub.1 
extending from the weft grippers 33a and 33b is sized at a predetermined 
constant length, whereby the leading end of the sized weft Y.sub.1 
extending from the weft gripper 33a and 33b is disposed in the vicinity of 
the entrance 26a of the weft inserting main nozzle 26. 
Upon stoppage of the motor 34 after forward rotation thereof by a 
predetermined amount, the control computer C commands the energization of 
the electromagnetic solenoid 23 and at the same time the opening of the 
electromagnetic valves V.sub.9 and V.sub.8, whereby the retainer pin 23a 
is disengaged from the weft winding surface 22b while the blow nozzle 37 
and the weft inserting main nozzle 26 produce air jets, respectively. This 
results in that an intake air flow occurs in the entrance 26a of the weft 
inserting nozzle 26, whereby the leading end of the weft Y.sub.1 extending 
from the weft grippers 33a and 33b is introduced into the weft inserting 
main nozzle 26. 
Subsequently, the control computer C commands the deenergization of the 
electromagnetic solenoid 35 and the reverse or backward rotation of the 
motor 34 for the predetermined amount. Thus, after releasing the leading 
end of the weft Y.sub.1, the weft grippers 33a and 33b are restored to the 
stand-by position. On the other hands, the leading end of the weft Y.sub.1 
placed in the weft inserting main nozzle 26 is blown out therefrom to be 
introduced into the weft introducing duct 38 under the jet action of the 
blow nozzle 37. 
When the leading end of the weft Y.sub.1 has attained the position of the 
weft detector 40 installed within the air guide 39, the control computer C 
performs in succession subsequent wefts processing on the basis of the 
weft presence detection information from the weft detector. When the 
threading of the weft through the weft inserting main nozzle 26 has 
failed, the leading end of the weft Y.sub.1 can not reach the position of 
the weft detector 40. Thus, the control computer C monitors whether or not 
the weft presence detection information is obtained from the weft detector 
40 within the preset time duration and unless the information is obtained, 
the control computer C commands the closing of the electromagnetic valves 
V.sub.8 and V.sub.9 as well as the deenergization of the electromagnetic 
solenoid 23, as a result of which the jetting operation of the weft 
inserting main nozzle 26 and the blow nozzle 37 is interrupted and at the 
same time the retainer pin 23a is caused to engage with the weft winding 
surface 22b. 
So long as the number of times the weft threading ended in failure has not 
attained a preset number n, processing operation succeeding to the winding 
of the weft for reservation on the weft length-measuring and reserving 
apparatus 22 is performed by the control computer C and, if otherwise, the 
latter issues a command for stopping operation of the blower 31 and 
activating the alarm apparatus 49. 
When the weft threading has ended successfully, the control computer C 
responds to the weft presence detection signal outputted from the weft 
detector 40 to issue commands for closing the electromagnetic valves 
V.sub.8 and V.sub.9, stoppage of operation of the blower 31 and 
deenergization of the electromagnetic solenoid 23, respectively. In 
succession, the control computer C commands the energization of the 
electromagnetic valve V.sub.11 to thereby cause the air cylinder 45 to 
extend, whereby the driven roller 46 is brought into contact with the 
driving roller 44, resulting in that the weft Y.sub.1 is held between both 
the rollers 44 and 46. Subsequently, the control computer C commands 
rotation of the motor M by a predetermined amount to cause the weft 
Y.sub.1 to be wound for reservation by a predetermined amount. After the 
weft winding for reservation, the control computer C commands the opening 
of the electromagnetic valve V.sub.10 and at the same time operation of 
the weft transfer motor 43. Thus, the weft Y.sub.1 is transferred and cut 
in the state under tension by the stationary cutter blade 26b. The 
fragment of the weft resulting from the cutting is transferred to the 
rollers 44 and 46 to be discharged into the dust box by the blow nozzle 
42. 
When the entire length of the weft Y.sub.1 resulting from the cutting has 
passed through the air guide 39, the weft detector 40 detects the absence 
of the weft. In response to the weft absence detection information, the 
control computer C commands the stoppage of operation of the motor 43 and 
the deenergization of the electromagnetic valve V.sub.11. Consequently, 
the weft transfer motor 43 stops operation to allow the paired rollers 44 
and 46 to move away from each other. Subsequently, the control computer C 
commands the closing of the electromagnetic valve V.sub.10, whereby the 
air jetting operation of the blow nozzle 42 is terminated. Then, the loom 
is rotated to the start position, whereupon the loom is restarted. 
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. 
Therefore an embodiment as shown, for example, in FIG. 12 can be equally 
conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
Referring to FIG. 12, there is provided an arm 50 rotatably supported so as 
to swing downwardly under gravity as in the case of the suction arm 12 of 
the preceding embodiment. The arm 50 is provided at the free or tip end 
portion thereof with a brush 51. When the arm 50 has been swung under 
gravity, the roller 50a bears on the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 
10A so that the free end of the brush 51 is in contact with the peripheral 
surface of the weft cheese 10A, as indicated by a broken line. 
Accordingly, as the weft cheese 10A is rotated, the tip end of the brush 
51 sweeps the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 10A in the relative 
sense, as a result of which the leading end portion of the weft Y.sub.11 
drawn or led out from the weft cheese 10A adheres to the tip end of the 
brush 51 in the congregated state. The holding of the weft Y.sub.11 by the 
brush 51 in the congregated state can be realized only by adhesion 
effective between the tip end of the brush 51 and the weft. Accordingly, 
the weft Y.sub.11 adhered to the brush 51 in the congregated state can be 
easily detached under the jetting action of the blow nozzle 21. By virtue 
of the structure for holding the weft Y.sub.11 in the congregated state 
without relying on the suction effect, the associated mechanism as well as 
the control thereof can be significantly simplified. 
Of course, it goes without saying that the suction effect may be added to 
the adhesive action of the brush 51. In that case, the draw-out of the 
leading end of the weft from the periphery of the weft cheese 10A can be 
ensured with an enhanced reliability. 
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 13 
and 14, in which a weft releasing motor 102 is operatively coupled to the 
base end portion of a rotatably supported holding bracket 101 through a 
gear train so that a weft cheese 103 mounted on the holding bracket 101 
can be rotated in the weft releasing direction by the operation of the 
weft releasing motor 102. 
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a weft releasing blow nozzle 104 is disposed 
in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103. An 
electromagnetic valve V.sub.12 and a pressure regulating valve 105 are 
interposed in an air supply path between a blow nozzle 104 and a pressured 
air supply tank (not shown). The axis along which air is jet from the blow 
nozzle 104 substantially intersects with that of the weft cheese 103 in 
the direction toward the base of the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 
103 and the axis is set in respect to the direction so as to form a small 
angle relative to the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103. With such 
an arrangement, the air flow or stream jetted from the blow nozzle 104 
sweeps the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103 in the direction from 
the base end thereof toward the tip end. 
Installed downstream of the weft cheese 103 is a weft length-measuring and 
reserving apparatus 106 having a weft winding tube 106a with which a weft 
introducing port 106b enclosed by a weft introducing duct 107 is 
communicated. A weft detector 108 comprising a transmission type 
photoelectric sensor is installed at the introducing port 107a of the weft 
introducing duct 107. Further, connected to the weft introducing duct 107 
is a weft inserting blow nozzle 109 directed toward the weft introducing 
port 106b. An electromagnetic valve V.sub.13 and a pressure regulating 
valve 110 are interposed between the blow nozzle 109 and the pressured air 
supply tank. The air jet from the weft inserting blow nozzle 109 can reach 
a weft inserting main nozzle mounted on a slay (not shown) through the 
weft winding tube 106a communicated with the weft introducing port 106b of 
the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus 106. 
Disposed between the weft cheese 103 and the weft length-measuring and 
reserving apparatus 106 is a weft guide cover 112 of a substantially 
conical shape having a larger-diameter opening facing toward the weft 
cheese 103 and a smaller-diameter opening disposed in opposition to the 
introducing port 107a of the weft introducing duct 107. Thus, 
substantially all of the air flow jetted from the blow nozzle 104 is 
introduced into the weft guide cover 112 to be guided to the weft 
introducing duct 107 under the air-flow converging action of the weft 
guide cover 112. 
Upon occurrence of the weft breakage on the way between the weft cheese 103 
and the weft length-measuring and reserving apparatus 106, the weft feed 
failure processing is performed basically in accordance with the program 
shown in FIG. 10, although some differences in processing steps exist due 
to structural differences in the individual components between the first 
embodiment described by reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 and the instant 
embodiment. 
For threading the weft through the weft length-measuring and reserving 
apparatus 106 and the weft inserting main nozzle (not shown) during the 
processing for remedying the weft feed failure, it is essential to 
successfully draw or lead out the weft leading end from the weft cheese 
103. The blow nozzle 104 for detaching the weft leading end from the 
peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103 is directed toward the 
peripheral base end portion of the weft cheese 103 and extends toward the 
axis of the weft cheese 103 with a small angle relative to the peripheral 
surface of the weft cheese 103. With such an arrangement, the air jet from 
the blow nozzle 104 sweeps the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103 
in the direction from the base end thereof to the tip end. Also, since the 
weft cheese 103 is rotated by the motor 102 in the direction enabling the 
weft to be released, the substantially whole peripheral surface of the 
weft cheese 103 is exposed to the air stream jetted from the blow nozzle 
104. Accordingly, by setting the pressure of the air jet from the blow 
nozzle 104 by appropriately adjusting the pressure regulating valve 105 by 
taking into account the type of the weft of the weft cheese 103, the weft 
leading end can be positively detached from the peripheral surface of the 
weft cheese 103 regardless of the actual diameter thereof. 
With the apparatus according to the instant embodiment which can ensure the 
positive draw-out of the weft leading end without failure independent of 
the diameter of the weft cheese 103, it is possible to completely consume 
the weft wound on the weft cheese being used. Of course, the draw-out of 
the leading end of the weft from a new weft cheese to be used in place of 
the completely consumed one can be realized in a similar manner, not to 
say of the processing for remedying the weft feed failure and the weft 
guide operation accompanying the exchange of the weft cheeses. 
Further, since the weft guide cover 112 of a substantially conical shape is 
so installed in front of the weft cheese 103 that substantially all the 
air flow jetted from the blow nozzle 104 can be introduced into the duct 
107, the running direction of the leading end of the weft detached and 
drawn out from the weft cheese 103 is oriented toward the inlet port 107a 
of the weft introducing duct 107 under the converging action of the weft 
guide cover 112. Accordingly, the leading end of the weft is introduced 
into the duct 107 with an enhanced reliability, whereby the threading of 
the weft into and through the weft length-measuring and reserving 
apparatus 106 with the aid of the weft inserting means comprising the weft 
introducing duct 107 and the weft inserting blow nozzle 109 can be 
accomplished with great success. 
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may be modified as described below. 
Referring to FIG. 15, there is shown a further modification, wherein the 
weft cheese 103 is fixedly supported and a plurality of equispaced weft 
releasing blow nozzles 104 (two nozzles in the modification) are 
circumferentially disposed adjacent the base periphery of the weft cheese 
103. The leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft on the weft cheese 103 is 
preferably subjected to the sweeping action of the air streams jetted from 
the blow nozzles 104 disposed with the equidistance therebetween, 
respectively, whereby the weft leading end can be detached from the 
peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103 with an increased reliability. 
Further, the running direction of the weft leading end Y.sub.11 is forced 
to be oriented toward the introducing port 107a of the weft introducing 
duct 107, whereby the leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft is smoothly 
introduced into the weft introducing duct 107 under the sucking action at 
the introducing or intake port 107a. 
FIG. 16 shows another modification in which a plurality of spaced weft 
releasing blow nozzles 104 are disposed in an array extending along the 
radial direction of the weft cheese 103. With this arrangement of the blow 
nozzles 104, the blow-off action exerted to the leading end Y.sub.11 of 
the weft located on the peripheral surface thereof can remain 
substantially invariable regardless of the different diameters of the weft 
cheese 103, whereby the action for detaching the weft leading end Y.sub.11 
can be accomplished more effectively and positively. Additionally, a brush 
142 may be disposed at a location downstream of the weft releasing blow 
nozzle 104 with respect to the direction of rotation of the weft cheese 
103 in such a manner that the brush 142 can be changed over by a cylinder 
141 between a position (not shown) where it contacts the peripheral 
surface of the weft cheese and a position where it is not in contact with 
the weft cheese. By additionally providing the brush 142, the leading end 
Y.sub.11 of the weft can be released to be drawn out with a higher 
reliability. 
FIG. 17 shows a further modification in which a weft releasing blow nozzle 
104 and a cheese diameter detector 145 constituted by a reflection type 
photoelectric sensor are fixedly mounted on a rack 144, which is adapted 
to be moved along the radial direction of the weft cheese 103 through a 
driving pinion 143. A motor (not shown) for rotating the pinion 143 is 
controlled on the basis of the cheese diameter information derived from 
the output of the cheese diameter detector 145. With this arrangement, the 
weft releasing blow nozzle 104 can always be disposed at an optimal 
position in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the weft cheese 103, 
allowing the leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft to be successfully detached 
from the weft cheese 103. Additionally, blow nozzles 146 may be installed 
so that the respective nozzle orifices thereof within the weft guide cover 
112 are directed toward the smaller-diameter opening of the cover 112. 
With such an arrangement, the leading end Y.sub.11 of the weft can be 
guided more positively or reliably to the weft length-measuring and 
reserving apparatus 106. 
FIG. 18 shows a still further modification in which a weft releasing blow 
nozzle 104 and a cheese diameter detector 145 are mounted on an arm 149 at 
a free end portion thereof, which is rotatable about a supporting shaft 
148 by an electric motor 147. This arrangement can assure substantially 
the same advantageous action and effects as those of the embodiment shown 
in FIG. 17 except that the weft releasing blow nozzle 104 and the cheese 
diameter detector 145 are angularly displaced around the supporting shaft 
148. Parenthetically, the weft releasing blow nozzle 104 may be so 
arranged that it can move around the weft cheese along the peripheral 
surface thereof. 
It is thought that the present invention will be understood from the 
foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be 
made in the form, construction and arrangement thereof without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its 
material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely 
preferred or exemplary embodiments thereof.