Improvements in or relating to weft feeler devices for looms for weaving

460,328. Weft feeler arrangements. GLEDHILL, W. Nov. 28, 1935, Nos. 32973/35, 19016/36, and 22902/36. [Class 142 (iii)] Two relatively movable feelers, such as b<1>, c<1>, act upon the weft mass from diametrically opposite points and when a determined state of weft exhaustion is reached actuate mechanical means or cause the closing of an electric circuit whereby loom stoppage or weft replenishment is effected. The usual weft fork may be caused to close the same circuit, if the weft fails and the fork is consequently not moved. In one arrangement, the feelers b<1>, c<1> are carried by scissors-like members b, c, which are pivoted beneath the lay and are normally closed by a spring d, but are periodically opened by a member e on a rod e<1> controlled by a camactuated lever f. When the weft is sufficiently exhausted, the members b, c approach so closely that an adjustable abutment c<3> contacts with the member c as shown in Fig. 2, and the circuit is closed through connections k<9>, k<3>, contacts k<4>, k<7> and connections k<5>, k<8>. The tail of the weft fork may be provided with a contact k<1>, which engages a contact k<2> when the weft fork is not rocked. The contacts k<4>, k<7> abut when the lay comes forward on a detecting beat. The contact k<1> may be carried by an insulating block. A pivoted catch h controlled by the shuttle binder i engages a notch c<2> in the member c<1>, if the shuttle fails to enter its box, and thereby prevents inward movement of the member c<1>. Modifications, Figs. 3 to 6 (not shown), are described wherein one feeler member is pivoted on the lay and the other is slidably mounted on the breast beam, and means for causing these to operate both mechanically and electrically are described. In another modification, the movements of a rising and falling shuttle box p, Figs. 7 and 8, cause the feelers r<1>, s<1>, Fig. 8, to move into and out of the shuttle. The feelers r<1>, s<1> are carried by spring - controlled caliper - like members r, s suspended on the lay and normally opened as shown in Fig. 7 by a plate p<3> on a rod p<4> on the upper shuttle box. When the condition of the weft in a shuttle is to be detected, it is shot into the upper shuttle box cell, and the boxes are raised, whereupon the plate p<3> allows the feelers r<1>, s' to approach and engage the weft. If this is sufficiently exhausted, an arm s<3> having a pin s<4> normally supported by the member r falls. A depending rod s then falls and a projection s<5> thereon is lowered clear of an arm s<6> of an angle lever mounted on the lay. When the lay comes forward, a spring w on the breast beam engages the arm s<6> and swings it horizontally causing it to engage in a recess in a member. When the detected shuttle comes again into action, a cam member engages the arm s<6> and swings the angle lever in a vertical plane thereby placing the vertical arm thereof into the path of a bunter associated with the stop mechanism &c. The angle lever is specially mounted in a manner described to allow it to swing in a vertical plane and its horizontal arm to swing in a horizontal plane. When the projection s<5> is not clear of the arm s<6>, the spring w yields. The arrangement described may be used in a weft mixing loom with three shuttles and two shuttle boxes at each end of the loom, or in a loom with more than three shuttles or where a pattern is being woven. Arrangements may be employed for preventing feeler operation if the shuttle box is raised with no shuttle in the upper cell. In an overpick loom, the feeler members are pivoted beneath the shuttle box and the lower cell may be the detecting cell. Two feeler mechanisms may be used, one above and the other below the shuttle box. A radius rod pivoted at its lower end to the loom frame may be used to open and permit closing of the feeler members. According to the first Provisional Specification, the weft engaging portions of the feelers may be mounted yieldingly, the shuttle swell or binder may carry a contact piece whereby actuation of the feeler device is prevented if no shuttle is present in the box, and slidable feeler members may be used. According to the second Provisional Specification, the weft feeler or weft fork mechanism may actuate mechanism for substituting a new shuttle, or a new bobbin for the old one. A mechanical feeler arrangement is described having a pivoted lever with a slot of determined length.