Patent GB-931400-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods of electrically controlling the changing of weft-bobbins in a multi-shuttle loom, and to apparatus for carrying out such methods
IPC: D03J1/00
Filed: 1959-05-01
Abstract: 931,400. Automatic bobbin changing in looms ; stop motion. GEORG FISCHER A.G. May 1, 1959 [May 2, 1958], No. 15040/59. Drawings to Specification. Class 142 (2). In a loom having a six-celled rotary change box at one end and a cop feeler and multicolour bobbin changing mechanism operating in a single shuttle box at the other end, indications of the need for replenishment are stored on relays which, if a depleted shuttle goes out of action, initiate bobbin changing when it returns into use. Any number of shuttles may be loaded with weft from the same compartment of the magazine. The cop feeler may stop the loom when infrequently used shuttles are depleted to enable them to be replenished by hand. For single colour weaving, all the magazine compartments may be filled with the same weft, a bobbin being taken from each compartment in turn. Multi-colour weaving.-Each cell of the rotary box has associated with it a circuit including a change-over switch on the rotary box, a switching relay, an individual contact on a common switch-on relay, and an individual contact on a common switch-off relay; each such circuit controls a solenoid which releases a bobbin of corresponding colour from the magazine and causes bobbin changing to be effected. When a particular cell of the rotary box is brought into use, its change-over switch operates to connect voltage to the associated circuit; if, when the shuttle reaches the single box at the other end of the loom, the cop is depleted, the cop feeler operates the switch-on relay, enabling the change-over switch to energize the corresponding switching relay, which locks through a holding circuit passing through the (unoperated) switch-off relay. Bobbin changing does not take place immediately since a timing switch in series with the solenoids is open when the feeler functions. Next time the depleted shuttle enters the single box, the circuit to the appropriate solenoid, established by the change-over switch on the rotary box and the previously operated switching relay, is completed by the timing switch, causing a bobbin to be released from the magazine and inserted into the shuttle by a transfer hammer which operates continuously whether bobbin changing is necessary or not. If the depleted shuttle is taken out of use before its bobbin is changed, by rotation of the change box, the change-over switch pertaining to the cell occupied by the depleted shuttle returns to its normal position, thereby breaking the circuit to the solenoid; the corresponding switching relay, however, remains locked to store the need for replenishment. When the shuttle again becomes active, the circuit is re-established and bobbin changing occurs. When the fresh bobbin is inserted, the switch-off relay is operated momentarily to break the holding circuit of the switching relay, thereby releasing that relay. If more than one switching relay is in the operated condition, only the one corresponding to the shuttle that has just been replenished is released; the others are held operated by additional holding circuits established by the change-over switches on those cells of the rotary box that are not in use. A plug-and-socket board is provided to enable any cell or cells of the rotary box to control the solenoid of any compartment of the magazine. Single colour weaving.-If only one kind of weft is being used, all the compartments of the magazine can be loaded with this weft and bobbins can be released from each compartment in turn. In one embodiment, camoperated switches select the solenoids effecting bobbin release in turn, the cam being advanced after each bobbin change by a pawl actuated by a solenoid energized by the switch-off relay. In another embodiment, four relays acting as a counter select four bobbin release solenoids in turn.