Patent GB-190401749-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with Weft Replenishing Mechanism and Stop Motions for Looms for Weaving.
Inventor: SOWDEN ARTHUR
Filed: 1904-01-23
Granted: 1904-12-01
Abstract: 1749. Sowden, A. Jan. 23. Loom shuttlechanging mechanism ; stop -motiona, weft supply, indicating failure of; shuttle boxes; swells; weft, cutting. -Consists of an improved weft feeler, which is actuated in the manner described in Specification No. 5936, A.D. 1903, to indicate the approaching failure of weft, so that, either at once or after a predetermined number of picks, the loom may be stopped, or shuttle-changing mechanism brought into action. In connection with the shuttle-changing mechanism, means are provided for locking the mechanism in its operating position until the change of shuttle has been effected, and for cutting the weft from the ejected shuttle, and the shuttle box is so constructed as to facilitate the entry of the fresh shuttle, and the ejection of the exhausted shuttle. The feeler comprises legs 2, Fig. 1, shaped at 3 in the form of a calliper gauge, and adjustably clamped to a cross-bar 4. The legs 2 may be simultaneously adjusted by means of a right and left handed screw. The feeler is moved up and down by a rod 1, which is actuated by mechanism such as is described in the above-mentioned Specification. When the weft in the shuttle has been reduced to a predetermined extent, the feeler, as it descends, passes over the cop 10, and actuates the shuttle-changing mechanism, or indicates that a change of shuttle must be effected after a predetermined number of picks, as described in the prior Specification. The means for locking the shuttlechanging mechanism, such as is described in the said prior Specification, in its operating position comprise a catch-lever 12, Fig. 7, pivoted at 13 on the breast beam, and drawn downwards by a spring 14. When the weft feeler indicates, the long arm of a lever pivoted on the lay is raised, and at the beat-up strikes a spring-controlled plunger, which turns a pivoted lever 17 until its end passes under a catch 12<A> on the lever 12. When the lever 17 is moved, a vertical catch-rod 18 assumes its operative position, which it retains until it actuates the shuttle-changing mechanism, when a projection 19 on the rod 18 lifts the catch-lever 12, and releases the lever 17, which returns the catch-rod 18 to its inoperative position. The weft-cutting apparatus comprises lower and upper jaws 20, 21, Fig. 8. The jaw 20 is bolted to the front of the lay close to the selvage of the cloth, and the jaw 21 is pivoted to the jaw 20, and is connected by a rod 22 to a short crank 23 bolted on the stop-rod 24. The rod 22 passes through the crank 23, and is provided with a spring escapement 25, which allows a spring grip of the jaws as they close on the weft. The crank 23 is operated by a swell finger 26 and swell 27, so that when a shuttle is crossing the race the jaws are open. When a shuttle is ejected, the weft attached to it passes between the jaws, which are closed to break or cut the weft when a new shuttle enters the box. In looms provided with shuttle-changing mechanism in which the fresh shuttles are supplied from a magazine on the breast beam into the front of the shuttle box, the bottom of the box has transverse slots 30, Fig. 10, at each end. Pins 28, 29, attached to short shafts 32 sliding in bosses 33, project through the slots 30, and the front and back pins are respectively connected by by bars 31<A>, 31<B>. The back end of each shaft 32, or each end of the bar 31<B>, is connected to a lever 33A fixed to a shaft 34. A swell 38, hinged to the outer end of the box, forms the top of the box, and is provided with lips 40, which act as the front and back of the box for retaining the shuttle in its correct position The swell 38 has a slot 39 for the passage of the picking-strap, in an overpick loom. When a change of shuttle is required, the shaft 34 is turned by means of a crank 36 and a rod 37 operated by the catch-lever or nogging-wheels, described in Specification No. 27,295. A.D. 1903, so that the bars 31<A>, 31<B> are moved backwards with the exhausted shuttle, which falls down between the bars into a suitable receptacle. At the same time a vertical rod is raised, and acts on a lug 41 to left the swell 38, and the new shuttle is inserted, and comes against the bar 31<A>, which acts as a stop. The shuttle is then picked to the opposite box, the swell 38 is lowered, and the bars 31A, 31<B> returned to their normal positions. A swell finger 47 having an inclined end 48 acts in connection with the swell to cause the stop-rod finger 49 to be lifted and lowered as required. In the Provisional Specification, it is stated that the fresh shuttles may be inserted into the back of the shuttle box.