Patent GB-190406168-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with Automatic or Self-shuttling Looms.
Inventor: HOYLE WILLIAM HENRY
Filed: 1904-03-14
Granted: 1905-02-09
Abstract: 6168. Hoyle, W. H., and Barker, T. March 14. Loom shuttle-changing mechanism; shuttle boxes; take-up motions.-The change of shuttles is effected by mechanism actuated by weft forks or by weftfeeler mechanism, and means are provided for arresting the take-up motion until the change is taking place to prevent the production of faults in the cloth. Weft forks a, Fig. 10, are mounted at each end of the lay, and are operated upon in the usual manner on the failure of the weft, to cause sliding rods a<1> to act upon a lever d, Fig. 1, loosely mounted on a transverse shaft c at the magazine end of the loom, or upon a similar lever e, Fig. 10, fixed to the shaft c at the other end of the loom. When the lever e is moved, the shaft c is partially turned to bring the shuttlechanging mechanism into action, and a luver d', fixed to the shaft c and having a projection bearing against the lever d, moves the lever d. Thus the lever d is moved when either weft fork comes into operation, and a pivoted lever f connected to its lower end is drawn inwards and pushes a loose spur-wheel 22 along a shaft 27 against the action of a spring. A projection on the wheel 22 is thereby disengaged from a notch in a disc fixed to the shaft 27, which is driven from the tappet-shaft, and the rotation of the wheel 22 is thereby stopped, thus arresting the take-up roller, which is driven therefrom by spur and worm gearing. The takeup is arrested for, say, two picks until the projection on the wheel 22 enters the next notch in the disc. When the shaft c is turned, a bowl g<1> on an arm fixed to the shaft presses against a bowl h<1> on a pivoted catch-lever h which is thereby moved to one side, so that a notch on its lower end is disengaged from, and frees, the front end of a tilting lever w. The lever w overbalances, and a nose w<2> on its back end falls into the path of a stud z on a bracket k fixed to the lay, and the lever w is drawn backwards on the rearward movement of the lay. An incline y on the lever w, Fig. 1<b>, moves a pivoted plate t to one side against the action of a spring t<2>, so that the plate t closes one slot in the bracket u<1> fixed to a bracket u, and opens a second slot. Frames i,j are pivoted to the rock-shaft of the lay, and the frame i carries plates i<1>, i<2> connected by a piece i<3> and forming the shuttle box at the magazine side of the loom. The frame i is connected by a link o to a bell crank l, which is pivoted on the bracket k and is normally held by a spring p in such a position that the frame i moves with the lay. A detector bar r fixed to the frame i normally passes through the first slot in the bracket u<1> when the lay moves forward, but when the plate t closes that slot the frame i is stopped, and the exhausted shuttle is held by the plate i', so that, when the lay moves forwards, the shuttle drops on to a guide-apron 42. At the same time, the link o pulls the bell crank l, turning it about its pivot, and the action of the spring p holds the bell crank in its new position. One arm of the bell crank engages a stud q on the frame j, and the frame is pulled backwards, turning on its pivot, so that a plate j<2> at its upper end pushes back a fresh shuttle S, resting on a plate under the magazine A, upon the lay. This shuttle is picked when the lay reaches its rear position. When the bell crank l is turned, teeth m on its lower edge act on a sliding rack n, which is thereby moved forwards through the opened slot in the bracket u<1>, and a nose n<1> on the rack raises the back end of a pivoted catch-lever x, which was holding the plate t in its displaced position, and causes the front end of the catch-lever x to depress the front end of the tilting bar w, which is thereupon re-engaged by the catch-lever h. At the same time, the lever m is pulled forwards into its normal position by a spring w<3>, and the plate t, being freed from the incline y, is pulled by its spring t<2>, and presses against the side of the rack n. When the lay moves backward, the rack n is withdrawn from its slot, and the plate t is free to be moved by its spring to cover that slot, so that the rack n is stopped by the plate t on the next forward movement of the lay, and acts upon the teeth m to turn the bell crank l into its normal position, thus locking the frame i to the lay and freeing the frame j. The frame j is normally held in its forward position by a pivoted catch 13, of which the front end has an incline holding the plate j<2>, and the back end, which is acted upon by a spring, has fingers 15 projecting through slots in the plate under the magazine in front of the shuttle S. When the frame j is pulled back, the plate j' rides over the incline and then depresses the fingers 15, so that the shuttle is free to be moved back. The frame j may be also held by a pivoted catch which is connected by a chain to the pivoted plate t, and is released when the plate t is displaced. To prevent the lever w from tilting, except at the proper time, its back end may be held up by a weighted pivoted lever which is oscillated by a cam on the tappet-shaft. Lever arms 8, pivoted to the magazine at 9, have fingers 11 which hold up the shuttles. When the plate j<2> is moved backwards, the arms 8 are drawn back by a spring 41, and the lowest shuttle falls on to a shelf 10 on the arms 8. When the frame j is returned to its normal position, it presses forward the arms 8, so that the fingers 11 are re-inserted into the magazine, and the shelf 10 is withdrawn, allowing the lowest shuttle to drop on to the plate under the magazine. In order to change the shuttle before the cop is quite exhausted, weftfeeler mechanism may be provided. Slots are provided in the shuttle S<x>, Fig. 10, and in the shuttle box, and a feeler lever 34 is pivoted on the breast beam. One shaped end of the lever 34 enters the shuttle, and is pressed against the cop at the beat-up by a spring 36 connected to the lever. When sufficient weft is in the shuttle, the cam-shaped end 37 of the lever 34 is swung back to allow the weighted end of a lever or trigger 38 to raise the other end clear of the weftfork hammer b, the trigger 38 being pivoted at 39 on the sliding rod a<1>. When the traverse of the cam 37 is so reduced as not to allow the weighted end of the trigger to fall, the other end is caught by the hammer b, and the rod a<1> is moved to act on the lever e and turn the shaft c. The lever 34 is made in two parts with a slotted connection 40 to allow of adjustment. For the purpose of inserting a heading of coloured weft, a shuttle containing coloured weft may be introduced into the magazine. When it is desired to insert the heading, the attendant can quickly discard the shuttle below the heading-shuttle by means of the hand-levers d', e. To prevent the heading- shuttle from being thrown out of the loom before the desired width of heading is woven, or to prevent automatic change at any time, a rod 29, Figs. 1 and 1<a>, is used. This rod is carried in a bearing 30, and has a bayonet slot 31. The rod is ordinarily held up by a spring, but can be depressed by hand and held by the slot 31. so as to bear on the bar w and prevent it from tilting, and consequently prevent a change of shuttle.