Patent GB-369574-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in circular looms for weaving
IPC: D03D37/00
Filed: 1930-12-20
Abstract: 369,574. Circular looms. BRITISH CELANESE, Ltd., 22, Hanover Square, London, DICKIE, W. A. and HALE, F. C., of British Celanese, Spondon, near Derby. Dec. 20, 1930, No. 38432. [Class 142 (ii).] In a circular loom, in which the reed forming members constitute the shuttle race, means are provided for imparting impulses to the shuttle or weft carrier, at one or more gaps in the warps, so that it passes through the shed by virtue of its momentum. The propelling means may comprise one or more oscillating or rotating discs or a segment of a disc or a curved bar adapted to be brought into frictional contact with the carrier at a sufficient velocity to propel the carrier through the shed. The weft carrier may take the form of an ordinary shuttle containing a supply of weft or may be of the dummy shuttle type adapted to introduce weft from a stationary supply as described in Specification 369,659. Letting-off warps; take-up motions.-The warp threads 20, Fig. 1, are drawn from a beam 21, provided with a brake band 22, passed through a spacing comb 25, healds 28, 29 and reed 30, the fabric subsequently formed being passed over a spreading ring 32 to a take-up roller 33 which is driven from the main shaft 46 of the loom. Healds ; shedding mechanism.-The healds 28, 29, which are spaced by means of reeds 38, are passed over rods 34 on the loom frame and are loaded with weights 36, 37, each heald or set of healds being attached to a member 39 or 40 driven to produce the shedding of the warps by means of cams 41, 42 mounted on a cam plate 43. The latter takes the form of an annular plate provided with an annular gear 44 by which it is operatively connected with a gear 45 on the driving shaft 46. The cam plate 43 is carried on the frame 26 by means of ball bearings and is provided with a cover-plate 48. Reeds ; beat-up motions.-The reed 30 is made in four sections separated by gaps 61, Fig. 2, and actuated in turn to effect the beat-up. Each section is mounted to slide on vertical rods 62 and is provided with racks 63, Fig. 1, to engage racks 64 carried by levers 65 which are pivoted at 66 near the central column 52 of the loom. The beating-up of the weft is effected by two cams 70, 71 which act on followers 76, 77, provided on pivoted levers 73, 74, and by means of links 72, 75 impart the requisite movement to the levers 65. Shuttle or weft carrier propelling means. At the end of its travel through the shed, the shuttle 80, Figs. 5 and 6, enters a shuttle-box 91, provided at a gap 61, and is there brought to rest by means of a check member 92 having a tooth 93 engaging with a slot in the shuttle. The check member 92 is operated by means of a lever 95, bell crank 97 and plunger 98 from a cam 99 on the cam plate 43, the bell-crank lever and plunger being carried by a bracket 102 on the top plate 48. After coming to rest the shuttle is driven forward through the next section by means of a friction wheel 110 working through a slot 111 in the shuttle-box and acting on the bottom of the shuttle. The wheel is constantly driven by means of pulleys 112, 113, and a belt 114 from a large pulley 115 carried in a bearing 116 and driven by means of a gear 117 meshing with the annular gear 44. To produce an intermittent picking effect, the wheel 110 is raised at intervals into engagement with the shuttle and for this purpose the pulleys 112, 113 are carried on levers 120, 121, pivoted at 122 and operated through links 123, 124 and a plunger 125 from a cam 126 carried by the cam plate 43. The lever 124 and plunger 125 are mounted in a suitable bracket 128 formed in one piece with the bracket 102. In a modified form of checking means the shuttle may be nipped between a braking lever or shoe and the propelling means. Weft feeler mechanism may be provided, if desired, at points around the periphery of the loom to effect stoppage on breakage or exhaustion of the weft supply.