Patent GB-190110279-A (GB)
Inventor: MOORE WILLIAM ENOCH
Filed: 1901-05-17
Granted: 1901-07-13
Abstract: 10,279. Moore, W. E., and Clark, F. R. May 17. Loom shuttles, changing bobbins in, automatically; shuttles; bobbins, pirns, etc.; breast beams; lays; weft forks.-Relates to means for automatically supplying bobbins to shuttles when the weft is practically exhausted, or broken. The bobbins in the magazine shown in Fig. 1, are held between retainers or spring plates e, e<4>, Fig. 4, respectively secured to the endless carriers E, E', which travel upon sprocket-wheels D, D<1>. Each plate e<4> is formed with a bent extension e<6> for holding the thread end. The spindle of the wheels D' is driven intermittently by a pawl and ratchet mechanism actuated by means of an electromagnet G. The bobbin in use is held in a self-threading shuttle H, by spring plates h having transverse grooves which engage with circumferential ribs i<1> on the bobbin. The metallic head I of the bobbin is in electrical connection with a contact-plate h<3>, secured to the shuttle, and this plate h<3> contacts, at the end of every pick, with one or other of two pairs of contactsprings j, j<1> and j<2>, j<3>, secured to the iron raceway of the lay B. The spring j<2> is electrically connected to a battery K, or other source of electricity, and the spring j<3> is connected to an insulated contact-spring L on the breast beam M. The spring L makes contact, at certain times, with a contact-piece L' carried by a shaft N ; the piece L' is electrically connected with the magnet G, which in turn is connected with the battery K. A second electric circuit includes the battery K, magnet G, and two pairs of contact-springs 0, O<1> and P, P'; the circuit is closed through the springs O, O<1> and P, P', respectively, by means of the bobbin retainers e, and a boss Q, secured to a shaft Q<1>. When the shuttle enters the shuttle box C', Fig. 4, the weft thread, if the bobbin is not nearly exhausted, holds up a feeler R, attached to the loom frame ; but if the bobbin is nearly exhausted, the feeler springs into contact with the metallic head of the bobbin, and electrical connection with the battery K is established through the spring j<1>. The feeler is electrically connected to an electromagnet R', which is connected to the battery K, and secured to the weft-slide fork r. The weft-fork hammer S, Fig. 5, forms part of a pivoted lever S<1>, which is oscillated by means of a cam T on the shaft Q'. An arm r<4> of a bell-crank lever r<2>, pivoted to the slide r, forms the armature of the magnet R', and the other arm r<5> engages with the end of the hammer S when the magnet R<1> is excited. An eye r<6>, on the slide r, engages with an arm n secured to the shaft N. When the weft is nearly exhausted, the electric circuit including the magnet R' is closed when the shuttle enters the box C', and the magnet R<1> attracts its armature and causes the arm r<5> to swing across the path of the hammer S, which next actuates the slide r and arm n, causing contact to be made between the pieces L, L'. By these means, the circuit including the magnet G is partially closed, and, when the shuttle enters the shuttle box C, the spring h<3> completes the circuit across the springs j<2>, j<3>, and the magnet G is caused to actuate the bobbin magazine, so that a full bobbin is brought into the position indicated at 2, Fig. 1. The lay then beats-up, and forces the shuttle into engagement with the full bobbin, while the empty bobbin is ejected. The empty bobbin retainers are then moved into the position 3 by the action of the magnet G, which is again excited by a current in a circuit closed by means of the springs O, O<1> and P, P<1>. When the weft thread breaks, the weft fork falls across the path of the hammer S, and the circuit including the magnet G is partly completed by contact between the pieces L, L', and this circuit is completed when the shuttle reaches the box C. The ensuing action is the same as that described as taking place.when the weft is nearly exhausted. Cases containing bobbins may be placed in the magazine, and may be transferred to the shuttle in the same way as when bobbins alone are employed.