Patent GB-422888-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in circular looms for weaving
IPC: D03D37/00
Filed: 1933-07-21
Abstract: 422,888. Circular looms. BRITISH CELANESE, Ltd., DREYFUS, H., 22, Hanover Square, London, and POOL, W., c /o British Celanese, Ltd., Spondon, near Derby. July 21, 1933, No. 21469/34. Divided out of 422,861. [Classes 142 (ii) and 142 (iii)] A circular loom employing one or more weft-spool-carrying shuttles is provided with automatic spool changing mechanism which is operable during the normal relative circular motion between the shuttle and the warps. The warp shedding mechanism in the vicinity of the exhausted shuttle is put out of action temporarily to enable the change to be effected and the replenished shuttle is allowed to make one idle pick around the warps. Shedding mechanism. Shedding of the warps is effected by pivoted levers 15, Fig. 2, each of which has an arm 34 for engagement with one or other of two cam tracks 37, 38 in a cam ring 39, a rotary movement being imparted to the latter by a shaft 42 which is driven by a constantly rotating ring 29. Shuttle propelling arrangements. A spindle 24, rotatably mounted in a bearing 25 on the ring 29, is provided with a pinion 26 for engagement with a stationary rack 27 which causes a rotary movement to be imparted to the shuttle propelling vane wheels 21. Shuttles. Each shuttle carries a weft spool 46, Figs. 1 and 8, in a casing 146 which is detachably secured to the shuttle body by spring clips 47. The weft is unwound from the spool by a freely mounted guide arm 48 and proceeds through a centrally located passage 50 and thence to a guide hook 51 at the base of the shuttle. Each spool has a radial bore 57 containing a plunger 56 which, under pressure of the weft on the spool, holds a ball 59 in locking engagement with a spring urged plunger 61 disposed coaxially with the spool and carrying a button 62. Initiating weft replenishment and positioning the the warps therefor. On exhaustion of weft the button 62 is projected into the path of a relatively stationary lever 64, movement of which rocks an arm 163, Fig. 4, of a latch 63 on the cam ring 39, and thereby releases a pivoted lever 67, movement of the latter under the action of a spring urged crank 70 operating a tract switch 73 to direct the warp threads, through their shedding levers 15, to the rear of the shuttle. Spool changing mechanism. Continued rotation of the cam ring 39 brings outwardly projecting teeth 72 on the lever 67 into engagement with a pin wheel 75 on a shaft 76 which, during the course of half a revolution, operates a crank 78, Fig. 6, and rocks a double bell-crank lever 83 to release a spool extractor 86, the latter being then pushed towards the shuttle 19 by a spring urged double armed lever 87 and under the guidance of a link 88 extending from a member 184. The extractor 86 is provided with a claw 89 which grips the expelled button 62 of the exhausted spool and, as the shuttle 19 advances, a stop 91 thereon pushes the spool and extractor away from the shuttle towards a shoot 53 into which the spool is finally projected. On the forward movement of the extractor 86, the anti-clockwise movement of the lever 87 withdraws a spool injector 92 and a bunter 94 thereon form the discharge opening of a magazine 54, thereby allowing a fresh spool 90 to emerge and become engaged with the injector claw 93. The subsequent clockwise movement of the lever 87, produced by the action of the shuttle on the extractor 86, causes the latter again to be engaged by the catch 85 and the injector 92 to place the fresh spool in the path of the clips 47 of the approaching shuttle. An adjustable stop 192 on the lever 83 facilitates adjustment of the operative positions of the extractor and injector. Controlling shedding in looms employing a plurality of shuttles. Since a replenished shuttle is withdrawn from the warps for one revolution, means are provided for causing a following shuttle to make an ineffective circuit in order to prevent the formation of double picks in the fabric. This is effected by a pivoted lever 98, Fig. 1 and 4, which, on being rocked by a cam 80 on the shaft 76, during the initial rotation of the pin wheel 75, resets the lever 64 so that it may engage the following latch 63 and thereby operate a tract switch 74, Fig. 1, to move the warps 18, Fig. 2, to the rear of the second shuttle. With the continued rotation of the ring 39, the pin wheel 75 is rotated by the second lever 67, so as to reposition the catch 85 in the path of the extractor 86, and allow the member 64 to assume its normal position. Further advance of the replenished shuttle 19 and the cam ring then brings the toothed lever 67, associated with the shuttle 19, into engagement with a second pin wheel 103 rotation of which projects a rod 107 into the path of a pivoted catch 108, Fig. 1, on the shuttle. When the catch 108 is rocked, a pivoted guide arm 111 on the shuttle is oscillated to engage the weft extending from the fresh spool to an anchoring point 65 and convey it to a point adjacent the fell of the fabric. The push rod 107 is withdrawn by the action of the second catch 67 on the wheel 103. On completing one revolution around the outside of the warps, the shuttles 19, 97 are again admitted into the warps through pins 112 on their respective levers 67 engaging a stationary member 77 and thereby resetting the track switches 73, 74. Take-up mechanism. The speed of the take-up mechanism may be reduced during the ineffective strokes of the replenished and the following shuttle. Severing weft ends. A cutter 116, Fig. 2, located adjacent the spool changing mechanism, and operated by a projection 119 on the ring 29 severs the weft extending from the ejected spool and that left on the surface of the warps as the result of idle picking. Weft feeler arrangements. Relative circular motion between the shuttle and the warps may be brought to an end by the feeler mechanism described in Specification 396,758.