Patent GB-1015790-A (GB)
Title: Weft replenishing loom
Inventor: PAYNE OSCAR VOSBURGH
IPC: D03D45/20
Filed: 1962-09-04
Abstract: In a loom having a change box at one end and automatic bobbin changing mechanism at the other end, a removable magazine contains two stacks of bobbins of each colour.  A slidable tray under the magazine, having a pocket for each colour, normally rests with its pockets under the corresponding pairs of stacks in the magazine, but is moved during replenishment to present a bobbin, dropped into it from the magazine, to a transport arm which grips the bobbin and carries it into the path of the transfer hammer, the tip bunch being removed during this movement.  Removable magazine.  The bobbins are stacked in a rectangular container having vertical dividing walls forming compartments registering with bobbin cradles on the fixed part of the mechanism.  To retain the bobbins until the magazine is mounted on the loom, slidable bars in the bottom of the container are formed with lugs to support the head and nose of the bottom bobbin of each stack; the bars are kept in this position by connections from pivoted handles by which the magazine is carried.  When the magazine is placed in position on the loom, the handles are turned down to slide the lugs clear of the bobbins, and also to engage latches which locate the magazine accurately.  Releasing bobbins from magazine, Figs. 4, 6, 32 (not shown).  A shaft 70 is continually moved endwise by the drop box motion so that an arm 77 always registers with the magazine compartments containing weft of the colour in the active shuttle.  When replenishment is initiated, the arm rocks to lift a lug 60 coupled to a pair of pawls 54, 55; the pawl 54 imparts a quarter-turn to a cam 46, thereby rocking one of a pair of cradles 39 to release a bobbin from one of a pair of stacks of the required colour; the bobbin drops into the appropriate pocket of the tray.  If the depleted shuttle remains in action, it is replenished as described below; if the drop box changes, replenishment is effected next time the depleted shuttle becomes active.  Meanwhile another shuttle may have become depleted, resulting in another bobbin being dropped into the tray.  At the end of a replenishing operation, the arm 77 strikes a lug 61 to move downward the pawls associated with the weft just replenished, whereby the pawl 55 imparts another quarter turn to the cam 46 to return the operated cradle to its normal position.  In order to use the two stacks of a colour equally, the cam 46 has a dwell 48 such that when one cradle is being operated by the cam track, the other remains stationary; next time a bobbin of the same colour is required. The previously stationary cradle is operated.  Conveying bobbin to transformer.  When the tray T, Fig. 12 (not shown) has received a bobbin from the magazine it is moved endwise, one way or the other, to bring the pocket containing the bobbin to the position TP, the movement being effected by a cam 145 acting on a plate 120.  In the normal position of the plate, four holes 131-134 each registers with the core of a solenoid; by energizing the appropriate solenoid, its core is projected into the hole to serve as a pivot about which the plate swings to move the tray.  At the position TP, the bobbin is gripped by jaws 181, Fig. 19 (not shown) on the transport arm PL, which fit partway round the rings on the head of the bobbin.  Whilst the transport arm is carrying the bobbin into position under the transfer hammer 208, the tip bunch is removed as described below.  Inserting bobbin into shuttle, Fig. 15 (not shown).  When the transport arm PL was lifted by a cam 165 to take the bobbin from the tray, an arm 201 attached to the arm PL pushed a shuttle feeler across the mouth of the shuttle box, and also pushed a latch lifter 198 which acted on the underside of the transfer latch 187 to lift the latch into line with the bunter 189 on the slay.  On the descent of the transport arm PL, the transfer hammer is actuated by the slay to drive the bobbin out of the jaws 181 on the transport arm and into the shuttle.  Correct movement of the transport arm in relation to the transfer hammer during this operation is ensured by interlocking formations on the arm and hammer.  Controlling replenishment.  If the depleted shuttle remains in action when a fresh bobbin for it is dropped into the tray, a switch operated by upward movement of lug 60, Fig. 6 (not shown) establishes a circuit which also includes the solenoid providing a pivot for the tray-operating plate 120, Fig. 11 (not shown) and a distributer switch operated by the dobby, in accordance with but in advance of, the drop box motion.  If the boxes change, the distributer switch interrupts the circuit, but restores it to complete the replenishing operation when the drop box brings the depleted shuttle into action again.  Tip bunch remover.  Whilst the transport arm is carrying a bobbin towards the transfer hammer, a tip bunch remover, mounted on the same shaft as the transport arm, moves on to the nose of the bobbin and directs compressed air against the tip bunch to blow it off (Fig. 20, not shown), assisted by resilient fingers 314 on a piston (Fig. 23, not shown) or by paddle wheels 301 rotated by the air flow (Fig. 21, not shown).