Patent GB-699737-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to weft replenishing apparatus for weaving looms
IPC: D03D37/00
Filed: 1950-03-15
Abstract: 699,737. Circular looms; transferring weft to shuttles. COOPER, H. J. March 6, 1951 [March 15, 1950], No. 6459/50. Classes 142(ii) and 142(iii) Relates to circular looms having a gap in the warp at which coils of weft sufficient for one pick are inserted in the shuttles. General arrangement, Fig. 2. Weft coilers 16, revolving round a shaft 4, each have a gripper 66 to receive the end of a weft thread at a point 64 and attach it to a spool 36 which then rotates until sufficient weft for one pick has been wound on it; as the coiler traverses the bottom of its circuit, it registers with a shuttle that is crossing the gap in the warp, whereupon the coil of weft is pushed on to a bobbin in the shuttle. The coilers are carried by arms 15 driven by a uniformly rotating disc 17 having pins 8 on which are pivoted bell crank levers 14 provided with rollers 11 running on cams 12, 13; each coiler is thereby given a dwell at A (whilst its gripper 66 brings a weft end to its spool 36), a dwell at B (where winding of the weft begins), an increased speed between C and D, a dwell at D (where rotation of the spool ceases), and an increased speed between D and A (whilst the spool is in register with a shuttle). The coilers are operated by gears 22 rolling on a stationary gear 23 and are controlled by stationary cams such as 44. Weft coilers, Fig. 6. Each coiler comprises a spool 36, slotted to accommodate pusher blades 37 which extend beyond the spool to act as gripper jaws co-operating with jaws 33 on a skirt 32. The blades are carried by a rod 26 depending from a bell 39, which can be moved endwise by linkage 42, 50 actuated by the cams 44 operating through followers 46, a slide 45, followers 49, and a slide 48. In the position shown, external lugs 29 on the bell'39 engage stationary lugs 30 to lock the bell (and hence the blades 37 and spool 36) against rotation. When weft is to be wound on the spool, a stationary cam 62, acting through a rod 61, rack 66, and pinion 59, swings the gripper 66 to the position 66a indicated in chain line, where it is presented with a weft end from mechanism described below, the jaws of the gripper being controlled by cams (one of which is shown at 72) acting through a rod 69; the gripper returns to the position shown iri full line, whereupon the blades 37 are retracted so that the weft is gripped between one of them and the corresponding jaw 33; the gripper 66 is then swung clear of the spool. The retraction of the blades 37 is not sufficient to force the lugs 29 on the bell 39 from the locking lugs 30, hence the spool does not yet rotate. The bell is later moved farther to clear the locking lugs 30 and engage its internal lugs 28 with driving lugs 24 on the gear 22 rolling on the stationary gear 3, whereby the spool 36 is rotated to coil the weft on itself; the skirt 32 is spring-loaded so as to absorb this additional retraction of the blades 37. When sufficient weft has been wound, the bell 39 is re-engaged with the locking lugs 29; finally, the bell is fully depressed, causing the blades 37 to push the coil of weft on to the bobbin 55 of a shuttle. Presenting weft to coilers, Fig. 3. Feed strips 108 are hung from vertically-reciprocating slides 106 by means of links 107, and are disposed radially to the line X, Fig. 2, so that the free ends of the strips move down the line in succession; at the bottom of the path, a roller 109 on each feed strip encounters a stop 123 which retracts the strip (as shown at 108a) and causes a plunger 119 to protrude through the top of the slide 106; at the top of the path, the plunger strikes a stop 104, whereby the strip 108 is again projected to deliver weft to a coiler at the point 64. Each feed strip 108 has an eye 112, Fig. 9, through which a weft thread extends to a clamp consisting of fixed and movable jaws 135, 110; a nose 115 on one of the links 107 opens the jaw 110 when the feed strip is projected, and a spring 117 closes it when the strip is retracted. When a shuttle has entered the shed sufficiently for the warp threads to anchor the weft, the weft is cut between the clamp 110 and the fabric.