Improvements in and relating to Means for Stopping Looms for Weaving or for Changing the Shuttle or Weft Bobbin therein.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
Improvements in and relating to Means for Stopping Looms for
Weaving or for Changing the Shuttle or Weft Bobbin therein.
M
I. D
I, EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH, of Hutchinson, Hollingworth, and Company,
Limited, of Dobcross Loom Works, Dobcross, in the County of York, Power
Loom Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me by Randolph Crompton; of 311, Main Street, Worcester,
State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Power Loom Maker),
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to looms, and more particularly to stop motions for looms,
of the type in which the shuttle carries a teeler which, when the filling on the
bobbin has been nearly exhausted, actuates a device which, through intermediate
mechanism, operates to stop the loom, or in the case of a loom provided with
shuttle supplying mechanism, to automatically operate said mechanism to supply
another shuttle.
It has been found in practice, in using a feeler in a shuttle to stop the running
of the loom to change a shuttle or insert a bobbin into a shuttle before the filling
becomes exhausted, or to automatically supply another shuttle, that the gradual
withdrawal.of the filling on the bobbin from under the feeler, as the loom
operates; moves the feeler so slightly at each pick of the loom that the time for
stopping the loom or operating the shuttle supplying mechanism before the
filling on the bobbin is entirely exhausted, is not determined with.sufficient
accuracy.
j
It has also been found in practice that while a. sample shuttle may be fitted
with a detector feeler and a filling carrier or bobbin which with careful adjustment
will act to stop the loom and leave but a pick or two wound on the bobbin yet,
with the large number of shuttles required in an ordinary weave room containing
several hundred looms, and especially with the thousands of bobbins or filling
carriers interchangeably used in the shuttles, it is not practicable to adjust the
detector feeler in each shuttle so closely or finely that it will co-operate with
any bobbin or filling carrier which at random might be inserted into the shuttle,
and have the feeler act with certainty to stop the loom in every instance before
the filling is exhausted from the bobbin.
In order to overcome this difficulty, and to enable a loom fitted with the feeler
device above named to produce perfect cloth in the weaving, I provide the bobbin,
at the point where the end of the feeler presses, with a greater thickness of
filling so that each pick of the shuttle carrying the feeler will so reduce the
filling at the point where the end of the feeler engages it, that the feeler will
be moved sufficiently to act effectively to stop the loom at the proper time to
operate the shuttle supplying mechanism before the filling is entirely exhausted.
"I preferably provide the bobbin, at the point where the end of the feeler presses
upon it, with a circumferential groove or recessed portion which, during the
process of winding the filling upon the bobbin, is filled with a greater quantity
of filling.

page_text: By the use of the circumferential groove or reservoir in the bobbin for the
reception of the first wound portion of filling, and by so placing the end of
the feeler that it will contact with the filling in the groove, I am enabled when
the filling is so far exhausted as to leave remaining only that which is contained
in the groove, to quickly withdraw sufficient of that amount at a few picks of
the shuttle, or from the time the shuttle leaves the shuttle box in which is
carried the actuating device until it returns again, so that the movement of the
feeler will be so pronounced or sufficiently defined as to engage with certainty
the actuating device. And I believe I am the first to combine with a shuttle, a
bobbin provided with a circumferential groove carrying a small portion of
the first wound filling thereon, and having the end of a detector feeler over the
groove and retained in its normal position by the filling in the groove until,
by the quick removal of the filling therefrom, the free or opposite end of the
feeler will be promptly placed into operative engagement with the actuating
mechanism at the time the shuttle enters its box, and cause the shuttle supply
mechanism to be made operative.
After the withdrawal of the filling from the groove or recessed portion in the
bobbin, in the operation of the loom, there may not be enough filling left on
the bobbin to prevent its being exhausted before the bobbin is changed. I there-
fore preferably provide a second circumferential groove or recessed portion in
the bobbin, contiguous to the first mentioned groove, which will be exhausted
after said first mentioned groove, so that it will, after the exhaustion of filling
from the first groove or reservoir, act as a supplemental reservoir to supply a
number of picks of filling after the feeler has operated and before the shuttle
stops. And I employ a filling detector or feeler which will cause intermediate
mechanism to act at a predetermined point to place the filling fork into position
to be engaged with the hammer to move the slide and rock the shaft, so that
after the next throw of the shuttle, and while it is in the end of the lay opposite
from that where the detector feeler was operated, the running shuttle will be
removed from the running shuttle box and a fresh shuttle substituted.
My improvements may equally well be used with a loom which does not
have a shuttle supplying mechanism, or with a loom having a filling or bobbin
supplying mechanism, as distinguished from a shuttle supplying mechanism.
Referring to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a portion of a loom, at the right hand side of
the loom, shewing the stop motion, and my improved bobbin in the shuttle.
Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of some or the parts shewn in Fig. 1, on line b c
looking in the direction of the arrow ", same figure.
Fig. 3 is a left hand end view of a loom embodying the shuttle supplying
mechanism.
Fig. 4 shows a bobbin, full size, embodying my improvements; and
Fig. 5 shows a modified formation of the filling reservoir.
The shuttle E has the pin or pivot pin f, on which is mounted the feeler f¹
having a rounded end 2 to contact with or engage the filling on the bobbin P. A.
spring bears on the feeler f', and acts to keep the end 2 against the filling on
the bobbin. The bobbin P has the circumferential groove or depressed portion p
therein (See Fig. 4) at the point where the end 2 of the feeler f¹ engages with
it (See Fig. 1), and also preferably the second circumferential groove or recessed
portion p, adjacent to the recessed portion p, forming a supplemental filling
reservoir.
It will be understood that, when the bobbin P has the desired quantity of
filling, the end 4 of the feeler fl will be out of engagement with the actuating
device 9. but when the filling on the bobbin has been exhausted to a predetermined
point, the end 4 of the feeler f' will have been elevated to a position to engage
the actuating device g to operate the same and stop the loom.
:
Referring now to my improved bobbin, it will be seen that in winding the
filling on the bobbin, a greater quantity of filling will be wound on the bobbin

page_text: at the recessed portion p to make a greater thickness of the filling at this point,
and also that the second recessed portion will contain filling after the first
recessed portion p is exhausted, the winding of the bobbin beginning at its
lower end, so that the recessed portion p will be a supplemental reservoir to
supply filling after the filling from the reservoir is exhausted.
P
The filling in the reservoir p, at each pick of the loom, will be so reduced at
the point where the end 2 of the feeler f¹ engages it that, as above stated, the
feeler will be moved sufficiently to act effectively, and engage, with its end 4,
the actuating device 9 at the proper time. And further the filling in the
supplemental reservoir p₁ will, after the exhaustion of the filling in the
reservoir p, and the operation of the feeler f', provide for a number of picks
of the shuttle and prevent the bobbin being exhausted before it is changed, on
the other end of the loom, in case shuttle or filling supplying mechanism is
employed.
In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of my improvements. Instead of
having the grooves or recessed portions p and p in the bobbin, as shewn in
Fig. 4, the bobbin may be of ordinary shape and construction but, in winding
the filling on the bobbin, a greater amount of filling s is provided at the point r
where the end of the feeler presses, and also at the point r¹. The result in the
action of the feeler, and the prevention of the exhaustion of the filling, will be
the same as above described in connection with the recessed portions p and pl.
Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings, my improvements shewn in Figs.1
and 2 may be combined with the parts shewn in Fig. 3, to automatically operate
the shuttle supplying mechanism to supply a fresh shuttle on the opposite end
of the loom, instead of stopping the loom, as would be the case in an ordinary
loom without a shuttle supplying mechanism.
I will now briefly describe the connection between the parts shewn in Fig. 1
and the parts shewn in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to shew how the operation of
the actuating device g, Fig. 1, will, through intervening mechanism, automatically
operate the shuttle supplying mechanism (shewn in Fig. 3) on the other end of
the loom. When the filling in reservoir is exhausted, the end 4 of the
feeler f, on the shuttle entering its box, engages the actuating device and
forces it endwise in its bearings to the position shewn at Fig. 1, this endwise
movement of the actuating device g, through connecting rod g', bell crank
lever g, and bent arm g³ raising the filling to a position where it cannot be
engaged by the filling fork c, as shewn at Fig. 2, the absence of the pressure of
the filling on the filling fork allowing the latter to fall to its normal position,
as shewn at Fig. 3, and leaving it and its slide free for backward movement
under the impact of the usual filling hammer, to turn the lever c¹º about its axis.
The said lever 10 is connected with ne rock shaft c2, which extends across the
front of the loom and has fast on its other end, as shewn in Fig. 3, the arm c¹³,
to which is attached a rod 4 jointed to a bell crank lever fo pivoted at 20 on
the stand B, one end of said lever f entering a slot in the second bell crank
lever e, mounted on a stud e¹, and having at its lower end a pin or stud 26,
which enters an annular groove in the sliding fork f³. The movement of the
sliding fork moves the tooth 3 into position to be engaged by the teeth 24
of the gear G.
The revolution of the gear G causes the rotation of the shaft es, and the disc b¹,
which through connecting link turns the lever e³, upon its fulcrum . This
movement of lever e³, through link e² connected to the opposite end of said lever
and to a stud 63 extended laterally from the latter end of the shuttle box rod Do,
or from a block 22 attached to the lower end of said rod by a screw 23, raises said
rod D6 and therefore moves the running shuttle box up out of position, as
ordinarily, to allow the spare shuttle box to take its place. The aforesaid move-
ment of the lever e³, likewise through lever or bar h³, pivotted on a stud h
on the shuttle box rod D6 or block 22 also raises the spare shuttle box h, which
in its upward movement is constrained to turn on its pivot h in the direction

page_text: of the lay, by means of bowl h³ on rod h³ riding over an inclined surface hº, to
bring the spare shuttle box into operative position at the level of the race of the
lay, so that the spare shuttle 2 may be thrown across the lay. The bowl h³ is
held in engagement with the inclined surface ho by spring 17.
I preferably have the shuttle feeler mechanism on one end of the loom, as
the right. end, shewn in the drawings, and the shuttle changing mechanism on
the opposite end of the loom, as the left hand shewn in the drawings, in order
not to have too much mechanism, or too complicated mechanism, on one end
of the loom.
The advantages of my improvements will be readily understood by those skilled
in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) In a loom of the class described, the combination with a feeler f con-
trolled as to its position by the quantity of filling on the bobbin, of a bobbin
provided with a circumferential groove or recessed portion at the point where
the feeler engages, substantially as shewn and described.
(2) A shuttle E and a bobbin P carried therein, and provided with a cir-
cumferential groove at the point where the feeler 2 engages therewith, in
combination with a fceler having its end adapted to contact with the bobbin at
said groove, and controlled as to its position by the quantity of filling in said
groove, substantially as shewn and described.
(3) The combination with a shuttle, and a feeler pivotted therein, and con-
trolled as to its position by the quantity of filling on the bobbin on said shuttle,
of a bobbin provided with a circumferential groove or recessed portion at the
point where the feeler engages, and a supplemental groove or recessed portion
contiguous thereto, substantially as shewn and described.
(4) A shuttle bobbin provided with the usual base and with two circum-
ferential grooves or recessed portions, p and p2, contiguous to each other, to form
holders or reservoirs to contain a reserve supply of filling after the remainder
of the yarn on the bobbin has become practically exhausted, substantially as
shewn and described.
Dated this 24th day of October 1899.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicant.