Improvements in and relating to Means for Changing Bobbins or other Weft Carriers in Loom Shuttles, or for Changing the Shuttles themselves, when the Weft is Exhausted.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Means for Changing Bobbins or
other Weft Carriers in Loom Shuttles, or for Changing the
Shuttles themselves, when the Weft is Exhausted.
We, WILLIAM HENRY BAKER, of Central Falls, in the County of Providence, and
State of Rhode Island, United States of América, Electrician, and
FREDERIC ELLSWORTH KIP, of Montclair, in the County of Essex and State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the class of mechanisms designed to automatically
supply to a loom a full shuttle, cop, bobbin, or other holder for the weft or filling
when the holder in the loom shall have been wholly or nearly exhausted; and
it has for its object to provide for supplying weft of different colors or kinds to
looms in that class where a plurality of shuttles are employed and brought into
play to weave in fillings of different colors or kinds at the proper times, by known
mechanisms.
One part of the invention relates to supplying bobbins in bobbin-boxes to the
shuttles in the loom, and another part relates to supplying shuttles themselves to
the shuttle-box, the shuttles thus supplied containing full bobbins.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention-
Fig. 1 is an elevation on a relatively small scale, of one side of a loom, showing
the weft-supply mechanism mounted thereon.
Figs. 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5 and 6 are views of the weft-supplying mechanism on a
Jarger scale. Fig. 2 is a rear view; Fig. 3 is a vertical section at line in
Fig. 4; Fig. 3* is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a
different position; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section at line in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a
sectional front view taken at line in Fig. 3; Fig. 5ª is a fragmentary detail
view of the bobbin-box, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section at line 26
in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a side view of the shuttle-box, showing the electrical contacts with
the shuttle therein; and Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, a plan and side-elevation
(partly broken away at the ends) of one of the shuttles, as the "blue" shuttle for
example.
Figs. 10 and 11, are respectively, a side-elevation and plan of the other shuttle,
as the "red" shuttle for example.
Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views, on a larger scale, illustrating generally the
electrical connections in the shuttle, the bobbin-box, etc.
The above views show the invention applied to feeding a bobbin, or similar
weft-carrier, to a shuttle.
Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the invention applied to feeding
the shuttles themselves to the shuttle-box; and Fig. 15 is a horizontal section ;
similar to Fig. 4, taken at line 15 in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is sectional view of the
shuttle, showing the electrical connections.
Before proceeding to describe the mechanism in detail it will be of advantage
TD 077

page_text: to state that in carrying out one application of this invention the bobbin, cop,
or other weft-holder, is mounted in a bobbin-box, which is adapted to be placed in
a shuttle; and that magazines are provided for these bobbin-boxes, one for each
kind or color of weft to be used. As herein shown two magazines are employed,
one say for "red" and the other for "blue" weft, yarn or filling. Obviously
the particular colors or kinds of weft are not important, but for simplicity of
description the two kinds will be herein denominated "red" and "blue." Each
magazine has operating in connection with it a vibrating carrier adapted to take
a bobbin-box from its magazine and deliver it into the shuttle, the incoming box
displacing that formerly in the shuttle; the carriers have independent, inter-
mediate operative devices through which the vibrating lay, in beating up, acts to
operate the respective carriers, the operation of the carriers, and the selection,
being controlled by electrical means which will be hereinafter fully described.
Fig. 1 is merely an illustrative, general view showing the position of the
weft-supplying device on the loom-frame. W, in this view, is the weft-supplying
mechanism as a whole; it is mounted on a suitable supporting bracket, 1, on the
loom-frame F. In this and other figures,-B is the breast-beam; L is the
vibrating batten or lay: R is the reed thereon; P is the picker-stick, and b is
the shuttle-box on the lay. At the opposite side of the loom, not shown herein,
there will be a series of shuttle-boxes for shuttles containing weft of different
colors or kinds, these boxes to be raised or lowered, in a known way, so as to
bring the respective shuttles therein into play.
"
In the weft-supplying mechanism illustrated in the principal views, 2 and 2*;
are the bobbin-magazines, the former for the."red" weft and the latter for
the "blue' weft. These magazines contain, superposed, the bobbin-boxes, 3
and 3, respectively, each of which contains a bobbin, or other weft-holder.
Operating in connection with the respective magazines 2 and 2*, are vibrating
carriers, 4 and 4*, each adapted to receive a box from the bottom of its magazine
and transfer it to the shuttle in the shuttle-box b, the incoming bobbin-box
displacing and knocking out that one in the shuttle. The magazines 2 and 2
are suitably supported in the positions indicated by a frame, 1, on the bracket 1.
The specific construction of the devices for supplying the "red" weft will be
first described. The carrier 4 is mounted on a rock-shaft, 5, mounted in bearings
on the bracket 1, and so as to take position under the magazine 2. The magazine
may consist merely of two upright end-pieces or keepers. It may be well to
explain that the bobbin-box, as here shown, is of elongated form, and of stiff,
thin sheet-metal, and it is of such size and proportions as to fit into the hollow
in the shuttle S, which latter is open at the bottom so that the incoming bobbin-
box may knock the empty one out, as seen in Fig. 3. Each box has formed in
it a mortise or socket, 3º, near each end thereof (Figs. 9 and 10) to receive
carrying pins or fingers. 4, on the carrier 4. As the lowermost box 3 descends
from the magazine 2, these fingers 4 enter the respective mortises or sockets 3ª
in the box and the latter is then ready to be transferred to the shuttle S. On
the magazine are two spring latches, 6, which are so placed as to be pressed back
by the carrier 4, when the latter takes position under the magazine, as seen in
Fig. 3, so that the lower bobbin-box 3 may drop by gravity to the position seen
in this figure; and when the carrier moves down to the position seen in Fig. 3ª,
to deliver its box to the shuttle, the latches G spring in under the bobbin-boxes
in the magazine and uphold them. The box 3 is kept from being thrown off
the fingers 4", by the curved portion of the frame 1. Any other suitable retain-
ing devices may be employed to effect these objects.
The carrier 4 consists mainly of two like arms or uprights, and these have
a toothed segment, 7, concentric with the rock-shaft 5. Mounted to slide in
keeper-guides in the bracket 1, are racks, 8 which gear with the respective seg-
ments or wheels 7, and when these racks are moved forcibly to the right-as the
parts are represented in Fig. 3 and 3-the carrier 4 will be brought down forcibly
to the position seen in Fig. 3, thus delivering its box 3 into the shuttle S.

page_text: The movement of the racks 8 is effected by electro-magnets and their armatures,
carried by the lay L. Preferably there are two segments 7, one on each arm of
the carrier 4, two racks S, and two like magnets and their armatures; or in other
words, duplicate devices for operating the carrier 4. MM are the two magnets,
mounted in suitable brackets, 9, 9 on the lay. Each magnet has an armature
lever carrying an armature, a, the upper arm, 10, of the lever being backed by
a suitable spring, 11. The free end of the arm 10 is turned up to form a nose;
which occupies, normally, a position under the rack S (Fig. 3), but when the
magnet M is excited and attracts its armature, the nose on the arm 10 is thrown
upward into the plane of the rack S, and as the lay beats up, this nose engages
the end of the rack 8 and moves it back to the position seen in Fig. 3. When
the lay returns, or moves back again, the box 3 in the shuttle is drawn off from the
fingers 4" on the carrier, and a spring or springs, 12, return the carrier 4 to its
elevated position and up to a stop, 13, when it will receive another bobbin-box, 3.
The device for supplying the shuttles S, with bobbin-boxes 3*, from the
magazine 2, is similar in principle to that already described and will therefore
require only a brief description to show the points of difference. In this case
the carrier, 4, has but one upright arm, provided with one toothed segment, 7*,
gearing with a rack, 8, which is actuated by the armature lever, 10%, of a magnet
(Figs. 2 and 5) M*. The magazine 2, has a spring, detent-latch, 6, in all
respects similar to the latch 6, but as this carrier 4* does not play closely under
the curved casing 1, a special detent device is employed to prevent the box 3*
from being thrown off from the fingers 4" of the carrier while said box is being
carried down to the shuttle. This device is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 3", 5" and 6.
Pivotally mounted on the carrier 4* is a detent lever, 14, backed by a spring 15;
the hooked head on this lever is adapted, under some conditions to engage a hole
or recess, 16 (see Fig. 5a), in the box 3* and holds it from flying off the fingers 4";
but normally when the carrier 4* occupies the upright position seen in Figs. 3
and 3, the lower arm of the lever 14 presses on an upright, fixed abutment, 17
(best seen in Fig. 6), which holds the hooked head of the lever out of engage-
ment with the bobbin-box. When the carrier moves down, however, as seen in
Fig. 6, the pressure is removed from the lever 14, and its hooked head engages the
box, as shown. As the bobbin-box enters the shuttle, a projection, 14", on the
lever 14 impinges on the shuttle-box b, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and
this frees its hooked head from the box.
To control the above described bobbin-changing and weft-supplying mechanism,
electrical means are employed which are fully illustrated in Figs. 7 to 13. In
substance these means comprise a partial, branched, exterior electric circuit,
including a generator of any kind, and also, in its respective branches, the electro
magnets M and M. This branched external circuit has terminals at the shuttle-
box . In the shuttles S and S* are other partial circuits, which close with the
respective branches of the external circuit when they are in the shuttle-box; and
in the bobbin-box and the bobbin therein is also a partial circuit which closes
with that in the shuttle when the box is in place therein. In this bobbin-circuit
there is a break, which break is held open by the weft, but closes automatically
and completes the circuit when the weft is nearly or quite exhausted.
The outer, partial circuit, comprises the main return conductor, w, having
spring terminal, t, on the shuttle-box b, adapted to contact with a terminal plate, T,
on the shuttle which may be in the box, as seen in Fig. 7 and two branch con-
ductors, and 2, the former including the magnets M, and having a spring
terminal, t, on the shuttle-box which contacts with a terminal plate, T¹, on any
shuttle S that may be in the shuttle-box. The branch conductor 2, includes the
magnet M, and has a spring terminal, 2, on the shuttle-box which contacts with
a terminal plate, T2, on any shuttle $ that may be in the shuttle-box. Figs. 10
and 11 show the shuttle S. G is the generator (Fig. 7) which supplies the
circuit.
Figs. 9, 12 and 13 best show the internal arrangements of the shuttle; and as

page_text: these are in substance the same for both shuttles S and S*, a description of the
shuttles will suffice.
The bobbin-box 3 fits into the hollow or cavity of the shuttle and is held at
its ends by spring holders which permit it to be knocked out and another box
snapped into its place; at the right in Fig. 9 is seen the spring holder 18, of a
wedge or V-shape engaging a suitable recess in the end of the box 3, and at the
left in said figure-but best illustrated in Fig. 12-is seen the other, convex
spring holder, 19. The weft-carrier, or bobbin (C in Fig. 8) is pushed into the
open end of the box 3, and comprises a wooden spindle, 20, having on its enlarged,
hollow butt, two metal rings, 21 and 22, insulated from each other by the material
of the spindle.
On the narrower part of the spindle is a metal ring, 23, connected electrically
with the outer ring 21 by a conductor, 24, and the inner ring 22, on which the
convex metal head of the holder 19 finds a bearing, has connected electrically
with it a spring contact-piece, 25, which tends, normally, to make contact with
the inner surface of the ring 23. This contact-piece 25 occupies a slot in the
spindle, and is so bent that the weft (y in Fig. 12) on the spindle bears on a
projecting part of the same and holds it out of contact with the ring 23 until the
weft is nearly or wholly exhausted, when it springs outwardly automatically into
contact with the said ring and closes the break in the circuit. Now when a
shuttle S enters the box b, the circuit is completed through the magnets M, and
the latter act on their respective armatures and armature levers to operate the
shifting and feeling mechanism of the bobbin-boxes, 3, as before fully explained.
When the circuit is completed as above described the current flows from one pole
of the generator by the branch conductor w¹, to and through the coils of the
magnets M; thence to the terminal t; thence to the shuttle terminals T¹; thence
to the metal bobbin-box 3 in the shuttle, as shown at the right in Fig. 9, by way
of a conductor, 26, to and through the spring holder 18 to said box 3; thence to
the ring 21 and conductor 24 to the ring 23; thence to and through the spring
contact 25, to the ring 22; thence to the holder 19, and through a conductor, 27,
to the terminal T; thence to the spring terminal t, and thence by the conductor w
to the other pole of the generator G.
If a shuttle S enters the shuttle-box b, and the break in the partial circuit of
the weft-holder thereof shall have been closed by the using up of the weft thereon,
then the current will flow from the generator G by way of the branch conductor ?,
to and through the coil of the electro-magnet M*; thence to the terminal 2 on
the shuttle-box b; thence to the contact-plate T2 (Fig. 10) on the shuttle S, and
thence through the same course as before described with respect to the shuttle S.
It will be noted that while the shuttles S and S are alike, the contact plate T
and T thereon are located differently, thus causing the excitation of the magnets M,
in the one case, and the excitation of the magnet M in the other case.
Fig. 7
shows the spring contacts t¹ and 2 placed at the right, while in Fig. 12 they are
shown placed at the left. Obviously it is not material at which point they are
placed the result will be the same in either case.
The carrier 4 is operated by two magnets M merely for mechanical convenience;
and for the same reason the bobbin-boxes 3*, which must pass between the two
like arms of the carrier 4, are made a little shorter than the boxes 3, as seen
by comparing Fig. 8 with Fig. 11; but the shuttles S and S are, or may be, of
the same length. The abutments 17, are represented as bent outward from the
points of support in opposite directions, so as to bring their operative upper ends
into proper position to act on the respective levers 14.
The ends of the weft-threads (30 in Figs. 3 and 3") from the bobbin-boxes in
the magazines, will be carried out and secured in a well known way. This is a
common feature in all of this class of mechanisms.
Obviously shuttles containing each a bobbin, cop, or other form of weft-holder
may be supplied to the shuttle-box from a plurality of magazines in the same

page_text: manner as the bobbin-boxes, provided the shuttle-box on the lay is so constructed
as to permit of the exhausted shuttle passing out or down from the shuttle-box.
In Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings we have shown the shuttle-box con-
structed so as to permit of this, and have also shown a construction whereby
shuttles containing weft of different colors or kinds may be supplied, precisely
as in the case of the bobbin-boxes above described.
In these views (Figs. 14 and 15) the magazines, the carriers, their operative
mechanisms, and the electrical controlling features, are substantially the same
as those above described, except that the magazines are longer in order to take
in the shuttles. The shuttle-box b, however, is provided with yielding supports
for the shuttle. The same reference characters are employed in Figs. 14 and 15
as in the other views, for designating similar or like parts; but the features not
found in the other figures will now be described.
The opening in the lay below the shuttle-box b, is wide enough to allow the
shuttles to pass out freely, and the shuttle in the box rests on yielding supports, 32,
in the nature of hinged flaps, one at each side, backed by springs, 33. When
the carrier brings down a shuttle it drives down the shuttle in the box, the sup-
ports 32 yielding to allow it to pass and then returning in time to form a support
for the incoming shuttle. The fingers on the carrier enter mortises in the
shuttle as, in the other case, they enter mortises in the bobbin-box; and the
shuttle, on entering the box, wipes past a yielding latch-guard, 34, which is
pressed back by the shuttle and then springs in over the latter and prevents it
from being lifted out of the box by the carrier, which latter seeks to return
before the fingers thereon are withdrawn from the shuttle.
There may be cushion strips of soft material on the carrier to interpose between
the entering shuttle or bobbin-box and the shuttle being displaced, but as these
are not deemed essential to the invention they have not been illustrated herein.
The electrical construction within the shuttle may be as illustrated in Fig. 16,
which shows the latter in longitudinal, vertical section. In this figure the
bobbin, C, is slipped onto a spindle, st, hinged in the shuttle in a known way.
The bobbin may be of wood, or other non-conducting material, and when slipped
onto the spindle, a ring or piece of metal, 22ª, in the end of the bobbin makes
electrical contact with a ring, 18", loose on the spindle and backed by a spring, 19",
which is electrically connected with the terminal plate T, on the shuttle. Con-
nected electrically with the ring 22" on the bobbin, is the spring contact 25, which
tends, as in the construction before described, to make contact at its free end with,
a ring or picce 23, on the bobbin. This ring 23 is connected electrically, through
the conductor 24, with the outer ring. 21, on the bobbin. This ring 21 is grooved,
and when the spindle and bobbin are in place in the shuttle, said ring 24 is in
contact with a cross-rod or pin, 26", which is electrically connected by any suitable
conductor, 26, with the other terminal contact plate, T or T2, as the case may
be. Obviously, when the exhaustion of the weft allows the contact 25 to touch the
contact ring or piece 23, the circuit will be completed between the two terminal
contact plates on the shuttle, as in the case before described.
The essential feature of the present invention resides in the employment of a
plurality of magazines and a plurality of carriers for the weft, operating to
transfer weft-holders from the respective magazines to the shuttle-box of the
loom, the selection and control of the several carriers being effected by electrical
means. It will be obvious that there may be some variation in the means
employed, and our invention is not restricted to such means exactly as herein
shown. For example, we have illustrated a simple branched circuit, with one
generator, for the two sets of mechanisms, ut obviously there might be a
distinct or separate circuit for each set of devices; this, however, is neither
essential nor advisable.
It will be understood that by supplying weft of different kinds or colors, is
herein meant maintaining a supply as the various kinds of weft are exhausted,

page_text: and not merely supplying different kinds or colors as needed to produce the
pattern. This invention relates to the class of looms which do the latter, and it
has for its object to maintain such supply automatically while the loom is running.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. An automatic weft-supply mechanism for looms, having mechanisms for
furnishing weft of different kinds or colors to replace that exhausted, and having
electrical means, controlled by the weft of the shuttle in play, which controls the
times of operation of the several supplying mechanisms, whereby the proper weft
is selected and the supply thereof maintained, substantially as set forth.
2. An automatic weft-supply mechanism for looms, having mechanisms for
furnishing weft of different kinds or colors to the shuttles while the loom is run-
ning to replace weft exhausted, and having electrical means, controlled by the
weft in the shuttle in play, which controls the time of operation of the several
supplying mechanisms, whereby the proper weft is selected and the supply thereof
maintained, substantially as set forth.
3. An automatic weft-supply mechanism for the class of looms using weft of
different kinds or colors, said supply mechanism comprising a plurality of inde-
pendently operated, vibrating carriers for the holders of the different kinds or
colors of weft, a plurality of magazines to contain said weft-holders, mechanisms
for operating said carriers independently and means controlled by the degree of
exhaustion of the weft in the shuttle in play which sets in motion the supply-
mechanism at proper times while the loom is running, substantially as set forth.
4. An automatic weft-supply mechanism for the class of looms using weft of
different kinds or colors, said supply mechanism comprising a plurality of inde-
pendently operated, vibrating carriers for the holders of the different kinds or
colors of weft, a plurality of magazines to contain said weft-holders, mechanisms
for operating said carriers independently, and an open, operating electric circuit
including a generator and electro-magnets, said circuit controlling the times of
operation of said supplying carriers and having in it a break the closure of which
is controlled by the weft in the shuttle in play while the loom is running, sub-
stantially as set forth.
5. An automatic, electrically controlled weft-supply mechanism for the class
of looms using weft of different kinds or colors, having independent mechanisms
for supplying the different kinds or colors of weft to replace that exhausted,
electro-magnetic mechanisms controlling and operating said supply mechanisms
independently at proper times, and electrical devices, carried by each of the
respective shuttles for setting in operation the particular mechanism for supplying
the kind or color of weft pertaining to that shuttle, substantially as set forth.
G. In an automatic, electrically controlled weft-supply mechanism for looms,
the combination with a plurality of magazines to contain holders for the different
kinds or colors of weft required, and a plurality of carriers for transferring the
weft-holders to the shuttle-box of the loom as needed, of a plurality of intermediate
mechanisms for operating the respective carriers, and an operative, open electric
circuit controlling the times of operation of the respective mechanisms, said
circuit having a break the closure of which is controlled by the weft in the shuttle,
substantially as set forth.
7. An automatic weft-supply mechanism for the class of looms using weft of
different kinds or colors, said supply mechanism comprising a plurality of inde-
pendently operated vibrating carriers for bobbins, one for each color or kind of
weft, a magazine to supply each carrier with bobbins, mechanisms for operating
the respective carriers whereby each is made to transfer a bobbin from its maga
zine to the shuttle, and a normally open, operative electric circuit including a.
generator and electro-magnets, said circuit having in it a self-closing break, the

page_text: closure of which is controlled by the weft in the shuttle, substantially as set
forth.
8. In an automatic, electrically controlled weft-supply mechanism for looms,
the combination with a plurality of magazines to contain holders of the different
kinds or colors of weft, and a plurality of carriers for transferring said holders
to the proper shuttles in the shuttle-box of the loom, of a plurality of electro-
magnetic intermediate mechanisms for operating the respective weft-carriers, a
generator, exterior electric circuits including said generator and the respective
intermediate magnets, said exterior circuits having terminals at the shuttle-box,
the shuttles, each of which has in it a partial circuit adapted to be closed with the
proper exterior circuit when the shuttle is in the box, and a weft-holder to go
into the shuttle, said holder having a partial circuit closed with that in the
shuttle and having in it a break held open by the weft and adapted to close
automatically when the weft on the holder is nearly or quite exhausted, sub-
stantially as set forth.
9. In an automatic, electrically controlled weft-supply mechanism for looms.
the combination with a plurality of magazines for the weft-holders, a plurality of
carriers for the weft-holders. adapted to carry the holders from the respective
magazines to a shuttle in the shuttle-box of a loom, electro-magnetic devices
controlling independently the operation of the respective weft-carriers, a generator,
and an exterior electric circuit including the generator. said circuit having
branches which each include one of said electro-magnets and have separate
terminals at the shuttle-box of the loom, and a return having also a terminal at
the shuttle-box, of shuttles for the different kinds or colors of weft, said shuttles
having in them partial circuits with terminals on the exterior face of the shuttle
so situated as to contact only with the proper terminals of the exterior circuit
when the shuttle enters the box, and a weft-holder having means for closing a
normally open break in the controlling circuit when the weft on the holder is
nearly or quite exhausted, substantially as set forth.
10. In an automatic weft-supply mechanism for looms, the combination with
the stationary magazines, of the vibrating carriers, having their centers of oscil-
lation in different vertical planes, and adapted to take bobbin ¡boxes from their
respective magazines and deposit them at the same place, and means for operating
said carriers, substantially as set forth.
11. In an
automatic weft-supply mechanism, the combination with the
stationary magazine 2. of the vibrating carrier 4. the latch 6* on the magazine,
adapted to be displaced by the carrier, the spring latch 14 on the carrier, adapted
to engage the bobbin-box, and the fixed abutment 17, adapted to displace the
latch 14, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of September 1899
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicants.