US1674861A - Weft-replenishing mechanism for automatic looms - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1928. 1,674,861

A. A. GORDON WEFT anrnmmsnme MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed May 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l I I: J za g- 00 O0 June 26,1928.

A. A. GORDON v v WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed May 1926 s snets-sheez 2 .ZWMF/VTOP? W44 55/? Tiara June 26', 1928. 1,674,861 I A. A. GORDON WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed May 1926 -3 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 26, i928.

satires ares AIiBEB/I A. GORDON, OF VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON 86 KNO'WLES LOOM WORKS, OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF WEFT-REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS.

Application filed May 8,

This invention relates to weft replenishlng mechanism for a loom of the general type in which shifting shuttle boxes are provied at the magazine end of the loom.

It is the object of my invention to provide certain improvements in the general type of mechanism shown in my prior applications Serial No. 16,791 and No. 92,037.

Important features of my present invention relate to improved bobbin holding and presenting mechanism, to improved devices for holding and cutting the weft end attached to the transferred weft carrier, and to other arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial right hand side elevation of a loom showing my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the end holder, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the end holder, taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a sectional plan view, taken substantially along the line H in Fig. 1; but with certain parts in a diiierent position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation. showing a thread cutting device and taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional end elevation, taken along the line 77 in Fig. i; but with the carrier in a different position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view, showing certain bobbin-holding devices;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a thread gripping device, taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. l.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a rear view of certainbobbinholding devices; and

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 12-l2 in Fig. 11.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, I have shown a portion oil a loom frame 20, upon which is mounted a stationary weft carrier magazine M which is shown in the 1926. Serial no. 107,770.

drawings as being divided with three vertical bobbin-holding compartments.

Alplurality of shuttle boxes 21 (Fig. 7) are rotatably mounted at the right hand end of the lay 22 and these boxes are shifted angularly to bringany desired box to running position by means of a gear 23 rotatable with the boxes and positioned for engagement by rack bars 24 and 25, mounted at the upper end of an actuating rod 26. A second actuating rod 27 is effective to shift the rack bars transversely to cause one or the other rack bar to engage the gear 23.

By selectively shifting the rack bars 24 and 25, and selectively lilting or lowering the rod 26 and the rack bars connected thereto, the gear and the associated shuttle boxes 21 may be moved angularly to bring any selected box to running position.

A bobbin holder 30 (Fig. 1) is mounted at the upper end ot an arm or rod 31 swinging about a pivot in the lower portion of the loom, preferably closely adjacent to the axis about which the lay is moved.

A transferrer 33 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a guideway 34: (Fig. 4) carried by the lay 22. yieldingly raise the transterrer against a stop screw 37, and an actuating arm 38 engages a roll 39 4:) to give the transfer an operative downward movement when weft replenishment is indicated.

All the parts thus far described are or may be substantially disclosed in my prior applications above noted, to which reference may be had for a more complete disclosure or the construction and operation thereof.

Bobbin holding mechanism.

1 have provided certain improved devices for holdingthe bobbin during its rearward movement from the magazine and for presenting it'in transfer position.

On indication of weft exhaust-ion, a bobbin B isreleased from one of the magazine compartments, as fully described in my prior applications, and drops onto a stationary plate 40 justas the bobbin holder 30 begins its operative rearward movement.

The bobbin-holder 30 is substantially U- shaped in plan, as shown in Fig. a, and is provided with a recess ll for the butt of A spring 36 acts to v falling. as it is moved rearward the bobbin and with a smaller recess 42- for the tip the bobbin. A yielding spring plate 43 (Fig. 8) engages the tip of the bobbin B adjacentthe recess 42, said spring plate being rearwardly projected atits lower end portion to provide a yielding support for the bobbin.

As the bobbin is pushed rearward, it engages a yielding supporting and retarding device 45 (Fig.7) having a concave lower end plate 46 (Fig. 11) fitting the body of weft on the bobbin B. The device 45 is loosely pivoted on a rod 46, fixed at therear of the magazine M, and is provided with a cross rod 47 resting upon rearwardly projecting curved supports 48 1); These supports are curved substantially in the arc of a circle struck from the center of the rock shaft of the lay, and cause the concave engaging plate 46 to travel rearward sub stantially in the arc of a circle correspond ing to the path of the shuttle boxes.

To accomn'iodate such movement, the upper .ends'of .the supporting arms 49 of the device-45 are'slotted or recessed as indicated at 50 in Figs. 1 and 12., Coil springs 51 engage projections on the arms 49 and force the device 45 yieldingly forward with sufficient pressure to prevent the bobbin from by the bobbin holder. I Thedevic'e'45 is limited in its rearv ward movement relative to the shuttle box on the lay end and which by engagement with a stop arm 45 (Fig. 4) also acts to partially restore said device 45 to forward position, as the lay continues to move forward after transfer.

Thread holding device.

The rotary .box construction introduces certain special requirements in the matter of disposing of the weft end attached to the transferred weft carrier. The end. of the weft must obviously be firmly held both before and after the weft carrier is transferred, so that the weft will be drawn out of the shuttle and threaded in the shuttle eye as the shuttle is picked to the opposite side of the loom.

With the rotary boxes, however, it is desirable that the thread be severed at the time of trans-fer,'so that the weft end may not be carried. around the rotating box and obstruct the operation of the loom or become broken and be carried into the cloth.

Accordingly I have provided aspecial end holder and a special gripping and endcuttmg device Wl11Cl1 I will now describe.

' End holder.

My improved end. holder comprises a casing 55, secured to the end of a depending wire or rod 56, fixed to the frame of the magazine M by a set screw 57 (Fig. 1). The casing is provided with a series of vertical slots 58, and a corresponding number of Weights 59 are slidable vertically in the casing and are guided by studs 60 extending through the slots 58. Each weight 59 separately guided under the hooks 61 on the weights 59 and are then secured to an endholding stud 65 (Figs. 2 and 3).

The object of the weights 59 is to take up the slack thread and to. keep the weft end underyielding tension during and following transfer, for a purpose to be described.

Thread gripping and cutting mechanism. I have previously stated that it is desirable that the weft end for the newly transferred weft carrier shall'be severed promptly after the transfer. To accomplish this pur- .pose, I provide a threadgri-ppingplate (Figs. 4, 9 and 10) having a rear. portion fixed to the top of the corresponding shuttle box and having its front portion yieldingly engaging the top of the box.

The front edge of the plate is turned slightly upward to provide a wing, as indicated at 71 in Fig. 9, which causes the plate to be liftedand ride over a stud 7 2, fixed in the outer side of the bobbin holder 30 and movable rearwardly therewith. As the plate is thus raised, the weft end is tensioned by its weight 59 and while thus under tension, it slips under the raised spring plate 70.

As the holder reaches its extreme rearward position, the pin 72 passes beyond the rear edge of the free end of the plate 70, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10, and the plate snaps down, gripping the weft end thereunder.

Ihave also provided a thread cutter,com-

llU

prising a lower jaw 75 (Figs. 5 and 6) mounted upon a bracket 76, secured to a frame member77- carried by the lay 22. A. second jaw 78 is pivoted at 79011 the bracket 76 on the fixed jaw and is held yieldingly in raised or open position 'by a spring 80.

The transferrer 33 has a stud 81 (Fig. 4) projecting to the right over the movable cutter aw 78. As the transferrer moves down,- Ward, the movable jaw is depressed to cut the thread which has been drawn between the jaws from the end holder 63 to the spring plate 30, the relative position of the parts being clearlyshown in Fig. 4.

The weft end is thus freed from the'stationary end holder and is thereafter heldby the spring plate 'TO, which is mounted upon and rotates with the associated shuttle box, so that there is no chance for the weft end to obstruct the mechanism or to be broken thereby, during rotary movement of the boxes.

Having described the details of my invention, it will be seen that Ihave provided very effective mechanism for holding the weft carrier during rearward movement and for presenting the weft carrier in transfer position. I have also provided effective means for holding the weft end during such movement and for thereafter severing the weft-end and holding the severed end on the shuttle box during subsequent operations of the loom.

In the weft-holding means, I have made provision for yieldingly tensioning the weft end during the rearward presenting movement and during and after transfer. The weights 59 are preferably suspended by the weft ends somewhat below their topmost positions, so that I they" may be yieldingly raised to provide an increased length of weft if needed during presentation and transfer, while also effecting yielding tension thereon.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I do claim-is:- 1

1. In a loom, a weft replenishing magazine, a weft end holder to which. the weft ends from a plurality of weft carriers are secured, and means to separately apply yielding tension to each individual weft end secured to said end holder, at an intermediate point between its weft carrier and said end holder and to maintain such tension during transfer. 1

2. In a loom, a weft replenishing magazine having a plurality of compartments. an end holder to which said weft ends from the carriers in different magazine compartments may be secured, and a plurality of separate tension devices, each engaging a weft end between one of'said' weft carriers and said end holder and efiective to yield and provide substantially uniform tension for its particular weft end during transferof its weft carrier to a running shuttle.

3. In a loom. a weftreplenishing magazine, a lay having a shuttlebox, a shuttle therein, and means on said lay effective to grip and hold the weft end of a weft carrier transferred to said shuttle from said magazine, said holding means being operated to engage and securely grip said weft end before movement of said shuttle from its shuttle box begins.

4-. In a loom, a weft replenishing magazine, a lay having a shuttle box. a shuttle therein, means on said lay effective to grip boxes, afixed end holder.

and hold the weft end ofa weft carrier transferred to said shuttle from said magazine, said holding means being operated to engage and securely grip said Weft end before movement of said shuttle from its shuttle box begins, and means to open said gripping device during presentation of the weft carrier to transfer position.

5. In a loom, a weft replenishing magazine, a lay, a shuttle box mounted at the magazine end of the lay, a weft carrier holding device movable rearward to present a weft carrier in transfer position, a weft end gripping device on said shuttle box, and means on said holding device effective to render said gripping device inoperative during a portion of the rearward movement of said holding device.

6. In a. 100111, a weft replenishing magazine, a. lay, a shuttle box mounted at the magazine end of the lay, a weft carrier holding device movable rearward to present a weft carrier in transferposition, afweft end gripping device on-said shuttle box, and means on said holding device effective to render said gripping device inoperative during a portion of the rearward movement of said holding device, said gripping device being thereafter released for effective operation as said holding device approaches its extreme rearward position.

7. In a loom, a lay, a plurality of rotary shifting shuttle boxes mounted thereon, a weft replenishing magazine adjacent said a weft-gripping spring plate on each shuttle box, and means to lift said plate as the fresh weft carrier is presented in transfer position, and to thereafter release said plate to grip and hold the weft end.

8. In a loom, a. weft replenishing magazine, a lay having a shuttle box, a shuttle therein, means on said lay effective to grip and hold the weft end of a weft carrier transferred to said shuttle from said magazine, said holding means being'operated to engage and securely grip said weft end before movement of said shuttle from its shuttle box begins, an end holder mounted separately from the lay and to which said weft end is preliminarily attached and means on the lay to sever said weft end between said holding device and said end holder.

9. In a loom, a lay, aplurality of rotary shifting shuttle boxes mounted thereon, a weft'replenishing magazine adjacent said boxes, a fixed end holder, means on each shuttle box to grip the weft of a newly inserted weft carrier, and means to sever said weft between said gripping means and said end holder. I

10. In a loom, a lay, a. plurality of rotary shifting shuttle boxes mounted thereon. a weft replenishing magazine adjacent said boxes, a fixed end holder, means on each shuttle box-to grip the weft of a newly insert-ed weft carrier, and means to sever said weft betweensaid gripping means and said end holder and prior to" rotary shifting movement of said boxes. I

11. Ina loom, lay, a transferrer, aweft end cuttermounted on said lay, and means on said transferrer engaging and actuating said-cutter asa weft carrier is transferred.

'12. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box there on, a" weft replenishing magazineand a weft end holder both adjacent said shuttle box, and means to sever the thread between said end holderand a shuttle in said adjacent shuttlebox and before movement of the shuttle begins.

13. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box thereon, a weft replenishing magazine and a weft end holder both adjacent said shuttle box,

and means movable with said lay effective to sever the weft end between said adjacent shuttle box and said end holder.

14:. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box thereon, a weft-replenishing -magazine and a weft end holder both adjacent said shuttle box, a thread cutter engaging the weft bet-ween a shuttle in said adjacent shuttle box and said end holder, andmeansto actuate said cutter.

15. In a loom,-a ,lay, a shuttle box thereon, a weft replenishing magazine and a weft end holder both adjacent said shuttle box, a thread cutter engaging the weft between a shuttle in said adjacent shuttle box and said end holder, and means to actuate said cutter, said latter means being operated only at the time of weft-carrier transfer.

16. In a loom, a lay, a shuttle box thereon,

a a weft replenishing magazine and a weft end holder both adjacent said shuttle box, a thread cutter engaging the weft between a shuttle in said adjacent shuttle box and said end holder, and means to actuate said cutter, said latter means being operative whenever a fresh weft carrier is inserted in v the running shuttle.

17. In a loom, an end holder, a lay having a lay end frame, a plurality of shuttle boxes movably mounted on said frame, a cutter blade secured to said lay end frame and extending forward above the active shuttle box, a movable cutter blade co-operating with said first blade, and means toactaate said movable blade to sever the weft end between the shuttle boxand the' end holder.

18. In a loom, an end holder, a lay having a lay end frame, a plurality of shuttle boxes movably mounted on said frame, a cutter blade secured to said lay end frame and extending forward above the active shuttle box, a pivoted cutter blade co-operating with said first blade, a transferrer, and Ineans actuated by said transferrer efltective to depress said pivotedcutter blade to sever a weft end between the shuttle box and the end holder.

and means to depress said transferrer, said transferrer having a portion extending'over said pivoted blade and effective to give said blade a cutting movement as said transferrer descends.

20. In a loom, a weft replenishing magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting device having rearward portions engaging the bobbin, a retaining plate positioned for engagement'by the rear portionofsaidbobbin, and means to yieldingly resist rearward movement of said bobbin and plate.

21. In a loom, a weft-replenishing maga- Zine, a bobbin holding and presenting device having rearward portions engaging the bobbin, a retaining plate positioned for en gagement by the rear portion'of said bobbin,

and means to yieldingly resist rearward movement of said plate, said bobbin-being supported to prevent downward displacement by saidretaining plate and-said bobbin holder only when .in transfer position.

22. In a loom, a weft replenishing magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting device havingrearward portions engaging the bobbin, a retaining plate positioned "for en gagement by the rear portion of said bobbin, means to yieldingly resist rearward movement ofsaid plate, said bobbin being supported to prevent downward displacement by said retaining plate and said bobbin holder only when in transfer position, and a fixed supporting plate for saidbobbin at the first portion. of its rearward travel.

23. Ina loom, a lay, a weft replenishing magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting device, a retaining plate positioned for engagement by the rear portion of said bobbin, means to yieldingly resist rearward movement of said plate, and means on the lay eifective to limit suchrearward movement.

24. In a loom, a lay, a weft replenishing magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting device, a retaining'plate positioned for engagement by the rear portion of said bobbin, means to yieldingly resist rearward movement of said plate, and means on the lay effective to limit such rearward movement, and to give said plate an initial forward re turn movement.

25. In a loom. a lay, a weft replenishing device, a retaining plate. positioned for en gagement'by the rear portion of said bobbin, means to 'yieldingly resist rearward movement of said plate and means to guide said magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting let? plate vertically during such rearward movement, so that said plate and bobbin move substantially in the arc traversed by the lay.

26. In a loom, a lay, a weft replenishing magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting device, a retaining plate positioned for engagementby the rear portion of said bobbin, means to yielding'ly resist rearward movement of said plate, and means to control the vertical position of said plate as said plate moves rearward.

27. In a loom, a lay, a weft replenishing magazine, a bobbin holding and presenting device a retaining plate positioned for engagement by the rear portion of said bobbin, means to yieldingly resist rearward movement of said plate, said plate having a cross rod, and rearwardly extending guide rods on saidmagazine projecting beneath said cross rod and supporting and guiding said plate in its rearward movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

ALBERT A. GORDON.

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