GB Patent 683390 - Gripper shuttle loom

Claims

be performed, I declare that what I claim

is:- 1. A gripper' shuttle loom having a magnetically responsive shuttle adapted to move back 'and forth across the shed, 120 shuttle boxes disposed on opposite sides of the shed and adapted to receive said shuttle, and a solenoid, around each box energized, when the shuttle enters the box, to repel the shuttle after its entry 125 into the box and to throw it across the shed to the opposite box.

2. A gripper shuttle loom according to claim 1 having a thread cutting means, a thread carrying means associated with 130 683,390 forth, thread carriers at opposite sides of the shed and co-operating with the shuttle, and means selectively operated 50 to shift the carriers across the axis of the shuttle to present different threads to cooperative relation with the shuttle.

S8. A gripper shuttle loom having shuttle boxes disposed at opposite sides 56 of the shed, electromagnetic means associated with the boxes, a magnetically responsive shuttle thrown back and forth between said boxes, thread grippers on the ends of said shuttle, thread-feed 60 plates disposed at each end of the shed adjacent the boxes, carriers supporting pairs of said plates, electromagnetic means to move said carriers across the axis of the shuttle, and a switching 65 means to selectively energize the electromagnetic means to move the carriers to present selective threads in line with and to be engaged by the shuttle.

9. A gripper shuttle loom having 70 shuttle boxes at opposite sides of the shed, electromagnetic means associated with each of said shuttle boxes, a gripper' shuttle thrown back and forth between the boxes by said electromagnetic means, 75 thread grippers on the ends of the shuttle, a thread feed device associated with each box and behind the same, a movable carrier on which said feed device is mounted, means to resist the movement of the carrier away from the box when impacted by the shuttle, and means to laterally move the thread feed device to present selective threads in line with the shuttle. 85 10. A gripper shuttle loom substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Dated this 15th day of June, 1948.

ANDREWS & BYRNE, Agents for the Applicants, 201;, Bank Chambers, 329, High Holborn, London, W.C.1.

the boxes, means on the shuttle to grasp a thread from the thread carrying means as it enters a box, electro-magnetic means to operate the thread cutting 6 means, and a switch on each box and operated by the shuttle to energize the thread cutting means associated with the opposite box to cut the thread that has been pulled across the shed.

3. A gripper shuttle loom having shuttle boxes disposed at opposite sides of the shed, each box comprising a tube, a solenoid around the box intermediate its ends and adapted to propel a shuttle across the shed, a switch disposed at the front of the box having a feeler plate dependent across the front of the box to be engaged by a shuttle entering the box, and a second switch at the rear of the box to be operated by the shuttle as it passes into the box.

4. A gripper shuttle loom having a magnetically responsive gripper shuttle to be thrown back and forth across the shed, said shuttle comprising a tube having non-magnetic ends and a magnetised middle portion.

5. A gripper shuttle loom according to claim 4 having pairs of thread gripper fingers at each end of the shuttle, and as rod slidable within the shuttle and of a length so that one end always is disposed between one pair of fingers.

6. A gripper shuttle loom according to claim 5 having thread carriers disposed adjacent the shed on opposite sides thereof, said, carriers adapted to extend between and part the pairs of fingers as the shuttle abuts the carriers, said carriers forcing the rod back from between the fingers and moving it into engagement with and between the fingers at the opposite end of the shuttle.

7. A gripper shuttle loom having a gripper shuttle movable across the shed, electro-magnetic means at opposite ends of the shed to throw the shuttle back and Leamington Spa: Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by the Courier Press.--1952.

Published at The Patent Office, 25, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.2, from which copies may be obtained.

6)83,390

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION

6S3,390 Date of Application and filing Complete Specification: June 15, 1949

No. 16004/49.

Application made in United States of America on April 29, 1949.

Complete Specification Pub!lished: Nov. 26, 1952.

Index at acceptance:-Classes 142(ii), Ele(1: 4: 7: 8: 9); and 142(iii), E9b(2: 4), E9c.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Gripper Shuttle Loom 1, ENEAS hJIMARAIIS MASCARENHAS, a citizen of the Republic of Brazil, of Caixa Postal 43, Guiz de Fora, Minas, Brazil, South America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-

This invention relates to a loom and has reference to an improvement in a type of loom in which a gripper shuttle is thrown back and forth across the sheds.

The invention has for an object a mechanism in which the shuttle is electro-magnetically operated to be thrown back and forth, to pick up a weft thread on each reciprocation and carry it across the sheds. The entire operation is controlled by the selective and sequential operation of electromagnetic devices.

Another object of the invention is to p)rovide a relatively small lightweight shuttle which can be projected back and forth across the sheds by solenoid action.

In brief and general terms, the invention relates to a gripper shuttle loom across which a magnetically responsive shuttle is adapted to be thrown back and forth. This shuttle is provided with thread gripping means at each end to pick up weft threads at the beginning of each movement and pull them across the shed. The shuttle is thrown back and forth by reason of its relation with a pair of shuttle boxes disposed at opposite sides of the shed. These boxes receive the shuttle and are provided with magnetic means selectively energized to repel (or reject) the shuttle.

Associated with the box are thread carriers and holding means which will co-operate with the gripping means on the end of the shuttle when the shuttle has entered the box, so that the grippers [Price 2/81 engage the thread as the shuttle is ejected to pull it across the shed.

Switches are provided on each box and operated by the shuttle as it moves 50 within the box to operate the electromagnetic means for ejecting the shuttle and to operate a cutting device associated between the thread carrying device and the box to cut off the thread 55 after it has been pulled' across the shed.

The invention further includes electromagnetic means associated with the thread carriers on which are disposed a plurality of threads, to move said carriers 60 laterally and present selective threads in line with the shuttle. This is for the purpose of introducing different coloured thread as desired.

One form of the invention will now be 65 described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a partial view, in front elevation, of the loom embodying the invention; 'to Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a ratchet wheel switch which controls the colour pick-up motion; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through 75 one of the shuttle boxes showing the energizing solenoid and switches associated therewith; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a gripper shuttle entering the shuttle box; 80 Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the shuttle extending beyond the other end of the box; Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the shuttle moving in the opposite direction 85 in the box; Fig. S is a plan view of the structure of one of the shuttle-operated switches; Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9-9; of Fig. 10, showing the shuttle 90 nippers gripping a weft thread, a weft cutter knife, and the weft carrier; --Zc- -PHVs 4Se 683,390 Fig. 10 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 11 is an end elevation looking from the left in Figure 9; Fig. 112 is an enlarged partial sec6 tional view showing the manner in which the shuttle engages the carrier and picks up the weft thread from the feeder; Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through the gripper shuttle showing a thread about to be picked up by the nippers.; Fig. 14 is a. partial similar view showing the thread gripped; Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the shuttle; Fig. 16 is a cross section taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 13; Fig. 17 is a cross section taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 13; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one of the nippers; F'ig. 19 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the nippers approaching the thread feeder; Fig. 20 shows the nippers engaging the feeder; Fig. 21 shows the nippers gripping -the thread after they hfa.ve left the feeder; Fig. 22 is a plan view of the feeder plate; Fig. 23 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 24 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. '25 is a schematic circuit diagram of the operating circuits for the machine; and Fig. 26 is a plan view of a portion of fabric produced by this apparatus and showing how the selvage edges are produced' Referring now merely to the preferred form of the invention - shown - in the drawings herein, it is to be noted that there is the loom frame 10,;- the lay or batten 1l1, the- vertically reciprocable heald frames 12 and 13, and thread cones 14 on the frame- 10. The frames 12 and 13 are operated -by any suitable means below the same (not shown) to move up and down in the usual manner." Straps connect the respective frames with respective pnulleys- 16 on a rock shaft 17 disposed on toi of -the frame 10 as shown. The straps are so connected that 56 when one frame inoves' ddwn thbe shaft 17 is 6rocked in one direction avid when the other frame is moved down, the shaft 17' is rocked in-the other direction.

At one end, the shaft-17 is provided with a rock arin 183lo6sely oonlicted-to the upper end of'a pivotedrarm 19 (Figuire 2), disposed around a shaft' 20 on -a pedestal 1-: The armn'19 carries a pawl 22 enageable with a ratchet wheel 23 66 rotatable on the shaft 20 and carrying a pin '24 which as it turns respectively, engages spring arms 25 and 26 pivoted at any suitable point and adapted in their movement to effect the opening and closing of switches 27 and 28 as shown. 70 At the other end of shaft 17 is disposed an arm 281 engaging an arm 29, adapted to operate a switch member 80 (shown in Figure 25), as the shaft is rocked to make alternate connections to 75 be later set forth.

As shown in Figures 4, 5 and '6, there are provided shuttle boxes preferably in the form of long rectangular open-ended tubes 3,1 of non-magnetic material such 80 as brass. In Figure 1, it is seen that there is a shuttle box 31 disposed at each side of the shed. A solenoid 32 surrounds the box 31, intermediate its ends, and when energized, is adapted to repel and 85 project a shuttle disposed therein as will be later described.

At the front end, the box is flared and enlarged as at 33 to facilitate entry of the shuttle thereinto since this end is 90 the entry end. As shown in Figure-1, the boxes are disposed with their flared entry ends facing each other. At this end and on top of the 'box is fastened a spring plate 84, the end 35, of which extends up 95 the top of the flared end 33-and has pivoted thereto a feeler plate 86. Switch contacts 37 are associated with this spring plate 84 so that as the plate is lifted the contacts are closed and are 100 opened when the spring plate.84 is allowed to drop flat into normal position on top of the box as show/n in Figure 4.

The feeler depends across the upper portion-of the box opening. -. 105 At the other end of the box there is another spring platd 39 having a dependent teat- 49 normally projecting through a slot 40 in the top of the box at this end. Switch elements 41 are 110 associated with this spring plate and are closed when the plate is raised and opened wheln the plate lies flat on the top of the box. Each box is thus constructed so that as the grippershuttle is projected 115 by magnetic repulsion out of and into the barrels, the switches are selectively operated foi purposes to be described.

The gripper shuttle which is to be thrown back and- forth between the 120 shuttle %1oxes just described, is shown most in detail -in Figures 18 to 21 on sheet 4 of th:e dfawings and comprises an elongate shll of rectangular cross section 'iade of thre6 seetions, hollow 125 end sections 42 of non-magnetic material such as brass ahd a solid centre section 43 of magnetised material such as ironand steel. Adjacent the ends of the hollow shells 42 are partitions 43,, aper683,390 tured to receive a rod 44 which is moved back and forth as later described. The) ends of the shells 42 are closed by apertured cap members 45. Between the caps 45 and the partitions 43 are disposed curved leaf springs having ends 46 adapted to lie normally close together.

These ends extend through the cap 45 beyond the ends of the shells 42 and act l0 as nippers to grasp the ends of weft threads in a. manner later to be described.

The rod 44 is so dimensioned that in any position, it may lie between the spring ends 46 at one end of the shuttle at a time. Thus in Figure 13, we see that the rod is at the right hand position and is disposed between the ends of the spring at the right hand end of the shuttle, and at the left end of the shuttle, the rod 44 is withdrawn from between the ends of the spring at that end. It is perfectly apparent that when the shuttle is disposed within one of the boxes, and its solenoid is energized, this will create a magnetic 2-5 repulsion which tends to throw the shuttle across to and into the other box.

As the shuttle enters a box its front end proceeds beyond the rear end thereof.

As shown in Figure 13, the shuttle is tapered as at 47, and engages an arresting plate or wall 48 which is provided with an aperture 49 through which the ends or nippers 46 of the spring project to be related to a. feeder device now to be described. The stop or arresting plate 48 (Figure 9) is. mounted on a slidable plate 50 mounted within a channel frame 51 disposed on the top of the lay or batten 11 of the loom. It is of course understood that there is such a stop plate 48 at the end of each box, as clearly seen in Figure 1. The slide plate.50 has a rear wall 52 movable therewith and the channel frame 51 has a rear wall 53 and between these two walls is disposed a resilient cushion member 54 made of a folded band of leather or similar resilient material. Behind the wall 53 there is a bracket 5.5 supporting one end of a rod 56 which at one end is connected fixedly to the wall 52 and extends through suitable openings in the cushioning element 54. A coiled spring 57 is disposed on the bracket 55 around the rod 56 and between the end of the bracket and a flange 58 on the rod 56. The tendency of this spring is to return the wall 52 to normal position after the first impact of the shuttle has been absorbed.

On the plate 50 just to the rear of the stop wall is disposed a feeder carrier plate 59 which is transversely movable on the plate 50. On this carrier plate 519 are disposed a pair of feeder elements each formed of main plates 60 having a closely bent-over portions 61 and a guide pin 62 to guide a thread 63 from the cones 14 through eyes 64 on plate 50 between the main plate 60 and the bent plate 61 adjacent the pin 62. There are 70 two of these feeder elements on the carrier so as to accommodate two different weft threads which may be of different design or composition of colour.

Disposed fixedly on the frame 51 at 75 opposite ends of the carrier plate 59 are electro-magnets 65 having operable core rods 66 adapted when the magnets are energized, to advance and engage and project the carrier plate.59 in one or the 80 other direction so as to present the respective feeder elements in line with the aperture in the stop plate 48 so that the end of the thread held by the feeder elements may be gripped by the nippers 86 or spring ends 46. As shown in Figures 19, 20 and '21, the shuttle is shown approaching the feeder plates with the nippers 46' held apart by the end of the rod 44. As the nippers contact the feeder 90 plates 60 and 61, they are spread apart thereby as shown in Figure 20, and the rod 44 is shoved back by the ends of the feeder plates. As seen in Figure 21, when the shuttle is then propelled in the 95 other direction the nippers fall off the feeder plates and as they leave them, they come together and grip the weft thread therebetween as shown.

It is to be noted that as each weft 100 thread is thus drawn across the sheds by the gripper shuttle, it must be cut off at the station from which it is drawn and to this end I provide an apparatus which is in detail set forth in Figures 19,, 10 and 105 11 herein. On the frame 51 is disposed a cutter solenoid 67 having a movable core rod 68 which is propelled upwardly when the solenoid 67 is energized. This rod 68 then encounters one arm 69 of a 110 bell-crank lever pivoted at 70 on a pedestal 71 mounted on the frame plate 51, the other arm 72 of the bell-crank lever acting as. a cutter blade to cut the thread 63 when the solenoid 65 is oper-115 ated. There are cutting solenoids disposed at the rear of each carrier device as shown in Figure 1, so that as the shuttle. travels back and forth pulling weft threads with it these threads are cut 120 off respectively as set forth.

In Figure 25, there is shown the general circuit diagram of the operating elements and circuit connections therebetween and in considering them, it is 12to be noted that the source of power is indicated at 73 and is associated with a switch 74 which is opened and closed by means of aa. manually operated lever 75. It is clear that when the switch 74 130 is closed the power is made available over wire 76 to the alternately operated switches 27 and 28. It is also connected through switch arm 30 and wires 77 and 78, with the switches 41 for energizing the throwing solenoids 32. It is clear that the reciprocation of the switch arm will alternately energize these solenoids so that the shuttle will be thrown back and forward across the shed. Return wires 79 and 80 connect these solenoids with the common return wire 87 leading back to the source of power 73.

The cutter solenoids 67 are operated from the source of power through wires 76, 82, through switches 37 and wires 8-3 to the respective solenoids 67 depending upon the closing of these switches and then through return wires 84 and 81 to the source of power. As viewed in Figure 25, the upper pair of solenoids 65 for shifting the feed carrier 59 are connected by wire 85, to the switch contacts 27 controlled by the ratchet wheel 23 and the lower pair of solenoids 165 for shifting the carriers 59 in the opposite direction are connected by wire 86 to the-othe:

set of switch contacts 28 controlled by the ratchet wheel 23.

In Figure 26 there is shown a type of fabric woven on this loom showing the line along which the weft threads are cut by the cutter mechanisms thus far described. The weft ends forming the selvage thus resulting may be treated in any suitable and well known manner to make them fast, and this forms no part of the present invention.

Referring now to the operation of the device, it will be clear that as the healds are operated to move up and down in their regular cycles, that the shuttle is thrown back and forth between the shuttle boxes 31. As the shuttle enters a particular box, it closes the switch 37 which operates the cutting solenoid 167 at the other end of the weft thread. As the shuttle proceeds through the box, its forward end projects beyond the box and encounters the arresting wall 48 shown in Figs. 9 and 12. This wall being on the plate 50 will yield somewhat against the resistance of resilient member.54 and permit the nippers 46 on the end of the shuttle to be spread apart by the feeder plates 60 and 61, so that as the shuttle is thereafter projected back by the energization of the solenoid 32 of the box in which it is disposed, the nippers will grip the thread as shown in Figure 21, and pull it across the sheds. When the shuttle enters the other box, the same operation takes place, first it operates the cutter solenoid at the other end of the shed and then operates the switch 41, which will energize the thrower solenoids 32 to throw the shuttle back. It is understood, of course, that when the shuttle enters a particular box and operates these aswitches, the momentum of the shuttle 70 will carry its nippers into contact with the feeder plates in order that as the shuttle is thrown back out of a particular box, the nippers will grip the shed and carry it across the shed. 75 It is, however, to be noted that at egular intervals, determined by the setting of the pin 24 on the ratchet wheel 23 shown in Figure 2, the switches 27 and 28 are energized selectively to ener- 81) gize desired solenoids 65 and throw the carriers for the feed plates one way or the other, so that a. predetermined type or colour of weft thread may be introduced into the fabric. 85 It is obvious, therefore, that in coInsidering this invention, it is to be noted that this device requires no stoppages of the loom for replenishing the shuttle and eliminates the usual cop changing mechanism. It also eliminates the pirn or bobbin winding process. It avoids the expense of bobbins, and eliminates mechanical pickers and coacting parts.

It greatly reduces the depth of the sheds 95 and the throw distance of the lay resulting in consequent increased loom speed.

Mechanism for the production of checked fabric is much more simplified as compared with known mechanism for this 100 purpose, and the entire device is efficient, easy to run, and relatively simple to repair.

While the inivention has been described in detail sand with respect to the pre- 106 ferred form shown in the drawings,-it is not to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the scope of the inven!tti.on as defined in one or more of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to 115