Automatic bobbin changing in a weaving machine

An apparatus for automatically changing a bobbin in at least one shuttle of a weaving machine which shuttle carries yarn or thread from one side of material produced by said weaving machine to the other side of said material, said apparatus comprising:

• a bobbin changing means which includes at least one bobbin and means for joining yarn or thread together;
• means for effecting movement of said bobbin changing means between a first position located above said material and on a side edge of said material, and a second bobbin change position above a shuttle race level and at least partly over said material upon activation of each change of said bobbin;
• means for positioning said at least one shuttle at a first level corresponding to said second bobbin change position for effecting a change of said bobbin in said shuttle;
• and
• means for setting bobbin changing means at three different height setting positions including said first position at which the weaving machine performs its weaving function, said second position at which the bobbin change takes place, and a third position at which the bobbin changing means is moved to a height setting above the material where the drawing-in work/initial loading work can be carried out.

A method for automatically changing a bobbin in at least one shuttle of a weaving machine which carries thread from one side of material produced by said weaving machine to the other side of said material, the weaving machine including means for bobbin changing which comprise at least one bobbin and means for joining yarn/thread together, said method comprising the steps of:

• placing said bobbin changing means at a first weaving position at a height level above said material and on a side edge of said material;
• activating movement of said bobbin changing means to a second bobbin change position above a shuttle race level and at least partly over said material upon each change of said bobbin;
• positioning said at least one shuttle in a first position corresponding to said second bobbin change position of said bobbin changing means;
• effecting a change of said bobbin in said shuttle;
• and
• effecting movement of the bobbin changing means between three positions including said first position at which the bobbin change takes place, said second position at which the weaving machine performs its weaving function, and a third position at a height setting above the material, where a drawing-in work/initial loading work is carried out in the weaving machine.

An apparatus for automatically changing a bobbin in at least one shuttle of a weaving machine which shuttle carries yarn or thread from one side of material produced by the weaving machine to the other side of said material, the weaving machine including a reed/sley, said apparatus comprising:

• a bobbin changing means which includes at least one bobbin and means for joining yarn or thread together;
• means for effecting movement of said bobbin changing means between a first position located above said material and on a side edge of said material, and a second bobbin change position above a shuttle race level and at least partly over said material upon activation of each change of said bobbin;
• means for positioning said at least one shuttle at a first level corresponding to said second bobbin change position for effecting a change of said bobbin in said shuttle;
• and
• means for tilting said bobbin changing means to adapt to a current stop position of the reed/sley.