Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically changing a bobbin in at least one shuttle of a weaving machine which carries thread from one side of material produced by the weaving machine to the other side of the material. The weaving machine includes a bobbin changer having at least one bobbin and device for joining thread together. The bobbin changer is moveable between a first weaving position at a height level above the material and on a side edge of the material and a second bobbin change position above a shuttle race level and at least partly over the material upon each change of the bobbin. At least one shuttle is positioned in a first position corresponding to the second bobbin change position of the bobbin changer and a change of the bobbin in the shuttle is effected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the random storage of tubes stacked on top of each other in a tube magazine, and for the transfer of the tubes at a transfer position to a conveyor. The tubes are stored randomly in the magazine with their longitudinal axes essentially parallel to each other. Tubes are separated between the transfer position and the magazine and are conveyed out of the magazine in the axial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for replacing a cop in an automated weaving machine is provided. A single, multi-joint robot is situated near the cop replacing position of a shuttle which is reciprocated between warps. A hand stand is provided for supporting first through third hands which can be detachably mounted on the robot arm. The first hand is provided with fingers for individually handling the new cop and the new weft. The second hand includes fingers for handling the old cop and the old weft. The third hand is provided with a suction pad for engaging the shuttle with vacuum suction when transferring the shuttle, and with a hook for raising and lowering the bobbin fitted on a tong of the shuttle. The three hands allow various work steps to be carried out each in an optimum fashion without requiring additional hands to be carried by the robot arm at the same time.

Abstract: A process of stacking bobbin formers in superimposed layers in a former magazine and separating the bobbin formers of, at least, the lowest layer and removing them from the former magazine. The bobbin formers of the lowest layer are maintained in contact on their underside with a support which moves in direction of the discharge point. A device for the storage of bobbin formers in a former magazine comprising a conveyor is disposed below the stored bobbin formers to separate said bobbin formers. The running direction of the conveyor is essentially tangential to the surface of the stored bobbin formers. The device includes a device for the removal of separated bobbin formers is supported on a support which is moved in the direction of the discharge point. This support exerts a tangential frictional force upon the surfaces of the bobbin formers so that said bobbin formers roll towards the discharge point.

Abstract: An automatic cop changing device for a weaving machine in which a shuttle carrying a cop consisting of a bobbin around which a weft is wound is reciprocated between warps so as to weave the weft between the warps, comprising: a cop positioning unit for securing the shuttle stationary near a terminal point of its reciprocating movement when the weft of a current cop mounted on the shuttle is consumed by more than a precribed amount; a cop storage unit for storing a plurlaity of new cops; a robot arm carrying a weft gripping hand for drawing the weft from the current cop and a weft from one of the new cops stored in the cop storage unit, and crossing the two wefts, a cop engaging hand for moving the cop in the shuttle between its upright position and its retracted position, and a cop gripping hand for removing the old cop from the shuttle and carrying the new cop into the shuttle; a weft tying unit for tying the crossed part of the wefts; and a weft trimming unit for trimming an extraneous part of the tied weft

Abstract: An automatic cop replacing apparatus for a shuttle-type loom with which a cop contained in the shuttle is automatically replaced, including tying the threads together of the old and new cops, and requiring no operator intervention. The apparatus includes a hand for gripping the cop. A rotary arm plate on which the hand is mounted, a drive device for rotating the rotary arm plate and for straightly moving the rotary arm plate in the axial direction, and a drive shaft for moving the rotary arm plate to an exchange position for the cop. A thread tying device holds and ties together the treads of the old and new cops.

Abstract: A tubular cop exchange arrangement comprises a cop magazine, a cop pressing device for pressing a cop from the magazine into a trough chamber of a shuttle, a cutting device for separating a weft thread from the ejected remaining portion of the cop and a control device. The shuttle has a clamping device provided near one end of a trough chamber for fixing the holding pin of a tubular cop, the shuttle having a thread brake and a thread inserting slot extending from another end of the trough chamber substantially rectilinearly. The cop ejecting device has a cop ejecting plunger which is upwardly extendable in a shuttle cop exchange position in a direction toward the holding pin clamped in the clamping device. The cop pressing device has a cop pressing plunger which is extendable in the cop exchange position downwardly against a cop located in the cop outlet opening of the cop magazine.

Abstract: To permit single-basket conveyor transport of textile cops from a supply bin holding a number of cops, without damage to the thread wound on the cops upon removal of an individual cop and introduction into the conveyor, the supply bin is constructed such that at least a portion of the bottom thereof is inclined forwardly towards a removal opening leading to the conveyor, and includes a movable base plate which is mounted for movement between a feed position in which the base plate is inclined towards the opening and a re-supply position in which the movable portion is inclined upwardly and away from the removal opening; an ejector is provided having a movable ejector element and occupying a space at least approximately the size of the geometric outline of a cop, the ejector element pushing against the cop and pushing the selected cop for removal through the removal opening against a spring-loaded flap, the ejector element, due to its size, blocking contact between the cop being ejected and a next adjacent cop