MULTIPLE BOX MOTIONS

What are Multiple Boxes?

In many kinds of fabrics more than one colour, count or quality
of weft is used.
Automatic change of shuttle is therefore, essential in such
looms to have a wide scope for figuring in the weft.
Dobbies and Jacquards produce warp patterns, multiple
boxes produce weft patterns in fabrics.
All kinds of checks, weft stripes, extra weft spots and fancy
goods require change boxes in the looms.
The variations in the order of weft chains may cause various
weft patterns being produced on cloths.
The weft patterns are produced by multiple boxes, which
may be applied to one side or both sides of the sley.

Classification of Multiple Box Motions

(1) Rising and Falling or Drop Box Motion
(2) Circular Box Motion
(3) Pick at Will Motion

Comparative Merits and Uses of Drop and Circular Box

Looms
In drop and circular box looms, multiple boxes are applied to
one end of the sley, and a single box at the opposite end. In
these cases alternate picking is imperative.
In certain other looms multiple boxes are fitted at both ends of
the sley. These multiple boxes are capable of being operated for
any order of wefting, including single picks of a colour or count.
This type of multiple box motion when fitted to a loom is called
Pick and Pick Loom. In this case, the picking mechanism will
allow several picks being made in succession from either side of
the sley.
In a Drop Box Loom, shuttle boxes are arranged one above
the other in shelf form, whereas in a Circular Box Loom,
shuttles are arranged in a series of cells in circular form
around a common axis on which they revolve.
While the drop boxes have extensive use in the cotton and silk
or rayon industries, the circular boxes are largely used in the
woollen and worsted industry.
Circular boxes are generally made of six shuttles, but drop

Conditions to good Multiple Box Motion

(1)A multiple box motion should be positive in action and so
connected with the other parts of the loom that it will be
impossible for the boxes to get out of harmony with the
shedding and picking motions, whether a sley moves forward
or backward.
(2)When the boxes are not moved into their proper positions, or
incase the picker or shuttle collides with the boxes, the loom or
the multiple box motion should be stopped.
(3)Each set of boxes must work independently of the other set of
boxes, placed at both sides of the sley.
(4)The boxes should be easily adjusted for height with respect to
the race, and proper shuttle should be moved in line with the
picker.
(5)Any shuttle or shuttle box at either side should be readily
brought into operation irrespective of its former position.
Unless a smooth movement is imparted to the shuttle,
vibration of the boxes will take place.
(6)The boxes and pattern chain should be worked from the same
cylinder.
(7)The multiple box motion should be provided with an efficient

Defects in Multiple Box Motions

No multiple box motion can satisfy all the conditions (stated in
the previous slide) and the following defects are frequently met
with(1) If the motion imparted to the boxes is not a smooth one,
vibration will take place requiring reduced speed in a loom.
(2) Trouble is caused when the loom continues to run for two or
more picks after a weft has broken. If a breakage occurs
immediately before the boxes change places, two or more
picks of another weft will be driven through the shed. These
picks require to be removed and boxes restored to their proper
places before restarting a loom.
(3) Multiple box looms are, therefore, required to be provided
with a centre weft fork motion, and also with a fast reed
motion which is necessary owing to the weight and
construction of the cloth.

Type of Multiple Box Motions

Depending upon the construction and method of working
Multiple Box Motion may be divided into(1) Negative Box Motion (2) Positive Box Motion
Multiple Box Motion
Type
Negative

Positive

Examples
(1)Diggles Chain Motion
(2)Knowles Chain Box Motion
(3)Diggles Pick at Will Motion
(1)Wrightsaws Box Motion
(2)Cowburn and Peck (Eccles) Box
Motion
(3)Northrop Four-Box Motion
(4)Circular Non-skip Box Motion
(5)Circular Skip Box Motion

DIGGLES CHAIN MOTION

The boxes are raised directly by
various shaped
bowls on the
chain, but drop by means of their
own weight. It is, therefore, a
negative box motion.
The no. of boxes used in this motion
is either 2,3 or 4.
A lever AC is centred at C, and the
friction bowl B on this lever is
moved upwards by a pattern chain,
composed of links which work round
a barrel D.
These links are of different sizes,
according to the no. of boxes used.
The smallest link leaves the top box
in a line with the shuttle-race, and
the other links are of such sizes as
to raise either the second, third or
fourth box into this position.
The general method is to raise the
boxes one at a time and drop them
all together.
Wheel E, on the crankshaft S,

AC = Lever.
C = Fulcrum
AC lever.
B
=
bowl.

Fricti

D = Barrel.
E
=
(small).

Whe

S = Crankshaft
F
=
wheel.

Larg

PP
=
Tw
projections.

G = Star wheel
M = Lever.
These projections gear into
the
star wheel G, which is fastened
to the barrel D, carrying the
chain.
When star wheel G is turned one
tooth, or one-eighth of a

 The wheel E on the crank shaft has often one-fourth the

no. of teeth contained in the wheel F.
Therefore, if there are two projections P,P in the
circumference of F, the star wheel G will be moved one
tooth every two picks, and the boxes may be changed by
making the chain T accordingly.
The lever M, which is centred at R, has the boxes attached
to one end, and the other end may be pressed down by a
foot of the weaver when it is required to lift the boxes for
any purpose when the loom is stopped.
If wheel E have 15 teeth and wheel F have 60 teeth and if
there are two projections P,P on the face of the wheel F,
then the shuttle may be changed every two picks, but if
there is only one projection, there may be a change every
four, or a multiple of four picks.

PICK AT WILL DROP BOX

MOTION
Type- 4 x 4 multiple box on both
sides of the loom.
Disc A has a pinion/auxiliary gear B
outside.
Working rack C is moved up and
down in two picks by an eccentric L,
fixed on the extension of the
bottom shaft.
The rod N passes down from a
crank inside the two discs to the
bottom box lever O, fulcrumed in
the centre at P.
The rack C, fulcrumed at M, is
moved up by the eccentric L and
get engages with the pinion B of
disc A.
A blank in the pattern card pushes
the needle F against the rack and
causes the pinion B and disc A to
move half a turn.
The card cylinder G is oscillated by
a tappet K on the bottom shaft,

Action of the eccentrics and

lifting/lowering of Shuttle boxes
The disc A has a pin attached to it,
to which is connected a crank, and
the opposite end of the crank fits
into a slot on the other disc A.
Fig. A: The first box is in line with
the sley race, both discs being up.
Fig. B: a half turn of the disc A
brings the pin to the lowest position
and the crank slides down in the
slot in disc A, placing the second
box in line with the sley race.
Fig. C: Starting from the first
position, if the slotted disc A is
turned half way round, A being
stationary, a movement of two
boxes is obtained, placing the third
box in line with the sley race.
Fig. D: Starting from the first
position, the turning of both the
discs together half way round in the
same direction, places the fourth
box in line for picking. In this case,

Advantage of using
Eccentrics
The boxes begin to move
slowly, and the speed increases
as the centre of lift is reached,
then they slow down again
towards the end of the stroke.