Multiple Box Motions

Multiple Box Motions

• Multiple box motions are used to insert yarns of

different colour, linear density or fibers or twists
across the fabric. With conventional looms for
each variety of weft one shuttle is required and
there must be an empty box on the opposite side
to receive the shuttle.
• A loom may have two four or six boxes one side
and one box on the opposite side. Normally
referred as 2x1,4x1,6x1 drop box motions
respectively. There may be box motion on both
sides such as 2x2 or 4x4.
 Classification of Multiple Box Looms
Multiple box looms may be classified under the following groups.

• A) . 2x1 looms, continuous acting type, for mixing weft in pair of picks. These are known as
weft mixing looms. Which intend to reduce the posibility of weft bars which occure
specially with filament weft due to change in weft package. This motion is also suitable
when cloths are to be woven with alternate double picks of S and Z twist.

• B) 2x2 weft mixing looms continuous acting type for mixing in single picks.

• C) 2x1, 4x1, 6x1 shuttle looms for inserting coloured weft of diff. Types of weft as per weft
pattern. The main limitation of this type of box motion is that picks must be inserted in
multiples of Two. This is because the shuttle has to travel from multiple box inside to the
opposite and back before a change can take place.

• D) 2x2 3x3 4x4 box motions in which multiple boxes are situated on both sides. Insertion of
single picks in odd or even numbered groups can be effected.

• E) with 4x4 box looms, pick at will motions are applied to permit two or more shuttles to
be driven from one end before a return movement is made from the , other end. On this
loom with judicious choice, single picks of diff colours up to seven colours of weft can be
inserted, when it becomes a pick and pick loom.
 Types of Box motion
• Multiple box motion on auto loom are of two types.
• Circular box
• Drop box
 Circular box

With this type of box motion, the boxes are

arranged on a spindle in the form of a cylinder
which is rotated to bring the required shuttle in
line with race board. The most common no. Of
boxes are 6. although 5 and 7 boxes are also
available.
Although circular box motions was extensively used
for producing light woolen dresses and for silk
weaving , but now a days it has become obsolete.
Main reason are ....
 Limitations of Circular Box motion
1. Generally it is possible to rotate from one box to its one of the
adjacent boxes, nevertheless skip boxes are available for
random selection. The later motion is not used in practice
because of considerable reduction in the loom speed.
2. Fast reed can not be used with this type of loom, because of
the arrangement of boxes. So the cloth made on circular box
loom is limited to light or medium weight.
3. Under pick motion can not be also used, so this motion can not
be used on automatic looms.
4. Since the size of the boxes are fixed, it is difficult to adjust for
worn out shuttles.
5. Special smalll shuttles used on this loom reduce the efficiency.
 Drop box looms
• Drop box looms are used for weaving fancy fabrics requiring
different colours or kinds of weft yarn in any sequence; the boxes
are moved up and down to bring the shuttles into position, as
required. There are basically two types of drop box looms
• 1. Pick and pick
• 2. Pick at will
• In the case of pick and pick looms, an even number of picks of any
colour or kind of weft yarn can be inserted as desired, while on
pick at will looms, either an odd or even number of picks can be
inserted as desired. To achieve this there must be the desired
number of shuttle boxes on either side of the loom.
• 2x1 box is used for weft mixing. 4x1 is the most popular type of
shuttle loom for weft patterning.
Weft Mixing
Drop Box Motion: This mechanism is fitted on the loom to improve quality of fabric by
mixing of different weft to produce check and other alike patterns.
Two tappets are mounted on bottom
shaft to operate the mechanism. As
shown in fig 1 a pattern chain is
mounted on pattern card roller.
Pattern card roller is rectangular in
shape with square cross section and
having three holes and two pins.
Each segment of pattern chain is a 1
steel strip having dimensions similar
to each face of pattern roller and two 2
holes drilled for pins leaving space
4
for other three holes. A hole in
pattern chain means no change in the
box position whereas a blank in
Pattern chain operates the change
disc through a rack and pin. There 3
are three such racks out of which the
middle one operates master roller
(card saving device) and other two
initiate box change – one always
moves one box while the other two
boxes (refer fig 3). For three box
movement both the discs should be 5

rotated
 Working principle of drop box motion:
• Drop box motion is a process of inserting weft yarn (of same colour or different colours) in a
pre decided order as per requirement of the fabric.
• When the shuttle comes in its box at drop box side, the tappet (fitted on tappet shaft)
operates bent lever through roller which presses pattern chain against rack pins. The rack
pin, which is pressed by the chain (without hole) pushes corresponding rack and meshes it
with the teeth of rack plate.
• Now the eccentric cam, which keeps the racks lifted, moves these racks down. The rack,
which is meshed with rack plate, rotates rack plate by 1800. This moves the shuttle boxes
(cage) up or down through bottom cage lever and cage rod. The machine side rack plate
moves 2 boxes per stroke while the outer rack plate moves only one box. A combination of
these two can move 3 boxes also.
• When the shuttle reaches to plain box side from drop box side, the pattern chain roller
comes forward and moves by one segment through star wheels and star finger.
• When the shuttle is picked from plain box side to drop box side, the picker easing motion
cam operates and through picker release motion lever and shuttle check lever acts as a
buffer to check the force of shuttle and to stop it at its proper position in the drop box.
• The master roller is used when running some weft colour for large number of picks. At this
time a peg in the lattice idles the star finger motion by moving it out of the path of star
wheels. After insertion of required number of pick when there is no peg, again the star
finger starts working normally. This chain is operated by the middle rack pin and each stroke
of rack moves one segment of master lattice.
Drop Box Motion: