Product category:
Industrial Drives/Controls
News Release from: Meiden Europe | Subject: VT110S AC drive
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 24 August 2000
Meiden drive in fascinating Science
Museum exhibit
Making the Modern World, a new exhibition at the Science Museum, has a working version of the world's first continuous weft, automated textile loom, now electrically driven by a Meiden drive
'Making the Modern World' is a major new exhibition at the Science Museum which charts the rise of modern industrial society from 1750 to the present day, using over 1800 objects Amongst the exhibits, which include 'Puffing Billy' (the world's oldest surviving steam locomotive), Crick and Watson's DNA model and the Apollo 10 command module, is a working version of the world's first continuous weft, automated textile loom
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Mar 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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Now electrically driven by a Meiden motor and VT110S AC drive, but originally steam powered via a belt system, the loom also led to the set-up of the Toyota Motor Company.
Although originally designed and built by Toyoda of Japan in 1924, this non-stop shuttle changing machine came to dominate the textile world, after it was licensed to Platt Bothers of Oldham, the world's foremost textile machine manufacturers.
Designed by Sakichi Toyoda, the loom was the first to permit automatic shuttle changing, allowing continuous high-speed working.
In addition to increasing loom efficiency, the design permitted a single worker to operate many looms simultaneously, thereby greatly reducing production costs.
Realising the significance of the loom's capabilities, Platt Brothers bought the licence to manufacture the loom.
The resulting profits from the sale of the licence and subsequent loom sales provided the resources for founding the Toyota Motor Company.
The Meiden motor and drive, specified and installed by Toyoda Automatic Loom Works in Japan, are used to drive the loom for working demonstrations for visitors to the Museum.
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