IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PICKING MOTION OF . LOOMS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do horeby declaro the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PICKING MOTION OF .
LOOMS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates more particularly to looms for weaving double pile fabrics,
such for example, as the duplicate fabrics united by pile or intermediate warp, in
order that, being subsequently divided, the two fabrics may each constitute single
fabrics having a pile surface, such for example, as plush, velvet, or the like. The
said invention may, however, be applied with advantage to looms designed or
constructed for simultaneously weaving two separate and disconnected fabrics,
which may be done by omitting from the loom the mechanism employed for
actuating the third warp, which, in the manufacture of double pile fabrics, when
divided, forms the pile.
One object of the said invention is the projection of two shuttles in such a
manner that they may be simultaneously made to traverse the upper and lower
sheds without unnecessary complexity in the apparatus involved, and with sub-
stantial identity as to the time or period of their flight. A further object of my
said invention is to provide a ready and convenient means for removing and
replacing the shuttle in its box when occasion requires, thereby obviating any
interference on the part of the shuttle, when being thus removed, with the shed or
with the skeleton race which it is found advantageous to use in looms of the.
character above indicated in order to prevent abrasion of the shed by contact with
the moving shuttle.
The said invention comprises certain novel combinations of parts which
effectually secure the several objects desired.'
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a front view representing a loom including certain features of my
aid invention

page_text: Figure 2 is a similar view drawn to an enlarged scale of one end of the said
loom.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in the line xx of Figures 1, 2, and 4
Figure 4 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of one part of the loom, and
Figure 6 is a plan corresponding to Figure 4, but with the lateral gate which
forms part of one feature of my said invention swung open to permit the removal
or replacement, as the case may be, of the shuttle in its box.
Before describing particularly those combinations of parts which constitute the
improved apparatus it is requisite to indicate in general the salient features of the
loom with which the said apparatus may be most advantageously employed. The
said apparatus may, however, be used in connection with other looms of any
suitable construction.
At each end of the loom is a pair of shuttle-boxes, A, B, each being designed for
the reception of a separate shuttle, and the one B being placed over the other A.
The shuttle from the lower boxes A, is designed to traverse the lower shuttle-race a,
which is arranged in the same relation with the lower boxes A as the ordinary
race of a loom is arranged with regard to the ordinary single shuttle-box.
C, is the top rail of the loom, of which D is the reed, Extending down from the
top rail C are a series of prongs or fingers E the lower ends of which are bent
inward or backward, as represented in Figure 5, thereby forming a skeleton race in
substantially the same horizontal plane as the boxes B. The prongs or fingers E
are placed at such distance apart that their lower parts e will support the shuttle
in passing over the same. The object of this skeleton race is to provide a means
for the projection or transit of the upper shuttle in forming the upper web of the
fabric, without permitting the upper shuttle itself to run in contact with the
upper warp.
The lower parts e of the skeleton-race, constituted by the prongs or
fingers E, are so arranged that the lower warp may rise between them in the
operation of weaving, and are tapered in such manner that the warps may readily
pass between them without catching. A space should be afforded between their
rear extremities and the read, in order to allow the filling to draw down for the
purpose of being beat up, as will be readily understood by those familiar with tho
practical construction and operation of looms.
In order that the two shuttles, A¹ B₁ may be simultaneously projected over the
respective races a and E, as indicated in Figure 1, a horizontal partition f, which
constitutes the bottom of the upper shuttle-box and also the top of the lowor
shuttle-box, is longitudinally slotted as represented in Figure 3, and at g in
Figuro 4. A peculiarly constructed double picker F is arranged to move through
both of the said boxes, the said picker being represented in cross-section in
Figure 3, the upper part, m, of said picker traversing the upper shuttle-box, while
the lower part n of said picker traverses the lower shuttle box, the said upper and
lower parts, m and n of said picker F being connected by a neck 7, as represented
in said Figure 3. Provision is made for the insertion of this double picker in place
by means of an opening 8 at the rear end of the partition f, the said opening
extending the entire width of the interior of the shuttle-boxes, and being of
length, measured in a direction longitudinal with the shuttle-boxes, slightly
exceeding the length of the picker F, so that the latter may be readily dropped
into place and into position for longitudinal movement within the shuttle boxes.
A single picker staff of the ordinary or any usual or suitable construction is
arranged in substantially the same relation to the picker F as the common picker-
staff is arranged with regard to a single picker of an ordinary single shuttle-box, so
that the single picker-staff, acting through the double picker F, gives simultaneous
notion to the two shuttles as the same are projected from the two shuttle-boxes. B
and A, the two shuttles being thrown, simultaneously and in unison, alternately
from the one pair of shuttle boxes to the other.
In order to provide for the removal of the upper shuttles from their respective
boxes, or one of the said shuttles from its box, when desired, without interfering

page_text: either with the shed or with the skeleton-race E, when the latter is employed, each
of the upper boxes B, instead of being made with both its sides or lateral portions
rigid or permanently fixed, has one of its said sides movable, so that the same can
be brought away from its normal position to an extent sufficient to enable the
contained shuttle to be taken out, or replaced.
As represented in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6, the outer side of the shuttle-box is
formed with a gate I, pivotted at its outer end as shewn at i, and held in a closed
position by a catch of suitable construction, indicated at k, in Figures 2, 4, and 6.
When this gate is closed, as represented in Figures 2 and 4, it constitutes the outer
side of the box and assists in guiding the shuttle as the latter glides into or from
the same.
In order to remove or replace the shuttle, the side or gato I is turned
outward, as represented in Figure 6, thereby enabling the shuttle to be taken
laterally from its place, and to be in like manner put back again, without involving
the necessity of moving the shuttle lengthwise from the box, and thereby bringing
it more or less in conflict with the web of the loom or with the skeleton-raco E,
the operation of removing and replacing the shuttle being by this means very
greatly facilitated, and injury to the lay being avoided.
While this construction of the shuttle-box is more particularly designed for the
upper shuttles, it may be used, when desired, in connection with the lower shuttles,
although ordinarily the latter may be removed endwise in the ordinary manner
without material inconvenience.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First The combination of a lay having fixed double shuttle-boxes placed sub-
stantially parallel with each other, and a skeleton race placed above and parallel.
with the lay beam, with a double picker constructed and arranged to simultaneously
actuate the shuttles of both boxes, the one shuttle upon and over the lay beam, the
other upon and over the skeleton race, all substantially as, and for the purpose,
herein set forth.
Second The combination of a lay having fixed double shuttle-boxes placed
parallel, and one above the other, the slotted partition f between said boxes, and
the skeleton race placed above and parallel with the lay; the double picker
composed of the parts m, n and the neck and arranged to be operated by a single
picker-staff, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein set forth.
Third The combination of a lay having fixed double shuttle boxes placed
parallel and one above the other, the slotted partition f between said boxes, and
the skeleton race placed above and parallel with the lay, with the double picker
composed of the parts m, n and the neck, and the guide or rod a* provided to
steady said double picker, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as, and
for the purpose, herein set forth.
Fourth The combination of the lower shuttle-boxes A and the lay beam a, the
upper shuttle-boxes B, the rail C, the skeleton race E, and a hinged or removable
side applied to an upper shuttle-box substantially as described, whereby the shuttle
may be removed therefrom, or replaced therein, without interference with the said
skeloton-race, or with the warps all substantially as herein set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.