Improvements in or connected with Looms for Weaving Leather Belts or Fabrics.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Looms for Weaving Leather
Belts or Fabrics.
I, HARRY ELLIS, of St. Catherine's, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to looms for weaving leather belts for driving
machinery, and similar or other purposes; and has more particularly for its object
to provide improvements by which the belts produced shall be firm, and hard and
tight woven, and of equal strength and elasticity throughout their width; and
also of such a character that there is no tendency or liability of any of the warps
being under greater tension or strain when the belt is in work than others, so
obviating the breakage of individual warps.
In a loom according to this invention, the leather warps or strings are wound
on separate bobbins or reels; and each bobbin or reel has a breaking device or
retarding action, by which a tension is put upon all the warps--and to the required
degree during the weaving. The taking off means by which the warp and belt
or fabric is drawn through and delivered from the loom, consists of positively and
intermittently actuated rollers, between which the belt or fabric passes, and which
are operated from a part of the loom, after each pick is completed.
Between the warp bobbins, and the heddles of the loom, there is introduced a
holding or gripping mechanism which holds all the warps during the beating up
motion, so that a positive holding and tension of the warps whilst the beating up
is being effected, is obtained. During this time the taking off rollers are
stationary; and then after this action, the stopping or gripping mechanism is
operated so as to release the warps, whereupon instantly the taking off rollers
are actuated; and the next picking movement is effected.
According to one form of holding or gripping device, there is an upper and
under plate or jaw, and one or both of which are faced with india-rubber, and
through these plates or doors the warps are passed. By the use of the rubber face
or faces, the gripping of all the warps is assured, as although the warps will
necessarily vary in size and thickness, yet when one plate or jaw is pressed onto
the other by suitable means in the gripping action, the rubber enables the jaws
to be pressed sufficiently close so as to come in contact with and hold these
which are thin, as well as those, of course, which are thicker. In one form of
gripping or holding device, there is one fixed jaw or plate and one moving part,
which is moved up and down in any suitable way by a suitable mechanism.
The taking off mechanism in one case consists of three rollers, an upper and
two lower rollers, between which the belt passes when they are operated, and this
mechanism, the gripping or holding mechanism, and the heddles, are all actuated
from the same shaft of the loom; whilst the sley is operated by a separate
mechanism.
In a loom for the weaving of leather belts or fabrics as above described, the
leather warps are wetted by drawing them through a bath of water in passing

page_text: between the taking off bobbins and the shed. This enables the weaving action to
be performed with greater regularity and ease, and improves the structure of the
belt.
By the improvements above described, in the first place the belt is woven under
tension, as described, with the result that it is firm in texture, also the tension of
the fabric of the belt at different parts of its width is the same. Hence, when the
belt is in operation, (it being assumed it is of a suitable design or stitch, and nature
of weaving) it is not liable to stretch at one side more than another, or work
crookedly or unevenly; and it is firm both diagonally and laterally. Also, pro-
vided the belt is of a suitable type of weaving or stitch, it is thoroughly compact
and sound, and, in use, does not stretch and become narrower, or attenuated.
Dated this 19th day of March 1897
Improvements in or connected with Looms for Weaving Leather
Belts or Fabrics.
1, HARRY ELLIS, of St. Catherine's, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has reference to looms for weaving leather belts for driving
machinery, and similar or other purposes; and has, more particularly, for its object
to provide improvements, by which the belts produced shall be firm, and hard, and
tight woven, and of equal strength and elasticity throughout their width; and
also of such a character that there is no tendency or liability of any of the warps
being under greater tension or strain, when the belt is in work, than others, so
obviating the breakage of individual warps.
In a loom, according to this invention, the leather warps or strings are wound
on separate bobbins or reels; and each bobbin or reel has a braking device, or
retarding action, by which a tension is put upon all the warps and to the required
degree during the weaving. The taking off means, by which the warp and belt
or fabric is drawn through, and delivered from the loom, consists of positively and
intermittently actuated rollers, between which the belt or fabric passes, and which
are operated from a part of the loom, after each pick is completed.
Between the warp bobbins, and the heddles of the loom, there is introduced a
holding or gripping mechanism which holds all the warps during the beating up
motion, so that a positive holding and tension of the warps, whilst the beating up
is being effected, is obtained. During this time the taking off rollers are
stationary; and then after this action, the stopping or gripping mechanism is
operated, so as to release the warps, whereupon, instantly, the taking off rollers
are actuated, and the next picking movement is effected.
According to one form of holding or gripping device, there is an upper and
under plate or jaw, and one or both of which are faced with india rubber, and
through these plates or jaws the warps are passed. By the use of the rubber face
or faces, the gripping of all the warps is assured, as although the warps will
necessarily vary in size and thickness, yet, when one plate or jaw is pressed on to
the other, by suitable means, in the gripping action, the rubber enables the jaws
to be pressed sufficiently close so as to come in contact with and hold those warps
which are thin, as well as those, of course, which are thicker. In one form of

page_text: gripping or holding device, there is one fixed jaw or plate and one moving part,
which is moved up and down in any suitable way by a suitable mechanism.
The taking off mechanism, in one case, consists of three rollers, an upper and
two lower rollers, between which the belt passes when they are operated, and this
mechanism, the gripping or holding mechanism, and the heddles, are all actuated
from the same shaft of the loom; whilst the sley is operated by a separate
mechanism.
In a loom for the weaving of leather belts or fabrics, as above described, the
leather warps are wetted by drawing them through a bath of water in passing
between the taking off bobbins and the shed. This enables the weaving action to
be performed with greater regularity and ease, and the packing of the warps to
be better effected, and generally improves the structure of the belt.
By the improvements above described, in the first place, the belt is woven under
tension, as described, with the result that it is firm in texture; also the tension of
the fabric of the belt at different parts of its width is the same. Hence, when the
belt is in operation, (it being assumed it is of a suitable design or stitch and nature
of weaving) it is not liable to stretch at one side more than another, or work
crookedly or unevenly; and it is firm, both diagonally and laterally. Also, pro-
vided the belt is of a suitable type of weaving or stitch, it is thoroughly compact
and sound, and, in use, does not stretch and become narrower, or attenuated.
The loom, above described, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figures 3 and 4 side elevation
in section, and end view, of a part of the loom.
Referring to the drawings, a are the frame members of the loom; bis the sley;
c are the taking off rollers; d is the holding or gripping device, by which the warps
are held; e is the trough or bath containing water, through which the warps are
passed; and f are the reels or bobbins, each of which contains, and has wound
upon it, a separate leather warp string or thong. 1, 2, 3 and 4 designate the
heddles, and g g' are the rollers above, from which the heddles are suspended;
1 and 2 being connected by bands h to the roller g, and 3 and 4 being similarly con-
nected to the roller gl by the bands h¹. ii represent two sets of levers fulcrummed
at at either side of the loom, and connected at their outer ends by cords to the
bottoms of the heddles, each heddle being connected at each side to one of the levers.
The heddles are worked by these levers; and in action, those connected with the
heddles 1 and 3 will be up, when those connected with heddles 2 and 4 are down,
and vice versa. This arrangement of heddles is specially adapted for use in weav
ing leather belts of the type set forth in my Specification of Application for
Patent No. 6819 of 1897. The levers i are operated by suitable cams on the
shaft, which is driven from the driving mechanism of the loom, as hereinafter
described.
The completed belt shewn in the drawings is designated x, whilst the warps,
from which it is partly made, are denoted throughout the machine by the letter y.
These warps, as stated, pass through the water in the bath e, from the reels f,
passing under the rollers e; thence through a comb or guide pins & on the upper
side of the beam acting as the reed; and thence under the gripping and holding
bar d, and then through the heddles and the sley. The completely woven belt
is passed through the take off rollers c, of which there are three, the taking off or
feeding forward being effected by passing it between the two back rollers, which,
say, are stationary, and the front roller, which is adapted to be moved up to and
away from the back rollers by screws and hand wheels c¹, which move the bearings
carrying the journal of this roller. And thus, by pressing this roller on to the
others with the belt between them, the taking off is effected as the rollers are
rotated.
The taking off rollers, the heddles, and the gripping and holding bar d, are
worked by one interconnected mechanism, while the sley is worked by a separate
or independent mechanism; and both of these mechanisms are adapted to be con-
trolled and set in action and stopped by hand by the weaver, from the end of the

page_text: loom, and they are worked independently and at different times. The three first
mentioned parts or elements of the loom are operated through a belt driven
wheel, which is mounted on a shaft 7, revolving in bearings 1, and is alternately
made to revolve it, and revolve upon it loosely, without revolving it, through a
clutch gear m of any known suitable kind, which revolves with the shaft, and which
alternately engages with and disengages from the wheel j; these actions being
performed through the rod and lever connections m¹, operated by a foot lever. The
taking off rollers are actuated from the shaft by a crank thereon, a connecting
rod 2, a pawl lever and a pawl 3 and ratchet wheel n' engaged by the pawl, and
spur gearing driven from a pinion on the spindle of which the pawl lever and
ratchet wheel n are mounted and fixed. By the rotation of the crank n, it will be
seen, the pawl lever will be reciprocated, and the degree of each reciprocation
movement will determine the amount of feed, or drawing off movement, of the belt,
after each beating up action.
The heddle shaft is revolved from the shaft by the spur wheels it. And the
warp gripping bar d is operated—that is, raised and lowered-from the shaft /,
by a cam on the shaft 1, a cam frame or ring d², actuated by ', a lever ³, con-
nected by a rod with d², and an adjustable rod do, connecting the lever with
the gripping bar, through a lever do, which is connected to the centre of the bar d
by a ling . Thus, in action, as the shaft I revolves, the cam d¹ moves the rod
to and fro, and thereby lifts and depresses the gripping har d.
Regarding the mechanism for driving the sley, it is driven by a belt pulley_p,
which drives a shaft 7, and is alternately made to revolve this shaft, or revolve
loosely upon it, by a clutch q, similar to the clutch m, and operated-that is thrown
into and out of gear with the pulley by the rods and levers q', which are actuated
by a hand lever at the end of the loom. The sley bis rocked to and fro by this
driving mechanism, by a pinion r meshing with a spur wheel r', which is fixed on
and drives a shaft, extending through the loom laterally, and having upon it at
either end a disc ; these discs being connected with the sley by connecting
rods Thus, as the shaft p is revolved, the cranks 3 rotate, and move the sley
to and fro upon its hinges or pivots b¹.
The loom, shewn, is also provided with mechanisms for producing a belt made of
warp and weft and stranded or corded selvedges, of the kind set forth in the Specifi-
cation of my Application for Patent No. 6819 of 1897.
These mechanisms-which are generally marked s-consist of means of laying
up together strands of leather thongs, as the belt is being made. As these
mechanisms are fully described in my said other specification, their detailed con-
struction and mode of operation will not be further described here, more than to
say, that they are rotated from the heddle shaft 3, from a belt pulley thereon,
and belt, through a belt pulley t' on the shaft 2, and belt pulleys s' on the rotating
tubular shaft of the mechanisms s; the pullies s¹ being driven from the pullies t³,
by belts connecting them.
It will be seen that the taking off rollers, heddles and the warp gripping or hold-
ing means and also the stranded or corded selvedge making mechanisms, when
these are employed-- -are all driven by a set of interconnected mechanisms, as
stated, and driven by a single belt; while the sley is driven by a separate mechanism
and belt driving gear.
The operation of the loom and machinery are as follows:-When, after the weft
(which has been passed through the shed by the shuttle) has been beaten up by
the sley, the sley driving clutch q is thrown out of gear with the driving wheel p,
and the clutch m is put into engagement with the driving pulley j, the gripping
bar d, and the mechanisms driven by it, are set in motion. The part first operated
being raised off the warps; then, the taking off rollers receive partial rotation by
their actuating mechanism; the heddles are operated and make a fresh shed; and
the bar is brought down on to the warps and presses them into the groove or
recess of the rubber face 2 on the beam k', and thus firmly grips and holds them;
the equal gripping and holding of all the warps (which will be of different thick-

page_text: ness) being effected by the yielding nature of the rubber strip 2. The clutch m
is then thrown out of gear with the wheel j, and all these parts and mechanisms
described are brought to rest. When this condition of things exists, the warps
will be under tension in the loom, the tension being effected by the warp reels
having a frictional device of any known suitable kind, in connection with them,
tending to prevent their rotation, and the shuttle is then put through the shed.
The clutch is then put into gear with the wheel p, and the sley bis operated and
drives the weft hard up against the completed fabric, and then returns; where-
upon the clutch q is thrown out of gear with p, by the hand lever q2; and the
clutch m is thrown into gear with the wheel by the foot lever m², and the cycle
of operations is then repeated, that is the gripping bar dis raised off the warps,
the taking off rollers are rotated, and the heddles are operated as described.
In the term "leather" herein used, it is intended that the word shall be read to
include both natural, i.e. animal, leather, and substitutes for leather; or material
which, for the present purpose of its application, would be practically analogous,
or equivalent to it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein described improved loom for making woven leather belts, namely,
a loom in which the sley, on the one hand, and the heddles, taking off rollers, and
warp holding means, (which are interconnected), on the other hand, are driven
through separate mechanisms or motions on the loom; substantially as described,
for the purposes specified.
2. The herein described improvement connected with the manufacture of woven
leather driving belts, consisting in passing the warps through a bath of water
between the warp reel and the shed; for the purposes specified.
3. In a loom for making woven leather driving belts, the improvement described,
consisting of the employment between the warp reels or equivalent warp contain-
ing devices, and the shed, of gripping or holding means, by which the warps are
rigidly held while the beating up motion is in action in beating the weft up into
the fabric; for the purposes specified.
4. The improved loom for making woven leather belting, having taken off, holding,
and heddle mechanisms, co-operating, and driven by a stopping and starting
means; and a beating up motion mechanism, driven by a separate stopping and
starting means, as herein set forth, with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
5. In a woven leather belt loom, the warp gripping and holding means as set
forth.
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