Improvements in Machinery for Weaving Smyrna or Tufted Carpets.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1889-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Weaving Smyrna or Tufted Carpets.
A communication to me from abroad by JULES LORTHIOIS-LEURENT, Manufacturer,
and EUGENE MALHÈRE,, Mechanical Engineer, both of Tourcoing, France.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London, Fellow
of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery whereby in the manufacture of carpets real
"Orient point" is produced the same as is obtained in the manufacture of Smyrna
or tufted carpets by hand.
Entirely novel combinations can be introduced -such as increase in the number of
yarns in the design or a change of the order of entry of the yarn between the warp
threads all of which can be effected by the machinery hereinafter described; or
again, increase or decrease of the number of binding threads or any other interlacing
of these binding threads with the foundation warp.
The machinery is made up of two different machines. The one is the loom, and
the other is composed of a special arrangement of mechanism hereinafter described the
object of which is the formation and the introduction into place in the fabric of
the tufts for forming the pile of the carpet.
There is nothing peculiar in the arrangement of the loom properly so called for
putting one or more binding threads between two successive rows of tufts, unless it
be that the warp is vertical and consequently the reed horizontal and that the batten
rises to beat up the weft this movement being effected by rods worked by cranks or
arms. These rods are jointed to a lever. The part of the machine which relates to
the tufts acts when the weaving devices are at rest and vice versa.
It may here be stated that in real Smyrna carpet or Oriental point as made by
hand there are generally found as in carpets made by this machinery two binding
threads between two successive tufts.
One turn of the shaft of the large wheel of the loom corresponds to two shoots.
One turn of the driving shaft corresponds to the formation and putting into place
of one row of tufts. It follows that for one turn of the driving shaft there should be
a putting into gear of the one of the constituent parts of the machine and a throwing
out of gear of the other.
The yarn intended to form the tufts is wound in separate threads on rollers or
spools (a method already known) and these rollers are placed on frames carried on
the sides of a horizontal prism; if the number of frames exceeds that of the sides of
the prism they are mounted like jacquard cards on their rollers viz. in the form of an
endless chain.
Each frame carries a series of conductors or distributors at regular distances apart
through which pass the tuft yarns which have to be presented to grippers as about to
be described.
The prism turns on trunnions; the faces of the prism can be arranged so as to
form an angle of about 45° with the vertical.
The devices for taking hold of the tuft yarns are composed of a double set of super-
posed grippers; these grippers are hinged in the same line that is to say they form
a prolongation of each other; they are at equal distances and placed opposite the
distributing conductors of the tuft yarns.
The grippers are mounted under a board or beam; this moves from its position of
work, turning on a centre below. A lever which carries this board is brought towards
the position of work by rods which are operated by excentrics. These excentrics are

page_text: shaped so as to produce successively the several degrees of advance and withdrawal of
the gripper-carrying board as follows:-
1st. Advance of the gripper board until it meets the yarn from the distributors.
In order to bring the warp to the distributors the reed carrier advances also in the
same direction until the distributors pass through the warp and about a centimetre
beyond. The grippers are then a little below orifices of the distributors and they are
ready to take hold of the tuft yarns which project from the distributors. In order
that the warp may be displaced at the same time as the reed carrier a bar sliding
on the reed holds the warp at the bottom of the spindles at the side of the
distributors. The movement of this bar is obtained from levers acting on the ends
of the bars and actuated themselves through the displacement of the reed carrier by
means of a strap one end of which is attached to a fixed point of the frame and the
other to the end of a lever.
The reed carrier is actuated by two rods connected to two excentrics mounted on a
shaft and shaped so as to produce the following movements:-
2nd. In the situation above described the two sets of grippers being open, the
closing of the lower set will cause them to take hold of and retain the tuft yarns
which project about a centimetre from the orifices of the distributors.
3rd. A slight receding of the grippers and reed carrier will draw a certain length
of yarn out of the distributors. During this time the distributors which were
introduced between the warp threads in such a way that there were two threads
between each distributor will withdraw from the warp sufficiently to allow the
reed and the warp to move laterally a distance of two spindles or intervals.
4th. The warp being held in this position, the gripper carrier and the reed carrier
moving towards the distributors will cause them to again pass through the warp two
spindles or intervals from their preceding traverse seeing that in the reed there is
only one thread per spindle.
If the upper set of grippers is closed a length of tuft yarn is held in the grippers
and passes over two warp threads.
The length of yarn for forming the tufts is therefore held at its two ends, one of
which is still uncut, by the two sets of grippers, and it is necessary to cut it. The
gripper carrier therefore recedes about a centimetre to leave sufficient tuft yarn to
start the next length. The cutting is effected by a knife mounted on a small carriage
sliding on the gripper board. This carriage has a finger that by passing under the
yarn distributors compels the yarns to present themselves to the knife which cuts
them throughout the whole width of the warp.
The knife is actuated by an excentric acting on a lever which by straps and guide
rollers is caused to work the knife carriage.
5th. A fresh receding of the grippers and of the reed carrier separates the
prepared tufts from the prism sufficiently to permit of the descent of another gripper
carrier opposite the first. But at this moment the speed of the receding movement
of the first gripper carrier diminishes in order that the yarn which passes over the
warp threads may not be over-stretched and to preserve the elasticity of the warp
threads between which the grippers of the last described gripper carrier have to
pass.
The warp which was displaced to the extent of two spindles or intervals now returns
to the extent of one spindle and in this new position the last described gripper carrier
moves to take hold of the tufts by passing between the warp threads which retain the
lengths of yarn for the tufts.
The first set of grippers then open to allow the last set in their upward movement
to draw the tufts while returning the pile from the other side of the warp and carrying
it to the height at which the binding threads will be beaten by the batten to fasten
the whole.
6th. A fresh receding of the first described gripper carrier puts it in its position of
rest. During the preceding movement the reed carrier has also returned to its
position of rest. The ascent of the last described gripper carrier places the tufts

page_text: which are afterwards fixed by the introduction of the binding threads effected owing
to the putting out of gear of the wheels which control the movement of the tufts and
to the putting into gear of the wheels which control the weaving.
It is now only necessary to explain the means employed for raising and lowering
the last described set of grippers, for taking up the tufts held by the first set of
grippers, for closing and opening the first set of grippers, for the lateral displacement
of the reed, for the movement of the prism, and for throwing the parts out of gear.
which are afterwards fixed by the introduction of the binding threads effected owing
to the putting out of gear of the wheels which control the movement of the tufts and
to the putting into gear of the wheels which control the weaving.
It is now only necessary to explain the means employed for raising and lowering
the last described set of grippers, for taking up the tufts held by the first set of
grippers, for closing and opening the first set of grippers, for the lateral displacement
of the reed, for the movement of the prism, and for throwing the parts out of gear.
MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER OR LAST DESCRIBED GRIPPERS.
These grippers are fixed on two uprights jointed to two levers which turn on trunnions.
These levers receive their motion from two excentrics keyed on a shaft. The gripper
carrier is caused in its downward and upward movements to follow different ways;
for this purpose the gripper carrier has at its ends two fingers which slide in grooves
so as to produce the movement stated.
During the rise and descent of the gripper carrier the grippers are closed; they
are so again at the time of their passage through the warp but this point being passed
they open to take hold of the tufts and they close at the moment of again rising.
The grippers are actuated by a rack each tooth of which receives the movable jaw of
a gripper the other jaw being fixed to the gripper carrier; this rack slides in guides
and a slight displacement will effect the opening or closing of all the grippers
simultaneously. A coiled spring fixed to the rack and to the gripper carrier tends to
move the grippers but a roller of appropriate form fixed to the end of the rack and
running on the inner face of a grooved guide pushes back the spring and keeps the
grippers closed until a depression on the guide surface allows the spring to act by
forcing the roller into the depression, that is to say by opening the grippers.
Near the top of their course the grippers are closed up to the moment when the
reed carrier in conducting the weft completes the course of the gripper carrier and
lodges the roller in a small notch in the guide consequently the grippers will be
opened and the tufts released.
To assist the moving back of the warp at the moment of the formation of the tufts
it is well for the gripper carrier which is at the top of its course to also receive a
backward movement in order that the grippers may not injure the fabric. With this
object a finger on a frame pulled by straps comes against the gripper carrier and
makes it recede; for this purpose the frame is pivoted at top and draws the grooved
guide around a centre at its lower end. For its return to the original position, the
saine frame on which the elasticity of the warp acts bears by means of a protruding
arm against the back of the gripper carrier and causes it to partly return to its place
of action, the force of gravity finishing the movement.
The opening and closing of the first described grippers is effected by means
analogous to those above described except that two coiled springs keep each set open
and that the closing is produced by a parallelogram movement acting on shoes fixed
at the end.
The parallelograms are actuated by two excentrics through the intermediation of
levers. These parallelograms have this advantage that in the different positions of
the gripper carrier the rack bars always follow them and are actuated at any point
of their travel.
Lateral displacement of the reed. This is produced by a parallelogram movement
on which also an excentric acts by means of levers. One side of the parallelogram
bears on a tappet which acts on the reed end ways; at the other end a coiled spring
constantly presses the reed against a roller.
Movement of the prism. The prism is caused to make a quarter turn for each turn
of the main toothed wheel by means of a hook, like the rollers of a jacquard, this
hook taking successively on to pins or studs fixed at the top of the roller. The
rotation of the prism presents successively each of the faces that have the yarn
distributors. This arrangement suffices for a design of four rows of tufts and of as
many colors as may be required; but the design can be increased indefinitely by

page_text: forming an endless chain of a suitable number of frames as with jacquard cards
The prism is held by hooks or liko devices as in jacquards.
The putting of the two constituent parts of the machine out of and into gear is
effected as follows:-
The driving shaft carries two toothed wheels each having a disc provided with
teeth. A sleeve or clutch mounted on the driving shaft is pushed to right or left by
a forked lever. The lever is actuated by two tappets mounted on the toothed wheels
which through the forked lover cause the sleeve to slide on the shaft so as to engage
or disengage the toothed wheels and actuate alternately the two constituent parts of
the machine.
·ת
000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Weaving Smyrna or Tufted Carpets.
A communication from abroad by JULES LORTHIOIS-LEURENT, Manufacturer and
EUGÈNE MALHERE, Mechanical Engineer, both of Tourcoing, France.
1, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN formerly of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London,
but now of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, 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 (as communicated to me) relates to machinery whereby in the
manufacture of carpets real "Orient point" is produced, the same as is obtained in
the manufacture of Smyrna or tufted carpets by hand.
Entirely novel combinations can be introduced such as an increase in the number
of yarns in the design or a change of the order of entry of the yarn between the
warp threads, all of which can be effected by the machinery hereinafter described; or
again an increase or decrease of the number of binding threads or any other inter-
lacing of these binding threads with the foundation warp.
The machinery is made up of two different machines. The one is the loom, and
the other is composed of a special arrangement of mechanism hereinafter described, the
object of which is the formation and the introduction into place in the fabric of
the tufts for forming the pilo of the carpet.
There is nothing peculiar in the arrangement of the loom properly so called for
putting one or more binding threads between two successive rows of tufts, unless it
be that the warp is vertical and consequently the reed horizontal and that the batten
rises to beat up the weft, this movement being effected by rods B (see the annexed
drawings) worked by cranks or arms on the shaft D. These rods are jointed to a
lever Nas shown in Figure 1. The part of the machine which relates to the tufts
acts when the weaving devices are at rest and vice versa.
It may here be stated that in real Smyrna carpet or Oriental point as made by
hand there are generally found as in carpets made by this machinery two binding
threads between two successive tufts.
One turn of the shaft of the large wheel N of the loom corresponds to two shoots.
One turn of the shaft X corresponds to the formation and putting into place of
one row of tufts. It follows that for one turn of the driving shaft X there should be
a putting into gear of the one of the constituent parts of the machine and a throwing
out of gear of the other.
The yarn intended to form the tufts is wound in separate threads on rollers D,
Figure 1, (a method already known) and these rollers are placed on frames carried on
the sides of a horizontal prism C; if the number of frames exceeds that of the sides
of the prism they are mounted like jacquard cards on their rollers,-viz.—in the form
of an endless chain.
Each frame carries a series of conductors or distributors E at regular distances

page_text: apart through which pass the tuft yarns which have to be presented to grippers as
about to be described.
The prism C turns on trunnions F; the faces of the prism can be arranged so as to
form an angle of about 45° with the vertical.
The devices for taking hold of the tuft yarns (Figures 1 and 5) are composed of a
set of superposed grippers G G ; these grippers are hinged in the same line,t hat is
to say they form a prolongation of each other; they are at equal distances and placed
opposite the distributing conductors E of the tuft yarns.
The grippers are mounted under a board or beam H; this moves from its position
of work as indicated by dotted lines of the drawing, turning on the centre U₁. The
lever H which carries this board is brought towards the position of work by the
rods J which are operated by excentrics ₁₁. These excentrics are shaped so as to
produce successively the several degrees of advance and withdrawal of the gripper-
carrying board H as follows:-
1st. Advance of the gripper board until it meets the yarn from the distributors.
In order to bring the warp I to the distributors E the reed carrier K advances also
in the same direction until the distributors pass through the warp and about a centi-
metre beyond. The grippers are then a little below orifices of the distributors and
they are ready to take hold of the tuft yarns which project from the distributors. In
order that the warp
may be displaced at the same time as the reed carrier K, a
bar L sliding on the reed M holds the warp at the bottom of the spindles at the side
of the distributors. The movement of this bar is obtained from levers 00 acting on
the ends of the bars and actuated themselves through the displacement of the reed
carrier by means of a strap P, one end of which is attached to a fixed point of the
frame and the other to the end of the lever O.
The reed carrier K is actuated by two rods QQ connected to two excentrics
mounted on the shaft R and shaped so as to produce the following movements:-
2nd. In the situation above described the two sets of grippers G G being open, the
closing of the lower set will cause them to take hold of and retain the tuft yarns
which project about a centimetre from the orifices of the distributors E.
3rd. A slight receding of the grippers and reed carrier will draw a certain length
of yarn out of the distributors. During this time the distributors which were
introduced between the warp threads in such a way that there were two threads
between cach distributor will withdraw from the warp sufficiently to allow the reed
and the warp to move laterally a distance of two spindles or intervals. (Figure 8)..
4th. The warp being held in this position, the gripper carrier and the reed carrier
moving towards the distributors will cause them to again pass through the warp two
spindles or intervals from their preceding traverse seeing that in the reed there is
only one thread per spindle.
If the upper set of grippers G is closed a length of tuft yarn is held in the grippers
and passes over two warp threads.
The length of yarn for forming the tufts is therefore held (Figure 6) at its two
ends, one of which is still uncut, by the two sets of grippers, and it is necessary to
cut it. The gripper carrier therefore recedes about a centimetre to leave sufficient
tuft yarn to start the next length. The cutting is effected by a knife T mounted on
a small carriage S (Figures 1, 4 and 9) sliding on the gripper board H. This
carriage has a finger U that by passing under the yarn distributors compels the
yarns V, Figure 9, to present themselves to the knife which cuts them throughout the
whole width of the warp.
The knife is actuated (Figure 2) by an excentric MI acting on a lever L' which by
straps m' m' m' and guide rollers is caused to work the carriage S.
5th. A fresh receding of the grippers G Figure 1 and of the reed carrier separates
the tufts from the prism sufficiently to permit of the descent of another gripper
carrier X, Figure 6, opposite the first. But at this moment the speed of the
receding movement of the first gripper carrier H diminishes in order that the yarn
which passes over the warp threads may not be overstretched and to preserve the

page_text: Sucroy of the warp threads between which the grippers Y of the gripper carrier X
have to pass.
The warp which was displaced to the extent of two spindles or intervals now
returns to the extent of one spindle and in this new position the gripper carrier X
moves to take hold of the tufts by passing between the warp threads which retain the
lengths of yarn for the tufts.
The first set of grippers then open to allow the last set Y in their upward move-
ment to draw the tufts while returning the pile from the other side of the warp, and
carrying it to the height at which the binding threads will be beaten by the batten to
fasten the whole.
6th. A fresh receding of the gripper carrier H puts it in its position of rest.
During the preceding movement the reed carrier has also returned to its position of
rest. The ascent of the gripper carrier X places the tufts which are afterwards fixed
by the introduction of the binding threads effected owing to the putting out of gear
of the wheels a which control the movement of the tufts, and to the putting into gear
of the wheels M which control the weaving.
It is now only necessary to explain the means employed for raising and lowering the
last described set of grippers Y for taking up the tufts held by the first set of grippers,
for closing and opening the first set of grippers, for the lateral displacement of the
reed, for the movement of the prism and for throwing the parts out of gear.
MOVEMENT OF THE UPPER OR LAST DESCRIBED GRIPPERS.
The grippers Y (Figures 4 and 6) are fixed on two uprights d jointed to two
levers which turn on trunnions h. These levers receive their motion from two
excentrics keyed on the shaft R. The gripper carrier X is caused in its downward
and upward movements to follow different ways; for this purpose the gripper carrier X
has at its ends two fingers m which slide in grooves (Figures 1, 4 and 7) formed
as shown in Figure 7 so as to produce the movement stated.
During the rise and descent of the gripper carrier X the grippers Y are closed;
they are so again at the time of their passage through the warp I, but this point
being passed (Figure 6) they open to take hold of the tufts and they close at the
moment of again rising. The grippers Y are actuated (Figure 10) by a racks each
tooth of which receives the movable jaw q of a gripper, the other jaw p being fixed
to the gripper carrier X; this rack slides in guides and a slight displacement (to the
positions) will effect the opening or closing of all the grippers simultaneously. A
coiled spring fixed to the racks and to the gripper carrier X tends to move the 3
grippers Y, but a roller of appropriate form fixed to the end of the rack and
running on the inner face of a grooved guide n (Figure 7) pushes back the spring t
and keeps the grippers closed until a depression o on the guide surface n allows the
spring to act by forcing the roller into the depression, that is to say by opening the
grippers.
Near the top of their course the grippers Y are closed up to the movement when
the reed carrier in conducting the weft completes the course of the gripper carrier X
and lodges the roller in a small notch in the. guide n (Figure 7); consequently
the grippers will be opened and the tufts released.
4
To assist the moving back of the warp at the moment of the formation of the tufts 45
it is well for the gripper carrier X which is at the top of its course to also receive a
backward movement in order that the grippers may not injure the fabric. With this
object the finger d" of a frame A (Figure 1) pulled by straps a, comes against the
gripper carrier X and makes it recede; for this purpose the frame is jointed at b₁
and draws the grooved guide around the point cl (Figure 7). For its return to the 50
original position, the same frame A on which the elasticity of the warp acts bears by
means of a protruding arm d against the back of the gripper carrier X and causes it
to partly return to its place of action, the force of gravity finishing the movement.
The opening and closing of the other grippers G is effected by means analogous to

page_text: those above described, except that two coiled springs t¹ (Figures 1 and 4) keep each
set open and that the closing is produced (Figure 4) by a parallelogram move-
ment g h m n acting on shoes of and pI fixed at the end.
The parallelograms (Figure 2) are actuated by two excentrics o¹ p¹ through the
intermediation of levers. These parallelograms have this advantage that in the
different positions of the gripper carrier the rack bars always follow them and are
actuated at any point of their travel.
Lateral displacement of the reed. This is produced by a parallelogram move-
ment abcd on which also an excentric acts by means of levers f¹g' h₁ (Figure 2).
The movable side d¹ c¹ of the parallelogram (Figure 4) bears on a tappet g¹ which
acts on the reed endways; at the other end a coiled spring constantly presses the
reed against a roller.
Movement of the prism. The prism is caused to make a quarter turn for each turn
of the toothed wheel M' by means of a hook, like the rollers of a jacquard, this hook
taking successively on to pins or studs fixed at the top of the roller. The rotation
of the prism presents successively each of the faces that have the yarn distributors.
This arrangement suffices for a design of four rows of tufts and of as many colors as
may be required, but the design can be increased indefinitely by forming an endless
chain of a suitable number of frames as with jacquard cards. The prism is held by
hooks or like devices as in jacquards.
The putting of the two constituent parts of the machine out of and into gear is
effected as follows:-The driving shaft X' (Figure 3) carries two toothed wheels D'
and each having a disc and I provided with teeth. A sleeve or clutch Z
mounted on the driving shaft X is pushed to right or left by a forked lever W
(Figure 3). The lever W is actuated by two tappets I¹ and I, mounted on the
toothed wheels C and D¹ which through the forked lever cause the sleeve to slide on
the shaft so as to engage or disengage the toothed wheels D¹ and (and actuate
alternately the two constituent parts of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In machinery for weaving Smyrna or tufted carpets, an arrangement of grippers
substantially as hereinbefore described whereby the tufts are formed and bound into
the fabric as in a hand made Smyrna or tufted carpet.
2. In machinery for weaving Smyrna or tufted carpets, the various arrangements
herein before described for effecting the different movements explained, and par-
ticularly those for forming the tufts and for effecting the cutting and binding of the
same, as set forth.
3. The construction of machinery for weaving Smyrna or tufted carpets as herein-
before described and represented in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 28th day of June 1889.
J. C. MEWBURN.