Improvements in Pickers for Looms.
Year: 1894

page_text: COME LEIE DIBUITRATION.
Improvements in Pickers for Looms.
We, JAMES MUIR, of 46 Tobago Street, Glasgow, Manufacturer, and ALFRED
MUIR, of 104 West George Street, Glasgow, Stockbroker, 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 relates to pickers used in looms.
As is well known the common leather pickers in general use are very soon broken
and destroyed, especially in looms running at high speeds, by the constant wear
and tear to which they are subjected.
Now this invention has for its object to make a picker, whether built of leather,
canvas, rubber or other like material, much stronger and more durable than
heretofore by combining with it one or more bands or pieces of thin spring steel or
other pliable and suitable metal.
The accompanying sheet of drawings shows, by way of illustration or example,
various methods of carrying out our invention.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same or similar parts:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a sectional plan of a leather picker a having
a U shaped band or strip of spring steel b combined with it. As will be seen the
metal band b is inserted between the outer and inner folds c, d, of the leather and
is held securely in place by the usual rivets e which pass right through the leather,
the tongue f, and the band. Holes or openings are made in the band for the rivets
to pass through.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of another method of carrying out our invention
wherein two straight spring steel strips 61, 6* are inserted, one at each side, between
the leather folds c, d of the picker. The rivets e, in this case, also, pass right
through the leather sides, the tongue f and the strips 61, 62.
Fig. 4 shows, in sectional plan, a picker having a single band or strip of pliable
metal 6 inserted in it.
This band, which is inserted between the inner and outer folds c, d, passes along
one side, round the back, up the other side, across the front and is then bent back
at g between the tongue and the inner fold d.
The rivets e pass right through the leather folds, the tongue and both sides of
the band as well as the bent back part g.
This band, which is shown in perspective at. Fig. 5, has, preferably, a hole in its
front part in order to prevent undue resistance to the shuttle.
Fig. 6 shows, in sectional plan, a picker having a band made with bent
lugs i, at each side. These lugs, as shown, are bent round to the outside, in
order to prevent the rivet heads cutting into the outer fold c of the leather.
Fig. 7 shows a picker, in sectional plan, having a band 6 which is made at one
end with a bent lug i and at the other end is bent inwards in the same manner as
the band Fig. 4. An additional U shaped lug j may be fitted at one side.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation and Fig. 9 a sectional plan of a reversible double
tongued picker. f,fare the tongues and e, e' rivets passing through the picker and
tongues. Two strips of metal 61, 63, the same as at Fig. 3, are shown as inserted
between the folds c, d of the leather. As will be seen the rivets pass through the
ends of each of the pieces of metal and hold them in place.
With this picker, when one side is worn it can be reversed.

page_text: If desired one of the tongues for f' may be made to project from the underside
of the picker and the other from the top side, instead of both being on the top side
as shown.
As, with the working of the picker stick, the leather constituting the back of
the picker is apt to stretch, it may be found advisable to make the bands as shown
at Figs. 10 or 11 in order that they may not. be subjected to any undue strain but
may yield along with and always be supported by the leather of the outer fold.
Fig. 10 shows, in side elevation, a U shaped nietal band having slots k, k¹
through which the rivets or staples e pass. The slots permit the band to move
backwards as the leather stretches.
Fig. 11 shows in side elevation, a U shaped band having its ends cut away
at 1, for the same purpose. The prong m, at each end of the band, passes
between the rivets.
Fig. 12 shows in plan a U shaped band having the round back end n thickened
so as to give additional strength at that part.
Fig. 13 shows, in plan, a band made in two parts o, o' which overlap each other
at the back end o². By overlapping the parts in this manner the back of the band
is strengthened.
The strengthening band or strip may be placed either inside or outside of the
leather instead of between its folds.
It is to be clearly understood that although we have shown by way of illustration,
various forms of strengthening band or strip, we do not confine ourselves thereto
as it is manifest that the shape and form of the band can be further altered or
modified without departing from the principle of the invention.
The invention is applicable, as aforesaid, to any form of leather, canvas, rubber,
or other like picker to which a strengthening band or strip of metal can be applied
with advantage.
The metal may be corrugated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same. is to be performed, we declare that what we
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. The combination with a picker for looms, of one or more bands or pieces of
spring steel or other pliable metal, for the purpose of strengthening it and
rendering it more durable, substantially as herein before set forth.
2. The several forms of pickers and strengthening bands for pickers, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown on the annexed drawings..
Dated this 25th day of April 1894.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.