Certain Improvements relating to the "Shed” in Looms for Weaving Plain Fabrics.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, .23rd Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1889
RESERVE CO
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements relating to the "Shed” in Looms for Weaving
Plain Fabrics.
I, HERBERT WHITWAM, of the firm of B. and J. Whitwam and Sons Limited, of
Stanley Mills, Golcar, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Woollen Manufacturers do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention has reference to the method of and means for allowing the free and
effective opening of the "shed," and in means for maintaining such open shed, the
object thereof being to prevent knotting and twisting together of the warp threads
when weaving plain fabrics, thereby avoiding the damage which is done, under the
present arrangement, to the warp and consequently to the cloth being woven.
In the present arrangement, the whole of the warp delivered from the warp beam
or beams and threaded through the healds, is passed over a single roller or rail at the
rear of the loom, such warp lying "en masse " between the warp beam or beams and
the "shed." As a consequence of this and of the rising and falling motion of the
healds, it follows that a number of threads of warp become knotted or twisted together
so that when they arrive at or near the healds, they are broken by the forming of the
"shed"; and in many cases the heald threads themselves are broken thereby.
In order to prevent knotting and twisting together of the warp threads, I employ
an additional back roller or rail and place it at the side of the roller or rest at present
employed, such additional roller being carried by the "back swing" employed: for.
carrying or supporting the ordinary roller. I then pass the threads of warp from
the two back healds over one roller, and the threads from the next two healds over the
other roller, and so on alternately, according to the number of healds employed in the
loom. By this means an open "shed" is maintained and consequently the threads of
warp forming the "shed" are kept separate from each other, whereby knotting and
twisting together of such threads of warp are prevented.
Although the employment of an additional roller or rest at the rear of the loom
effects the objects of my invention, I would have it understood that two, three, or

page_text: more additional rollers may be employed for the same purpose; or instead of one, two,
or more additional rollers, I may employ a rod or bar and pass it between the threads
of warp, which form the "shed," at a position between the warp beam and the ordinary
roller or rest.
1 1000
Plain Fabrics.
I, HERBERT: WHITWAM, of the firm of B. and J. Whitwam and Sons Limited, of
Stanley Mills, Golcar, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire; Woollen Manufacturers, 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 the method of and means for allowing the free and
effective opening of the "shed" and for maintaining such open shed, the object
thereof being to prevent knotting and twisting together of the warp threads when
weaving plain, fabrics, thereby avoiding the damage which is done, under the present
arrangement, to the warp and consequently to the cloth being woven. In the present
arrangement, the whole of the. warp delivered from the warp beam and threaded
through the healds, is passed over a single roller or rail at the rear of the loom, such
warp lying "en masse "between the warp beam and the shed. As a consequence of
this and of the rising and falling motion of the healds; it follows that a number of
warp threads: become entangled or twisted together so that when they arrive at or near
the healds they aro broken by the formation of the shed, and the tension of the warp
threads in front of the healds therefore made unequal, and in many cases the heald
threads themselves are broken thereby.
at
In order to prevent knotting and twisting together of the warp threads, I employ
an additional back roller or rail and place it at the side of the roller or "rest
present employed, such additional roller being carried by the "back swing" used for
carrying or supporting the ordinary roller. I then pass the warp threads from the two
back healds over one roller, and the warp threads from the next two healds over the
other roller, and so on according to the number of healds employed in the loom.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood, I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.

page_text: Fig. 1 is cross section of such parts of a loom as are necessary to shew my improve-.
ments. A is the warp beam, B the ordinary back roller or "rest," and C the healds,
all arranged in the usual manner. My invention is shewn at D which consists of an
additional back roller or rest employed to separate the warp threads. This additional
roller D is placed behind and alongside the ordinary back roller or rest B, and is
supported by the back swing or bracket which supports the said roller B. In order to
place the additional back roller D in position and distribute the warp threads over their
respective back rollers or rests, I proceed in the following manner :-
"
The warp a is unwound from the warp beam, passed over the ordinary back roller B,
threaded through the healds Cor " twisted in or "geared up" in precisely the same
way as at present. After a few picks have been woven in order to make the
"twistings in secure, I raise the first or back pair of healds, and lower the second
pair (and so on, according to the number of healds employed) as shewn in Fig. 1.
"
I now take the additional back roller or rest D and place it through the shed thus
formed, and then draw the said roller back into position behind the ordinary roller B,
by which means the warp threaded through the two back healds passes over the
additional back roller D and the warp threaded through the next two healds passes
over. the ordinary roller B. Therefore, it will be understood that as each heald in
each pair rises and falls alternately, and the warp threads threaded through each pair
pass over one roller respectively, the said warp threads are separated and kept separate
from each other during the operation of weaving, thereby obtaining a clear open'shed;
extending from the healds to the back rollers, which entirely prevents the knotting or
twisting together of the said warp threads and consequent damage to the cloth being
woven.
As a little more length is required to go around the additional back roller D than
around the roller B, I place a small rod E in front of the slay until a few picks
have been woven, and the tension of each half of the warp thus equalized, wher the said
rod is withdrawn.
Although the employment of an additional roller or rest at the rear of the loom
effects the object of my invention, I would have it understood that two, three, or more
additional rollers may be employed for the same purpose; or, instead of the additional
roller D being placed behind the ordinary back roller or rest, such roller D), or a
suitable bar or rail, may be placed between the warp threads as previously explained
and brought into a position between the warp beam and the ordinary back roller Bas
shewn in Fig. 2. In this latter case the.rod E may be dispensed with.
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 :-
In weaving plain fabrics, the use of an additional back roller or rollers in com-
bination with the ordinary back roller or rest B for forming and maintaining a clear
open shed substantially as herein described..
Dated this 22nd day of January 1889.