Improvements in Shedding and Taking up Motions (of. Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in Shedding and Taking up Motions (of. Looms for
Weaving.
I, EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH of Dobcross Ironworks, Dobcross, in the. County of
York, Power Loom Maker, (which invention has been communicated to me from
abroad by George Frank Hutchins, of Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts,
United States of America) 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 :-
The improvements herein enumerated have reference to the Hollingworth" and
Knowles' fast running loom, and the first part of the invention refers to the shedding
mechanism, where the healds are attached to the jack levers by means of cords,
passing over grooved pulleys for operating the said healds. In practice I find that to
secure an equal shed of the warp, that the back bealds are made to travel a greater
distance upward and downward than the front healds, and this arises in consequence
of the form or shape of the open shed; therefore some of the connecting cords are
placed at a greater distance from the fulcrum of the said jack levers than others, con-
sequently the angles of the cords are very unequal, causing thereby an improper or
unequal shed.
In order to produce a more even shed for the shuttle to pass through, and to keep
the angle of the cords more equal, I employ one or more sets of additional grooved or
sheave pulleys, placed at a more elevated position for the cords to pass over, whereby
the angle of the connecting cords are more acute, permitting the jack levers to
oscillate more freely, producing thereby a more even shed.
:
In order that this part of my invention may be better understood, I will now make
reference to the accompanying sheet of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is side elevation
of a detached portion of so much of the upper part of a loom as is necessary to shew
the application of my improvements thereto Fig. 2 is end elevation of a set of sheaves,
and Fig. 3 is plan of parts hereinafter referred to. In the accompanying. Drawings
No. 1 represents the top rail of the loom frame, carrying brackets. 2, to which the
several jack levers are pivotted at 6, such jack levers being connected to the jacquard
mechanism by means of the ordinary links or connecting rods. 7. The front set of

page_text: grooved pulleys or sheaves are marked 8 and revolve upon a stud 9 suitably supported
over which pulleys pass the harness cords a, connected to the front short jack levers 3
and and to the healds 10 in the usual manner. The series of notches in the upper
end of the jack levers indicate that the cords may be connected to any one of them,
according as circumstances require. The second series of grooved pulleys or sheaves
are shewn at 11 working on a stud 12 and being connected by a suitably shaped
bracket 13 to the support carrying the stud 9 or other convenient part of the loom.
In this case the connecting cords b pass from the healds over the second series of
sheaves 11 and is connected to the ends of other and longer jack levers 5. A third
series of grooved pulleys or sheaves, also working upon a stud and connected to a
bracket conveniently supported, are indicated at 14, over which sheaves the connecting
cords e pass to the longer jack levers 19 by which means; as will be seen, the angles
of the cords passing over the sheaved pulleys to the levers are much quicker than
would be the case if all the sheaved pulleys were upon the same stud, as in that case
the connecting.cords. would occupy the positions shewn in dotted lines. It will thus
be observed that the movement of the jack hooks will be more easily performed by the
angle of the connecting cords being quicker, as the Drawing indicates, consequently
the power required to raise the healds will also be reduced and a more even shed
obtained.
The stud 9 carrying the lower set of sheaves is made with flattened ends 17 (see
Fig. 3) for the purpose of entering supporting grooves or slots made in the top rail A
of the loom, and a hand wheel and screw .15 (see Fig. 1) with a check nut 16 is
employed to work underneath the support 18 carrying cross stud 9, so that upon the
hand wheel being operated, the sheaves may be raised or lowered when they require
adjustment; if therefore the brackets carrying the second and third series of sheaved
pulleys be attached to the support 18; all the pulleys and cords can be equally adjusted
at one and the same time by the movement of the hand wheel.
The second part of my invention relates to the taking up mechanism of looms for
weaving, the object of which is to provide a new and simple form of mechanism by
means of which a greater range of speed or movement can be given to the taking up
beam than is now effected by means of the ordinary method of changing the wheels.
In carrying out my invention l'employ a shield or cover for the purpose of governing
the forward movement of the pawl or actuating lever, whether such pawl is pulling or
pushing the said ratchet wheel.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 4, which is a side view of a portion
of an ordinary loom having my improvements applied thereto, and Fig. 5. is end view
of some of the parts. In the accompanying Drawing!A represents the loom frame, 6 the
ratchet wheel, to which is cast or otherwise fixed a pinion 6' working upon a stud 63,.
projecting from or secured to the frame of the loom. A spur wheel is shewn at c₁
working upon a stud c', also projecting from or attached to the loom frame, such
wheel.c gearing with the pinion 1 of the ratchet wheel.
The stud c projects through the framework A and carries upon its other end a
pinion engaging with another gear wheel d fastened upon the end of the taking up
beam d¹ revolving in suitable brackets d' secured to the frame end of the loom. Upon
the stud 6 is placed loosely a bell crank lever e the upper or longest end of which is
provided with a shield or guard e', such shield projecting over and covering part of the
teeth of the ratchet wheel. The forward end e³ or front part of the shield is hinged
ate and takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel b, becoming thereby a holding
catch to prevent the ratchet wheel from returning backward, thereby I dispense with
the use of a separate holding catch, which is now employed. The hinged front end
of the shield kept in gear with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a flat spring, but if
it is required to turn the ratchet wheel backwards the hinged shield may be raised and
released from contact with the ratchet wheel, as shewn in dotted lines.
The lever or arm for actuating the ratchet wheel is shewn at g, hinged at g', the
opposite end thereof at one period of its movement resting upon the shield or cover e¹,
but when the lever arm g is operated and moved forward by the bell crank lever g
and rod 9º actuated by the jacquard or other, mechanism, the front end of the lever

page_text: arm g is caused to slide over the shield and take into the teeth of the ratchet wheel, so
as to push it forward one or more teeth, according to the extent of the forward move-
ment of the lover arm g as will be easily understood. If, however, the lever g is
required to take up more teeth or fewer teeth, I provide mechanism for moving the
shield backward or forward so as to cover more teeth and leave fewer for the lever g
to operate; or I may cause the shield to go backward and to leave more teeth exposed
to the action of the said lever, by which means the speed of rotation of the ratchet
wheel may be increased or diminished, and this I effect by means of the upright rod f,
which is connected by nut to the lower end of the bell crank lever e the upper end
of such upright rod being screwed so as to take into a nut f¹, therefore if the rod be
turned to the right or left, so as to shorten or lengthen it, the bell crank lever will be
operated so as to cause the shield to cover up or expose the ratchet wheel, permitting
the lever arm g to operate the ratchet wheel slower or quicker according to the
character of the cloth being woven. The spiral spring g' is employed to operate the
lever g in the reverse direction to the jacquard.
Instead of the lever g being operated direct from the jacquard mechanism, it may
be operated by a cam as shown at h, where it will be seen that the levers h¹ may rest
upon the shield instead of the one shewn in the Drawings.
By the application of the shield together with the vertical rod for aljusting the
position of the shield, it will be understood that the number of teeth which the levers
push forward can be easily regulated when an alteration in the speed of the taking up
mechanism is required, and this will depend upon the design of cloth being woven,
and upon the thickness of the weft employed.
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 :-
:―
Firstly. In a loom, the combination of the reciprocatory jack hooks 3, healds 9,
together with two or more elevated series of sheaves for the purpose of reducing the
angle of the connecting cords in manner substantially as shewn and described.
Secondly. In a loom, the combination therewith of two or more sets of sheaved
pulleys supported on the lower cross stud 9, all of which sheaves can be simultaneously
adjusted by the hand wheel and screw in manner as described.
Thirdly. In the take up mechanism of looms for weaving, the employment of a
ratchet wheel and a push or pull pawl for operating the same, combined with the
moveable shield or guard el, the hinged or outer end of which acts as a holdfast pawl,
substantially as described.
Fourthly. In taking up mechanism of looms for weaving, a ratchet wheel, and push
or pull pawl for operating the same, combined with the moveable jointed shield or
guard, made adjustable or regulated by a screwed rod such as f, substantially as shewn
and described.