IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to John William Holmes of Preston in the County of
Lancaster, Weaving Manager for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Holmes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1882.
JOHN WILLIAM HOLMES, of Preston in the County of Lancaster, Weaving
.Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING"
This Invention of improvements in looms for weaving has reference, firstly, to
means or apparatus for producing a "selvage" upon the inner edges of the cloth
when two or more widths are to be simultaneously woven in a single loom.
According to my Invention each of the inner edges of the cloth is provided with a
temple operating in the usual manner.
Immediately above the temples is fixed a platform below which is arranged a
scissor or cutting arrangement for cutting or dividing the weft thread at each pick
of the loom as hereinafter described.
Upon the upper side of the platform are mounted a pair of curved hooks or
fingers projecting from the inner ends of shafts or axes (arranged at right angles
to the "Slay") whose outer ends are each fitted with a pulley and cam arrangement
whereby the hooks and fingers may be partially rotated at the same time that a
backward and forward movement is imparted to them
The two shafts or axes are supported in frames capable of being moved radially,
suitable springs and stops being also provided for ensuring the return of the
supporting frames with their shafts, fingers, pulleys and cams to their normal
position after each pick of the loom. The pulleys and cams are rotated backwards
and forwards by the action of the slay through the medium of cords or bands passing
through suitably arranged eyes or guides.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the shuttle has traversed the
shed, that is to say, when the slay is furthest from the cloth and the "shed" wide
open, the movement of the hooks or fingers is so arranged that they will have
descended and curved themselves through several of the upper threads of the shed
I Drin 27

page_text: near the two adjacent edges of the cloth, and on the return movement of the slay
the hooks, upon whose extremities are suitably formed lips or catches, will engage
with and lift up the weft thread which is thereupon cut or divided between the
two hooks by the cutting or dividing apparatus above referred to.
Simultaneously with the return movement of the slay the hooks are rotated back.
to their normal position and, having in so doing drawn the two ends of the weft
thread through the two adjacent edges of the warp they will be clear of the warp
by the time the slay and reed arrive at the edge of the cloth thereby beating up
and "weaving in" the ends of the weft thread and thus producing a perfect
selvage.'
"
A second part of my Invention relates to the crank arm which connects the
crank with the slay.
In the usual arrangements the steps or bushes at each end of the arm are kept
up to the bearings by means of a central cottor passing through the two ends of
straps or bands which clasp the steps or bushes at each extremity of the arm.
According to my Invention I employ a flat spring attached at one end to the
arm by means of a set screw the other end of the spring pressing down upon the
upper end of the cotter which may be provided with a cross-pin or increased
bearing surface near its upper end upon which the spring may press a slot being
formed in the spring so that it may pass over the top of the cotter
By the employment of a spring as above described the cotter will be constantly
pressed downwards thereby drawing up to the bearings the steps or bushes and
taking up any play. arising from wear and tear.
The spring inny obviously be arranged as well below the arm as above it in
which case it might be caused to pull downwards at the lower extremity of the
cotter instead of pressing down upon its upper extremity as above described and
when arranged below a spiral form of spring miglit be found more convenient.
My Invention relates, thirdly, to the end studs which receive the extremities of
the picker rod or spindle and which I make with suitably formed hollow cavities
or recesses and insert therein hard dried buffalo hide to receive the ends of the
rod or spindle.
By this arrangement when the receiving portions of the studs become too far
worn they may be readily replaced, the expense of new metal studs being saved,.
whilst the vibration of the rod or spindle, which obtains when supported in metal
end bearings, is obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent. filed
by the said John William Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th April 1883.
!
JOHN WILLIAM HOLMES of Preston in the County of Lancaster Weaving
Manager IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
This Invention of improvements in looms for weaving has reference, firstly, to
means or apparatus for producing a selvage upon the inner edges of the cloth when
two or more widths are to be simultaneously woven upon a single loom.
According to my Invention each of the inner edges of the cloth is provided with
a temple operating in the usual manner. Immediately above the temple is fixed a
platform below which is arranged a scissor or cutting arrangement for cutting or
dividing the weft thread at each pick of the loom as hereinafter described. Upon
the upper side of the platform are mounted a pair of curved hooks or fingers
projecting from the inner ends of shafts or axes (arranged at right angles to the
slay) whose outer ends are each fitted with a pulley and cam arrangement whereby
the hooks and fingers may be partially rotated at the same time that a backward
and forward movement is imparted to them.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 illustrates the mode of producing the
selvages on the two adjacent edges of the cloth 1, 1, by my Invention; the ends of
the weft thread 2, 2, after being cut or divided; being drawn in by means of the
hooks or fingers between the upper and lower threads of the warp or shed 3
as shewn,
Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section and Fig. 3 is a plan view shewing the
arrangement of my improved apparatus as applied to an ordinary loom. 4 is a
double temple, its cap 5 forming a platform on which are mounted a pair of curved
books or fingers 6, 6 projecting from the ends of shafts or axes 7, 7. The shafts or
axes 7, 7 are carried in frames 8, 8 and in lieu of allowing the frames to move
radially and actuating the hooks or fingers by means of cams, pulleys, and
cords, as mentioned in my Provisional Specification, I prefer to make the the
frames 8,8 fixtures at an inclined angle to the slay and to impart the required
rotatory motion as well as the backward and forward movement of the hooks and
fingers as hereinafter described. Upon the lower edge of the temple 4 is provided
a platform 9 upon which are mounted slides 10,10 carrying arins .11, 11 which
engage within and give motion to the slotted levers 12, 12 accordingly as the
slides 10, 10 are moved towards or from the centre of the platform 9 by the opera-
tion of the plate 13 having slot openings 14, 14 (shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 3.).
Suitable pins 15ª projecting from the under side of the slides 10, 10 fit easily
within the guide slots 14, 14 and cause the slides 10, 10, to be moved inwardly
when the slay 15 has nearly completed its backward traverse at which point the
shed will be nearly wide open. The inward movement of the slides 10, 10 and
arms 11, 11 will cause the fingers 6,6 to descend and curve themselves through
a number of the upper threads of the shed 3 and also to be drawn inwards towards
the edge of the cloth by the action of the pin 16, (actuated by the slide 10)
against the extremities of the levers 17,17 whose other ends 18,18 are slotted
and, by means of the adjustable stop nut 19 and spiral spring 20, give the requisite
backward and forward movement to the fingers 6, 6. As the slay 15 carrying the
reed 21 approaches the cloth the slides 10, 10 will move outwardly thereby giving
the fingers 6, 6 their return movement whereupon they will, by means of the lips or
catches 22, 22, take hold of the two ends of the weft thread 50 and draw them
between the upper and lower threads of the shed to be "beaten up" and woven
in when the slay and reed arrive at the position shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
.

page_text: A bar 23 affixed to the slay 15 is so arranged that when the reed 21 has reached
the edge of the cloth it will lift up and on commencing its return it will release
the cutting spring 24 thereby dividing the weft thread 50. Fig. 4 shows the
cutting or dividing apparatus, detached. The cutting spring 24 is mounted upon
the sliding bar 25 provided with the incline 26 up which the undivided weft thread.
slides until it reaches the cutting spring 24. Upon the latter being raised by
contact with the bar 23 the weft thread will pass into the notch 27 where it will
remain until the release and descent of the spring 24 whereupon it will be cut or
divided; the two ends being held or retained between the lower side of the spring 24
and the upper side of the projection 28 until seized by the fingers 0, 0 on their
return movement as above described. The other end of the bar 25 is provided
with a slotted guide plate 29 whereby a to and fro motion is given to the sliding
bar 25 by the action of the pin 16. Simultaneously with the inward movement of
the hooks or fingers 6, 6 the cutting apparatus will move outwardly and vice versa
thereby affording more room to the finger points to get behind the weft thread
whilst on the return movement the weft thread will be drawn against the hooks or
fingers 6, 6 thereby ensuring its being caught up by the lips or notches 22, 22. The
plate 31 protects the reed 21 from contact with the hooks or fingers 6,6 when
"beating up." 32, 32 are the inner ends of the temple rod upon which the templo 4
is carried.
A second part of my Invention relates to the crank arm which connects the
crank with the slay. In the usual.arrangements the steps or bushes at each end of
the arm are kept up to the bearings by. means of a central cotter passing through
the two ends of straps or bands which clasp the steps or bushes at each extremity
of the arm. :
According to my Invention (illustrated in Figs: 5, 6 and 7) I employ a flat
spring 35 of any suitable curvature attached at one end to the arm (but preferably
to the strap or band 36) by means of a set screw or bolt and nut 37, the other end
of the spring 35 pressing down upon the upper end of the cotter 38 which
may be provided with a cross pin 39 or increased bearing surface near
its upper end upon which the spring may press, a slot 40 being formed
in the spring so that it may pass over the top of the cotter 38.
By the
employment of a spring as above described the cotter will be constantly pressed
downwards thereby drawing up to their bearings the steps or bushes 4.1 and taking
up any play arising from wear and tear. The spring may be arranged as well
below the arm as above it in which case it would be caused to pull downwards at
the lower extremity of the cotter (as shewn in Fig. 7), instead of pressing down
upon its upper end ns above described. It will be obvious that a double acting
spring may be readily adapted to arms which have two cotters; in which caso the
spring would be held down in the centre instead of at one end as in the case of a
single acting spring. The cross pins 39 may be made so as to be readily taken out
and replaced when it is desired to remove the cotter. To this end the cross pin is
formed with two flat indonted sides and fits into a suitably shaped orifice as shewn
in Fig: 8.
My Invention relates, thirdly, to the end studs which receive the extremities of
the picker rod or spindle and which I make with suitably formed hollow cavities
or recesses and insert.therein hard dried buffalo hide to receive the ends of the rod
or spindle. Fig. 9 is a sectional side view and Fig. 10 an end view of an ordinary
formi of spindle stud of which 42 is prepared buffalo hide held within the recess 43
by the pins 44. Fig. 11 shews a box end spring stud fitted with buffalo hido and
fastened to the spring 45 by the rivetted ears 46, 40. By the above described
arrangements, when the receiving portions of the studs become too far worn they
may be readily replaced, the expense of new metal studs being saved; whilst the
vibration of the rod or spindle, which obtains when supported in metal end bearings,
is obviated.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing it, I would have it understood that what I consider to be novel and

page_text: original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me is as follows (that is
to say):
1. The mode of forming inner selvages by cutting or dividing the weft thread.
and drawing the weft ends within the shed as described and shewn in Fig. 1 of
the Drawings.
2. The combination of mechanism for cutting or dividing the weft thread
and rotating books or fingers for drawing the weft thread within the shed
substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings for the purpose specified.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus for producing
inner selvages constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described and
shewn in the Drawings.
4. The use or employment of a spring for pressing or drawing down the cotters
of crank arms substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
5. The use or employment of hard buffalo hide to receive the ends of picker rods
or spindles arranged substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings.
In Witness whereof I, the said John William Holmes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Ninth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
JNO. W. HOLMES. (L.S.)