IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING CHENILLE OR AXMINSTER CARPETS AND RUGS, AND IN THE METHOD OF PREPARING CHENILLE WEFT OR FUR THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Adam, of the Firm of Tomkinson and Adam,
Carpet and Rug Manufacturers, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING CHENILLE OR
AXMINSTER CARPETS AND RUGS, AND IN THE METHOD OF PREPARING
CHENILLE WEFT OR FUR THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Adam at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1880.
WILLIAM ADAM, of the Firm of Tomkinson and Adam, Carpet and Rug
Manufacturers, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING CHENILLE OR AXMINSTER CARPETS AND RUGS, AND IN
THE METHOD OF PREPARING CHENILLE WEFT OR FUR THEREFOR."
+
The Invention has for its object improvements in looms for weaving chenille or
Axminster carpets and rugs, and in the method of preparing chenille weft or fur
therefor, whereby greater speed than heretofore is obtained in the weaving of such
description of carpets and rugs.
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to John Orr, dated July 11, 1862,
No. 1999, it was proposed to dispense with winding the chenille weft or "fur" on
a stick or staff, and to weave it off a reel placed at the side or back of the loom ;
with this arrangement it was also proposed to employ a reed with every third
space left open at the top, and with the intermediate dents bent together and
united so as to present sharp points by which the catcher warps were guided into
their proper splits.
It was also proposed in lieu of operating the catcher warps by heddles to pass
them through the eyes of needles, which operated them at the required times, and
it was further proposed to mount the catcher warp beam upon or in connection
with the needle frame so as to move therewith. The arrangements proposed in
the said Specification for carrying the Invention into effect were crude and ill
considered, and were never successfully put into operation. According to my
present Invention I am enabled successfully to weave the chenille weft or fur from
a beam or bobbin or from a basket.
In carrying my Invention into effect, I employ a bar of needles set to the
required gauge, and through the eyes of which the "catcher
or binding warp
passes from a small roller or bobbin with flanged ends on which it is wound.
The bar of needles is fixed to a frame mounted with capability of being moved
up and down in suitable fixed guides carried by the framing of the loom. The
catcher warp roller or bobbin is mounted in bearings carried by the needle frame just
[Price 6dT

page_text: above the needle bar, and moves up and down with it, and such catcher warp roller
or bobbin is provided at one or both ends thereof with suitable taking up
appliances.
In order to allow the catcher warps to enter their respective spaces in the sley
or reed, the latter is made, as has before been proposed, in the form of a comb with
spaces at intervals through which the catcher or binding warp passes in order to
make a shed; the tops of the dents between the open top spaces are united together
and filled in solid, and I prefer to form the outer dents in one strip of metal bent
over at the top, in order to give increased strength to such parts. I also form the
front or face of such solid tops inclined slightly forwards from the upper to the
lower part thereof for the purpose hereinafter described.
•
The chenille weft or "fur "is wound on a beam or large bobbin, or it may be
placed in a basket; the beam, bobbin, or basket is placed in any convenient
position, and the end of the chenille weft or "fur" is passed through one or more
guides carried by a slide which runs to and fro on a rod or bar fixed to the loom
behind the catcher warp needles, and such slide is moved at the required times
from one side of the loom to the other, carrying the chenille weft or "fur" with it
ready to be pulled through at the end of its course between the lower ends or points
of the needles and the top of the sley or reed; the latter is then moved forward in
such a position that the bottom edge of the solid tops of the reed shall ride upon
the ground warps and press the chenille weft or "fur" to its proper place, to assist
which the lathe with the reed or sley has a rising motion imparted to it just as it
is completing its forward motion, thus bringing the fur to its proper place without
the aid of a comb, which it has hitherto been found necessary to employ in this
class of loom. When beating up the ground weft, the reed or sley is moved to and
fro in the ordinary manner, but when pressing the chenille weft or
place the motions above described are imparted to it.
"fur" to its
The slide employed in carrying the chenille weft or fur into the open shed may
be operated in any convenient manner, but the way I have found to answer, and
which forms part of iny present Invention, consists in attaching one end of a cord
or other flexible connection to each end of the slide, and passing such flexible
connections partly around one or more guide wheels at each side of the loom,
whence they pass to wheels fixed one at or near each end of an axle, which receives
the required reciprocating rotary motion at the proper times from a cam and
suitable connections.
In order to enable the weaver more readily than heretofore to adjust the fur or
pile in the shed I according to one plan propose to leave small spaces in the weaving
of the fur to mark the length for each insertion, and to allow the fur to turn more
easily round the catcher thread at the edge of the work.
Hitherto the general mode of marking the lengths of fur has been to put a
mark or shoot of hemp or cotton of different colour at the required intervals so as
to distinguish it from the worsted material of the fur, and which hemp shoot
required to be pulled out by the weaver each time the fur was brought to the
edge of the work.
The method by which I propose to secure my object is as follows:-
In the process of preparing the fur (called weft weaving) I employ a finer or
single weft worsted of the same colour and shade as the coarser worsted used
throughout; where the small spaces are wanted I only use the finer worsted, say,
four or six shoots, as the case may be, at each side of the space, which not only
serves as a mark but binds the coarser worsted back and prevents it filling up the
spaces required.
The spaces can be made in the ordinary way by not allowing the lathe to be
brought forward to the fell of the work; in order, however, to make the spaces
more regular and of uniform size I propose to put a wire of the gauge wanted into
the shed of the work in centre of the fine shoots, and when pulled out the required.
space will be made..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Adam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th May
1881.
WILLIAM ADAM, of the Firm of Tomkinson and Adam, Carpet and Rug
Manufacturers, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING CHENILLE OR AXMINSTER CARPETS AND RUGS, AND IN
THE METHOD OF PREPARING CHENILLE WEFT OR FUR THEREFOR."
The Invention has for its object improvements in looms for weaving chenille or
Axminster carpets and rugs, and in the method of preparing chenille weft or fur
therefor, whereby greater speed than heretofore is obtained in the weaving of such
description of carpets and rugs.
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to John Orr, dated July 11th,
1862, No. 1999, it was proposed to dispense with winding the chenille weft or
"fur"
on a stick or staff, and to weave it off a reel placed at the side or back of
the loom; with this arrangement it was also proposed to employ a reed with every
third space left open at the top, and with the intermediate dents bent together and
united so as to present sharp points by which the catcher warps were guided into
their proper splits.
It was also proposed in lieu of operating the catcher warps by heddles to pass
them through the eyes of needles, which operated them at the required times, and it
was further proposed to mount the catcher warp beam upon or in connection with
the needle frame so as to move therewith. The arrangements proposed in the said
Specification for carrying the Invention into effect were crude and ill considered,
and were never successfully put into operation.
According to my present Invention I am enabled successfully to weave the
chenille weft or fur from a beam or bobbin or from a basket.
"
In carrying my Invention into effect I employ a bar of needles set to the required
gauge, and through the eyes of which the "catcher or binding warp passes from a
small roller or bobbin with flanged ends, on which it is wound.
'
The bar of needles is fixed to a frame mounted with capability of being moved
up and down in suitable fixed guides carried by the framing of the loom. The
catcher warp roller or bobbin is mounted in bearings carried by the needle frame
just above the needle bar, and moves up and down with it, and such catcher warp
roller or bobbin is provided at one or both ends thereof with suitable taking up
appliances.
In order to allow the catcher warps to enter their respective spaces in the sley
or reed the latter is made, as has before been proposed, in the form of a comb
with spaces at intervals through which the catcher or binding warp passes in order
to make a shed; the tops of the dents between the open top spaces are united
together and filled in solid, and I prefer to form the outer dents in one strip of
metal bent over at the top in order to give increased strength to such parts. I
also form the front or face of such solid tops inclined slightly forwards from the
upper to the lower part thereof for the purpose hereinafter described.
The chenille weft or "fur" is wound on a beam or large bobbin, or it may be
placed in a basket. The beam, bobbin, or basket is placed in any convenient
position, and the end of the chenille weft or "fur" is passed through one or more
guides carried by a slide, which runs to and fro on one or more guide rods or bars
fixed to the loom behind the catcher warp needles, and such slide is moved at the
required times from one side of the loom to the other, carrrying the chenille weft
or " fur" with it ready to be pulled through at the end of its course between the
lower ends or points of the needles and the top of the sley or reed; or by forming

page_text: Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 is a front elevation of so much of a
loom for weaving chenille or Axminster carpets and rugs as will enable me to
describe my present improvements applied thereto; and Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are various views of parts thereof. a, a, represents the
framing of the loom; b, the cam shaft; c, the lathe swords; d, the reed or sley ;
e, the breast beam; and f, the axis of the work beam. The warps to form the
ground of the fabric are carried by beams mounted in bearings a¹ in the usual
manner, but in lieu of carrying the "catcher" or binding warp on a beam, as here-
tofore, I wind it upon a small roller or bobbin g with flanged ends, which roller or
bobbins is provided with a pulley g¹ at each end thereof, and is mounted in
bearings carried by a frame h, mounted with capability of being moved up and
down in or upon fixed guides a², which are carried by brackets a fixed to the
main framing of the loom; or such guides may be formed and fixed in other
suitable manner so long as the frame h in its motions is correctly guided. Around
each of the pulleys g¹ is passed a cord g², one end of which is attached to the
spring g³, and the other end to a weight g; the said cords g² are also passed over
guide pulleys g mounted in any convenient position. By these means the catcher
warp has suitable friction applied thereto, and is enabled to be drawn off the roller
or bobbin g, as required for the work and for the descending motion of the said
roller or bobbing, whilst in its ascending motion the slack of the catcher warp is
taken up.
The catcher warps are passed through the eyes of needles h¹, fixed to a bar h²
carried by the sliding frame h, and the latter is moved up and down at the required
times in the following manner :-
On the cam shaft b is fixed a cam h³ (see Figures 1, 2, and 3), which gives
motion to a lever h*; the latter is by a link or connecting rod h³ connected to one
end of a lever h6, the other end of which is by a link h connected to the sliding
frame h. In the Drawings I have represented the frame has provided with guide
wheels or rollers h³ to run against the guides a², but if desired the sliding frame h
may be otherwise guided, and the fixed guides may be otherwise formed, provided
the frame his rigidly controlled in its motions.

page_text: In order to enable the catcher warps to enter their respective places in the reed d,
the latter is made, as has before been proposed, somewhat in the form of a comb
with spaces at intervals through which the catcher or binding warp passes in order
to make a shed. The hand rail of the lathe is dispensed with, and the reed is
supported only at the lower part thereof.
The tops d' of the dents between the open top spaces are united together and
filled in solid, and I prefer to form the outer dents of each section of the reed, as
shown more clearly at Figures 4 and 5, in one strip of metal bent over at the top
in order to give increased strength to such parts; I also form the front or face d'
of such solid tops inclined slightly forwards from the upper to the lower part
thereof, for the purpose hereinafter described.
The chenille weft or "fur" is wound on a beam or large bobbin, or it may be
placed in a basket ; the beam bobbin or basket is placed in any convenient position,
and the end of the chenille weft or "fur" is passed through guides 1, 2, formed on
or fixed to a finger carried by a slide i (shewn separately at Figures 6, 7, 8),
which runs to and fro on a rod or bar , fixed to the loom bebind the catcher warp
needles. The chenille weft or "fur" in its passage from the eye or guides to the
eye or guide at the outer end of the finger 13, is suitably guided by passing along
a groove or channel ix, so formed in the finger as to deliver the "fur" or chenille
in the proper position, and without putting twist thereon. The slide i is moved as
hereinafter described at the required times from one side of the loom to the other,
causing the finger to carry the chenille weft or fur with it in front of the reed
ready to be pulled to the fell of the work at the end of its course. Cords i³, fixed
one to each side of the slide i, are passed around guide wheels or pulleys 2, the one
cord to the top the other to the bottom of a wheel 8, which wheels are fixed one
at each end of a shaft or axis ; the said cords are then carried around such
wheels a suitable distance and fixed thereto. Near one end of the said shaft or
axis is fixed a toothed pinion 10, which is taken into by and receives rotary
motion, first in one direction, and then in the other at the desired times from a
toothed rack fixed on the upper end of a rod 12. This rod 12 is at its lower end
pin jointed to a lever is operated by a cam 4, which is fixed on a counter shaft 215
receiving rotary motion from the cam shaft b by toothed wheels b¹ and i¹º By
these means rotary motion is given to the shaft or axis 2º, and consequently to the
wheels, at the required times, first in one direction and then in the other, and as
the cords pass on to their respective wheels 28 in contrary directions, it follows
that while one cord is being wound up on its wheel to pull the slide i across the
loom in one direction, the other cord it is being drawn off its wheel is in readiness,
by being again wound up, to pull the slide i across the loom in the opposite
direction at the required time.
At Figures 9 and 10 I have shown a slight modification in the arrangement for
moving the slide i to and fro across the loom. In this case I dispense with one of
the wheels, 18, and instead of fixing the remaining wheel is on a shaft or axis
extending across the loom, I mount it on a short stud or axis 19 fixed to one side of
the loom framing; I also in such case employ only one cord is, which is guided to
and from the wheel 18 by passing around guide wheels or pulleys suitably
placed.
The sley or reed & when beating up the chenille weft or fur is moved forward in
such position that the bottom edge of the solid tops d¹ of the reed shall ride upon
the ground warps, and press the chenille weft or "fur" to its proper place, to assist
which the lathe or the reed or sley d has a rising motion imparted to it just as it
is completing its forward motion, thus bringing the chenille weft or fur to its
proper place without the aid of a comb, which it has hitherto been found necessary
to employ in this class of loom.
When beating up the ground weft, the reed or sley is moved to and fro in the
ordinary manner, but when pressing the chenille weft or "fur" to its place, the
motions above described are imparted to it.
The peculiar motion to the sley or reed above described for pressing the chenille

page_text: weft or "fur" to its proper place may be given thereto in the following manner, as
represented in the Drawings at Figures 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14-
The lathe c may be moved to and fro by cranks and connecting rods, as is well
understood, or it may be operated by cains, as has before been proposed. The
reed d instead of being fixed rigidly in the lathe, as has heretofore been usual, is
shown fixed to a bar c which has slides c² fixed thereto capable of sliding up and
down on fixed guides c³ formed on or fixed to the lathe swords c. To the bar c¹ are
fixed descending lugs or ears c, which by links or connecting rods c³ are connected
to levers co perated by cams c7 fixed to the cam shaft b. Instead however of
giving these motions to the reed only, a similar motion may be imparted to the
entire lathe, but I prefer the plan above described.
•
I have not shown or described the apparatus for inserting the ground weft, nor
other well known parts of the loom, as they do not form part of my present
Invention, and I would remark that the ground weft may be inserted by means
of a shuttle, or by means of weft inserting needles, in the manner now well
understood.
The various movements of the loom will take place in the order now well
understood when weaving by hand, that is to say, the following movements will
be made in one revolution of the main shaft of the loom :-
1. Two or four shots of ground weft will be put across, as the case may be, this
can be done either by shuttle or by weft inserting needle.
2. The chenille weft or fur will then be carried once across by the slide i, when
the latter will rest till the next revolution of the main shaft, as will be seen by
reference to the gearing, and other parts at Figures 1 and 2.
3. The rising motion of the reed or lathe to bring the chenille weft or fur to its
place.
4. The catcher warp will be carried down to bind in the chenille weft or fur,
the heddles will be operated to form the necessary sheds, and the weft will be
inserted to bind in the catcher warps and to form the ground of the fabric while
the apparatus for inserting the chenille weft or fur is standing still.
5. The chenille weft or fur will then again be carried across, and the various
operations repeated as before.
Hitherto the general mode of marking the lengths of chenille weft or fur has
been to put a mark or shoot of hemp or cotton of different colour at the required
intervals, so as to distinguish it from the worsted material of the fur, and which
hemp shoot required to be pulled out by the weaver each time the fur was brought
to the edge of the work.
.
The method by which I propose to secure my object is as follows:-
In order to enable the weaver more readily than heretofore to adjust chenille
weft fur or pile in the shed, I according to one plan propose to leave small spaces
in the weaving of the fur to mark the length for each insertion, and to allow the
fur to turn more easily round the catcher thread at the edge of the work.
Or in the process of preparing the fur (called weft weaving) I employ a finer or
single weft worsted, of the saine color and shade as the coarser worsted used
throughout. Where the small spaces are wanted I only use the finer worsted, say,
four or six shoots, as the case may be, at each side of the space, which not only
serves as a mark but binds the coarser worsted back and prevents it filling up the
spaces required.
The spaces can be made in the ordinary way by not allowing the lathe to be
brought forward to the fell of the work. In order however to make the spaces more
regular and of uniform size, I propose to put a wire of the gauge wanted into the
shed of the work in the centre of the fine shoots, and when pulled out before
cutting up the weft the required space will be made, thereby obviating the
necessity heretofore existing for the weaver to remove the spacing material during
the process of weaving the carpet.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-

page_text: First. The peculiar arrangement and combination of parts for carrying the
chenille weft or fur across the loom, substantially as herein shown and described.
Second. The peculiar arrangement and combination of parts for operating the
catcher warps and taking up the slack thereof, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Third. Forming the tops of the dents of the reed with inclined faces and giving
to the lathe or reed a rising motion, substantially as herein shewn and described,
and for the purpose stated.
Fourth. Forming the outer dents of each group in the reed of one piece of metal
bent over the intermediate dent or dents to give greater strength and rigidity
thereto, substantially as herein shown and described, and
Fifth. The methods of marking the lengths of chenille weft or fur, substantially
as herein shown and described, and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Adam, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM ADAM. (L.S.)