IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING AXMINSTER OR CHENILLE CARPETS AND RUGS THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING IN PART to bo as APPLICABLE TO THE PICKING MOTION OF POWER LOOMS GENERALLY follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: Wo EDWARD SMITH Carpet and Rug Manufacturer and JOHN LAMB Machinist
both of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester do hereby declare the nature of
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING AXMINSTER
OR CHENILLE CARPETS AND RUGS THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING IN PART
to bo as
APPLICABLE TO THE PICKING MOTION OF POWER LOOMS GENERALLY
follows:-
"
Our Invention has reference more particularly to power looms for weaving
axminster or chenille carpets and rugs, but is partly applicable to power looms for
other purposes and consists essentially in employing in combination with a lathe or
batten of the ordinary construction, improved ineans or mechanism for passing the
chenille weft to and fro across the warp threads beneath catcher threads and in
front of the reeds of the lathe or batten; it also consists of improved means for
effecting the picks of the shuttle for forming the ground of the fabric: this part of
our Invention being also applicable to power looms in general.
In carrying out our Invention the chenille to be woven into the rug or carpet
may be wound upon a spool or bobbin, and in order to prevent the first coil of the
chenille from being crushed or injured by the succeeding coils, the barrel of the
bobbin is provided with a helical groove to receive it. This bobbin is mounted so
as to rotate with the requisite amount of resistance in a box or frame to lay the
chenille across the warp threads as hereinafter described. This box or frame is
fitted to slide in or on two reciprocating carriers arranged one on each side of the
loom and caused to move toward and from the lathe or batten, and also to
reciprocate to and fro partly across the loom in front of the lathe by means of
levers acted upon by a can or cams fast on the tappet shaft of the loom, and
suitably timed to effect the several motions of the carriers at the required periods.
In order to lay the chenille weft across the warp threads in front of the reed of the
lathe, the bobbin or box containing the chenille together with its containing box or
frame is after the carriers have made a portion of their forward motion towards
each other transferred or pushed from the one carrier on one side of the loom on to
the other carrier on the opposite side thereof. The transferring of the bobbin from

page_text: -
The
one carrier to the other may be effected by any suitable means for example the box
or frame carrying the bobbin may be provided with a rack which may be made to
gear with a pinion actuated from any suitable part of the loom. Or a system of
expanding and contracting levers or lazytong movement, fitted to each of the
carriers may be employed. When this arrangement is adopted one end of the
system of levers or lazytongs is caused to bear against the box or frame carrying
the bobbin whilst the opposite end is caused at the required time to engage with a
tipping lever which is brought into position for the purpose as the carriers advance
towards each other by a projection on the bobbin frame whereby as the carriers
continue to advance the system of levers or lazy-tongs extend or open out and
propel or force the bobbin frame from the one carrier onto the other one.
carriers then separate or move backwards to their former position and the lazy-
tongs again contract, a weft of chenille being thus laid across the warp threads.
The catcher warp threads are then caused to descend in the ordinary manner Fo as
to hold the chenille down onto the ground warp threads and the lathe then moves
forward to beat up the chenille-A suitable number of picks of the shuttle
carrying the ground weft is then effected after which the carriers again move
forward and the bobbin of chenille is in a similar manner to that hereinbefore
described returned to the carrier from which it had been previously passed. The
operations hereinbefore described are repeated until the required length of fabric is
completed. Instead of winding the chenille on to a bobbin as hereinbefore
described it may be carried loosely in a box or passed round pins or projections
suitably arranged therein. The picking or throwing of the shuttle carrying the
weft for forming the ground of the fabric is effected in the following manner. The
picker stick is connected by means of a strap to one arm of a lever which is fitted
to turn on a stud in a bracket fixed to the frame of the loom and to this lever is
hinged another lever to one end of which one end of a powerful spring is connected
the opposite end of the said spring being attached to a fixed part of the loom. The
free end of each of these two levers is provided with a projection that on the lever
to which the spring is attached being rather longer or deeper than the projection
on the other lever the spring tending to maintain these projections in contact with
each other On the tappet or can which works the lathe or batten or on any other
suitable rotating portion of the loom a wedge shaped projection is provided and
suitably arranged that at each revolution of the tappet the wedge pieco is caused
to enter between the projections on the levers whereby they are separated and the
spring thereby extended until the said wedge piece passes the narrowest projection
when the spring instantly contracts causing the lever to which the picker stick is
attached to swing back and effect the pick of the shuttle. The wedge pieces then
pass over the deeper projection on the other lever so as to admit of the further
contraction of the spring which will thus return the levers to their normal position
ready for the next operation.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the said Edward Smith
and John Lamb,
41

page_text: Improvements in Power Looms for Weaving Axminster or
Chenille Carpets and Rugs, the said Improvements being in
CODE LEIE
DIECIFICATION.
We EDWARD SMITи Carpet and Rug Manufacturer and JOHN LAMB Machinist
both of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester do hereby declare the nature
of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING AXMINSTER
OR CHENILLE CARPETS AND RUGS THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING IN PART
APPLICABLE TO THE PICKING MOTION OF POWER LOOMS GENERALLY" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
Our Invention has reference more particularly to power looms for weaving
Axminster or Chenille Carpets and Rugs but is partly applicable to power looms
for other purposes and consists essentially in employing in combination with a lathe
or batten which may have a reed of the ordinary construction, improved means or
mechanism for passing the Chenille weft to and fro across the warp threads beneath
catcher threads and in front of the reed of the lathe or batten it also consists
of improved means for effecting the picks of the shuttle for forming the ground
of the fabric this part of our Invention being also applicable to power looms in
general.
In carrying out our Invention the Chenille to be woven into the Rug or Carpet
may be carried loosely in a box provided with suitable tension apparatus, but we
prefer to wind it upon a spool or bobbin, and in order to prevent the first coil of
the Chenille from being crushed or injured by the succeeding coil or coils, the
barrel of the bobbin is provided with a helical groove to receive it-This bobbin is
mounted so as to rotate with the requisite amount of resistance in a frame, fitted to
slide in or on two reciprocating carriers arranged one on each side of the loom, and
caused to move toward and from the lathe or batten and also to reciprocato to and
fro partly across the loom in front of the reed by means of levers acted upon by a
cam or cams fast on the tappet shaft of the loom, and suitably timed to offect tho
several motions of the carriers at the required periods-In order to lay the Chenille
weft across the warp threads in front of the reed the box or bobbin containing the
Chonille together with its frame is, after the carriers have made a portion of their
forward motion towards each other, transferred or pushed from the oue carrier on
one side of the loom onto the other carrier on the opposite side thereof-The
transferring of the bobbin from one carrier to the other may be effected by means of
racks and pinions as hereinafter described or otherwise or by a system of expanding
and coutracting lovers or lazy tongs, fitted to each of the carriers-When this
arrangement is adopted one end of the lazy-tongs is caused to bear against the
frame carrying the bobbin whilst the opposite end is caused, at the required time to
engage with a hooked tipping lever which is brought into position for the purpose
as the carriers advance towards each other, by a projection on the bobbin frame;
whereby, as the carriers continue to advance, the lazy-tongs extend or open out and
propel or force the bobbin frame from one carrier on one side of the loom onto the

page_text: carrier on the other side of thereof-The carriers then separate or move backwards
to their former position and the lazy-tongs again contract, a weft of Chenille being
thus laid across the warp threads beneath the catcher chain or threads which are
then caused to descend in the ordinary manner so as to hold the Chenille down
onto-the ground warp threads, and the lathe or batten then moves forward to beat
up the Chenille-A suitable number of picks of the shuttle carrying the ground
weft is then effected, after which the carriers again move forward and the bobbin
of Chenille is in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described returned to the
carrier from which it had been previously passed. The operations hereinbefore
described are then repeated until the required length of fabric is completed-The
picking or throwing of the shuttle, carrying the weft for forming the ground of the
fabric, is effected in the following manner-The picker stick is connected by means
of a strap to one arm of a lever which is fitted to turn on a stud in a bracket fixed
to the frame of the loom, and to this lever is hinged another lever, to one end of
which one end of a powerful spring is connected the opposite end of the said
spring, being attached to a fixed part of the loom-The free end of each of these two
levers is provided with a projection, that on the lever to which the spring is
attached, being rather longer or deeper than the projection on the other lever, the
spring tending to inaintain these projections in contact with each other-On the
tappet or cam which works the lathe or hatten (or on any other suitable rotating
portion of the loom) a wedge shaped projection is provided, and so arranged that at
each revolution of the tappet the wedge, piece is caused to enter between the
projections on the levers whereby they are separated and the spring thereby
extended until the said wedge piece passes the narrowest projection, when the
spring instantly contracts causing the lever to which the picker stick is attached to
suddenly swing back and effect the pick of the shuttle-The wedge piece then
passes over the deeper projection on the other lever so as to admit of the further
contraction of the spring which will thus return the levers to their normal position
ready for the next operation.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation of a power loom
constructed according to our Invention for weaving axminster or Chenille carpets
or Rugs, but in order to prevent unnecessary complication we have omitted from
the drawing some of the parts common to power looms such for example as the
mechanism for actuating the heddles and for taking up the work and other details
which are well understood.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the loom the section being taken along the
line 1-2 in Figure 1 and the remaining Figures are details and modifications
which will be hereinafter referred to.
A is the frame of the loom on which are mounted in suitable bearings the tappet
shaft B the warp beams C carrying the warp threads for forming the ground of the
fabric, and the beam D containing the catcher chain or threads for securing the
Chenille to the ground of the fabric-E are the heddles for operating the ground
warp threads-G. is the lathe sley or batten which according to our Invention is
provided with a reed G¹ of the ordinary construction being closed at the top in
contradistinction to reeds hitherto employed with power looms for weaving Chenille
rugs which in consequence of the method employed for passing the Chenille from
one side to the other side of the loom are required to be open or disconnected at
their upper ends.
The ground warp threads pass from the beams C. over tension bars H thence
through the treddles E and reed G₁ to the breast beam and work roller in the
ordinary manner-The catcher threads pass from the beam D over the tension rod
or bar 1 thence over a stationary bar or rod K and through the heddle F and reed G
to the breast beam and work roller.

page_text: The shuttle carrying the weft for forming the ground of the fabric works
in the shuttlerace L and may be operated by ordinary picking meclianism if
desired but we prefer to employ our improved picking devico bercinafter
described.
The Chenille or fur for forming the face of the fabric is wound on a spool or
bobbin M (shewn on an enlarged scale in Figure 3) the barrel of which is provided
with a helical groove M¹ to receive the first coil of the Chenille so as to prevent it
from being crushed or injured by the succeeding coil or coils of the Chenille-This
bobbin is fitted to rotate in a frame N a light spring n being provided to bear
against the bobbin with sufficient pressure to prevent it rotating too freely.
The frame N is fitted to slide in or on two carriers O O¹ arranged one on each
side of the loom, the frame N with the bobbin being transferred or passed from one
carrier to the other by means of a system of contracting and expanding levers or
lazy-tongs mounted on each of the carriers.
These carriers receive a motion towards and from the reed and also a to and fro
motion partly across the loom whereby the bobbin M containing the Chenillo is
caused to travel and lay the Chenille across the warp threads in front of the
reed G' and beneath the catcher chain or threads D' which threads are caused to
deseend and secure the chenille to the ground threads.
The operation of the loom is as follows it being understood that the various cams
or tappets for working the different parts of the loom are suitably shaped and
timed to impart the required motions in their proper sequential order-In figuro 2
the cams or tappets P (which rotates in the direction of the arrow) for effecting the
pick of the shuttle and the beating up motion of the slay lathe or batten G, is
represented in the position it would occupy after the chenille has been laid across
the warp threads and is about to beat up the said chenille (the catcher threads
having descended so as to hold the chenille down with only sufficient pressure to
admit of the chenille being placed in position and combed up by hand) After the
chenille has been beat up four picks of the shuttle are made, tho heddle F first
carrying the catcher threads down to their lowest position, together with ono set
of the dead or ground warp threads (which are simultaneously brought down by
one of the heddles E) to enable the shuttle to pass over them, the catcher threads
and the said warp threads then rise sufficiently to admit of the shuttle at the next
pick passing beneath them, and over the other set of dead or ground warp threads,
which in the meantime have been caused to descend; the third pick of the shuttle
is then made after which this set of warp thread rises and the catcher threads
ngain descend with the ground warp threads and the shuttle at its fourth pick
passes over them after which the catcher threads will be raised to their highest
position to admit of the passage of the chenille carriers beneath them it being
understood that a beat up of the lathe slay or batten takes place after each pick of
the shuttle; after the fourth pick of the shuttle has been made and the weft
thread has been beaten up by the lathe or batten Ga dwell takes place during the
time that the plain portion p of the tappet P is travelling over the roller g on the
batten G. During this dwell the carriers 001 are caused first to move towards
the reed G and then to slide transversely across the loom until they meet
in the centre, and then return to their normal position again These motions
are obtained by means of a double grooved or two faced cam the two
faces of which are shewn in the detached views Figure 4. The motions of the
carriers towards and from the reed are effected by the groove in the cain Q
in which groove works a friction bowl carried on the lever q2 centred on the rod X
the outer end of which lever is connected by a rud q³ to the outer end of the arin o'
of a bell crank lever Qmounted on a rocking shaft R. The other arm q³ of the
bell crank Q' is connected to a rod S so that as the arm q* of the bell crank is caused
to rise and fall under the action of the cam groove q, the rod S is moved from and
towards the reed G'. The outer ends of the rod S are secured to two supports S'
fast on the outer ends of the rocking shaft R, so as to oscillate in unison with the
bell crank lever Q. The carriers having been moved up to the reed G¹ dwell in

page_text: that position whilst the to and fro transverse motions are imparted to the carriers
for the purpose of passing the bobbin containing the chenille across the loom.
These latter motions of the carriers are effected by the cam groove T in the cam Q
in which groove works a friction bowl t carried on a lever T¹ centred on the rod X.
To the outer or free end of the lever T¹ is centred an arm t¹ the opposite end of
which is connected by a rod t to the arm q' of the bell crank lever Q'. The arm t¹
is also connected by rods 3 bell cranks and links to each of the carriers 0 0¹
which are mounted so as to slide freely along the rocking shaft R and rod S. It
will thus be seen that when the lever T is depressed by the cam groove T the bell
cranks will turn on their centres to and cause the carriers to slide along the
shaft R and rod S towards and meet in the centre of the loom. By the time the
carriers 0 0¹ have completed their forward or inward motion the spool or bobbin
will have been propelled from the one carrier to the other carrier by the opening
out or extension of the lazy tongs on the carrier containing the bobbin. The
opening out of the lazy tongs is effected in the following manner. On each of the
carriers OO¹ is mounted a tipping lever & one end of which (when the bobbin
frame is in the carrier) is depressed by a projection S' on the bobbin frame causing
the outer end of the lever 8 which is provided with an inclined projection 8³ to bo
elevated into a position to act upon a hooked levers centred on the bar S¹ which
supports the rod S & causing the hook of the lever to rise into such a position
that as the carriers move towards the centre of the loom the said hook s³ will
engage with and retain the outer extremity of the lazy-tongs and thus as the
carriers continue to advance cause the said lazy tongs to expand or open out as
shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 3 and thereby thrust the bobbin frame from
the carrier O¹ for example onto the carrier O.
The carriers 0 0¹ then commence their return motion or move outwards towards
the sides of the loom and in doing so the outer end of the lazy tongs on the
carrier O¹ from which the bobbin had been projected is brought into contact with
the supports S¹ so that by the time the carriers have moved back to their full
extent the lazy tongs N is completely contracted and a weft of chenille is thus
Jnid across the ground warps. The carriers then recede from the reed to the front
of the loom and the catcher chain or threads descend to secure the chenille to the
ground as herein before described; the necessary picks of the shuttle are then made
and the operations herein before described repeated until the required length of the
fabric is completed.
Figures 5 and 6 represent in front elevation and plan respectively a modified
arrangement of apparatus for passing the spool or bobbin from one carrier to the
other. According to this modification we dispense with the lazy tongs herein-
before described and in place thereof we connect to the plate which bears against
the end of the spool or bobbin frame N a rack a fitted to slide in a bracket or
guide b attached to the carrier O and in gear with a spur pinion c mounted loosely
on a stud on the bracket b on which stud is also mounted another pinion e which
may be attached to or formed in one with the pinion c. The pinion e gears with
another pinion f mounted loosely on a stud in the bracket b the said pinion f
being in gear with a rack k fitted to slide in a guide on the bracket b parallel to
and by side of the rack a The rack k is provided at its rear end with a hook or
projection which as the carrier O moves inwards towards the centre of the loom
as hereinbefore described is caused to engage with a projection 8¹ which is brought
into position for the purpose by an inclined projections on the end of a tipping
lever a mounted on the carrier O. The rack when thus engaged with the pro-
jection is held stationary during the continued inward motion of the carrier,
whereby the pinion fin gear therewith is caused to rotate along the teeth of the
ack and impart motion through the pinions c and e to the rack a causing the
latter to slide in the direction in which the carrier O is moving and thus push the
bobbin from the said carrier onto the other carrier O' which has been brought
into position to receive it as herein before described with reference to Figures 1
and 2.

page_text: The racks a and k are caused to slide back to their normal position as the
carriers O¹ move outwards in a similar manner to the lazy tongs hereinbefore
described that is to say when the carrier O has made a portion of it return motion
the further backward movement of the rack k is prevented by its end coming into
contact with a suitably arranged stop or abutment and thus the continued back-
ward motion of the carrier causes the direction of motion of the pinions ce and f
to be reversed and the rack a to be drawn back to its normal position the
chenille being thus laid across the warp threads as in the first described arrange-
ment.
We will now describe our improvements in the mechanism for effecting the
picking or throwing of the shuttles in power looms which improvements are
illustrated in figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 of our drawings Figure 7 being a plan and
Figures 8. 9 and 10 elevations looking in three different directions. V is a bracket
bolted to the frame of the loom and carrying two levers W and Y the lever W
being fitted to turn on a stud or centre Z on the bracket V whilst the lever Y
turns on a study on the lever W. Each of these levers is provided at one end
with a tapered or inclined projection w w¹ the projection won the lever W being
shorter or narrower than the projection won the lever Y.
To the opposite end of the lever W tho picker strap is attached and to the
other end of the lever Y is connected one end of a powerful spring z the opposite
end of the said spring being attached to a suitable fixed part of the loom. This
spring tends to maintain the projections w, w' in forcible contact. On the tappet
or cam P which works the lathe or batten one or more wedge shaped pieces U are
fixed, the number depending upon the number of picks of the shuttle required to
be made to each revolution of the cam or tappet shaft-As the tappet P rotates the
wedge piece U enters between the projections ww whereby they are separated
against the power of the springs, which thus becomes extended; 80 soon however
as the wedge U passes the projections won the lover W the said projection will by
the contraction of the spring, fly back against the projection wl and at the same
time, by the sudden release of the said projection to effect the pick of the shuttle
by the strap engaging the picker stick The wedge piece U then passes the
projection won the lever Y and thus admits of the levors w w¹ (by the further
contraction of the spring s) returning to their normal position in readiness for the
next operation-In order to enable the tappet shaft to be turned in the reverse
direction when required, the levers W and Y may be moved out of the range of
the wedge picco U by means of a hooked lever mounted on a stud y' on the
bracket V. This lever is kept in contact with the levers W Y by a suitably
arranged spring. The tail or end v¹ of the lever is connected by means of a rod
or rods to a treddle or lever handle (not shewn in our drawing) conveniently
situated to be easily operated by hand or foot so as to remove the pressure of the
hooked lever v from the levers WY; which levers will then under the action of
the springs turn on the stud Z out of rango of the wedge U on the tappet P so
that the motions of the loom may be reversed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed wo declare that what
wo claim is
First In power looms for weaving axminster or chenille carpets or rugs means
for passing, the receptacle containing the chenille across the warp threads in front
of the lathe or batten and beneath catcher threads substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by our drawings.
Second: In power looms for weaving axminster or chenille carpets or rugs the
employment of a system of expanding and contracting levers or lazytongs in com-
bination with reciprocating carriers for passing a reel or bobbin containing the
chenille weft across the warp threads 'in front of the batten and beneath catcher
threads, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated by our
drawings.

page_text: .
Third: In power looms for weaving axminster or chenille carpets or rugs effecting
the passing of the receptacle containing the chenille, to and fro across the ground
warp.threads in front of the lathe or batten and beneath catcher threads, by means
of racks and pinions arranged to operate substantially in the manner herein before
described and illustrated by our drawings.
Fourth: A spool or bobbin for containing chenille having a helical groove in the
barrel to contain the first coil of the chenille as and for the purpose herein before
described and illustrated by our drawings.
Fifth In picking mechanism for power loons the combination with the
arrangement.of levers having projections of different lengths or breadth, of a wedge
piece or wedge pieces carried on a movable part of the loom and made to operate
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 7, 89
and 10 of our drawings.