having Unspun Plantstalks as a Weft.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Apr., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by THE FLACHSTUCH GESELLSCHAFT, of Cologne, in the
German Empire, Manufacturers.]
having Unspun Plantstalks as a Weft.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to mechanism applied to power looms, for effecting the
introduction of unspun plant stalks into the fabric in the place of ordinary weft.
The said mechanism is of such a nature as to be capable of application to any
ordinary construction of loom, and it consists:
1. Of a shuttle provided with a gripper mechanism or nipping appliance.
2. Of peculiarly constructed stalk boxes containing the stalks in a vertical position,
and
3. Of a modified construction of the shuttle box or of the shuttle stop motion.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. I shows a side view of an ordinary loom,
provided with the above named appliances. Fig. II shews the front view of Fig. I
Fig. III shews the shuttle partly in front view and partly in section; Fig. IV
shews a plan of the same and Fig. V a side view. Fig. VI shews a section
through the shuttle box at right angles to the lathe. Fig. VII shews the shuttle
box and parts of the stop motion in front view. Fig. VIII shews a plan of the
shuttle box and shuttle together. with the stalk box. Figs. IX and X shew details
of the mechanism for actuating the shuttle gripper. Figs. XI and XII shew in
elevation and plan a modified construction of the stalk box.
The invention has for its object the introduction into an ordinary warp, operated
in the ordinary manner, a weft consisting of separate stems or stalks of plants
having a length equal to that of the width of the fabric to be produced. An annular
receptacle or box 18 carried by the breast beam, or by an extension thereof, and
rotatable on a vertical central axis, contains in its annular space the stalks in such
manner that their lower ends project somewhat down beyond the bottom of the box.
D

page_text: The box is so arranged that the shuttle when in the shuttle box projects with its
beak somewhat beyond the latter and in among the stalks in the stalk box when the
lathe is beating up or in its most forward position, in which position of the shuttle
its gripper jaws are opened. The gripper of the shuttle consists essentially of a
plate 5 (Figs. III IV V VIII) screwed to the wood 1 of the shuttle and provided
with hooks or notches, and of a plate 3 which is horizontally moveable in the shuttle,
and which constitutes the moveable jaw of the gripper. The plate 3 has an annular
projection 8 (Figs. III and IV) against which the spring 4 presses, tending to
close the gripper 3, 5. As long as the gripper is not in action the shifting of the
plate 3 so as to close the gripper is prevented by a catch 6 taking into a stud 3*
on 3 (in Fig. IV 3 is shewn liberated from 6). The plato 3 will be situated in
this position when the shuttle beak has been pressed in among the stalks by the
forward motion of the lathe, and consequently a stalk will enter between the gripper
jaws 5 and 3. But on a slight further forward motion of the shuttle together with
the lathe a stud 7 faced with metal Figs. III and IV connected by a pin 7 with
the catch 6, and projecting through a hole in the side of the shuttle, strikes against
an adjustable screw stop 10 Figs. VI and VIII carried by a spring arm 10 on
the breast beam, the side of the shuttle box being provided with a corresponding
hole (Fig. VII) through which the screw stop has access to 7.
By the contact of 10 with 7 the catch 6 is pushed backwards, thus freeing the
stud 3 of the gripper jaw, which is then forced forward by the spring 4 so as to
grip the stalk between it and the jaw 5. The lathe together with the shuttle then
move backwards, causing the shuttle to draw the stalk out of the box in a nearly
radial direction whereupon the picker 16 Fig. VII acting against the surface 1ª
Fig. III drives the shuttle to the right, through the shed. Arrived in the right
hand shuttle box the shuttle, (the two halves of which are identical in construction)
is stopped by striking with a metal faced part 9 (Figs. III and IV) against a stop
lever 15 pivotted to the front side of the shuttle box, and the rebound of the shuttle
out of the box is prevented by the well known shuttle brake 17 (Figs. VI and VIII).
The action of the shuttle, which is supposed to be taking place in the right hand
shuttle box, is, to prevent repetition of drawings, described with reference to the
left hand position shewn. The lathe has by this time completed its back motion
and performed part of its forward motion, and the shuttle must now be made to
release the stalk held thereby, the gripper being for this purpose opened as follows:
In the lower part of the shuttle race is an elbow lever 11 Fig. IX, the upright
arm of which projects up through a slot in the shuttle box into the latter, when its
horizontal arm, which is connected to a rod 23, is raised up by the latter. This is
effected by the motion of the lathe, which causes the small roller 23ª Fig. X on the
end of 23 to run up on the inclined surface 22ª fixed to the breast beam 22. By
raising 23, 11 will be moved so as to enter the shuttle box and also to pass into the
shuttle, situated in the same, just in front of the before described angular arm 8 on the
moveable gripper jaw 3, so that 11 in continuing to move, presses 8 and consequently
also 3, in the direction towards the middle of the shuttle and thus effects the opening
of the gripper (Figs. IX and X shew this action relative to the right hand position
of the shuttle).
A spring 12 Fig. IX draws the lever 11 back again during the back motion of the
shuttle, whereby it will be drawn clear of the shuttlebox when the shuttle is thrown.
The shuttle gripper is then held in the opened position by means of the catch 6 as
first described, and the beforedescribed operation is repeated, that is to say, the open
shuttle gripper is pressed by the forward motion of the lathe against the mass of stalks
in the box, the gripper is then made to close by the action of screw 10 on the stud 7
of the catch 6, thus releasing the stud 3ª of the jaw 3 ; the shuttle, holding the stalk, is
thrown through the shed, and is caught in the opposite shuttle box by the stop lever 15,
and the stalk is released from the shuttle gripper by the action of the incline 22" upon
the lever 11 which opens the gripper.
In order that the loom may be stopped by the ordinary shuttle stop motion if the
shuttle should not pass sufficiently far into the box and consequently its gripper not

page_text: penetrate sufficiently far beyond the end of the same, the following arrangement is
employed.
The stop rod 14 on the brake rod 14* does not bear as usual by means of the foot
lever upon the shuttle box brake 17 but bears on a nut on a rod 13, pivotted to the
one end of a double ended lever 13ª carried in the shuttle race, the other end of which
projects into the shuttle box and is provided with a roller, so that on the entrance of
the shuttle this lever is pressed down, whereby the rod 13 and stop rod 14 are raised
to such an extent, that 14 can pass free over the ordinary striking studs 25 (Fig. 1)
of the stop motion at the forward motion of the shuttle. If on the other hand the
shuttle does not pass quite into the shuttle box, and consequently does not depress the
lever 13, then 14 will come in contact with 25 and will effect the stopping of the loom
in the known manner.
In order that a sufficient quantity of stalks may always be presented to the shuttle
gripper, a continuous or intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the stalk box 18 by
means of a ratchet gear. For this purpose the axis of 18 carries a ratchet wheel 19*
which is actuated by a pawl (not shown) on the horizonial bar 20, to which a
reciprocating motion is imparted by the crank 21* on the lower shaft 21, and the
connecting rod 20".
Figs. XI and XII shew a modified arrangement consisting of a fixed receptacle 24
of segmental shape in which the stalks are pressed forward by the spring arms 26
towards the point where the stalks are seized by the shuttle gripper.
Dated this 10th day of June 1886
ABEL & IMRAY.
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: having Unspun Plantstalks as a Weft.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent 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 relates to mechanism applied to power looms, for effecting the
introduction of unspun plant stalks into the fabric in the place of ordinary weft.
The said mechanism is of such a nature as to be capable of application to any ordinary
construction of loom and it consists :
1. Of a shuttle provided with a gripper mechanism or nipping appliance.
2. Of peculiarly constructed stalk boxes containing the stalks in a vertical position, and
3. Of a modified construction of the shuttle box or of the shuttle stop motion.
Referring to the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification of
12th June 1886 Fig. I shews a side view of an ordinary loom, provided with the
above named appliances. Fig. II shews the front view of Fig. I Fig. III shews the
shuttle partly in front view and partly in section. Fig. IV shows a plan of the same
and Fig. Va side view. Fig. VI shews a section through the shuttle box at right
angles to the lathe. Fig. VII shews the shuttle box and parts of the stop motion in
front view. Fig. VIII shews a plan of the shuttle box and shuttle together with the
stalk box. Figs. IX and X shew details of the mechanism for actuating the shuttle
gripper. Figs. XI and XII shew in elevation and plan a modified construction of the
stalk box.
The invention has for its object the introduction into an ordinary warp operated in.
the ordinary manner a weft consisting of separate stems or stalks of plants having a
length equal to that of the width of the fabric to be produced.
An annular receptacle or box 18 carried by the breast beam or by an extension
thereof and rotatable on a vertcal central axis, contains in its annular space the stalks in
such manner that their lower ends project somewhat down beyond the bottom of
the box.
The box is so arranged that the shuttle when in the shuttle box projects with its
beak somewhat beyond the latter and in among the stalks in the stalk box when the
lathe is beating up or in its most forward position, in which position of the shuttle
its gripper jaws are opened. The gripper of the shuttle consists essentially of a
plate 5 (Figs. III, IV, V, VIII) screwed to the wood 1 of the shuttle and provided
with hooks or notches and of a plate 3 which is horizontally moveable in the shuttle
and which constitutes the moveable jaw of the gripper. The plate 3 has an annular
projection 8 (Figs. III and IV) against which the spring 4 presses, tending to close
the gripper 3, 5. As long as the gripper is not in action the shifting of the plate 3 so
as to close the gripper is prevented by a catch 6 taking into a stud 3* on 3 (in

page_text: Fig. IV 3ª is shewn liberated from 6). The plate 3 will be situated in this position
when the shuttle beak has been pressed in among the stalks by the forward motion of
the lathe, and consequently a stalk will enter between the gripper jaws 5 and 3. But
on a slight further forward motion of the shuttle together with the lathe a stud 7 faced
with metal Figs. III and IV connected by a pin 7 with the catch 6, and projecting
through a hole in the side of the shuttle, strikes against an adjustable screw stop 10
Figs. VI and VIII carried by a spring arm 10 on the breast beam, the side of the
shuttle box being provided with a corresponding hole (Fig. VII) through which the
screw stop has access to 7.
By the contact of 10 with 7 the catch 6 is pushed backwards thus freeing the
stud 3 of the gripper jaw, which is then forced forward by the spring 4 so as to grip
the stalk between it and the jaw 5. The lathe together with the shuttle then move
backwards causing the shuttle to draw the stalk out of the box in a nearly radial
direction whereupon the picker 16 Fig. VII acting against the surface 1* Fig. III
drives the shuttle to the right through the shed. Arrived in the right hand shuttle
box the shuttle, (the two halves of which are identical in construction) is stopped by
striking with a metal faced part 9 (Figs. III and IV), against a stop lever 15 pivotted
to the front side of the shuttle box, and the rebound of the shuttle out of the box is
prevented by a well known shuttle brake 17 (Figs. VI and VIII). The action of the
shuttle which is supposed to be taking place in the right hand shuttle box, is to prevent
repetition of drawings, described with reference to the left hand position shown.
lathe has by this time completed its back motion and performed part of its
forward motion and the shuttle must now be made to release the stalk held thereby,
the gripper being for this purpose opened as follows:-
The
In the lower part of the shuttle race is an elbow lever 11 Fig. IX the upright arm
of which projects up through a slot in the shuttle box into the latter, when its
horizontal arm, which is connected to a rod 23, is raised up by the latter. This is
effected by the motion of the lathe which causes the small roller 23" Fig. X on the
end of 23 to run up on the inclined surface 22 fixed to the breast beam 22. By
raising 23, 11 will be moved so as to enter the shuttle box and also to pass into the
shuttle, situated in the same, just in front of the before described angular arm 8 on the
moveable gripper jaw 3, so that 11 in continuing to move, presses 8 and consequently
also 3 in the direction towards the middle of the shuttle and thus effects the opening of
the gripper (Figs. IX and X shew this action relative to the right hand position of the
shuttle).
A spring 12 Fig. IX draws the lever 11 back again during the back motion of the
shuttle, whereby it will be drawn clear of the shuttle box when the shuttle is thrown.
The shuttle gripper is then held in the opened position by means of the catch 6 as
first described and the before described operation is repeated, that is to say the open
shuttle gripper is pressed by the forward motion of the lathe against the mass of stalks
in the box, the gripper is then made to close by the action of screw 10 on the stud 7 of
the catch 6, thus releasing the stud 3 of the jaw 3, the shuttle holding the stalk is
thrown through the shed and is caught in the opposite shuttle box by the stop lever 15
and the stalk is released from the shuttle gripper by the action of the incline 22" upon
the lever 11 which opens the gripper.
In order that the loom may be stopped by the ordinary shuttle stop motion if the
shuttle should not pass sufficiently far into the box and consequently its gripper not
penetrate sufficiently far beyond the end of the same, the following arrangement is
employed.
The stop rod 14 on the brake rod 14 does not bear as usual by means of the foot
lever upon the shuttle box brake 17 but bears on a nut on a rod 13, pivotted to the one
end of a double ended lever 13* carried in the shuttle race, the other end of which
projects into the shuttle box and is provided with a roller, so that on the entrance of
the shuttle this lever is pressed down, whereby the rod 13 and stop rod 14 are raised
to such an extent, that 14 can pass free over the ordinary striking studs 25 (Fig. 1) of
the stop motion at the forward motion of the shuttle. If on the other hand the shuttle

page_text: does not pass quite into the shuttle box, and consequently does not depress the lever 13
then 14 will come in contact with 25 and will effect the stopping of the loom in the
known manner.
In order that a sufficient quantity of stalks may always be presented to the shuttle
gripper, a continuous or intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the stalk box 18 by
means of a ratchet gear. For this purpose the axis of 18 carries a ratchet wheel 19*
which is actuated by a pawl (not shewn) on the horizontal bar 20 to which a
reciprocating motion is imparted by the crank 21 on the lower shaft 21, and the
connecting rod 20º.
Figs. XI and XIII shew a modified arrangement consisting of a fixed receptacle 24
of segmental shape in which the stalks are pressed forward by the spring arms 26
towards the point where the stalks are seized by the shuttle gripper.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim in respect of
apparatus for looms for producing fabrics having unspun plantstalks as weft is :-
1. The use of a shuttle having gripper jaws 3.5 for seizing the plant stalks and
carrying the same into the shed arranged and operating substantially as herein described
with reference to Figs. III and IV of the drawings.
2. The use of an adjustable stop 10 on the breast beam which, in the forward motion
of the lathe, effects the closing of the shuttle gripper jaws, substantially as described.
3. The use of an elbow lever 11 Fig. IX, situated in the shuttle race and actuated
by the motion of the lathe so as to effect the opening of the shuttle gripper jaws,
substantially as described.
4. The use of a lever 13* in the shuttle box and acted upon by the shuttle for
governing the stop rod 14 of the stop motion, substantially as herein described.
5. The use of a revolving annular receptacle 18 for feeding the plantstalks to the
gripper of the shuttle, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. I, II
and VIII of the drawings.
6. The use of a stationary curved receptacle 24 for the plantstalks, having spring
arms 26 that feed the stalks towards the shuttle, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. XI and XII of the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March 1887
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.