A CIRCULAR MAGNETIC WEAVER'S LOOM
Year: 1884

page_text: I EDOUARD WINCKLER of Guelwiller, Alsace-Lorraine do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for "A CIRCULAR MAGNETIC WEAVER'S LOOM" to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved weaving loom comprising a "circular
magnetic weaving loom" which has over the looms now in use two advantages in
working; the backwards and forwards movement of the shuttles is replaced by a
continuous circular movement which may be made very rapid: there are several
shuttles working simultaneously by following each other round the same
circumference.
This loom consists of a frame which supports the different parts and especially a
central vertical shaft. This shaft is supported by bearings at top and bottom and
sets the machinery of the loom in motion on being rotated.
At the foot of the frame are arranged in form of a circle eight beams or rollers
from which are delivered the threads of the warp which form round the loom an
upright cylindrical warp; this warp travels from below upwards and passes through
a horizontal harness and then a horizontal comb. This comb over which pass the
shuttles presses up the weft and produces the tissue. This fabric of warp threads
is separated by little spaces at various points of the circumference into separate
widths each intended to form a web. Each piece passes up to a set of rolls placed
at the top of the frame which draws it up at the speed necessary to give the web
the desired tension.
J
Four pieces are generally woven on the loom (simultaneously) but it is
practicable by simple modifications of the machinery to produce five, six, etcetera,
or only three, two, one, or even a cylinder.
'
The main details wherein this loom differs from those at present in use are as
follows:-
->
1st. The shuttle and the arrangements for, driving it.
}
The shuttle is curved: it is provided with rollers at both ends and plate of soft
iron in the middle. This plate is attracted by an electro magnet mounted upon
the arm of a fly wheel fixed on the central shaft and revolving with it.
The fly wheel has as many arms and (magnets) as there are shuttles.
The electro magnet attracts the shuttle to the arm of the fly wheel which,
revolving round its axis, draws it round in a circle and prevents it yielding to the
centrifugal force which tends to force it away.
The arm of the fly wheel bears two (vertical) spindles upon which revolve little
hollow shafts carrying at their upper end toothed pinions which work on a circular

page_text: fixed rack, and at their lower ends rollers which are in contact with the rollers of
the shuttle, these rollers revolving on their axes communicate to the rollers of the
shuttle a rotary motion in the opposite direction. The warp is thus traversed by
the rollers. All the electro magnets receive the same current from a pile or from a
dynamo electric machine.
A single shuttle cannot produce a web, at least two are requisite. The number
of the shuttles is absolutely determined by the ply of the tissue to be produced.
The comb a horizontal circular mechanism composed of a certain number of
segments which are arranged side by side in form of a fan around the axle, each
segment has independently of the others an alternate movement of ascent and
descent by means of an eccentric which turns with the central axis. This eccentric
is so adjusted that each segment shall be at the lower end of its course when a
shuttle passes, and that between the passing of two shuttles the segment is raised
so as to press the thread of the weft to the tissue and returns to its position
underneath.
The shed is composed also of a certain number of segments placed borizontally in
a circle around the centre shaft close to each other, and each composed of four blades
placed one above another. Each blade receives by means of an eccentric a radial
movement backwards and forwards alternately, and the four eccentrics follow the
movement of rotation of the central shaft.
These eccentrics are adjusted so that the four blades of the segment operate
simultaneously, that the segments operate successively, that on the passage of each
shuttle the segments remain stationary; and that between the passage of two
successive shuttles the blades are moved so as to rearrange the warp as required.
The apparatus placed at the points where the pieces woven simultaneously are
divided and contrived to cut the weft weaving at the same time on each side of the
cut the edges of the two pieces.
The apparatus consists of a pair of shears hinged on to a fixed plate, the segment
of the comb in rising to place the weft in the tissue opens the shears; when it
descends again a spring closes them and the thread is cut leaving the ends
projecting over the edges of the two pieces. Two bent levers ending in clips in
which the comb catches the thread of the weft whilst lifting it up are moved by
the comb on redescending and the clips moving aside turn back the ends of the
thread into the warp which the harness has just rearranged. The comb on rising
again, and pressing a new thread into the tissue, presses up also the ends of the
previous thread and the edges woven.
The invention consists essentially of the following parts―
1st. The employment of electro magnets to attach the spindles to the ends of
the arms of a fly wheel which carries them round in a circle and to overcome their
centrifugal force.
2nd. The simultaneous rise of several shuttles which travel round the same
circumference, and of which the number is determined by the requirement of the
fabric to be woven.
3rd. Means for causing to revolve about their axes the rollers intended to pass
over the threads of the warp.
4th. A comb divided in segments actuated by a movement alternate independent
and successive.
5th. Shed divided in the same way.
6th. A method of dividing the web produced into several widths and of weaving
the edges of these widths.

page_text: I, EDOUARD WINCKLER, Guebwiller, Alsace Lorraine do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention for "A CIRCULAR MAGNETIC WEAVER'S LOOM," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the weaving looms commonly in use up to this date, the web is produced by
the alternate movement of the shuttle from right to left, and from left to right. It
has not been possible to causo the shuttle to make more than about 100 strokes
each way per minute, that is to say to make it strike more than about 200 blows
per minute, and already at this speed the repeated shocks which parts of the
mechanism have to bear are so violent, that the speed cannot be exceeded without
rapidly knocking the machinery to pieces. It is therefore necessary, in order to
augment the speed and consequently the output of the loom, to replace the
backwards and forwards movement of the shuttle by a continuous movement.
This problem is completely solved by the loom I am about to describe, and which
I call a circular magnetic loom. The arrangement which I have contrived, and
which I am about to describe causes the shuttles to travel in a circle described
around on axis by a surface of warp threads disposed in the form of a cylinder
around the said axis, and which presenting to the said shuttles the requisite warp,
is woven into a textile fabric. In my looms there are no shocks, because the shuttle
never stops; it is therefore possible to give it a very great speed; and moreover
while in the ordinary looms, whatever be the number of the shuttles, there is never
more than one at work at the same moment, in my loom on the contrary it is
possible to have working in the same warp simultaneously two, three, four or five,
or even more shuttles, following each other around the same circumference, whereby
my loom achieves a production two, three, four, etcetera times greater, than if it
was working, like the ordinary looms with a single shuttle.
Description of the loom. I will first describe a loom designed to produce
simultaneously four pieces each equal in width to a fourth of the circumference of
the cylinder of warp threads, and assume that the number of shuttles employed be
four.
I will afterwards describe the simple arrangements by which it is possible to
weave on the loom instead of four pieces, five six, or more pieces each of width
equal to the corresponding part of the said circumference, and finally indicate what
alterations must be made in the loom to weave three, two, or a single piece or even
a cylinder.
I will divide the description of the loom into sections corresponding to the
several principal portions of the mechanism.
1st. Frame and vertical driving shaft.
2nd. Machinery for setting this vertical driving shaft in motion.
3rd. The shuttle mechanism designed to impart to it a continuous circular
movement whilst permitting it to traverse the threads of the warp.
4th. The comb constructed of a certain number of segments arranged fan-wise
and in a circle around the axis (in the loom shewn in the drawing there are
28 segments): independent movement of each of these segments of the comb, and
alternately from top to bottom and from bottom to top to effect the pressing
together of the weft in the warp.
5th. Harness also constructed of a certain number of segments arranged like the
segments of the comb, in the form of a fan circularly around the axis, each segment

page_text: being composed of a certain number of blades, (in the loom represented there are
28 segments of harness each composed of four blades): an independent and
alternate movement of each of these blades in the direction of the median madina
of each.
6th. Mechanism placed at the points where it is requisite to separate the pieces
woven simultaneously on the looin and contrived to cut the weft at these points,
weaving at the same time on both sides of the cut the edges of the two pieces.
:
7th. Beams: movement of the warp and of the web upon the loom as many
guide rolls as there are pieces woven simultaneously upon the loom designed to take
off the said pieces and to give the web the requisite tension.
8th. Application to my machine of the mechanism called "casse trame" (filling
ston) designed to stop the loom whenever the thread of the weft breaks.
alternate movement of each UI
of each.
Diauto
347
6th. Mechanism placed at the points where it is requisite to separate the pieces
woven simultaneously on the looin and contrived to cut the weft at these points,
weaving at the same time on both sides of the cut the edges of the two pieces.
7th. Beams movement of the warp and of the web upon the loom as many
guide rolls as there are pieces woven simultaneously upon the loom designed to take
off the said pieces and to give the web the requisite tension.
8th. Application to my machine of the mechanism called "casse trame" (filling
stop) designed to stop the loom whenever the thread of the weft breaks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the loom in operation; shewing the arrangement of
the rolls bearing the chains, and of those which serve to take off the woven fabric.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the lower frame or support of the loom
shewing the arrangement of parts.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section through the central axis of the loom.
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus on three different levels, shewing the top of
the loom, the arrangement of the comb, and that of the shed.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on a larger scale shewing the mechanism of the
combs, and that for the driving of the shuttle.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the details of the shuttle with its electro
magnet and the comb with its mechanism.
Figures 7 and 8 two sections of the electro-magnet and of the shuttle.
Figure 9 shews an elevation, and
Figure 10 a vertical section of the mechanism for cutting the warp and of the
apparatus for weaving the borders.
1st. Frame central driving shaft.
See Plate II, Figures 3 and 4. The base of the frame is formed by the cross
piece A upon the arms of which are bolted four upright columns B B B Bill
which carry a cast iron dome with cylindrical base C. To the centre of the cross
piece A is attached a footstep D which supports the end of the vertical shaft E
which sets in motion all the machinery of the loom this shaft traverses the
dome C at the point F where it is held by a bearing. Upon the ends of the
branches of the cross piece A are attached four columns H H H H which are
braced together at their summits by the cross piece I. This carries at its centre
a bearing through which the shaft E passes. A worm is keyed on to the shaft E
at the point J which moves the guide rolls for taking off the webs. At the point K
is attached a socket which carries two bosses to which the eccentrics K¹ KKK
are fitted which put in motion the four sets of blades which compose the harness.
Lastly at the point La fly wheel M is fixed which has four arms, to the ends of
which the four shuttles attach themselves, and which carries the eccentric which
sets in motion the segments of the comb. I will refer again elsewhere to this
mechanism.
2nd. Methods for imparting motion to the centre shaft.
This shaft may be driven either from above or from below; in the latter case the
footstep D must be sunk the requisite distance in the ground. The shaft may be
driven by a belt, by one or more ropes, or by toothed wheels, friction cones, or by
a boss and friction roller. Near the driving pulley the shaft E should carry a pulley
with a brake attached to facilitate the stopping of the loom.
3rd. Shuttles, and mechanism for driving them.
The shuttle N is represented on a small scale, Sheet II Figure 3 in section, and
Figure 4 in plan, and on a larger scale Sheet III. Instead of being straight like

page_text: the shuttles of existing looms, it is curved, that is, its sides are concentric to the
circle which it has to describe around the loom. In the shuttle, at the upper part,
and on the opposite side to the centre shaft of the loom, there is a long rectangular
cavity which is designed to receive the bobbin of weft a. This is mounted upon
the spindle which is secured on a peg c fixed firmly in the wood of the shuttle.
The spindle is retained on the peg by the spring d. The thread in running off the
bobbin passes through a little aperture e. On the side of the shuttle next to the
shaft of the loom is fixed a plate of soft iron f, and on the same side it has in front
two little rollers g and g¹ and behind a third roller g₁, these rollers revolve freely
on their axles. The shuttle is driven as follows:
The fly wheel M which rotates with the main shaft E has as many arms as
there are shuttles (four in the loom represented). Each arm terminates at the
circumference in three lobes of which the middle one carries an electro-magnet O,
and the two others vertical axles P and P. Around each axle revolves a. little
hollow shaft carrying at its upper end a little pinion h, and at its lower end
a roller each of the pinions his toothed to correspond with the toothing on the
inside edge of the rack R attached to the circular frame Q. This frame, which is
fixed and is supported by four stays S S S S from the upper cross piece of the
frame I, is traversed through its centre by the shaft E. By this arrangement the
pinion h participating with rotation around the centre shaft of the loom, receives in.
addition by toothing into the rack R a rotary movement around the axis P, it
communicates this motion to the hollow shaft on which it is mounted and to the.
roller i. If desired, the pinion h may be replaced by a friction roller pressed by
any suitable means against the circle R the toothing of which would in that case be.
done away with. The shuttle places itself so that the plate of soft iron f faces the:
poles of the magnet, and that the rollers and g of the shuttle are in contact with
the roller i, and that the roller gll is also in contact with the roller ; the shuttle:
being constantly attracted towards the electro-magnet, although prevented touching'
by the rollers, will be drawn round by the arm of the fly wheel M upon which the:
electro magnet is fixed in its rotation. The rollers and which are rotated as
described, besides their movement around the main shaft upon the axles which:
carry them, communicate a rotary movement in an opposite direction to the
rollers g g¹ and g¹¹ of the shuttle with which they are in contact, and this arrange-.
ment, long known in connection with ordinary weaving looms, enables the shuttle:
to pass over the warp threads without breaking them. These threads pass easily
between the rollers which by virtue of their rotary movement "bite" them as it is:
called.
The threads pass easily between the threads of the electro magnet and the soft
iron of the magnet because there is no actual contact.
The electro magnet O Figures 6, 7 and 8 is of horse shoe form placed vertically,
its two arms being turned down so as to point towards the plate of soft iron which
is on the shuttle. The upper and round part bears a shank f which is fixed on the
arm of the fly wheel by screws, but the whole must be properly isolated from the
fly-wheel by a glass tube, caoutchouc washers, or other means. The two ends of
the wire which is coiled about the bobbins ẞ B₁ of the electro magnet, and through,
which the electric current is passed, follow the arm of the fly wheel M to close up
to the shaft E, and end at two terminals & and forming part of a ring which
surrounds the shaft E and is fixed by rivets to the fly wheel M. The two rings e
and are isolated by caoutchouc washers from each other and from the fly.
wheel M.
The upper ring is smaller than the lower, and the stud which it carries passes:
through the other without contact. The same arrangement applies to each electro
magnet: each has one wire connected to the ring & and the other connected to the
ring to each of these rings is connected a spring of brass and these springs and
are fixed by screws to the frame Q but isolated from it by caoutchouc washers.
The wires which come from the poles of a battery or dynamo electric machine pass.
through the frame Q and make contact with the springs and 6. The electric

page_text: current thus passes constantly through all the coils of the electro-magnets, and
these act upon the shuttles continuously unless the current be cut off by a shunt.
The two plates e and 5 might perhaps be replaced with advantage by a single
wooden ring fixed on the wheel and bearing two flat metallic rings, on each of
which one of the springs and rests and which are in communication through
the wooden ring with the terminals 8 and 6. This method of communicating to
the shuttles a rotary movement around the axle of the loom has this danger, that
if the electric current be interrupted in any way the shuttles no longer attracted
to the magnets will fly off from the loom at a tangent to the circle they are
describing at great speed.
To avoid the accidents which might occur from this, I surround the loom at the
required height with a circular cage, which prevents the shuttles from thus flying
off from the loom.
4th. The comb, consisting of a certain number of segments T T and the movement
of these.
The segments of the comb are shewn in section Sheet II Figure 3 and in plan
Sheet II Figure 4. Figures 5 and 6 of Sheet III shew one of these segments on an
enlarged scale in section, and in plan. The segments of the comb (the loom shewn
has 28) are fixed side by side fanwise around the axis of the loom. They are fixed
as near each other as possible so that there shall be no more space between
them than between two teeth close to each other. These segments are constructed
like the combs of looms now in use, of copper or steel teeth placed side by side and
suitably connected, but they differ from the existing combs in that the teeth radiate
instead of being parallel. Each segment T is fixed by means of a clip j closed by
rivets to the end of a bent lever le which works on an axle l, this axle is held in
the fork of a support m fixed to the dome C of the framework. The forks of the
support have projections m¹ designed to guide the bent lever k in its movement.
This lever is set in motion by a little sliding clutch n travelling between guides p
and p¹ also fixed upon the dome C of the frame, and which carries a roller o.
roller catches in the arm of an eccentric q fixed on the fly wheel M aforesaid. The
rotation of the fly wheel M works the eccentric q and this effects by means of the
roller o a movement to and fro of the little clutch n consequently of the lever k,
and an up and down motion of the segment of the comb T. When the segment is
at the bottom of its track it is below the point where the shuttle passes, the shuttle
consequently can pass over it, when on the other hand it rises, it lifts the weft
thread left by the shuttle and pushes it against the web which it touches at the top
of its course. Each segment of the comb has the same action and is attached to the
same eccentric q. This eccentric being attached to the fly wheel M is so fixed that
at the passage of each shuttle the comb segments shall be at the bottom of their
course, that after its passage they rise to place the thread in the web and re-descend
to admit of the passage of the next shuttle, and so on.
This
The eccentric must have as many bends as there are shuttles, as in the loom
described there are four shuttles the eccentric will have four bends: at each turn
of the fly wheel M the comb segments will complete their movements four times in
order to place the threads left by the four shuttles.
5th. Harness or shed; composed of a certain number of segments, each composed
of a certain number of blades baving independent and alternate motion.
This harness or shed is represented in section in Figure 3 and in plan in Figure 4.
It is composed of a given number of segments arranged fanwise around the axis of
the centre shaft so as to leave as little space as possible between them (there are 28
in the loom shewn). This harness or shed differs from that ordinarily in use in
looms in that whilst the blades of the ordinary shed operate vertically, the blades
of this one work horizontally.
In the loom shewn there are for each segment of the shed four blades or slides
one above another U U₁₁ U for holding the warp threads, which instead of
being parallel as in the sheds of ordinary looms are divergent. These slides U U
U U are fixed to the ends of double bars rlllll which pass through

page_text: holes 8 8 8 8 which act as guides and which are fixed to the dome C of the
frame. Each of these double bars is continued towards the centre of the loom by a
flat bar bearing a roller t: the four flat bars are guided between rollers, rotating on
little vertical axles u and u¹ which are carried by the dome C: The four rollers t t
11 111 are each engaged in the periphery of an eccentric and these four eccentrics
xllllll are fixed upon frames V and V which are themselves fixed to a boss V"
mounted on the shaft E, and revolved by it round the central axis of the loom. A
movement backwards and forwards in the direction of the medium line of the slides
is thus communicated to the sheds. The same motion is communicated to the
threads of the warp which are held by the blades of the shed so that the same warp
threads are placed alternately within and without the circle described by the
shuttles. Now as the eccentric mechanism is driven by the same rotary movement
as the fly wheel M which revolves the shuttles, it is easy to give the eccentrics the
forms requisite to cause each shuttle on its passage to traverse the threads of the
warp arranged in such a way as will give the texture desired, and that on the
passage of the shuttle the warp threads re-arrange themselves in such a manner
as may be requisite for the next shuttle, and so on, each time that a shuttle
passes over a segment of the harness (shed) this segment stands still as well as
the threads it controls, and that between the passage of two successive shuttles,
the slides of the segment move so as to arrange the warp as may be desired.
6th. Mechanism placed at the points where it is desired to separate the lengths
which are being woven simultaneously on the loom, and designed to cut the thread
at these points, producing moreover on each side of the cut the edges of the
two pieces.
In the loom shewn, designed to weave four pieces each of a width equal to the
fourth part of the circle of warp threads there will be four sets of this mechanism.
One set is represented in Figures 9 and 10. In arranging the circle of warp threads
upon the circular loom, there is contrived at the four points where the fabric is to
be divided an interval of two centimetres in width, consequently the web will
consist of four breadths two centimetres apart. This is obtained by leaving at
these points the same distance between the segments of the comb and of the
shed respectively. The separation between the warp threads is shown at a in
Figure 9. At this point a little catch b is fixed by screws upon the outside of
the circle R of the round frame Q to which I have already referred (this circle is
toothed internally). To this catch 6 is adjusted a little pair of shears of which o
is the fixed arm, and which have the moving arm d bent and carrying a stud e.
The comb segment T on rising after the passage of the shuttle, touches the stud e
and opens the shears; and when it descends again the spring facts on the bent
moving blade and closes the shears. From this arrangement it results that the
comb rising and pushing the thread to the web, pushes it between the blades of
the shears open to receive it, and which closing on the descent of the comb cut the
thread at the point g. The thread accordingly overhangs each web by 1 centimetre,.
and each end requires to be turned back into the web so as to form the edge.
Above the catch 6 is fixed against the same circle R another catch h having on its'
lower part two little axles i and ¹. Upon these are mounted the elbowed levers k
and k', the spring / presses on the short arms of these levers, and this holds the
long arms in the attitudes k, l, these long arms are inclined on their axes so as to
have nearly the same slope as the threads of the warp in their outer position, and so
that their ends are close to the pair of shears; these ends are formed of little clips m
in which the comb on rising engages the thread which remains held in them when
the comb redescends, and this facilitates the cutting of the thread by the shears.
Further, the comb arriving at the bottom of its course strikes upon the short
arms of the levers k and k¹, and it results therefrom that the clips of the other arms
diverge from the shears, each taking one end of the warp and placing this end in
the web to which it belongs. Moreover when the levers reach their furthest
position k₂ k¹ the clips being more than 1 centimetre from the edges of the webs,
the ends of the thread slip through the clips, and remain in the tissue when these

page_text: clips go back again. And if the movements of the segments of the comb and of
the shed have been properly adjusted by means of the position given to the
eccentrics so that before the comb shall have finished its movement of descent the
segment of the shed will have acted and changed the position of the warp, the end
of the weft will be held by another thread than the rest of the same thread, and
the edge will be woven. As soon as after the passage of the next shuttle the comb
segment rises again, the levers kk' are lifted and the same action is repeated.
Consequently each thread lifted by the comb on being pushed up into the web
pushes before it the end of the previous thread, which is necessary and sufficient
for the production of a perfect edge.
7th. Arrangement of the beams progress of the warp and of the web on the
loom guide rolls for effecting the movement of the warp and of the web, and for
giving the requisite tension to the fabric. In the case of the loom shewn for
producing four pieces at once, there are eight beams G which are arranged at the
bottom of the loom in a circle round the upright feet B B¹ B11 B1 of the dome.
Their supports are fixed to the cross piece A. The threads of the warp unwinding
off the beams pass over a circular frame W a ring supported by stays from the
supports of the beams. The warp thus takes a cylindrical form, and passes then
through the guide rings W¹ W" of similar shape and from these it rises so as to
form a cylinder around the rim R of the frame Q. It passes through the segments
of the shed, then through those of the comb, and arrives at the circumference ✗
where it is woven into a fabric. At this circumference the web is divided by the
shears and the edges of the breadths by the mechanism described.
Each breadth of the web travels to a guide roll designed to take it off and at the
same time draw up the warp at the speed requisite to give the fabric the required
tension. But before arriving at the guide rolls, it is necessary that the fabric
which at the point X has the shape of a greater circle should be spread out flat.
For this purpose it is passed first inside a ring Y then successively inside two
rollers Y Y which have the form of arcs of a large circle, then onto the guide
roll Z.
This guide roll may be any of those used on ordinary looms, that which is drawn
is fixed on the cross piece I and is composed of a certain number of rollers to which
the fabric passes, travelling in succession over the roller u then over a second u
which is roughened and is the drawing roller, then over a third u¹ which is placed
above the other two, then over two smaller rollers v and v¹ and is delivered from
them into the box Z' also attached to the cross piece I. The drawing roller u¹
receives its motion from the worm J keyed to the central shaft E by the inter-
position of several shafts and toothed wheels, see Figure 4. In the loom shewn
there are four sets of guide rolls the drawing roller of one set receives its motion
direct from the shaft as described and transmits it to the others by means of
toothed wheels.
8th. Application to the circular loom of the filling stop designed to stop the loom
should the weft thread break.
See Figure 10. The mechanism called casse tramé" which is employed in
ordinary weaving looms is placed on my loom at the place where the weft is cut
by the shears already described, a little shaft m rotated by the central shaft E of
the loom carries a handle which by the interposition of a little bar o gives an up
and down movement to a flat bar p working in two slots carried by the support h,
and which has a little groove ?: the support h has on the other side two slots in
which slides the bar q. On this bar, at the point s the bent lever t u works, of
which the arm u is heavier than the arm t. If this arm u was left to itself the
hook which terminates the arm t would catch at every rise of the bar p in the
groove aforesaid; but the arm u resting upon the weft thread is held up by it
every time the comb rises up to press it into the web, and then the hook of the
arm t can no longer catch in the groove r. The backwards and forwards motion of
the bar p is combined in such wise that each time the comb rises, the bar rises also,
as described hence the groover will not catch the hook t, but if the weft breaks,

page_text: the arm u is no longer held up and the groove in rising catches the hook t so
that the rise of the bar p causes the rise of the bar q which produces by well
known means the stoppage of the loom. I apply this mechanism to each place
where the web is divided.
Working of the loom. The electric current having been started through the
coils of the magnets, the shuttles are placed in position against the arms of the fly
wheel; they attach themselves instantly. The central shaft E is set in motion,
and the fly wheel carries round with it the four shuttles which describe around
the shaft the semi circle. By means of the arrangement of the eccentrics which
share in the movement of rotation of the shaft E the segments of the comb and the
segments of the shed operate so that the shuttles always find on their passage the
segments of the comb lowered, and they can pass over them, the space between
the warp threads being arranged for them by the shed so that between the passage
of each shuttle the comb segments rise to place the weft in the web, and descend
again whilst the segments of the shed move so as to effect a rearrangement of the
threads of the warp for the following shuttle. As there are four shuttles there will
be at each revolution of the main shaft four weft threads added to the tissue on
this account, and also because the shuttles working without stopping can revolve
very quickly the fabric is woven rapidly. It is divided by the four pairs of shears,
the edges being woven at same time, and they are each taken off by one of the sets
of guide rolls above the loom, and delivered by it into a box.
Number of shuttles employed on the loom.
The loom represented and described has four shuttles. But the number of the
shuttles to be employed upon the loom is not indifferent it is absolutely determined
by the nature of the fabric to be woven. In fact seeing the movements of the
shuttles and those of the eccentrics of the studs correspond, and that each shuttle
always remains in the same position with respect to the eccentric of the stud, the
same shuttle throughout its course around the loom will always meet at any given
point in its course the same pattern of threads before it. It follows from this that
there must be as many shuttles as there are different thread patterns in the fabric,
that is as many as there are threads in the ply, thus for a loom weaving sheeting or
calico a tissue in which the ply is of two threads, two shuttles are indispensable; but
four, six, eight may be used, that is multiples of two and completing their work in
pairs.
To weave cachemire of which the ply is of three threads, three shuttles are
requisite, or six or nine may be used.
To weave tissues of a four fold ply, four shuttles, or eight are requisite.
To weave satin of which the ply is of five threads, five shuttles are requisite, or
ten, and so on.
Alterations required in a loom weaving four breadths at once to enable it to
produce a greater or less number of pieces. The loom represented and described
produces four breadths, each nearly equal in width to a fourth of the circumference
that is on the scale given four breadths of usual width-one metre comb surface,
giving 90 metre tissue. To weave fabrics somewhat larger or smaller I should
construct special looms. But without changing the loom I can produce different
widths by changing the number of the pieces woven simultaneously; this number
of pieces may be more or less than four, but certain alterations in the loom are
requisite. To make five, six, seven, eight, or more pieces each of a size corresponding
to the fifth, sixth etcetera respectively of the circumference of the warp, the
arrangement of the warp around the loom will remain the same, but it would have
to be divided into a corresponding number of parts, leaving spaces of two centimetres
between each fitted with shears and edge weaving apparatus as described. The
size or even the number of the segments of the comb and of the stud together with
their corresponding mechanism, would require alteration moreover as many sets of
guide rolls would be requisite as there would be pieces produced, and the cross
pieces on top of loom might require alteration to admit of this. It is equally
practicable to weave on the same loom a number of pieces of unequal widths by
.J

page_text: making the requisite alterations, say two pieces each of width equal to a quarter
circumference, and four pieces each equal to an eighth.
They
It would also be possible to weave on the loom three pieces each corresponding
to a third of the circumference, or in the same way two, one, or even a cylinder.
But in these three last cases it would be requisite to alter not only the number of
pairs of shears, and alter the comb and shed segments, and their eccentrics, but the
entire top of the frame would be required to be removed, and the usual rolls replaced
by other mechanism. Upon the fixed frame Q might be fixed at a tangent to its
surface, a cylinder in sheet iron or other suitable material, up which the fabric
should mount to draw it various methods might be employed, for instance, one of
the following. 1. There could be fixed at a given height above the point when the
tissue was being woven a crown of small rollers, the axes of which should be carried
by a special frame replacing the columns H H H H described before which
would not be required. These rollers would be pressed by weights against the
sheet iron cylinder rotated by means of cords or other suitable means.
would draw up in their movement the fabric which would be pressed between them,
and the sheet iron cylinder. When the tissue had been drawn up it might be
collected at top by any suitable arrangement. 2. At a given height above the point
where the tissue is woven, a number of concave horizontal rolls are fixed, four or
eight for instance which adapt themselves to the curve of the cylinder, and are
roughened so that the tissue pressed between them and the cylinder may be drawn
up. The rollers are pressed against the cylinder by counterpoises, and their axes
supported by a special frame are set in motion by any suitable method at the
required speed. The cylinder might also be replaced by convex rollers placed
horizontally, and the tissue placed between the two sets of rolls concave and convex
would be drawn up (this arrangement is also applicable to loomis weaving four or
more pieces simultaneously in place of the guide rolls described or at least enabling
them to be simplified). 3. By the application of a lifting frame having an upward
movement, and which as soon as it reaches the top of its course can be drawn down
again by the workman in charge in order to travel up again, a method analogous
to that which produces the movement in the weaving of stockings and knitted
goods. 4. The sheet iron cylinder may terminate in a surface of elliptic section,
such that the main axis of the ellipse widens continually and the smaller axis
diminishes until its section should be a straight line of width equal to the semi
diameter of the cylinder. At this point the tissue, whether a cylinder a single web
or two webs, will be folded double, and will then pass over guide rolls as before
described.
Finally whatever be the method employed for drawing off the fabric, it will
involve as I have said the removal of the whole of the upper part of the frame.
Now, as the frame Q is indispensable to the loom as it carries the toothed rim R
above mentioned has been described as being attached to the upper cross piece I of
the frame, it will have to be supported otherwise. In this case the shaft E is made
hollow, and a column passes up it which rises above the shaft and carries the
frame Q and the iron cylinder attached to this frame. The shaft E in this case
must necessarily be driven from below.
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
1st. The combination of parts forming the circular magnetic loom, permitting of
the employment of several shuttles actuated by the electro-magnets, and having
harness and combs formed of blades disposed fan wise, operating after the passage
of each shuttle, substantially as described and shewn in the annexed drawings.
2nd. The combination of parts designed for the purpose of enabling several
breadths of fabric to be woven simultaneously upon a circular loom, consisting of
shears automatically cutting the threads under the reciprocating impulse of the
combs and of opposing springs, the ends of the threads being turned back and
interwoven in the fabric by means of the mechanism described, also actuated

page_text: alternately by the combs and by special springs, substantially as described and
shewn in the annexed drawings.
3rd. The arrangement for and the method of actuating the shuttles, consisting in
the employment of electro magnets not for driving the shuttle in its circular course,
but simply to counter balance the centrifugal force in which system the toothed
rollers of the shuttle gear into tooth wheels on the electro magnet, allowing it to
move backwards or forwards.
4th. The circular combs divided into articulated segments and having radially
disposed toothing, receiving motion in succession from an eccentric so designed that
each comb only begins to descend when the following one has arrived at the top of
its course, substantially as described and shewn in the annexed drawings.
WM P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
and 323, High Holborn, London.
Dated this seventh day January 1885.
WM P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
and 323, High Holborn, London.