Improvements in Looms for Weaving Tufted Fabrics.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required
by the decision of the Law Officer of the 26th day of July 1898.
Improvements in Looms for Weaving Tufted Fabrics.
We, THOMAS MARTIN SOUTHWELL, of Bridgnorth, in the County of Salop,
Manufacturer, and THOMAS WILLIAM HEAD, of Bridgnorth aforesaid, Loom
Tuner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to looms for weaving tufted fabrics, of which those known
as Moquette carpets or Royal Axminster carpets are examples, the said fabrics
having a body of warp and weft threads and a face consisting of rows of tufts
secured by the warp and weft threads. It is usual in most looms of this descrip-
tion, for the tuft spools to be conveyed by transferring arms successively from
the spool carriers (usually two endless chains) and when the ends of the tufts
have been inserted between the warp threads, for the tuft spool to be held in
position till a shot of weft has been taken across by a weft carrier and been
pressed up by the lay. After the tufts have been thus securely bound into the
body of the fabric, the transferring arms return the tuft spool to the spool carriers,
and wait in that position till another tuft spool is advanced before repeating the
process.
It has however been proposed to construct a loom of this kind wherein the tuft
spool carrier and support thereof are caused to change their position relatively
to the transferring arms during the time the said arms are operating to take a
spool from and return it to the carrier the object being to reduce the time between
the operations of carrying the spools. The mechanism, hitherto proposed for
effecting this object is complicated whilst a compound movement is required to
be given to the carrier support each time a spool is taken therefrom and conse-
quently very little saving of time is obtained. This invention provides an im-
proved movement in connection with the transferring arms, which allows the tuft
spools and carriers to be brought forward while the transferring arms are engaged
in their other movements and by the saving of time at the change of the tuft
spools to materially increase the capacity of the .loom.
The spool carriers are arranged to move in a horizontal plane, so that when
the transferring arms return a tuft spool to the empty space or link the said
transferring arms can be made to rock or slide horizontally to the next spool and,
after taking the said spool from the spool carriers, convey it to the position
necessary for the insertion of the tuft, during which operation the tuft spool
carriers advance bringing the empty link into position to receive the tuft spool
which had been removed and also bringing the next tuft spool into the necessary
positions to be removed by the transfer arms.
The springs in connection with the spool frames by which the tuft spools are
077

page_text: held in the frames are provided with parts which bear on the spool carriers wider
than are those now in use whereby the spools are kept steady in the carriers.
The invention also comprises an improved means for operating the heddles
whereby more than one opening or shed can be obtained at the same time for
the insertion from one side of the loom of two or more weft carriers for the
insertion of the necessary weft between the warp threads, thereby considerably
reducing the time usually taken for that purpose.
Means are also provided whereby the weft used for the binding of the tufts
can be placed between the warp threads before the insertion of the tufts, so that
as soon as the latter are in position between the warp threads the said weft can
be beaten up by the lay to bind the tufts in the body of the fabric. On the weft
inserting side of the loom, fingers or points are provided for the purpose of keeping
the binding weft in position till the next series of tufts is inserted.
By this invention the time required for the inserting of the weft between the
warp threads is considerably reduced, while the insertion of the weft for the
binding of the tufts before the insertion of the said tufts, in combination with
the improved method of returning and again taking the tuft spools, and advanc-
ing the tuft spools for the next row of tufts, materially increases the capacity
of the loom.
Dated this 22nd day of Februam 1007
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Looms for Weaving Tufted Fabrics.
We, THOMAS MARTIN SOUTHWELL, of Bridgnorth, in the County of Salop,
Manufacturer, and THOMAS WILLIAM HEAD, of Bridgnorth aforesaid, Loom
Tuner, 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 looms for weaving tufted fabrics, of which those known
as Moquette carpets or Royal Axminster carpets are examples, the said fabrics
having a body of warp and weft threads and a face consisting of rows of tufts
secured by the warp and weft threads. It is usual in most looms of this descrip-
tion, for the tuft spools to be conveyed by transferring arms successively from
the spool carriers (usually two endless chains), and when the ends of the tufts
have been inserted between the warp threads, for the tuft spool to be held in that
position till a shot of weft has been taken across by a weft carrier, and been
pressed up by the lay. After the tufts have been thus securely bound into the
body of the fabric, and the tuft yarns cut off, the transferring arms return the
tuft spool to the spool carriers, and wait in that position till another tuft spool
is advanced before repeating the process.
This invention provides an improved movement in connection with the trans-
ferring arms, which allows the tuft spools to be brought forward while the
transferring arms are engaged in their other movements and by the saving of
time thus effected at the change of the tuft spools to materially increase the
capacity of the loom.
The spool carriers are arranged to move on stationary supports the lower
portion of which said carriers are always in a horizontal plane, so that when the
.transferring arms return a tuft spool to the empty space in the carriers the said

page_text: transferring arms can be made to rock or slide horizontally to the next spool and,
after taking the said spool from the spool carrier, convey it to the position
necessary for the insertion of the tufts into the body of the fabric, during which
operation the tuft spool carriers advance, bringing the empty link or space into
position to receive the tuft spool which had been removed, and also bringing
the next tuft spool into the necessary position to be removed by the transferring
arms.
The springs in connection with the spool frames by which the tuft spools are
held in the spool carriers are provided with parts which bear on the said spool
carriers, wider than are those now in use, whereby the spools are kept steady in
the carriers.
The invention also consists in operating the heddles whereby more than one
opening or shed can be obtained at the same time thus enabling two or more weft
carriers to be used simultaneously for inserting the necessary weft between the
warp threads, thereby considerably reducing the time usually taken for that
purpose.
Means are also provided whereby the weft used for the binding of the tufts
can be placed between the warp threads before the insertion of the tufts, and
held in position in the sheds, so that as soon as the tufts are in position between
the warp threads the said weft can be pulled up tightly on the selvages and be
beaten up by the lay to bind the tufts in the body of the fabric, the said means
consisting of fingers or points which hold the binding weft in the open part of
the shed till the series of tufts is inserted.
By this invention the time required for the inserting of the weft threads
between the warp threads is considerably reduced, and by the insertion of the
weft threads for the binding of the tufts before the insertion of the said tufts,
in combination with the improved method of returning and again taking the tuft
spools, and advancing the tuft spool carriers for the next row of tufts, the
capacity of the loom is materially increased.
In order that this invention may be well understood we will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 represents in
longitudinal sectional elevation so much of a tuft loom as is necessary to illus-
trate the invention; looms of this character being well known we have not
considered it necessary to shew the cams employed for giving motion to the
various parts, except those for operating the heddles and weft retaining fingers
it being understood that all the cams are suitably shaped and timed to effect, in
the order required, the various movements hereinafter described. Figure 2 is
en elevation and Figure 3 a plan of the weft carriers employed in the example
given, it being understood that instead of the needle weft carriers as shewn,
shuttles or other descriptions of weft carriers may be employed. In Figures 2
and 3 are also shewn the usual shuttle for locking the weft threads and forming
the selvage on one edge of the fabric. Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a side
elevation and a plan of one of the transferring arms engaged with a tuft spool,
and Figure 6 is an end view thereof. Figure 7 is a view shewing by full lines
and dotted lines different positions the transferring arms and engaging fingers
assume in conveying a tuft spool from the tuft spool carriers into position for
inserting the tufts.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the weave hereinafter more particularly des
cribed and Figures and 10 represent the cams which operate the heddles to
produce the said weave. Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a two shot weave by
the simultaneous insertion of two wefts and Figure 12 shews an enlarged view
of a three shot weave which can be made by the simultaneous insertion of three
wefts.
A is the frame of the loom, B the warp beams (shewn in Figure 1) 1, 2, 3 three
heddles operated by cams so as to form two sheds at a time, the heddles 1, 2
operating the warps 1* 2* and the heddle 3 operating the dead warp 3. The
cam for operating the heddle 3 is shewn in Figure 9, one of the two cams (which

page_text: are both alike) for operating the heddles 1 and 2 being shewn in Figure 10.
The relative positions of the studs engaging these two cams are as shewn by
full line circle 1* and by dotted circle 2, and that engaging the cam Figure 9
by full line circle 3. Nos. 4, 5 & 6 (see Figure 8) are weft threads two of
which 4, 6, are inserted in the upper sheds-the other weft thread 5, being
inserted in the lower sheds. C are tuft spools mounted in the usual frames C¹¹
having tubes or guides C2 for inserting the tufts. D is the tuft spool carrier
consisting of endless chains engaging sprocket wheels E turning on axes F in
stationary supports G shewn in the drawing as part of the frame of the loom.
I are the transferring arms by which the tuft spools are removed from and
returned to the tuft spool carriers the said tuft spool carriers being caused to
move intermittently by pawl and ratchet motion and suitably timed cam or cams
in the usual manner to bring the empty space in the spool carriers, from which
a spool had been removed by the transferring arms, into position to have the
said spool reinserted as hereinafter described. I I¹ are needles or weft carriers
(see Figures 2 and 3) by which the weft threads are inserted in the sheds formed
in the warp threads by the heddles 1, 2 and 3. The needles I I' are fixed in a
holder K arranged to slide to and fro in or on a guide L it being operated by
means of a cam through the rod M and link N connected to the said holder K.
A shuttle is provided for each needle or weft carrier to secure the weft threads
P is the
and form the selvage on the edge of the fabric in the usual manner.
comb by which the tuft ends inserted in the warp threads are turned back to
the face of the fabric to be secured by the binding weft threads and Q is the lay
by which the weft threads are beaten up. R R are retaining fingers or projec-
tions for holding the weft threads in position in the sheds to admit of the tufts
being inserted between the weft threads after the said weft threads have been
inserted. The finger R is common to this kind of loom and is operated by a
cam T mounted on the usual cam shaft and acting on a levert to which the
finger R is connected by a rod t¹. The finger R', which constitutes an important
feature of this invention, is operated by the cam T" mounted on a supplementary
cam shaft the said cam acting on a lever r pivoted at 2 to the frame of the
loom and connected at its outer end to the finger R¹. The cams T T are suitably
timed to cause the fingers to rise at the requisite time to engage the inserted weft
threads and retain them in position in the shed to admit of the tufts being
inserted between the said wefts and then to descend and release the wefts, to admit
of them being pulled up tightly at the selvages and then beaten up by the lay.
The transferring arms H are arranged one on each side of the loom and are
connected together by rods and connecting link as usual so as to operate simul-
taneously to engage the tuft spools, insert the tufts, and return the spools to
the spaces in the spool carriers from which they are removed. Each transferring
arm is pivotted at h to a support H¹ to permit of it moving in a horizontal plane
to engage and release the spools in the ordinary manner and the support H' is
mounted on a horizontal axis H2 and caused to oscillate in a vertical plane (by
means of a cam acting on a lever and rod connected at H³ to the said support H¹),
into a position to engage the tuft spools in the tuft spool carriers and then to
descend with the said spool into position to insert the tufts in the fabric and then
to rise and reinsert the spool in the space in the carriers from which it had been
removed. The forward end of each transferring arm is slotted as shewn at h¹ in
which slot is fitted so as to slide therein or therealong a block h² (see Figure 4)
having pivotted thereto a piece with fingers h³ to engage the frames C¹ in which
the tuft spools are pivoted. The sliding block 2 is connected by a rod h¹ to one
arm h of a bell crank lever the other arm h6 of which bell crank lever is acted
on, through a rod h7, by a cam suitably timed, to cause the block h³ to reciprocate
in the slot h¹ at the required periods. The pivotted piece carried by the sliding
block has an arm 8 from which projects a stud 8 surrounded by a helical
spring which stud is connected by a rod 10 to one arm h¹ of a bell crank
lever the other arm h¹ of which lever is operated by a cam through a rod h¹³

page_text: so as to cause the pivotted piece having the engaging fingers h³ together with
the tuft spool engaged thereby to turn in the block h² so as to insert the tufts
at the required angle between the warp threads. The helical spring sur-
rounding the stud 18* bears at one end against the end of the connecting rod h¹0
and at its opposite end against a lug on a plate through which lug the
stud passes. The inner end of the plate is forked and bent upwards at
right angles to the longitudinal portion of the plate, as shewn at which bent
up parts are caused by the spring hº to press against the end of the spool when
engaged by the fingers h³ and so prevents the spool from turning too freely in
its bearings while the tuft yarn is being drawn from the said spool. The
frame C in which the tuft spool is mounted is provided at each end with a
projection which enter links in the tuft spool carriers; and also with a blade
spring having a shoulder k¹ which when the tuft spool is inserted in the tuft
spool carriers engage with the said links and retain the spool in position. When
the tuft spool is engaged by the transferring arms the springs are pressed by
the projections or arms 8 out of engagement with the links of the tuft spool
carriers so as to admit of the spool being removed from the carriers by the said
transferring arms. The operation of weaving a tufted fabric according to this
invention will be readily understood from the following description without
detailing the action of all parts of the loom, it being understood however that
we do not restrict ourselves to the precise weave nor to the construction and
arrangement of parts described, as variations in the weave and arrangement of
mechanism can be adopted without departing from the broad principle of this
invention; for instance by the use of the double shed and two weft carriers a
fabric with only two shots of weft as shewn in Figure 11 can be made in less
time than can be made in ordinary two shot time looms, as by the simultaneous
insertion of the foundation shot and the binding shot the necessity for the second
insertion of the weft carriers is obviated.
Suppose the two sheds 1** 2** to be formed in the warp as shewn in Figure 1,
and the transferring arms H to be rising to insert the tuft spool which they carry,
into the empty space in the tuft spool carriers, the weft needles I I¹ carrying
the weft threads 6 and 5 respectively, are caused to enter the sheds, the needle I
with the weft thread 6 entering the shed 1*, and the needle I¹ with the weft
thread 5 entering the shed 2**. The inserted weft threads are secured by
shuttles K K in the usual manner, except that instead of a single shuttle two
shuttles are preferably provided corresponding to the two needles or weft car-
riers II, after which the needles are withdrawn and the said wefts 5, 6 are
beat up by the lay Q. The wefts 6 and 5 having been beaten up, the heddles
are caused by their cams, Figures 9 and 10, to change the sheds, the warps 1*
which with the warps 3* had formed the shed 1" reversing their positions while
the heddle governing the warp 2 still remains in the position shewn in Figure 1
and helping to form the lower shed 2**. The weft carriers or needles I I¹ are
now caused to enter the newly formed sheds, the upper needle I, only, carrying
a weft thread (4) into the upper shed, the needle I¹ entering the lower shed with-
out a weft thread. As will be seen on reference to Figures 9, 10, the heddle cams
are arranged to make only one revolution to every two revolutions of the cam
shaft, the heddles 2 and 3 reversing their positions.
As the needles are about to enter the sheds the finger R¹ is caused to rise into
position to engage the weft thread 4 so as to hold the said weft thread at a
distance in the more open portion of the shed, as shewn in Figure 3, to admit
of a row of tufts being inserted between the said weft thread and the previously
beaten up weft 6 and 5. The transferring arms H, which have been operated
so as to engage with a tuft spool in the tuft spool carrier, now descends with the
spool and inserts the protruding ends of the tuft yarns between the inserted and
beat un wefts 5 and 6, and the inserted weft 4. While the transferring arms are
descending the sliding blocks 2, together with the fingers h³ engaging the spool,
are caused to slide towards the outer ends of the slots h¹, as shewn by dotted

page_text: lines in Figure 7, and at the same time the pivotted pieces, with the fingers h³
which engage the frame C, and caused to turn on their pivots in the sliding
blocks has to insert the tufts in an angular direction as shewn in Figure 7.
The ends of the tufts having been inserted and the weft pulled up tightly on
the selvages the lay moves forward and beats up the weft 4, thereby holding
the tufts in the fabric. The comb P then ascends and bends upwards the ends
of the tufts round the said weft 4 and the sheds are changed by the heddles and
after the transferring arms have been raised to such an extent as to draw from
the tuft spool sufficient yarn to form the tufts, the cutters L' L' come into action
to separate the tufts from the spool.
During these operations the tuft spool carriers have a movement given to them,
by means of a cam and pawl and ratchet arrangement, so as to bring the empty
space from which the spool had been removed, into position to receive the said
spool from the transferring arms, the next spool in the carriers being also brought
into position to be engaged by the said transferring arms.
The tufts having been separated from the spool the transferring arms rise and
reinsert the spool in the empty space in the tuft spool carriers after which the
blocks 2 carrying the engaging fingers are caused to slide backwards in
the slots in the ends of the transferring arms so as to bring them opposite the
next spool to be engaged, and the said arms are turned on their pivots h so as
to cause the fingers to engage the said spool, during these movements wefts 6
and 5 are inserted in the sheds and the sheds are changed and the weft 4 inserted
in the upper shed as before. The arms H now descend with the spool so as to
insert another row of tufts and the operations herein before described are repeated.
By means of this invention a more equal distribution of the time in which
the various motions hereinbefore described are effected, and the motions take
place without waiting and more in unison with each other, whereby although the
movements of the parts may be slower than usual, a greater amount of work
is produced in a given time, than is the case with looms of this character as
heretofore constructed.
By the use of the double shed and two weft carriers a fabric with only two
shots of wefts as shewn in Figure 11 can be made in less time than can be made
in ordinary two shot time looms as by the simultaneous insertion of the foundation
shot and the binding shot the necessity for the second insertion of weft carriers
is obviated. By providing an additional heddle and cam for operating it and
an additional needle or weft carrier three sheds can be formed at the same time
and three shots of weft be inserted simultaneously to weave a three shot fabric
as shewn in Figure 12 in a very rapid manner. In both these cases the shots
of weft inserted in the lower shed or sheds is or are moved forward by the ordinary
blade S before a row of tufts is inserted the shot in the uppermost shed being
retained by the finger R¹ herein before described the said shot being beat up by
the lay after the row of tufts is inserted.
We are aware that it has been previously proposed to insert the pile weft
before the pile ends are pushed through the warps and we lay no claim to this.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a loom for weaving tufted fabrics the combination with two or more weft
carriers of means for simultaneously forming two or more sheds in the warps
to allow the insertion of necessary wefts substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a loom for weaving tufted fabrics an engaging finger or engaging fingers,
and means for operating the said finger or fingers so as to engage the inserted
weft threads and hold them in position in the shed, to permit of the insertion of
the tufts between the said weft threads and after the tufts have been inserted
disengage the wefts to admit of them being beaten up substantially as herein-
before described.

page_text: 3. In a loom for weaving tufted fabrics, the combination with tuft spool
carriers having intermittent horizontal movements on stationary supports, of
transferring arms having engaging fingers moveable longitudinally, and means
for imparting the necessary movements to the said tuft spool carriers, transferring
arms and the engaging fingers, at such times that while a series of tufts is being
inserted by the transferring arms, and secured in the fabric, the tuft spool
carriers are caused to move on the stationary supports so as to bring the space
in the carriers from which the tuft spool had been removed by the transferring
arms, into position to receive the said spool from the transferring arms as they
rise from the fabric after inserting a series of tufts, and the engaging fingers
carried by the transferring arms are caused to move longitudinally (after inserting
the spool into the empty space in the carriers) into position to engage the next
tuft spool in the spool carriers, substantially as herein before described.
4. In a loom for weaving tufted fabrics transferring arms in or on which tuft
spools are caused to slide, substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described.
5. In a loom for weaving tufted fabrics the combination with stationary sup-
ports for the tuft spool carriers to travel on, of transferring arms having slots
therein in which are caused to slide blocks provided with fingers which engage
the tuft spools, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
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