CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TERRY FABRICS
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HAROLD
POTTER, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Carpet Manufacturer,
and MATTHEW SMITH, of the same place, Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Sixth day of July, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Harold
Potter and Matthew Smith, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that we, the said Harold Potter and Matthew Smith, our exors,
admors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said Harold Potter and
Matthew Smith, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TERRY FABRICS;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging us, the said Harold
Potter and Matthew Smith, by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same.

page_text: is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
Harold Potter and Matthew Smith, do hereby declare that the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following description
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
=
The first part of our Invention relates to a means of facilitating the intro-
duction into the shed of the wires used in weaving carpets or other terry
fabrics. Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents a front view of that portion of the loom
to which an arrangement of apparatus to effect the above purpose is intended
to be applied; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a
sectional view of some of the parts detached, and Fig. 4 is another sectional
view of the same.
The improved arrangement of apparatus for facilitating the introduction of
the wires into the shed, as shewn in Sheet I., consists in the application of a
lid to the trough in which the wires are deposited previous to their being
projected into the shed, also in the mode of actuating the transferring arms,
which take hold of the wire, and deposit it in the trough, and in the appa-
ratus for presenting the wire to the transferring arms. a, Figures 2 and 3,
represents the lay beam, which is mounted at the upper end of the lay
sword b. The shuttle c is supported by brackets attached to the lay beam a,
and is put in motion so as to elevate and depress the transferring arms c¹ by
the pinion fixed to the end of it, and by the rack d at the upper end of the
connecting rod or link c', to which an upward and downward motion is given
from a tappet of the usual construction acting on the lever to which the
rod c is connected. The trough in which the wires are deposited consists of
the lower piece e and upper piece e¹ and of the lid f. As soon as the wire has
been placed in the trough by the arms c', the lid f, which had before been open,
as shewn in Fig. 3, is closed, as shewn in Fig. 4. By this means, when the
picking lever g, seen in Fig. 4, imparts the requisite motion to the wire in the
trough, the wire is maintained in the proper direction for entering into the
shed. The lid f is attached to a shaft f' by the arms f*, and it is moved up
and down by the connecting link h, hinged below to the upright rod c, and
above to the lever f" on the shaft f¹. The wire when elevated by the arms c
is pushed into the trough, when the lay advances towards the breast beam.

page_text: One of the brackets i is furnished with a spring i to guide the wire when
liberated from the arms c¹ into the trough. The improved apparatus for
supporting and turning the wire when it has been dropped by the withdrawing
chain or other mechanism, so as to present the wire in the proper position to
the transferring arms c', consists of a lever k, furnished with an inclined plane
which guides the head of the wire when it drops. This lever k is fixed on a
shaft l, to which is also fixed the lever m; and a vibratory motion is given to
the shaft by a treadle lever below, and the parts actuated thereby, as shewn
in Fig. 2. To the lever m is jointed one end of a link o, the other end being
jointed to the lever c. The head of the wire is also supported by the forked
lever P, which hinges on a fulcrum, and is held in its place by the spring p';
and by the combined action of these two levers k and p the head of the wire
is turned partly round for the purpose of being presented to the transferring
arms c' in the requisite position. The next improvement in connection with
the terry wires relates merely to a novel mode of forming the heads of the
wires used in making terry fabrics, so as to enable them to be withdrawn more
easily. The improvement consists in making the head with a hook or notch,
as shewn at Fig. 5, Sheet I.
The second part of the Invention relates to an improved construction of
weft-stopping apparatus, whereby the loom may be stopped whenever the weft
either breaks or fails at either side of the loom. The mechanism whereby
this is effected is shewn at Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet II. It consists of
certain forked instruments which are connected with levers, whereby the
throwing off motion may be actuated. A feeling finger a' is fixed to the lay
beam a, and there is a fork b at the left-hand side of the loom, and another
fork c at the right-hand side of the loom. These forks are supported by and
slide in the cross rails d and e. f is a shaft supported by the rails d, and to
this shaft are fixed the pair of upright levers f¹ and f, and the horizontal
lever f g is the knocking-off lever to a projection from which is hinged
the hammer h, which is acted on by the finger or feeler a¹, attached to
the lay beam. As long as the weft continues to be thrown from one selvage
of the fabric to the other, the weft forks b and c, by acting on the levers.
f and f, to which they are connected, cause the horizontal lever f³ to depress
the left hand of the hammer h, and. raise the opposite or right-hand end of
the same out of the way of the feeling finger a' of the lay beam; but when,
owing to the absence of the weft, the hammer h remains in the original
position, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8, the feeling finger a¹ of the lay beam
strikes against it, when the lay beats up and liberates the knocking-off lever g

page_text: from the retaining catch, and by this means the driving strap will be thrown
from the fast to the loose pulley, and the loom stopped in the usual manner.
We would observe that the weft-stopping apparatus may, if preferred, be
adapted to the back of the lay instead of the front, as shewn in the Drawing,
the arrangement of the parts being nearly the same in both cases:
The next part of the Invention relates to an improved method of making
terry cloth or woven terry fabric on a two-wire loom, with two picks of weft
only for each wire. The diagram, Fig. 9, Sheet II., represents a section of a
terry fabric woven with two picks of weft between each terry. All the terry
fabrics hitherto made in looms with two fixed wires have had three or more
picks between the terries. a, is the dead warp; b, the binding warp; and c,
the terry warp. To anybody conversant with weaving, this diagram will be
sufficient to explain to them the arrangement and operation of the parts
whereby the object is effected.
The next improvement relates to an apparatus applicable to looms in which
printed warps are woven. By the aid of this apparatus the attendant can see
whether the pattern produced on the woven fabric corresponds with the paper
pattern, and can regulate the tension on the warp so that the woven pattern
may be made exactly to correspond to the paper pattern, and will be made of
the same length throughout the piece. In Figures 10 and 11, Sheet III.,
a is the breast roller which draws the fabric forward in the ordinary manner; on
this roller is fixed a pinion a', which gears into another pinion 6 fixed on
the same shaft as the roller 6', which, with two other rollers c and d, revolve
on studs fixed in the bracket e above the breast beam, and an endless belt or
tape passes over the three rollers. The speed of the periphery of the
additional roller b¹ must be similar to that of the fabric. The length of the
endless tape which encloses them is equal to the length of the pattern
required, and the inner surface of it is painted in different colors corresponding
to the pattern on a single warp thread or set of threads; consequently as the
fabric progresses the attendant can compare whether the marks on the tape
and the pattern correspond. If the figure on the warp gets in advance of the
marks on the tape f, it is owing to the figure warp being too slack'; the
attendant, therefore, must move the weight g of the tension lever g' farther
from the fulcrum of that lever so as to increase the tension on the warp; but if,
on the other hand, the figure warp remains behind the marks on the tape, the
attendant, by moving the weight 9 in the contrary direction, diminishes the
tension on the warp, and by this means keeps the pattern on the fabric at all
times of an equal length.

page_text: The next improvement relates to a novel arrangement or construction of
apparatus for taking up the fabric as it is woven. This apparatus is
constructed in such a manner that when the motion of the loom is reversed
it does not impart motion to the taking-up roller, and consequently the
weaving of the piece is not interfered with. This improvement is shewn in
Figures 12 and 18, Sheet II.
a is the taking-up roller, furnished with a
worm wheel a', acted on by a worm b', on the shaft of which is a ratchet
wheel h, to which motion is given by a crank pin i. This pin is fixed in a
disc ¹, fitted loose on the shaft j. To the back of the disc i' is a catch box i²,
having only one recess, into which the tooth of the catch box k enters. This
catch box is fitted on a fixed key on the shaft j, and it is held against the
box by a spiral or other spring. By this means, as long as the loom is
working in the proper direction, the taking-up motion acts on the work
roller a; but when the lay beam of the loom is moved back, or the motions
of the loom are reversed, the catch box k disengages itself from the box i³,
and no motion is given to the taking-up roller; consequently the piece that is
being woven always remains stationary, except when the motions of the loom
are proceeding in the proper direction.
The next improvement in the manufacture of pile fabrics relates to a novel
or improved method of producing the pile. It consists in forming the pile
from the weft instead of the warp, as heretofore. For this purpose the cloth
should by preference be woven with two shuttles, which may be picked or
thrown across either together or separately. One of these shuttles will carry
the weft which is intended to form the pile, and this weft is thrown in in such
a manner that it will be floated over the surface, and when cut by knives or
other instruments, which are made to act at right angles to the thread or
weft, a cut pile surface will be produced. The weft thread of the second
shuttle is used to form the back of the cloth as a sort of binder weft thread;
but if only one shuttle is employed, of course its weft must not only form the
surface, but serve also as the binder weft. It is, however, preferable to
use two wefts, one to form the surface, and the other to act as a binder
weft.
In Figures 14, 15, and 16, Shect III., we have shewn our improved
arrangement of machinery for carrying out this object. In Fig. 16 r is the
breast roller; and the blue line represents the fabric, which is drawn forward
in the ordinary manner. u is a shaft or bar, placed a little above and.
extending across the fabric; it is furnished with a row of knives x, and is,
supported at each end in a V groove in the levers u¹ fixed on the cross u³, to

page_text: one end of which is keyed a lever u³, acted upon by a tappet plate u.
By this means the knives x are caused to move to and fro, for the
purpose of cutting the floats of the weft, and to clear the reed, as will
be explained hereafter. The knives x and shaft or bar u have also a
lateral motion imparted to them. This is effected by the cam v', which has
three lifts and three drops, and is fixed on the shaft v, which is made to
revolve by bevel pinions from the tappet shaft, as shewn in Fig. 16.
The cam gives motion to the lever v2, and the link communicates the
motion from the lever v to the shaft or bar u, as shewn in Figures 14 and 15.
In producing fabrics according to this part of our Invention it will be necessary
to change the crossings of the warps in such a manner that the figure weft
will float over three or other suitable number of warp threads, and the position
of the crossings must change at every pick or every two or more picks of the
weft. After each shoot or in some cases two or more shoots of figure weft
has or have been thrown in, the knives a are brought down by the action of
the tappet u and levers connected therewith, to cut the weft in the middle of
the float; but as we have already said that the position of the floats is changed
after every one or more picks, in order to avoid the appearance of ribs in
the pile it is evident that the lateral position of the knives x and the shaft or
bar u must also be changed after every float has been cut, so that the next
float may also be cut in the centre. By thus changing the position of the
floats and the knives the pile produced has a uniform appearance. In
Fig. 14 the cam v is shewn with three elevations and three depressions,
because it is supposed that each float of the weft is carried over three warp
threads. If the floats are made to extend over more or less warp threads the
cam must be changed to correspond.
Having now set forth our various improvemants in looms and in the manu-
facture of terry fabrics, we would observe, in conclusion, that although we
have described the best means with which we are acquainted for carrying the
same into effect, we do not mean or intend to confine ourselves rigidly to the
precise arrangement and construction of parts herein shewn and described, as
they may doubtless be varied without departing from the nature and object of
our several improvements; nor do we intend to claim separately, as new, all
the parts shewn in the Drawings, as in order to render our improvements more
intelligible we have found it necessary to shew or describe various well-known
parts of looms; but that which we consider to be new, and therefore wish to
claim as the Invention secured to us under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,-

page_text: First, the improved apparatus shewn in Sheet I. for facilitating the intro-
duction of the terry wire into the shed, or any mere modification thereof,
consisting of a trough with a lid and other appendages, in which trough the
wires are deposited previous to their being projected into the shed. We also
claim the mode shewn, or any mere modification thereof, for actuating the
transferring arms which take hold of the wire and deposit it in the trough,
and also the apparatus for presenting the wire to the tranferring arms.
We
further claim, in connection with the terry wires, making the heads of the
wires with a hook or notch for the purpose of facilitating the withdrawal of
the wires from the shed.
Second, we claim the construction and arrangement of the weft-stopping
apparatus shewn and described, or any mere modification thereof, and the
application of the weft-stopping apparatus to both sides of the looms.
Third, we claim making terry cloth on a two-wire loom, with two picks of
weft only for each wire.
Fourth, we claim the means shewn in Sheet II. of enabling the workman at
will to regulate the tension on the warp so as to regulate its delivery. We
also claim the use and application of a colored tape, thread, stick, or other
contrivance on which the figure warp is marked, and which tape, thread, or
stick, being made to travel with the warp or woven fabric, enables the work-
man to see whether the operation of weaving is proceeding in a satisfactory
manner, and will, if such is not the case, indicate at once to him whether
the tension or weight on the warp is too great or too little.
Fifth, we claim the arrangement of mechanism shewn for actuating the
taking-up roller, which mechanism is so constructed that when the motions
of the loom are reversed the taking-up roller will not be acted on, and conse-
quently the warp or woven fabric will remain stationary, except when the loom
is working in the right direction.
Sixth and lastly, the method herein shewn and described, or any modifica-
tion thereof, for forming the pile of cut-pile carpet fabrics from the weft
threads instead of from the warp, as is usual.
In witness whereof, we, the said Harold Potter and Matthew Smith,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
HAROLD (L.S.)
POTTER.
MATTHEW (L.S.) SMITH.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourth day of January, in the
year of our Lord 1858, the aforesaid Matthew Smith came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.