Improvements in or applicable to Looms for Weaving Terry Fabrics, such as Turkey Towelling.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Looms for Weaving Terry Fabrics,
such as Turkey Towelling.
I, ROBERT HENRY PLACE, of 15, Woodbine Road, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to that class of weaving known as terry or pile fabrics andÌ
the object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the mechanism, and io
economise the power required to operate the loom; the improvements herein
mentioned can be used with or without the dobby or jacquard for ordinary terry
weaving or in conjunction with these machines for producing fancy effects.
In carrying out my invention I employ an ordinary loose reed casing to form the
loop, in connection with other mechanism to be described and which consists of
extended or elongated "fingers" attached to the said reed casing so that the
said fingers project downwardly sufficiently as to engage with a series of cams, fixed
on a cross shaft, which revolves in brackets, attached to the slay-swords of the
loom thus by the backward and forward movement of the slay the shaft is made to
intermittently rotate by means of a catch or pawl attached to the loom framing
engaging with the teeth of a suitable catch wheel fixed to the before name
shaft. To ensure the shaft rotating the proper distance and also to hold it in
position for the next movement or impulse, I make use of a spring-wheel' also
fixed on the shaft and which may be operated on, either direct by a suitable spring
or by the interposition of a lever.
The cams are so arranged and constructed that they permit the reed to be loose for
the required number of picks consequently the weft is not driven full up to the
"fell" of the cloth, but by the rotation of the said cams, their enlarged or raised
jaris come in contact with the elongated fingers attached to the bar of the loose
reed and forming together with the "slay" the reed casing whereby the reed is
locked & the weft beaten up to the fell or already woven cloth, the picks
that have been left by the looseness of the reed some distance off by this means
draw in a portion of the terry warp to form the loops or pile. On the same hori-
zontal shaft may be fixed another cam to work in connection with a suitable tension
device to release the terry warp when the loop is being formed.
<
"
Now in order to weave plain" at any time--as for instance at the heading of a
Turkish towel-it is needful to be able to lock the reed every pick, until the
required distance is woven; this is done by stopping the rotation of the cam shaft
at the point when the raised part of the cam is in contact with the elongated
fingers projecting from the loose reed casing and is accomplished by raising the
catch or pawl-either by the hand of the weaver, or self-actingly by the dobby,
jacquard or other mechanism-so that the pawl does not engage with the catch
wheel until again required. To insure that the cam shaft shall cease to rotate at
the proper time to lock the reed as before described, I make the catch wheel
eccentric so that some of its teeth stand higher as they rotate than others; now

page_text: when the catch is raised as before described, it will engage with the higher teeth
of the catch wheel and cause the shaft to rotate until it brings the cams into position
to lock the reed, then the lower tooth of the catch wheel comes into position to be
operated on by the catch, but the said catch being partly raised and this tooth of the
wheel being lower, the wheel passes to and fro beneath the catch without engaging
with it, until a sufficient quantity of plain cloth has been woven, when the catch is
again permitted to drop and operate the cam shaft as before described.
An alternate method is to have the catch wheel equal but opposite the required
tooth or teeth I fix a projection and pivoted on the pushing catch a short lever
which is under the control of the weaver or dobby which when required to weave
plain is permitted to drop until the projection on the catch wheel comes under it
which raises it and the pushing catch together thus causing the rotation of the
cam shaft to cease at the proper position for locking the reed as before mentioned
until sufficient plain clothi has been woven, when the short lever is taken out of
position and the pushing catch again allowed to rotate the cam shaft as before
described.
39
In order to regulate the length of the "loop" or pile" the elongated fingers
may be made in two parts and fixed together by bolts or screws, so that their
lower extremities may be brought nearer to or taken further from the cams, thus
permitting the reed to have less or more play and making the loop shorter or longer
as required. Or wedge shaped pieces may be attached to the lower ends of the
elongated fingers in such manner as to allow them to be moved up or down, reducing
the space between them and the cams and thus regulating the length of the
"loops."
Or on the bar to which is fixed the elongated fingers another finger can be
attached with a screw and lock nut, to come in contact with the under portion of the
"slay" and thus regulate the amount of "play or traverse of the reed in the
loose reed case and thus cause the loop to be longer or shorter.
Dated this 30th day of March 1808
دو
Improvements in or applicable to Looms for Weaving Terry Fabrics,
such as Turkey Towelling.
I, ROBERT HENRY PLACE, of 15, Woodbine Road, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Machinist, 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 the weaving of terry or like pile fabrics, and the
object of my invention is to simplify the construction of the mechanism and to
economise the power required to operate the loom; my improvements being
intended for use with or without the dobby or jacquard for ordinary terry weaving,
or in conjunction with these machines for producing fancy effects.
In carrying out my invention, I employ an ordinary loose reed to form the loops
and in connection therewith other mechanism which consists of extended or
elongated fingers attached to the reed bar so that they project downward sufficiently
as to engage with two or more cams fixed on a cross shaft which revolves in bearings
in brackets attached to the lathe swords of the loom. This shaft is made to
intermittently rotate as it moves with the lay or going part, by means of a catch or
pawl attached to the loom frame engaging with the teeth of a catch wheel secured

page_text: on the aforesaid shaft. To ensure the shaft rotating the proper distance and to
hold it in position for the next movement or impulse, I provide the shaft with a
spring or like wheel which is operated on, either direct by a suitable spring, or
by the interposition of a lever. The cams are so arranged and constructed that
they permit the reed to be loose for the required number of picks, consequently
the weft is not driven full up to the "fell" of the cloth, but, at one part of their
revolution, their enlarged or full parts actuate the elongated fingers so as to lock
the reed, whereby the weft is beaten up to the fell or already woven cloth. The
picks that have been left by the looseness of the reed some distance off, when
beaten up draw in a portion of the terry warp to form the loops or pile. An
additional cam may be employed to release the tension on the terry warp beam
when the loop is being formed.
"
To weave plain" at any time, as for instance at the head of a Turkish towel,
it is needful to be able to lock the reed at every pick until the required distance
is woven. This is effected by stopping the rotation of the cam shaft at the point
when the longest radii of the cams are in engagement with the elongated fingers, and
this is accomplished by raising the catch either by hand, or self actingly by the
dobby, jacquard, or other mechanism, so that the pawl does not engage with the
catch wheel until again required. To ensure that the cam shaft shall cease to
rotate at the proper time, to lock the reed as before described, I make the catch
wheel eccentric, or form one tooth of shorter radius than the other teeth so that
some of the teeth stand higher as they rotate than the other tooth or teeth. By
raising the catch just clear of the path of the short tooth or teeth, it will still engage
with the teeth of longer radii and cause the shaft to rotate until it brings the cams
into position to lock the reed, and the short tooth being thereupon presented to the
catch or pawl but clear thereof the catch wheel passes to and fro beneath the catch
without being actuated. As an alternative, an ordinary catch wheel may be
employed and a stud, pin, or projection secured to the face thereof opposite the
required tooth. A short lever under the control of the weaver or dobby, when
actuated to bring about a plain weave descends into the path of the stud on the
catch wheel which comes under and raises it and the catch or pawl together to place
the latter clear of the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
In order to regulate the length of the loops or pile I may secure on the bar or
shaft carrying the elongated fingers or attached to or form integral with said
fingers, an arm or extension provided with an adjustable screw which is adapted to
come in contact with the under side of the lay as the reed is released and to
regulate the amount of play or traverse of the reed whereby the loops can be formed
longer or shorter according to the adjustment of the said screw.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood reference is hereafter
had to the annexed drawings forming a part of this specification in which:
Fig. 1 is side elevation, partly in section of so much of the lay or going part of
a loom as is essential to shew the application of my improvements, the parts being
in the positions occupied when the reed is locked;
Fig. 2 is a similar sectional elevation with some of the parts shewn in Fig. 1
omitted, the mechanism being in the position assumed when the reed is loose or
free; and,
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are details hereafter referred to.
Referring to the drawings letter A represents the lay of the loom, B the lathe
sword (one only being seen) C the loose reed, D the longitudinal bar or board at the
lower part of the rear of the reed and E the fingers to which said bar is attached
and by which it is actuated to force the reed into the groove in the lay and lock it,
and to release it, said fingers being pivotted or secured on a cross rod or shaft P
supported in bearings in brackets G bolted to the lathe swords B.
The above parts to the extent named, are common to most looms for weaving
terry fabrics or Turkish towelling by means of the action of a loose reed locked at
intervals, or every so many picks, and they form no part of my present invention.
My improvements relate principally to means for locking and releasing the loose

page_text: reed at the time required and comprises the extension or elongation of the fingers E
downwardly below the centre Fas shewn on the drawings, so that they may be
engaged by cams H fast on a cross shaft I journalled in bearings in the
brackets G, which are constructed to carry said shaft in addition to the rod
or shaft F although separate brackets for each may be bolted to the lathe swords
if desired.
On the near end of the cam shaft I is secured a catch wheel J having three,
four or more teeth thereon according as the loops are to be formed every third,
fourth or other number of picks. Resting normally on said catch wheel or
supported by a bracket is a catch lever or pawl K, pivotted at L on a stud secured to
the loom frame and which is adapted to engage with a tooth of said catch wheel
at every return stroke of the lay from front to back centre, and turn it, and there-
fore the shaft I a part of a revolution each time. In the drawings the catch
wheel J is shewn as having three teeth and consequently as the lay or going part
carries it under the catch lever K in its to and fro motion, the shaft I at every
return or backward stroke of the lay, is intermittently turned in its bearings one
third of a revolution and, in one complete revolution, brings the nose or longer radii
of each cam H into engagement with the lower ends of the elongated fingers E
which are thereby forced outwardly from the position shewn in Fig. 2 to the
position shewn in Fig. 1 such actuation of the elongated fingers moving the reed C
from its loose or free position, as in Fig. 2 into the groove in the lay A as shewn
in Fig. 1 and locking or holding it firmly therein during the succeeding beat up
of the lay against the cloth, whereby the two preceding picks, which were not
beaten up to the "fell" of the cloth by reason of the looseness or play of the reed,
are now beaten along with the last pick into the cloth, thus drawing in a portion
of the terry or pile warp and forming the loop or loops as heretofore.
If the catch wheel J had four teeth, the cam shaft I would be rotated to the extent
of one fourth of a revolution at each return or backward stroke of the lay and the
loops therefore, would be formed every fourth pick.
To insure that the cam shaft I shall rotate the proper distance at each impulse
given by the catch lever K, and to hold it in position for the succeeding movement
or impulse, I secure on the opposite end of the said cam shaft a spring locking or
retaining wheel or disc M have the same number of concaved recesses, or flats, on
its periphery as there are teeth on the catch wheel J, and pivotted on a stud carried
by a bracket N bolted to the adjacent lathe sword B is a holding lever O which is
curved or formed on its underside to take into the peripheral recesses on the
wheel M and is maintained in close engagement therewith by means of a spiral
spring P secured at one end to the extremity of lever O and at its opposite end to a
convenient part of the lathe sword. Or, instead of said lever and spring a bent or
flat spring bearing on the wheel M will answer the same purpose.
So long as the loops are to be formed every given number of picks, the actuation
of the cam shaft I continues at every return stroke of the lay to the back centre as
above set forth, but, in order to weave a section of plain fabric at any time, as may
be required for instance at the heading of a Turkish towel or in producing fancy
effects, it is necessary that the reed should be locked for every pick until the plain
section is woven. This is effected by stopping the further rotation of the cam
shaft I when the full portions of the cams are in engagement with the fingers E
as in Fig. 1 this being brought about by the elevation of the catch lever K by
hand or by a link or cord connection from the dobby or jacquard or other
mechanism so that it is held clear of the teeth of the catch wheel until again
required to impart motion to the cam shaft 1. In order to determine in all cases
that the rotation of the shaft shall be stopped at that part of its revolution when the
full portions of the cams H have engaged and actuated the fingers E to lock the
reed I make the catch wheel J eccentric that is to say, one of its teeth is of shorter
radius or nearer the centre of shaft I than the remaining two teeth, the wheel J
being so arranged on the cam shaft with relation to the position of the cams that
when the latter are in the position shewn at Fig. 1 the said shorter tooth of the

page_text: catch wheel is in position to be engaged by the catch lever at the next return or
backward stroke of the lay as is also shewn at Fig. 1. When any plain weave is
required, the weaver slightly raises the lever K by hand, or by bell crank lever and
rod R (Fig. 1) or it may be done by a link or cord connection from the jacquard
or dobby, so that while the catch on said lever still lies in the path of the teeth
of longest radii, it is clear of the shorter tooth whereby it will engage with the
former and turn the cam shaft until the shorter tooth arrives in the position shewn
at Fig. 1 whereupon the catch wheel will ride harmlessly under the catch lever
and not be actuated again until said catch lever is released or lowered to its normal
position, by which means the mere partial raising of the catch lever will in all
cases secure the cessation of movement of the cam shaft at the proper time,
that is, when the reed is locked by the cams H. An alternative method to the
above is to have the catch wheel fixed concentrically on the shaft I and in proper
position on the face thereof to secure a pin or projection S (see Fig. 3) while on the
catch lever is secured or pivotted a small bell crank or other suitable form of
lever T which is under the control of the weaver or of the dobby or jacquard, under
normal conditions, namely, when the loops are being formed in regular sequence
on the fabric, the said lever T is clear of the stud S but when the loom is required
to weave a plain portion of fabric, the lever T is actuated to bring the depending
leg thereof in the path of the stud S which, on being brought under same, raises it
and the catch lever K bodily a distance sufficient to place the catch on lever K
clear of the teeth of the catch wheel, whereupon further rotation of shaft I is
stopped until the required extent of plain fabric has been woven.
In order to regulate the length of the loops or pile, I may secure on the shaft F
on which the fingers E are secured, or to said fingers, an extension or arm E¹
(see Fig. 4) provided with an adjustable screw U at its outer end which is adapted
to engage, if desired, with the under side of the lay, or with a block secured thereto,
and determine the amount of play or traverse of the reed when released or loose.
By adjusting the screw U up or down the length of the loops can be varied within
the limits of the full outward movement of the fingers E from the slay the screw
when adjusted in position being secured by lock nut U¹.
For the purpose of easing the tension on the warp beam carrying the pile or terry
warp, at the time that the loops are being formed, I place a special cam Hi
(see Fig. 5) on the shaft I which acts on a lever V of the description shewn in
Fig. 5, or of other suitable construction the opposite end of said lever being
connected through the medium of a spring W with any part of the ordinary
tension device operating on the pile warp beam. When the reed is loose, the
cam H has its longest radii presented to the lever V and therefore holds the
spring W in tension but, on the reed being locked to form the loops, the shorter
radii of the cam H' contacts with the lever V and releases the spring W whereby
the tension on the warp beam is removed or reduced to allow it to give more easily
to the pull on the warp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to he performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
Firstly. In looms in which a loose reed is employed to form loops in the weaving
of terry or like looped pile fabrics the combination, with the loose reed and
elongated fingers such as E, of cams mounted on a cross shaft carried by the
lay or going part and means for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said cam
shaft and cams for locking and releasing the reed in the manner and for purposes
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination of elongated fingers E, connected with the loose
reed, cams H mounted on a cross shaft carried by the going part or lay of the
loom, a catch wheel having its teeth concentric with or eccentric to the cam shaft
whereon it is mounted, a catch lever pivotted to the loom frame and a spring or
locking wheel or disc on the cam shaft together with a holding pressure lever or a

page_text: spring, all arranged and acting in the manner and for the purposes substantially
as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The combination with fingers E and cams H of means for regulating
the length of the loops to be formed on the fabric, substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 4.
Fourthly. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the parts
comprising the improvements herein set forth and shewn on the drawings.
Dated this 29th day of December 1898.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicant.