Improvements in Looms.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1899
Complete Specification loft 13th Mor 1000 Accented
4ALL A
1000
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY INGRAHAM HARRIMAN, of 48, Maple Street,
Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, United
States of North America, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in Looms.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention has relation to looms of that class in which replenishment of
the weft or filling that is being incorporated into the web or fabric being woven is
effected automatically by the mechanism of the loom when necessity arises there-
for, as for example, on complete or practically complete exhaustion of the supply
of filling that is carried by the working shuttle, or on loss of continuity of
such weft or filling, the action of the replenishing mechanism being brought
about or instituted by suitable forms of weft-indicator mechanism. In some
forms of looms of the said class the replenishment has been effected by making
a change of shuttles, the spent or failed working shuttle being retired or
discharged, and a fresh or reserve shuttle being introduced into working
position, in the loom, this latter shuttle having its supply of weft or filling in
proper condition to continue the weaving. In other cases, the working shuttle
on the lay has not been retired or discharged, but devices have been employed
by means of which the spent or failed filling-carrier in such shuttle, such filling-
carrier having the form of a bobbin, a spindle, or a cop-case, has been ejected
from the said working shuttle and a fresh or reserve filling-carrier has been
inserted into the shuttle, the latter being of a self-threading character so as to
provide for an immediate resumption of the introduction of weft or filling into
the web or fabric being woven. In looms of the said class heretofore generally
known the replenishing mechanism has been suddenly thrown into action, and
the operations that are incident to the weft-replenishment have been performed with
the loom running at its usual full or regular working speed. This mode of opera-
tion has the serious drawback that it occasions a considerable shock to the loom,
and throws sudden and great strain upon the parts which are involved in effecting
the weft-replenishment. The necessity for preventing the said shock and strain
from becoming excessive and causing injury, breakage or derangement of the
working parts, compels the loom to be run at a regular working speed somewhat
below what otherwise would be attainable, and hence lessens the productiveness
and value of the loom. By way of making clear the reason for this necessity, it
may be stated, for example, that in a loom in which the automatic weft-replenishment
is effected by making a change of shuttle, quite complicated mechanism is required
to be employed, and quite a series of mechanical actions is required to occur, as,

page_text: for instance, the release or withdrawal of the swell or binder of the shuttle-box,
the removal or withdrawal by lifting or otherwise of one side of the shuttle-box,
usually the front thereof, the ejection of the spent or failed shuttle, the insertion
of the new shuttle, etc., etc. These actions follow one another in quick succession.
They must be timed properly and very accurately with relation to one another,
and to the general working of the loom, and must occur with exact and unvarying
precision. Hence, when the shuttle-changing mechanism is suddenly called into
play and is required to perform its various functions at the full speed of the loom,
the stress exerted on such mechanism and on the loom is both sudden and great,
and is exceedingly liable to occasion derangement and breakage, or failure to
operate correctly. The same is essentially true, also, of looms in which a change
of filling-carrier is caused to occur. Herein the number of actions that is required
to be performed is somewhat less than when the shuttle itself is changed, but
even greater delicacy and accuracy or precision in working are indispensable.
An imperative requirement in connection with looms in which the filling-carrier
is changed in the shuttle is that the shuttle must be positioned with exactness
in the shuttle-box on the lay, otherwise the filling-carrier cannot be changed.
In addition, after the change the filling must be threaded properly into the shuttle
while the loom continues in operation. Delicacy becomes the predominant
feature of a loom in which the filling-carrier is changed. It is very difficult to
get the shuttle to position itself exactly right in the shuttle-box. Rebound
thereof is very likely to occur. A change of the speed of a loom to the extent
of a few pricks per minute, even such as might be due to a defect in the engine
or its running, or to the slight increase in the speed of the engine which results from
the throwing out of operation of other machinery in the mill, will cause the shuttle
to rebound, although the parts of the loom previously were arranged to work in
a manner to provide against rebound at the normal speed of the loom.
results in the shuttle not being properly positioned in the shuttle-box at the
time when a change of filling-carrier should take place. Should now the filling-
changing mechanism act with its usual instantaneous suddenness, it either would
fail to do so properly, or derangement or breakage would result. In short,
automatic weft-replenishing mechanism is a very delicate mechanism both to
build and to keep in running order, and the difficulties are very much increased
by causing the same suddenly to start into the performance of its multiple func-
tions, as well as to complete such performance, at the full working speed of the
loom to which it is applied. Practical experience with looms constructed and
equipped to effect automatically replenishment of the weft or filling has demon-
strated that in order to guard against failure in operation, or derangement,
accident, and breakage, a slower rate of speed than otherwise would be attainable
must be adopted for such looms.
This
Certain main objects of the present invention are to provide for facilitating
the operations in general by which replenishment of the working weft-supply of
a loom is effectuated, whether that be by change of shuttle or by change of filling-
carrier; to eliminate all shock and strain incident to bringing the replenishing
mechanism into action, and to the performance of its various operations; to
diminish or eliminate the liability to derangement and to breakage resulting
therefrom; and to enable the productiveness of the loom to be increased if desired,
by an increase in the speed at which the loom normally is run.
These objects
in general are attained, in accordance with the first portion of the present inven-
tion, by means, under the control of the devices which institute the action of the
replenishing mechanism, whereby when the change of weft or filling is required
to occur, the driving of the loom is modified, to occasion a dwell in the regular
working of the loom, the speed of the loom being reduced below that normally
maintained during the regular working of the loom to a rate at which the
operation of the replenishing mechanism conveniently and safely may be caused
to take place. The said first portion of the invention also comprises means
whereby, in connection with the reduction of the speed of the loom, the picking

page_text: of the shuttle is arrested during several revolutions of the crank-shaft, so as to
afford ample opportunity for the replenishment to be effected. The modification
of the driving of the loom before the weft-replenishing devices are brought into
action obviates the shock that is incident to bringing the replenishing mechanism
into action while the loom is running at full speed, and relieves the strain that
is incident to the performance of its functions, as well as the tendency to
accident, derangement, and breakage. The greater amount of time that is allowed
for the performance of such functions by maintaining the reduced speed of the
loom for several revolutions of the crank-shaft, with accompanying arrest of the
picking, also tends to the attainment of these results. It is made possible to
run the loom at a rate of speed considerably higher between changes of weft
or filling than has been found practicable heretofore in the case of looms now
generally known having weft-replenishing mechanism applied thereto, thereby
adding considerably to the productiveness of the loom.
In one form of loom the invention is embodied in connection with devices which
effect replenishment of the weft or filling by making a change of shuttles, although
it is to be borne in mind that the main features of the invention are equally
applicable to other forms and arrangements of replenishing mechanism. In the
said embodiment of the invention, the weft-replenishment is effected by transfer
from a holder for a reserve supply, as for example, a holder for reserve shuttles,
This holder is in the form of a hopper or magazine, and preferably is mounted
independently of the lay, for example, on a fixed support which is carried by the
breast-beam at the change-end or supply-end of the loom. For the purpose of
transferring at the proper time a shuttle from the said hopper or magazine over
into the shuttle-box on the corresponding end of the lay, an injector or pusher
is employed. It may be formed on or applied to an arm hung or pivoted con-
veniently, as upon the corresponding end frame of the loom.
One wall of the said shuttle-box, usually the front, is made movable so as to
permit it to be withdrawn, usually by a lifting movement, from the spent or
failed shuttle in the shuttle-box, whereby to permit of the discharge of the said
shuttle, and also to permit a reserve shuttle to be transferred from the hopper
into the shuttle-box thus emptied or vacated. Preferably the said front wall
is carried by a rocker which is pivoted to supports that are carried by the lay,
a spring acting to hold the rocker and front wall of the shuttle-box in their normal
or working position. For the purpose of taking the pressure of the protector
fingers off the swells or binders, and thereby facilitating the movement of the
front of the shuttle-box at the change-end of the loom and also the entrance of
a fresh shuttle into the said shuttle-box under the action of the injector, a second
rocker is mounted upon the lay, at the under side of the lay-bean. This rocker
is arranged to engage with the adjacent protector-finger, and when it is rocked
it acts to take the pressure of such protector-finger off the said swell or binder.
For the purpose of pushing the spent or failed shuttle out of the shuttle-box at
the supply-end or change-end of the loom after the movable shuttle-box front has
been moved out of the way, an ejector is provided. This ejector preferably is in
the form of a plate. It is arranged to work beneath the lower edge of the swell
or binder at the change-end of the loom, without interfering with the action of
the said swell or binder, and is held from rising out of proper position by the
latter.
The hopper, injector, movable shuttle-box front, ejector, and rocker for relieving
the pressure of the swell or binder constitute the essential parts which are most
immediately involved in the operations by which a change of shuttles is effected.
They are combined, through instrumentalities which presently will be explained,
with a shaft or its equivalent, hereinafter known as the change-shaft, and by
The
means of which the working of such parts is occasioned or controlled.
change-shaft normally stands stationary and inoperative, the various working
parts of the weft replenishing mechanism remaining also in their normal inopera-
tive positions. At the proper time, however, this change-shaft is caused to begin

page_text: to rotate, and in its rotation it brings into action the aforesaid working parts of
the weft-replenishing mechanism. The rotation of the change-shaft is initiated
or begun under the dictation of mechanism which ascertains or indicates the con-
dition of the working weft-supply, i.e., the weft or filling being introduced into
the web or fabric being woven. So far as this weft-indicator mechanism is con-
cerned, it should be understood, that, while for convenience a simple form of
weft-fork mechanism acting on the breakage or failure of the weft or filling being
woven in will ordinarily be employed, yet in practice any suitable adaptation
of any of the other known forms or types of mechanism for ascertaining the con-
dition of the weft or filling which is being introduced by the working shuttle,
and for indicating when the condition of the working weft-supply necessitates
replenishment thereof, may be employed without departure from the spirit of the
invention.
The normally stationary change-shaft has combined therewith the shipper or
shifter-mechanism by means of which the driving of the loom is controlled in
order to secure the improved results to which reference has been made. Thus,
in one arrangement, upon the change-shaft are made fast two cams which operate
two belt-shifters, one of these latter controlling the position of a fast-speed driving-
band, and the other thereof controlling the position of a slow-speed driving-band.
Both of these belt-shifters, are sleeved on a shaft having affixed to the forward
end thereof the usual shipper-handle. They are capable of independent movement
on the said shaft, but the belt-shifter for the fast-speed driving-band is arranged
to become clutched to the said shaft to move therewith whenever the shipper-
handle is disengaged and moved into its abnormal position. Thereby at such
time the fast-speed driving-band is shifted from--its- usual fast-pulley on the
driving-shait of the loom onto the adjoining loose-pulley. Supplemental fast and
loose band pulleys are provided for use in connection with the slow-speed driving-
band. A spring acts upon the belt-shifter for the fast-speed driving-band with a
tendency to draw the said belt-shifter into position to hold the said fast-speed
driving-band upon its fast driving band-pulley. A spring connected with the
belt-shifter for the slow-speed driving-band acts on the said belt-shifter with a
tendency to hold the said slow-speed driving-band normally on the supplemental
loose pulley. When the change-shaft is started to rotate at the dictation of the
weft-indicator mechanism the shifter-cams operate the belt-shifters to shift the
fast-speed driving-band off the fast band-pulley therefor onto its loose band-pulley,
thereby taking off the regular driving-power, and to move the slow-speed driving-
band from its loose band-pulley onto its fast band-pulley. As the slow-
speed driving-band passes on to its fast band-pulley, it acts at first to retard
the rotation of the latter, and thereby to brake the loom so as quickly to overcome
the momentum of the latter and bring the speed thereof down to the desired low
rate. While the loom is being driven at a low rate of speed, the change or
replenishment of weft or filling is caused to occur in consequence of the continued
rotation of the change-shaft.
One of the first actions occasioned by the rotation of the change-shaft is the
arrest of the picking of the shuttle. This may be effected in various ways, as,
for example, by means of a cam on the change-shaft, and a lever acted upon by
the said cam and connected with the lug-strap at the change-end or supply-end
of the loom. The inner end of the lug-strap is arranged for detachable connection
with the arm of the adjacent picking rock-shaft. For example, the said inner
end of the lur-strap is furnished with a hook which engages with a pin or cross-
bar which is connected with the said arm. When the said lever is acted upon
by the said cam, which occurs promptly after the change-shaft begins its rotation,
the said hook is lifted off the pin or cross-bar, and thereafter the said picking rock-
shaft moves without transmitting motion to the picker-staff at the change-end
or supply-end of the loom until after the replenishment of weft or filling has
been completed, whereupon the hook is dropped into engagement with the pin or
cross-bar again. In order to prevent swinging movements of the lug-strap and

page_text: the flexible connection which is interposed between the same and the lever, such
as might interfere with the proper re-engagement of hook with the cross-bar,
guides are provided for the said parts.
A cam mounted upon the change-shaft acts upon a lever which is connected with
the rocker engaging with a protector-finger, as aforesaid. By this means, at the
proper time, namely, just before the shuttle-box front is raised, the said rocker
is operated to relieve the pressure on the swells or binders, and this action is
maintained until after the shuttle-box front has been dropped, in order that no
obstruction may be offered to the entrance of the fresh shuttle which is to be
transferred from the hopper. This operation of the said rocker acts, moreover,
to hold the dagger of the protector-mechanism elevated during the advance of.
the lay which follows the ejection of the spent or failed shuttle, so as to prevent
the knocking-off of the loom.
In order to withdraw the shuttle-box, front at the change-end of the loom,
to permit of the ejection of the spent or failed shuttle from the shuttle-box, and
the injection of a fresh or reserve shuttle, the change-shaft has mounted thereon
at the change-end of the loom a cam which acts upon a lever that is connected
with the rocker for the said shuttle-box front.
The ejector is operated, in order to effect the ejection of the spent or failed
shuttle from the shuttle-box on the lay, after the shuttle-box front has been
raised, by means of a cam on the change-shaft, a lever operated by the said cam,
and a rocker connected with the said lever and with the ejector.
For the purpose of operating the injector a third cam is mounted on the
change-shaft. It acts on one arm of a lever having its other arm connected with
the supporting arm of the injector. By this means the transfer of a reserve
shuttle from the hopper to the empty or vacant shuttle-box is effected. The said
cam has a concentric portion, extending around a considerable portion of the
circumference thereof, and acting to maintain the injector normally in an inter-
mediate position, with the rear portion thereof within the hopper and extending
beneath the bottom shuttle of the stack of reverse shuttles in the hopper, so as
to support the said bottom shuttle in an elevated position whereby it will be held
above the opening in the rear side of the hopper at the lower end of the latter,
and thereby will be prevented from being caused by the jar of the loom to project
or fall out through said opening into the way of the lay. The said cam has
also a drop which permits the injector to be carried forward in the loom as by the
action of a spring, so as to withdraw the injector from beneath the shuttle or
shuttles in the hopper and permit the bottom one thereof to fall into position
in line with the opening in the rear side of the hopper, and with the injector.
Another projection or rise on the said cam causes the advance of the injector to
inject or push a reserve shuttle into the shuttle-box from the hopper. A spring
is interposed between the lever and the supporting arm of the injector, and the
throw of the last-mentioned projection or rise of the said cam is sufficiently great
to occasion an excess of movement of the bell-crank, so that the injector having
been moved to place a reserve shuttle in the shuttle-box on the lay, and being
held pressed against the shuttle as it lies in shuttle-box, the tension of the spring
operates to cause the injector to follow the lay rearwardly a short distance, still
pressing against the shuttle and holding it in place, until the shuttle-box front
is lowered onto the upper surface of the injector, after which the lay will operate
from the injector and the shuttle-box front will drop off the latter and down into
its regular operative position. The purpose of this is to ensure that the shuttle-
box front shall be partially down in front of the newly-introduced shuttle before
the pressure of the injector is taken off the front of the shuttle. After this the
injector will resume its normal position.
The change-shaft is arranged to be moved progressively until the operations
incident to weft-replenishment have been performed. Preferably, it is operated
by direct connections with one of the rotating shafts of the loom, as, for instance,
the cam-shaft. Between the change-shaft and the shaft which acts as the driver
..

page_text: is provided a train of driving connections which normally is broken or discon-
nected, so as to leave the change-shaft normally in a state of rest, provision being
made, however, for establishing driving relations when it is required that move-
ment of the change-shaft should be occasioned. Thus, the said train comprises
a series of motion-transmitting devices and a clutch which normally stands open,
so that the change-shaft remains at rest and inoperative, the said clutch, it being
known hereinafter as the change-clutch, having combined therewith means to
ship the same under the dictation of the weft-indicator mechanism, in order to
set the change-shaft at work. The said driving connections about to be described
will be understood to be only one of the arrangements that may be adopted. They
comprise a sprocket-wheel that is fast upon the change-shaft, a sprocket-wheel
loose upon the cam-shaft, and a sprocket-chain passing around and connecting
the said two sprocket-wheels. Fast with the loose sprocket-wheel on the cam-
shaft is a disk provided with a single lateral clutch-tooth or the like engaging
pertion. Feathered upon the cain-shaft is a second disk, also provided with a
tooth, or its equivalent. The hub of this feathered disk has a groove receiving
a shipper-arm on a rock-shaft, termed for convenience the change rock-shaft, the
latter extending from front to rear of the loom at the change-end or supply-end
thereof. A spring operates to hold the rock-shaft normally in the position which
keeps the members of the change-clutch on the cam-shaft open or separated from
each other. This change rock-shaft is under the control of the weft-indicator
mechanism, and is intended to be rocked in opposition to the action of the said
spring through the operation of the said weft-indicator mechanism when occasion
requires, so as to throw the said clutch-members into engagement with each
other and thereby cause the change-shaft to be rotated. From the usual indicator
rock-shaft mounted at the front of the loom and rocked by the advance of the
usual weft-fork slide movement is to be transmitted to the change rock-shaft in
order to cause the same to close the clutch upon the cam-shaft. This may be
accomplished in various ways. Thus, in one arrangement, upon the end of the
indicator rock-shaft is mounted an arm carrying a pawl which engages with the
teeth of a ratchet-wheel fast with a cam-disk, the ratchet-wheel and
disk being mounted to turn upon a stud or pin projecting from the
loom-frame. One face of the cam-disk is furnished with a number of lateral
An arm
cam-projections separated from one another by intervening low spaces.
fast upon the forward end of the change rock-shaft carries a projection which is
caused to bear against 'the said face of the cam-disk by the action of the spring
which has been described as connected with the said change rock-shaft. The disk
normally stands with one of the spaces thereof receiving the said projection, and
with one of the cam-projections thereof in readiness to act against said pro-
jection to turn the change rock-shaft and close the change-clutch at the next
advance of the cam-disk. When, now, the indicator rock-shaft is rocked, the pawl
will be operated to advance the said disk one step, causing the said projection
to press the arm laterally and turn the rock-shaft, thereby closing the change-
clutch. Latching devices are provided for the purpose of holding the change-
clutch closed until the change-shaft has completed one revolution. When the
change-shaft has about completed its revolution, a laterally-projecting tappet
carried thereby operates to disengage the said latching devices, permitting the
change rock-shaft to be restored to its normal position by the action of its spring,
which causes the change-clutch to be opened. For the purpose of stopping the
change-shaft in a definite position after the opening of the change-clutch a stop-
disk is secured thereto, the said disk having in its periphery a notch to receive
a stud or pin carried by a spring-actuated locking arm or lever. In consequence
of the fact that the weft-indicator mechanism is actuated at a definite point in
the revolution of the cam-shaft, while the change-shaft is stopped always in a
definite position, thereby causing the locse sprocket-wheel and connected clutch-
member to stop also with the tooth of the latter in a given position, and of the
further fact that each clutch-member provided with but a single tooth, it is

page_text: evident that the change-shaft will always be started when the ray
point in its movement.
а исЦНТИС
In order to afford ample opportunity for the performance of the various opera-
tions which are incident to the replenishment of the working weft-supply, and
secure the desired ease and safety of action in effecting replenishment, the actuat-
ing mechanism for the replenishing instrumentalities is constructed and combined
to extend the operations of the said replenishing instrumentalities throughout a
greater number of revolutions of the crank-shaft of the loom than two. It will
be apparent from what has preceded herein that during this time certain of the
usual working members of the loom will continue in motion, among them being
included the weft-indicating devices. Inasmuch as the weft-indicating devices
act at every other revolution of the crank-shaft, it will follow, from the fact that
no weft or filling is being introduced during the working of the replenishing
instrumentalities that the said devices will rock the indicator rock-shaft several
times before the normal working of the loom is resumed, each movement of the
said rock-shaft serving to advance the cam-disk one step. The low spaces between
the cam-projections of the cam-disk accordingly are respectively of an extent.
which is proportionate to the number of revolutions of the crank-shaft before the
change-shaft has completed its revolution, in order to provide for these idle actions
of the weft-indicator devices. So long as one of the said low spaces is presented to
the arm of the change rock-shaft, the spring connected with the latter is free
to act to return the said rock-shaft to its normal position and open the change-
clutch as soon as the latching devices are disengaged. The cam-disk may be termed
a device for intermitting the action of the weft-indicating devices upon the change
rock-shaft.
One aim of the present invention is to provide means for causing the first
pick of weft, after the replenishment of the working weft-supply, to be introduced
into a predetermined shed in the warps, in order to obviate as far as possible
breaks in the weave of the fabric being produced. To this end, in accordance
with one portion of the invention, the instrumentalities of the improved loom are
contrived and combined to introduce the first pick of fresh weft into a reopening
of that shed in the round or cycle of shed-formations which was deficient in its
supply of weft or filling at the time of the detecting action of the weft-indicating
devices which brought about the weft-replenishment. In the described embodi-
ment of the invention, the weft-indicating devices act to feel for the weft after
each pick of the working shuttle from the change-end of the loom to the driving
end thereof, and should the weft or filling be absent from in front of the weft-
fork at such time the said devices bring about the change in the running of the
loom, the arrest of the picking, and the replenishment of the working weft-
supply, through the agency of the various instrumentalities which have been
described. The shed for which the weft-indicating devices act in order to occasion
the working just described may be termed the first shed of a given cycle or round
of shed-formations. In accordance with this portion of the invention the
instrumentalities which control the driving, the picking, and the weft-replenishing,
are timed to keep the loom running at slow-speed with the picking arrested, the
replenishment of the working weft-supply being effected meanwhile, for a plurality
of shed-formations, beginning the count with the first or deficient shed, and to
restore the full speed of the loom and restart the picking in season to cause the
first pick of the fresh weft to be laid into a reopening of the first shed. Thereby
the picking is suspended at time of replenishment for a plurality of rounds of
picking (each round comprising a pick from change-end of the loom to driving-
end thereof and a pick back to change-end) and restarted at the end of a round
or cycle of shed-formations, or a multiple of such round or cycle, (greater than
two shed-formations) counting from a deficient shed, to introduce the first pick
of fresh weft into a re-opening of the predetermined shed. Where it is desired
to construct the loom with especial reference to the employment of either two,
three, or six harnesses, the parts will be constructed and combined to restart the

page_text: .
picking and the normal working of the loom after a suspension of the picking
including the sixth shed-formation. As will be obvious, when six harnesses are
employed, this will cause a suspension of the picking for just one round or cycle
of shed-formations. When either two or three harnesses are employed, it will
be obvious that the resumption of weaving will be effected after a number of shed-
formations corresponding with a multiple of the number of harnesses in use.
The seventh shed is a repetition of the first with which the count is begun, whether
two, three, or six harnesses be employed, and consequently in cases where the
deficiency of weft occurs in the first shed the weaving will be resumed by the
pick through the seventh shed without any break in the continuity of the weave
of the fabric being produced.
In order to secure the resumption of the normal working of the loom in season
for the seventh pick, the change-shaft is driven from the cam-shaft at half the
speed of the latter, thereby causing the change-shaft to make one revolution to
four revolutions of the crank-shaft. The goose-neck engages with the weft-fork
and acts to move the weft-fork slide forward in the loom at about the time of
the second pick of the failed shuttle. The next four picks are occupied by the
working of the replenishing devices, the loom being changed to slow speed and
the picking arrested as above described, after which the normal working is
instituted again in season for the seventh pick, as explained.
The operation of recovering the deficient shed, .e., the shed which is lacking
in its supply of weft or filling, is known in the art as pick-finding. The devices
of the present case which co-operate in the recovery of the required shed, that is,
in providing for the introduction of the first pick of fresh weft into the predeter-
mined shed, may be termed for the purposes of this case pick-finding instru-
mentalities.
When using more than three harnesses, except where six harnesses are employed,
it is contemplated that in some cases the relative speed at which, the change-shaft
is driven shall be varied through change in the driving-connections, in order to
secure the desired results. That is to say, in order to restart the picking at the
end of a round or cycle of shed-formations, or a multiple of such round or cycle.
It is preferred, however, to retain in the loom the same driving connections and
to continue to drive the change-shaft at the same relative speed as described above,
and to secure the required number of shed-formations prior to the resumption of
weaving, beginning the count with a deficient shed, by permitting the weft-
indicating devices to act idly one or more times before the change-clutch is
closed. This may be effected by simply increasing the extent of the spaces between
the projections on the cam-disk, so as to permit the said cam-disk to be advanced
one or more steps before one of the said projections is brought against the arm of
the change rock-shaft. This will permit movement of the loom at regular speed
for two or more revolutions of the crank-shaft, after the action of the weft-indi-
cating devices, before the speed of the loom is reduced, etc. The rotation of the
change-shaft begins before the spent or failed shuttle has completed its return
from the end of the loom at which in the present case the weft-fork is located
to the change-end or supply-end. It is conceivable that the said shuttle may
fail to complete such return and may be trapped in the shed. If such is the case,
the trapping of the shuttle will happen after the change-shaft has started to rotate.
In order to provide against such a contingency the cams on the change-shaft
which effect the transfer of the driving-bands are set or timed so that the said
bands shall not be shifted or transferred until after the loom has passed the
bottom center succeeding the action of the weft-fork. In other words, the belt-
shifters will not be moved until after the lay in its forward movement has carried
the dagger beyond the engaging portion of the frog. Consequently, should the
shuttle have been trapped in the shed on its return to the change-end or supply-
end, the dagger will engage with the frog and knock off the loom before the
rotation of the change-shaft has progressed far enough to cause the shifter-cams
to actuate the belt-shifters.

page_text: The loom will be provided in practice with a number of shuttles which are
intended to come successively into use, as many as four to six reserve shuttle's
sometimes being placed in the hopper at one time. It is very difficult or practi-
cally impossible to get shuttles which all size up exactly alike, and while in
use different shuttles wear differently, so that their thickness is found to vary
from time to time. Different sizes of shuttles will fit differently in the shuttle-
box, and consequently will not enter or be retained therein exactly the same.
Consequently in the course of the working of the loom the latter is likely to slam
off frequently owing to the rebounding of a shuttle which is not held tightly
enough by the pressure of the swell or binder. Furthermore, when a reserve
shuttle is introduced into the shuttle-box at the change-end or supply-end of the
Toom, it is of necessity placed somewhat in advance of the picker. It will be
remembered, moreover, that the picker commonly has a hole of some depth worn
in its striking face by contact with the tip of the shuttle. Thus, in making
the first pick with the freshly-supplied shuttle the picker will travel an inch or
so before it encounters the shuttle, and this will result in giving a less effective
driving blow than usual. To offset this loss in efficiency it is necessary to set
the picking mechanism to act with enough power to drive the shuttle into the
opposite box from the position which is taken by such shuttle when applied by
the injector. Thus it is evident that during the normal working of the loom the
shuttle is driven with slightly more force than necessary. This means that the
swells or binders must be set to act with greater force in order to prevent rebound
of the shuttle, but this involves greater rack and strain on the loom in picking,
and a greater liability to break picker-sticks and other parts. In accordance
with one part of the present invention, means is provided for permitting the swells
or binders to be set to act with sufficient force to counteract all variations in the
sizes of the shuttles, whereby tendency of a small shuttle to rebound shall be
overcome, and also for permitting the shuttle to be picked with proper force.
to meet all requirements, while relieving the rack and strain incident to picking
with increased power. To these ends, with the protector devices is combined a
means of operating the same, to permit the full pressure of the swells or binders
to exert itself as the shuttle enters a box, and to remove or relieve the greater.
portion of the pressure at the time when the pick takes place. Thus, on one of
the lay-pitmans or connecting-rods pivoted a lever, one arm of which engages.
with the adjacent protectorfinger. The other arm of the said lever, by the swing.
of the said connecting-rod in the rearward movement of the lay, is caused to bear.
against a cam fixed upon the loom-frame. Thereby the said lever is turned upon
its pivot on the said lay-pitman or connecting-rod and caused to take the pressure
of the protector-fingers off the swells or binders by rocking the protector-shaft
just prior to the pick, after which the pressure is allowed to act again before the
entrance of the shuttle into the opposite box. This enables an excess of pressure
to be exerted normally on the swells or binders, and an excess of
power on the picker-sticks, without fear of racking the loom in
the action of picking, or causing breakage; and this is especially necessary in
a loom having a hopper or magazine receiving a plurality of shuttles which vary
in size and weight.
In a modification of the speed-reducing devices band-pulleys are mounted upon
the driving-shaft of the loom at opposite sides of the usual fast band pulley.
One of these band-pulleys is an ordinary loose or idle-pulley. The other of these
band-pulleys is also free to turn loosely on the crank-shaft, it having fast there-
with a sprocket-wheel. Around the said sprocket-wheel and also around a larger
sprocket-wheel loose on the cam-shaft or other suitable support a sprocket-chain
passes. Fast with the said loose sprocket-wheel is a smaller sprocket-wheel
around which and a large sprocket-wheel mounted loosely on the driving-shaft a
second sprocket-chain passes. To the said loose sprocket-wheel on the driving-
shaft a series of gravitating dogs or pawls is pivoted, the same being adapted for.

page_text: engagement with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel which is fast upon the driving-
shaft. A single belt-shifter is employed. It is affixed to a sleeve mounted loosely
on the shaft of the shipper-handle, the said sleeve having affixed thereto an arm
which is borne by a spring toward a cam-disk mounted upon the change-shaft.
While the change-shaft is at rest, during the normal working of the loom, the
action of the said spring causes the end of the arm to stand in a notch or depression
in the said cam-disk, and the belt-shifter holds the driving-band on the fast band-
pulley. During this time the loom is being driven at its normal high running
speed, and the said ratchet-wheel turns freely within the series of dogs or pawls,
the sprocket-wheel by which the dogs or pawls are carried remaining stationary
meanwhile. When the change-shaft begins to rotate, the cam-disk thereon
operates to move the belt-shifter so as to transfer the driving-band onto the band-
pulley which is connected with the arrangement of sprocket-wheels and sprocket-
chains, whereupon the said arrangement will be thrown into operation, the result
of which will be that the sprocket-wheel carrying the series of dogs
or pawls will be set to turning slowly in the direction in which
the driving-shaft is revolving. So long as the momentum of the loom
continues to turn the ratchet-wheel at a higher rate of speed than
the said sprocket-wheel, the teeth of the ratchet-wheel will simply pass the said
dogs or pawls, but as the speed of the loom slackens so that the crank-shaft tends
to turn more slowly than the said sprocket-wheel, then the said dogs or pawls will
take hold of the said teeth and act as drivers to continue the revolution of the
crank-shaft and the working of the loom, but at a predetermined low rate of
speed. A collar fast on the shaft of the shipper-handle is provided with projecting
finger to be engaged by the shoulder or projection on the forward end of the
sleeve of the belt-shifter. So long as the shipper-handle remains in its holding
noteh in the notched plate at the end of the breast-beam, the said notch being
in this embodiment of the invention at the outer end of the slot in said plate
instead of at the inner end of such slot as in the case of the embodiment first
described, the spring which acts on the belt-shifter is prevented from carrying
the said belt-shifter inward beyond the position thereof which places
the driving-band on the fast-pulley. When, however, the shipper-
handle is disengaged from its holding notch aforesaid, the said
spring is permitted to turn both the sleeve and the shaft of the shipper-
handle inwardly until the belt-shifter places the driving-band upon the loose or
idle band-pulley, and thereby deprives the loom of its driving power, the end of
the arm of the said sleeve passing at this time farther through the notch or opening
of the cam-disk on the change-shaft.
Dated the 13th day of Tune 1900.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Looms.
I. WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
The invention has relation to looms of that class in which replenishment of
the weft or filling that is being incorporated into the web of fabric being woven is
effected automatically by the mechanism of the loom when necessity arises there-
for as, for example, on complete or practically complete exhaustion of the supply
of weft or filling that is carried by the working shuttle or on loss of continuity or
such weft or filling the action of the replenishing mechanism being brought
about or instituted by suitable forms of weft-indicator mechanism.
In some
forms of looms of the said class the replenishment has been effected by making a
change of shuttles, the spent or failed working shuttle being retired from action or
discharged from the lay and a fresh or reserve shuttle being introduced into working
position in the loom, this latter shuttle having its supply of weft or filling in
proper condition to continue the weaving. In other cases the working shuttle
on the lay has not been retired or discharged, but devices have been employed
by means of which the spent or failed filling-carrier in such shuttle, such filling-
carrier having the form of a bobbin, a spindle, or a cop-case, has been ejected
from the said working shuttle and a fresh or reserve filling-carrier has been
inserted into the shuttle, the latter being of a self-threading character so as to
provide for an immediate resumption of the introduction of weft or filling into
the web or fabric being woven. In looms of the said class heretofore generally
known the replenishing mechanism has been suddenly thrown into action, and
the operations that are incident to the replenishment have been performed with
the loom running at its usual full or regular working speed. This mode of opera-
tion has the serious drawback that it occasions a considerable shock to the loom,
and throws sudden and great strain upon the parts which are involved in effecting
the weft-replenishment. The necessity for preventing the said shock and strain
from becoming excessive and causing injury, breakage, or derangement of the
working parts compels the loom to be run at a regular working speed somewhat
below what otherwise would be attainable, and hence lessens the productiveness
and value of the loom. By way of making clear the reason for this necessity, it
may be stated, for example, that in a loom in which the automatic weft-replenish-
ment is effected by making a change of shuttle quite complicated mechanism is re-
quired to be employed and quite a series of mechanical actions is required to occur
as, for instance, the release or withdrawal of the swell or binder of the shuttle-box,
the removal or withdrawal by lifting or otherwise of one side of the shuttle-box,
usually the front thereof, the ejection of the spent or failed shuttle, the insertion
of the new shuttle, etc. These actions follow one another in quick succession.
They must be timed properly and very accurately with relation to one another,
and to the general working of the loom, and must occur with exact and unvarying
precision. Hence, when the shuttle-changing mechanism is suddenly called into
play and is required to perform its various functions at the full speed of the loom,
the stress exerted on such mechanism and on the loom is both sudden and great
and is exceedingly liable to occasion derangement and breakage or failure to
operate correctly. The same is essentially true, also, of looms in which a change
of filling-carrier is caused to occur. Herein the number of actions that is required
to be performed is somewhat less than when the shuttle itself is changed; but
even greater delicacy and accuracy or precision in working are indispensable.
An imperative requirement in connection with looms in which the filling-carrier
is changed in the shuttle is that the shuttle must be positioned with exactness
in the shuttle-box on the lay, otherwise the filling-carrier cannot be changed.
In addition, after the change the filling must be threaded properly into the shuttle
while the loom continues in operation. Delicacy becomes the predominant
feature of a loom in which the filling-carrier is changed. It is very difficult to
get the shuttle to position itself exactly right in the shuttle-box. Rebound
thereof is very likely to occur. A change of the speed of a loom to the extent
of a few pricks per minute, even such as might be due to a defect in the engine

page_text: from which is obtained the power for operating the loom, or a defect in the running
of the engine, or to the slight increase of speed of the engine which results from
the throwing out of operation of other machinery in the mill, will cause the shuttle
to rebound, although the parts of the loom previously were arranged to work in
a manner to provide against rebound at the normal speed of the loom. This
results in the shuttle not being properly positioned in the shuttle-box at the
time when a change of filling-carrier should take place. Should now the filling-
changing mechanism act with its usual instantaneous suddenness, it either would
fail to do so properly, or derangement or breakage would result. In short,
automatic weft-replenishing mechanism is a very delicate mechanism both to
build and to keep in running order, and the difficulties are very much increased
by causing the same suddenly to start into the performance of its multiple func-
tions, as well as to complete such performance, at the full working speed of the
loom to which it is applied. Practical experience with looms constructed and
equipped to effect automatically replenishment of the weft or filling has demon-
strated that in order to guard against failure in operation, or derangement,
accident, and breakage, a slower rate of speed than otherwise would be attainable
must be adopted for such looms.
Certain main objects of the present invention are to provide for facilitating
the operations in general by which replenishment of the working weft-supply of
a loom is effectuated, whether that be by change of shuttle or by change of filling-
carrier; to eliminate all shock and strain incident to bringing the replenishing
mechanism into action, and to the performance of its various operations; to
diminish or eliminate the liability to derangement and to breakage resulting
therefrom; and to enable the productiveness of the loom to be increased if desired,
by an increase in the speed at which the loom normally is run. These objects
in general are attained, in accordance with the first portion of the present inven-
tion, by means under the control of the devices which institute the action of the
replenishing mechanism, whereby when the change of weft or filling is required
to occur, the driving of the loom is modified to occasion a dwell in the regular
working of the loom, the speed of the loom being reduced below that normally
maintained during the regular working of the loom to a definite lower rate at which
the operation of the replenishing mechanism conveniently and safely may be caused
to take place. The said first portion of the invention also comprises means
whereby, in connection with the reduction of the speed of the loom, the picking
of the shuttle is arrested during several revolutions of the crank-shaft, so as to
afford ample opportunity for the replenishment to be effected. The modification
of the driving of the loom before the weft-replenishing devices are brought into
action obviates the shock that is incident to bringing the replenishing mechanism
into action while the loom is running at full speed, and relieves the strain that
is incident to the performance of its functions, as well as obviates the tendency to
accident, derangement, and breakage. The greater amount of time that is allowed
for the performance of such functions by maintaining the reduced speed of the
loom for several revolutions of the crank-shaft, with accompanying arrest of the
picking, also tends to the attainment of these results.
It is made possible by the invention to run the loom at a rate of speed con-
siderably higher between changes of weft or filling than has been found practicable
heretofore in the case of looms now generally known having weft-replenishing
mechanism applied thereto, thereby adding considerably to the productiveness
of the loom.
Other objects of the invention and various additional improvements are dis-
closed in the course of the following description.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a left-hand end elevation of parts of an
ordinary loom having applied thereto embodiments of the various features of
the present invention, the end shown therein being the change-end or supply end.
Fig. 1 is a detail elevation showing chiefly the means by which the pressure of
the swell or binder upon the shuttle in the shuttle-box at the change-end of the

page_text: loom may be relieved, if desired. Fig. 2 is a right-hand end elevation thereof.
Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the parts which are shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the parts which are shown in Fig. 1, it showing.
also the opposite end of the change-shaft and certain parts at the corresponding
end of the loom. Fig. 5 is a plan of certain of the parts which are shown in
Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an isometric showing chiefly the picking devices at the change
end or supply end of the loom. Fig. 7 is an end elevation showing a modification
of the driving mechanism and speed-changing devices. Fig. 8 is a view thereof
in rear elevation. Fig. 9 is a view in central vertical section of one end of the
crank-shaft and the parts which are mounted thereon in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10
is an elevation of the cam-disk detached. Fig. 11 is a face view thereof. Fig. 12
is a development of its periphery on a somewhat smaller scale.
Having reference to the drawings.
11 designate the end-frames of the loom, 2 the breast-beam, and 3 the lay.
44 are the journals of the lay; and 5, Figs. 1 and 6, one of the picker-sticks.
66 are the lay pitmen or connecting-rods.
7 is the crank-shaft.
8, Fig. 3, is the usual fast band-pulley on the crank-shaft: 9, the usual loose
band-pulley thereon; 10, the brake or balance-wheel thereon; 11, the pinion
thereon 12, the cam-shaft, and 13 the gear thereon, which is in mesh with the
pinion 11 on the crank-shaft.
14, Fig. 2, designates the shipper-handle and 141 'the usual slotted plate, in
which the upper portion of the said shipper-handle works.
In the illustrated form of loom the invention is shown embodied in connection
with devices which effect replenishment of the weft or filling by making a change
of shuttles, although it is to be. borne in mind that the main features of the
invention are equally applicable in other forms and arrangements of replenishing
mechanism. In the said embodiment of the invention, the weft replenishment is
effected by transfer from a holder for a reserve supply-for example, a holder for
reserve shuttles. Thus, 15 designates a hopper or magazine for a supply of reserve
shuttles, the ends of a number of such shuttles being indicated in dotted lines
at 16 16, Fig. 1. This hopper preferably is mounted independently of the lay,
it being herein shown carried by a fixed support 161 on the breast-beam at the
change end or supply end of the loom.
For the purpose of transferring at the proper time a shuttle from the said
hopper or magazine over into the shuttle-box on the corresponding end of the lay,
an injector or pusher 17, is employed. The said injector or pusher is represented
as having an arm 18, by means of which it is supported from a pivot at 19 upon
the corresponding end-frame of the loom.
The transfer of a shuttle from the hopper to the said shuttle-box is designed
to take place, in the present instance, when the lay is in a forward position near
the breast-beam. 20 20 are bridging-pieces, which project from the bottom of
the hopper 15, so as to facilitate the movement of the shuttle from the hopper to
the shuttle-box.
One wall of the shuttle-box at the supply end or change end of the loom is
made movable so as to permit it to be withdrawn, usually by a lifting movement,
from the spent or failed shuttle in the shuttle-box, whereby to permit of the
discharge of the said spent or failed shuttle from the shuttle-box and also to
permit a reserve shuttle to be transferred by the injector 17 from the hopper 15
into the shuttle-box thus emptied or vacated. Herein the front wall 22 of the
said shuttle-box is shown carried by the forwardly-extended arms 23 23 of a
rocker 24, which is pivoted at 25 to supports 26, which extend rearwardly from
the lay. A spring 21 acts to hold the rocker 24 and front wall 22 of the shuttle-
box in their normal or working position.
28 28, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, designate the usual swells or binders, which are located
at the rear of the shuttle-boxes.

page_text: 30 30 designate the usual protector-fingers, the same being mounted upon arms
at the ends of the usual protector-shaft 31.
301, Fig. 2, is the usual spring, which acts upon the protector-shaft.
32 designates a small rocker which in some cases is mounted upon the lay at
the under side of the lay-beam and at the change end of the loom, it having an
arm 321 in engagement with the adjacent protector-finger. When said rocker
is moved as hereinafter described, it acts to take the pressure of the protector-
fingers off the swells or binders, and thereby facilitates the movement of the
front 22 of the shuttle-box at the change end of the loom and the entrance of the
fresh shuttle into the said shuttle-box under the action of the injector 17.
For the purpose of pushing the spent or failed shuttle out of the shuttle-box
at the supply-end or change end of the loom after the movable shuttle-box front 22
has been moved out of the way, so as to permit of the escape of the said shuttle,
an ejector 29 is provided. This ejector 29, preferably, is in the form of a plate
working beneath the lower edge of the swell or binder 28 at the change end of
the loom without interfering with the action of the latter. The ejector is held
from rising out of proper position by the said swell or binder above the same.
The hopper, injector, movable shuttle-box front, ejector, and rocker for relieving
the pressure upon the swell or binder constitute the characteristic and essential
parts, which are most immediately involved in the operations by which a change
of shuttles is effected in the particular form of change or weft-replenishing
mechanism which is presented in this case. They are combined, through instru-
mentalities which will presently be explained, with a shaft 33 or its equivalent,
hereinafter known as the "change-shaft," and by means of which the working
of such parts is occasioned or controlled. This change-shaft 33 is conveniently
mounted in the loom. Herein it is shown carried by bearings at the rear of the
loom. It normally stands stationary and inoperative, the various working parts
'of the change or weft-replenishing mechanism remaining also in their normal
inoperative positions. At the proper time, however, this change-shaft is caused to
begin to rotate, and in its rotation it brings into action the aforesaid working parts
of the change or weft-replenishing mechanism. The rotation of the change-shaft
is initiated or begun under the dictation of mechanism which ascertains or indicates
the condition of the working weft-supply, i.c., the weft or filling being introduced
into the web or fabric being woven. So far as this weft-indicator mechanism is
concerned, it should be undestood that, while for convenience there is shown
herein a simple form of weft-fork mechanism acting on the breakage or failure
of the weft or filling being woven in, yet in practice any suitable adaptation of
any of the other known forms or types of mechanism for ascertaining the con-
dition of the weft or filling which is being introduced by the working shuttle,
and for indicating when the condition of the working weft-supply necessitates
replenishment thereof, may be employed without departure from the spirit of
the invention.
The normally stationary change-shaft 33 has combined therewith a shipper or
shifter mechanism by means of which the driving of the loom is controlled. Thus,
having reference more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, at the
end of the loom which is opposite to that at which the change or replenishing
mechanism is located the change-shaft 33 has fast thereon two cams 34 and 35.
The cam 34 acts is connection with an arm 36, which is fast on the rear end of a
sleeve 37, the said sleeve being fitted to turn independently upon a rock-shaft 38,
extending from front to rear of the loom at the right-hand end thereof-that is
to say, at the end which is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The forward end
of this rock-shaft has the shipper-handle 14 made fast thereto. The said sleeve
carries the belt-shifter 39. A spring 40, which is connected with the said belt-
shifter and with a fixed part of the foom-frame acts with a tendency to draw the
belt-shifter 39 into its position in Fig. 3, where it operates to hold the driving-
band 41 upon the fast driving band-pulley S. The driving-band 41 serves to
drive the loom during the regular working thereof. The cam 35 acts in con-

page_text: nection with an arm 42, which is connected with the hub 43 of a second belt-
shifter 44. The said hub 43 is fitted or sleeved loosely upon the exterior cf
sleeve 37, and a spring 455, connected with the said hub and also with some
fixed point, acts with a tendency to hold the belt-shifter 44 in the position which
is shown in Fig. 3, thereby keeping the driving-band 45, which passes
through the fork of the said belt-shifter, on the loose band-pulley 46 on crank-
shaft 7. Alongside the loose band-pulley 46 a band-pulley 47 is made fast on
the crank-shaft 7. It is intended that driving-bands 41 and 45 shall both be
driven from a suitable counter-shaft, as 411, Figs. 2 and 3, but driving-band 45
much slower than driving-band 41-as, for example, in consequence of applying
the former to a pulley 451 on said counter-shaft that is considerably less in
diameter than the adjoining pulley 452, to which driving-band 41 is applied.
During the regular running of the loom the driving-bind 41 will be caused to pass
around fast band-pulley S and driving-band 45 around loose band-pulley 46.
Consequently the loom will be caused to work at the required high rate of speed.
It may here be explained that should it be desired to stop the loom at any
time during the regular running of the loom, this may be effected by dislodging
the shipper-handle 14 from the usual holding-notch in the plate 141, whereupon
the strong spring 491, which is connected with the shipper-handle, will rotate
rock-shaft 38, the clutch-tooth 49 on the collar 50, fast on said rock-shaft, engaging
with a shoulder 51 on a collar 52, fast with sleeve 37, and turning the sleeve with
its belt-shifter 39, so as to shift driving-band 41 onto the loose pulley 9, the
resistance offered by spring 40 being overcome by the greater strength of
spring 491.
During the regular running of the loom the ends of arms 36 and 42 are caused
by the action of springs 40 and 455 to occupy positions in the lateral depres-
sions 361 and 421, respectively, on the sides of cams 34 and 35. When shaft 33
is started to rotate at the dictation of the weft or filling detector or indicator
mechanism, as referred to above, cam 34 acts then to move belt-shifter 39, so as to
shift driving-band 41 from fast band-pulley 8 onto loose band-pulley 9, thereby
taking off the regular driving power. Cam 35 also acts to move belt-shifter 44,
so as to shift the slow-speed driving-band 45 from loose band-pulley 46 onto fast
band-pulley 47. As the said slow-speed driving-hand 45 passes onto fast band-
pulley 47 it acts at first to retard the latter in its rotation and thereby to brake
the loom, so as quickly to overcome the momentum of the loom and bring the
speed thereof down to the desired low rate. While the loom is being driven at
a low rate of speed by means of the driving-band 45 passing around the fast band-
pulley 47, the change or replenishment of weft or filling is caused to occur in
consequence of the continued rotation of change-shaft 33.
One of the first actions occasioned by the rotation of the change-shaft is the
arrest of the picking of the shuttle. This may be effected in various ways, I
have found the following means of accomplishing the same useful, (see particularly
Figs. 1, 4, and 6 of the drawings:) A cam 76 on the change-shaft 33 acts upon
a lever 77, the latter having attached thereto one end of a connection 78, which is
made flexible in whole or in part, so as to enable it to pass around a direction-
changing pulley or sheave 79, from which last the said connection extends down-
ward and is attached to the lug-strap 80 at the change-end or supply end of the
loom. The inner end of the lug-strap is furnished with a hook, as S1, which
engages with a pin or cross-bar 82 on a block 83, which is attached to the arm 84
of the picking rock-shaft 85. When lever 77 is acted upon by cam 76, which
occurs promptly after change-shaft 33 begins its rotation, the said hook S1 is lifted
off the pin or cross-bar 82, and thereafter the said picking rock-shaft moves without
transmitting motion to the picker-staff 5 on the change-end or supply end of the
loom until after the replenishment of weft or filling has been completed, whereupon
the hook S1 is dropped into engagement with the pin or cross-bar 82 again. In
order to prevent swinging movements of the lug-strap and flexible connection 78,
which might interfere with the proper re-engagement of hook 81 with the cross-

page_text: bar 82, I provide a fixed guide 781 for the said flexible connection, the same being
located between sheave 19 and the lug-strap and being constituted by an arm
attached to the loom-frame and having a forked inwardly-extending lower end,
between the branches of which the connection 78 extends.
Another cam (designated 65) is mounted upon the change-shaft 33. It acts
upon one arm of a bell-crank 66, to the upper arm of which is connected one end
of a connection 67, the latter being made flexible in whole or in part to enable it
to pass around a direction-changing sheave or pulley at 56 and having its other
end connected with the rocker 32. By this means at the proper time-namely,
just before the shuttle-box front 22 is withdrawn--the said rocker is operated
to relieve the pressure of the protector-fingers on the swells or binders 28 28,
and this action is maintained until after the shuttle-box front has been returned
to its normal position, in order that no obstruction may be offered to the entrance
of the fresh shuttle, which is to be transferred from the hopper 15. This operation
of rocker 22 acts, moreover, to hold the dagger 125 of the protector mechanism
elevated during the advance of the lay which follows the ejection of the spent or
failed shuttle, so as to prevent the knocking off of the loom.
In order to permit of the ejection of the spent or failed shuttle from the shuttle-
box, and the injection of a fresh or reserve shuttle I raise the shuttle-box front 22
out of the way.
To effect this, the said change-shaft has mounted thereon at the
change-end of the loom a cam 53, which acts upon one arm of the bell-crank 54,
the latter having connected with the extremity of its other arm one end of a
connection 55, which is made flexible in whole or in part to facilitate passing
around a direction-changing pulley or sheave at 56, which last is pivoted closely
adjacent to the axis on which the lay rocks. The other end of the connection 55
is attached to the rearwardly-extending arm 57 of the rocker 24, and when the
cam 5:3 begins to move the said bell-crank 54 the rocker 24 is turned, depressing
the rear arm 57 thereof and raising the front arms 23 23, together with the
shuttle-box front 22.
The ejection of the spent or failed shuttle from the shuttle-box on the lay may
be effected in various ways. Herein a cam 58 is mounted on the change-shaft 33,
which cam acts upon one arm of the bell-crank 59, the latter having connected
with the extremity of its other arm one end of the connection 60, which is made
flexible in whole or in part to facilitate passing around a direction-changing pulley
or sheave at 56, the other end of the said connection being attached to a rocker 61
which is pivoted at 62 on a support 63 carried by the lay-beam. The rocker 61
engages with the ejector 29. The cam acts to occasion movement of the ejector
in one direction, the movement thereof in the reverse direction being occasioned
by the action of spring 64 connected with rocker 61.
For the purpose of operating the injector mechanism is provided herein as
follows: A fourth cam (designated 68) is mounted on change-shaft 33. It acts.
on one arm of a bell-crank 69, the other arm of the said bell-crank being united
by a connection 70 with the arm 18 of the injector 17. By this means the
transfer of a reserve shuttle from hopper 15 to the empty or vacant shuttle-box
is effected. The cam 68 acts to maintain the injector normally in an intermediate
position, (see Fig. 1) with the rear portion thereof within the hopper 15 and
extending beneath the bottom shuttle of the stack of reserve shuttles, therein, so
as to support the said bottom shuttle in an elevated position, whereby it will be
held above the opening in the rear side of the hopper at the lower end of the
latter, and thereby will be prevented from being caused by the jar of the loom to
project or fall out through said opening into the way of the lay. The said cam 08
is shaped to permit the injector to be carried forward or toward the right in
Fig. 1, as by the action of a spring 73, so as to withdraw the injector from.
beneath the shuttle or shuttles in the hopper and permit the bottom one thereof
to fall into position in line with the opening in the rear side of the hopper
and with the injector. The said cam 68 then causes an advance of the injector
to inject or push a reserve shuttle into the shuttle-box from the hopper.
A

page_text: spring 75 is interposed between bell-crank 69 and arm 18, and the throw of the
cam 68 is sufficiently great to occasion an excess of movement of the bell-crank,
so that, the injector having been moved to place a reserve shuttle in the shuttle-
box on the lay, and being held pressed against the shuttle as it lies in the shuttle-
box, the tension of the spring 75 operates to cause the injector to follow the
lay rearwardly a short distance, still pressing against the shuttle and holding it
in place, until the shuttle-box front 22 is lowered onto the upper surface of the
injector, after which the lay will separate from the injector and the shuttle-box
front will drop off the latter and down into its regular operative position.
The purpose of this is to insure that the shuttle-box front shall be partially down
in front of the newly-introduced shuttle before the pressure of the injector is
taken off the front of the shuttle. After this the injector will resume its position
shown in Fig. 1.
The change-shaft 33 is arranged to be moved progressively until the operations
incident to weft-replenishment have been performed. Preferably, it is operated
by direct connections with one of the rotating shafts of the loom. Herein, for
Between the
convenience, the change-shaft is operated from the cam-shaft 12.
change-shaft and the shaft which acts as the driver a train of driving connections
is provided, which train normally is broken or disconnected, so as to leave the
change-shaft normally in a state of rest, provision being made, however, for
establishing driving relations when it is required that movement of the change-
shaft should be occasioned. Thus, the said train comprises motion-transmitting
devices and a clutch which normally stands open, so that the change-shaft remains
at rest and inoperative, the said clutch, it being known hereinafter as the "change-
clutch," having combined therewith means to ship the same under the dictation
of the weft-indicator mechanism in order to set the change-shaft at work. The
said driving connections about to be described herein will be understood to be only
one of the arrangements that may be adopted. They comprise a sprocket-wheel 80,
that is fast upon the change-shaft, a sprocket-wheel 87, foose upon the cam-shaft,
and a sprocket-chain 88, passing around and connecting the said two sprocket-
wheels. Fast with the loose sprocket-wheel 87 on the cam-shaft is a disk 89,
provided with a single lateral clutch-tooth 90 or the like engaging portion.
Feathered upon the cam-shaft is a second disk 91, provided with a tooth 92, or
its equivalent, for co-operating with the tooth 90 of disk 89. The hub of this
disk 91 has a groove 93, receiving the shipper-arm 94 on the rock-shaft 95, termeḍ
for convenience the change rock-shaft, the latter extending from front to rear
of the loom at the change end or supply end thereof, and being supported in
bearings 96 96, which are attached to the corresponding end-frame. A spring 97,
here shown as surrounding the change rock-shaft 95 and as having one end thereof
made fast to a fixed part of the loom-frame and the other to a collar 98, secured
upon the said rock-shaft, operates to hold the rock-shaft normally in the position
which keeps the members of the change-clutch on the cam-shaft open or separated
from each other. This change rock-shaft 95 is under the control of the weft-
indicator mechanism, and is intended to be rocked in opposition to the action
of the spring 97 through the operation of the said weft-indicator mechanism when
occasion requires so as to throw the said clutch members into engagement with
each other, and thereby cause the change-shaft to be rotated. Herein, by way
of illustration of the relations, etc., of the weft-indicator mechanism to the other
parts, and by way of making clear the proper mode of operation, I have illustrated
a familiar form of devices of that class which detect the breakage or discontinu-
ance of the weft or filling which is being introduced into the successive
sheds. Herein, therefore, 99, Figs. 2 and 4, designates an ordinary weft-
fork; 100, its movable stand or slide; 101, the gooseneck or weft-hammer;
102, the
of which to operate
cami Unl the cam-shaft. 12, by means
the said gooseneck or weft-hammer; 103, the arm which extends up in
front of the said movable stand or slide for the weft-fork, and 104 the rod or
rock-shaft on which the said arm is mounted. These parts are all of well-known

page_text: character, arrangement, and working. From the indicator rock-shaft 104, when
rocked in usual manner through the advance of the weft-slide that is occasioned
when the goose-neck or weft-hammer engages the tail of the weft-fork, movement
is to be transmitted to the change rock-shaft 95 in order to cause the same to
close the clutch upon the cam-shaft. This may be accomplished in various ways.
Herein I have presented a special contrivance for the purpose, which I have con-
trived with the end in view of attaining certain results, which will be explained.
Thus, upon the end of the indicator rock-shaft 104 I mount an arm 105, Fig. 1,
it carrying a pawl 106. The latter is pressed by a spring 107 into engagement
with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel 108, (see also Figs. 10 and 11,) the latter being
fast with a disk 109, and the ratchet-wheel and disk being mounted to turn upon
a stud or pin 110, projecting from the loom-frame. One face of the disk (see
also Fig. 12) is furnished with a number of lateral cam-projections 111 111,
separated from one another by intervening low spaces 112 112. An arm 113
is made fast upon the forward end of the change rock-shaft 95, the said arm
having a projection which is caused to bear against the said face of the cam-
disk by the action of the spring 97, which has been described as connected with
the said change rock-shaft. The disk normally stands with one of the spaces 112
thereof receiving the projection on arm 113, and with one of the cam projec-
tions 111 thereof in readiness to act against arm 113 to turn the change rock-
shaft 95 and close the change-clutch at the next advance of the disk 109. When
now the indicator rock-shaft 104 is rocked, the pawl 106 will be operated to
advance the said disk one step, causing the said projection 111 to press arm 113
laterally and turn the rock-shaft 95, thereby closing the change-clutch. For
the purpose of holding the change-clutch closed until the change-shaft 33 has
completed one revolution, the change rock-shaft 95 is furnished with an arm 114,
and after the turning of the said rock-shaft, as described above, this arm is
engaged by a catch 115 on a short rock-shaft 116. This rock-shaft 116 is operated
to throw the catch up into engagement with arm 114 by means of spring 165.
It carries also a depending arm 117. When the change-shaft 33 has about com-
pleted its revolution, a laterally-projecting tappet 118 on a disk 119, fast on the
change-shaft, (see also Fig. 4,) presses against arm 117, and by partially turning
the rock-shaft 116 against the tension of the spring 165 disengages catch 115
from arm 114 of the change rock-shaft allowing the latter to be restored to its
normal position by the action of its spring 97, which causes the change-clutch to
be opened. For the purpose of stopping the change-shaft 33 in a definite position
after the opening of the change-clutch, a stop-disk 120 is secured thereto, the
said disk having in its periphery a notch, as 121, to receive a stud or pin 122,
carried by a locking arm or lever 123, the said lever being acted upon by a
spring 124, which causes the stud or pin to bear against the periphery of the stop-
disk and to enter the said notch when the latter presents itself, in order thereby
to hold the change-shaft from further rotation. In consequence of the fact that
the weft-indicator mechanism is actuated at a definite point in the revolution of
the cam-shaft, while the change-shaft is stopped always in a definite position,
thereby causing the loose sprocket-wheel 87 and connected clutch member to
stop also, with the tooth 90 in a given position, and of the further fact that each
clutch member is provided with but a single tooth, it is evident that the change-
shaft will always be started when the lay is at a definite point in its movement.
In order to afford ample opportunity for the performance of the various opera-
tions which are incidental to the replenishment of the working weft-supply, and to
secure the desired ease and safety of action in effecting replenishment, the actuat-
ing mechanism for the replenishing instrumentalities is constructed and combined
in the manner described elsewhere herein, to extend the operations of the said
replenishing instrumentalities throughout a greater number of revolutions of the
crank-shaft of the loom than two. It will be apparent, from what has preceded
herein, that, during this time, certain of the usual working members of the loom
will continue in motion, among them being included the weft-indicating devices.

page_text: Inasmuch as the weft-indicating devices act at every other revolution of the crank-
shaft, it will follow, from the fact that no weft or filling is being introduced during
the working of the replenishing instrumentalities, that the said devices will rock
the rock-shaft 104 several times before the normal working of the loom is resumed,
each movement of the said rock-shaft serving to advance the cam-disk 109 one
step. The low spaces 112 112 between the cam projections 111 111 of the cam-
disk 109. accordingly, are respectively of an extent which is proportionate to
the number of revolutions of the crank-shaft before the change-shaft has com-
pleted its revolution in order to provide for these idle actions of the weft-indicator
devices. So long as one of the said low spaces 112 is presented to the arm 113
of the change rock-shaft 95 the spring 97 is free to act to return the said rock-
shaft to its normal position and open the change-clutch as soon as the catch 115'
is disengaged from the arm 114 on the rock-shaft 95.
One aim of the present invention is to provide means for causing the first
pick of weft, after the replenishment of the working weft-supply, to be introduced
into a predetermined shed in the warps, in order to obviate as far as possible
breaks in the weave of the fabric being produced. To this end, in accordance
with one portion of the invention, the instrumentalities of the improved loom are
contrived and combined to introduce the first pick of fresh weft into a reopening
of that shed in the round or cycle of shed formations which was deficient in its
supply of weft or filling at the time of the detecting action of the weft-indicating
devices which brought about the weft-replenishment. In the illustrated embodi-
ment of the invention. the weft-indicating devices act to feel for the weft after
cach nick of the working shuttle from the change end of the loom to the driving
end thereof, and should the weft or filling be absent from in front of the weft-
fork at such time the said devices bring about the change in the running of the
loom, the arrest of the picking. and the replenishment of the working weft-
supply, through the agency of the various instrumentalities which have been
described. The shed for which the weft-indicating devices act in order to occasion
the working just described, may be termed the "first" shed of a given cycle or
round of shed formations. In accordance with this portion of the invention, the
revolution of the change-shaft and the action of the instrumentalities connected
therewith for controlling the driving, the picking, and the weft replenishing, are
timed to keep the loom running at slow speed with the picking arrested, the
replenishment of the working weft-supply being effected, meanwhile, for a plurality
of shed-formations, beginning the count with the said first or deficient shed, and
to restore the full speed of the loom and restart the picking in season to cause
the first pick of the fresh weft to be laid into a reopening of the said first shed.
Thereby, the picking is suspended at time of replenishment for a plurality of
rounds of picking (cach round comprising a pick from change end of the loom
to driving end thereof and a pick back to change end) and restarted at the end of
a round or cycle of shed formations, or a multiple of such round or cycle greater
than two shed formations, counting from a deficient shed. to introduce the first
pick of fresh weft into a reopening of the predetermined shed.
The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings has been
designed with especial reference to the employment of either two, three, or six
harnesses, the parts being constructed and combined to restart the picking and
the normal working of the loom after a suspension of the picking including the
sixth shed-formation. As will be obvious, when six harnesses are employed the
operation of the described embodiment of the invention will cause a suspension
of the picking for just one round or cycle of shed-formations. When either two
or three harnesses are employed in connection with the said embodiment, it will
be obvious that the resumption of weaving will be effected after a number of shed-
formations corresponding with a multiple of the number of harnesses in use.
The seventh shed is a repetition of the first, with which the count is begun. whether
two, three, or six harnesses be emploved, and consequently in cases where the
deficiency of weft occurs in the said first shed the weaving will be resumed by

page_text: the pick through the seventh shed without any break in the continuity of the
weave of the fabric being produced.
In the present case, in order to secure the resumption of the normal working
of the loom in season for the seventh pick, the change-shaft is driven from the
cam-shaft at half the speed of the latter, therby causing the change-shaft to make
one revolution to four revolutions of the crank-shaft. The gooseneck engages
with the weft-fork and acts to move the weft-fork slide forward in the loom
at about the time of the second pick of the failed shuttle. The next four picks are
occupied by the working of the replenishing devices, the loom being changed to
slow speed and the picking arrested, as above described. after which the normal
working is instituted again in season for the seventh pick, as explained.
"
The operation of recovering the deficient shed-i.c., the shed which is lacking
in its supply of weft or filling-is known in the art as pick-finding." The
devices of the present case which co-operate in the recovery of the required shed
that is, in providing for the introduction of the first pick of fresh weft into the
predetermined shed-may be termed for the purposes of this case pick-finding
instrumentalities.
When using more than three harnesses, except where six harnesses are emploved,
I contemplate sometimes varying the relative speed at which the change-shaft is
driven, through change in the driving connections, in order to secure the desired
results that is to say, in order to restart the picking at the end of a round or
cycle of shed-formations or a multiple of such round or cycle. I prefer, however,
to retain in the loom the same driving connections, and to continue to drive
the change-shaft at the same relative speed as in the present case and to secure
the required number of shed-formations prior to the resumption of weaving,
beginning the count with a deficient shed, by permitting the weft-indicating
devices to act idly one or more times before the change-clutch is closed. This
may be effected by simply increasing the extent of the spaces 112 112 between
the projections 111 111 on the cam-disk 109, so as to permit the said cam-disk
to be advanced one or more steps before one of the said projections is brought
against the arm 113 of the change rock-shaft 95. This will permit movement
of the loom at regular speed for two or more revolutions of the crank-shaft after
the action of the weft-indicating devices before the speed of the loom is reduced,
etc. The cam-disk 109 may be termed a device for intermitting the action of the
weft-indicating devices upon the change rock-shaft.
The rotation of the change-shaft begins before the spent or failed shuttle has
completed its return from the end of the loom at which in the present case the
weft-fork is located to the change end or supply end. It is conceivable that the
said shuttle may fail to complete such return and may be trapped in the shed.
If such is the case, the trapping of the shuttle will happen after the change-shaft
has started to rotate. In order to provide against such a contingency, the
cams 34 and 35, which effect the transfer of the driving-bands, are set or timed
so that the said bands shall not be shifted or transferred until after the loom has
passed the bottom center succeeding the action of the weft-fork. In other words.
the belt-shifters 39 and 44 will not be moved until after the lay in its forward
movement has carried the dagger 125 beyond the engaging portion of the frog 126.
Consequently, should the shuttle have been trapped in the shed on its return to
the change end or supply end, the dagger will engage with the frog and knock
off the loom before the rotation of the change-shaft has progressed far enough
to cause the shifter-cams 34 35 to actuate the belt-shifters.
The loom will be provided in practice with a number of shuttles which are
intended to come successively into use, as many as from four to six reserve shuttles
sometimes being placed in the hopper 15 at one time. (See Fig. 1.) It is very
difficult or practically impossible to get shuttles which all size up exactly alike,
and while in use different shuttles wear differently, so that their thickness is
found to vary from time to time. Different sizes of shuttles will fit differently
in the shuttle-box, and will not enter or be retained therein exactly the same.

page_text: Consequently, in the course of the working of the loom the latter is likely to
slam off frequently, owing to the rebounding of a shuttle which is not held tightly
enough by the pressure of the swell or binder. Furthermore, when a reserve
shuttle is introduced into the shuttle-box at the change end or supply end of
the loom, it is of necessity placed somewhat in advance of the picker. It will
be remembered, moreover, that the picker commonly has a hole of some depth
worn in its striking-face by contact with the tip of the shuttle. Thus,
in making the first pick with the freshly-supplied shuttle, the picker
will travel an inch or so before it encounters the shuttle, and this will result in
giving a less effective driving blow than usual. To offset this loss in efficiency,
it is necessary to set the picking mechanism to act with enough power to drive
the shuttle into the opposite box from the position which is taken by such shuttle
when applied by the injector. Thus it is evident that during the normal working
of the loom the shuttle is driven with slightly more force than necessary. This
means that the swells or binders must be set to act with greater force in order
to prevent rebound of the shuttle: 'but this involves greater rack and strain on the
loom in picking and a greater liability to break picker-sticks and other parts.
In accordance with one part of my present invention I provide means for per-
mitting the swells or binders to be set to act with sufficient force to counteract all
variations in the sizes of the shuttles, whereby tendency of a small shuttle to
rebound shall be overcome, and also for permitting the shuttle to be picked with
proper force to meet all requirements, while relieving the rack and strain incident
to picking with increased power. To these ends I combine with the protector
devices a means of operating the same to permit the full pressure of the swells
or binders to exert itself as the shuttle enters a box and to remove or relieve
the greater portion of the pressure at the time when the pick takes place. Thus,
on one of the pitmen or connecting-rods 6 I pivot a lever 127, (see Fig. 2,) one
arm of which engages with the adjacent protector-finger 30. The other arm of
the said lever, by the swing of the said connecting-rod in the rearward movement
of the lay, is caused to bear against a cam, as 128, fixed upon the loom-frame.
Thereby the said lever is turned upon its pivot 129 on the said connecting-rod,
and caused to take the pressure of the protector-fingers off the swells or binders by
rocking the protector-shaft just prior to the pick, after which the pressure is allowed
to act again before the entrance of the shuttle into the opposite box. This enables
me to exert an excess of pressure on the swells or binders and an excess of power
on the picker-sticks without fear of racking the loom in the action of picking or
causing breakage, and this is especially necessary in a loom having a hopper or
magazine receiving a plurality of shuttles which vary in size and weight.
A modification of the speed-reducing devices is shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
In these figures I mount upon the crank-shaft 7, at opposite sides of the usual
fast band-pulley 8, two band-pulleys 130 and 131, respectively. The band-
pulley 131 is an ordinary loose or idle pulley. The band-pulley 130 is also free
to turn loosely on the crank-shaft, it having fast therewith a sprocket-wheel 133.
Around the said sprocket-wheel 133 and also around a larger sprocket-wheel 135,
loose on cam-shaft 12, a sprocket-chain 134 passes. Fast with sprocket-wheel 185
is a smaller sprocket-wheel 136, around which and a large sprocket-wheel 138,
mounted loosely on the crank-shaft 7, a sprocket-chain 137 passes. To the said
loose sprocket-wheel 138 a series of gravitating dogs or pawls 139 139 is pivoted,
the same being adapted for engagement with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel 140,
which last is fast upon the crank-shaft. 151 designates a single belt-shifter
which is affixed to a sleeve 142, mounted loosely on the shaft 38 of the shipper-
handle, the said sleeve having affixed thereto an arm, as 143, which is borne by
a spring 144 toward a cam-disk 145. mounted upon change-shaft 33. While the
change-shaft is at rest during the normal working of the loom, the action of
spring 144 causes the end of the arm 145 to stand in a notch or depression 146
in the said cam-disk, and the belt-shifter 151 holds the driving-band on the fast
band-pulley 8. During this time the loom is being driven at its normal high-

page_text: running speed, and ratchet-wheel 140 turns freely within the series of dogs or
pawls 139 139, the sprocket-wheel 138, by which such dogs or pawls are carried,
remaining stationary meanwhile. When the change-shaft begins to rotate, the
cam-disk 145 operates to move the belt-shifter 151, so as to transfer the driving-
band onto the band-pulley 130, whereupon the arrangement of sprocket-wheels
and sprocket-chains will be thrown into operation, the result of which will be
that sprocket-wheel 138, with its series of dogs or pawls 139 139, will be set to
turning slowly in the direction in which the crank-shaft is revolving. So long
as the momentum of the loom continues to turn ratchet-wheel 140 at a higher
rate of speed than the sprocket-wheel 138 the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 140 will
simply pass the said dogs or pawls; but as the speed of the loom slackens, so that
the crank-shaft tends to turn more slowly than the sprocket-wheel 138, then the
said dogs or pawls will take hold of the said teeth and act as drivers to continue
the revolution of the crank-shaft and the working of the loom, but at a pre-
determined low rate of speed. The collar 147, fast on shaft 38, is provided with
projecting fingers 148 to be engaged by the shoulder or projection 149 on the
forward end of the sleeve. So long as the shipper-handle 14 remains seated in
its holding-notch in plate 141 at the end of the breast-beam, the said notch
being in this embodiment of the invention at the outer end of the slot in said plate
instead of at the inner end of such slot, as in the case of the embodiment first
described, the spring 144 is prevented from carrying the belt-shifter 151 inward
beyond the position thereof which places the driving-band on the fast-pulley 8.
When, however, the shipper-handle is disengaged from its holding-notch afore-
said, the said spring is permitted to turn both the sleeve and the shaft 38 inwardly
until belt-shifter 151 places the driving-band upon the loose or idle band-
pulley 131, and thereby deprives the loom of its driving-power, the end of arm 143
passing at this time farther through the notch or opening 146 of the cam-disk 145.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a loom, weft-replenishing mechanism, driving mechanism to drive the
loom at a high speed for regular working and also at a definite reduced rate of
speed during replenishment, and weft-indicator devices controlling the working
of the said mechanisms, all combined and operating to reduce the speed of the
loom to the said definite lower rate for the performance of the operations incident
to replenishment and to restore the speed to the normal rate of running after such
operations have been performed.
2. In a loom, the lay. weft-replenishing mechanism comprising essentially a
holder for a reserve supply independent of the lay and means to feed from the
said holder to the lay, driving mechanism to drive the loom at a high speed for
regular working and at a reduced speed during replenishment, and weft-indicator
devices controlling the working of the said mechanisms, combined and operating
to reduce the speed of the loom for the performance of the operations incident to
replenishment and to restore the normal high speed after such performance.
3. In a loom, in combination, weft-replenishing mechanism, driving mechanism
to drive the loom at a high speed for regular working and at a reduced speed
durino replenishment, picking-mechanism, weft-indicator devices, and means
under the control thereof for causing the speed of the loom to be reduced for the
performance of the operations incident to replenishment, the picking of the shuttle
to be arrested during such performance, and the replenishment to be effected, and
for restarting the loom under normal working conditions and speed after such
performance.
4. In a loom, in combination, weft-indicating devices, a change-shaft, means
for rotating the change-shaft under the control of the said weft-indicating devices,
weft-replenishing mechanism operated from the said change-shaft, and driving
means for the loom having a shifter device to control the action thereof, the said

page_text: shifter device being itself controlled from the change-shaft, substantially as
described.
5. In a loom, in combination, weft-indicating devices, a change-shaft, means
for operating the said change-shaft under the control of the said weft-indicating
devices, driving mechanism to drive the loom at a high speed for regular working
and also at a reduced rate of speed during replenishment, shifter devices controlled
by the said change-shaft to effect the changes of speed, picking mechanism, means
operated by the change-shaft, to discontinue and restart the picking, and replenish-
ing mechanism operatively connected with the said change-shaft.
6. In a loom, in combination, weft-indicating devices, the change-shaft means
for rotating the same under the control of the said weft-indicating devices, the
holder for shuttles, the lay and its shuttle-box, and means operated from the said
change-shaft for opening the shuttle-box to permit the ejection of the spent or
failed shuttle and the transfer of a reserve shuttle from the holder, and also for
effecting such transfer, substantially as described.
7. In a loom, in combination, weft-indicating devices, the change-shafi, means
for rotating the same under the control of the said weft-indicating devices, the
holder for shuttles, the lay and its shuttle-box, the swell or binder, means operated
from the said change-shaft for relieving the pressure of the protector-finger on
the swell or binder, for opening the shuttle-box to permit the ejection of the
spent or failed shuttle and the transfer of a reserve shuttle from the holder, and
also for effectine such ejection and transfer, substantially as described.
8. In a loom, in combination, weft-replenishing devices comprising a holder
for a reserve supply independent of the lay and means of transferring from the
said holder to the lay, and actuating mechanism for the replenishing devices
extending the operations of the said devices throughout a predetermined number
of revolutions greater than two of the crank-shaft of the loom.
9. In a loom, in combination, weft-replenishing mechanism, picking mechanism,
and actuating mechanism extending the operations of the replenishing mechanism
throughout more than two revolutions of the crank-shaft of the loom, and sus-
pending the picking during the performance of such operations.
10. The combination with the lay, the movable shuttle-box front, the rocker
pivotally supported on the lay and having the said front connected therewith, a
rotatable shaft, a cam thereon, and a lever operated by the said cam, and con-
nected to the said rocker for operating the latter, substantially as described.
11. The combination with the lay, of the ejector working in the shuttle-box
on the lay, the change-shaft, and operating devices for the ejector centrolled bý
the change-shaft, substantially as described.
12. In combination, the lay, a hopper an injector for injecting from the said
hopper into the shuttle-box on the lay the change-shaft, means to operate the
injector under the control of said change-shaft, means to operate the change-
shaft, and weft-indicator mechanism controlling the working of the change-shaft,
substantially as described.
13. The combination with the lay, its movable shuttle-box front, and means to
operate the latter, of the injector, a rotatable shaft, and means to move the injector
to transfer a shuttle to the lay, the said means comprising a cam on said shaft,
a lever operated by the said cam, and a connection between the said lever and
injector including a spring, the said cam being constructed to occasion an excess
of movement of the said lever and thereby strain the spring to cause the injector
to follow the lay rearwardly while pressing against the shuttle and holding it in
place until the shuttle-box front is lowered.
14. The combination with the hopper having the discharge-opening at the
lower end thereof, of the injector, and operating means therefor whereby the
injector is caused to stand normally during the regular working of the loom in
an intermediate position supporting the contents of the hopper above the said
opening and on being set in action is retracted to permit such contents to descend

page_text: and then is advanced to transfer or inject from the hopper to the lay, it being
afterward returned to the said intermediate position.
15. In combination, the lay, an ejector to discharge the spent or failed shuttle
from the shuttle-box on the lay, a hopper for reserve shuttles, an injector for
transferring or injecting from the said hopper into the shuttle-box, the change-
shaft, means to operate the ejector and injector under the control of the change-
shaft, means to operate the change-shaft, and weft-indicator mechanism the work-
ing of the change-shaft, substantially as described.
16. In a loom, the combination with one of the rotating shafts thereof, of the
change-shaft, driving connections between said shafts embracing the change-
clutch, a clutch-shipper, weft-indicating devices, means for operating the said
clutch-shiper from the said weft-indicating devices to occasion the working of the
change-shaft, and weft-replenishing devices under the operative control of the said
change-shaft.
17. In a loom, the combination with one of the rotating shafts thereof, of the
change-shaft, driving connections between the said shafts embracing the change-
clutch, a clutch-shipper, weft-indicating devices, means for operating the said
clutch-shipper from the said weft-indicating devices to occasion the working of
the change-shaft, weft-replenishing devices under the operative control of the
change-shaft, and means under the control of the change-shaft to occasion the
unshipping of the change-clutch when the change-shaft has completed the required
rotation.
18. In a loom, the combination with one of the rotating shafts thereof, of the
change-shaft, devices for driving the latter from the former embracing a normally
open change-clutch, a clutch-shipper, weft-indicating devices, means for operating
the said clutch-shipper from the said weft-indicating devices to occasion the
working of the change-shaft, weft-replenishing devices under the operative control
of the said change-shaft, a catch to retain the change-clutch in the closed con-
dition which it is caused to assume by the operation of the weft-indicating devices,
and means to free the said catch and allow the change-clutch to become disengaged
after the desired rotation of the change-shaft has occurred.
19. In a loom, the combination with the cam-shaft, the change-shaft, driving
connections between the said shafts embracing the change-clutch, and weft-
replenishing mechanism operated by the said change-shaft, of weft-indicating
devices, a pawl actuated at each movement of the weft-indicating devices, a cam
operated by the said pawl, and the clutch-shipper operated by the said cam.
20. In a loom, in combination, the cam-shaft, the change-clutch thereon, the
change-shaft driving connections between the said change-shaft and the loose
member of the said change-clutch weft-replenishing mechanism operated by the
said change-shaft, weft-indicating devices, a pawl actuated at each movement of
the weft-indicating devices, a cam-disk operated by the said pawl and having cam
projections, a clutch-shipper having an arm thereof engaged by the said cam pro-
jections to actuate the clutch-shipper to retain the change-clutch closed, and a
cam carried by the change-shaft to disengage the said catch for the purpose of
allowing the change-clutch to be opened.
21. In a loom, in combination, weft-indicating devices, the picking-arm, the
picker-stick, the lug-strap having separable connection with one of the parts
which it connects and means actuated under the control of the weft-indicating
devices to determine the transmission of power by the lug-strap.
22. In a loom, the combination with the picking-arm, and means to operate the
same, of the picker-stick, the lug-strap having a separable connection with the
said picking-arm, the change-shaft, a cam thereon, a lever operated by the said
cam and a connection between the said lever and the lug-strap whereby the times
of the actuation of the picker-stick are determined.
23. In a loom, the combination with the lay, its shuttle-box, the swells or
binders thereof, the picking mechanism, a hopper receiving a plurality of shuttles,
and devices by which the said shuttles successively are transferred to the lay,

page_text: of devices whereby pressure on the swells or binders is removed prior to the pick
and again applied before the shuttle completes its flight.
24. In a loom, in combination, weft-indicating devices operative when the con-
dition of the working weft-supply necessitates replenishment thereof, a change-
shaft, instrumentalities under the control of said devices to operate the said
change-shaft weft-replenishing instrumentalities under the operative control of
the said change-shaft, picking mechanism; and instrumentalities under the control
of the change-shaft operative to suspend the picking at the time of effecting
replenishment.
25. In a loom, in combination, fast and slow speed driving mechanism, weft-
replenishing instrumentalities, weft-indicating devices operative when the condi-
tion of the working weft-supply necessitates replenishment thereof, instrumentali-
ties under the control of such devices operative to reduce the speed of the loom
for the action of the said weft-replenishing mechanism and to occasion such action
while the loom is running at its reduced speed, and pick-finding instrumentalities
operative to cause the first pick of fresh weft to be laid in the predetermined shed.
20. In a loom, in combination, weft-replenishing instrumentalities, controlling
and actuating means therefor operative when the condition of the working weft-
supply necessitates replenishment thereof, picking mechanism, and instrumentali-
ties operative to suspend the picking at time of replenishment and subsequently
restart the same in season to introduce the first pick of fresh weft into a reopening
of a predetermined shed after a multiple of rounds or cycles of shed formations,
counting from a deficient shed.
27. In a loom, in combination, weft-replenishing instrumentalities, controlling
and actuating means therefor operative when the condition of the working weft-
supply necessitates replenishment thereof, picking mechanism, and instrumentali-
ties operative to suspend the picking at time of replenishment and restart the
same at the end of a round or cycle of shed formations or a multiple of such round
or cycle, greater than two shed formations, counting from a deficient shed, to
introduce the first pick of fresh weft into a reopening of the predetermined shed.
Dated this 9th day of March 1900.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.