Weaving.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug.,
1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Sept., 1888
for Weaving.
I, SEPTIMUS WHITAKER, of Spring Hill Shed, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to prevent the formation of thick, thin, or uneven places,
in the fabric during the process of weaving.
The Improvements consist of three distinct features of novelty, embracing means
for the production of a positive recoil in the motion; means to admit of a secondary
lift of the finger lever by the weaver, in addition to the first lift usually obtained from
the fork lever; and means to determine the number of picks to be let back on the
application of such secondary lift.
For these purposes, I elongate the slot of the finger lever bracket, to admit of
the finger lever being moved backwards sufficient to produce the secondary lift,
whereby both the holding and actuating catches are raised, whereupon a trailing catch
or wheel properly counterpoised and having one two or more teeth or serrations, now
engages with the teeth of a wheel, which is at once forced back, one, two or more
teeth, as the case may be, by the weight or counterpoise. I would observe, that before
this takes place, the teeth or serrations of the trailing catch must necessarily first be
carried out of contact with the said wheel in its forward motion, excepting that the
latter tooth of the catch will trail upon the teeth or serrations of the wheel, awaiting
to produce the recoil upon the application of the secondary lift as aforesaid.
Dated this 15th day of November 1887.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Taking-up Motion in Looms
for Weaving.
I SEPTIMUS WHITAKER of Spring-Hill Shed, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :--
This invention is designed to prevent the formation of thick, thin, or uneven places,
in the fabric during the process of weaving.
The Improvements consist of several features of novelty, embracing means for the
production of a positive recoil in the taking-up motion; means to admit of a secondary
lift to the finger lever and retaining catch, in addition to the first lift usually obtained
from the fork lever; and means to determine the number of picks to be let back, on
the application of such secondary lift. For these purposes, I elongate the slot of the
finger lever bracket, to admit of the finger lever being moved backwards, sufficient to
produce the secondary lift, whereby the retaining and actuating catches are raised out
of contact with the ratchet wheel, whereupon a trailing catch or section of a
wheel, properly counterpoised, and having one two or more teeth or serrations, now
engages with the teeth of a wheel, which is at once forced back, one, two, or more
teeth, as the case may be, by the weight or counterpoise. 1 would observe before
this takes place, the teeth or serrations of the trailing catch must necessarily first be
carried out of contact with the said wheel in its forward motion, excepting that
the latter tooth of the trailing catch will trail upon the teeth or serrations of
the wheel, awaiting to produce the recoil, upon the application of the secondary lift as
aforesaid.
In order that my invention may be properly understood, and readily carried
into practical effect, I have hereunto attached the accompanying sheet of drawings,
marked with figures and letters of reference, the same letters referring to the
same parts in the various figures. Fig. 1, is a side view of a portion of a power loom,
and Fig. 2 a plan in which is represented an arrangement of mechanism for
throwing the spring-handle out of its detent, and at the same time applying the weft
break to bring the loom to a state of rest.
This arrangement, when used in conjunction with my improved recoil motion for
reversing the taking-up motion, as represented in Figs. 3 and 4, when the loom
has been weaving without weft, will be found of great advantage. A is the ordinary
weft fork lever, on the stud of which is also mounted the horizontal lever B, being
so arranged, that when it is desirous to throw the weft break into action, the
weaver has simply to withdraw the lever B from beneath the lip or ledging Cof
the tricker lever C, to the position represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the
tricker will fall, and with it rod D, applying the weft break to which it is attached.
Simultaneously with this action, the spring-handle E is thrown from its detent and
the loom instantly brought to a state of rest.

page_text: In front of the two horizontal levers A and B is the finger lever F, attached to
catch rod H and projecting through the slot G, seen in Fig. 2, is acted upon by the
weft fork lever A in the usual manner, to raise the retaining catch I out of contact
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel J, on the absence or breakage of the weft. I
prefer to make the slot G about twice the length it is usually made, so that when
the weaver desires to make the recoil, he has simply to move the finger F in excess
of that imparted to it by the fork lever, when a lug at the extremity of the retaining
catch I is made to bear against the actuating catch K, moving it also out of contact
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel J; whereupon the trailing catch M acting on the
teeth of the wheel N, will produce the recoil, the trailing catch being weighted for
this purpose.
In some cases it may be objectionable to elongate the slot G to the extent
required to allow for a secondary lift to retaining catch, in which case the two levers F
and O, seen in Fig. 5, may be substituted for the finger lever F, seen in Figs. 1 and 2.
The lever O is jointed in the angle of the weighted lever F, and projects through the
slot G of ordinary size, and is acted upon by the fork lever A. The lever F, as seen
in Fig. 5, is cranked at its upper extremity, so as to form a finger projecting upwards,
on the outside of the elongated slot G, seen in Fig. 2. This lever is secured to the
catch rod H and can be moved to the extent required to raise both the retaining
and actuating catches I and K to produce the recoil; the retaining catch only
being moved out of contact with the ratchet wheel J when the finger or lever F is
moved by the weft fork lever A.
I would here observe, that I am perfectly aware that several recoil motions
have previously been in use to limit the recoil to the extent of two or more teeth, but
the recoil has depended entirely upon the tension of yarn which in many cases is
too weak and insufficient to produce a recoil at all; whereas in my arrangement, the
recoil is independent of the tension of the yarn, the trailing catch being weighted
sufficient to overcome any resistance of the taking-up motion, after both catches I and K
have been raised out of contact with the ratchet wheel J. It will be obvious that in
my arrangement, the extent of the recoil may be varied by substituting a trailing
catch or section of a wheel, having more or less teeth than the one illustrated on the
drawings in Figs. 3 and 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The use and appplication of a weighted trailing catch M substantially as
described.
2. The arrangements to allow of a secondary lift substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 15th day of August 1888.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent for the Applicant.