Improvements in Means for Feeding at Will Threads of Different Colours to the Weft Thread Carrier in Looms.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Feeding at Will Threads of Different
Colours to the Weft Thread Carrier in Looms.
I, DANIEL MUNSON SEATON, of 24, Montgomery Street, in the City and County of
San Francisco, California, Lawyer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement: ---
My invention is an improvement on the loom disclosed by me in an Application
for British Letters Patent No. 8157 of 1898 and relates particularly to means for
feeding at will threads of different colors to the weft thread carrier, so as to make
a fabric of any desired pattern, or of any desired combination of colored threads.
In the loom referred to, the weft threads are laid in the fabric hair pin fashion,
with the loops alternating at the opposite edges thereof, to form the selvage,
and these loop lengths are measured and cut from the supply thread, and are fed
to the weft thread carrier, by a reciprocating feeder, which presents first one end
of the loop length to the weft thread carrier, and then the other.
My present invention relates particularly to feeding mechanism whereby
different colored loop lengths may be supplied to the weft thread carrier.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the principal working parts of
a loom, with my improved color feeders in place.
Figure 2 is a detail front elevation showing the feeder at the right hand end
of the beam, a part of the lower end of the feeder being broken away.
Figure 3 is a view of the feeder, partly in section, looking from the inside of
the loom outwardly.
Figure 4 is an end view of the color feeder, a part of the bottom parts being
broken away.
Figure 5 is a central, vertical section of my color feed, the two shafts being
shown in full lines. This view shows the feed in its uppermost position.
Figure 6 is a similar view of the color feed, to that shown in Figure 5, but
the feed in this view is in its lowermost position.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the feed.
Figure 8 is a view showing the cam and springs which operate the shears.
Figure 9 is a detail plan view of the cam and springs shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the color feeder, the pattern chain, and operating
mechanism connected therewith, the dotted lines indicating the side of the loom.
Figure 11 is a detail plan view of the upper half of my color feeder, all the
other parts being removed.
Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the shaft that moves the
steps that control the movements of the upper half of the feeder, and which carries
the spring controlled arm that engages with the pattern chain.
Figure 13 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a detail view of a portion of the rotatable shaft that operates the
upper half of the feed, the steps, and the elbow lever which controls the movement
of this shaft

page_text: Figure 15 is an elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a front view of the steps as shown in Figures 14 and 15.
Figure 17 is a rear view, and
Figure 18 an end view, of the steps.
Figure 19 is a detail view of the sprocket wheel and pattern chain, showing
the chain guide, and in dotted lines the pawl and wheels for controlling the move-
ment of the chain.
Figure 20 is a detail view of the chain guide.
Figure 21 is a sectional view of the sprocket wheel and chain pulley, and the
pawl and wheels for controlling the movement of the chain.
Figure 22 is a detail view of one of the guides for the chain.
Figures 23 to 32 are detail views of the chain and of the several links forming
a part thereof, which serve to operate the arm of the shaft which controls. the
movement of the color feeder.
It should be observed that all the principal working parts of the loom may be,
and preferably are, the same as those described in my Application No. 8157 of 1898
above referred to, my present invention referring to improvements in the feeding
device, and the mechanism controlling the same and connected therewith, whereby
I am enabled to supply to the weft thread-carrier, at will, and automatically,
threads of different colors, so that the loom can weave fabrics of any desired
colors, or patterns in colors, or of any desired combinations of colors, and also
to determine or change such colors or patterns at will.
Referring now to the drawings, my improved color-feed consists of the two
parts F, F. The lower part F is provided, as in my prior application, with a
single mouth f; the upper part F, is provided with as many mouths, f¹, f³, f³,
f, fo, f, f, as desired. As shown in the drawings it has seven such mouths,
which I have found in practice to be a convenient number. The feed, F, F¹ is
assembled upon and operated by a rock shaft, A, secured to the end of the working
beam of the loom upon a casting A¹, and is operated in substantially the same
manner as the feed described in my former application, there being one of the
feeds at each end of the loom. The lower part, F, of the feed, is provided with
an elongated hollow stem or sleeve, F2 (see Figs. 5 and 6), which passes through an
opening in the casting A', which forms a bearing for the stem, permitting a free
up and down reciprocating movement of the part F, as hereinafter more fully
described. A shaft A2 passes through the stem or sleeve F2 and serves to hold
the part F steady, and also to open and close the shears of the feed. The upper
part of the feed is directly above and rests upon the part F, and is attached
to the rock shaft A, which passes through, but is not secured to, the part F, and
is provided with suitable bearings in the casting A', as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
Both parts F, F1, of the feed, are given an up and down reciprocal motion so as
alternately present the mouth f of the part F, and one of the mouths f¹, f2, f³:
ff, f f of the part F, to the warp thread-carrier, by the shaft A, the elbow-
lever, 1, and the link, 2, which is operated by a cam, 3, on the rock-shaft, 4, of the
loom, by means of the connecting rod, 5, and suitable bell crank-levers connecting
rods and links as clearly shown in my aforesaid prior Application No. 8157
of 1898.
The thread X, for weaving, is supplied from bobbins, X', which may be placed
at any convenient place at each side of the loom, a different bobbin being
employed for each color used. The threads from the bobbins pass up through
eyes y formed in the lower edge of the thread-holder Y which is secured to the
lower end of the shaft A by the set-screw a, through the tension clips y', eyes y²
in the upper edge of the thread-holder, and through a series of feed tubes B
which conduct the threads X directly over the mouths of the upper part of the
feed. The lower part of the feed F is provided with springs F3, which hold the
thread between them and the bearing surfaces B2 at the top and bottom of the 5
mouth f. The upper mouths comprise fingers F2 and springs F3, which hold
the thread between them. The fingers F2 radiate from the central shaft A

page_text: (Figs. 5, 6 and 11), and the shaft A is turned as hereinafter described, to bring
the desired feeding mouths f¹, f³, f³, ft, f³, f6, f7, over the mouth f, and into
position for the thread carrier to take the thread therefrom. The fingers F2 and
springs F3 form a part of the upper part F1 of the feed. The series of feed
tubes B are carried in a bracket 13, secured to the upper surface of the part F¹
of the feed; one of these feed tubes projects over each finger, F2, with its corre-
sponding mouth, and conducts the thread thereto. The feed is provided with a
shear F, F5, which is located between the upper part F1 and the lower part F
of the feed, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the movable member F4 being attached
to, and operated by, the rock shaft A2, to the lower end of which is attached an
arm a² (Figs. 5 and 6), which, as the feed is given a vertical movement up and
down, engages a cam path a¹ (Figs. 8 and 9), formed by a pair of springs a³, as,
and a central rib as on an arm af, which is secured to the casting A', and cuts the
thread X at the proper times into loop lengths, as described in my prior applica-
tion before mentioned.
As above stated, both the parts F, F, are given a vertical movement up and
down in unison, so as to present first the lower mouth f, and then one of the
upper mouths, as f¹, to the thread carrier. It is, however, necessary to present
first one and then another of the mouths f¹, f², f³, fr, f³, f, f to the thread
carrier, according to the color of the thread to be used, and to be able to present
any one of them at any time, and as desired. I accomplish this by the following
construction and combination of parts. The upper part F1 of the feed is provided
with, say, seven mouths, and seven feed-tubes, each tube and mouth containing
a thread of a color different from the others. The part F is attached to the
perpendicular rock shaft A, which is caused to rock back and forth by the elbow
lever C which is suitably pivoted in the casting A¹ (see Figs. 3, 14 and 15), the
end C¹ of which is toothed, engaging with a toothed wheel A³, fixed on the shaft A.
At the other C2 of the elbow lever C is a pin c, which engages in a series of steps D,
formed in the two blocks D1, D2, one step D for each of the mouths f¹, f², f³, ft,
f, f, f. The blocks D1, D2, are secured, by means of set screws d, upon a rod E,
which runs along the work beam, from end to end thereof, each end of the rod E
being provided with these blocks D¹, D2 with their steps D and connecting
mechanism, as above described. The rod E, upon which the steps 1) are fastened,
is worked backwards and forwards lengthwise of the working beam, by means of
the upright shaft G, as hereinafter described, and as it carries the steps D back-
wards and forwards with it, the elbow lever is moved by means of its pin c, which
rides up and down the steps D, and the toothed end C of the lever rotates the
shaft A. It will be obvious, therefore, that as the steps D correspond with the
mouths f¹, f, f, f^, f³, f, f7, that any of these mouths may be presented to the
thread carrier of the loom simply by causing the pin c to stop upon the proper
step 1).
On the rock shaft 4 of the loom is loosely mounted the vertical shaft G, the
upper end of which is provided with the arm g, and the link g', the latter being
connected to the rod E by means of an adjustable sleeve e on the rod E, and a
set screw for holding same in place, which latter is attached to the rod E. Upon
bracket G¹, which is loosely mounted on both the rock shaft 4, and the main
driving shaft 8 of the loom, is supported a rod 9, carrying the toothed wheels 10, 11,
A bar 14, extends from the
the sprocket wheel 12, and the pulley wheel 13.
bracket G¹ to the back of the loom, being supported near its cther end by a cross
piece 15 of the loom, and carries the pulley wheels 16, 17, suitably mounted
thereon. The pulley wheels, 16, 17, are adjustable on the bar 14, and so arranged
that the pulleys may be moved backwards and forwards on the bar 14, and be
screwed thereupon at any desired position, thus enabling the use of a chain H,
of any desired length. The chain H passes over the pulleys 16, 17, and the
5 sprocket wheel 12, and pulley 13.
At a point upon the vertical shaft G, just a little above the sprocket wheel 12,
is secured the arm g³, extending towards the back of the loom, and carrying at

page_text: or
..
its outer end the depending pin g. The pin is adapted to engage with the slots
formed in the pattern links J, of the chain H, and as the chain H is caused to
travel by the mechanism hereinafter described, the pin g will engage with one
link J after another on the chain H. The links are provided with slots Jin
their upper surfaces (see Figs. 23 and 25 to 32) in seven different
positions,
or in as many different positions as there are steps D,
or mouths in the upper part F¹ of the feed. Fan-shaped channels
ways are also formed in the upper part of the links J leading to the
slots J, so that no matter at what point on the links J the pin g may strike, it
will be directed to, and pass through, the slots J¹. As the pin g6 passes into the
slot J, it moves the arm g, and consequently turns the shaft G the one way or the
other, according to the position of the slot J upon the link, and as the pin 96
passes out of the slot, it leaves the shaft G in the position which it assumed when
the pin g entered the slot, and it will remain in that position by reason of the
steps I, until the pin g enters the slot in another link J, and is moved thereby.
The movement thus conveyed to the shaft G is sufficient to just move the feed
from one position to any other that may be necessary to present the desired color
of thread ie the thread carrier.
The links J of the chain H are the pattern links, the links J2 are ordinary links,
engaging with the teeth of the sprocket wheel 12. I make them answer another
purpose as well, to count the number of threads taken of each color from the
feeder by the thread carrier. To do this I make each link J2 represent four
threads woven in the cloth, or four beats of the lay, so that the number of links J2
between each two adjoining pattern links J multiplied by four will give the
number of threads of that color taken by the thread carrier into the cloth. I
accomplish this as follows: The upright shaft G reaches from the rock shaft 4
to the working beam of the loom, and moves backwards and forwards with the
lay; the lower end of the shaft G moving a correspondingly less distance as it
approaches the rock shaft 4 upon which it is mounted.
The lower end of the shaft G is supported by a sleeve G2, which is provided
with a lug G³ having an opening through which the rock shaft 4 passes. To the
upper part of the sleeve G2 I attach a pawl K, which extends toward the back of
the loom, parallel with the arm g, and engages with the toothed wheels 10 and 11,
one of which 10, is secured to the sprocket wheel 12, the other of which, 11 is
loosely mounted on the rod 9. Both of these wheels have the same number of
teeth, but the teeth on the wheel 11 are of unequal depth, every fourth tooth being
deeper than the three preceding ones, so that the end of the pawl K, working in
these two wheels, will during three beats of the lay, work on three teeth of the
loose wheel 11, the height of these teeth being such that the pawl, while on them
cannot engage with the teeth on the wheel 10, but will, at the next beat of the
lay drop into the fourth or deep tooth in the wheel 11, and at the same time
drop into a tooth on the wheel 10, which is secured to the sprocket wheel, so
that the latter, and consequently the chain H will be caused to travel a distance
measured by one link J2 every time the pawl K enters the fourth deep tooth on
the wheel 11, and a tooth on the wheel 10, or, in other words, at every fourth
beat of the lay. Consequently, in order to weave any given number of threads
of a certain color into a cloth, it is only necessary to insert in the chain H after
the proper link J to feed the desired color, a link J2 for every four threads of
the color desired, and then to insert another link J, to give the next color
desired, and so on, thus making the pattern chain long enough to give the colors
and pattern wished for..
It should be understood that there is no need of a sequence or rotation in a
certain order, of the colors fed by my improved feeder, for, by using proper
links J, any color may follow any other color as desired, the slots J' turning the
shaft G, by means of the pin g and arm just the right distance to cause the
mouth of the upper part F1 of the feeder to present the color desired to the
thread carrier. It should be noticed that the pattern may be of any number of

page_text: "
threads, and this is accomplished by putting in or taking out links from the
chain.
The steps D which move the elbow lever C, which controls the movements of
the shaft A, which carries the upper part F1 of the feeder, are formed in the
two blocks D¹, 12 (see Fig. 16), the steps in upper block D¹ and the lower
block D, corresponding, so that the pin on the end of the elbow lever may
move easily up and down, from one step to another, or only one of these blocks,
the lower block D2, may be employed, but in the latter case a torsional spring L
(see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6) must be used, one end of the torsional spring L being
secured to some outside support, as, for example the sleeve L', whilst its other
end is secured to the sleeve L² which is secured to the shaft A,
by a set screw . In this case while the shaft A is moved to the one side or the
other by the elbow-lever C, the spring L will keep the pin c in constant engage-
ment with the steps D. If the upper block D of the steps D is used alone, the
spring L will not be absolutely necessary, but its use is desirable whenever either
of the blocks D1, D2 is used without the other of the said blocks, so as to hold
the elbow-lever in its proper position on the steps.
In order to hold the chain H securely in the proper position while the pin gồ
is passing through the links J, and to prevent any side motion of the chain, I
provide guides for the same, consisting of the guide plates R, R, on the bolt P,
which is held by a lug P¹ on the bracket G¹ (see Figs. 19, 20 and 21). The two
ends of the bolt P are made of a smaller diameter than the central portion (not
shown), and the holes 2 in the guide plates R are made of a proper size so that
they will just permit the smaller ends of the bolt P to pass therethrough but not
the central portion thereof, so that when the guide-plates R, R are placed in
position on the bolt P, and the latter is secured in place in the lug P¹, the guide
plates R, R will be held rigidly in place by the nuts R¹, one of which also
secures the bolt in the lug P, The guide-plates are formed approximately
L-shaped, with a channelled portion 1 and a shoulder r. The chain H passes
between the shoulders r, r. The links J resting in the channel formed by the
portions, the shoulders r, r preventing any sidewise motion of the chain H as
the pin g passes in and through the slots J2, which takes. place while the chain
is held between the guide-plates R, R.
The tension-clips y of the thread holder Y, are pivoted with suitable pack-
ings y, consisting preferably of strips of plush or similar fabric, as I have found
such packings give excellent results, acting as a drag, and giving just the required
tension to the threads.
I have not thought it necessary to describe the thread-carrier, the measurer,
and the other working parts of the loom, as these form no part of my present inven-
tion which is directed exclusively to the feeder and the means of controlling and
operating the same, and moreover all these parts will be found, fully described
and illustrated in my Application No. 8157 of 1898 herein before referred to
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A color feeder for looms comprising two or more feed tubes movable laterally
to bring the tubes into position and means for shifting said tubes, substantially as
described.
2. In combination with a lower feed mouth, a series of upper feed mouths,
and means for shifting, said upper series to bring different mouths into position."
3. In combination with a lower feed. mouth, a series of upper feed mouths,.
a series of tubes corresponding to the upper feed. mouths and means for shifting
the upper feed mouths and tubes to bring different mouths into line with the
lower mouth, substantially as described.
4. In combination, the lower feed mouth, the series of upper mouths adapted
to be shifted to bring any one of the upper mouths to act in conjunction with

page_text: the lower mouth, means for directing the threads to the mouths of the shifting
series and pattern mechanism for controlling the position of the shifting series,
substantially as described.
5. In combination, the feed, mouths, the pattern mechanism for controlling
the feed of the different colored threads, and controlling means for the pattern
mechanism, substantially as shown and described.
6. In combination, the lower feed mouth, a shifting series of upper feed mouths,
means for raising the feed vertically, pattern mechanism for shifting the upper
feed mouths, and means for bringing the pattern mechanism into and out of action
.substantially as shown and described.
7. In combination, the lower feed mouth, the series of upper mouths adapted
to be shifted to bring any one of the upper mouths to act in conjunction with the
lower mouth, means for directing the threads to the mouths of the shifting series
and pattern mechanism for controlling the position of the shifting series, said
pattern mechanism being connected with and operated by the movement of the
lay, substantially as described.
8. In combination in a feeding mechanism for looms, the lower. feeder mouth,
the series of upper mouths, the shifting support therefor, the steps and lever
for moving the support, and the pattern mechanism for operating said steps and
lever and for shifting said upper mouths to present the desired colored thread
to the thread-carrier, substantially as shown and described.
9. In combination, the lower feed mouth with means for holding it against
lateral movement and with means for raising it vertically, an upper feed movable
vertically with the carrier of the lower feed mouth, said upper feed having lateral
shifting movement and having fingers and springs forming a series of feeder
mouths, the shaft, lever and steps controlling the shifting of the upper feeder
mouths, and pattern mechanism for imparting movement thereto, substantially
.as shown and described.
10. In a loom, a lower feed mouth, a series of upper feed mouths adapted to be
shifted laterally, a rock shaft supporting the upper mouths and means for oscillating.
said rock shaft comprising a series of steps corresponding in number to the
number of feed mouths with operating connections between the steps and the
rock shaft and a pattern mechanism for controlling the movement of the steps,
substantially as described.
11. In combination with the rock shaft and the series of mouths carried there-
by, means for moving the rock shaft comprising an elbow lever C engaging the
rock shaft at one end, a sèries of steps engaging the opposite end of the lever C
and controlling the amount of movement of the rock shaft and a pattern mechan-
ism controlling the movement of the steps, substantially as described.
12. In combination with the rock shaft and the upper feed mouths carried
thereby, a series of steps controlling the movement of the rock shaft, a rod E
carrying the steps, means for moving the rod and a pattern mechanism for
controlling the movement of the said rod, substantially as described.
13. In combination with the rock shaft and the upper feed mouths carried
thereby, a series of steps with connections therefrom to the rock shaft, a rod E
carrying the steps, a shaft G in operative connection with the rod E and a
pattern mechanism directly controlling the operation of the shaft G, substantially
as described.
14. In combination with the rock shaft A and the upper feed mouths carried
thereby, an elbow lever C having a toothed end, a spur wheel on the shaft A
engaged by the toothed end, a series of steps engaging the opposite end of the
lever C, a rod E carrying the steps and movable longitudinally to operate the
elbow lever through the steps, and a shaft G connecting with the rod E at one
end and having also a connection with a pattern mechanism imparting movement
to the shaft A, substantially as described.
15. In a loom, a color feed and a pattern mechanism controlling this feed

page_text: said pattern mechanism comprising a chain with a series of pattern links carried
thereby, said links having flaring mouths, an oscillating shaft G in connection
with the color feed and means carried by said shaft in the path of the pattern
links and adapted to be shifted thereby, substantially as described.
16. In a loom, in combination with a color feed, a pattern mechanism com-
prising a chain with series of pattern links carried thereby, an oscillating shaft G
with means carried thereby extending into the path of and operated by the pattern
links and means for actuating the pattern mechanism, substantially as described.
17. In a loom, in combination with a color feed, a shaft G, a pattern chain,
pattern links carried thereby having flaring mouths, an arm secured to the
shaft G and having its end arranged in the path of the pattern links whereby
the said arm is shifted to one side or the other by the flaring mouths thereby
turning the shaft G, mechanism for controlling the pattern mechanism and a
pawl K for actuating this mechanism in the back and forth movement of the
shaft G, substantially as described.
18. In a loom, a color feed and a pattern mechanism controlling the same
comprising a chain made up of a series of ordinary links and pattern links,
these links being adjustable to vary the action of the pattern mechanism, a
sprocket wheel engaging the links of the chain, pulley wheels supporting the links
and means for actuating the pattern chain with operating connections between
the chain and the color feed, substantially as described.
19. In a loom, a color feed, an oscillating shaft G having operating
connections with the color feed, a pattern chain for oscillating the shaft G and
a guide to prevent lateral displacement of the chain, substantially as described.
20. In a loom and in combination with a color feed, a rock shaft A, a pattern
mechanism and a supplemental pattern device intermediate of the pattern
mechanism and the rock shaft, substantially as described.
21. In a loom and in combination with the color feed, a rock shaft A with
means for rocking the same and means for placing a tension on said shaft,
substantially as described.
22. In a loom, a lower feed mouth, a series of upper feed mouths and means
for moving the upper and lower mouths vertically, consisting of a lever 1 and
link 2, a cam and operating connections between the cam and the lever 1,
substantially as described.
23. In a loom, a lower feed mouth, a series of upper feed mouths, a rock shaft
movable vertically to raise and lower the feed mouths, a supplemental shaft A³
carried by the lower mouth, a shear actuated by said shaft and a cam for giving
movement to the shaft A2 in the vertical movement of the mouths, substantially
as described.
24. In a loom, a lower feed mouth and a series of upper feed mouths with
means for shifting the same laterally and a series of feed tubes cqual in number
to the upper feed mouths and holding a definite relation thereto, substantially
as described.
Dated this 10th day of October 1900
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.