IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Singleton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
September 1857.
I, THOMAS SINGLETON, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms,"
to be as follows:-
My said improvements consist, firstly, in an improved weft motion. Instead
of the ordinary weft fork, I employ a lever with two arms, one of which is
light and crooked, so that the weft may act against it, the other arm operating
upon another lever, the end of which is raised or depressed according to the
position of the weft, and acted upon by an arm or lever connected to the swell.
Both levers have their fulcrums in a bar, sliding. in a frame fixed to the loom
side. The front end of the said bar is wedged or inclined, and upon it rests
another lever, also having a wedge or incline at one end, and a spring and
boss at the other. When there is no weft in the way the bar moves forward,
and causes the boss to be opposite the dead finger or projection on the slay,
which as it comes forward stops the loom. I also employ a fork without a
hook or heel, and another attached to one end of a rod or wire, the other end
of the rod or wire being connected to a catch working upon the weft lever,
the said catch being raised with the weft. When there is no weft in the way

page_text: the catch remains down and comes in the way of the hammer, which pushes
the weft lever and stops the loom. I also make the fork or grid holder either
jointed or a spring itself, and the forks or grids may be made either of malleable
cast iron, stamped from plates or made from wire, encircling a tube for the
bearing part. On the top of the hammer shaft I place an L lever in line
with the weft lever, and capable of acting upon it when the L lever is acted
upon by the weft fork, when the weft is broken. When not acted upon by the
weft fork, the L lever is pressed out of the way by a spring on the hammer
shaft.
Secondly, in an improved arrangement for preventing the breaking of the
twist or yarn when entangled in the rods. Upon the end of the weft lever I
place a light lever, in line with the ordinary hammer and catch, which lever is
above the catch when there is no entanglement of the yarn. Between the rest
centres, and con-
and shed rods I place an extra rod or rail, working upon
nected with it is a rod or bar with its end placed under one end of the light
lever, and depressing the other end into the catch of the hammer, when an
entanglement takes place, in consequence of the extra bar or rod being. pulled
forward by the knots in the yarn; or instead of the rod I fix a reed for the
twist or yarn to pass through.
Thirdly, in an improved temple, adapted for woollens or other fabrics. I
employ rollers having teeth or needle points, and place them upon stationary
spindles on which they turn. A cap or frame encircles the spindles, and
extends to the ends of the rollers, and is also fixed at the top to an L lever, to
which motion is given from the slay, so that the rollers can move to and from
the centre of the loom, thus stretching out the cloth and carrying it forward
at the same time. I also attach to the sword arms two rods or projections
connected to a beam or bar placed below the breast beam and above the cloth
beam, so that as the sword arms move forward the cloth is tightened at the
time of beating up.
Fourthly, in an improved preserve and check strap. The preserve strap is
fixed to the front of the slay in the usual manner, passing over one end of the
spindle, and through the back of the shuttle box, and is connected to the
check strap, which is passed through the back of the shuttle box for the pur-
pose, thus forming a continuous preserve and check strap, which extends from
box to box. Between the picker and strap there is a piece of leather, for the
purpose of preventing the shock from the check strap, and thereby preserving
it. I connect this piece of leather by means of a screw to the band which
passes over the end of the spindle. I also place a slot in the regulating staple,
so that the strap may be readily adjusted.

page_text: Fifthly, in an improved picker, composed of wood and buffalo hide. The
picker strap is connected to a nipple, placed in the picker in such a manner
that the spindle may pass through it. The buffalo hide passes over the spindle,
and extends to the bottom of the picker, where it is folded to a considerable
thickness in one piece. I place a guard upon the nipple, which is connected
to the picker band, so that should the picker band break at the nipple, the
guard would hold the band; and prevent danger to the yarn. I extend, when
desired, leather or buffalo hide from one side of the picker to the other, and I
also bush the picker where it slides upon the spindle with box or other hard
wood.
Sixthly, in an improved method of cutting or separating the cloth during
the process of weaving. I place upon the breast beam a frame for holding a
circular cutter, to which a circular motion is given for cutting the weft as the
cloth travels. I also place upon the catch rod a lever or arm, for holding an
upright frame of wood or other material, at the upper part of which is fixed a
knife, so that as the catch rod vibrates the knife vibrates with it, and cuts the
cloth as required.
Seventhly, in an improved indicator and stop motion, to knock off the loom
at given distances, as the cloth is woven. I place upon the sand or other
roller, over which the cloth passes, or upon their shafts a worm, working in a
rack passing behind the cloth, so that at each revolution of the sand roller a
tooth of the rack moves forward, the end of the rack coming in contact with
the spring handle, when the desired length of cloth has been woven and
measured, thereby stopping the Joom; or the worm gives motion to a circular
table, a projection on which acts upon the hammer and spring handle.
Eighthly, in an improved motion for easing the shuttle. I cause the swells
in the boxes to act upon a light finger and rod, from which a small catch pro-
jects, the end of which is under the large catch, attached to a short shaft.
When the shuttle is in the box, the small catch as it comes forward passes
over an incline on the frog, and raises the large catch, thereby preventing any
stoppage; should the shuttle fail to box the large catch would not be raised by
the small one, and therefore the loom would be stopped.