Improvements in and in Means for Imparting Motion to the Lag- barrels Employed in Conjunction with certain "Dobby-machines Employed in Conjunction with Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in and in Means for Imparting Motion to the Lag-
barrels Employed in Conjunction with certain "Dobby-machines
Employed in Conjunction with Looms for Weaving.
We, JAMES COWBURN, of Albert Mill, Silk Street, Eccles, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager and CHRISTOPHER PECK, of the same place, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to "6 dobby machines" for use in conjunction with looms
for weaving and relates more particularly to "dobby machines" which receive motion
by means of connecting rods actuated by cranks or excentrics upon suitable parts
of the said looms.
Our invention consists in improvements in and in means for imparting circulatory
motion to the lag-chains, or pattern-chains employed in conjunction with the said
dobby machines."
66
The object of our invention is the provision of simple and efficient means for
dobby machines" of the
causing the lag-barrels employed in conjunction with "
kind above mentioned, to be moved forwards or backwards according as the looms
in which the said dobby machines are employed, are "turned forwards" to weave,
or "turned backwards' for unweaving or any other purpose, so that the main-
tenance of the proper relation between the lags of the lag-chains or pattern-chains
and the pattern of the cloth or fabric being woven is rendered much easier than in
such "dobby machines as ordinarily constructed.
"
According to our invention we cause the circulatory movements of the lag-chain,
"dobby machine" of the kind
or pattern-chain employed in conjunction with a
above mentioned to be obtained by means of the longitudinal and transverse
movements of the connecting rod by means of which the "dobby machine" is
worked.
movement.
In one arrangement of apparatus constructed according to our invention we
mount a stud, peg or finger upon the connecting rod by means of which the "dobby
machine receives motion and provide a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel
upon which the stud, peg or finger above mentioned will act during part of its
We mount or form the said toothed or notched wheel or star wheel or
connect it by means of any suitable gearing or in any other suitable manner with
the barrel around which the lag-chain, or pattern-chain employed in the "dobby
machine" passes, or the shaft or axle upon which such barrel is formed or mounted.
At one part of its movement the stud, peg or finger above named will enter into a
notch of the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel above referred to and during
a portion of its movement will turn such toothed or notched wheel or star wheel
5 and so move or turn the lag-chain or pattern-chain aforesaid and at the end of such
portion of its movement the said stud, peg or finger will pass out of the notch
aforesaid and during the remaining portion of its movement such stud, peg or
finger will remain clear of the said toothed or notched wheel or star wheel.
In another arrangement of apparatus constructed according to our invention we
0 employ a lever or levers mounted in any suitable joint or bearing or joints or
bearings enabling such lever or levers to be moved in the manner required and
cause motion to be imparted to such lever or levers by means of the connecting rod
by means of which motion is transmitted to the "dobby machine" and we provide
a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel mounted or formed upon or connected by
15 suitable gearing or other suitable means with the barrel around which passes the

page_text: lag-chain, or pattern-chain employed in the "dobby. machine" or the shaft or axle
of such barrel. We cause the lever or levers above mentioned to act upon the
said toothed or notched wheel or star wheel in a manner similar to that in which
the peg, stud or finger above described acts upon the toothed or notched wheel or
star wheel employed in conjunction therewith.
When the loom in conjunction with which a "dobby machine to which our
invention is applied, is employed is turned backwards for unweaving or any other
purpose the crank or excentric actuating the connecting rod by which motion is
transmitted to the "dobby machine," and the barrel around which passes the lag-chain
or pattern-chain employed in such "dobby machine" will also be turned backwards
so that the maintenance of a correct relation between the lag-chain or pattern-
chain and the pattern of the cloth or fabric being woven in the loom is easily
accomplished.
Dated this Thirteenth day of September 1893.
HOWARD CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Means for Imparting Motion to the Lag-
barrels Employed in Conjunction with certain "Dobby-machines"
Employed in Conjunction with Looms for Weaving.
We JAMES COWBURN of Albert Mill, Silk Street, Eccles in the County. of
Lancaster, Manager and CHRISTOPHER PECK of the same place, Manufacturer,
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 :-
Our invention relates to "double lift dobby machines" for use in conjunction
with looms for weaving and relates more particularly to "double-lift dobby
machines" which receive motion by means of connecting rods actuated by cranks
or excentrics upon suitable parts of the said looms.
Our invention consists in improvements in and in means for imparting circulatory
motion to the lag-chains or pattern-chains employed in conjunction with the said
"dobby machines."
The object of our invention is the provision of simple and efficient means for
causing the lag-barrels employed in conjunction with "dobby machines" of the
kind above mentioned, to be moved forwards or backwards according as the
looms in which the said dobby machines are employed are turned forwards
to weave or turned "backwards for unweaving or any other purpose so
that the maintenance of the proper relation between the lags of the lag-chains or
pattern-chains and the pattern of the cloth or fabric being woven is rendered much
easier than in such "dobby machines" as ordinarily constructed.
66
"
According to our invention we cause the circulatory movements of the lag-chain
or pattern-chain employed in conjunction with a dobby machine of the kind
above mentioned to be obtained by means of the longitudinal and transverse
movements of the connecting rod by means of which the "dobby machine is
worked and so utilize both the longitudinal and transverse movements of the said
connecting rod.
In one arrangement. of apparatus constructed according to our invention we
mount a stud, peg or finger upon the connecting rod by means of which the "dobby
machine receives motion and provide a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel
upon which the stud, peg or finger above mentioned will act during part of its
movement. We mount or form the said toothed or notched wheel or star wheel
upon or connect it by means of any suitable gearing or in any other snitable manner

page_text: with the barrel around which the lag-chain or pattern-chain employed in the
dobby machine" passes, or the shaft or axle upon which such barrel is formed or
nounted. At one part of its movement the stud, peg or finger above named will
nter into a notch of the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel above referred to
nd during a portion of its movement will turn such toothed or notched wheel or
tar wheel and so move or turn the lag-chain or pattern-chain aforesaid and at the
end of such portion of its movement the said stud, peg or finger will pass out of the
hotch aforesaid and during the remaining portion of its movement such stud, peg or
inger will remain clear of the said toothed or notched wheel or star wheel.
66
In another arrangement of apparatus constructed according to our invention we
employ a lever mounted in any suitable joint or bearing enabling such lever to be
moved in the manner required and cause motion to be imparted to such lever by
means of the connecting rod by means of which motion is transmitted to the
dobby machine" and we provide a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel mounted
or formed upon or connected by suitable gearing or other suitable means with the
barrel around which passes the lag-chain or pattern-chain employed in the "dobby
machine"
or the shaft or axle of such barrel. We cause the lever above mentioned
to act upon the said toothed or notched wheel or star wheel in a manner similar to
that in which the peg, stud or finger above described acts upon the toothed or
notched wheel or star wheel employed in conjunction therewith.
$
In the accompanying drawing is illustrated the arrangement of apparatus
constructed according to our invention in which a lever noved by the longitudinal
dobby
and transverse movements of the connecting rod by means of which the ".
machine" is worked is employed to act upon a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel
mounted or formed upon or connected by suitable gearing or other suitable means
with the barrel around which passes the lag-chain or pattern-chain employed in the
In the accompanying drawing
or the shaft or axle of such barrel.
dobby machine
Fig. 1 is a back view illustrating the said arrangement of apparatus as applied in
conjunction with a "double lift dobby machine" and as such "double lift dobby
machine" is similar to machines in ordinary use we have only shown so much of it
and of the loom in which it is employed as is necessary for the illustration of
our invention and shall not refer to the parts forming such machine and loom to a
greater extent than is necessary for the proper description of our invention.
66
(a) is the connecting rod which is mounted at its lower end upon a crank-pin (b)
mounted upon a crank mounted upon the tappet-shaft (k) of the loom and is connected
by means of an universal joint (a) in the ordinary manner to the lever (c) to which
are connected the draw-hooks of the dobby machine and serves to impart motion to
such draw-hooks. (d) is the barrel around which passes the lag-chain or pattern-
chain employed in the "dobby machine." The axle (d¹) of the barrel (d) is
mounted in the ordinary manner in bearings provided in the framework (e) of the
'dobby machine" and a spring acting in conjunction with suitable faces upon a
disc or wheel mounted fast upon such axle (d') is as usual provided to keep the
barrel (d) steady in the various positions into which it may be turned in order to
bring the various lags of the lag-chain or pattern-chain passing around the said
barrel into position beneath the needles of the "dobby machine." According to
this arrangement of our invention we provide a lever (f) mounted so as to be
upon the
capable of being oscillated upon a stud (9) secured in jaws (9') formed
end of the stud (9) between which jaws (9') the said lever (f) is placed. The
stud (9) is mounted so as to be capable of being oscillated in a bearing provided
in the framework (e) of the "dobby machine" but prevented from being moved
end wise in such bearing. The stud (9) and the stud (9³) constitute an universal joint
enabling the lever (f) to be oscillated in any direction but preventing it from being
moved endwise. The arm (f') of the lever (f) passes through a hole formed in
a plate (h) secured to the connecting rod (a). By the longitudinal and transverse
5 movements of the said connecting rod (a) the centre of the hole in the plate (h) is
caused to move around the path indicated by the dotted line (A) in Fig. 2 which
is a diagram illustrating the movement of the connecting rod (a) and the plate (h)

page_text: secured thereon. The lever (f) being mounted in an universal joint the arm (♬²)
of such lever () must also move in a path similar to that indicated by the dotted
line (A) although when either arm of the lever (f) is ascending the other arm
thereof will be descending and when the one arm of the lever (f) is moved to the
right hand the other arm thereof will be moved to the left hand. When the crank
shaft () of the loom is caused to revolve in the direction indicated by the
arrow (B) and the tappet shaft (k) is caused to revolve in the direction indicated
by the arrow (C) as is the case when the loom is weaving the hole in
the plate (h) and consequently the portion of the arm (¹) of the lever (f)
which passes through such hole will be moved around the path which it is
caused to describe in the direction indicated by the arrow (D). As is clearly
indicated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing the hole in the plate (h)
in ascending and descending is moved laterally towards and away from the
front of the loom the extreme points of the lateral movement being reached
about midway between the extreme points of the vertical movement. The portion
of the arm (f) of the lever (f) which passes through the hole in the plate (h)
being caused to move in the same way as the said hole the end (f³) of the other
arm) of the lever (f) is also caused to ascend and descend and move towards
and away from the front of the loom the extreme points of the lateral movement
of the end (*) of the lever (f) being reached when the said end (3) of the
lever (f) is about midway between the extreme points of its vertical movement. We
mount fast upon the axle or shaft (d) of the barrel (d) a toothed or notched
wheel or star wheel (m) which is provided with as many notches (m²) as there are
recesses in the barrel (d) for the reception of lags of the lag-chain or pattern-chain
passing around the said barrel. The toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m)
is secured in such position upon the axle or shaft (¹) of the lag-barrel (d) that
whenever during the revolution of the tappet shaft (k) in the direction indicated
by the arrow (C) the hole in the plate (h) has been moved past its lowest position
and been caused to commence to ascend and while it continues to move towards the
front of the loom and consequently when the end (3) of the lever (f) has been
moved past its highest position and been caused to commence to move downwards
and while it continues to move towards the back of the loom the end (f³) of the
lever (f) may be capable of passing into engagement with one of the notches (m²)
of such toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m) and continue in engagement
therewith and turn such toothed or notched wheel or star wheel until by the hole in
the plate (h) being caused to approach the limit of its upward movement and to
move towards the back of the loom the end (f) of the lever (f) is caused to
move towards the front of the loom and out of engagement with the said notch (m²)
of the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m). When the end (f³) of the
lever (f) passes out of engagement with the toothed or notched wheel or star
wheel (m) the spring above mentioned will keep the barrel (d) in the position into
which it has been moved by the action of the lever (f). At its end (/³) the
lever (f) is formed with a part bent or formed so as to be substantially parallel to
the axis of the barrel (d) so that the lateral movement imparted to the said
end (3) of the lever (f) during the time in which it is required to be in engage-
ment with the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m) may not interfere with
the proper engagement of the said end (³) of the lever (f) with the toothed or
notched wheel or star wheel (m). The movement of the lever (f) caused by the
movement imparted to the connecting rod (a) when the tappet shaft (k) of the
loom is caused to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow (C) will cause
the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m) to be turned in the direction
indicated by the arrow (E) through a space corresponding to the distance between
one notch (m) and the next in each revolution of the tappet shaft (k). When the
end (3) of the lever (f) has been moved out of engagement with the toothed or
notched wheel or star wheel (m) the hole in the plate (A) continuing to move in the
direction indicated by the arrow (D) will cause the said end (1) of the lever (✓)
to be moved to the extreme point of its downward movement and towards the

page_text: front of the loom and then upwards until after it has again been moved past its
highest point and commences to descend when it will be again brought by the
backward movement imparted to it into engagement with the toothed or notched
wheel or star wheel (m) and cause it to be turned in the direction indicated by the
5 arrow (E) through a space corresponding to the distance between one notch (m²)
and the next.
Should it at any time be necessary for the loom to be turned backwards for the
unweaving of any portion of the fabric being woven or any other purpose the
tappet shaft (k) being caused to revolve in the direction opposite to that indicated by
the arrow (C) will cause the hole in the plate (h) to move around the path indicated
by the dotted line (A) in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (D)
and cause the end (3) of the lever (f) to be moved in a manner contrary to
that above described and turn the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m) in a
direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (E) through a space corresponding
to that between one notch (m¹) and the next in each revolution of the tappet
shaft (A). The movement imparted to the lever (f) by the movement of the
connecting rod (a) during the turning back of the loom being precisely contrary
to that imparted to such lever (f) during the forward revolution of the crank
shaft of the loom the barrel (d) will be caused to turn back to a corresponding
extent whenever the loom is turned back so that the lag chain or pattern-chain
will be kept always either in proper relation to the pattern being woven in the loom
or in such position relative to the pattern being woven in the loom that it will only
be necessary for the attendant in charge of the loom to cause the crank shaft of
the loom to make one revolution backwards or forwards as the case may be, in
order to place the lag-chain or pattern-chain in proper relation to the pattern being
woven in the loom according to the position in which the loom is stopped. Exact
correspondence between the lag-chain or pattern-chain and the pattern being woven
in the loom can not be always maintained in the turning back of the loom since the
barrel (d) is moved only once in each revolution of the tappet shaft (k) while two
changes in the "shed" in the loom are produced during each revolution of the
tappet shaft (k).
The size of the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel (m) and the relative
proportions of the distances between the end (f³) of the lever (f) and the centre
about which it is moved and between such centre and the portion of such lever (f)
which passes through the hole in the plate (h) will require to be adapted to the
extent of the movement imparted to the connecting rod (a) employed in any
particular case.
It is obvious that any other suitable form of universal joint may be employed
to support and hold in position longitudinally the lever (f) and that
suitable means may be employed instead of the plate (h) to impart motion to the
any other
lever () from the connecting rod (a).
In some cases the toothed or notched wheel or star wheel to which motion is
imparted by means of a lever operating in the manner above described
caused to impart motion through any suitable arrangement of gearing to the
may he
barrel around which passes the lag-chain or pattern-chain employed in the "dobby
machine.'
The form of our invention in which a stud, peg or finger upon the connecting
rod by which a "double lift dobby machine
" is driven is caused to act upon a
toothed or notched wheel during part of its movement will be obvious from the
foregoing description without further explanation to persons conversant with
dobby machines" the movement of the said stud, peg or finger being similar to
hat of the hole formed in the plate (/) indicated in the accompanying drawing.
When the loom in conjunction with which is employed a "dobby machine
which our invention is applied is turned backwards for unweaving or any other
purpose the crank or excentric actuating the connecting rod by which motion is
ransmitted to the "dobby machine" and the barrel around which passes the
ag-chain or pattern-chain employed in such "dobby machine" will also be turned
to

page_text: backwards so that the maintenance of a correct relation between the lag-chain or
pattern-chain and the pattern of the cloth or fabric being woven in the loom is
easily accomplished. The mechanism employed according to our invention is also
of a very simple character.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The bereinbefore described method of imparting motion to the lag-chains or
pattern-chaius employed in conjunction with "double lift dobby machines" of the
kind hereinbefore mentioned which consists in the utilization for the purposes and
substantially in the manner hereinbéfore described of both the longitudinal and
transverse movements of the connecting rods by means of which motion is
communicated to such machines.
2. The hereinbefore described means for imparting motion to the lag-chain or
pattern-chain employed in conjunction with a "double lift dobby machine" of the
kind hereinbefore mentioned which consists in the combination for the purpose and
substantially in the manner herein before described of a peg, stud or finger formed
or mounted upon the connecting rod by which the "double lift dobby machine"
receives motion and a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel which is mounted or
formed upon or connected with the barrel around which passes the lag-chain or
pattern-chain employed in such machine and receives motion from the said peg,
stud or finger.
3. The hereinbefore described means for imparting motion to the lag-chain or
pattern-chain employed in conjunction with a "double lift dobby machine" of the
kind hereinbefore mentioned which consists in the combination for the purposes
and substantially in the manner herein before described of a lever receiving motion
from the connecting rod by which the "double lift dobby machine" receives motion
and a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel which is mounted or formed upon or
connected with the barrel around which passes the lag-chain or pattern-chain
employed in such machine and receives motion from the said lever.
4. For imparting motion to the barrel around which passes the lag-chain or
pattern-chain employed in a "double lift dobby machine" the combination of a
lever such as (f) and a toothed or notched wheel or star wheel such as (m) for the
purposes and substantially in the manner herein before described in reference to and
illustrated in and by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this Thirteenth day of July 1894.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.