Improvements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1889-Accepted. 1st Mar.
1.800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms.
We, MARY MACILWRAITH, Warwick Road, Solihull, Birmingham, Warwickshiro,
School Mistress, Executrix of the late William MacIlwraith, Senior, of the Gavels,
Crookston, Renfrewshire, Retired Muslin Manufacturer, and ANDREW LAWSON KNOX
GILCHRIST, of A. L. Knox and Co. 73 George Street, Manchester, Lancashire, Manu-
5 facturer, and WILLIAM MAOILWRAITH, Junior, of the Gavels, Crookston, Renfrewshire,
Land Surveyor and Architect, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to
be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to, and comprises new improvements upon the portable
shedding mechanisın described in the Provisional Specification under application
No. 13086 Sept. 10 1888 whereby the shedding mechanism thus protected, and which
is what is known technically as a "close shed" motion, is by certain modifications,
alterations, and improvements, converted into a positive open shedding mechanism,
capable of being driven at high speed for power looms for working a great number of
leaves or heddles, or other equivalent shedding apparatus, for the weaving of twilled
and other fancy pattern fabrics, as table cloths, muslins, lace or leno, or gauze fabrics,
woollens, or any class of goods so wrought which it may be considered desirable to
make by the open shed system.
The first important improvement of this invention consists in substituting one cross
bar travelling the full shed up and down, in place of the present double cross bars
each travelling up and down reciprocally the half distance. This cross bar works
in the same way on perpendicular slides or guides in the frame work of the mechanism,
and is actuated on each side by suitably cast cams or wypers to give the sheds to the
warp and the desirable rests and dwells at the throwing of the shuttle and the crossing
of the yarn, and the desirable motions of the cross bar otherwise. The cams or
wypers here described may be given a full circular motion with a repetition of the
eccentric groove or cam surface, or it may be worked by a shaft geared to the loom
shaft, and giving the cams or wypers an oscillating or vibrating motion as described
in the aforesaid Provisional Specification. The second important improvement
consists in having a fixed or immovable cross bar across the upper part of the
machine, immediately over, parallel with, and corresponding to the travelling cross
har just before described. The travelling cross bar and the fixed cross bar have each
a reciprocating range of locking catches, working in transverse slots in the upper
and lower faces of the travelling cross bar and the fixed cross bar respectively, and in
securing plates over these to hold them in their true locking position opposite each
draw link, and made each a little narrower than the draw link, so that they are sure
to take or slide into the locking notches at the upper and lower ends of the draw
links. A third improvement is that the upper locking catches working in the fixed
cross bar, are continued solid through guides as needles sufficiently long to be
actuated as desired by the pattern card on the barrel or cylinder. A fourth improve-
ments is that the needles actuating the locking catches in the travelling cross bar,
have a double bent knee working in a double guide to prevent oscillation, and united
in front of the double guide as one needle. This needle is pressed inward for locking
the travelling lock catches. by means of the spring and lever combination described
in the aforesaid Provisional Specification, as also actuating the lower travelling lock
catches. The needles of the fixed locking catches and the needles of the travelling
ock catches are reciprocated by couplers or beam levers, similar to those described
n the aforesaid Provisional: Specification, and these couplers oscillate on a centre lar
rred similar to that described in the aforesaid Provisional Specification, laving
ne half planed off, and the bar made to turn, when desired by unlocking a nut, either

page_text: 5
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"
to retain the couplers always in their working position, or to enable one or more to
be removed or replaced as desired. The projecting ends of these couplers at the top
are locked or unlocked by a moveable lock bar the same as described in the afore-
said Provisional Specification, or by some equivalent or mere modification of the
same.
.
Another improvement is that the draw links are ranged in one long slot, side by
A further improvement is that
side, in upper and lower fixed guide plates.
although the slot is continuous, it is slightly grooved or serrated on each side opposite
each draw link, so that each draw link is guided in these small grooves or serrations
just free from its adjacent links, and thus the friction induced by the continued
sliding of the sides of the draw links is obviated, and the power required so far
reduced. These fixed guide plates will have the side farthest from the locking
needles hinged vertically or horizontally at one end, and locked or bolted at the other
end, so that if one or more link rods require to be removed, they can at once he
so by unlocking the back portion of the guide plates, throwing the back part of the
plate round on its hinge, and thus enable the draw link rod or rods to be freed at once
and taken out.
Another important improvement consists in having a double locking-notch in the
upper part of the draw links actuated only by the fixed locking catclies, so that the
draw links can be locked either while up or down, to retain the yarn in one position
either up or down for any length of time desired as an open shed. Another improve-
ment consists in having only one locking catch in the lower part of the draw link
actuated only by the lower or travelling locking catches, so as to move the draw
links up and down as often or in as many ways as required, while at the full shed,
thus giving the close shed when required. The upper fixed locking catches and the
lower travelling catches being thus reciprocally coupled as described, then according
as the pattern cards are punched or left solid, the yarn can be retained at the full or
open shed as long as may be wished, either above or below the shuttle, or any
portion of the yarn can be changed after each throw of the shuttle, either from the
lower or upper position of the yarn, as actuated by the healds, or other shedding
apparatus, which healds or other shedding apparatus are actuated by the draw links
before described.
Another new addition or improvement is for the purpose of easing or lifting the
strain off the locking catches when the change is about to be effected by the pattern
barrel pressing in the neddles attached to these locking catches, so that the locking
catches will move freely and without friction on or out of the checks in the draw
links. For this purpose each draw link has on the side opposite the checks two
snugs or projections, one at the top and one at the bottom at the accurately adjusted
distances. When the draw links have been carried by the reciprocating bar to the
full distance down or up, two rods or bars, having their ends revolving on themselves
work in holes or slots in the frame of the machine, make a half or quarter turn, and
bring a continuous projection on these easing rods or bars momentarily upon the
snugs or projections of the draw links, and release the locking catches from the weight
of the draw links and the healds and warp, while the change is instantly effected by
the pattern barrel. The moment the change is effected, and locked for the nex
movement by the lock bar described previously, these easing rods or bars make th
reverse quarter or half turn, and free at once the continuous projections from th
snugs on the draw links, and the movement of the travelling cross bar, at once com
mences again, and the draw links are taken up or down to form the full shed
according as they have been locked at top or bottom for the change. These easin
bars have this momentarily and eccentric motion imparted to them by a pawl or leve
fixed in accurate position upon the side cams, which pawl or lever impinges upon
short lever projecting from the ends of the easing bars. This pawl or lever will hav
an antifriction pulley on its working end. The easing rods will be retained in the
non-working position by a spring upon the short lever just described, and these easin
...rods will be out of action till impinged upon by the cam pawls or fevers just describe
Or preferentially these easing bars may be intermittently-actuated by a rod workin

page_text: in a cau or wyper: on the shaft of the shadding mechanism. attached to a short lever
projecting from the ends of the easing bars. The improvements thus described will
enable this positive shedding mechanisin to give on open shed to any desired portion
of the warp, and retain the warp stationary either up or down for 2 picks, or if required
for 4, 6, 8, or any multiple of 2.
In order that this mechanism may effect a positive open shed for 1, 2, 3 or any odd
or even number of picks, and enable the saine mechanism to effect any variety of
change in the motion of the healds, or to suspend one or more of the healds ap or
down, (and thereby sustaining the warp in these healds), for any number of picks and
in any desired combination, certain other alterations or improvements are immediately
hereafter described in detail.
.
An important improvement is that, while retaining the double and reciprocating
cross bars described in the aforesaid Provisional Specification, each reciprocating cross
bar will travel a full shed, instead of a half shed, as in the mechanism described in the
aforesaid Provisional Specification. These cross bars will have their motion imparted
to them by cams or wypers as in said mechanism, the only difference being that the
cams or wypers will be cut to give the full shed distance to each cross bar. These
cams on wypers will have an oscillating or vibrating motion, and will be actuated as
before by a crank shaft geared to the driving shaft of the loom. But if desired, as-
the travel is greater, the cams may have imparted to them a full circular or rotating
motion instead of an oscillating motion by so cutting the cams that this will be
done.
Another improvement upon the shedding mechanism described in the aforesaid
Provisional Specification will be that the locking of the draw-link will be effected
when the draw links are standing at the full-shed distance, instead of being effected
as at present at the crossing of the heald and warp or yarn. The change in locking
will be more easily effected thereby, as more time is given for rest at the crossing or
throw of the shuttle and the heating up of the weft by the lathe or slay, than is
given at the crossing of the yarn. Another important improvement is that in
addition to the reciprocating bars carrying the travelling lock catches, these
be fixed across the frame of the machine, and this fixed cross bar will carry a set
of locking catches in exactly the same way as the travelling cross bars carry the
travelling lock catches, and be actuated by similar spring levers as those described
in the aforesaid Provisional Specification, so as to be retained out of working
position, until pressed in by the pattern barrel in the manner to be hereafter
described. These fixed locking catches will have long needle ends moving in guides
immediately above the needles described as actuating the locking catches in the
upper travelling cross bar. These fixed needles will have a long slot in them through
which the top ends of the couplers will pass; and at a fixed distance from the front
guide, this slot will terminate or have a shoulder, to actuate the couplers as herein-
after described. There will be the same easing rods as described previously in this
Specification, and the same slotted guides for the draw links. They will also have
the same double check in the draw links for the fixed cross bar locking catches, and
a check at top and another at bottom of the draw links for the travelling top and
bottou cross bar locking catches. There will also be the same locking bar as pre-
viously for locking the needles when the change is effected by the pattern barrel.
When the travelling cross bars have arrived at the full shed distance, either in their
reciprocal up or down position, and when the strain has been momentarily taken off
the draw links by the easing rod previously described, the pattern barrel is brought
by its lever and cam motion upon the needles. If it is desired to retain a heald or
healds in a fixed position up or down for 1 or any number of picks, that part of the.
pattern card impinging on the needles forming a continuation of the fixed locking
catches, is not punched, and so presses the needle in, with the locking catch, half the
distance, and the top end of the coupler is not affected, as it is standing free in the
needle slot. The pattern card is then pressed further the remaining half distance,
sends the fixed locking catches into the corresponding check in the opposed draw link,
and the shoulder on the needle, before the second half of the distance is traversed,

page_text: impinges then upon the upper end of the coupler, and presses it in the half distance
only. The result is that the travelling locking catch is released, and as the coupler
is thereby brought and retained to the exact perpendicular and the upper and lower
locking catches are thus withdrawn clear into their respective reciprocating cross bars.
The fixed locking catch thereby retains the draw link with its heald and warp,
stationary at either up or down positions, and the travelling cross bars continne their
motion without imparting any motion to the draw link, till it is desired to do so by a
change in the cards passing over the pattern barrel. If it is desired to impart motion
again to the draw link, the card impinging on the stationary locking catches is
punched, and the card impinging on the needles working the travelling locking catches
is either punched or left solid, according as it is desired to actuate either the upper or
lower travelling locking catches to raise or depress the draw link. When the lock bar
is raised for the change, the fixed locking catches will be immediately thrown out of
the checks in the link rod by their attached spring lever, and at the same moment the
travelling locking catch will be pressed into their check in the draw link to impart
motion to the latter when the cross bars begin to move. If it is the upper travelling
locking catch that is thrown into its check, the fixed locking catches will not be
interfered with in their backward motion, as the advancing top of the coupler will
simply pass freely through the slot in the fixed locking catch needles.
Another improvement is that the needles actuating the travelling locking catches
will be placed in a double guide instead of single as at present, in order to ensure
accurate working, and prevent any possibility of oscillation. Another improvement is
that the pattern barrel will travel straight in on horizontal guides fixed to the frame
of the machine, with pulleys if desired, and the oscillating pawls or lever arms will
have a slot in each, so that they will carry the barrel straight in and out on its guides,
thereby preventing the slight wear of the pattern cards which a barrel working on the
segment of a circle is apt to produce when the card is pressed for the change against
the needles.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms.
We, MARY MACILWRAITH, Warwick Road, Solihull, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
School Mistress, Executrix of the late William MacIlwraith, Senior, of the Gavels,
Crookston Renfrewshire, Retired Muslin Manufacturer, and ANDREW LAWSON KNOX
GILCHRIST, of A. L. Knox and Co. 73 George Street, Manchester, Lancashire, Manu-
facturer, and WILLIAM MAOILWRAITH, Junior, of the Gavels, Crookston, Renfrewshire,
Land Surveyor and Architect, do hereby declare the nature of our invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying four Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to, and comprises new improvements upon the portable
shedding mechanism described in the Specification of Patent No. 13086 Sept. 10 1888
whereby the shedding mechanism thus protected and which is what is known techni-
cally as a "close or centre shed" motion, is by certain modifications, alterations, and
improvements converted into a positive open shedding mechanism, capable of being
driven at high speeds for power looms for. working a great number of leaves or
heddles or other equivalent shedding or harness arrangements for the weaving of
twilled and other fancy pattern fabrics, as table cloths, muslins, lace or leno, or gauze
fabrics, woollens, or any class of goods so wrought which it may be considered.
desirable to make by the open shed system.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing or carrying the.

page_text: ame into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended
explanatory Sheets of Drawings, in which the sume reference letters are use.l to
ndicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figure 1on Sheet 1 is
longitudinal sectional elevation of this new shedding mechanism for looms showing.
the pattern barrel H of the locking needles b, b, and a, G, on the upper left band side
of the machine, and the two vertically reciprocating cross bars A and A' and the harness
draw links or link rod B which they actuate, on the right hand side. Figure 2 on
Sheet 2 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1. And Figures 3 and 4 on Sheets 3 and 4,
show a front end elevation and a back end elevation respectively.
Referring to these Drawings:-Under this arrangement we mount two cross
bars A, A, both travelling the full shed up and down simultaneously and reciprocally
and actuated by rotating grooved cams D, D₁, in a positive manner, the cams being
mounted on the outer ends of the shaft E rotating in bearings at F in the centre of
The cross bars A, A¹,
the two side frames F, F, as will hereinafter be described.
F¹
each work on two perpendicular parallel slide guides F3 secured in the frames F,
and are actuated on each side by anti-friction rollers A² on their ends working in the
grooves D of the said grooved cams D D¹ to give four sheds to the warp at each
revolution of the shaft E and cams D D' at the outward and inward positions of the.
shifting bars A, A', and the desirable rests and dwells at the throwing of the shuttle
and the crossing of the yarn at every change of pattern and shed. These cams D, D',
may be given the said full circular motion by bevel or other wheel gear from the
crank or other shaft of the loom with a repetition of the eccentric groove or cam
surface D on the opposite sides of the cams, or otherwise it may be worked by
cranks or eccentrics and levers from a shaft geared to the loom shaft, and giving the
cams D, D', an oscillating or vibrating motion as described in the Specification of the
An important
aforesaid Patent making -the cam grooves D, D', to correspond.
improvement of this Invention consists in having a fixed or immovable cross bar F
secured between the frames in the upper part of the machine, immediately over,..
parallel with, and corresponding to the reciprocating upper cross bar A just before
described. The travelling cross bars A, A¹, and the fixed cross bar F2 have each a
reciprocating range of locking catches a, a', and b, b working out through transverse
slots a and b in the upper faces of the travelling cross bars A A' and in the lower
face of the fixed cross bar F2 respectively, and in securing plates a*, *, over these
to hold them in their true locking position opposite each straw link B or alternately
have the transverse slots formed in the securing plate 6x as shown in the fixed
plate F, Figure 5, Sheet 3, which they lock and move, and make each a little
narrower than the draw link, so that they are sure to take or slide into their locking
notches B, B, and B2, B3, in the front edges of the upper and lower ends of the
draw links B, for the back ends of the lockers ab to enter to move these draw links
and lock them respectively as they are reciprocated by the bars A A' and cams D, D',
the ends of the lockers ba a' being rounded to take into the notches of the links B,
as will hereinafter be described, and shown in the detail views of one of these bars A
and lockers a and needles G, and bar F and locking needles bb' detached in Figures 5,
Sheet 3 and 6 & 7, Sheet 1. The draw links B are attached by cords, >,, above and
5. below, and brought down and secured to the heddles through ordinary arrangements
of "jacks" and levers to shed the heddles or harness and warp in a positive manner
up and down. Another improvement is that the upper locking catches b working in
the fixed cross bar F have their front ends b' continued solid through guide bars fas
needles sufficiently long at their front ends to be actuated as desired by the pattern
0: card I on the barrel or cylinder H. The barrel H is carried by anti-friction pulleys
on the ends of its spindle in guide slides H in the frames F, F, to travel parallel to
and from the needles G and band reciprocated by the upper forked ends H2 of the
bell-crank levers H2, H", fulcrumed on the cross spindle H³ oscillating as a frame in
the front lower part of the side frames F, F¹, the bell-cranks being reciprotated out-
5wards by the antifriction pulleys at H" working on the cam surface H on the outer
periphery of the cams D D' against the power of the springs H which keep the bell
crank always up against the cam surface H the pattern barrel H coming forward

page_text: at each hollow H of the cams D D to shift the needles G and at each time the
shed has to be changed and turn the barrel H and cards I on its outward motion
by the hook levers H fulcrumed on studs at H in the upper part of the side
frames F, F, with springs H' near the fulcrum to keep the hook levers H in action
resting on a stud at HB and guide the barrel in its forward action to the needles G and 6,
and the reciprocating bars A, A, are in the outward and inward positions where they
make a pause at the four concentric parts D₁ of the cam groove 1" at the outward
and inward positions of the shifting bars A, A', on the full open shed, as will herein-
after he described. The needles G G₁ of the upper and lower lockers a a¹ worked
through the guide frames have kneed stems G worked through the front end of the
lockers a a¹ to actuate them by the pattern mechanism immediately after the lockers
are moved up and down with their bars A, A', and the upper needles G are pressed
inwards for locking the travelling lock catches a into the notches B2 of the draw bars B
when in their upward position and unlock the lower catches a¹ from their notches B³, or
vice versa unlock the upper catches a when not pressed in and lock the lower ones a', by
means of the vertical coupler levers g mounted on the cross bars g² and by the spring
levers gl, g, g³ mounted on the cross bar g on brackets g at the lower part of the
frames F F analogous to that described in the Specification of the aforesaid Patent
the ends of the levers and g working in slots in the needles G. G', as shown
in the detail views of these needles in Figure 7. The needles of the fixed
locking catches are reciprocated by the upper ends of the coupler g working in
slots and by spring levers gl and springs 99 equivalero those shown for
the lower needles G¹ but mounted in an inverted manner at tupper part of the
frame on the brackets g¹¹, 91, and these couplers g and levers g" oscillate on centre
bars or rods g¹g carried in the frames F F and brackets g respectively, having
one side planed off, and the bars made to turn when desired by unlocking a nut
at their ends, either to retain the couplers 9 and needles G G₁ always in their
working position or to enable one or more to be removed or replaced as desired.
The upper projecting end 92 of these couplers 9 project through slots 62 in the
needles 6 of the lockers and are locked or unlocked by a rotating or oscillating lock
bar C, C, working in bearings in the upper part of the frames F, F1, by end
levers C, the spring C causing the projection C¹ on the bar C to fix or lock all
the upper ends g² of the couplers g and their lockers a a¹ when in their inward and.
outward positions locking the draw bars B, and also lock the fixed lockers in their
inmost position by projections & formed on the upper surface of their needles b₁, as
seen particularly in Figures 1 and 2 and in the detail views Figure 6.
Another improvement is that the draw links B are ranged in one long slot or space,
side by side, in upper and lower fixed guide plates at the back of the machine to slide
in obtuse angled grooves or serrations at a³ in the back face of the guide plates F,
and moving bars A, A', and front end of the guide plates F' secured by screws F to shift
near the back of the side frames F, F', so that each draw link B is guided in these angled
grooves or serrations a³ just free from its adjacent links B and thus the friction
induced by the continued sliding of the sides of the draw links B is obviated, and the
power required so far reduced. These fixed guide plates F, F, are made to slide
back from their links B on the back or side furthest from the locking needles by
their securing screws and slots at F³ (or they might be made in an equivalent manner
to hinge back vertically or horizontally at one end, and locked or bolted at the other
end), so that if one or more link rods B require to be removed, they can at once be
so by unlocking the back portion of these guide plates, and opening them back, and
thus enable any of the draw link rods B to be freed at once and taken out when
required.
Another important improvement consists in having double locking notches B¹ B
in the upper part of the draw links B secured only by the fixed locking catches b
actuated by their needles when the links B are in their upper or lower. shed:
positions, so that the draw links B can be locked-either while in their highest or their 5
lowest positions, to retain the warp yarn in one position for any length of time.
desired as an open full shed. Another improvement consists in having two locking

page_text: catches B2 and B³ in the upper and lower parts of the draw links B under the
fixed notches B¹, B" actuated both by the upper and lower travelling lockers a a'
of the reciprocating bars A A¹ from the full shed either up or down and so as to
move the draw links up and down as often or in as many ways as required, while
at the full shed by the needles G G and pattern cards and their couplers gas
herein before described, and give also a pause and momentary stop at the close of
the shed when required while the cam grooved parts D are passing over the
rollers A². The upper fixed locking catches 6 and the travelling catches a, a', being
thus reciprocally coupled as described, then according as the pattern cards I are
punched or left solid, the yarn can be retained at the full or open shed as long as
may be wished, either above or below the shuttle, or any portion of the yarn can be
changed during each throw of the shuttle, either from the lower or upper position
of the yarn, as actuated by the healds or other shedding apparatus, which healds or
other shedding apparatus are actuated by the draw links B before described.
Another new addition or improvement is for the purpose of easing or lifting the
strain off the locking catches b, a, a', when the change is about to be effected by the
pattern barrel H pressing in the needles & attached to these locking catches, so that
the locking catches will move freely and without friction on or out of the checks B¹
to B in the draw links B. For this purpose each draw link B, has on the side
opposite the checks two snugs or projections B, one at the top and one at the bottom at
the accurately adjusted distances. When the draw links B have been carried by the
reciprocating bars to the full distance down or up, to give the full shed from lower to
upper position or vice versa two swivelling rods or easing bars c having their ends or
journals revolving in bearing brackets c secured on the upper and lower back parts
of the frames F, F, make a quarter turn or so, and bring a continuous check or pro-
jection c¹ on these easing rods or bars c during the time required for the changes of
the lockers upon the snugs or projections B of the draw links B and release the
locking catches b, a, a¹, from the weight of the draw links and the healds and warp,
while the change is instantly effected by the pattern barrel H by the action of the
levers c² on the end of the easing bar c connected by the double links c³ both jointed
to pins at c on the upper free ends of the curved bars & fulcrumed on studs at.co
projecting from the outside of the frames F, F¹, at the same moment as freeing the
lock bar from the upper ends of the coupling levers g, g, all against the power of
the spiral springs which lock the spindles C, C, as before described, and unlock
the upper and lower easing bars c, cl, when left free to do so as hereinafter described.
The motion of the upper easing bar c through a connecting rod c attached to one arm
of the crank c actuates the lower easing bar and its catch cel attached below to a
corresponding reverse crank c² on it. This action is effected by four antifriction
rollers d on the outer extremities of the cross armed frame d¹ so secured on the outer
ends of the spindle E or cams D, D¹, as to come round and ride over the outer surface
of the curved levers c and draw down the levers c³, (3, to lock the draw links B and
release the couplers g by the oscillating upper and lower catch spindles c³, cl, all just
before the cam H comes round to bring the pattern barrel H and card I, into action
against the needles and G of the lockers band a, as hereinbefore described, the
spring coming into action as the rollers pass off over the upper end of the curved
levers just after the change has been made in the needles and lockers, and the
cams DD come round to move the draw links upwards or downwards to form the
fuli shed according as they have been locked in upper or lower position by the pattern
mechanism. These easing bars are retained in their normal non-working
position until the antifriction roller d comes round again by the springs C acting
on the levers C as before stated the springs C being preferably fulcrumed on short
stop levers C fulcrumed on stud spindle at C in the front upper ends of the
frames F, F, to allow of a differential action of the springs . The needles G.of
the locking bars b, a, would preferably have long acting ends at the pattern barrel H; and
those G. G may have double acting guides at G, at their back ends to work up through
the lockers a, at, instead of single acting guides as shown in the Drawings: if
it is desired to retain a heald or healds in a fixed position up or down for one or any

page_text: ·
number of picks, that part of the pattern card Limpinging on the needles 6' forming
a continuation of the fixed locking catches 6 is not punched, and so presses the needles
in, with the locking catch;. half the distance, and the top end of the coupler is not
affected, as it is standing free in the needle slot. The pattern card is then pressed
further the remaining half distance, and sends the fixed locking catches into the
corresponding check in the opposite draw link B, and the shoulder on the needle,
before the second half of the distance is traversed, impinges then upon the upper end
of its coupler g, and presses it in the half distance only, as shown dotted in at 63
Figure 1. The result is that the travelling locking catch 6 is thrown into gear, and
the coupler g is thereby brought and retained to the exact perpendicular and the upper
and lower locking catches are thus withdrawn clear into their respective reciprocating
cross bars. The fixed locking catch thereby retains the draw link with its heald and
warp, stationary at either up or down positions, and the travelling cross bars continue
their motion without imparting any motion to the draw link, till it is desired to do so
by a change in the cards passing over the pattern barrel H. If it is desired to impart 1
motion again to the draw link B, the card impinging on the needle of the stationary
locking catches bis punched, and the card impinging on the needles G, working the
travelling locking catches a is either punched or left solid according as it is desired to
actuate either the upper or lower travelling locking catches to raise or depress the
draw link B. When the bar A is raised for the change, the fixed locking catches b
will be immediately thrown out of the checks in the link rod B by their attached
spring levers g, g, and at the same moment the travelling locking catches a will
be pressed into their checks in the draw links B to impart motion to the latter when
the cross bars A, A¹, begin to move. If it is the upper travelling locking catch a that
- is thrown into its. check, the fixed locking catches b will not be interfered with in
their backward motion, as the advancing top of the coupler will simply pass freely
through the slot in the fixed locking catch needles bb. Alternately instead of
having the fixed lockers normally out of gear, and one or other of the movable
lockers in gear, by reversing the springs upon the bellcrank levers the normal position
of the, fixed lockers will be reversed to be always in gear, and the normal position of
the movable lockers out of gear.
The arrangements. of the improvements with a fixed locking bar F2 and locking
needles b, b, is also capable of being worked with only one movable bar and
locker A, a, for making the full open shed at each shift and making the shift of the
..lockers and draw links B by the pattern mechanism on the open shed thus dispensing
with the lower shifting reciprocating bar A2 and its locker a², all as described, but
this arrangement of fixed and single moving cross bars is however only capable of
making a limited number of open shed changes. The cam D D¹ as shown in the
Drawings has one revolution for every four changes on the pattern barrel or for every
four picks but the cams can be cut and fitted to give one revolution for every two
changes of barrel or for every two picks. This mechanism may also effect a positive
open shed for one, two, three, or any odd or even number of picks and effect any
variety of change in the motion of the healds or to suspend one or more of the healds
up or down, (thereby sustaining the warp in the healds), for any number of picks and
in any desired combination. And this open shedding mechanism may be placed in
any.desirable position on the loom, and be made to work vertically or horizontally or
at any angle. In order to dispense with the re-action of the spring levers g to g₁
there may be two horizontally moving bars at m and m', Figure 1 to shift the
needles b,,G, and couplers g at the change, and retire as the pattern barrel H
makes the change in a positive manner by a bellerank or equivalent motion from the
..main shaft of the mechanism.
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:
I
First. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts an
mechanical notions of shedding mechanism.for looms for weaving on the open she

page_text: and shedding from the lower to the upper or upper to the lower positions of the warp,
substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. A positive acting open shedding mechanism for looms, comprising a fixed
locking bar and moving locking bars, the lockers being actuated by the needles from
the pattern cards to lock the draw links, all substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms, the making of each
reciprocating cross bar to travel a full open shed at each action either from the lower
to the upper position, or vice versa, substantially as and in the manner herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms, the having of a fixed
cross locking bar, carrying a set of locking catches actuated by spring levers, for
locking the draw links in the upper or lower positions while shedding and beating up
the cloth, substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms, the arrangement and com-
bination of double rotating cams for giving the full open shed motion to the raising
and lowering locking bars, and retaining each and the draw links either in the up or
down position of the shed while weaving or beating up the cloth, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms, the combination of needles
locking catches and couplers with their spring levers for actuating the lockers of the
cross bars and drawlinks, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms the locking and easing
of the draw links in notches at their upper and lower ends when they are standing
at the full shed distance by oscillating check spindles or easing bars, while releasing
and making the change of the lockers, substantially as and in the manner herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms, the arrangement and
combination of actuating rollers on arms, in number corresponding to the shedding
curves of the cams, and rotated simultaneously with them for actuating the levers
of the locking spindles or easing bars of the draw links and unlocking the couplers
of the lockers by a revolving or oscillating lock bar, all substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Ninth. In positive acting shedding mechanism for looms the arranging of the
draw links side by side in one long slot or space in upper and lower fixed guide plates,
and forming said slot grooved or serrated on each side opposite the draw links,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
Dated the 27th day of December 1880