IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS AND SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR THE SAME."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Campbell, of Kirkcaldy, in the County of Fife,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS AND SHEDDING
MECHANISM FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Campbell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1880.
CHARLES CAMPBELL, of Kirkcaldy, in the County of Fife, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS AND SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR THE SAME."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in looms for weaving figured
fabrics, and in the pattern or shedding mechanism or dobbies for operating the
leaves of heddles or harness to shed the warp according to the pattern desired to
be woven. The present improvements are specially designed to simplify the
construction of such shedding mechanism and parts connected therewith and to
render the action more efficient while requiring less power than is usual for its
operation, the usual springs for taking down the heddle leaves being dispensed with.
The improved shedding mechanism comprises a low rectangular framing, which
is fitted over the loom, the sides of the frame being slotted to admit two horizontal
reciprocating crossheads or bars passing transversely across it one on each side of
the centre, and sliding in these slots as guides. A transverse horizontal rocking
shaft is carried in bearings in the framing centrally between these crossheads, and
has a double crank or lever keyed or fixed on it at each end to oscillate to either
side of the vertical line with the rocking shaft as a centre. The upper arm of
this lever is connected by a link jointed to the one crosshead, while the lower
arın is connected to the other so that the rocking motion of the shaft com-
municates a reciprocatory movement to the crossheads, alternately towards and
from each other. The forward crosshead carries an adjustable plate on it, to which
a set or series of longitudinal spear or fluke headed hook bars are jointed at the
front end, with their heads or double hooks reaching back to near the centre of the
framing and ranged in a horizontal row of 2 or 3 to 12, or even more, as may be
desired. The spear heads or double hooked ends of these jointed bars in their
traverse catch on to either the upper or lower of two sets or rows of longitudinal
sliding hooked bars or draw rods, each upper and lower row corresponding in

page_text: number to the jointed bars and resting horizontally in slots formed in guide bars,
one fixed at the rear end of the framing and the other fixed on the rear sliding
crosshead. The forward jointed hook bars take into the hooks of the upper or
lower sliding bars individually, and according as they are raised or not by the
action of the pattern card, barrel, and pushers, as will be hereinafter explained, a
number of the jointed hook bars engaging the corresponding upper_slide bars,
while the remainder engage their corresponding lower slide bars.
Each upper
slide bar or draw rod is connected to the corresponding slide bar below it by a cord
attached to the rear end of each and passing round a pulley or whorl, so that when
any of the upper bars are drawn in one direction by the engaging hooks the
corresponding lower bar is pulled in the other, and vice versa. The rear ends of the
lower set of sliding bars are connected by cords or wires to bell cranks, or carried
round pulleys and continued down to the leaves of heddles of the loom, which
raise the warp threads in the shedding operation, there being preferably two cords
to each bar and heddle leaf to balance the latter or retain it in the horizontal
position. The upper sliding bars are likewise connected by cords or wires through
bell cranks, or by passing over pulleys and down to the ends of "jacks" or beam
levers, the opposite ends of which are connected by cords to the leaves of heddles
or harness for the downward shedding of the warp threads.
The jointed hook bars are guided to take into the upper sliding hook bars or
draw rods by the action of a pattern card barrel (fitted at the front) on spring
pusher bars below, which are raised by a lifting or rising transverse brander bar to
bring the pusher bars in contact with rounded arms or treads on the hook bars to
raise them to the required degree, the upper sliding bars having their hook ends
jointed to allow the others to pass below and then fall or take into their
corresponding hooks. While the lower sliding hook bars or draw rods are caught
by their corresponding jointed hook bars, which have not been raised by the action
of the pattern card, the pusher bars for these entering the holes in the pattern card
and in the barrel and being unmoved. The pusher bars, which are equal in number
to the jointed hook bars above, pass through a slotted or pierced guide plate in the
front part of the framing close to the pattern barrel and extend backwards on to
the brander bar near the centre, being curved downwards clear of the forward
crosshead. The inner end of each pusher bar is formed with a notch, which in the
normal position of the pusher catches on to a fixed bar behind the rising brander
bar, and is retained in this position by the power of a light spring connected near
the centre of the pusher and also fixed to the pierced pusher guide plate in front.
The pusher bars are made deeper a short distance in front of the notches with an
inclined under surface, and when the pushers are acted on by the pattern card and
barrel, these bevilled surfaces mount on slots in the rising brander bar, and the
pushers are lifted to the requisite degree by it to act on the jointed hook bars
above, the upper surface of the pusher bars being in addition made with a slight
incline on each under the arms or treads of the jointed levers to divide the lifting
action. Those pushers however which are not acted on by the pattern card do not
mount on to the rising brander bar, and are only lifted at the thin notched bar
just high enough to enable the jointed hook bars to pass on to or over the hooks of
the lower set of sliding bars or draw rods. The rising brander bar is actuated by
means of an inclined or bevilled adjustable plate on the forward crosshead, which,
in its inward traverse comes in contact with and forces up a pulley fitted on an
arm near the top and at each side of the brander bar, and it drops to release or
lower the pushers during the outward traverse of the crosshead. The hook rods or
bars retain their hold of each other during their full traverse, being specially mado
with backwardly inclined holding surfaces for this purpose.
The pattern card barrel is carried on central end spindles held in movable
bearings on longitudinal arms extending along cach side of the framing and
connected to the forward crosshead with which they reciprocate. The barrel,
which is preferably square in section, is pierced with holes in each side opposite
cach pusher, and the pattern card is fitted on the flat surfaces of the barrel and

page_text: perforated according to the pattern to be produced in the loom, to allow the
pushers, which are not to be acted on, to enter the holes in the barrel during its
inward reciprocation. During the outward reciprocation of the crossheads and
barrel, the latter is turned one fourth of a revolution by means of a jointed pawl
which catches on to the corners of the square, the barrel being kept fair in position
by means of a spring bar bearing on its inner face, but which yields for the turning
movement.
The barrel has two rows of holes pierced in each face, and the pattern card is
similarly punched or perforated, and either set of holes can be brought opposito
the ends of the pusher bars to vary the pattern. For this purpose the bearings of
the barrel spindle are formed in vertically sliding plates on the front of the framing,
which are shifted up or down to the required position by means of a hand lever
fitted at one side and centred on a transverse spindle below the framing. On the
opposite end of this spindle there is fixed a second lever, arranged so that both
bearings and ends of the barrel are lifted simultaneously and equally by the hand
lever which is held by catches in either position of the barrel. The object of the
two sets of holes in the pattern card and barrel is mainly to admit of special border
patterns being woven on squares such as table cloths and similar goods.
weaving such goods the pattern barrel is first set for the transverse border pattern,
and when the requisite number of shots have been made by the shuttle to form
the width of border desired, the barrel is shifted by means of the hand lever to
the second row of pattern holes, and the main body of the fabric is woven, then
the pattern is again shifted to form the second transverse border, and so on
continuously.
In

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Charles Campbell in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th May 1881.
CHARLES CAMPBELL, of Kirkcaldy, in the County of Fife, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS AND SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR THE SAME.'
"
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in looms for weaving figured
fabrics, and in the pattern or shedding mechanism or dobbies for operating the
leaves of heddles or harness to shed the warp according to the pattern desired to
be woven.
The present improvements are specially designed to simplify the
construction of such shedding mechanism and parts connected therewith, and to
render the action more efficient, while requiring less power than is usual for its
operation, the usual springs for taking down the heddle leaves being dispensed
with.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose a sheet
of explanatory Drawings, to be hereinafter referred to, and representing a
modification of my improved shedding mechanism or dobby as applied to a loom.
In these Drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts where repeated.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a vertical section, and Figure 2 is a plan of the
improved dobby or shedding mechanism. Figure 3 is an elevation of a loom in
outline, showing the improved shedding mechanism applied thereto.
Referring to these Drawings, the improved shedding mechanism comprises a low
rectangular framing A, which is fitted over or attached by a bracket A*, at one
end of the loom Z, as shown in Figure 3. The sides of the frame A are slotted at
A and A² to admit two horizontal reciprocating crossheads or bars B, B', passing
transversely across it, one on each side of the centre, and sliding in these slots
A1, A2, as guides. A transverse horizontal rocking shaft C is carried in bearings
in the sides A of the framing, centrally between these crossheads B, B', and has
a double crank or lever C', C2, keyed or fixed on it at each end to oscillate to cither
side of the vertical line with the rocking shaft C as a centre. The rocking shaft
C has a working crank or lever C³, keyed or fixed on its end, and this crank C³ is
attached to a connecting rod, not shown, fitted and actuated from any revolving
shaft of the loom by a crank of shorter throw than that of the crank C³,
whereby the motion of the revolving shaft is converted into an oscillating
or rocking motion of the crank and shaft C. The upper arm C of
this lever, or each of these levers C1, C2, is connected by a link D jointed to the
crosshead B, while the lower arm C is connected by a similar link D¹ to the other
crosshead B', so that the rocking motion of the shaft C communicates a reciprocating
movement to the crossheads B, B', alternately towards and from each other, within
their guiding slots A¹, A. The forward crosshead B' carries an adjustable plate B³
bolted on it, to which a set or series of longitudinal spear.or fluke-headed hook
bars E are jointed at the front end, or their heads or double hooks e, e', reaching back
to near the centre of the framing, and ranged in a horizontal row of 2 or 3 to 12, or
even more, as may be desired, 10 being the number used in the example illustrated
by the Drawings. The spear heads or double hooked ends e, e¹, of these jointed
bars E in their traverse catch on to either the upper or lower of two sets or rows
of longitudinal sliding hooked bars or draw rods F, F, each upper and lower row
corresponding in number to the jointed bars E, and resting horizontally in slots
at formed in transverse guide bars G, G¹, one G¹ fixed at the rear end of the
framing A, and the other Ğ fixed on to the rear sliding crosshead B, as shown
particularly in Figures 1 and 2. The jointed hook bars E, by means of their

page_text: hook ends e, e', take into the hooks for f¹, of the upper or lower sliding bars F
or F individually, and according as the hooks E are raised or not by the action
of the pattern card barrel M and pushers N, N', as will be hereinafter explained,
a number of the jointed hook bars E engaging the corresponding upper slide
bars F, while the remainder engage their corresponding lower slide bars F. Each
upper slide bar or draw rod F may be connected to the corresponding slide bar
below it by a cord attached to the rear end of each and passing round a pulley or
whorl, so that when any of the upper bars are drawn in one direction by the
engaging books the corresponding lower bar is pulled in the other, and vice versa ;
but the connection of the draw rods F, F', to the leaves of heddles to give a positive
action both for the upward and downward motion, as indicated in Figure 3, produces
the same result. The rear ends of the lower set of sliding bars F' are connected by
cords or wires H either to bell-cranks or, as shown, carried round pulleys I, fitted
on the loom framing Z, and continued down to the leaves of heddles L of the
loom, which raise the warp threads in the shedding operation, their being preferably
two cords H to each bar and heddle leaf L to balance the latter or retain it in
the horizontal position. The upper sliding bars F are fitted with small projecting
studs F, which enter the forked arms J of bell-cranks J, J¹, secured to the framing
or bracket A*, and the opposite arms J¹ of which are connected by cords or
wires to the ends K of "jacks or beam levers K, K', the opposite ends K¹
of which are connected by cords H to the leaves of heddles or harness L, and effect
the downward shedding of the warp threads.
"
The jointed hook bars E are guided to take into the upper sliding hook bars or
draw-rods F by the action of a pattern card barrel M (fitted at the front) on spring
pusher bars N below, which are raised by a lifting or rising transverse brander
bar O to bring the pusher bars N, N1, in contact with rounded arms or treads E¹
on the hook bars E to raise them to the required degree, the upper sliding bars F
having their hook ends ƒ jointed at f to allow the others to pass below and then
fall or take into their corresponding hooks, the hooks f being prevented from
rising too high by catches f³ formed at the inner ends of the bars F. The lower
sliding hook bars or draw rods are caught by the corresponding hook bars E
which have not been raised by the action of the pattern card and barrel M, the
pusher bars N, N', for these entering the holes m in the pattern card and in
the barrel M, and being unmoved. The pusher bars N, N₁, which are equal in
number to the jointed hook bars E above, and formed in front with wires or
rods N, which pass through a slotted or pierced guide plate A in the front
part of the framing A close to the pattern barrel, and the bars N extend back-
wards on to the brander bar O near the centre, being curved downwards clear
of the forward crosshead B'. The inner end N of each pusher bar N, N¹,
is formed with a notch n, which in the normal position of the pusher catches
on to a fixed bar D fitted to the framing A behind the rising brander bar O,
and is retained in this position by the power of a light spring S connected
near the centre of each pusher N, N¹, and also fixed to the pierced pusher
guide plate A³ in front. The pusher bars N, N', are inade deeper a short distance
in front of the notches n, with projecting inclined under surface at N2, and
when the pushers N, N', are acted on by the pattern card and barrel M these
bevilled or inclined surfaces N2 mount on slots in the rising brander bar O, and
the pushers N, N₁, are lifted to the requisite degree by it to act on the jointed
hook bars E above, the upper surface of the pusher bars N, N¹, being in addition
made with a slight incline on each at n¹ under the arms or treads E' of the jointed
levers E to make the lifting action more gradual. Those pushers N, N¹, however
which are not acted on by the pattern card M. do not mount on to the rising
brander bar O, but remain, as shown, in the full lines, and are only lifted at the
thin notched part n just high enough to enable the jointed hook bars E to pass on
to or over the hooks f¹ of the lower set of sliding bars or draw rods F. The
rising brander bar O is actuated by means of an inclined or bevilled plate R on the

page_text: crosshead B', and which is fixed by a bolt and nut R' passing through a slot R* in
it to allow of longitudinal adjustment. In its inward traverse the crosshead B¹
comes in contact with and forces up a pulley Q fitted on an arm or bracket Q¹ fixed
on each side of the brander bar, and at or near its upper edge, thereby raising the
brander bar O, and it drops to release or lower the pushers N, N1, during the
outward or return traverse of the crosshead. The hook rods or bars E and For F
retain their hold of each other during their full traverse, being specially inade
with backwardly inclined hooks or holding surfaces e, e', and ', for this
purpose.
The pattern card barrel M is carried on central end spindles M' held in movable
bearings on longitudinal arms extending along each side of the framing A, and
connected to the forward crosshead B', with which they reciprocate. The barrel M,
which is preferably square in section, is pierced with holes m in each side opposite
each pusher N, N', and the pattern card is fitted on the flat surfaces of the
barrel M, and perforated according to the pattern to be produced in the loom to
allow the pushers N, N1, which are not to be acted on, to enter the holes m in the
barrel during its inward reciprocation towards the pushers N, N'. During the
outward reciprocation of the crosshead B' and barrel M the latter is turned one
fourth of a revolution by means of a jointed pawl T, which catches on to the
corners of the square, the barrel being kept fair in position by means of a spring
bar bearing on its inner face, but which yields for the turning movement.
The barrel M has two rows of holes m pierced in each face, as shown, and the
pattern card is similarly punched or perforated at intervals opposite the holes m,
as required for the pattern to be woven, and either set of holes m can be brought
opposite the ends of the pusher bars N to vary the pattern. For this purpose the
bearings M of the barrel spindle are formed in vertically sliding plates M² on the
front of the framing A, which are shifted up or down to the required position by
means of a hand lever V fitted at one side, and centred on a transverse spindle V
secured in bearings to the underside of the framing. On the opposite end of the
spindle V there is fixed a second lever V₁, arranged so that both bearings M¹ and
ends of the barrel M. are lifted simultaneously and equally by the hand lever V,
which is held in either position of the barrel M by retaining catches in a bracket V³
fixed to the side of the framing A. The object of the two sets of holes m in the
pattern card and barrel M is mainly to admit of special border patterns being
woven on squares, such as table cloths and similar goods. In weaving such goods
the pattern barrel M is first in one position set for the transverse border pattern,
and when the requisite number of shots have been made by the shuttle or shuttles
to form the width of border desired the barrel M is shifted to the other position by
means of the hand lever V to suit the second row of pattern holes m, and the main
body of the fabric is woven; then the pattern barrel M is again shifted to form the
second transverse border, and so on continually.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to
the precise details herein described or delineated, but what I believe to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction and arrangement or combination of the parts of shedding
mechanism or dobbies for looms by which a positive upward and downward action
is imparted to the healds or heddles, substantially as herein described in reference
to the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The combination in shedding mechanism or dobbies for looms of a double
set of draw-rods F, F', actuated by reciprocating double hook bars E, E', raised to
take into one or other set of draw-rods by means of a rising brander bar O and
pusher bar N, N', operated by the pattern barrel M, substantially as and for the
purposes hercin described in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In shedding mechanism or dobbies for looms the construction and use of

page_text: the fluke-headed hook rods E, E, and double set of draw-rods F, F', actuating the
healds or heddles, substantially as herein described in reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Campbell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one.
CHARLES CAMPBELL. (L.S.)