IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR MANUFACTURING TUFTED PILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MODE OF OPERATING SUCH LOOMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR MANUFACTURING
TUFTED PILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MODE OF OPERATING SUCH LOOMS."-A
communication from abroad by Halcyon Skinner, of West Farms,
West Chester County, State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 8th July 1862, and dated the 23rd April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd April 1862.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR MANU-
FACTURING TUFTED PILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MODE OF OPERATING SUCH LOOMS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements upon an Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent, bearing date the 17th day of October 1856,
(No. 2434) for improvements in the manufacture of tufted pile fabrics.
The first part of the Invention relates to an improvement. in the manner of
mounting the warps in the loom, and in the operation of the harness,. whereby

page_text: the tufts are more effectually secured in the fabric, and a better web or back
than can be effected by the loom described in the Patent of 1856 (No. 2434).
In constructing the fabric, three sets of warps are employed, viz., the tufting
warp which holds the tufts in position, and the fine and coarse web warps
which form the back of the fabric. The warps are operated by three leaves
of harness. The tufting warp is divided into two parts, two-thirds forming the
inner tufting warp, and the other third the under tufting warp. This latter is
worked by the same headles which work the coarse web warp. Of this coarse
warp, there are two warps to every three of the finer web warp. The first
shed is opened by lifting the inner tufting warps, and the tufts being inserted
so that each embraces two warp threads; a change in the shed is made by
raising the lower tufting warps and also the coarse web warps. While the
shed is thus open, the first weft is thrown in. A new shed is now formed by
raising the fine web warps and depressing all the others, and a second shoot of
weft is thrown in. The shed for the next shoot is made by lifting the coarse
web and under tufting warps, and depressing the remainder when the tie-is
completed. These movements are effected by the mechanism common to
looms.
'
The second part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the me-
chanism for transferring one by one the frames which carry the spools on
which the tufting yarns are wound of the various colours required for each
range of tufts in the design or figure to be woven. In the Patent of 1856,
there is a series of spools equal in number to the number of ranges of tufts
required for a complete design, each spool having wound upon it and in
sections the variety of coloured yarns required for one range of tufts, and the
journals of each spool are mounted and turn in a separate frame, and the whole
series of spool frames are mounted in and carried by two endless chains, so
operated as in succession to bring one of the said spool frames to the required
position, where it is taken by the mechanism detached from the chains, and
let down to within a short distance above that part of the warps where a
range of tufts is to be introduced. This part of the present Invention relates
to an improved mechanism for taking the spool frames from the chains, de-
pressing them to the position required, and after a range of tufts has been
introduced in the warps and cut off, returning the spool frames to the chains.
The spool frames are severally held in the endless chains by clip springs,
which, as they come in contact with the bottom chain wheels, are pressed
inwards. The frames, however, are kept from falling away by means of curved
guide plates, which surround the lower parts of the chains. An opening is,
however, formed in these plates, to allow the spool frames severally to drop

page_text: out as they are brought opposite those openings. At this moment the spool
frame is without support, it is seized by the clips of a pair of rocking arms,
and carried down to the shed in readiness to give out a portion of wool to
form a row of tufts. When the lengths of wool are severed, the rocking arms
carry up the spool frame and deposit it again in the chains, the progressive
motion of which will carry it forward, and bring round another frame ready
to be received in like manner by the rocking arms. The pendent lengths of
wool intended to form the tufts are seized by pairs of nippers and drawn
down into the warps. They then make a slight lateral motion and carry up
the ends through the warps before the weaving in is effected.
The third part of the Invention relates to an improvement which may be
denominated the combing operation. The functions of this mechanism are
to hold the warp properly apart during the operation of inserting the tufting
yarns, and after they have been cut off, and to rise through the tufts and
comb them out, and thereby prevent them from becoming tangled. The
division of the warps and the combing of the tufts is effected by a comb, which
is mounted loosely on a reciprocating plate, extending across the front of the
loom, and intended to hold down the tufting warps during the formation of
the tufts. The comb is attached to this plate by guide pins, which work in
guides in the plate, and permit of its taking any required angle to the plate.
It is attached by links to rocking arms, which may be held fast by a catch.
The plate itself is also mounted on rocking arms, and it receives an undulating
motion as it moves to and fro by means of guide pins working over fixed
guides at the sides of the loom. The rocking arms of the plate are worked
by a coupling rod connecting them with a rocking arm that carries a bowle,
which is in contact with a face cam, and on these rocking arms is mounted
the fulcrum shaft for the arms of the comb.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the me-
chanism for cutting off the tufts from the yarns on the spools, by which that
operation is rendered more perfect and the mechanism simplified. For cutting
off the tufts, two blades are used, one being straight and the other having
inclined steps. The stock of the straight blade slides in rocking arms, and the
stock of the other blade slides in like manner. The edges of both blades are.
armed with equidistant points which act as guides.
at the same time as the spool frame. The straight blade is thrust forward
first, and then by rocking arms attached to a rock shaft on that stock a for-
ward motion is communicated through connecting rods to the stock of the
other blade.
The shears are let down
And the last part of the Invention relates to an improvement by which the

page_text: chafing of the warps experienced in the use of the loom before referred to is
prevented. This is effected by means of a plate sliding against the front face
of the reed, and constructed in two parts, one placed in front, and the other
behind the reed, and united at their ends beyond the ends of the reed. The
ends of the plate are connected by wrists or journals, and two links with two
arms of a rock shaft provided with a coil spring, which tends constantly to hold
the plate up against the top bar of the reed. But at the time of the first
forward beat of the lay, it is drawn down by a cam acting on an arm of..the
rock shaft, so that its lower edge shall rest on or close to the warps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR MANUFACTURING TUFTED PILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MODE OF
OPERATING SUCH Lоoмs," being a communication from abroad, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instru-
ment in writing, under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-'
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to improvements upon an Invention for which I obtained Letters Patent,
bearing date the Seventeenth day of October One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six, (No. 2434,) for a power loom for weaving a fabric composed of tufts of
yarn to form the figuring pile, and held by a linen warp and weft to form a
back resembling the back of tapestry Brussels carpeting, interwoven with the
usual heddles and shuttle as in weaving tapestry carpeting, such fabrics being
generally known under the name of Axminster carpets.
The first part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the manner of
mounting the warps in the loom and in the operation of the harness, whereby
the tufts are more effectually secured in the fabric, and a better web or back
than can be effected by the loom described in the above-mentioned Letters
Patent.
The second part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the
mechanism for transferring one by one the frames which carry the spools on
which the tufting yarns are wound of the various colors required for each
range of tufts in the design or figure to be woven. In the loom described in
the Patent of One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six there is a series of
spools, equal in number to the number of ranges of tufts required for a
complete design, each spool having wound upon it and in sections the variety
of colored yarns required for one range of tufts, and the journals of each spool
are mounted and turn in a separate frame, and the whole series of spool frames
are mounted in and carried by two endless chains, so operated, as in succession
to bring one of the said spool frames to the required position, where it is taken
by the mechanism, detached from the chains, and let down to within a short
distance above that part of the warps where a range of tufts is to be intro-
duced. This part of the present Invention relates to an improved' mechanism
for taking the spool frames from the chains, depressing them to the position
required, and, after a range of tufts has been introduced in the warps and cut
off, returning the spool frames to the chains.
The third part of the Invention relates to an improvement which may be
denominated the combing operation. The functions of this mechanism are to
hold the warps properly apart during the operation of inserting the tufting
yarns and after they have been cut off, and to rise through the tufts and comb
them out, and thereby prevent them from becoming tangled.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to an improvement in the mechanism
"

page_text: for cutting off the tufts from the yarns on the spools, by which that operation
is rendered more perfect and the mechanism simplified.
And the last part of the Invention relates to an improvement by which the
chafing of the warps experienced in the use of the loom before referred to is
prevented.
. In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the left-hand side
of a loom, constructed according to the present improvements; Fig. 2 is an
elevation of the right-hand side, with part of the frame cut away to exhibit
the arrangement of the harness; Fig. 3 is a front elevation, with the front
portion of the frame removed; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken at the line
A, a, of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan of one end of the combing mechanism and
the plate for holding down the tufting warps; Fig. 6 is another vertical
section taken at the line A, a, of Fig. 3, and representing the parts in a
different position from Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a like vertical section of the combing
mechanism and parts connected therewith, represented in a third position;
Fig. 8 is another vertical section taken at the line A, a, of Fig. 3, but looking
in a direction the reverse of the arrow on Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a section of the
mechanism for operating the comb; Fig. 10 is a front view of the lay, to
represent the plate which beats up the ranges of tufts, and part of the
mechanism by which it is prevented from chafing the warp yarns; Fig. 11 is
a plan of the shears and the mechanism for transferring the spool frames, and
part of the mechanism for operating them; Fig. 12 is an end view of the
parts shewn at Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a section in perspective of the mechanism
for griping the spool frames; Figures 14 show side and edge views in section
of one of the spool chains and parts in connection; and Figures 15 are front
and end views of a spool frame. The same letters indicate like parts in all
the Figures.
In the patented loom of One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, the
range of tufts, after being inserted and cut off, was forced home or beaten up
to the required place in the fabric by a plate connected with the lay, and which
for this purpose rides on the warps. It was found in practice that this chafes
and injures the warps, and this part of the Invention, consists in combining
with such beating-up plate a mechanism by which it is lifted up after beating
up the range of tufts, and by which it is held up clear of the warps during the
after operations of the lay in beating up the weft threads to weave the web.
In the Drawings a represents the loom frame, and b, c, and d, three warp
beams, which are to be provided with suitable means for making tension and
Jetting off the warps. From the three beams there are three sets of warps,
b. c, d, (see Figures 4 and 6) one for each beam. The warps b¹ the

page_text: Inventor denominates the tufting warp because by it the tufts are held in the
fabric; this tufting warp is divided into two parts in passing through the
harness. One-third passes through one leaf e of the harness, and the other
two-thirds pass through another leaf f; and the division of this warp into two
parts of one-third and two-thirds is distributed equally across the loom, and so
that there shall be for each tuft two threads of the two-thirds part, and one
thread of the other part; of this division the two-thirds are denominated the
inner tufting warps, because in the woven fabric they lie inside of the tufts,
and the one-third the under tufting warps, because they pass under the tufts.
The warps c and d form the web or back of the fabric, there being as many
threads in the warp d' as in the whole of the tufting warp, and one-third less
in the warp c', so that for each tuft across the width of the fabric there will be
three threads of the warp d¹, and two of the warp c¹. The threads of the two
warps b¹ and d¹ will be of about equal thickness, and the warp c' about three
times the size of the others. In the woven fabric there will be between every two
longitudinal ranges of tufts two threads of the large warp c', and three of the
small warp d', and two of each at each selvage. The large warp c¹ passes
through the same leaf e of the harness as the under tufting warp b', and the
warp d passes through a third leaf g of the harness, but three leaves of
harness being required in the loom. All the warps pass to the cloth beam h
in frout, which is to be provided with a suitable take-up motion. It is
important that the tension on the warps should be different. The tension
should be greatest on the large warp c', as the object is to have it nearly
straight in the woven fabric; it should be least on the small warp d', that it
may be caused to lap around the weft threads as much as possible; and on
the tufting warp 6 there should be about a medium tension, not so great as to
prevent the threads, from lapping around the tufting yarn, and yet sufficient
to gripe and hold the tufts firmly in the fabric.
In the operation of weaving, and preparatory to introducing the tufting yarn,
the leaf of the harness is raised and the other two depressed. In this
condition all the warps are depressed, with the exception of the inner tufting
warp b, which is elevated. The tufting yarn is then introduced between
these elevated warps by the series of pincers i, operated as described in the
before-mentioned Patent, and not necessary to be now described, as it makes
no part of the present Invention. Each mesh of tufting yarn is carried down
between the warps moved laterally under two of the said warp threads, and
then up again between the warps, thus enclosing two of the said warp threads
within each loop that is to form one tuft. The lenfe of the harness is then
lifted, which brings up the under part of the tufting warp b¹ and the large

page_text: warp c, each thread of the under tufting warp under one tuft, and opposite
the space between the two warp threads inside the tuft, and two of the large warp
threads c in each space between two tufts, and two outside to form the
selvages. At this time the tufts are sheared off by operations to be présently
described. In the condition last named a weft thread is thrown across the
lay, then moves forward to beat up the weft thread and range of tufts, and as
the lay is advancing to make this beat the leaf e of the harness- begins to
descend with the outer part of the tufting warp 6', and with the large warps c!,
and at the same time the leaf g of the harness is elevated with the .warps
d¹;
all these warps being in the same plane at or about the time of the completion
of this beat of the lay; and as the lay moves back the leaf g carries up the
warps d¹, and the leaf f and the leaf e carry down their warps to open the
shed to receive a second weft thread which is then beaten up, and then the
shed is opened by depressing the leaf g and elevating the leaf e, the leaf. f
remaining down to receive a third weft thread, which is thus passed under the
warps c¹, and the outer part of the tufting warp 6', and over the inner part of
the tufting warp 6 and the warp d'; and after this third weft thread has been
beaten up, the leaf fis elevated and the other two depressed to restore the
warps to the same relative positions they occupied in the beginning, and
preparatory to receiving another range of tufts. These several formations of
shed will be better understood by reference to the Diagrams in Sheet 7 of the
Drawings, which also show the mode of binding the tufts into the work. The
mechanism for giving the harness motions above described is also fully
represented in the accompanying Drawings. The three leaves e, f, g, are
suspended between two sets of levers j and k, one set above and the other
below, each set consisting of three levers vibrating on their fulcra. The outer
ends of the upper and lower levers are connected by rods 1, 1, 1, which are
slotted as at m, to receive the ends of three cam levers n, n, n, provided each
with a roller o fitted to work in the cam groove p of a cam wheel. The
three cam wheels are on the same shaft q and turn together. They are all
different in form, the one r to operate the leaf e, the one to operate the
leaff, and the third 11 to operate the leaf g. They are separately represented
that the forin required for giving the motions and periods of rest above described
may be clearly seen, and the position of the cam roller on each will indicate
the relative positions which they occupy 'on the shaft. In the mechanism
for transferring the spool frames, the spools s and their frames t are constructed
and arranged as in the before-recited Patent, but at the lower end of the two
chains where they pass around two wheels u, there are two curved plates u', u',
within which the ends v of the spool frames pass as they are carried down by

page_text: the revolution of the chains. The spool frames are held in the links of the
chain by a catch spring wat each end, in the manner represented in Fig. 15,
but on coming down to the wheels u, u, these spring catches are pushed in to
liberate the frame from the chains by. coming in contact with the faces of the
wheels, and then the ends v, v, of the spool frames thus liberated from the
chains hang on the inner surface of the curved plates u', u', although they
continue to be moved along by the chain until they reach an opening & in
each plate made of sufficient size to permit the said projections to pass, out.
At this moment the chains are stopped as described in the before-mentioned
Patent. The spool frame on reaching the position last named is, however,
prevented from dropping out by two curved supports y, y, on the ends of two
springs attached by their rear ends to two arms z, z, on a rock shaft a¹, to be
presently described. While the parts are in these positions, the lower
ends 62, 63, of the spool frame are taken hold of by the inner end of two
vibrating levers c, c, that have their fulcra on the end of the arms; z, of the
rock shaft a', the said levers for the purpose. being provided each with an
inner lip d to pass under the ends, and. two projections e, e, which pass each
side of the ends of the spool frame for the purpose of holding it, the said lips
and projections being slightly bevilled to prevent catching against the ends of
the frame when moving in to take hold of it, which taking-hold operation is
effected by the vibration of the two levers c², c³, so soon as the chains have
brought the spool to the required position. The better to gripe and hold the
spool frame, one of the said side projections e is hinged and acted, on by, a
spring to make it gripe the spool frame as represented in Fig. 13. The
vibration of the two levers c³, c, in opposite directions for taking hold of and
afterwards liberating the spool frames is effected by connecting their opposite
ends. by means of connecting rods f³, f, with the opposite ends of a short
intermediate lever g', pivotted to the surface of the rock shaft a¹. One of the
said connecting rods f extends out beyond its lever c³, and is provided with
a.fork h¹, which embraces one of two collars on the end of a rod i¹, adapted to
slide inside of the rock shaft a¹, the other of the said collars embracing
the end of an arm j (see Fig. 3) on a short rock shaft: k³, provided
with another arm l, the outer end of which is curved into a cam form
as represented:: When the lay of the loom makes its last back movement,
after beating up the last of the series of three weft threads, it moves back
further than in making its series of beats, and, in so moving back, a piece m'
on the lay strikes the convex face of the cam-like part of the arm l¹; this
gives the required rocking motion to the rocking shaft ¹ to slide the rod it,
and by the connections described to vibrate the levers c², c², to make them

page_text: grasp the ends of the spool frame. This back motion of the lay is given by
the part n' of the lay cam o' (Fig. 1). From n¹ to p¹ the cam is concentric,
to give the required period of rest to the lay in this back position while the
various tufting operations take place, and from p¹ to q¹ it gives the first
forward beating motion to beat up the tufts and the first weft thread, and in
making this first forward beat the piece m' on the lay acts on the concave face
of the cam-like projection of the arm 11, to vibrate the levers f, f, to liberate
the spool frame, to deliver it to the chain, which then. carries it away pre-
paratory to bringing the next one in place for another range of tufts. The
vibrating levers c², c³, have each of them a cam-like projection r³, r¹, which,
as the levers are moved outward to let go the spool frame, pass under the
springs of the curved supports.y, y, to force them up, and thereby lift up the
spool frame, so that its projecting ends v, v, shall be sure to enter the openings
of and get fairly within the curved plates u, ul. The spool frame being held
by the levers c³, c³, is to be let down to within a short distance of the surface
of the cloth, that the tufting yarns on the spool may be drawn through and
around the warps by the pincers or nippers, as fully described under the.
Patent before referred to. This letting-down operation is effected in the
following manner :-The arm z of the rock shaft a¹ on the left-hand side of
the loom rests on the point of an adjusting screw s¹ (Fig. 4) attached to a
connecting rod t' connected with the vibrating end of a lever u", provided with
a cam, ball, or roller v¹ (Fig. 6), which is acted upon by a cam w'. The
part of this cam from 1 to 2 permits the lever " to descend, and with it the
levers c, c, with the spool frame. At the end of this descending motion the
other arm z on the right-hand side of the loom is stopped by coming in contact
with the upper end of a rod a', Fig. 8, which slides through a bracket y, the
rod being provided with an adjusting nut, as represented, to adjust the lowest
point to which the arm z shall be permitted to descend. The lever u¹¹ is then
permitted to follow the sinuosities of the cam w' without affecting the position
of the levers c', c', which remain under the control of the said sliding rod xl.
The residue of the cam w¹ is for the shearing operation; to be presently
described, until in its revolution the part from 3 to 4 comes around to lift the
lever ¹¹ to carry up and return the spool frame to the chains. The moment
the tufting yarns have been sheared, and before the shears are opened, the
spool frame should be lifted slightly to clear the ends of the yarns, and prevent
them from being disturbed by the back movement of the shears. This is done
by the sliding rod x¹ acting under the arms z on the left-hand side of the loom,
the said rod being connected with a lever y', which is acted upon by a pin z¹
on a cam wheel a³, which gives some of the operations of the nippers not