Improvements in and connected with Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
IONAL DE BOIT ICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Looms for Weaving.
I, WILLIAM RODGER, of 3 Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, in the County of Selkirk
North Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to loom mechanisin generally of the kind and having
objects similar to what is described in my Patent Specification No. 8859 of 1894, and
it comprises further improvements in or modifications of the details of such
imechanism, and has more especially to do with the laying from outside rolls or the
like at the sides of the loom, of a loop or doubled portion of weft at each pick in
each shed, without cutting the wefts, each weft forming a partial selvedge at the side
from which it enters the shed. At the side to which each weft loop is carried by the
shuttle or wefting instrument it is temporarily held by a detainer, in connection with
which tension mechanism tightens the weft to the proper tension; and waste of weft
is thereby avoided, whilst the dispensing with cutting mechanism simplifies the
apparatus. The shuttle or wefting instruinent and other details are modified and
inproved as hereinafter described.
Each shuttlebox, the bottom of which is a continuation of the race, is open at the
top, and has sides or edges to prevent the shuttle from canting or slipping out; and
at or near the outer end there is a metal piece adapted to act on the loop holder of
the shuttle when homing and when leaving. The shuttle which is made with ends
shaped for being picked and preferably armed with conical metal striking points has
vertical sides, and the inner side or its ends may be metal for striking triggers which
release droppers carrying pointed detainers. As the shuttle homes at either side the
pointed detainer at that side enters down into the loop just drawn through the shed,
and thereupon the tension device at the other side of the loom draws back the
otherwise free side of the loop, takes up slack, and puts the proper tension on
the looped weft just laid in the shed. As formerly a rocking spindle is carried on the
lat he for making various actions take place alternately at opposite sides of the loom,
this spindle being made longer for the purposes of the present Invention. The
centre of each trigger is on a small slide movable in a vertical guide adjustably fixed
to the lathe, and the rocking spindle acts on the slide through a lever, in order to
raise the trigger sufficiently out of the way of the shuttle when proceeding to the
further side of the loom. The pointed detainer is inovable inwards and outwards on
its dropper and when the lathe beats up, a projecting piece on the breast beam causeз
it to move close to the fell of the cloth so that as small a loop as possible may project
from the selvedge.
The shuttle has near each end of it a loop holder which is a lever with a transverse
axis and acted on by a spring tending to hold it down in a horizontal position, its
outer end, being raised when it engages with the weft to take it into the shed in the
form of a loop. The weft is caught by a small spring lever catch fitted at the end of
the loop holder between side pieces; and when the loop has been carried through the
shed the catch is pushed back by encountering a suitably placed pad of leather or
other suitable material which may be on the dropper and the loop, prevented from

page_text: following the catch by the side pieces, slips off. At the end of each traverse of the
shuttle the loop holder at its then outer end is turned up by the metal piece
herein before mentioned as at the end of the shuttle box, turning down again on
leaving that piece at the next pick. The weft drawn off a roll or bobbin at the side.
of the loom passes through a guide at about the middle of the length of the shuttle
box, this guide being moved into and out of position by the rocking spindle, and is
at the proper time held down across the top of the shuttle so as to be caught by the
then turned-up loop holder, a finger carried by the breast beam bearing down the
weft at the outer-side of the shuttlebox whilst the weft guide keeps it in position at
the inner side. The weft guides are lowered and raised alternately by the rocking
spindle as required.
The device for taking up slack and imparting proper tension to the weft is placed
at the outside of the shuttlebox. The weft is passed through two stationary guide
eyes between which there is a guide eye in a lever which at the proper time is moved
to draw out a loop between the two stationary guide eyes so as to temporarily take
up the slack of the weſt. The lever which is mounted on a bracket secured in the
dovetail groove of the lathe rail, is acted on by a projection on an overhanging
bracket fixed to the traversing bar at the breast beam, the projection acting on and
passing over a short upwardly projecting arm on the lever as the lathe beats up.
When the lathe moves back the traversing bar has moved the bracket so that its
projection is then to one side of the lever and does not then act on it. When this
slack reducing lever acts the weft is prevented from being drawn off the roll by a
weighted gripper, which is subsequently opened by the lever on returning to its
normal position. The lever may be made with two or more prongs so as in acting to
form two or more smaller loops and require a less extent of inovement.
For weaving with a succession of wefts, which may be differently coloured or
otherwise different, each weft drawn from its roll or bobbin, is led through a set of
guide eyes on a board or plate and through intermediate eyes on a small bar, which
at the time for taking up slack is moved to form loops of the weft between the guide
eyes fixed to the hoard or plate. From the board or plate the several wefts proceed
to guide eyes on a slide which is moved by pattern mechanism or otherwise to place
in position for each pick the guide eye of whichever weft is required for that pick.
The board or plate described as for taking up slack is moved by the pattern.
mechanism simultaneously with the guide-eye slide.
In order to prevent the concussive action of the picking stroke on the shuttle or
other netion from making the loop-holder catch release the loop prematurely, this
catch may be held by a detent which is released at the proper time either by the part
which acts on the catch itself or in an equivalent manuer; or the catch may be held
and released by incans of an electro magnet or solenoid placed in the shuttle, and
arranged for an electric current to be passed through it by means of metal contact
strips placed on the top of the shuttle so as at the proper times to make contact with
spring contact pieces or metal rollers connected to a pair of conducting wires from
a battery or other source of electricity. The electric current may also be employed
to release the droppers, by withdrawing the catches or detents by means of an electro
magnet. For this purpose a broad metal contact piece is placed on the shuttle so as
to make contact with the spring contact pieces or rollers before they are reached by
the contact strips connected to the electro magnet or solenoid in the shuttle.
Each dropper is raised after an action, by a fork on a vertically moving bar at the
breast beam, and being raised on the lathe beating up, by a sinail lever or cam moved
by a piece carried by the lathe and then in a position to so act.
When the ends of the weft are cut as described in my earlier Specification
hereinbefore referred to, and in order that the cut. ends of the weft projecting from
the selvedge may not interfere with the proper action of the loom temples I modify
the barrel or the ring or star temple in a manner to allow the cut ends to pass freely.
In the case of the barrel temple I cause it to be held by its inner instead of its outer
end, a space being kept round the outer end to allow the weft ends to pass; and in
the case of the ring temple I form a slot in the holding bracket or case so as to allow

page_text: the weft ends to pass. I may also arrange a knife or scissors to cut the projecting
weft ends, mounted on a bracket secured in a dovetail groove in the breast beam, and
deriving the cutting movement from the motion between the lathe and breast
beam.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of August 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Looms for Weaving.
I, WILLIAM RODGER, of 3, Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, in the County of Selkirk,
North Britain, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention relates to loom mechanism generally of the kind, and having
objects similar to what is described in my Patent Specification No. 8859 of 1894, and
it comprises further improvements in or inodifications of the details of such
mechanism, and has more especially to do with the laying from outside rolls or the
like at the sides of the loom of a loop or double portion of weft at each pick in each
shed without cutting the wefts each weft forming a partial selvedge at the side from
which it enters the shed. At the side to which cach weft loop is carried by the
shuttle or wefting instrument it is temporarily held by a detainer in connection with
which tension mechanism tightens the weft to the proper tension; and waste of weft
is thereby avoided, whilst the dispensing with cutting mechanism simplifies the
apparatus. The shuttle or wefting instrument and other details are modified and
improved as hereinafter described.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to. Figures, 1, and 2, are a plan and a front elevation showing
parts of a loom lathe and breast beam together with other parts; and Figures, 3, and 4,
are an end elevation and a transverse vertical section corresponding to Figures, 1, and 2.
Figures, 5, and 6, (sheet 2) are an end view and a plan of the shuttle; and
Figures, 7, and 8, are longitudinal vertical sections as at different parts of the shuttle.
In these drawings the samo reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same
or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Each shuttlebox, A, the bottom of which is a continuation of the mce, B, is open
at the top, and has sides or edges to prevent the shuttle, C, from canting or slipping
out; and at a suitable part of the shuttlebox there is a metal flange, A 2, adapted to
act on the loop holder of the shuttle when homing and when leaving. The shuttle, C,
which is made with ends shaped for being picked and preferably armed with
conical metal striking points, bas vertical sides, and the inner side, which does not
extend to the extreme ends of the shuttle has its ends, C 1, square and preferably
armed with metal for striking triggers which release droppers carrying pointed
detainers. In Figures, 1, and 2, the dropper, D, and other parts are shown for the
left-hand side of the loom, the dropper being a little beyond or outside of the
left-hand selvedge. (The reed, B 1, is shown as extending still further to the left, but
that is to allow of a greater width of fabric being woven than that for which the
dropper and other parts are shown as adjusted.) The pointed detainer, D 1, is shown
as formed on or fixed to the lower end of the dropper, D, which is arranged as
described in my aforesaid earlier Specification being held up against the downward
action of a spring by a catch lever, D 2, connected by a rod, D) 3, to a trigger, D4. As
the shuttle homes at either side, the pointed detainer, D 1,-at that side being released

page_text: in consequence of the inner-side end, C1, of the shuttle encountering the trigger, D4,
enters down into the loop just drawn through the shed; and thereupon the tension
device at the other side of the loom draws back the otherwise free side of the loop,
takes up slack, and puts the proper tension on the looped or doubled weft just laid in
the shed. As formerly, a rocking spindle, E, is carried on the lathe, B3, for making
various actions take place alternately at opposite sides of the loom, this spindle being
made longer for the purposes of the present invention. The centre of each
trigger, D4, is on a small slide-movable in a vertical guide bmcket, D 5, adjustably
fixed to the lathe, B 3, and the rocking spindle, E, acts on the slide through a
lever, D6, in order to raise the trigger, D4, sufficiently out of the way of the shuttle
when proceeding to the further side of the loom. A frictional spring prevents the
trigger, D4, from returning prematurely.
The shuttle, C, has near each end of it a loop holder, C2, which is a bellerank lever
movable on a transverse axis and acted on by a spring, C 3, tending to hold it down in
a horizontal position, its outer end being raised when it engages with the weft to take
it into the shed in the form of a loop. The weft is caught by a small spring lever
catch, C4, fitted at the end of the loopholder,C2, between side pieces, the spring acting
on the lever catch being on the centre pin and not seen in the drawings, and when
the loop has been carried through the shed the catch, C 4, is pushed back by
encountering a suitably placed pad, C 5, of leather or other suitable material, and the
loop prevented from following the catch by the side pieces, slips off. The pad, C5,
may be on the dropper, D, but is preferably on a guided slide moved into and out of
position by a pin or lever on the rocking spindle, E. At the end of each traverse of
the shuttle the loop holder, C2, at its then outer end is turned up by its short
bell-crank arm encountering the flange, A 2, of the shuttlebox, A, the holder turning
down again on leaving that flange at the next pick. The weft, F, drawn off a roll or
bobbin (not shown) at the side of the loon passes through a guide, G, at about the
middle of the length of the shuttlebox, A, this guide being moved into and out of
position by the rocking spindle, E, and is at the proper time beld down across the
top of the shuttle, C, so as to be caught by the then turned-up loop holder, a
finger, G 1, carried by the breast bean, II, bearing down the weft at the outer side of
the shuttlebox, whilst the weft guide, G, keeps it in position at the inner side. The
weft guides (G) at opposite sides of the loom are lowered and raised alternately by
the rocking spindle, E, as required, a pin on the end of the spindle engaging in a
slot in one end of the lever constituting the guide and which is centered on an
adjustable bracket.
The device for taking up slack and imparting proper tension to the weft is placed
at the outside of each shuttlebox, A, is the same as that described in my Patent
Specification No. 3274 of 1896. The lever (E 4, in that Specification) may be made
with two or more prongs so as in acting to form two or more smaller loops and
require a less extent of movement.
For weaving with a succession of wefts, which may be differently colored or
otherwise different, each weft, F, drawn from its roll or bobbin is led through a set of
guide eyes, J, upon a board or plate, J 1, and through intermediate eyes on a small
bar, J 2, which at the time for taking up slack is moved to form loops or deviations of
the weft between the guide eyes, J, fixed to the board or plate J 1. Each bar, J 2, has
fixed to it a pair of rods, J 3, passing down through holes in the board or plate, J 1,
and springs are applied on the rods between the bottom of the board or plate and
heads on the lower ends of the rods, to move the bar down again after having been
raised. The raising of the bar is effected by the action on lower ends of the rods by
a cross piece, J 4, on the lower part of a lever, J 5, centered on a bracket and made
with an upper arm, J 6, placed in a position to be acted on at the proper beat up by
the jointed end, K, of an arm, K 1, which is fixed to a bar K 2, carried at the inner
side of the breast beam, H, and moved alternately to the right and to the left at
successive picks. The end, K, of the arm is jointed and has a spring applied to it so
as to turn up in the event of the lever, J 6, returning backwards, before the arm K 1,
has moved out of the way.

page_text: The device for taking up slack is, by a small bellcrank, J 7, which lies on the weft
at the outer edge of the board or plate, J 1, prevented from drawing weft off the roll
or bobbin until the slack has been taken up. When the bar, J 2, returns down its end
rocks the bellcrank, J 7, so as to leave the weft quite free.
The board or plate, J 1, is shown as provided with two rows of guide eyes, J, and
with two bars, J2, with guide eyes on it, for two different wefts and it might be
provided with guide eyes and bars for more than two wefts, any known suitable kind
of pattern mechanism being provided for moving it to bring the weft required at
each pick into position for being taken hold of by the shuttle.
Each dropper, D, is raised after an action by an inwardly projecting piece, L, on a
vertically moving bar, L 1, at the breast beain, H, such bar being raised on the lathe
beating up, by a small lever, L 2, or a cam moved by a piece, L. 3, carried by thelathe
and then in a position to so act. Some of the improvements comprised in my
present Invention may be used instead of or in combination with devices described
in my earlier Specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved combination of mechanism by means of which a loop or doubled
portion of weft is laid in each shed at each pick without cutting the wefts, the loop
end being temporarily held by a detainer, and the-desired tension of the weft is
produced, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved construction of shuttle or wefting instrument substantially as
hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings: the improved
shuttle having squared ends on its inner side to act on the triggers, and being
provided with loop holders near its ends constructed and operating as hereinbefore
described.
3. The construction of the shuttleboxes combined with the relative arrangement of
the weft guides and other accessory parts substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The attaching of a pointed loop detainer to each dropper which with a pad to
release the loop from the shuttle and with other accessory parts is arranged and
operates substantially as herein before described.
5. The improved device for taking up slack and imparting proper tension to the
wefts, and arranged either for one weft or for two or more wefts at each side of the
loom, the said device being movable by pattern mechanism when for two or more
wefts, at each side substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The application and arrangement of the finger, G 1, fixed to the breast beam for
temporarily holding the weft across the shuttle to cause it to engage with the loop
holder substantially as herein before described.
7. The improved arrangement and movement of the triggers, D, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of May 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.