IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS USED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Edmondson, of the Firm of Brooke and
Edmondson, of Bank Top Mill, Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS USED IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 29th May 1866, and dated the 2nd December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Edmondson nt
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd December 1865.
I, RICHARD EDMONDSON, of the Firm of Brooke and Edmondson, of Bank
Top Mill, Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS USED
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the construction of pickers, and consist in
forming them of metal with a receptacle in each picker for buffalo hide or
other suitable material, which is to act against the tip of the shuttle, the
metal part of the picker being so constructed that it can be readily taken in
pieces to remove the piece or pieces of buffalo hide or other suitable material
when worn out, and to replace it with fresh material. Those parts-of the
picker which slide upon the spindle are also arranged to be readily replaced.
when worn by using bushes formed of metal or other material, which
are secured by expanding one end of the tube when in its place. I form my
improved picker of cast metal, and in two parts, one part having a hole in

page_text: it to receive the bush which is to work upon the spindle, and a tube to
receive the buffalo hide, which is to act upon the tip of the shuttle, and a
projection to guide the picker in the slot in the bottom of the shuttle box;
the other part of the picker has a hole to which the picking band is attached,
a bushed hole to work upon the spindle, and a tube to fit upon the exterior
of the tube of the first-named part, the two parts being secured together when
the hide is placed in the tube of the first-named part by one or more screws.
The picker may be made of sheet metal, blocked into the shape required by
punches and dies, and having tubed bushes to work upon the spindle and a
tube receptacle for the hide.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Edmondson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
EDMONDSON, of the Firm of Brooke and Edmondson, of Bank Top Mill,
Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Edmondson, Her special license that I, the said Richard Edmondson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard
Edmondson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PICKERS USED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Edmondson, by an instrument 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 Richard Edmondson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :—
My improvements relate to the construction of pickers, and consist in
forming them of metal with a receptacle in each picker for buffalo hide or
other suitable material, which is. to act against the tip of the shuttle, the
metal part of the picker being so constructed that it can be readily taken in
pieces to remove the piece or pieces of buffalo hide or other suitable material
when worn out, and to replace it with fresh material.. Those parts of the
pickers which slide upon the spindle are also. arranged so as to be readily.
replaced when worn out by using bushes formed of metal or other material,
which are secured by expanding one or both ends of the tube or bush. when
in its place.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing illustrates my Invention more fully,
shewing several modes of carrying my improvements into effect.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; Figure 2 a back view of the front part
of the picker; Figure 3 a side, and Figure 4 a back view of the same picker.
according to one modification of my Invention.
a represents the spindle upon which the picker works; b, the bottom of the
shuttle box or plate, having a slot in it in which the lowest part of the picker
works; a, part of a shuttle, the picker in Figure 1 supposed to be in the act of.
striking the shuttle. The picker is formed in two parts, a front part c having:
a receptacle (c), for discs of hide, leather, or other suitable material, and a.
slot (c) for the picking band. The tube part (c) has two hook projections (c³).
by which, the back part (d), is held to the front part (c). The back part (d),.
as shown by Figure 4, is made with two concentric slots (d'), and so that the.
hooks (c) can.pass through these slots when the back part (d) is turned to a
right angle to the front part (c), the two parts being held together when
brought parallel to each other, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, so that it will be
impossible for them to get detached while the spindle (a) passes through the
holes at their upper, ends, and the projections at their lower ends work in the
slot in the bottom of the shuttle box. are bushes in the parts c and d, to
work upon the spindle (a), they are made of malleable or other metal tubes.
which can be expanded at the ends, as shown when in. their places and can be
readily renewed when worn out. In Figures 3, and 4 the mode of securing the
picking band to the picker is represented; represents the end of the picking.
band, a slit is cut in its end like a button hole, and a peg (f) is passed through
it as shewn. 9 are pieces or discs of buffalo hide or old strapping, or other
suitable material, which can be readily removed when worn out by taking off*
the back part (d), and when replaced by fresh material the back (d) is again.

page_text: applied and the picker will then be ready for use. Figure 5 is a longitudinal.
section, and Figure 6 a back view of another modification of my Invention ;
this is similar to the picker shewn by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, except that the
hooks (c) are formed upon the back part (d), and take hold of projections.
upon the tube part (c³), as shown. The parts are released from each other
by turning them when in contact at a right angle to each other, or they may.
be secured together by the reverse movement as in the first modification
described. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 8 a back view of
another modification of my Invention. In this case the parts are secured
together at the upper end by a renewable bush (e) as shewn, which also forms
a joint or pivot round which the back part (d) can turn to uncover the recep--
tacle for hide or other suitable. material, one hook (c³) only being required in
this case at the bottom of the picker. The position of the back part (d) when
the receptacle (c) is uncovered is shown in dotted line in Figure 10. The
picking band may be secured to the picker in this modification as herein-before
described, or it may be passed through the slot or opening (c) and round the
tube or bush (e) working upon the spindle. The modifications of my improved
picker as herein-before described are all supposed to be cast as thin and as.
light as possible consistent with the requisite strength of a metal or alloy,.
which while it will readily cast will be to some extent malleable, and not liable
to break easily by percussion. In the modification shown by Figures 1 to 8,
inclusive, the picker spindles (a) are shown at the ordinary height above the
bottom of the shuttle box, but to get lightness combined with strength, which.
is the great desideratum, the picker spindle should be brought as near the
bottom of the shuttle box as possible, as shown in the modification repre-
sented by Figures 9 and 10, which are views corresponding respectively to
Figures 7 and 8; but lightness and strength are attained to the greatest extent.
in the modification shown by Figures 11 and 12, which correspond respectively
to Figures 7 and 8 and to Figures 9 and 10. This picker is supposed to be.
made from steel or other malleable metal tubing and plate. The two ends c
and d are first cut out of the plate to the form required by a suitably-shaped
punch and die, and the required holes are also punched through them; then
by a suitable punch and die, or a series of them, these pieces are "blocked "
into the form shown, that is, with a flange all round and a flange round the
central hole if required, the other parts are formed of suitable short lengths
of tubing as shown, one (c¹) of which may have a flange formed at one end
(as shown) by suitable punches and dies so as to be secured to the front piece
by rivets, or it may be brazed or otherwise secured, then the catches or hooks (c³)
are secured by rivets or by brazing or otherwise. The receptacle for buffalo

page_text: hide or other material either in the cast or malleable metal pickers may be
made to form part of the back part (d), or in other words the picker may be
turned with the back to the front if a hole for the tip of the shuttle is made
in the part d, and a small hole is left in the part (c) so as to allow a small-
punch to pass, to drive or push the material out of the receptacle, when it is
to be replaced by fresh material.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention and the modes
of carrying the same into effect, and claim as my Invention-
Firstly, the construction of pickers of metal in parts to take in pieces with
a receptacle (c) for buffalo hide or other suitable material, so that such
material can be readily removed and replaced, substantially as herein-before
described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the use in metallic pickers of bushes (e) of metal to work on the
picker spindle secured so as to be readily renewable when worn, as herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, the construction of pickers of pieces of tube and sheet steel or
other malleable metal with flanges and other parts substantially as herein-
before described and shown by Figures 11 and 12 of the Drawings.
Fourthly, the use of loose pieces or discs (g) of buffalo hide, leather, or
other suitable material, in pickers as herein-before described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Edmondson have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
PETER J. LIVSEY,
Manchester.
R. EDMONDSON. (L.s.)