Improvements in Looms, Consisting Mainly in Automatic Mechanism and Devices whereby the We the Loom as well as the Picking are Stopped and the Shaft of the Pattern
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Looms, Consisting Mainly in Automatic
Mechanism and Devices whereby upon the Absence or
the Breaking of the Weft Thread the Loom as well as
the Picking are Stopped and the Shaft of the Pattern
"
I, CHARLES AUBREY DAY of 321 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS (a communication to me from
abroad by George Crompton loom builder, of Green Street, Worcester, Massu-
chusetts, United States of America) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The invention herein described relates to improvements founded upon the
invention for which letters patent were granted dated July 25, 1883, No 3655.
The present invention has for its object to provide the loom described in the
said patent with mechanism of such construction and arrangement, as will be
hereinafter described and herein shown, whereby, should the filling break or be
absent, the filling stop-motion will operate, not only to stop the loom, but also to
stop the picking, and at the same time move a clutch or hub, forming part of the
train of gearing for rotating the shaft which carries both the pattern surfaces of
the shed forming mechanism and of the shuttle box actuating mechanism so as to
disengage the said clutch and stop the shaft which carries the said pattern chains,
and immediately reengage the said clutch or hub in such manner as to effect the
reversal of the pattern-chain carrying-shaft far enough to place in position the
rolls or indicators thereon which controlled the opening of the shed next back of
that in which the filling was broken or absent, and at the same time to place
opposite the lay that shuttle of the shuttle boxes which was effective in laying the
filling in the shed next back of that in which the broken filling appeared.
Stopping the loom after breaking the filling and during such operation automa-
tically opening the shed just in advance of the one in which the fault occured,.

page_text: enables the operator to see that the pick laid in the shed back of the one in
which the fault occurred is perfect.
This provision enables the loom to be started unerringly with due regard to the
pattern, and obviates any possibility of error in the weaving due to errors in the
filling.
For greatest efficiency and certainty of action, the feeler of the stop-motion is
mounted upon and made movable with the lay, and thereby it is possible to ditect
a break or imperfection in the filling during the forward beat or movement of the
lay, rather than as the lay reaches its extreme forward position, as would be the
case if the feeler were supported at the breast-beam.
Detecting the faults in the filling while the lay is moving forward with the reed
in the shed in which the fault occurred, enables the lay in such forward movement
to actuate devices, which will be described, to effect the unclutching of the
mechanism which rotates the pattern surfaces to thus stop and reverse the latter
as or just before the lay reaches its forward position.
The reversal of the pattern surface or chain actuating mechanism as herein
provided for is commenced before the shed in which the fault occurs is closed, and
during or as the lay completes its forward movement the pattern surfaces or chains
are reversed sufficiently to place in operative position that row of indications of the
pattern surface or chain which determined the formation of the sherl next back of
that in which the broken filling occurred, whereby that shed may be reopened
before the loom is stopped to supply the filling.
In a loom of the close shed order this reversal of the pattern chain or surface
actuating mechanism will preferably be effected during the forward movement of
the lay in the shed in which the broken filling occurred and the shed back of that
in which the filling was broken will be opened during the next backward movement
of the lay, and as the pattern chains or surfaces to control the order of movement
of the shed forming mechanism and the order of movement of the shuttle box
mechanism are on the same shaft or connected to rotate in unison it follows that a
reversal of the pattern chain or surface for controlling the order of the sheds also
correspondingly reverses the pattern chain or surface that controls the order of
selection of the various shuttles thus always ensuring the introduction of the
proper filling into the shed designed to receive it.
As the loom continues by reason of its momentum to run over sufficiently to
effect one movement of the picking sticks after the shipper lever is disengaged
from its holding plate to cause the driving belt to be placed on the loose pulley,
and as it frequently happens that another shuttle than the one containing the
broken filling acted to lay a filling in the shed next back of the one containing the
broken filling, and as the pattern surface or chain that controls the position of
the shuttle boxes is reversed together with the surface or chain which controls the
shed forming mechanism, and as by such reversal of the pattern surfaces or chains
the shuttle box which contains the shuttle employed to lay the filling in the shed
next back of that containing the broken filling is brought in operative position
opposite a shed then containing a perfectly laid filling, it is obvious that means
must be provided to prevent such shuttle from being operated, for otherwise it
would lay a second filling in that shed, and one filling would have to be removed.
To avoid this latter operation and the consequent waste of both time and filling,
the picking sticks are disengaged from their actuating parts just as the shipper
lever is released, thereby preventing the throwing of any shuttle after the breaking
of the filling.
If the feeler of the filling stop-motion was on the breast-beam instead of upon
the lay, the pattern mechanism could not be reversed automatically until after the
shed next in advance of the one in which the fault occurred was made, and hence
to open the shed back of the one in which the fault occurred it is obvious that two
completed sheds would have to be opened which cannot be effected during one
rotation of the crank-shaft.

page_text: Should a filling stop-motion be employed in which the shipper handle is not
released until the lay reaches its forward position or after, then the pattern surface
or chain actuating mechanism would need to be reversed two steps for it will be
understood under such plan of operation that the row of indications of the pattern
surface or chain to control the separation of the warps for the shed next in advance
of that in which the broken filling occurred will have been placed in operative
position, hence two backward movements of the said pattern surface or chain will
be necessary to place in operative position the row of indicators to effect the
formation of the shed next back of that in which the filling was broken.
If two movements of reversal are to take place as described instead of one as
we prefer then the brake will be permitted to operate during the second rotation
of the crank shaft after the breaking of the filling.
By locating the feeler of the stop motion at or near the center of the lay the
operation of the parts and the mechanism is greatly simplified, one feeler serving
to detect faults in filling crossing eaning from either of the series of change shuttle
boxes.
By connecting the pattern surfaces or chains for both the shed forming mechanism
and change shuttle-box mechanism so as to move in unison, both the warp and
filling are maintained in proper relation each to the other to avoid errors in
weaving.
The loom herein described is provided with a brake which is controlled as to its
time of operation by the filling stop motion, whereby the brake is applied to
completely stop the loon just after reopening the shed next back of that in which
the fault occurred, or in which the filling was not properly laid.
Fig. 1 is a broken front elevation of a loom embodying the invention to be
herein claimed the shuttle boxes at the left of the loom, the lay, and its sword,
and the several shafts being broken out to show the parts behind them, the parts
omitted being old and common.
Fig. 2. is a detail showing a portion of the lay at its front side with part of the
filling stop motion devices attached.
Fig. 3 is a partial left hand cud elevation of fig. 4. the frame work being broken
out at places, the said fig. showing one shed forming lever of common form.
Fig. 4. is a detail to be referred to of the filling stop motion devices the lay and
breast-beam being in section.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of fig. 4, with the lay and its attached parts removed, the
breast-beam being broken away to expose the parts immediately below it..
Fig 6. is a longitudinal section of the dog in the line x. fig. 5.
Fig. 7. is a longitudinal section of part of the holder for the dog.
Figs. 8 and 9. details in plan and front end view of the dagger detached.
Fig 10 is a detail view taken from the rear side of the loom at the right hand
side to show its connections between the crank-shaft and the mechanism for moving
the pattern surfaces or chains, and the shed forming levers.
Fig. 11. is an elevation and section of the arm with which the picking staff or
stick is connected, the said arm as herein shown being constructed to form one
member of a clutch which is disengaged to stop the picking.
Fig. 12. shows like view of the fixed part of the picking clutch.
Fig. 13. shows in clevation a sufficient portion of the right hand end of the
loom to illustrate the brake mechanism.
Refering to the drawings the frame-work A, the lay beam A", shuttle
boxes t30, 30, their rods and guides, cam shaft A³, arms h³ thereon, rolls ho carried
thereby, the shoes h on the picking shaft h³, the picker sticks h, their connected
straps h', the crank shaft A', gears A², A, bevel gear A³ on the driving shaft A
the latter having fast and loose pulleys the belt-fork-controlling-rod A7, lever A8
with which it is connected, the shipper lever A to actuate it, the rod 81 jointed to
the shipper lever, the auxiliary shipper handle connected therewith and pivoted
at the opposite side of the loom, and the shipper lever holding notched-plate A¹º,

page_text: the chain, the shaft upon which is mounted the usual notched disks or wheels
which receive the pattern chain for the shuttle-box actuating mechanism, as well
as the pattern-chain for the shed forming mechanism, which will be hereinafter
referred to, the gears ³, 2 upright shaft b¹, gears a¹, a and b, shaft a³, star-
wheel a thereon, pin-wheel at, toothed-hub 67, arm 68, slide-rod, and lever 4 to
move the said rod, shed forming lever o, notched jacks, lifter s, depresser {,
links u, v, rock shaft g, arm w, x, link i, guide ¹, crank a, cording n' and harness
frames n are all common to the said patent wherein like parts are designated by
like letters of reference.
In the present specification and in the drawing accompanying it the shuttle box
mechanisni containing the levers e, and e³, g³ and g, and toothed cranks connectors
and gearing to run the said parts are omitted as the same are fully shown and
described in the said patent, it being understood that the shuttle-box actuating
mechanism herein to be employed is or may be as provided for in the said patent,
but instead of the particular forms of shed forming mechanism and shuttle box
actuating mechanism therein shown it is obvious that any other well known and
suitable form of mechanism may be substituted as the equivalent of either or both
of the said mechanisms so long as they are capable of being operated as herein
provided for.
The race of the lay A14, at or near its center, is cut away or slotted transversaly_
as shown at a, fig 2, and by dotted lines in fig. 4.
At its front side the lay has attached to it by screws 5 the stand 6 having ears
to receive the pivot 7 on which turns the head 8 of the feeler fork 9, a portion of
the said head being connected by a link 10 with the dagger 12 having as its fulcrum
studs 13 projected therefrom see figs 8 and 9 and entering holes in the stand 6.
The dagger 12, at its front end, has a finger 14 which, when the filling is properly
laid and the lay is being moved forward, is held by the feeler and its link 10 above
and so as to pass and not catch the shoulder 15 of the block 16 pivoted at 17 on
the holder or bar 18, which is guided between upright flanges of a guide plate 19
adjustably secured by bolts 20 to the horizontal shelf 21 of the bracket 22, in turn
attached by bolt 23, between flanges of a plate 24, secured to the inner side of the
breast-beam by suitable bolts 25.
In practice the bracket 22 will be made adjustable vertically on the plate 24.
The block 16 has its inner end 26, see fig. 6, bent downward, and that end
thereof somewhat heavier than its outer end normally rests into the slot 27 of the
plate 19 so long as the dog is kept pressed inward toward the lay by the broad end
of the elbow lever 28 pivoted on a vertical bolt 29 attached to the underside of the
breast-beam g', a spring 29' shown only in fig 5 being connected with one arm of
the said lever and with a stud 29× on the breast-beam, the spring and lever
normally keeping the dog pressed in toward the lay.
The horizontal part 21 of the bracket attached to the breast-beam, is provided
with a slotted ear 29 with which is adjustably attached by a bolt 30, a dagger
lifter 31, the top of which is made as a cam and against which the toe 32 of the
dagger strikes and bears while the lay is reaching its backward position, or
preparatory to the picking, the said dagger-lifter effecting the lifting of the feeler
fork in proper position to permit a filling thread to be laid in the shed.
As the lay moves forward after the picking, should the filling be at fault, that is,
broken or absent, the feeler is free to drop under the action of the weight of the
connected dagger, so that the point 14 of the dagger engages the shoulder 15 of
the block 16 and acting against the said shoulder carries the dog outward or toward
the breast-beam and in the direction of movement of the lay, but the inner bent
end 26 of the block arriving in contact with the fixed part 33 of the plate 19 turns
the said block and effects the release of the shoulder 15 from the point of the
dagger, such release being effected before the lay reaches its forward position.
Extended across the loom from side to side below and at the rear of the lay when
in its backward position, is a rock shaft 35 having near the center of its length and

page_text: in line with the feeler fork an arm 36 which has joined to its upper end a latch 37
the hook of which is adapted to normally engage the outer thickened end 38 of
the bar 18 as in fig. 5.
As the bar 18 is moved outward in the direction of the arrow 34 see fig. 5 by
the point of the dagger, the thickened end of the said bar acts to turn the elbow
lever 28 far enough against the action of the spring 29 to cause the short arm of
the said lever to strike the collar 39 fast on the rods thus moving the said rod in
the direction of the arrow 40, to effect the release of the shipper handle A and the
movement of the usual driving belt, not shown, from the fast to the loose pulley.
While the lay is acting to move the dog outward and turn the lever 28, the said
dog acts against the catch 37 and causes the shaft 35 to be rocked in its bearings
so that the arm 42 at one end of the said shaft and outside the loom frame, see
figs 1 and 3, is lifted.
Lifting the arm 42 causes the link 43 connected therewith and adjustably joined
to the guide device or bar 44 to raise the latter and strike and move the lever 4,
before referred to, which, through the rod 69 causes the toothed clutch or hub b' to
be disengaged from the toothed hub of the bevel gear a¹º, the continued movement
of the clutch or hub b7 by the lever 4 causing it to be engaged with the toothed
hub of the bevel gear b thus making the latter drive the shaft b' and turn it in the
reverse direction, and that instantly and while the lay is moving forward, such
reversal of the shaft b' enabling it through the bevel gears 62, 63 to reverse the
movement of shaft b which actuates in unison the two pattern chains 66, 65 respec-
tively that carry the series of indicators which determine the order of movement of
both the shuttle box actuating mechanism and the shed forming mechanism.
The arm 42, see figs. 3 and 11, is provided with a laterally projecting lug or
pin 45, that as the arm is lifted as described to stop and then reverse the shaft b¹,
strikes against the rear side of a bent lever 46 attached to a rock shaft 47, which,
in practice, will extend from side-frame to side-frame of the loom, where it will be
supported in suitable fixed bearings.
Movement of the lever 46 by the arm 42 causes the rock shaft 47 to be turned
so that a forked arm 48 attached thereto and entering an annular groove 49 of a
sleeve 50 of a lever or arm 52 slides the said sleeve on the round hub 51 of a
collar 58 which is secured on the picking shaft h³ the latter being oblong or other
than round in cross section.
The hub 51, see detail fig. 11, serves as the fulcrum for the lever or arm 52, see
figs. 1 and 11, which latter is provided at one side next the hub 53 with a notched
projection 54 for the reception of the projecting portion 55 of the hub 53, the
latter being fixed to the picking shaft by screw 56. The upper end of the arm or
lever 52 has attached to it the link or device h¹ which at its outer end is connected
in usual manner with and so as to move the picking stick to throw the picker and
shuttle across the loom from one to the other shuttle-box.
The notched arm or lever 52 and the projecting portion 55 of the fixed hub 53
constitutes a clutch to effect the stopping and starting of the picking sticks. When
the lever 46 is moved by the arm 42 as described, the lever or arm 52 is moved
toward the rear side of the loom, and the notched part thereof is disengaged or
unclutched from the projecting portion 55 of the hub 53 fixed on the picking shaft,
the arm 52 so released being left loose on the round hub of the collar 58 thus
permitting the picking shaft to be turned but without vibrating the arm 52 and
the picker stick h.
The shaft h³ is turned in the direction to move the picker shaft by the rolls h³
which strike the shoe h, the rolls being connected with the arms h² of the usual
cam shaft A³.
As the picking is discontinued it is necessary to stop the action of the take-up
mechanism, and to do this the lever 46 has a rod 57 attached to it, see fig. 3, which
of thrust forward to lift the pawl 158 temporarily from engagement with the teeth
is the ratchet wheel 59 common to other take up mechanism.
}

page_text: The latch 37 jointed to the arm 36 is extended forward toward the breast-beam
and beyond a latch guide 70 having an edge 71, see fig. 1, inclined downward and
away from the bar 18.
The latch guide in this instance forms part of the plate 24 attached to the
breast-beam.
When the loom is in regular operation as described, the hook of the latch 37 is
maintained in engagement with the outer end of the bar 18 by the pin 63 of the
latch-holding rod 61, placed in a bearing 60 extended from the plate 24 below the
breast-beam, the said rod 61 being connected with the collar 64 on the auxiliary
shipper rods, but when the dagger moves the bar 18 sufficiently to knock off the
shipper lever and move the latch 37 and rock shaft to effect the stopping of the
shaft b¹, the hook of the latch 37, the latter being released from the pressure against
it of the pin 63 of the latch-holding rod 61, falls by gravity and sliding on the
inclined edge 71 is moved laterally away from the. end of the bar 18.
The pattern chain shaft b and pattern chain 6 having been turned back or
reversed to leave in operative position that row of indicators that determined the
selection of the warp for the shed back of that containing the broken filling, the
operator, by hand, will restore the levers 4 and 46 to their normal condition.
At this time the lay is nearly in its backward position, and in this condition if
the filling in the shed then open is perfect and is to remain therein, the loom is
ready to be started and the lay to be moved forward, but in the described condition
of the parts it will be understood that there is not a filling in position to resist the
descent of the feeler fork, for the filling for that shed has already been beaten in, su
to provide for not stopping the loom as the dagger meets and engages the dog 10
during the first forward movement of the lay after correcting the fault in the
filling, it becomes necessary to be able to move the rod s far enough to put the
belt on the fast pulley without at the same time engaging the hook of the latch 37
with the outer end of the bar 18 of the dog after the dagger in the outward
movement of the said dog is disengaged therefrom.
This is provided for by so locating the pin 63 of the slide rod 61, with relation
to the usual projections actuated by the rods that bring the shipper lever into
place to transfer the driving belt from the fast pulley, that the said pin 63 will not
commence to move the latch 37 to place its book at the end of the bar 18 of the
dog until in the movement of the loom and the forward movement of the lay the
dagger has been released from the block 16, further movement of the rod s in
the same direction (the driving belt having previously been but partially put on the
fast pulley,) completing the movement of the shipper lever to engage the notched
plate A, and also placing the hook of the latch 37 in engagement with the bar 18
of the dog.
The toothed gear A² on the crank shaft is provided at its rear side with a
segmental brake-wheel 80 which is secured to the said wheel so as to project there-
from in a direction nearly opposite the direction of the cranks of the crank shaft.
The lever 81 pivoted at 82 at the loom side, and extended forward close to the
shipper lever, has its front end bent outward longitudinally as shown at 83, and
the said bent portion 83 located close to the rear side of the belt shipper lever and
shaped as shown in fig. 1, is acted upon by a roll 84 on a stud 85 inserted in the
shipper lever, the said roll acting against the portion 83 after the shipper lever has
been released from the notched plate A10, causing the lever 81 to be turned on its
pivot to lift the concaved brake 86 of lever 81 and place it in position to be struck by
the brake-wheel during the rotation of the crank-shaft, the brake and brake-wheel
being so placed as to ensure the stoppage of the crank-shaft with the lay started a
little forward.
The shipper lever is knocked off when the moving lay is about two thirds of its
distance forward, but it is not desired at that time to immediately stop the crank-
shaft, but on the contrary it is specially desired that the crank-shaft should be
permitted to continue its rotation until the lay has been moved fully forward and
returned to its backward position and then again moved a little forward, and

page_text: therefore the brake wheel is made segmental in order that the brake shoe may
strike against it to stop the loom only in the desired position of the crank-shaft.
It is during the time that the lay is being moved backward after the shipper
lever has been knocked off, and while the momentum of the parts is sufficient to
turn the crank-shaft and other parts, that the shed next back of the one in which
the fault in the filling occurred is opened.
Should it be desired to merely stop the pattern chain shaft at the shed of the
broken filling, it will only be necessary to shorten the rod 43, such shortening of
the rod leaving the teeth at both ends of the clutch or hub 67, disengaged from
the teeth of the hubs of the gears a¹0 and b above and below the said hubs,
respectively.
The filling stop motion consists essentially of the filling-feeler, its connected
dagger, the dog and means actuated by the latter to release the shipper-lever.
The picking mechanism consists essentially of the picking sticks and lever
connected therewith which are actuated from the cam shaft, and means to prevent
the movement of the said lever when it is desired to arrest the movement of the
picker sticks.
The pattern surface or chain actuating mechanism consists essentially of the
shaft, and shafts and gears between it and one of the loom shafts to rotate the
said shaft 3.
We believe ourselves to be the first inventors of a loom containing in its
organization mechanical devices, which, when the filling breaks will cause the loom
to be stopped, the picking to be stopped, and the pattern surface or surfaces to be
stopped and to be turned back, and we do not therefore desire to limit our invention
to the exact mechanism herein described but instead may employ other usual and
known equivalents.
In open shed looms as the pattern surface or chain is turned and the shed to be
made with the indicators of the said surface then in operative position is started
before the filling fork in the forward movement of the lay descends to feel for the
filling, and as the shed next beyond that one in which the broken filling occurs is
thus formed during the forward movement of the lay, it becomes necessary to turn
the pattern surface twice in the reverse direction to place in operative position that
row of indicators which were effective in the formation of that shed next back of
the one in which the broken filling occurred.
We desire it to be understood that the automatic stopping of the loom and the
reversal of the pattern surface or surfaces to leave open that shed next back of that
in which the broken filling occurred is considered to be within the scope of our
invention whether the said loom be of the close or of the open shed variety.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination with the pattern surface or chain 65, the shaft b' to move
it, means to rotate the said shaft, and a filling stop-motion, of mechanism substan-
tially as described whereby when the said stop-motion operates, the forward rotary
motion of the said pattern surface or chain is arrested, and the said pattern surface
or chain is reversed to place its indicators in position to effect the selection of the
warp for the opening of the shed next back of that in which the filling was broken
substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the pattern surface or chain 65 to determine the
formation of the shed, and the pattern surface or chain 66 to determine the order of
shifting the shuttle boxes, the shaft to move them means to rotate the said
shaft, and a filling stop-motion, of mechanism substantially as described whereby
when the said stop-motion operates, the forward rotary motion of the said pattern
surfaces or chains is arrested, and the said pattern surfaces or chains are reversed
to place their indicators in position to effect both the selection of the warp for the
opening of the shed next back of that in which the filling was broken, and the

page_text: placing opposite of the race of the lay of that shuttle box from which the shuttle
was thrown to lay the filling was broken, substantially as set forth.
Third. The pattern surface or chain the shaft to move it, means to rotate
the said shaft, picking-mechanism, and a filling stop-motion, combined with
mechanism substantially as described whereby when the said stop-motion operates,
the forward movement of the shaft b' is stopped or reversed, and with means
whereby the stop-motion effects the stopping of the picking-mechanism, as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The pattern surface or chain 65 to determine the formation of the shed,
and the pattern surface or chain to determine the order of shifting the shuttle
boxes, the shaft b' to move them, means to rotate the said shaft, picking mechanism,
and a filling stop-motion, combined with mechanism substantially as described
whereby when the stop motion operates, the forward movement of the shaft bis
stopped and reversed, and with means whereby the said stop-motion effects the
stopping of the picking mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The pattern surface or chain 65 for the shed forming mechanism, the
shaft b to move it, means to rotate the said shaft, the brake-pulley, brake, and a
filling-stop motion, combined with mechanism substantially as described whereby
when the said stop-motion operates, the forward rotary movement of the said shaft
is stopped and reversed and whereby the brake is applied to the brake pulley to
arrest the loom with the shed open next back of that in which the broken filling
occurred, substantially as set forth.