IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING LINEN AND OTHER FABRICS TO BE WORKED BY HAND, STEAM, WATER OR ANY OTHER MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
PARKER, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Flax Spinner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-second day of October, in the fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Parker, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Charles Parker, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as 1, the said Charles Parker, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING LINEN AND
OTHER FABRICS TO BE WORKED BY HAND, STEAM, WATER OR ANY OTHER MOTIVE
POWER;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
Charles Parker, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in
Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
und by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE that in compliance with the said proviso. 1. the said
Charles Parker, do hereby declare that the nature of iny Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
[Price 8d.]

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters, marked thereon
(that is to say):-
My Invention relates to what are called power looms, which are worked by
rotatory motion produced by hand, steam, water, or other suitable means, and
the improvements which constitute the Invention are,-
First, a mode of giving off the warp.
. Secondly, a mode of taking or winding up of the fabric or work as it is
produced.
Thirdly, means of stopping a loom when the weft is broken or the shuttle
is empty.
And fourthly, means of changing the shuttle when the weft is broken or
the shuttle is empty of weft.
And in order that these improvements may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed, in each of the Figures of which the same letters of reference are
used to indicate similar parts of the machinery.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The nature and construction of power looms being well understood, it will
not be necessary to enter into the description of all the parts shewn in the
Drawings. J shall therefore, for the most part, confine my explanation to
the means shewn of carrying out my various improvements.
Figure 1 represents a front view of a power loom, having the first three of
my improvements applied thereto; Figure 2 is a right-hand end view thereof;
Figures 3 and 4 show shuttles suitably constructed, together with the parts,
Figures 5 and 6, applied to the shuttle box to carry out the third part of my
Invention; and Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 shows four views of a shuttle race and
boxes suitably arranged for carrying out the fourth part of my Invention. "
is the main and crank axis or shaft for receiving motion by a strap b, from
any suitable power, c being the fast pulley on the axis or shaft a; and d is the
loose pulley on the axis u. On the axis a is allixed the cog wheel e, which
takes into and drives the cog wheel, which is affixed on the axis or shaft g,
and at the other end of the axis or shaft is affixed a cog wheel h. by chang-
ing which for a larger or less wheel, a variation of the number of shoots in a
given length will be effected. The wheel h takes into and drives a cog wheel
i, the axis of which is capable of movement, in order to accomodate its posi-
tion to the wheel h. On the wheel is affixed a bevilled toothed wheel j, which
takes into and drives the bevil-toothed wheel affixed on the axis 1, turning
in suitable bearings at the right-hand end of the loom, the wheel being

page_text: affixed by a set screw passing through the boss or nave, as is shewn, thus
allowing of its being readily moved along its shaft, when a change of wheel ki
requires such movement of position of the wheel k. On the back end of the
axis is affixed a worm or screw m, which takes into and drives the worm
wheel n, affixed on the neck or axis of one of the three back rollers for giving
off the warp, and by such means motion is communicated to two of such
rollers. o, o, are a series of warp beams or bobbins for containing the warp,
or the whole warp may be contained in one warp beam; p is the roller which
receives motion by the worm wheel n, and such motion is communicated from
the roller p to the roller q by cog wheels, as is indicated by dotted lines 7, in
Figure 2, affixed on the necks or axis of the rollers p and q, together with an
intermediate wheel, by which the rollers p and q move in the same direction.
The rollers p and q are each covered with woollen cloth or other suitable
yielding surface; and such is the case in respect to the roller s, which moves.
easily on necks or axes, which turn in slots in the uprights at the back of the
loom, as is shown. The warp threads from one or more warp beams proceed
first under the roller q. then up over the roller s, then down under the roller p..
thence over the roller or beam f, and is made fast to the work or cloth roller
v, round which the fabric or work is wound as it is produced, as hereafter
described. By this arrangement of three rollers the warp will be given off
with great uniformity. On the axis are affixed two cams, which successively
receive the two rods w; and permit them to descend, and thus become the
means, aided by the weighted levers hereafter described, of giving motion to
the work roller v. On each of the rods w is formed or affixed a toothed rack,
which, taking into their respective toothed wheels on the shaft or axis in
the downward movement of the rods w, motion is communicated to the axis x;
but in the upward movement of the rods we, the toothed wheels y move freely
round on the axis x, which is accomplished in the following manner:-z is a
ratchet wheel affixed on the axis or shaft r, such shaft or axis turning in
suitable bearings, as is shown, and on each of the wheels y is applied a spring
catch z, as 'is shewn in Figure 1 of the Drawings, and such spring catch will
retain the wheel y when its rod w is descending, and prevent it turning on the
axis 2; consequently the toothed rack on the rod w, which is descending, will
cause the axis 2 to move round, and the other rod w, which will be ascending,
will cause its wheel y to move freely on the axis z, owing to the inclined
surface of the ratchets passing under the spring catch. By this arrangement
there will at all times be one rod descending during the working of the loom.
At the upper end the rods 10, they are connected to levers A, A, by pin
joints, as shewn. The back ends of these levers move freely on the axis B,

page_text: which turns in suitable bearings at the back of the loom, which are not
shewn, in order that other parts may be more clearly seen. The levers A are
hollow, and each has within it a screw which turns on works in bearings at
each end of a lever A. On the back end of each screw of the levers A is
affixed a bevilled pinion which respectively take into pinions affixed on the
axis B, and by such means, motion being communicated from the axis B, the
screws of the levers A will be turned round. C, C, are weights which are
suspended on the screws of the levers A, such screws respectively passing
through a female screw formed in the upper part of each weight, and as the
under part of each lever is open, the weights C will be able progressively to
move from the back end to the front end of their levers A, as the loom is
continued to work, the weights O being varied as the fabric produced is
thicker or thinner. Motion is communicated to the axis B by means of, the
upright shaft D. which turns in suitable bearings at the back of the loom. At
the upper end of the shaft D is affixed a bevilled toothed pinion E, which
takes into and drives the bevilled toothed wheel F affixed on the axis B, and
motion is communicated to the shaft D, by means of the screw affixed on the
axis x, taking into the screw wheel G, affixed on to the lower end of the
shaft D, as is shewn: consequently, as the working of the loom proceeds, the
weights C will be progressively encreasing their distance from the axis B,
and thus progressively encreasing the effect of leverage in driving the axis x,
which becomes necessary as the work beam or roller becomes of larger dia-
meter, and consequently requires a greater power to draw on the work at
an equable rate; and by this arrangement the warp will be kept with great
uniformity of weight or strain, and the quantity of shoots in given lengths
of fabrics will be kept uniform. The work roller or beam is driven by a
worm or screw affixed on the axis x, as is shewn. I being a clutch box for
allowing the front end of the axis z being moved separately when unwinding
the cloth or fabric from the warp beam.
I will now proceed to describe the third part of my Invention. Figure 3
shews a plan, a side view, and longitudinal section of a shuttle, with apparatus
applied thereto for throwing the loom out of work when the weft is broken;
and Figure 4 shews a plan, side view, and cross section of a shuttle properly
arranged for throwing the loom out of work when the weft is used up. In
Figure 3 the weft is conducted through a ring or staple J. and thence through
the eye of the lever K, which moves on an axis, as is shewn. The other end
of the lever can pass through the side of the shuttle. and project beyond the
side surface, and act as a stop or catch to act on the mechanism applied to
one of the boxes of the shuttle race. The lever K is pressed ontwards at all

page_text: .
times by a spring, as is shewn: but the end of the lever K is at all times
kept within the shuttle so long as the weft is whole, in consequence of the
tightness of the weft overcoming the spring: but in the event of the weft
being broken, the spring immediately moves the end of the lever K through
the shuttle, and in throwing the shuttle into the shuttle box at the left-hand
end of the shuttle race, it will come in contact with the lever L, moving on an
axis, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6. where the apparatus applied to the shuttle
box is shewn half size, Figure 5 shewing a plan of part of the shuttle box.
and Figure 6 a front view of part of the shuttle box; and the position of the
same parts are shewn in Figure 1. The right-hand end of tlie lever T. is
pressed on, so as to force the projecting end of the other part of the lever
through the front of the shuttle box, and thus form a bolt to retain the lever
M from moving on its-axis until the projection K. projecting from the side of
the shuttle, comes against the right-hand end of the lever T. and depresses.
that end, and removes the left-hand end of that lever out of the lever M. and
thus sets the lever M free to turn on its axis; but such motion on the lever L,
by the projection K. cannot take place so long as there is weft in the shuttle
and the weft is unbroken, owing to the lever K, as above described, remaining
within the shuttle, and consequently out of the way of the lever L. On with-
drawing of the left-hand end of the lever L out of the lever M, that lever M,
hy its weight. will move on its axis, and fall against its stop M. The lever
M, in Figure 1, is shown to be raised up and retained by the end of the lever
L passing into it, and in this condition the parts would remain till the weft is
broken or worked up, when the lever K would no longer be retained by the
strain of the weft, and the lever K would cause the left-hand end of the lever
I to be withdrawn from the lever M, and that lever would fall into its lowest
position, and by such means its turned-up end would come opposite the end of
the finger N, affixed on the upper end of the spring lever N₁, and in the beat-
ing up of the work the lever M would strike the finger N. and force it forward,
and by such means would release the spring lever from the notch in the plate
O, (see plan thereof in Figure 12,) and thus allow the spring lever to spring
towards the right-hand end of the loom, as is shown by dotted lines in
Figure 1, by which means one end of the forked lever P would be moved
towards the right-hand end of the loom, such lever moving in a hole in the
spring lever N. The lever P moving on a fulcrum at P1, its upper or forked
end will pass towards the left hand, carrying with it the endless strap b, from
the first pulley c, on to the loose pulley d, and thus stop the loom. When a
fresh shuttle has been put into the shuttle box, the workman will force back
the spring lever N, and place it in the notch at the left-hand end of the slot

page_text: formed in the plate Q, as is shown in Figure 12. and he will raise the outer
end of the lever M. which will be again held by the end of the lever L, and
the parts being in these positions, the loom will again work, and the parts will
remain in this state till again acted on by the shuttle, in consequence of the
weft being broken or expended.
I will now describe the action of the parts applied to the shuttle. Figure 4:
K' is. a cranked lever moving on axis at its right-hand end, and there is a
spring behind this lever, which constantly tends to press its cranked end
through the side of the shuttle into the position shewn by dotted lines. Оп
the end of the bobbin S is applied a wire or lever T. with an eye or opening
through its outer end. This wire, when not pressed on, falls off from the
bobbin, but, when the weft is tightly wound round the bobbin, the wire is
retained in the bobbin, and as the eye of the wire or lever T is placed on the
projection on the upper surface of the lever K', that lever will be prevented
passing and projecting through the side of the shuttle till the weft is all used,
when the wire T will be released, and allow of the lever K', by its spring,
projecting beyond the side of the shuttle, and will then act in a similar manner
to what has been described in respect of the lever K of the shuttle, Figure 3;
and would remark, that both the apparatus of Figure 3 and of Figure 4
may be applied to the same shuttle. In some cases where the fabric is not of
such strength as will allow of depending on the shuttle motions for stopping
the loom, and even in other cases, if preferred by the person using the looms,
sometimes control the winding up of the fabric, and cause it partly to depend
on the breaking up of the weft in conjunction with winding up by weight, and
the giving off of the warp by rollers. For this purpose, in place of having, the
worm wheel n fast on the axis or neck of the roller p. I have it, so as to.
turn freely thereon, and I affix a ratchet wheel on the axis of the roller p, see
Figure 11, and on the wheel n I affix a spring catch, which, taking into the
ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel, will cause them to go together when the
proper shoots are put in a given length of fabric; but if, from the weft being
broken or used up, the proper number of weft threads are not thrown in, then
the winding up of the work will not go on, owing to the weights C in this
instance not being sufficient alone to wind up the work, they, in fact, only
relieving the pressure of the beat-up when sufficient weft is, thrown in; but in
case weft is not thrown in, then the rollers p and q will not give off warp.
I will now proceed to describe the fourth part of my Invention, shewn at
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, Figures 7 and 8, shewing two plans of the apparatus
in the two different positions they assume; Figure 9 a front view of the
shuttle race and shuttle boxes; and Figure 10 shews a back view of the

page_text: shuttle race and the boxes. To cach shuttle box there is a drawer having two
compartments, each compartment of the width of a shuttle box. V, U, are
the two shuttle boxes; W and W are the two compartments of the drawer
of the shuttle box V; and X and X are the compartments of the drawer of
the shuttle box U. The drawers or sliding compartments to each shuttle box
are constantly drawn on by a spring barrel and strap, the sliding compartments
or drawers W, W, being drawn by its spring barrel towards the front of the
shuttle box, and the drawer or sliding compartments X, X, being drawn '
towards the back of its shuttle box. Figure 7 shews the parts in the position
they would be in when the loom is at work, and the shuttle would be con-
stantly thrown from the compartment X into the compartment W, and back
again until the weft was expended or broken; but when the weft is broken or
expended, and the projecting of the lever K has taken place, as described in
respect to Figure 3, such projection will come in contact with the left-hand
end of the lever Z, which moves on an axis, as is shewn in the Drawings, the
cranked end of the lever resting against the projection (1) of the sliding
spring bolt (2), which bolt (2) is retained from movement by its spring (3)
till acted on by the lever Z; and on examining Figure 7 and Figure 9, where
the parts are in the same positions, it will be seen that the projection (1) is
retained from movement in the catch (4) fixed in front of the shuttle box, and
the coming in of the shuttle, when the lever K projects beyond the side of the
shuttle, will cause the projection to force back the lever Z, and that lever will
move the sliding bolt (2), and thus leave the spring barrel (5), by its strap
(6), to draw the sliding drawer or compartments W, W; from back to front,
and in so doing the projection (7) will come against the cranked lever (8),
moving on an axis carried by the back of the shuttle box at the left-hand side
of the loom, and to the other end of the cranked lever (8) a connecting wire
is attached, such connecting wire being also attached to a sliding bolt (9) on
the back of the sliding compartments or drawer X, X, such sliding bolt
having a projection (10). which, when the parts are in the position shewn at
Figures 7, 9, and 10, is held in a catch (11) affixed to the under side of the
shuttle box at the right-hand end of the loom, and it will be evident that
the movement of the cranked lever (8) will, by the connecting wire, move the
sliding bolt (9), and thus set free the parts and the spring barrel (12), which,
by its strap (13) will draw the drawer or sliding compartments from front to
back of the shuttle box, and the parts will then be in the position of Figure 8;
and it will readily be understood, that if a shuttle had been previously placed
in the compartment X, when the change has taken place, the fresh shuttle
would be brought into work, and the one with a broken or expended weft

page_text: would be removed by the compartment W, and the loom would then be at
work, the shuttle, passing from and to the compartments W², X, all which
will readily be understood on examining the Drawing under description; and
it will be clearly seen how the shuttle may be charged, in the event of the
weft being broken or expended, without stopping the loom.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, 1 would have it understood that I make no claim
to any of the parts separately, and some of them may be varied without depart-
ing from my Invention. But what I claim as my Invention is,-
First, the mode of combining three rollers p, q, s, for giving off the warp in
looms as above described; and I also claim the governing the motion of the.
rollers p, q, s, by means of a loose wheel n, and ratchet motion, as described at
Figure 11.
Secondly, I claim the mode of taking up the work or fabric by self-adjusting
weights and levers, as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of stopping a loom by means of apparatus
applied to a shuttle and to a shuttle box, as above described in respect to
Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
And fourthly, I claim the mode of changing the shuttle by means of
apparatus described in respect to Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Parker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
CHARLES (.s.) PARKER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1841. the aforesaid Charles Parker came before our said