IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PICKING MOTION OF UNDERPICK LOOMS
Year: 1885

page_text: TVAIтом,
I, THOMAS KERSHAW of 65 Dunkerley Street Oldham in the County of Lancaster.
Overlooker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE PICKING MOTION OF UNDERPICK LOOMS and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to the picking motion of underpick looms and these
Improvements have for their objects to reduce the tendency of shuttles to fly from
the looms, to reduce wear and friction, to enable looms to be run at higher speeds
and therefore to increase their output.
And in order that this my Invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of Drawings to which and
to the letters marked thereon reference is hereinafter made.
In underpick Looms as ordinarily constructed the picking stick is constrained to
move through the segment of a circle and any point thereon consequently moves
through an arc of a circle or along a curved line.
I seek to attain the objects of my Invention by compelling a given point of the
upper end of the picking stick to travel in a straight or an approximately straight
line by means of suitable links or arms and consequently to deliver its motion in a
direct or nearly direct line instead of in a curved line.
The Figure on the accompanying Drawing represents a front view of the picking
motion of an underpick loom with my Improvements applied thereto.
A is part of the loom side, B is the strap attached to the picking stick C, D is
the lathe or sley, E is the picker and F is the shuttle race. These parts are the
same as, or similar to, those ordinarily employed. At its lower end the picking
stick is pivotted at J upon a short link or arm G which is pinned or pivotted at H
to the swing rail or rocking shaft R at such a distance from the loom side that the
picking stick occupies about its ordinary position. The picking stick is also
connected to the lathe, or sley by a link or arm K pinned or pivotted to the picking
stick at L and to the lathe or sley at M. It follows from this method of mounting and
connecting the picking stick that upon a pull being given to the stick in the usual
way by the strap, the link or arm K will, at L, describe a line of contrary curvature
to that which would be described by the upper end of an ordinary picking stick and
that consequently the upper end of the picking stick to which it is attached will
describe a straight or an approximately straight line. The link or arm G permits

page_text: the resulting downward motion of the picking stick. The full lines denote the
position of the picking stick and its connected links or arms at the beginning of
the stroke. At the end of the stroke the picking stick will occupy a position
indicated by the dotted line a b, the pin or pivot L will be at L' and the pin or
pivot J at J, the links or arms occupying relatively altered positions.
The springs N. O serve to restore the picking stick to its starting position,
O being a spring similar to that ordinarily employed but fixed a little higher upon
the swing rail or rocking shaft or upon a bracket or fixing secured thereto as
indicated in the drawing. These springs may be used together or separately as
may be determined by the speed of the loom or by other circumstances.
I do not limit myself to the precise details of the arrangement herein before
described as these may be varied without departing from my Invention which
consists essentially in imparting a rectilinear or approximately rectilinear motion to
the working end of the picking stick by means of link work..
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the s
same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
+
(1) The arrangement and combination of the pivotted links or arms G K and
the springs N. O with the picking stick substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth and described and as illustrated on. the accompanying sheet
of Drawings.
(2) In an underpick loom the use of links or arms substantially as and for the
purpose herein before set forth and described and as illustrated on the accompanying
sheet of Drawings.
Dated this twenty third day of June A D 1905