Improvements in Needle Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Needle Looms for Weaving.
I, SAMUEL WALKEY GILLETT, of 17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Registered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention which has been communicated to me from abroad by Carpet
Loom Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Massachusetts, of Brussels Street, Worcester, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Manufacturers, 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 that class of looms in which the weft or filling thread
is carried across the loom by means of needles or bars.
The especial objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of needle-
loom, in which is employed a pair of improved co-operating needles or bars which
are actuated towards and away from each other so that they will meet substantially
in the middle of the loom, to provide an improved construction for opening the
female needle when said needle is drawn back to its normal position; to improve
the construction of shuttle which is employed for forming one of the selvages; and
to provide means for positively slipping or releasing the loop of thread from the
stud or projection carried by the female needle.
To these ends, the invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts as
hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end
of this specification.
In the accompanying four sheets of drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front view partially in section of sufficient parts of the needle loom to
illustrate the application of the invention,
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same partially in section,
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating the means which are preferably
employed for opening the female needle when the same is drawn back,
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the shuttle, the operating arm being shown
by dotted lines,
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the end of the male needle,
Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are detail views illustrating the relative positions
assumed by the two needles, and the manner in which the loop of thread is
transferred from one to the other, and
Fig. 13 is a detail view, the position of the shuttle being indicated by dotted
lines.
In a needle loom constructed according to this invention; the warp-threads
running lengthwise of the loom pass through suitable harnesses, and are alternately
raised and lowered in the ordinary manner, which it is not necessary to herein show
or describe.
The weft or filling thread is drawn off from the ordinary cop, and is carried by
an automatic tension device which is arranged to give out the thread, as required,
and to keep the thread under proper tension, and to draw back the slack from the
weft thread when the loop is released from the female needle at the opposite side
of the loom.
This automatic device for letting out, tensioning or taking up the weft thread
may be of the ordinary or approved construction, and need not be herein illustrated
or further described.

page_text: From the tensioning device, the weft thread passes through an eye in the male
needle.
When the harnesses are shifted in the ordinary manner the needles will be
actuated to carry a.loop;of filling.thread across the loom. "..
One of the selvages or edges will be formed by a shuttle which moves
longitudinally with respect to the loom.
Referring to the drawings and in detail 10 and 11 designate the usual side-frames,
which carry the operative parts of the device.
Journalled in the side-frames 10 and 11 is a driven shaft 12.
Fastened upon the shaft 12 near its ends are cams 13 and 14 for operating the
...needles.
4
:
The cams 13 and 14 engage with rolls 15 and 16, which are journalled upon
levers 17 and 18 respectively.
The levers 17 and 18 are connected by links 19 and 20 to bell-crank levers 21
and 23, which are journalled upon studs, 22 aud 24 respectively..
At their upper ends, the bell-crank levers 21 and 23 are connected by links 25
and 27 to boxes 26 and 28 mounted upon ways 31 and 32.
The male needle 34 is fastened upon and moves with the box 28.
The female needle 33 is fastened upon and moves with the box 26.
As most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the female needle 33 is split
or forked at its end, having spring branches 35 and 36.
The branches 35 and 36 are provided at their ends with enlargements 37
and 38.
The enlargement or boss 38 is provided with a projecting spur 40, which may fit
into and engage a corresponding recess 39 in the enlargement 37.
The branch or arm 36 is provided near its centre with a projection 41 which is
adapted to engage with a cam 42 so as to separate the branches 35 and 36 when the
female needle is drawn back."
The cam 42 is carried by a sleeve 43, which is jourṇalled upon a stud projecting
from a bracket secured on the way 31.
A coiled spring 44 is connected to a crank-pin 440 carried by an arm extending
from the sleeve 43, and is arranged to normally hold said crank-pin in engagement
with a stop on the bracket so as to bring the cam 42 in position to engage with and
open the branches 35 and 36.
When the needle 33 is moved towards the middle of the machine, the spring 44
will yield, and allow the cam 42 to turn down out of the way to allow the shank of
the needle 33, to move freely over the same.
As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 9 to 12, the male needle is offset as at 45, and
is provided with au eye 46 for receiving a loop of weft thread, and has a downwardly
projecting extension or cam 47 of greatest width near its bottom for engaging with
and separating the forked end of the female needle when the needles are brought
into engagement near the centre of the loom.
The shape of the extension or cam 47 is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 8.
The rear edge of the downwardly extending projection 47 is inclined or bevelled
to co-operate with the inclined or cam surfaces 48 formed on the rear of the bosses
or projections 37 and 38 of the female needle.
By adopting this relative construction for the needles, a simple and efficient
construction is provided for transferring the loop of weft thread from the male
needle to the female needle.
The manner in which these parts co-operate is most clearly illustrated in
Figs. 9 to 12.
In Fig. 9, the needles are represented as approaching each other..
As the needles come into engagement, the downwardly extending projection 47
of the male needle will pass between the branches of the split or forked end
of the female needle so that the parts will assume the position illustrated in
Fig. 10.

page_text: .
When the needles are retracted, or commence to move away from each other, the
inclined rear edge of the downwardly extending projection 47 of the male needle
will engage with the can surfaces 48 of the female needle, and the male needle will
ride up over the top of the female needle, as illustrated in Fig. 11, so that, as the
needles move away from each other, the loop of thread will then be carried by the
spur 40 of the female needle, as illustrated in Fig. 12.
The female needle will draw the loop of weft thread a short distance beyond the
edge of the cloth which is being woven.
While the woof or weft thread is held in this position, a shuttle will be passed
through the same to form a selvage.
When the shuttle passes through the loop of weft thread, the loop of thread will
be moved out of engagement with the spur 40 of the female needle, and the slack
or surplus thread of the weft will be drawn back by the automatic tension device
in the ordinary manner.
Means are also preferably provided for positively throwing the loop off from the
spur 40 so as to insure the loop of thread being disengaged from the female
needle.
As illustrated, a shuttle-operating cam 50 is secured upon the shaft 12.
The cam 50 engages with a roller 51 journalled upon a lever 52 which is
connected by a link 53 with an arm 54 secured upon a rock-shaft 55.
The rock-shaft 55 is also provided with an arm 56 which is connected by
a link 57 with a box 58 mounted upon ways 61.
Fastened upon the sliding box 58 is a part 59 which is termed the shuttle-
operating arm, which is provided with suitable projections for engaging with and
moving the shuttle 60.
As illustrated by dotted lines in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the shuttle operating
arm 59 is provided with a downwardly extending projection 62; which engages
behind the end of the shuttle 60.
A latch 63 is pivoted upon the arm 59, and serves to prevent the shuttle from
moving up.
Also fastened upon the shuttle-operating arm 59 is a downwardly extending
piece 66, which is termed the "throw-off" or wiper.
When the shuttle-operating arm 59 has been moved far enough to insert the
hend of the shuttle 60 into the loop of thread, the "throw-off" or wiper 66 will
engage the thread, and positively throw the loop of thread off from the spur 40 of
the female needle.
On its upper side, the shuttle 60 is provided with a notch which is engaged by
and co-operates with a latch 64 on the arm 59.
In some cases, it may happen that the loop of weft thread may be thrown off
from the stud 40 of the female needle before the shuttle 60 has had time to enter
well within the loop, and the slack of the thread then being drawn back by the
automatic tension device, there is danger where the ordinary shuttle is employed
that one stitch of the selvage will be dropped, and an imperfect selvage formed.
To overcome this difficulty, the shuttle is preferably formed of greatest width
Dear its head, and gradually tapered towards the rear end.
As illustrated, the shuttle 60 is provided with a projecting wing 67, this wing
being of greatest width near the head of the shuttle, and gradually tapering
towards the end of the shuttle, as at 670.
A bobbin may be secured in the shuttle 60 in any of the ordinary manners, and.
the thread therefrom is passed through a hole 65 in the body of the shuttle.
By adopting this construction, the shuttle has to penetrate a comparatively
short distance through the loop.
If the loop is then for any reason thrown off from the stud 40 of the female'
needle, so that the tension device will begin to act, the tapering part 670 of the
wing 67 will act as a cam for guiding the loop of thread around the rear of the
shuttle rather than allowing the same to slip off of the front of the shuttle.

page_text: Many changes may be made in the construction of needle looms by those who
are skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as
expressed in the claims.
The invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the detailed construction which
is shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The several constructions and combinations of parts embodying the
improvements in needle looms herein shown and described.
2. In a needle loom, the combination of a pair of co-operating needles, one of
said needles having a split or forked end and the other needle having a cam for
engaging and opening the forked end of the first needle, and means for operating
said needles, substantially as described.
3. In a needle loom, the combination of a pair of co-operating needles, one of
said needles having a split or forked end, one branch of the fork carrying a spur
and the other branch having a corresponding recess, the second needle having an
eye for the thread and a cam for opening the forked end of the first needle, and
means for operating said, needles, substantially as described. ::
4. In a needle loom, the combination of a pair of co-operating needles, one of
said needles having a split or forked end, the other needle having a cam for opening
the forked end of the first needle, said needles being provided with engaging
surfaces for causing them to move out of line as they separate, and means for
operating said needles, substantially as described.
5. In a needle loom, the combination of a female needle having a split or
forked end, one branch of the fork being provided with a spur, the other branch
having a corresponding recess, a male needle having a downwardly extending
projection for opening the forked end of the female needle, the rear edge of said
projection being inclined to co-operate with inclined surfaces of the female
needle to cause the male needle to ride over the female needle when the needles
separate, and means for operating said needles, substantially as described.
6. In a needle loom, the combination of a female needle having split or
forked end, a cam for opening the forked end of the female needle when said
needle is drawn back, said cam being mounted so that it will yield to allow the
shank of the needle to pass over the same, and means for operating said needle,
substantially as described.
A
7. In a needle loom, the combination of a female needle having a split or
forked end, a movable cam, a spring for holding said cam in position to open the
forked end of the female needle when said needle is drawn back, and yielding to
allow the shank of the needle to pass over said cam when the needle is moved in
the opposite direction, and means for operating said needle, substantially as
described.
8. In a needle loom, the combination of a needle for carrying a loop of thread
across the loom, means for operating said needle, and a shuttle co-operating with
said needle to form a selvage, said shuttle being formed with its greatest width
near its head in order to guide the loop of thread around the rear end of the
shuttle, substantially as described.
9. In a needle loom, the combination of a needle for carrying a loop of thread
across the loom, means for operating said needle, a movable shuttle, means for
reciprocating the shuttle to form a selvage, said shuttle being formed with an
extending wing of greatest width near the head of the shuttle, and gradually
decreasing in width near the tail of the shuttle, whereby the loop of thread will
be guided around the rear end of the shuttle, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
10. In a needle loom, the combination of a needle for carrying a loop of thread
across the loom, means for operating said needle, said needle having a projecting

page_text: spur, a movable shuttle, means for reciprocating said shuttle to form a selvage,
and means for disengaging the loop of thread from the spur when the shuttle has.
been inserted into said loop, substantially as described.
11. In a needle loom, the combination of a needle for carrying a loop of thread.
across the loom, means for operating said needle, said needle having a projecting
spur, a movable shuttle for forming a selvage, a movable arm for reciprocating
said shuttle, and a wiper carried by said movable arm for disengaging the loop.
from the spur, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of December 1896.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.