Year: 1885

page_text: I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The improvements which constitute this invention relate more especially to looms
for weaving that class of tufted fabrics, such as Moquette Carpets, in which the tufts
are looped upon the weft. Certain of the said improvements, which relate to the
tufting-mechanism, are only applicable to looms for weaving such fabrics. Other
of the said improvements, which relate to a weft carrying needle and other devices
for inserting and controlling the weft, are applicable not only to looms for weaving
tufted fabrics, in which it is most desirable to use such a needle, but are also applicable
to looms for weaving all kinds of fabrics, for the weaving of which needle looms can
be used.
In carrying out the first part of this invention, which relates to the tufting
mechanism: the yarn for the tufts is supplied, as in other well known looms for
weaving tufted-fabrics, from spools, which are placed in carriages which are attached
to endless chains, by the movement of which the said spools are presented succes-
sively in proper positions for the yarn to be drawn from them and cut off in pieces
of proper length to form the tufts, and the said pieces are taken by nippers and
inserted into the warp. This part of the invention consists in a novel construction
of the nippers themselves, and in a novel mode and novel means of operating them
as hereinafter described, whereby the tufting mechanism is considerably simplified,
and its operation is rendered more certain and effective. It also consists in novel
means for preventing the tufts, after their insertion into the warp by the nippers,
from being disturbed by the crossing of the shed. It further consists in novel
means of operating the cutters employed to cut off the tuft pieces, and in certain
provision for the use of said cutters for trimming and evening the ends of the tuft
yarns without working the other parts of the loom,

page_text: •
In carrying out the second part of this invention, which relates to the weft
carrying needle and other devices for inserting and controlling the weft, as has
heretofore been done, a Belvedge thread shuttle is employed for the purpose of
carrying through the loop formed by the doubling of the weft thread, a selvedge
thread which retains and secures the filling. Such selvedge thread shuttle has
heretofore sometimes had imparted to it a movement by which it carried the
Belvedge thread through the aforesaid loop of the weft, and sometimes it has been
stationary, while some other device has been employed to carry the said loop over
the shuttle for the reception of the selvedge thread. The principal object of this
part of the invention is to simplify the construction of all looms in which a needle
is employed to insert the weft, by dispensing not only with mechanism for giving
motion to the shuttle, but with all special mechanism for transferring the weft-
loop over it, and to this end this part of the invention consists principally in a novel
construction of the weft carrying needle and the selvedge thread shuttle, and a
novel arrangement of the said shuttle relatively to the loom, and to the line of
motion of the said needle, whereby the needle itself, by its ordinary to and fro
movement, is made to carry the loop of the weft over the shuttle, while the latter
is stationary, or only moves sufficiently for the weft to pass over and under it.
This part of the invention also consists in certain novel details of construction
hereinafter fully explained, for the purpose of the better accomplishment of the
above mentioned operation performed by the said needle and shuttle.
In the accompanying drawings of a loom illustrating this invention, all parts not
necessary for the illustration of the improvements are omitted, and only the lower
parts of the endless chains to which the tuft-yarn-spool-carriages are attached, and
one of the said carriages and spools, are represented.
Figure 1 is a right hand side elevation of the loom, showing as much of the
tufting mechanism and the needle operating mechanism as is clearly visible from
the outside of the loom.
Figuro 2 is a vertical section, paralled with Figure 1, showing the tufting mechanism
and the apparatus for cutting off the tuft pieces.
Figure 2 is a view corresponding with Figure 2 of a part of the nipper operating
mechanism.
Figure 3 is a plan of some of the principal parts of the tufting mechanism and
cutting apparatus.
Figure 4 is a side view of the cam for operating the spool carriage chains, and
part of the mechanism through which said cam operates.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side views of three cams for operating the tuft nippers, and
part of the mechanism through which said cams operate.
Figure 7 is a side view of one of the cams for operating, what is called the
straight edge for holding the tufts in the warp, from displacement by the crossing
of the shed.
Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the nippers on a scale larger than that
of the before mentioned Figures.
Figure 9 exhibits a face view and transverse section of the nipper blades on a
scale corresponding with Fig. 8.
Figure 9* is an end view of a pair of nipper fingers showing them closed, and
Figure 10 is a corresponding view showing them open.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrative of the operation of inserting
the tufts in the web.
Figure 15 is an elevation, partly in section, exhibiting the tufting and tuft-cutting
mechanism as viewed from the front of the loom.
Figure 15* is a detail view of part of the tuft nippers and their appurtenances.
Figure 16 is a front elevation of so much of the loom as is necessary to show
the weft carrying needle and its operating mechanism and the selvedge thread
shuttle.
Figure 17 is a plen corresponding with Fio 13-

page_text: and 17.
Figure 19 is a plan view corresponding with Fig. 18.
Figure 19* is a plan of the needle and part of the web showing the needle in
another position.
Figure 20 is a transverse section, on the line x, a, of Figures 18 and 19.
Figure 21 is a right hand end view corresponding with Figure 18.
Figure 22 is a top view of the shuttle.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A is the framing of the loom, which may be, and is represented as, of ordinary
form, and is shown provided with a web supporting-plate C, so arranged in rear of
the breast beam B, that its lower edge is close to the line to which the fell comes
in weaving.
Lis the lay, which may be operated by any suitable means, according to the
number of shots of filling employed for each row of tufts. It is represented in
Figure 2 as operated by a three-leaved cam L¹ on the main shaft S of the loom, for
the insertion of three shots of filling. The said can during each revolution of
said shaft acts three times on a lever L³, which is connected with the lay by a
rod L³.
The treadles and other parts of the loom not represented in the drawing, and not
hereinafter described, may be constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as
in other looms for weaving tufted fabrics.
The spool carrying chains D, D, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 15) for carrying the tuft yarn
spools D and the shafts D and wheels D³ for carrying said chains, may be arranged
and operated as in other power looms for weaving tufted fabrics, and the carriages D³,
for said spools, may be constructed and adapted to the chains as in such other
looms.
The said chains D. D, are operated by means of a cam L* (see Figs. 4 and 15) on
the left hand end of the main shaft S of the loom. As this cam operates only upon
the shaft D' of the lower chain-carrying wheels D³, and the upper chain-carrying
wheels are moved by the chains themselves, the shaft D' of the lower wheels only
is represented. The cain L* operates upon a lever L¹ working on a fixed fulcruin
socured in a bracket 2 bolted to the loom framing. This lever is connected by a
rod with one arm of a rock shaft , which works in bearings in a bracket 75
attached to the loom framing, another arm 1 of the said rockshaft being connected
(as shown in Figs. 2 and 15) by a rod with a pawl lever ', which works loosely
on the chain-wheel-shaft D', and which carries a spring-pressed pawl engaging
with a ratchet wheel fast on the said shaft.
The nippers N, n, N, n*, for holding the tuft-yarns while the tuft-pieces are cut
off, and for inserting the tuft-pieces into the warp, and the construction of which is
shown in Figures 8, 9, 9*, 10, are required to have an opening and closing movement,
a movement upward and downward, or to and fro, between the tuft carrying chains,
and a semi-rotary or turn-over movement, and they have also a series of slight
oscillating movements while in and near the warp.
The construction and operation of the nippers will now be described. The
jaws N, N, (shown in Figures 1, 2, 8, 15 and 15*), to which are attached the plates
of which the nipper fingers n, n, are constructed, are pivotted together by the long
crank pins, n, the ends of which are firmly secured in two crank arms n³ (see
Figures 2*, 3, 15 and 15*), which are journalled into and suspended from two
arms N¹ of a rock shaft N, which works between centre screws, or in bearings
secured to the side frames of the loom. These jaws are to be opened by springs n³,
best shown in Figure 8, placed between them, and are to be closed by conical
wedges non a rod n' (see Figures 1, 2, 3, 15 and 15*), which slides through the
journals n of the crank arms n³. This rod n' is operated by a cam K and
connections, as will be hereinafter described.
•

page_text: The front fingers n* of the nippers have on their outer faces, some distance above
their points, projections c, for the purpose of pressing the tufts under the filling, as
shown in Figure 14, and herein-after more fully explained, and the back fingers n
have the end portions e. e., which are turned forward to lap the ends of the front
fingers n*, hollowed out as shown in Figures 9* and 10, so that there is no lap at
the middle of the width, but only at the sides, where the lap takes the form of two
prongs. This form of the lapping end tends to gather the yarn into the centre of
the width of the nipper fingers.
The movement of the nippers upward and downward, or to and fro between the
spool carrying chains and the warp, is produced by means of a cam I, which is
shown in Figure 5, and the outline of which is so dotted in Figure 2, that by a
comparison with Figure 5, its position can be traced. This cam acts upon a lever I',
which works on a fixed fulcrum i³, and which is connected by a rod with one of
the arms N' herein before described, in which the nippers are suspended. The
upward movement which is thus given to the nippers, is such as to bring their
turned up points close up to the yarn guides 6 of the spool carriages, as shown in
Figure 2 in dotted outline.
The turning over or semi rotary motion of the nippers is accomplished by means
of a sliding toothed rackbar j gearing with a pinion, which is fast on one of the
crank-arm journals n³, the said rack bar having its rear end connected (as shown in
Figures 2 and 15) with a fixed pivot 7 secured in the loom framing, some distance
below and forward of the rock shaft N2, or axis of motion of the arms N'. This
connection causes the pinion, and the portion of the rack in gear with it, as they
rise and fall together with the arms N₁, to move on radii of different lengths and
different centres, and so causes such a movement of the rack-bar length wise relative
to the pinion, as to produce the turning over of of the nippers in opposite directions
as they move upward and downward, or to and fro between the tuft-yarn-spools
and the warp. In order to provide for a limited amount of oscillating movement
which is to be given (as hereinafter described) to the nippers independently of the
movement produced by the rack bar j, and of their up and down movement, and
also to provide for the withdrawal and reinsertion of the nippers into the warp to
insert the tufts, the connection of the rack bar with the fixed pin is made by a
short slot in the rack bar, which permits it to have a small amount of direct
longitudinal motion.
The oscillating movement just mentioned as given to the nippers independently
of the turning over movement obtained from the rack and pinion, is for the purpose
of better effecting the operation of inserting the tuft pieces into the warp and the
formation of the tufts, and is produced by means of a nearly upright lever F
(see Figures 1, 2, 2* and 15), which is forked at its upper end to engage with
a wrist pin fon one of the crank arms n³. This lever works on a fulcrum pin f¹
on the rear end of a nearly borizontal lever F¹, which works on a fixed fulcrum ƒ³
secured to the loom framing, not far behind the breast beam, and the front end of
which is connected by a spring F2 with the loom framing (as shown in Figure 2),
in such manner as to hold the front end of the said lever in a certain position,
except when it is depressed by the downward pressure of the wrist pin f of the
nippers in the fork of the lever F.-The back ward and forward movement of the
forked lever F, to produce the oscillation of the nippers, is obtained from a cam F³
on the main shaft S.-This cam is shown in Figure 6, and its outline is so dotted
in Figure 2, that by a comparison of the latter with Figure 6, its position can
easily be traced. This cam operates directly on a lever F which works on a fixed
fulcrum f³, and which is connected by a rod F with the lower end of the forked
lever F. A spring Fe connecting the lower end of the lever F with the front of
the loom frame, keeps the lever F always in contact with and under the control of
the cam Fa
The peculiar movement of the nippers produced through the forked lever F will
be better understood by incorporating their description into the description of the
ceneral oneration of the loom hereinafter given

page_text: The longitudinal movement of the cone rod n' and its conical wedges no, for
producing the closing of the nippers and controlling their opening by the springs n³,
is produced by means of a cam K on the main shaft S (see Figures 7 and 15), the
said cam operating on a lever R, which works on a fixed fulcrum le secured in a
hanger bolted to the loom framing.-This lever is connected by a rod k* with
one arm of an elbow lever K* (see Figures 1, 3 and 15), which works on a fixed
fulcrum secured to the loom framing near the rock shaft N°, the other arm of
the said elbow lever being connected by a rod k with one arm of an elbow lever K³,
which works on a fulcrum pin k secured to one of the nipper-carrying arms N₁,
the other arm of the latter elbow-lever being connected by a fork with a grooved
head nº provided on the said rod n. A coiled spring k (shown in Figure 3)
applied between the elbow lever K' and the loom framing, operates to draw the
cone rod n' in a direction to withdraw its conical wedges n³ from between the
nipper jaws, and permit the opening of the nippers by their springs n³, the said
springs also operating to keep the bowl of the lever K¹ in contact with the
cam K.
E is what may be termed the straight edge employed for holding the tufts in the
warp from displacement by the crossing of the warp in shedding. This straight
edge consists of a plate of steel having a thin straight horizontal upper edge
situated below the warp, and near the line of the fell. This straight edge is
secured to a stout bar E, and it has both an upward and downward, and a back-
ward and forward movement, and to permit these movements, its bar Ę is secured
to two arms E, which are pivotted by pins E° to the arms E of a horizontal rock
shaft E³, which works in bearings provided in fixed brackets E secured to the
breast beam of the loom. The mechanism for producing the two movements of
the straight edge is shown in Figures 1, 2, 7* and 15.-G is the cam on the shaft S
for producing the upward and downward movement, acting upon a lever G¹
working on a fixed fulcrum g, and connected by a rod G' with an arm E' provided
on the rock shaft E. J is a cam on the shaft S for producing the backward and
forward movement of the straight edge, acting upon one end of a lever J*, which
works on a fixed fulcrum pin g¹ secured in a bracket J¹ bolted to the exterior of
the loom framing, and the other end of which is connected by a rod J' with one
arm J³ of a rock shaft J, which is fitted to bearings in a bracket Js bolted to the
loom framing, and another arm J7 of which is connected by a rod Je with the
straight edge. The said rock shaft J has coiled around it a spiral spring J8, which
is so attached to it, and to the bracket J-as to tend to turn the said rock shaft
in a direction to keep the lever J* to a bearing on the cam J, and to pull back the
straight edge.
•
H, H, (Figures 2 and 3) are the cutters for cutting the tuft pieces from the
yarns presented by the spools D¹. These consist of shear-like blades secured to
stocks H, H*, working in slideways H. Both cutter stocks have their movements
produced by a single cam H³, which may be a separate cam on the main shaft S,
but is represented (see Fig. 2) as composed of a wing piece secured to the cam G,
which produces the upward and downward movement of the straight edge. This
cam operates upon a lever H, which works on the fixed fulcrum g, and is connected
by a rod h with the arm h¹ of a rock shaft H, which works between centre-screws
or in bearings secured to the side frames of the loom, and which carries two
similar cams H6, one near each side of the loom (but only one shown), which act
upon sliding rods h³ which are attached to the stock H' of the rear cutter H near
its ends, and which work through fixed guides h³ secured to the cross piece A¹ of
the framing. The said cams H act through the rods h³ to produce the forward
movement of the stock H and its cutter, to the position for "evening" all the tuft
yarns and preparing for cutting off the tuft pieces. The corresponding or back-
ward movement of the front cutter stock H by which the cutting of the tufts is
effected, is produced by the action of a pin or projection h (see Fig. 3) on the side
of each cam H on one of two arms H', which are loose on the rock shaft H, and
which are connected with the front cutter stock H₁ by two rods h³. The move-

page_text: iment of the front cutter thus produced does not begin until the back cutter has
nearly completed its backward movement, and it is continued after the back cutter
has completed its movement, and while the latter is stationary, with its edge close
to the tuft yarns.-The shaft II and its cams H are turned back to permit the
return movement of the rods and cutter stock H, by means of a coiled
spring applied between the arm h¹ of the said rock shaft and the cross piece A¹
of the loom framing. The turning back of this rock shaft and cams also liberates
Tho
the loose arms H7 of the rock shaft from the projections h on the cams.
return movements of both cutters are then effected by spiral springs H³, which
connect the back cutter stock H¹ with the loose arms H7 provided on the rock
shaft H, and which pull the rear stock H and the arms 7 towards each other,
thus causing the stock H¹ to move backward, and the rods h³ to push the front
cutter stock H₁* forward.
The provision for operating the cutters to turn the ends of the tuft yarns,
without at the same time operating the other parts of the loom, consists (as shown
in Figure 2) of a treadle H³ or jointed prolongation attached to the front end of the
cam lever H, and having its extremity or foot pioce o projecting slightly in front
of the loom framing to be within reach of the foot or hand of the attendant. By
means of this treadle or prolongation, the rod h may be made to produce the
operation of the cutters in the same way as they are produced by the cam H. In
order to prevent the prolongation H, when in the form of a treadle as shown, from
injuring the feet of the attendant while the loom is in operation, and to allow it
to yield in case of anything getting under it on the floor, it is connected with the
treadle by a pivotted joint he, which is constructed, as shown partly in section,
with two faces h7, 8, which will come to a bearing against each other when the
treadle is depressed, and so prevent downward flexure of the joint; but will
permit upward flexure of the joint, and an upward yielding movement of tho
treadle.
The several parts having been described, the operations will now be described, of
drawing off the tuft yarns, cutting therefrom the tuft pieces, inserting the latter
into the warp, and forming them into the tufts, and securing the tufts in the web.
I will first suppose the chains, which carry the tufts yarn spools, to have
stopped in position to present a spool-carriage and spool directly over the nippers,
and the yarns to be trimmed so that their ends protrude uniformly through the
several guides b on the carriage.-The nippers having been operated upon by the
part 30, 31 of the cam I (see Fig. 5), have risen with their points upward, and
their fingers open, as shewn in dotted outline in Fig. 2, and while the part 31, 32
of the said cam operates, they stop in that position to receive between them the
ends of the tuft yarns.-They then, under the control of the part 40, 41 of the
cam K (sce Fig. 7), close to seize the yarns, and then, under the control of
the part 32, 33 of the cam I, descend just far enough to draw off from the spool
a sufficient length of yarn to produce the tufts, after which they stop under the
influence of the part 33, 34 of said cam, while the tuft pieces are cut off by the
cutters. They then, under the control of the part 34, 35 of the said cam I, further
descend, holding and carrying down the tuft pieces. During their descont, they
are turned over by the action of the rack bar j and pinion 7, as hereinbefore
described, so that just before they arrive in their lowest position, corresponding
with the part 35 of the cam I, their points are directed downwards. Just before
they reach the warp, the wrist pin f enters the fork of the lever F, which is then
held in the proper position to receive the said pin by the part 51, 52 of the cam F³
(see Figure 6). The said pin remains engaged with the fork of said lever F until
the operation of inserting the tuft pieces, and forming and securing the tufts, is
completed, the lever F¹ and the spring F in the meantime permitting the forked
lever F to rise and fall to accommodate itself to the upward and downward move-
ments of the nippers produced by the cam I, while the slotted connection of the
rack-barjat permits the oscillating movements given to the nippers during
the operation of forming the tufts by the operation of the forked lever F produced

page_text: by the cam F³. These movements will be better understood by reference to
Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and will presently be described.
The nippers enter the warp very near the fell, and after they have completed
their downward movement, and carried the tufts entirely through the warp, and as
far below it as necessary, they swing back to the position shown in Fig. 11, under
the control of the part 52, 53 of the cam F³. They are then, by the action of the
part 35, 36 of the cam I, raised high enough to withdraw half the length of
the tuft pieces through the warp, and as they are so raised, they are at the same
time thrown forward by the action of the part 53, 54 of the cam F³, being thus
brought to the position shewn in Figure 12, in which they bring the tuft pieces
close to the last shot of filling, d, which has been inserted. In this position they
are held by the part 36, 37 of the cam I, and the part 54, 54* of the cam F³, while
the shed is opened, and a shot i of filling is put in, except that just as the lay
beats up, the abrupt off-set 55 of the cam F³ momentarily carries them a little
forward to take them out of the way of the reed as the latter beats up the shot i.
After the beating up of the shot i, the nippers go back to the position shewn in
Fig. 12, and as the lay retires, the nippers, still closed, descend through the warp
under the control of the part 37, 38 of the cam I, passing behind the beaten up
shot i, and in so doing, returning the ends of the tuft-pieces which they had with-
drawn, and turning the said ends over the said shot i. Just before their descent
is completed, the nippers are opened by the action of the fall 42. 43 in the cam K.-
They are now in the position shown in Fig. 13, but in coming to this position, they
had to be swung back slightly to enable them to clear the shots d and i, and in
order to permit this, the portion of the cam E3 between the offset 55 and the
offset 56, which will be presently described, is sufficiently recessed.
The nippers remain open as shewn in Fig. 13. under the control of the
portion 38. 39 of the cam I, long enough to liberate the tufts, and are closed again
by the rise 43. 44 in the cam K, for the purpose of giving their fingers all the
rigidity practicable. After closing, they descend further under the control of the
part 39. 39* of the cam I, to bring the projections c on their front fingers, below
the shot i, as shown in Fig. 14, and they are then momentarily swung forward by
the abrupt offset 56 on the cain F³, for the purpose of causing the said projections c
to press the tufts under the said shot, as shewn in the said Fig. 14, and leave a
clear space between the tufts and the parts of the nippers below the said projection
for the reception of the straight edge E, which has been caused by the pro-
jection 61. 62 on the cam G to rise into the said space, and to be held up there
while it is held forward by the cam J, to keep the tufts pressed forward under the
shot i, as shewn in Figure 14. during the final withdrawal of the nippers from the
warp by the first portion of the rise 30. 31 of the cam I. It may here be stated
that the straight edge E is always held forward by the cam J (which is nearly a
complete circle concentric with the shaft S), except just before it is raised by the
rise of the projection 61. 62 of the cam G, when it is allowed to come back a little
way to enable it to get behind the tufts by the depression 71. 72 of the cam J (sce
Fig. 1), but quickly moved forward again. The straight edge holds the tufts
forward during the crossing of the shed on the shot i, and continues to hold them
while the next shot of filling is put in, and while the lay is advancing to beat up
the said shot, and until just before the reed beats up, when it is caused to descend.
It might have been stated that the final withdrawal of the nippers was preceded
by the swinging back, under the influence of the part 56. 57, of the cam F³, to
enable the projections to clear the shot i. The part 57, 58 of the said cam swings
the nippers forward again a little way after they pass the shot, and the part 59
holds the fork while the nippers are being disengaged from the fork F. The
part 59. 59' of the said cam controls the backward movement of the fork to a
position where it is held by the part 591 59' out of the way while the nippers are
rising to take, and also while they are coming down with the tuft yarn, until the
part 59*, 51, brings it forward to a position to receive the pin f of the descending
ninnana

page_text: Returning to the description of the action of the portion 43. 44 of the cam K for
opening and closing the nippers, a further explanation of the action of the said cam
will now be proceeded with.-The nippers remain closed while the portion 44, 45
of the said cam operates, and while the nippers are rising, they are opened under
the control of the part 45. 46, and they remain open under the control of the
portion 46. 40, until closed by the action of the part 40. 41, to prepare for drawing
off material for new tufts as already described.
Of the three shots of filling employed for each course of tufts, one is put in while
the nippers are going up to take the yarn from the spools, and is beaten up just as
the nippers are about to take the yarn, and while the point 81 in the cam I is in
operation. The next shot is put in while the nippers are descending, and is beaten
up when the point 82 of the said cam is in operation, and in time for the lay to
begin to recede, before the nippers first enter the warp. The third shot is put in,
as has been before stated, while the nippers are just a little forward of the position
shewn in Figure 12, and when the point 83 of the cam I, and the highest point of
the offset 55 of the cam F, are in operation.
The weft carrying needle and selvedge thread shuttle, and the means of operating
said needle, and of controlling the weft, will now be described.
M is the weft carrying needle, which is straight and secured firmly to a short
stock or carriage M³, which is fitted to slide freely on a stationary straight
horizontal slide M³, which is supported by a bracket M³, firmly secured to the right
band'side-frame of the loom, the said slide being parallel with the breast-beam B
and lay L.
The said needle M is represented as having the greater portion of its length made
of angle-steel, to combine stiffness and lightness, but its point, and some portion of
its length adjacent thereto, are represented as made, for convenience, of a separate
piece of square or approximately square transverse section, and secured to the
angular portion by screws m m, as shewn in Figures 17. 18. 19. The point of the
needle, the form of which is shewn in Figures 16. 17. 18. and 19, forked by
being slotted vertically right through it, as shewn at a. The front prong so formed
is slotted transversely to form a second fork a¹, and the back prong so formed has
provided in it an eye a. The upper sides of the prongs have a downward slope
towards the point, as shewn in Fig. 18, and their ends are rounded off to prevent
them from catching in the warp.
Near the head of the needle, which is secured to the stock or carriage M², there
is attached to it, or to the said carriage itself, a cam 23 for operating a clamp
which will be presently described for drawing the loop of weft thread tight to
Belvedge of the web, and there is also attached to the upper side of the needle,
near the head, an eye guide 24 to receive the weft thread.
To the inner end of the needle-carriage slide M³, there is secured, as shown in
Figures 17, 18, 19, 19*, a small fixed bracket P, in which there is a thread eye 25
situated behind the needle, and to which there is secured another thread guide v v
situated in front of the needle.-The latter guide vv is composed of two elastic
wires, which project from the said plate close together some distance in a direction
parallel with the needle, and the extremities of which are turned, one upwards and
the other downward, to make a V shaped fork, as shewn in Figure 21, the said
parallel portions and the vertex of the V being about opposite to the central-line
of the needle, and the fork itself being parallel with the warp, and very near the
selvedge 29 on the side of the warp, where the needle enters. On the outerside of
the needle carriage slide M³ there is a fixed weft thread guide g, see Figures 16
and 17.
The weft clamp above mentioned, which is shewn in Figures 18, 19, 19*
and 21, consists of two parts, namely, first, a fixed jaw 27 formed on a plate R
secured firmly to the fixed slide M³, and having two thread eyes 26, 26, and
second, a movable jaw 27* formed on a lever R¹, which is pivoted at 28 to the said
plate R

page_text: The needle operating cam Q (see Figures 1 and 15) transmits to the needle the
necessary to and fro motion by means of levers Q¹and Q² and connecting rods Q‘Q³,
but as this mechanism does not or need not differ very essentially from the needle
operating mechanism used in other needle looms, it needs no further description.
S is the stationary shuttle which carries the selvedge thread arranged crosswise
of the loom and parallel with the needle, and just below the path of the needle, so
that the point of the latter will pass closely over it after passing through the web.
This shuttle is supported in a bed T, which is secured to a fixed bracket T¹, which
is bolted to the left hand side frame of the loom, or which may be otherwise
formed or provided on the opposite side of the loom to that from which the needle
enters the warp. The said shuttle only differs in two particulars from the shuttles
commonly employed for the purpose, viz., first in having its nose, s², somewhat
longer than is common, and turned upward to be received in the vertical slot or
fork, a, of the needle, as shewn in Figure 18; and second, in being provided with a
long thin tails, which projects forward and towards the centre of the loom in a
direction oblique to the length of the shuttle itself, and to the warp in the loom,
but has its terminal portion s*, see Fig. 22, at a right angle to the length of the
shuttle, so that it will be parallel with the warp in the loom.-The said shuttle
occupies such a position, that the said terminal portion of the tail will be close to
the adjacent selvedge of the web that is being woven in the loom, and that the
point or extremity 8* of the tail will be a little in front of the line of the fell, as
may be understood by reference to Figures 17 and 19*, in which 29* is the line of
the shuttle selvedge, and 47 is the line of the fell.-The shuttle bed T is provided
at its corners with rounded upwards projections tt, to form guards to confine the
shuttle longitudinally, and it has attached to its sides two guide plates TT3,
which have internal flanges 48, 48, on their upper edges, under which the needlo
may pass, as shown in Figures 18, 19 and 20, during the latter part of its forward
movement through the warp. These flanged guide pieces serve as guides to assist
in confining the needle to a right line, and to conduct it directly over the shuttle,
and also serve to confine it in a downward direction close to the shuttle, and at the
same time serve to prevent, not only the lateral displacement of the shuttle, but
to confine it downwards to its bed as much as is necessary while the latter passes
over it, being provided for the latter purpose with internal shoulders z z, as shewn
in Fig. 20.
The inner faces of the guide plates T T are also slightly hollowed out, as
shewn at o o in Fig. 20, to give plenty of room for the weft thread on opposite
sides of the needle, and the said guide pieces fit so loose to the needle and shuttle,
as to present no obstacle to their free movement, or to the passage of the loop of
the weft by the sides of and under the shuttle. The guide plate T* is rigidly
secured to the shuttle-bed, but that T is connected with the said bed by a hinge p,
as shown in Figures 19 and 20, that it may be easily turned down to provide for
the insertion and removal of the shuttle. In order to secure the hinged guide-
plate in the operative position shewn in the drawing, the said plate is provided
in the bottom of its hinged portion with a pin or projection pl, to engage, as shewn
in Figure 20, in a hole in a spring catch p², which is attached by a screw p³ to the
bottom of the shuttle bed T. To enable the guide T³ to be turned down for
taking out and putting in the shuttle, the spring catch is depressed by the
attendant, as shewn in dotted outline in Fig. 20. When the said catch is liberated
after the guide-plate T³ is replaced in its operative position, the said catch engages
with and locką it.
In weaving, the weft thread is supplied from a bobbin placed on the floor or
otherwise conveniently arranged at or near the right hand side of the loom, and it
passes as shewn in Figures 17. 19. 19*, where it is shewn in a line of alternate
strokes and dots, first, through the eye q on the needle carriage slide M³, thence
through the eyes 26. 26 and between the jaws 27. 27* of the clamp, thence through
the guide 24 on the needle, and through the guide 25 on the slide M³, behind the

page_text: needle, thence through the eye a³ of the needle from the back thereof, and through
the fork a¹.
The position of the parts shewn in Figures 16, 17 is that when the needle is
out of the warp, and the position shown in Figures 18 and 19 is that when the
needle has just completed its forward movement, which carries the double weft
through the shed.-It will be understood that the bend of the loop of the doubled
weft, which in the latter position of the needle is stretched across the fork a
'between the eye a³ and the fork a¹ of the needle, as shewn in Figure 19, has passed
beyond the point of the shuttle, having been permitted to do so partly by the
elasticity of the thread itself, and partly by slightly tilting the shuttle to lower its
point; and the bend of the loop is now lower than the point of the shuttle, so that
as the needle returns, the loop will pass under instead of over the shuttle, which
will thus be caused to pass entirely through it, and leave the selvedge-thread
within it. The loop, in slipping over the heel of the shuttle, will pass on to, and
be temporarily detained by the tail thereof, and will be so guided by the
oblique portion thereof, as to be carried forward to the line of the fell, where it
will be retained on the terminal portion s*, close to the selvedge, while drawn tight
thereon by the retiring movement of the needle, as will be presently explained.
The loop of each pick of filling thus retained on the tail of the shuttle, will remain
thereon until one or more subsequent picks are so caught and retained, and will be
finally drawn off by the taking-up of the web as the weaving proceeds. By thus
retaining several picks on the tail of the shuttle after their loops are drawn up
tight, the tail is given a support of considerable length in the selvedge, and held
quite firmly, and so made to determine the point to which the loops of successive
picks are drawn up, and a tight and very even selvedge is obtained. The terminal
portion of the tail of the shuttle is so small (being almost like the point of a
needle), that as the loops of the weft slip off it, they have no appreciable projection
beyond the selvedge-thread.
The drawing tight of the weft is effected in the following manner:-As the
needle continues to retire after its loop has been caught and retained by the tail
of the shuttle, the eye a² at its point, and the eye-guide 24, near its head,
run freely along the back half of the doubled weft, until the cam 23, on the
needle comes into operation on the tail or outer end of the clamp lever R¹ and
cause the weft to be clamped by the jaws 27. 27*, and immediately after the
thread has been so clamped, the eye-guide, 24, passes the clamp jaws, and draws
the thread outward beyond them in the form of a double loop, as shown in
Figure 19, and so pulls the weft tight into the selvedge on the opposite side of
the web; but just before the needle completes its retiring movement, the recess 23*
of the cam 23. passes the tail of the lever R', and so liberates the clamp, and leaves
the weft free, while the lay beats up.
As the lay beats up the filling, it carries that portion of the weft thread between
the selvedge and the eye of the needle into the fork of the V-shaped guide v, v,
and through the vertex of the V, and between the close parallel front portions of
the wires of which the said guide is composed, where the thread is held by the
elasticity of the wires in such position that it is sure to be caught in the fork a¹ of
the needle when the latter advances again.
It will be understood from the foregoing description, that the operation of
causing the selvedge-thread to pass througli the loop of the doubled weft, is effected
by the needle itself without any other appliance, either for operating the shuttlo or
for manipulating the loop.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, as communicated to me by my Foreign Correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination with the tuft-yarn-spools and their carriages and carrying
chains, and the cutters for cutting off the yarn from said spools in pieces to produce

page_text: tufts, of nippers having a positive movement toward and from said chains, for
taking the tuft-yarn from the spools, and drawing it off therefrom while said chains
are stationary, a rest to hold the said yarn while being so cut off, a turning over
movement and movements towards and from the plane or planes occupied by the
warp for inserting the pieces into the warp to produce the tufts, substantially as
herein described.
2. The combination- with the nippers for inserting the tuft-pieces into the warp,
of mechanism for giving the said nippers a movement through the warp, and back
for the insertion of the tuft-pieces and formation of the tufts, and mechanism for
giving them an oscillating movement while in the warp, for the purpose of pressing
the tufts toward the fell of the web; substantially as herein described.
3. The combination with the upwardly and downwardly moving nipper-carrying
arms and the nippers pivotted to said arms, and furnished with toothed pinions, of
the rack bar gearing with said pinions and pivotted at a fixed point out of the axis
of motion of the said arms, whereby the movement of the nippers on their pivots is
obtained by the movement of the said arms, substantially as herein described.
4. The combination with the nippers for inserting the tuft-pieces into the warp,
and having projections on their front fingers for pressing forward the tufts in the
warp, of a straight edge and mechanism for operating it for holding the tufts during
the crossing of the shed, substantially as herein described.
5. The combination with the nippers and the carrying arms in which they are
pivotted, of the crank arm n² and crank wrist f., the forked lever F, its supporting
lever F, and its spring F2, a cain for operating tho said forked lever, and means of
connecting said cam with the forked lever, substantially as herein described.
6. The combination with the straight-edge E, the rock-shaft E³, provided with
arms E, to which the said straight-edge is pivotted, a cam, and means of
connecting said rock-shaft therewith, to produce the upward and downward
movement of said straight-edge, and a cam and means of connecting the straight-
edge therewith for producing the backward and forward movement thereof, all
substantially as herein described.
7. The combination with the tuft-cutter stocks H H¹*, of the rock-shaft H³
furnished with cams E and with loose arms H7 the said cams having projections h
to actuate said armis, the rods h³ and h between the said arms and cams, and the
cutter-stocks and means of operating said rock-shaft; all substantially as herein
described.
8. The combination, in a loom, of a straight weft carrying-needle, guides for
directing it in a right line, and mechanism for moving it to and fro through the
warp, a stationary shuttle-bearing and a stationary shuttle for containing a
Belvedge-thread arranged in said bearing parallel or thereabouts with the said
needle; substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
9. A weft carrying needle for a loom, having its point or end slotted to form a
fork, having one prong of the so formed fork slotted to form a second fork, and
having an eye in the other prong; substantially as and for the purpose. herein
described.
10. The combination with a forked weft carrying needle and means of operating
the same, of a stationary selvedge-thread shuttle arranged parallel with, and close
to the path of said needle, and having its point arranged to be received within the
fork of said needle; substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
11. The combination with the weft carrying needle, and means of operating the
same, of a stationary selvedge-thread shuttle having a tail 8³ ³ for retaining at
the same time several of the loops of the weft at the selvedge, substantially as
herein described.
12. The combination with the weft carrying needle and means for operating the
same, of a weft clamp having a fixed support, a cam carried by the needle for
operating said clamp, and a guide carried by the needle and passing by said clamp,
to produce the tightening of the weft at the selvedge, substantially as herein
described.

page_text: 13. The combination with the weft carrying needle having a fork, and having
an eye in one prong of said fork, and a second fork in the other prong thereof, of
a stationary V-shaped or forked guide to direct the weft into the said second fork ;
substantially as herein described.
14. A power loom for weaving tufted fabrics constructed and arranged substan- &
tially as herein shown and described.