IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Northrop, of Millholme Shed, near Skipton, in
the County of York, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Northrop at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1881.
JONATHAN NORTHROP, of Millholme Shed, near Skipton, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
The improvements relate, first, to improved shedding motions or means of
operating the heddles for changes of shedding, giving less pressure on the warps,
and making the shed without touching the going part; also allowing of the
reversing of the shedding motion when the loom is working, making it easy to find.
the pick when the weft is broken; also allowing of weaving with two shafts up and
down without altering the speed for plain or fancy fabrics, by which means I do
For this purpose
away with the tappets, treadles, and jackrods heretofore in use.
I fit the shedding apparatus on the off end of the loom, and I secure on the side of
the frame work two brackets having bosses, through which works a small shaft on
which are secured levers to which is fitted a cross bar which receives an up and
down motion. The levers and cross bar are actuated by a lever which is secured
on the end of the small shaft, and which is actuated by a stud which works in a
groove formed in a cam which is secured on the top shaft of the loom. The stud is
fitted in the top end of the lever; the cross bar works in guides which are secured
to the side of the loom frame, and the front guide is made with a projection in
which is drilled a hole, and through which passes one of the ends of the cylinder
shaft; the other end works in an upright bracket, which is secured to the back
bracket in which works the small shaft. On the cylinder shaft is fitted a disk
having the rim cut or cast with notches, and the face fitted with pins or studs.
The notches are to hold the cylinder in position during the revolution of the loom,
and the studs are for turning the cylinder to act on a heald or heddle to bring up
any required shaft. To hold or secure the cylinder when required a catch formed
on a lever is employed, whose fulcrum works on a stud which is secured in the

page_text: small shaft back bracket, and in a centre line with the top shaft is secured a stud
which is actuated by a small cam or tappet which is fitted on the top shaft.
The cam forces out the catch from one of the notches it may have been dropped
in, and just at the time when the cylinder is being actuated by a stud to turn the
cylinder, and the catch is brought into a notch by a spiral spring secured to the
catch lever and bracket. To actuate and turn the cylinder a fork is employed, and
the fork is made with catches which come in contact with one of the studs fitted in
the side of the disk. The catch pulls down the disk, giving a slight turn to the
cylinder, and the fork is actuated by a cam which is fitted on the lower shaft of
the loom. This cam is cut with a groove in which works a stud secured in the
end of a dropping arm of a bell cranked lever. The fulcrum of this lever works
on a stud fitted in a small bracket secured to one of the brackets carrying the
small shaft; the other arm of the bell cranked lever is secured to the lever of the
fork which gives a lifting and lowering motion to the fork for actuating the
cylinder when required, and to reverse the cylinder when the loom is working or
standing to find the pick. One of the arms of the fork is made with a curved
hooked end which when required is brought in contact with a small pulley secured
to a spring fixed on a lever whose fulcrum works on a stud fitted in the back
bracket of the cylinder shaft. The top arm of this lever is secured to a rod which
passes to the knocker off end of the loom, and which enables the weaver whilst at
that end to reverse the cylinder to find the pick when the loom is going.
To work the healds I employ dropping down knives, which are actuated by
preference by means of metal studs fitted in the usual laths. The studs force in
the knives, leaving them at rest until again required; and to actuate the knives the
studs are removed from position, and the knives brought out by means of bell
cranked levers, the top arms pressing against the bottom hanging down arms of
the knives, and are kept pressed thereto by spiral springs fitted to the other arms
of the bell cranked levers. The pressing action is kept on during the time the
healds are working up and down, and the knives are lifted up by the cross bar
herein before mentioned; and to hold the healds down the knives are made with
catches which come in contact with small rollers fitted on a shaft secured in bearers
bolted to the side of the frame of the loom.
Secondly, to means by which rotary motion may be given to rotary circular
shuttle boxes containing series of shuttle chambers in the order desired, allowing
the missing or "skipping" of one or more of the shuttle chambers in selection of
the shuttles brought into use, by which means I can place two colours in single
pick or three, five, nine, eleven, or more if required, whilst the loom is working;
also allowing of finding the pick without removing the shuttle out of the chambers,
so that on the finding of the pick the required coloured weft is in the chamber
ready for the next pick, giving a safe working of the loom besides a saving in
weaving.
For this purpose on the shaft of the loom I fit an excentric, to which is
connected the end of a fork which is made near the top with a cross bar, and one
of the sides of the fork is kept always acting by means of a spring, and to reverse
the motion I employ a lever giving a similar action as the reversing motion given
to the shedding motion. The cylinder shaft is made to go across the loom to actuate
the other cylinder and boxes; on this shaft are fitted the cylinders having by
preference metal studs, and on the shaft are fitted at each end disks having notches
and fitted on the sides with studs; and to stop the cylinder when required catches
formed on the ends of rods are employed, the rods work in guides, and over the
rods are fitted spiral springs. The cylinders are actuated forward or backward by
forks having catches and cross bars, the-catches pull down the disks and turn the
cylinders; on the shaft are also fitted two disks formed with projections which
lift up and down levers whose fulcrums work on studs fitted in brackets secured
to the framework of the loom; the levers lift up and out of gear, clutches fitted
on the picking shafts and bring them in gear when the picking is in action, and
when one of the clutches is in action the other is out, allowing of giving two picks

page_text: on one side, whilst the other is at rest for pick and pick, or the shuttle boxes can
be worked the ordinary way.
On the shafts of the shuttle boxes and for each box are fitted disks hereinbefore
described, that is to say, made with notches and fitted with studs and worked by
forks and catches so as to turn or reverse the boxes; or the forks can be kept
clear when no action is required to be given to the boxes; and to keep the boxes
when required firmly in position, I employ catches formed on levers whose fulcrums
work on pins or studs fitted in the end plates of the boxes, and the catches are
kept in position by spiral springs, the forks work on studs and are actuated by
the arms of levers which are worked by the cylinders; the motion of the boxes
come in contact with the forks turning the cylinders at the required time, and to
bring the catches out of gear of the disks, notches and tappets are employed which
are fitted on the top shaft of the loom and which actuate levers giving motion to
the rods which are secured to the levers having the catches.
Thirdly. Stopping looms having shuttle boxes at each end when the weft
breaks or is run off.
When the weft is either run off or is broken, a pin is caused to drop on the top
of a bracket having a slot opening within which works a short lever actuated by
the lower shaft of the loom, and kept in action when the loom is at work; the pin
in dropping forces out the short lever bringing it in contact with the knocker off,
which throws the belt from the fast on to the loose pulley thus stopping the loom.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Jonathan Northrop in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th July 1881.
JONATHAN NORTHROP, of Millholme Shed, near Skipton, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
The said Invention relates, firstly, to improved shedding motions or means of
operating the heddles for changes of shedding in looms for weaving, so as to give
less pressure on the warps, and for making the shed without touching the going
part of the loom; also allowing of reversing the shedding motion when the loom
is working, making it easy to find the pick when the weft is broken, and allowing
of weaving with two shafts up and down without altering the speed for either
plain or fancy fabrics, by which means I am enabled to do away with the tappets
and treadles heretofore in use.
For this purpose I fit the shedding apparatus to the loom, and on the side of the
framework I secure two brackets having bosses, through which works a small shaft,
on which are secured levers to which are fitted links connected to a cross bar which
works in guides; on the shaft is fitted a lever having a stud secured in the end, over
which stud is fitted a small friction roller which works in a groove formed in a
cam secured on the top shaft of the loom; the cross bar works in guides formed in
brackets, and the front guide is made with a projection having a slot, in which
works a stud carrying an upright lever having a catch and dropping lever fitted
with a stud and runner actuated by a cam or tappet fitted on the top shaft. On
the cylinder shaft is fitted a disc having the rim cut or cast with notches, and the
face of the disc is fitted with pins or studs; the notches are for the purpose of
holding the cylinder in position during the revolution of the loom, and the studs
serve for turning the cylinder so as to act on a heald or heddle to bring up any
required shaft; to hold or secure the cylinder when required a catch formed on a
lever is employed whose fulcrum works on a stud; the cam or tappet forces out
the catch from one of the notches into which it may have been dropped, and just
at the time when the cylinder is being actuated by a stud to turn the cylinder, and
the catch is brought in a notch by a spiral spring which is secured to the catch
lever and bracket.
To actuate and turn the cylinder a fork is employed of similar construction to
the fork hereinafter described to actuate the cylinder, and a catch of the fork
comes in contact with one of the studs fitted in the side of the disc; the catch
pulls down the disc, giving a slight turn to the cylinder, and the fork is in this
case actuated by a cam fitted on the lower shaft of the loom; this cam is cut with
a groove, in which works a stud secured in the end of a dropping arm of a bell
cranked lever; the fulcrum of this lever works on a stud fitted in a small bracket
secured to one of the brackets carrying the small shaft; the other arm of the bell
cranked lever is secured to the lever of the fork, giving a lifting and lowering
motion of the fork for actuating the cylinder when required, and to reverse the
cylinder when the loom is working or standing to find the pick; one of the arms
of the fork is made with a curved hooked end, which when required is brought in
contact with a small pulley which is secured to a spring fixed on a lever whose
fulcrum works on a stud fitted in the top rail of the loom; the top arm of this
lever is secured to a rod which passes to the knocker off end of the loom, and
which enables the weaver whilst at that end to reverse the cylinder to find the
pick when the loom is going the right way. To work the healds I employ dropping
down knives, which are actuated preferably by means of metal pegs fixed in the

page_text: usual laths; the pegs force out the knives, leaving them at rest until again
required; and to actuate the knives the pegs are removed from position and the
knives are brought out by means of bell cranked levers, the top arms of which
press against the bottom hanging down arms of the knives, and are kept pressed
thereto by small spiral springs fitted to the other arms of the bell cranked levers;
the pressing action is kept on during the time the healds are working up and down,
and the knives are lifted up by the cross bar hereinbefore mentioned; and to hold
the healds down the knives are made with catches, which come in contact with
small rollers fitted on studs.
The said Invention relates, secondly, to means by which rotary motion may be
given to rotary circular shuttle boxes containing series of shuttle chambers in the
order desired, allowing the missing or "skipping " of one or more of the shuttle
chambers in the selection of the shuttles brought into use, by which means I can place
two colours in single pick, or three, six, or eleven colours if required, whilst the loom
is working, or I can place five, seven, or nine with single and double picks, at the
same time allowing of finding the pick without removing the shuttle out of the
chamber; also allowing of weaving when the loom is working with single or double
picks, giving a safe working of the loom besides a saving in weaving. For this
purpose on the driving shaft of the loom I fit an eccentric, to which is connected
the end of a fork made with two catches near the top; one of the sides of the
fork is always kept acting and kept in working position by means of a spring; and
to give a reverse motion to the shuttle box I employ a lever which is actuated by
a cam or tappet; the bottom arm of this lever is curved and made with a rounded
end on which acts the cam or tappet, and the lever is kept in working position by
a spring. The cylinder lags and pegs actuate (according to the position given
them) three long dropping down levers, which are pushed as required on to studs
fitted in the end of horizontal levers which are always working when the loom is
in motion, and the levers are actuated by an eccentric or cam fitted on the driving
shaft of the loom; when the catch of any one of the three long levers comes in
contact with a stud fitted in the horizontal levers, the lever is lifted up so as to
actuate a lever fitted in supports secured to the floor of the room or shed, and
thereby pulls up the back arm and lowers the front arm which pulls down a
rod, having a catch bringing the same in contact with one of the pegs fitted at the
back of a disc and which gives a turn to the shuttle box, and by a reverse
motion of one of the three long levers acted on by one of the studs fitted in the
horizontal levers the shuttle box is pulled the reverse way with the same cylinder
but with another peg.
:
On the driving shaft of the loom is secured a can or tappet which actuates a
small friction roller, which works on a stud secured in a forked end of a connecting
rod connected by a stud to a horizontal lever to actuate the levers which lift up
the long dropping levers; when the cam or tappet moves up it lifts up the
connecting rod and horizontal lever, which lifts up a long lever which actuates a
horizontal lever having in the top an arm fitted with a rod, in the top of which is
secured a friction roller so as to bring the said roller from contact with pegs fitted in
front of the shuttle box disc, and also allows the shuttle box to be turned; when
the shuttle box is on half turn the lever and friction roller begin to rise and bring
the next box in position and lock the box at the same time; a guard is employed
to keep the check strap from rubbing against the box.
The lags on the cylinder are fitted with three rows of pegs, one row of pegs for
turning the shuttle box one way, another row for turning the shuttle box the other
way, and the third row for the picking motion. One of the pegs of the third row in
coming in contact with a friction roller fitted under a guide lever pushes out the
lever, which forces out a small disc and a pin secured in the centre of the disc; and
at the back the pin enters a hole of a horizontal lever passing under the head of the
picking shaft, and through the action of a rising and lowering lever causes the
lifting up of half of the picking shaft and disconnects the picking motion, allowing
the shuttle box to turn round and receive another shuttle from the other end;

page_text: the pin secured to the small disc is fitted with a spiral spring to bring back the
pin or stud when the picking shaft is to be connected; and to bring back the shaft
and reverse the motion a cam is employed, which is secured on the driving shaft
of the loom which actuates the lifting and lowering lever, and withdraws by the
spiral spring the pin which connects the horizontal lever passing under the head
of the picking shaft, allowing the picking shaft to fall and the clutches to get in
gear, and the picking shaft is brought in gear when the picking is in action, and
when one of the clutches is in action the other is out, allowing of giving from two
picks to six picks on one side whilst the other is at rest for pick and pick, or both
clutches can be thrown out of gear together to leave clear for finding the pick;
the shuttle boxes can be worked the ordinary way by the removal of a peg; and
to prevent breakage.if anything should come in the way, and should the shuttles
not enter the boxes, a hollow tube is employed which is fitted with a spiral spring,
and in the tube works a rod which is secured to a lever fixed on the rocking shaft
working the shuttle boxes; the end of the hollow tube is secured to an eccentric
which is fitted on the driving shaft of the loom.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a side view of part of a loom with my improved
shedding motion, and Figure 2 front view of the same; Figure 3, Sheet 2,
represents a front view of the rotary motion for circular shuttle boxes and front
view of part of a loom; Figure 4, end view of shuttle box motion, and Figure 5
end view shewing cylinder motion and pick and pick motion.
Similar letters of reference are used to represent similar parts.
A is the loom frane, to which are secured the brackets B having bosses C,
through which works a small shaft D, on which are secured levers E, to which
are fitted links F connected to a cross bar G working in guides; on the shaft D is
fitted a lever H having a stud, on which is fitted a small [friction roller I which
works in a groove formed in a cam J secured on the top shaft K of the loom; on
the top of the brackets B are secured or cast brackets L; on the side of one of
them is a lug M, in which is fitted a stud N which carries a lever having the upper
arm O made with a catch X, and the lower arm P fitted with a stud on which is
placed a small roller or runner Q actuated by a cam or tappet R secured on the
top shaft K. On the cylinder shaft S is fitted a disc T having notches U, and
also fitted on the face with pins or studs V; the notches receive the catch X and
hold the cylinder W in position during the revolution of the loom, and when
required, and the studs or pins V turn the cylinder W to act on a heald or heddle
to bring up any required shaft; the cam R forces out the catch X from the notch
into which it may have dropped just at the time the cylinder W is being actuated,
and the catch X is brought into a notch by the spiral spring Y, secured to the 4
arm O and to the bracket L.
To actuate and turn the cylinder a fork and gear are employed of similar con-
struction to the fork and gear shewn in Figure 5, Sheet 2, of the accompanying
Drawing, and described hereafter, but in this case the fork is actuated by a cam Z
fitted on the lower shaft A¹ of the loom, the cam is cut with a groove B', in which 4
works a runner C¹ fitted on a stud secured in the end of a bell cranked lever D',
the top arm being secured to the rod of the fork; the bell cranked lever D¹
works on a stud E' secured in a bracket; the cylinder is actuated by the fork in
a manner hereinafter described.
the
To work the healds I employ the dropping down knives F¹ which are actuated 5
by pegs G¹, by preference of metal, and the pegs are fixed in the usual laths;
pegs G force in the knives F', leaving them at rest until required, and to actuate
the knives the pegs are removed from position and the knives brought out by the
bell cranked levers H¹; the top parts I of the top arms press against the bottom
hanging down arms J₁ of the knives, and are kept pressed thereto by spiral 6
springs K¹ fitted to the other arms of the bell cranked levers, and the pressing
action is kept on during the time the healds are working up and down, and the

page_text: knives F¹ are lifted up by the cross bar G, and to hold the healds down the
knives are made with catches which come in contact with small rollers fitted on
studs secured in brackets.
To give rotary motion to circular shuttle boxes containing series of shuttle
chambers L¹ in the order desired, thereby allowing the missing or "skipping" of
one or more of the shuttle chambers in the selection of the shuttles brought into
use, whereby I can place two colours in single pick, or three, six, or eleven colors if
required whilst the loom is working, or five, seven, and nine with single and double
picks; also enabling the finding the pick without removing the shuttle out of the
chamber, and of weaving when the loom is working with single or double picks,
giving a safe working of the loom, besides a saving in weaving.
On the driving shaft A', Figures 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 2, I fit an eccentric M¹, to
which is connected a fork N¹ having catches O¹, and one of the sides P¹ is always
kept acting and in position by the spiral spring Q, and to give a reverse motion to
the shuttle box R¹ I employ a lever working on a stud S¹ secured in a slot hole of
the bracket T' formed on a support U₁. The bottom arm V₁ of. the lever is curved
and made with a head W', which receives action from a cam or tappet X' fitted on
the driving shaft A¹, and the lever is kept in working position by the spiral
spring Y¹. The pegs Z¹ of the cylinder W actuate (according to the position given
to them) three long dropping down levers A², which are pushed as required onto
studs B2 fitted in the ends of the levers C2, which are always in action when the
loom is working; when the catch D2 of any one of the three levers A² comes in
contact with a stud B³, the lever is lifted up so as to pull up the arm E² and lower
the arm F2 of a lever, pulling down a rod G³, bringing the catch H2 in contact with
one of the pegs I fitted at the back of a disc J2, which gives a turn to the shuttle-
box R¹, and by a reverse motion one of the levers A2, acted on by a stud B³,
actuates a rod G2, pulling the shuttle box the reverse way, and with the same
cylinder W, but with another peg Z'. On the driving shaft A' is secured a tappet
or cam K² which actuates a runner or friction roller La working on a stud secured
in the forked end M² of a connecting rod N2 secured in a cap 02 fitted in the end
of a lever C² which actuates the levers working the dropping levers A³, and also
actuates a rod Q, in the head R2 of which is fitted a friction roller S2, so as to
bring the said roller from contact with pegs T2 fitted in front of the disc J%, and
which allows the shuttle box to be turned, and when the shuttle box is on half
turn, the rod and friction roller begin to rise and bring the next box in position,
and lock the shuttle box at the same time; a guard U2 is employed to keep the
check strap from rubbing against the shuttle box. The lags on the cylinder W are
fitted with three rows of pegs Z', one row for turning the shuttle box one way,
another or second row for turning the shuttle box the other way, and the third row
for the picking motion; one of the pegs of the third row in coming in contact with
a friction roller V2, which works on a stud secured under a guide lever W², pushes
out the lever which forces out a small disc X, in the back and centre of which is
secured a stud Y2, over which is passed a small spiral spring Z2; the stud Y' is made
to enter a hole of a lever A³ when the disc is pushed out by the peg; the lever A³
which passes under the picking shaft bead B³, and through the action of a lifting
and lowering lever C³, which is actuated by a cam or tappet D³ secured on the
driving shaft of the loom, the lever A³ being then through the stud Y2 connected to
the lever Cs is lifted up, thereby lifting up the picking shaft Es from contact with
the part F3, and which disconnects the picking motion, allowing the shuttle box to
turn round and receive another shuttle from the other end; the spiral spring Z³
brings back the stud Y2 when the picking shaft E³ is to be connected, and to
reverse the motion and bring back the shaft the cam D³ actuates the lever C³, and
by means of the spring Z withdraws the stud from the lever As, allowing the
picking shaft Es to fall in gear with the clutches Gs of the part F³, and the picking
to be put in action, and the picking at the other end out of action, so that when
one of the clutches is in action the other is out, which allows of giving two or more
picks on one side, whilst the other is at rest for pick and pick, or both clutches can

page_text: be thrown out of gear together, to leave clear for finding the pick; the shuttle
boxes can be worked the ordinary way by taking out a peg, and to prevent
breakage if anything should come in the way a hollow tube H³ is employed, in
which works a rod I³ secured to a lever Js fitted on the rocking shaft K³ which
works the shuttle boxes; over the hollow tube H³ is fitted a strong spiral spring L³,
and the end of the tube is secured to a rod M³ connected to an eccentric N³ secured
on the driving shaft of the loom; the spring L³ prevents breakage should anything
come in the way, or should the shuttle not enter right in the box. On the top
rail Os of the loom is secured a bracket P³, having holes Q3, in which passes a stud
secured to a spring R³ fitted on the side of a lever SS secured to a rod T³, which
passes to the knocker off end of the loom, and which enables the weaver whilst at
that end to reverse the cylinder, and put all out of gear to find the pick when the
loom is going.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. The arrangement, construction, and employment of improved shedding
motions or means of operating the heddles for changes of shedding, substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement, construction, and employment of shuttle box
motions whereby to allow of missing or "skipping" one or more of the shuttle
chambers in the selection of the shuttles brought into use, so as to allow of placing
two colors in single pick, or three, six, or eleven colors if required, whilst the
loom is working, or of placing five, seven, or nine with single and double picks;
also allowing of finding the pick without removing the shuttle out of the chamber
or weave when the loom is working with single or double picks, substantially as
set forth and for the purpose herein before described and represented in Figures 3
4, and 5, Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Northrop, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.