IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING." A communication from
abroad by Louis Schönherr, of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This Invention relates,―
Firstly. To improvements in the selecting or jacquard mechanism employed for
actuating the healds or harness of looms in such a manner that the healds or
harness is capable of being maintained in any desired position during any number
of shoots, while other parts of this mechanism are free to change their position ;
and also for shifting of the shuttle boxes so that certain shuttles of a series may be
brought into action as desired.
The Invention further relates to the mechanism for letting off the warp from the
warp beam of looms.
The first arrangement of this improved mechanism consists of a series of vertical
plates mounted in guides, the upper ends of which are embraced by horizontal
slides hinged to a series of fallers, which are raised or lowered as desired by pro-
jections or tappets carried on the links of an endless chain. Catches or lugs project
from both sides of the vertical plates, which, as they are inclined from the vertical
line on either side by the action of the tappets will be caught and lifted or brought
down by catch bars, which rise and fall by the action of an excentric on one of the
main shafts of the mechanism. The rising and falling motion of the selected plates
will impart motion to segment racks (with which each plate is geared at its lower
or tail end), and each segment rack carries a lever and bowle which enters the
forked end of a rock lever, the opposite end of which is connected by a link to one
of a series of balanced beams or rock levers, the opposite ends of which are con-
nected by rods or cords with the heald or harness to be raised or depressed. One
end of these rock levers is fitted with a tension devic efor tightening the cords or
[Price fid]

page_text: rods by which the levers are attached to the harness or healds. By this arrange-
ment a positive stop action of the harness or heald is obtained without the use of
springs or weights.
An
Instead of arranging the plates vertically as in the arrangement just described
they may be arranged horizontally, and the jacquard or tappet apparatus caused to
act upon them by cords or rods from rocking levers. The selection of the particular
plates having been made they may be retained in their position by hooked rocking
levers, from which they are released by a constantly reciprocating catch bar.
auxiliary lever action may be adapted to oppose the return motion of the rocking
levers to which the harness is connected. In order to change the position of the
shuttle three of the vertical plates are. devoted to this object, and may, if desired,
be constructed in two parts, hinged together so that the upper part may be moved
out of the vertical line in either direction in the manner before described. The
three plates devoted to this purpose are mounted on a common shaft, and each is
provided with a projecting piece arranged at different heights to correspond with
the desired position of the shuttle. If desired the supports which carry the shuttle
boxes may be disengaged from the lifting plates so that the latter may rise and fall
for a certain number of shoots without acting upon the shuttle boxes; the parts
may at the desired time be again thrown into gear and the shuttle boxes altered in
position according to the pattern desired to be produced.
Another improvement relates to a differential letting-off motion for delivering
the warp from the warp beam; to which end the break band is acted on by levers
commanded by a spring, which is kept in equilibrium by means of a weighted lever
connected to one end of the springs by a chain. An adjustable tension roller is
connected by another arrangement of levers with the opposite end of the spring,
and also by means of a connecting rod with the arrangement of levers to which the
brake band of the warp roller is connected, so that whatever the diameter of the
warp beam the proper quantity of warp will be given off and the tension always
remain uniform.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
June 1876.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office of Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middresex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Being a communication from abroad by Louis Schönherr, of Chemnitz, in the
Kingdom of Saxony.
This Invention of "Improvements in Looms for Weaving" consists, firstly, in
improvements in the selecting or jacquard mechanism employed for selecting and
actuating the healds, heddles, or harness of looms, the mechanism being made to act
in such a manner that the healds, heddles, or harness can be maintained in any
desired position during any number of shoots, while other parts of the machine are
free to change their positions.
Another improvement consists of a novel arrangement of mechanism for shifting
the shuttle boxes, so that certain shuttles of a series may be brought into action as
desired.
The Invention further consists in an improved arrangement for causing the picker
to return to its original position after throwing the shuttle.
Another improvement consists of an elbow lever for more easily mounting and
adjusting the lower part of the harness.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 an end
view of a power loom constructed according to the present Invention. In Fig. 1
the work beam and the toothed gearing for imparting motion to some of the
working parts are omitted in order that the other parts may be more clearly seen.

page_text: The other Figures represent (detached and in detail) some of the working parts
which constitute the present improvements.
In Fig. 2 A is the warp beam; B, a tension roller; the harness or heddles are
seen at C, in Fig. 1, and D is the batten; E is the breast beam; F, the work or
cloth beam; G, the driving pulley and toothed gearing for actuating some of the
working parts, and H is the main driving shaft. The parts which serve to actuate
the shuttle are indicated by the letter J in Fig. 1.
As regards the motion of the batten Fig. 2 shows only the lever K, the other
parts being all well known are omitted in order that the mechanism behind may
be more clearly seen. L, L, represent different parts of the jacquard or tappet
mechanisin, and M, the actuating levers for working the heddles; N are parts con-
nected with the shuttle changing mechanism.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent parts of the jacquard inechanism detached. To
this branch of the Invention Figures 10 to 20 also belong, and these Figures repre-
sent various modifications of the jacquard mechanism.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 represent improvements in the mechanism for shifting the
shuttle. The improved picking motion is shewn in Fig. 1, at a, b, c, d, and e.
The elbow lever is shewn in Fig. 14, at a, b, c.
The action of the jacquard or tappet mechanism on the heddles is the same as
when excentrics are employed, that is to say, that the heddle to be moved is drawn
either up or down in one uninterrupted motion, and without the aid of springs and
weights. The heddle when drawn in either direction remains in the position
given to it during any desired number of shoots, according to what the pattern may
require.
The difference between the present Invention and the systems heretofore known
or in uso is that by the employment of an endless chain of jacquard cards or tappets
and of a draw plate the part whereby this draw plate, and through it the harness
(which is connected therewith), is moved, leaves the hooked end of the draw plate,
and goes back again immediately. The heddle or harness is drawn either up or
down, and remains at rest or motionless without the aid of a thin blade or other
instrument.
The most important new part of the present Invention is therefore the arrange-
ment of parts which retains the harness in a fixed position, while the thin blade
and plate lever remain free. I call this part of the mechanism the heddle stopper
or holder. This heddle stopper may be of three different forins or kinds, and each
of these kinds of stopper may be constructed in several different manners. One of
theso forms of heddle stopper is shewn at Figures 1 and 2, and detached at Figures
3,.4, 5, and 6. This kind of heddle stopper is also shewn at Figures 10, 11, 12,
13, and 14 with some slight modifications in the construction of the details.
all these latter Figures the stopping device or instrument is indicated by the
letter S.
In
Another kind of stopper is shewn at Figures 15, 16, and 17. This jacquard or
tappet mechanism differs in construction from that above referred to but its action
is the same.
In this instance the heddle stoppers are the tumbling hooks u, u,
the action of which is combined with that of the motion of the plate v.
A third kind consists in so arranging the stopper that the heddle when drawn
shall be held by a counterpressure. This plan is shewn at Fig. 20. The counter-
pressure arrangement herein shewn does not in the least resemble that employed in
jacquard or tappet machines, in which a spring or a weight draws the heddle
in one direction, while it is drawn in the opposite direction by the draw plate or
bars. In this case the spring or weight actuates the heddle whilst in the
improved arrangement by the present Invention the spring or weight acts in
opposition to the movement of the heddle.
Fig. 3 represents the improved arrangement of jacquard or tappet mechanism
detached. The excentric a mounted on the main driving shaft H imparts motion
to the lever b, and by this means, with the aid of the draw rods (shewn best in
Fig. 6), the rocking lever c¹ is actuated. The shaft c on which the lever c¹ is

page_text: mounted extends all across the jacquard, machine, and a second lever c¹ is mounted
at its other end. Moreover, the motion of the excentrica is transmitted from both
sides to the blades f¹ and få by means of the rods d and e, Fig. 6. Each of the
blades and f² slides in a slot made in each of the standards of the jacquard
machine (see Fig. 3). In consequence of the motion of the excentric a (as just
described) the blade f¹ descends, and at the same time the blade f* rises. As the
draw plate P is provided with two hooks or projections a, a, Fig. 5, corresponding
to the blades f¹ and f, it follows that the plate P will either be pushed to the left
by the tappets on the endless chain g of the jacquard mechanism acting against the
guide or the plate will be left alone. In the former case the draw plate P will be
lowered or pushed down by the blade f¹, or in the other it will be lifted up or
raised by the blade f. The opposite motions of these blades are effected by means
of a counter spring. Each draw plate gears by means of a rack h (Fig. 5) with a
toothed wheel i, upon the axle of which are mounted two thin arms supporting a
roller enclosed between them. This roller works in the fork of a lever l, which is
connected with one of the rocking levers M by means of a short arm or lever m
and the rod n (see Figures 3 and 5). Fig. 5 shows how (when the draw plate P is
in the lower position) the heddle is raised, but when the draw plate is pushed to the
right by the endless chain of tappets g of the jacquard it is seized and lifted up by
the blade f, and the heddle is consequently drawn down. This latter position of
the forked lever is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. By means of roller k
and the forked lever the leddle is maintained in one or other of the two positions
(up or down) until the endless chain of tappets g produces another motion of the
draw plate P. In order to ensure still more this state of rest (in which the lever
is held by the roller k) a piece of thin sheet iron supported by the two shafts p
and q is inserted between each toothed wheel and the draw plate P. There are as
many rocking levers M as there are forked levers 7, toothed wheels i, draw plates P,
and intermediate thin sheet iron plates on the shafts 7, p, and q, Fig. 5, these plates
being lightly pressed together by means of a spring on the shaft p. In this
jacquard or tappet mechanism the wheel i, the roller k, and lever 1, with the arm m,
are the most important parts of the heddle stopper or holder.
In Figures 10 to 14 are shown five different inodifications of the heddle stopper,
but they are all analogous in principle of construction, and in all of them the
stopper is indicated by the letter S.
In the jacquard mechanism shewn at Figures 15, 16, and 17, each heddle has
draw plates, which are raised or lowered simultaneously by means of the endless
chaing, the lever h, the rod i, and the lever k, with the assistance of the support l.
The plate m, Figures 15 and 18, serves for the two series of draw plates and slides
in the slot n of the framing of the jacquard or tappet mechanisui. The plate m,
Fig. 18, is actuated by means of the connecting rod c and the lever b from the
excentric a, which is mounted on the main driving shaft H. The return motion is
effected by means of a spring. At the time of raising the lower draw plate and
lowering or drawing down the upper draw plate, one or other of these plates is acted
on by the blade, and in this manner the heddle is drawn either up or down in one
motion. To this end the draw plates are connected with the levers M by means of
carriages p, Figures 15 and 17, the rods r, Fig. 15, the rocking lever 8, and the draw
rod t. In order that the heddle when drawn up or down should remain in this
position without the assistance of the blade there are here two tumbling hooks u, u,
for each of the heddles. One of these hooks seizes the selected draw plate and
holds it. Before the endless chain g determines a new draft the selected draw
plates are pushed a little further by a second blade v, and are thereby disengaged
from the tumbling hooks u. If it be desired to dispense with this slight extra
motion (which is not required for the heddle) it would only be necessary to cause
the part on which the shafts of the hooks u are mounted to advance a little in the
contrary direction. The blade v is actuated by the excentric w, the lever x, and the
draw bar, and seizes the two series of the carriages of the selected draw plate P.
The blade b is in a state of rest in the position v¹, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15;

page_text: it slides down (when descending) upon the inclined face in order to lay hold of the
carriage p, and imparts to this latter a slight movement in a horizontal direction in
order to disengage the tumbling hooks u.
A third kind of heddle stopper or holder, which retains or holds the heddle by
the counterpressure of a spring or weight, is shown at Fig. 20. The lever 8, which
is provided with an antifriction roller b, is pressed by the spring a against the
curve of the elbow lever d, which transmits motion by means of a connecting rod f
to the lever M (not shewn in this Figure), which works the heddles. This lever d,
which is actuated by the draw plates P, and plate p is provided with rounded
notches c and e, in which works the roller b of the lever s when compressed by the
spring a, so that resistance is offered to the heddle by a counterpressure, which may
be as great as may be required, in order to retain the heddle in its position. This
counterpressure is only overcome by the tractive power of the draw plate P, which
is more powerful. The changing of the shuttles is operated at either side of the
loom by means of three plates, which are connected with a little rack by a hinge
or common shaft, around which they can turn. The draw plate when pushed
forward by the endless chain of the jacquard is brought within reach of the two
blades, which move up and down in contrary directions at each shoot, so that a
projection on the draw plate is brought to the point at which the blades are nearest
together. According to whether the draw plate is intended to act upon the upper,
lower, or middle shuttle box the projection will be found to be in a corresponding
position. The change takes place by a single motion, whichever shuttle box it may
be desired to bring into action, four or five shuttle boxes may therefore be
employed. The excentric a, Figures 7, 8, and 9, mounted upon the main driving
shaft H actuates the lever b, and this latter transmits motion to the rocking lever d
by means of the rod c. As there is a similar lever d on the other side of the framing R
the two levers d are connected together by the shaft c. The lever a transmits the
motion it has received from the excentric to the two blades h and i by means of the
rods f and g. These two blades slide in a slot made for the purpose in the
framing R, and move together, one towards the other; these motions in contrary
directions are produced by means of a spring. As each side of the loom is provided
with three shuttle boxes there will also be on the other side three corresponding
draw plates, which are mounted upon a common shaft /, Fig. 8. Each draw plato
has a projecting piece m, the position of which differs on cach plate, according as
the latter corresponds to the upper, lower, or middle shuttle box. If therefore one
of the draw plates is pushed towards the left by the chain J of the jacquard (by
means of a lever n, against which each draw plate is held by a spring o, Fig. 8)
the projection m will be laid hold of or operated upon by one or other of the
blades h and i, and will be brought into the position where the two blades h and i
in their motion (which is always the same) will be nearest together. The
motion is transmitted by means of the rack 2 and the toothed wheel q to the
lifting cam T, Fig. 2, of the shuttle boxes. Behind the toothed wheel q (which is
fixed upon a hollow shaft, whereby motion is transmitted to the lifting cam T by
means of bevil wheels) there is for each of the other draw plates a similar toothed
wheel q fixed upon a shaft, which passes through the hollow shaft of the other
wheel q, and by means of which motion is transmitted also by bevil wheels to the
mechanism at the other side of the loom.
Picking Motion for Throwing the Shuttle.-In looms with changing shuttle
boxes, in which the shuttle is actuated by a spring, there is on each side of the
batten, and upon the picker guide, a little carriage, by means of which the picker
is drawn back to the holding hook, and at the same time compresses the driving
spring.
In order to prevent the shock or jar, which takes place between the picker and
the carriage, this latter, according to the present Invention, is removed from the
picker guide, and fixed for this purpose in the batten below a guide specially pro-
vided for the carriage. In this guide a little carriage with a roller is used in

page_text: place of the ordinary carriage, so that by this arrangement the picker is drawn
forward by means of its cords, and the conducting or driving:roller.
In Fig. 1a is the conducting or driving roller, upon which acts the picking
strut b of the picker; c is the carriage; d is a rod, which serves to push back the
picker, and is actuated by the lever e.
Mounting and Adjusting the Harness. In order to mount the lower part of the
harness easily and correctly the adjusting rods and screws necessary for adjusting
the harness cords are connected to the upper part or arm of elbow levers placed at
the lower end of the vibrating heddle levers M. These screws, or the rods of which
they form a part, are prolonged upwards, and are fixed a little above and in the
vicinity of the centre of motion of the vibrating levers M.
In Fig. 14 a is one of the cords of the harness, which is attached by a loop to
a pin on the elbow lever b. For the two harness cords there are two similar elbow
levers to each leddle lever M, placed one beside the other, and each of these
elbow levers is provided with an adjusting rod and screw c, as shown at
Fig. 14.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.