IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Laird the younger of the Town and County of
Forfar North Britain Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Laird the younger
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1882.
JOHN LAIRD, the younger, of the Town and County of Forfar, North Britain
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
"
This Invention which relates to Improvements in looms for weaving has especial
reference to the weaving of bags, sacks, and other tubular or double fabrics in
which the cloth has, at definite intervals or spaces to be woven into single cloth
for the purpose of forming the bottoms or sides of such bags, sacks or similar
articles according as the said articles are woven with their length lying longi-
tudinally or transversely with the web or warp of the cloth and the object is more
especially to render the whole of the operations in connection with the weaving of
such goods or fabrics and especially the measuring operations automatic and that
without the necessity of stopping the loom.
The Invention consists in applying a spur pinion or wheel to the end of the
shaft which carries the roughened or emery beam commonly called the "pace-
beam," which wheel or pinion gears into and drives, a second pinion or wheel of
any required diameter carried upon an adjustable stud in a lever attached to the
gable of the loom. This second pinion is provided with an adjustable finger
situated transversely with its axis, and so shaped that it, at the proper moment, or
point of its rotation comes into contact with an elastically fitted stud, that is to say
a stud acted upon by a spring projecting from the side or face of a ratchet disc
carried loosely upon the "pace-beam" shaft. At the back of this ratchet disc is a
cam, formed in segments, the extent of whose surface is adjustable by the number or
width of such segments (the said segments being removable) which are at any time
attached to the disc and the number or extent of surface of such segments so used, is
varied or regulated according to the width of the bottom or sides requiring to be

page_text: woven into the bag. Upon the second motion shaft or wiper-shaft or other
suitable shaft of the loom an eccentric is fitted which drives a pawl or hook that
engages with the ratchet teeth at or about the instant that the finger on the second
wheel or pinion comes into contact with the elastic stud and this contact together
with the motion of the finger, causes the ratchet disc to be slightly moved round so
that the pawl or hook operated by the eccentric continues for a time to catch into
the teeth of the ratchet disc and to rotate it.-During the time the ratchet disc is
being so rotated the adjustable cam at the back thereof is in contact with a roller
carried in a lever which lever being raised by the said cam presses its opposito end
(provided with a screw) down upon the drag lever and thereby increases the drag
or tension upon the warp during the time the bottoms or sides of the bags are
being woven. So soon as the cam on the back of the ratchet disc is moved out of
contact with the roller in the aforesaid lever, the pressure of that lever upon the
drag lever is released so that the drag returns to its normal degree, whilst
simultaneously therewith the pawl or hook, driven by the eccentric as aforesaid,
bears upon a long tooth in the ratchet disc and sliding backwards and forwards
thercon ceases to rotate the said disc until the next tooth in the said disc is carried
round so as to engage again with tho pawl or hook by the action of the finger
acting on the elastic stud in the manner hereinbefore described. Simultaneously
with the increase of the drag on the warp the same lever by which that is effected
also acts upon another lever and by means of a draw-rod pulls down the horizontal
needle board of the "Dobbie" machine into that position wherein the needles come
opposite that row of holes in the cards or barrel of the " 'Dobbie," by which the
shed of the warp necessary for weaving single cloth so as to form the bottom or
sides of the bag is produced.
Another part of the Improvements relates to the needle guide bars wherein the
horizontal needles of "Dobbie" machines are carried and this part of the Improve-
ments is such that each or all of the horizontal needles is or are capable of being
removed from the guide bars without removing the guide bars in their entirety as
hitherto. This is effected by constructing the said guide bars in two portions the
upper part of which is held into the lower part by means of a dove-tail tongue or
equivalent joint against which springs press, the arrangement being such that on the
release of the springs the upper part of the needle bar or guide is easily taken out
of place.
Another part of the Improvements consists in placing the cloth beam that is to
say the beam on which the cloth is wound to the outer side of the "pace-beam" in
guides so that it can be easily removed without stopping the loom and without
unwinding the “pace-beam.”

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Laird the younger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th June 1883.
JOHN LAIRD, the younger, of the Town and County of Forfar, North Britain,
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING"
My said Invention which relates to Improvements in looms for weaving is a
development of the Improvements for which Letters Patent N° 671, and dated
23rd February, A.D. 1874, were granted to me the said John Laird the younger and
to William Rutherford and it has especial reference to the weaving of bags, sacks
and other tubular or double fabrics in which the cloth has, at definite intervals or
spaces, to be woven into single cloth for the purpose of forming the bottoms or sides
of such bags, sacks or similar articles according as the said articles are woven with
their length lying longitudinally or transversely with the web or warp of the cloth
and the object more especially to render the whole of the operations in connection
with the weaving of such goods or fabrics and especially the bottoming and
measuring operations automatic and that without the necessity of stopping the
loom.
The Invention consists in applying a spur pinion or wheel to the end of the
shaft which carries the "pace-beam," which wheel or pinion gears into and drives
a second pinion or wheel of any required diameter carried upon an adjustable stud
in a lever attached to the gable of the loom.-This second pinion is provided with
an adjustable finger situated transversely with its axis and so shaped that it, at the
proper moment, or point of its rotation comes into contact with an elastically fitted
stud, that is to say a stud acted upon by a spring projecting from the side or face
of a ratchet disc carried loosely upon the "pace-beam" shaft. At the back of this
ratchet disc is a cam formed in segments, the extent of whose surface is adjustable
by the number or width of such segments (the said segments being removable)
which are at any time attached to the disc, and the number or extent of surface
of such segments so used is varied or regulated according to the width of the
bottom or sides requiring to be woven into the bag.-Upon the second motion
shaft or wiper shaft or other suitable shaft of the loom an eccentric is fitted
which drives a pawl or hook that engages with the ratchet teeth at or about
the instant that the finger on the second wheel or pinion comes into contact
with the elastic stud and this contact together with the motion of the finger
causes the ratchet disc to be slightly moved round so that the pawl or hook
operated by the eccentric continues for a time to catch into the teeth of the
ratchet disc and to rotate it.-During the time the ratchet disc is being so
rotated, the adjustable cam at the back thereof, is in contact with a roller carried
in a lever which lever being raised by the said cam presses its opposite end
(provided with a screw) down upon the drag lever and thereby increases the
drag or tension upon the warp during the time the bottoms or sides of the bags
are being woven. So soon as the cam on the back of the ratchet disc is moved out
of contact with the roller in the aforesaid lever the pressure of that lever upon the
drag lever is released so that the drag returns to its normal degree, whilst
simultaneously therewith the pawl or hook driven by the eccentric as aforesaid,
bears upon a long tooth in the ratchet disc and sliding backwards and forwards
thereon until the next tooth in the said disc is carried round so as to engage again
with the pawl or hook by the action of the finger acting on the elastic stud in the
manner hereinbefore described.-Simultaneously with the increase of the drag on
the warp the same lever by which that is effected, also acts upon another lever, and

page_text: •
by means of a draw rod pulls down the horizontal needle board of the "Dobbie "
machine into that position wherein the needles come opposite that row of holes in
the cards or barrel of the "Dobbie," by which the shed of the warp necessary for
weaving single cloth, so as to form the bottom or sides of the bag, is produced, also
at the same time reversing the underside of warps alternating at each bag.
Another part of the Improvements relates to the needle guide bars wherein the
horizontal needles of "Dobbie" machines are carried, and this part of the Improve-
ments is such that each or all of the horizontal needles is or are capable of being
removed from the guide bars without removing the guide bars in their entirety as
hitherto This is effected by constructing the said guide bars in two portions the
upper part of which is held into the lower part by means of a dovetail tongue or
equivalent joint against which springs press, the arrangement being such that on
the release of the springs the upper part of the needle bar or guide is easily taken
out of place.
Another part of the Improvements consist in placing the cloth beam, that is to
'say the beam on which the cloth is wound to the outer side of the "pace-beam" in
guides so that it can be easily removed without stopping the loom and without
interfering with the measurement of the bags.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters and Figures marked thereon that is
to say :-
Figure 1, is a front elevation of a loom fitted with mechanism constructed
according to and constituting part of my present Invention.
Figures 2, and 3, are end elevations of the same.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are enlarged detail views of parts of the mechanism
constituting part of my present Invention.
Figures 9, and 10, are respectively a front elevation and plan of a needle guide
bar constructed according to and constituting another part of my present
Invention,
Upon one end of the shaft a, of the "pace-beam " b, I key or otherwise suitably
fit the spur pinion or wheel c, (Figure 3) which pinion or wheel gears into and
drives a second spur pinion or wheel d, which may be of any required diameter,
being carried upon or in a bearing formed in the lever e, attached to and whose
position is capable of being adjusted and fixed upon the gable f, of the loom by
the pinching nut g. At the back of this second pinion or wheel d, is provided the
finger h, Figure 3, and shewn more particularly enlarged at Figure 4.-This
finger h, is capable of being adjusted to any desired position by the set-screw i.—
This finger h, is so shaped that it, at the proper moment or point of its rotation
comes into contact with the elastically fitted stud j, which is acted upon at its
back by the spring k, (shewn more particularly in dotted lines at Figure 5) and
which stud, projects from the side or face of the ratchet disc 1, carried loosely
upon the "pace-beam" shaft a, at the back of the spur pinion or wheel c, herein-
before mentioned and as more particularly seen at Figure 1.-At the back of this
ratchet disc 7, is the adjustable cam m, formed in segments, which are screwed or
otherwise suitably fitted to the back thereof and whose periphery is adjustable by
the number or width of the segments which are at any time attached to the diso,
and the number or extent of surface of such segments so used is respectively
increased or diminished according as the width of the single cloth forming the
bottom or sides requiring to be woven into the bag, is increased or diminished.
Upon the second motion of the loom or other suitable shaft n, the eccentric o, is
fitted, which drives the pawl or hook p, which engages with the ratchet teeth of
the disc, at or about the instant that the finger h, at the back of the second
pinion or wheel d, comes into contact with the elastically fitted stud j, and this
contact, together with the motion of the finger h, causes the ratchet disc l, to be
slightly moved round so that the pawl or hook p, operated by the eccentric o,
4

page_text: which has been previously bearing upon the long tooth q, catches and continues for
a time to catch into the teeth of the ratchet disc l, and to rotate it. During the
time the ratchet disc l, is being so rotated, the cam m, at the back thereof, bears in
an upward direction against the anti-friction roller r, carried in one end of the
lever 8, shown more particularly at Figure 6.-The lever 8, is pivoted at t, so that
when the one end is raised by the cam m, in the manner described, its other end
is depressed so that the adjustable screw u, therein, bears upon and presses down
one end of the lever v, and the drag-lever w, to which it is pivoted at x, (from
which part the weights ¹, are suspended) and thereby increases the drag or
tension by the chain (represented in dot and pick lines at y) and drag
wheel, upon the warp during the time the bottoms or sides of the bags are
being woven. The lever v, (shown more particularly at Figure 7), is supported at
its one end at x, as hereinbefore mentioned, and at its other end is carried and is
freo to slide longitudinally upon the stud t, forming the pivot of the hereinbefore
mentioned lever 8. Upon the end of the stud t, is also pivoted the pawl a¹, to
retain the "pace-beam" in the position it has been brought to by the action of the
eccentric o, and pawl or hook p, upon the teeth of the ratchet disc l.-So soon as
the cam m, on the back of the ratchet disc 2, is moved out of contact with the
anti-friction roller r, in the hereinbefore mentioned lever s, the pressure of that
lever upon the lever v, and thereby upon the drag-lever w, is released, so that the
drag returns to its normal degree of tension whilst simultaneously therewith the
pawl or hook p, bears and slides backwards and forwards upon the long tooth q, in
the ratchet disc l, until the next tooth in the said disc is carried round so as to be
engaged with by the pawl or hook p, by the action of the finger acting on the
stud j, in the manner herein before described, which effects the increase of the drag
on the warp, acts simultaneously upon the lever b', (represented in dotted lines in
the Figure 2, of the accompanying Drawings) and by means of the draw-rod c¹,
(which is acted upon by the spring d') and the levers e, and f¹, shaft g', and
link h¹, pulls down the horizontal needle-board i, into that position wherein the
needles como opposite that row of holes in the cards or barrel of the "Dobbie" by
which the shot of the warp necessary for weaving single cloth so as to form the
bottom or sides of the bag, is produced.-For the purpose of driving the "
beam," 1 fit upon the inner end of the shaft j, of the wheel ', (which is similar to
those generally used for the uptake motion) the pinion wheel, which gears with
the change-wheel m'.-This wheel m¹, is carried upon a stud n', fitted into an
adjustable lever not shewn on the Drawings but constructed similar to the
adjustable lever e, herein before described.-At the back of the change-wheel m³,
and fitted on the same stud n', is the pinion o', which gears with the wheel p',
fitted on the shaft a, of the "pace-beam" b.-It is obvious that the speed of the
"pace-beam "b, is regulated by the change-wheel m¹, and it may either be increased
or diminished according as the size of the change-wheel m', is altered.
pace-
Another part of my present Invention relates to the formation of the needle-
guide bar in two parts as represented at Figures 9, and 10, of the accompanying
Drawings in which the upper part q', is dovetailed into the lower part r', and held
therein by the springs 8, which are pivotted into the lower part , and which on
being turned into the position represented by the dotted lines, render the upper
part q', and thereby the needles removeable.
Another part of my present Invention consists in placing the cloth-beam, that is
to say the beam t¹, on which the cloth u¹, is wound, to the outer side of the "pace-
beam" b, instead of as heretofore, by placing it inside the same.-For effecting this,
the driving gear (shewn more particularly in diagram at Figure 8, which represents
two opposite side elevations), herein before described with reference to the driving
of the "pace-beam is most essential, and the shaft v', is carried on the oblique
guides w, so that, as the quantity of cloth u', increases upon the "cloth-beam "t",
the shaft v, revolves and travels upwards upon the oblique guides w³.
"
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode or manner in or under which the same is or may

page_text: be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the bereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:-
First. The arrangement of mechanism whereby the change from the weaving of
double to single cloth in the weaying of bags or other double or tubular fabrics is
rendered automatic substantially as herein before set forth with reference to the
accompanying drawings, and consisting of the spur pinion c, change-wheel d,
adjustable finger h, stud j, ratchet disc l, pawl a', hook p, and eccentric o, or the
equivalents thereof.
Second. The increasing of the drag or tension on the warp simultaneously with
the change from weaving double to single cloth and the mechanism for effecting
the same, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth with reference
to the accompanying drawings and consisting of the adjustable cam m, roller r,
lever s, set screw u, lever v, drag-lever w, and lever b', rod c³, spring d³, levers e³,
and f, shaft g', and connecting link h¹, or the equivalents thereof
Third. The mechanism whereby the distance between and width of the single
cloth for the formation of the bottoms or sides of the bags, sacks or other tubular
or double fabric being woven, is regulated and rendered automatic, substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth with reference to the accompanying
Drawings and consisting of the change-wheel d, adjustable finger h, stud j, ratchet
disc l, and adjustable cam m, or the equivalents thereof.
Fourth. The needle guide bar formed in two parts substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9, and 10, of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement in looms for weaving bags, sacks and other tubular
or double fabrics whereby the "cloth-beam" is carried outside the "pace-beam,"
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore. described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Laird the younger have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Sixth day of June in the year of Our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.