New or Improved Apparatus for Letting-off Yarn from the Weaver's Beams on Looms, and other similar purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 30th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Letting-off Yarn from the Weaver's
Beams on Looms, and other similar purposes.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM LANCASTER of 27 Corporation Street, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Machine Maker do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus employed for the purpose of controlling or
checking and governing the amount of yarn let off the weaver's beam by negative
means that is to say by friction and for this purpose I apply discs or plates truly
turned on their side surfaces and I connect one of these discs with the end of the
weaver's beam and the disc thus becomes a part of the beam and turns with it. I
then place another disc or plate of similar dimensions in a frame or bracket
which is bolted to the loom side and forms a support for the end of the weaver's
beam. This second disc forms part of the frame and is stationary. By means
of a hand wheel which has a screwed thread inside and which fits the chased part
of the boss of one of the discs, the two discs may be pressed together to any degree
causing any desired amount of friction as the beam revolves and delivers the yarn
putting the required amount of tension on the yarn.
More than 2 discs may be employed when heavy fabrics are woven requiring
more than the usual tension on the yarn. If 3 are used, one would be connected
to, and made to revolve with, the weaver's beam and the other 2 would be pressed
against the 2 sides of the centre disc by means of a screwed hand wheel or by arins
and wedge levers and a double coned pulley and a weight and weight lever or by
other means.
Or the centre disc may be held stationary in the box frame, the
other two discs being connected with the weaver's beam and revolving with the
same,
Rings of flannel, felt, leather or of other material may be used, in contact with,
or between the stationary and the revolving discs to form a cushion and a steel or
other spring may be applied between the hand wheel or levers and the discs or
plate. For very heavy cloths it may be found necessary to put a friction apparatus
of my invention on each end of the weaver's beam.
Another position for the application of this friction letting-off apparatus is above
the weaver's beam in or near the place occupied at present by the back-bearer,
and in this case the friction is supplemented by 3 rollers between or through which
the yarn passes after it leaves the weaver's beam and by which the yarn is held in
a firm manner and only let-off as required. When the weaver's beam is full of
yarn the amount of friction required to put the yarn under the necessary tension,
has to be at its maximum. When the weaver's beams are empty, or almost empty,
the amount of friction has to be the minimum and hitherto the weaver has had to
move the weights by hand on his weight-levers (which apply the necessary tension
to the yarn by means of chains or ropes which encircle the weaver's beam ends)
and the weaver gradually reduces the tension on the yarn.
In order to perform this necessity automatically and mechanically I apply a
slotted arm to the end of the beam in place of the ordinary rope or chain ruffle and
this slotted arm becomes a part of the beam. The friction letting-off apparatus
has a corresponding slotted or recessed groove from which a stud or bolt projects

page_text: to the slotted arm fixed to the beam. The slot in the arm of the beam is provided
with a nut through which a screw passes vertically to the axis of the beam and
the end of this screw is provided with a ratchet wheel or winged wheel or other
suitable device. The stud which projects from the friction slot to the slot in the
arm on the beam, passes into or through this nut and at every revolution of the
beam the ratchet wheel comes into contact with a projection fixed to the loom
framing which gives it a portion of a turn, thus screwing the nut and the stud
down towards the centre or axis of the beam. In this manner the control of the
friction over the beam is reduced a little at every revolution of the beam as it
empties itself of the yarn, because the leverage by which it holds the beam back
is reduced at every revolution. The number of teeth in the ratchet wheel at the
end of the screw or the pitch of the screw, or both, are chosen to be in keeping with
the length of yarn on the beam so that the nut on the screw which gradually
moves down the slot towards the axis of the beam. reaches the end of its centri-
petal course at or about the same time as the beam is empty.
The same effect may be attained without the..slotted arm on the beam end, by
putting the radial screw into a projection cast on the friction disc which revolves
with the beam & placing a stud on this screw which stud engages a radial catch
slipped on the end of the weaver's beam, the screw being operated in the same way
as in the other case. The same object may also be accomplished by causing, the
hand-wheel on the boss of the friction disc to be slightly turned back at every
revolution of the beam thus causing it to relax the pressure exercised by it on the
other disc or discs which form part of the box or plate. bolted to the loom side.
Dated this Fourth day of May 1894.
New or Improved Apparatus for Letting-off Yarn from the Weaver's
Beams on Looms, and other similar purposes.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM LANCASTER, of 27, Corporation Street, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Machine Maker 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus employed for the purpose of controlling or
checking and governing the amount of yarn let off the weaver's beam in looms and
for other similar purposes by negative means, that is to say, by friction, and
consists in new or improved arrangements of said apparatus or combination of the
parts thereof.
In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will describe the accompanying sheet of drawings reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon. These drawings represent 4
modifications of my improved apparatus.
Referring first to Sheet 1, on which Figure 1 represents a section of a yarn
beam with my improved apparatus applied thereto; I employ according to
my invention for the purpose of controlling or checking and governing the amount
of yarn let off the weaver's beam 1, Sheet 1, by negative means, that is
to say, by friction, preferably 2 discs or plates 2 & 3 truly turned on their
side surfaces and I fix one of these discs 3° upon the arbor 18 into which is
loosely inserted the pivot of the weaver's beam at 10. This disc 3 is connected
with the end of the weaver's beam by means of a catch or projection 15
engaging another projection on the weaver's beam at 19 & the disc 3 & arbor 18
thus become part of beam 1 and turn with it. Next to the disc 3 I then place
another disc or plate 4 of similar dimensions formed with a projection or
bracket 17 which is bolted to the loom side 8 & forms a support for the arbor 18

page_text: & the end of the weaver's beam 1 inserted therewith at 10. This disc 4 now
forms part of the frame of the loom and is stationary. This disc 2 slides
laterally on a key 20 carried by arbor 18 & by means of the hand wheel 5
which has a screwed thread inside & which fits the chased part of the arbor 18 the
2 discs 2 & 3 may be drawn together & pressed against disc 4 to any degree causing
any desired amount of friction and tension of the yarn as the beam 1 is revolved
by the yarn itself as it is drawn forward by the taking-up beam in front of the
loom. In practice the space between the 2 flanges 11 & 12 on beam 1 is filled
with yarn to be woven into cloth.
Figure 2 Sheet 1 is an end elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 3 Sheet 1 is an end elevation of bracket 13 bolted to the opposite side
of the loom 14, Figure 1, which bracket 13, supports the other end of weaver's
beam 1, having a loose pin 13 or other ready means provided to remove the
weaver's beam expeditiously when empty. Instead of flat surfaces on discs 2 & 3
Fig. 1 Sheet 1, the surfaces may be V shaped or angular to ensure greater grip.
Fewer or more than 2 discs may be employed when very light or very heavy
fabrics are woven requiring more or less than the usual tension on the yarn.
Sheet 2 shows an arrangement where 3 discs are used 2, 5 & 6, 2 & 6 being fixed
to arbor 7 which in its turn is made part and parcel of the weaver's beam. The
centre plate 3 is bolted to the loom side 8 and by means of arms or levers 11 and 14
and weight 15 in Figure I aud by the insertion of the double-coned pulley 1
between discs 2 & 3 the discs 5 & 6 are pressed together against plate 3, the disc 5
moving laterally on the arbor 7 with which arbor disc 5 is connected by means of
key 17. The centres 10 & 12 represent studs fixed to the loom framing on which
the levers 11 and 14 hinge. 13 represents the stud which applies pressure to end
of lever 11. 16 represents the set screw by which weight 15 is held fast
on arm 14.
Rings of flannel, felt, leather or of other material may be used as shown at 6
Figure 1, Sheet 1, or at 4, Figure 2, Sheet 2 in contact with or between the
stationary disc 3 and the revolving discs 5 & 6 to form a cushion, and a steel spring
may be applied as shown at 7, Figure 1, Sheet 1, between the hand wheel 5 and
the discs. For very heavy cloths or very wide looms it may be found necessary
to put a friction apparatus of my invention on each end of the weaver's beams.
When the weaver's beam is full of yarn the amount of friction required to
put the yarn under the necessary tension has to be at its maximum. When the
weaver's beams are empty or almost empty, the amount of friction has to be the
minimum and hitherto the weaver has had to move the weights by hand on his
weight-levers (which apply the necessary tension) to the yarn by means of ropes
or chains which encircle the weaver's beam ends) & the weaver gradually reduces
the tension on the yarn. In order to perform this process automatically and
mechanically I cause the tapped wheel 5, Figs. 1 & 2, Sheet 3, screwed upon
the arbor 6 carrying the friction disc 9, to be slightly turned back at every
revolution of beam 12 thus causing the wheel 5 to relax the pressure exercised
by it on the disc 9 against the disc 2 which latter forms part of the box or
plate bolted to the loom side 1. This is accomplished by gearing the wheel 5
with a worm 7 the stud of which carries a ratchet or winged wheel 4 and at
every revolution of the beam 12 the ratchet 4 comes in contact with projection 3
bolted to loom side 1 & so turns the wheel part of a revolution backwards on
chased arbor 6, thus relaxing the pressure of spring 8 on dise 9 felt washer 14 &
plate 2 & thereby automatically reducing the tension of the yarn coming off the
weaver's beam 12. The square end of the handle 15 is inserted in the square hole
of the boss of wheel 4 at the start or at any other time when the apparatus requires
adjustment & this handle 15 may serve as a key kept in the custody of the loom
overlooker & not left in the hands of the weaver. This last named object of taking
the control of the letting-off apparatus out of the hands of the weaver may also be
accomplished by passing a chain through one of the arms of the hand wheel 5,
Figs. 1 & 2, Sheet 1 and through one of the arms of the spring 7, Fig. 1 and by

page_text: connecting the two ends of the chain by a padlock or other device, the key to which
would be kept by the loom overlooker. In order to throw the letting off friction
out of gear & disconnect the weaver's beam instantly when required a clutch
coupling or other device may be applied between the beam or ruffe & arbor of the
friction.
Another position for the application of the friction letting-off apparatus is above
the weaver's beam in or near the position occupied at present by the back-bearer,
as shown in Figures 3 & 4, Sheet 3, & in this case the friction is supplemented
by 2 or 3 rollers 6, 10 & 11 between or through which the yarn passes after it
leaves the weaver's beam 1, and by which the yarn is held in a firm manner & only
let off as required.
1 is the yarn beam; 2 is the pivot of the beam supported by the loom-side; 4 is
the beam flange; 5 is the bolt which connects cross rail with loom side; Nos. 6,
10 & 11 represent the 3 rollers between or through which the yarn passes, the
friction 3 being placed on the axis or shaft of roller 10 one half of the friction 3
being fixed to the framing or fender 8 & the other half of friction being feather
keyed on shaft 9 & tightened up by hand-wheel 7.
The arrangements herein before described for letting off yarn from the loom
beams negatively by means of friction discs may be applied for letting off yarn in
other machines, such as yarn polishing and rebeaming machines, for letting off cloth
in finishing machines and similar purposes.
I do not claim the use of rollers as shown at 6, 10 & 11 in Figs. 3 & 4, Sheet 3
by themselves or when not in combination with my negative frictional letting off
apparatus as shown at 3, 7 & 8, Figs. 3 & 4, Sheet 3.
Having now particularly described the nature of this said invention & how the
same is to be carried out, I declare that what I claim is :-
The several arrangements or modifications of apparatus for letting-off negatively
by means of friction discs or the combination of parts thereof substantially as
herein described & illustrated on & by the following drawings.
Dated this the 29th day of January 1895.
CHARLES W. LANCASTER.