Improvements Appertaining to Picker Straps and Picker Buffers of Power Looms.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Appertaining to Picker Straps and Picker Buffers of
Power Looms.
J, ISAAC SOWDEN, of Providence Mills, Thornton Road, Bradford, in the County
of York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means or method of attaching
picking straps of power looms to their pickers and also to improvement in the form
of picker buffers and their attachment to the buffer straps, and the object of the said
invention is to provide a simple attachment for the picking strap without twisting the
strap or allowing it to tighten upon the picker or place an excessive strain upon one
side of the strap, and further to provide a simple and durable form of picker buffer
and method of securing the buffer strap thereto.
My improved method of attaching the picking strap consists in looping the end of
the strap round that part of the picker provided for the attachment of the strap and
buttoning the free end of such strap by means of a slit or stud hole to a stud carried
in a similar slit formed in the body of the strap. This method only requires a com-
paratively short length of strap, does not weaken it and allows it to impart a direct
pull to the picker without tightening thereon and so causing such picker to bind
upon the picker spindle or in the race at the bottom of the shuttle box.
My improved picker buffer consists of a piece of double buffalo hide compressed
transversely at the bend so as to increase the thickness at the part and form a com-
paratively circular swell with a central hole by which it is adapted to be mounted
upon the shuttle spindle. The ends of the said piece of hide are left of normal
thickness and project together from one side of the buffer and between which the end
of the buffer strap is secured by two or more rivets or their equivalent. By this
means a particularly cheap and durable buffer is formed which is not liable to bulge
up or spread and catch the shuttle or weft.
The stud or button herein mentioned may also be used for connecting short pieces
of picking strap together by means of a slit or stud hole in the end of each.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1888.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Appertaining to Picker Straps and Picker Buffers of
Power Looms.
I, ISAAC SOWDEN, of Providence Mills, Thornton Road, Bradford in the County
of York, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in the means or method of attaching
picking straps of power looms to their pickers and also to improvements in the form
of picker buffers and their attachment to the buffer straps, and the object of the
said invention is to provide a simple attachment for the picking strap without twisting
the strap or allowing it to tighten upon the picker or place an excessive strain upon
one side of the strap, and further to provide a simple and durable form of picker
buffer and method of securing the buffer strap thereto.
My improved method of attaching the picking strap consists in looping the end of
the strap round that part of the picker provided for the attachment of the strap and

page_text: buttoning the free end of such strap by means of a slit or stud hole to a stud (as
figure B) carried in a similar slit formed in the body of the strap as Fig. A. This
method only requires a comparatively short length of strap, does not weaken it and
allows it to impart a direct pull to the picker without tightening thereon and so
causing such picker to bind upon the picker spindle or in the race at the bottom of
the shuttle box, it also leaves the whole strap for the picker to wear, and the strap
pulling double from the picker to the stud, prevents the shuttle from flying out to a
great extent, owing to the strap having a freer action. The strap will not break once
from the picker where it broke ten times before, consequently is a great advantage to
the weaver and overlooker and a great saving to the employer.
My improved picker buffer consists of a piece of double buffalo hide compressed
transversely at the bend so as to increase the thickness at the part and form a com-
paratively circular swell (as figures C) with a central hole by which it is adapted to
be mounted upon the shuttle spindle (as figure E). The ends of the said piece of
hide are left of normal thickness and project together from one side of the buffer and
enclose between them the buffer strap and are secured by two or more rivets or their
equivalent (as figure D). By this means a particularly cheap and durable buffer is
formed which is not liable to bulge up or spread and catch the shuttle or weft.
The stud or button (figure B) herein mentioned may also be used for connecting
short pieces of picking strap together by means of a slit or stud hole in the end of
each, (as figure F).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be formed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
Owing to the strap having a straight pull from the picker also pulling double,
prevents the shuttle from flying out to a great extent, it is also a great saving in the
picking straps, as the strap does not break, anything near so often, as in the old method
of fastening the straps.
The buffers are very durable and light, and will not bulge up or spread by wear,
therefore avoiding broken picks and traps, which are faults that are not passable in
dress goods.
Dated this 15th day of August 1889.