An Improved Method of Spreading the Threads of Woven Fabrics, and Means therefor, adapted to Power Looms
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Spreading the Threads of Woven Fabrics,
and Means therefor, adapted to Power Looms,
We, CHARLES CROSSLEY, care of Messrs. Fennell Brothers and Company,
Curd Lane, Sudbury, in the County of Suffolk, Mechanic, and FRANCIS NICHOLAS
FENNELL, of Warren Road, Purley, in the County of Surrey, Silk Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to an improved mode of treating woven fabrics in the
course of manufacture and consists in an improved method of giving the fabric an
equal density throughout, by means of uniformly spreading the threads thereof,
and in the appliances adapted to a power loom for effecting the said treatment.
The operation of spreading the threads of a fabric to give the tissue a greater
density is already known as a laborious operation by hand, and a mechanical
adaptation to a loom of a long vibrating knife is already known, tending to spread
the threads partially by rubbing in the direction of the warp of the fabric.
We have found however that a much more beneficial and uniform spreading of
the threads of the fabric may be effected by causing the rubbing of the threads to
be effected at the time of weaving by a small rubbing knife, hereinafter more fully
described, caused to reciprocate backwards and forwards across the width of the
fabric, particularly when combined with the known action of the said long vibrating
knife, giving also a longitudinal rubbing in the direction of the length of the
fabric.
To carry this new method of rubbing into effect, we utilize the rotary movement
of any convenient shaft of a power loom, converting such movement into one at
right angles to it by a pair of bevil wheels and thereby reducing the speed of
movement of the second counter shaft. From this counter shaft we obtain a
reciprocating motion by a crank and connecting rod which we utilize to cause the
traverse upon a guide rod of a small pivotted rubbing knife, backwards and
forwards, across the fabric as it is woven.
We find that we can use for such a rubbing knife a small round ended knife or
finger pivoted on a sliding holder, and coming home on either side of the vertical
upon a stop. As the said knife travels beyond the fabric at each edge, the knife,
in reversing its movement, takes a slight inclination in rubbing the fabric, to the
side of the vertical away from the direction of motion, thus always tending to keep
a sharp edge upon the knife, and to effect the spreading of the threads with great.
uniformity, without risk of injury thereto.
As a result of this method of "rubbing" it is found that the finished fabric has
$6 cover,
acquired an exceedingly uniform density or opacity, known in the trade as
and has not been injured or weakened, and has not lost the peculiar feel or touch
termed in the trade as "body," which is one of the indications of durability, and
which the fabric generally loses when "rubbed " after it has been taken out of
the loom.
Dated this 31st day of August 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: An Improved Method of Spreading the Threads of Woven Fabrics,
and Means therefor, adapted to Power Looms.
We, CHARLES CROSSLEY, care of Messrs. Fennell Brothers & Coy., Curd
Lane, Sudbury, in the County of Suffolk, Mechanic, and FRANCIS NICHOLAS
FENNELL of Warren Road, Purley, in the County of Surrey, Silk 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 an improved mode of treating woven fabrics, in the
course of manufacture, and consists in an improved method of giving the fabric an
equal density throughout, by means of uniformly spreading the threads thereof,
and in the appliances adapted to a power loom for effecting the said treatment.
The operation of spreading the threads of a fabric to give the tissue a greater
density is already known as a laborious operation by hand, and a mechanical
adaptation to a loom of a long vibrating knife is already known tending to spread
the threads partially by rubbing in the direction of the warp of the fabric.
We have found however that a much more beneficial and uniform spreading of
the threads of the fabric may be effected by causing the rubbing of the threads to
be effected at the time of weaving, by a small rubbing knife, hereinafter more fully
described, caused to reciprocate backwards and forwards across the width of the
fabric, with a uniform pressure upon the fabric particularly when combined with
the action of the said long vibrating knife giving also a longitudinal rubbing in the
direction of the length of the fabric.
To carry the new method of rubbing into effect, we utilize the rotary movement
of any convenient shaft of a power loom, converting such movement into one at
right angles to it by a pair of bevil wheels and thereby if necessary reducing the
speed of movement of the second counter-shaft. From this counter-shaft we obtain
a reciprocating motion by a crank and connecting rod, which we utilize to cause
the traverse upon a guide rod, of a small pivotted rubbing knife or knives backwards
and forwards across the fabric, as it is woven.
We find that we can use with best effect for such a rubbing knife a small round
ended knife or finger, pivotted on a sliding holder, and coming home on either side
of the vertical upon a stop. As the said knife travels beyond the fabric at each
edge, the knife, in reversing its movement, takes a slight inclination in rubbing the
fabric to the side of the vertical away from the direction of motion, thus always
tending to keep a sharp edge upen the knife and to effect the spreading of the
threads with great uniformity, without risk of injury thereto.
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cover
"
As a result of this method of rubbing, it is found that the finished fabric has
acquired an exceedingly uniform density or opacity, known in the trade as
and has not been impaired or weakened, and has not lost the peculiar feel or touch
termed in the trade as "body," which is one of the indications of durability, and
which the fabric generally loses when "rubbed " after it has been taken out of
the loom.
And in order that this invention may be the better understood we will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of the frame of a power loom with this
improved apparatus attached.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a detail section and elevation of the travelling knife hall.

page_text: To any rotating shaft A of the power loom, I apply a mitre or bevil wheel B,
from which is driven, through an engaging and disengaging clutch V, by another
mitre or bevil wheel B', a counter shaft C under the frame of the loom. Upon-
the counter shaft c is a crank, or a disc and crank pin D, of small throw attached
by a connecting rod E to a rack F, travelling in guides and gearing into a
pinion F, on a counter shaft G, so arranged that the constant rotation of the
crank pin D only produces a rotation backwards and forwards of the pinion Fl
and counter shaft G. On this counter shaft is a grooved wheel H, carrying an
endless cat-gut or other rope, wire, or band J, which passing over the guiding
pulleys K K is attached to the knife holder L.
This knife holder L, shown in enlarged detail in Figure 4, carries one or two
hanging pivotted knives M M, and is adapted to travel backwards and forwards on
the rod-guide N, by the pull of the cat-gut, wire, or band J, in opposite directions
as the pulley H rocks backwards and forwards.
The knife or knives M hang loosely from the pivot P, and are caused to pass
over the edge of the fabric Q at either edge. Ou the return of the knife over the
fabric the knife takes an angle of inclination from the perpendicular away from
the direction of motion, until it comes against the stops or cheeks P¹ on the
knife holder.
Spring fingers R are attached to the side frames of the loom and rest on the
fabric, depressing and holding down the edges of the fabric, where the knife enters
on to the face of the fabric, to prevent the knife curling up the edges of the
fabric.
As the pivotted knives M rub alternately with either inclined face of the knife,
the edge of the knife is thus kept uniformly sharp by wear, and is not blunted so
as to require constant sharpening.
I may use duplicate or more knife-holders, with double gut and rocking wheel
apparatus, driving the said knife holders in opposite directions simultaneously
across the fabric, or I may make a recess S¹ in the half round rail S of the loom
to permit of other knives being used to rub the fabric over such recess, and I further
use in combination with the aforesaid reciprocating small power-driven knives, a
wide power-driven vibrating knife or knives T, vibrated by any suitable means
over the surface of the fabric.
As a result of this method of treatment it is found that the fabric has acquired
an exceedingly uniform density and opacity, and a brilliant face without the tissue-
being injured in any way, or without having lost the feeling of " body" or
"substance," which is considered one of the indications of durability.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The mechanical treatment of woven fabrics in a power loom at the time of
weaving, by rubbing the threads, by a power-driven inclined knife or knives of
small rounded contour, pivotted to a tool holder mechanically reciprocated
backwards and forwards with a uniform pressure, across the width of the fabric.
2nd. The modification of the rubbing treatment, by using in combination with
small power-driven knives, of rounded contour, reciprocated backwards and
forwards across the fabric, a long vibrating knife or knives, vibrated backwards
and forwards in the length of the fabric.
3rd. An apparatus to effect the treatment as claimed in Claim 1 consisting of a
rocking gut-wire or band-wheel operated by a crank pin, and connecting rod from
counter shaft, driven by bevil wheels from any rotating shaft of a power loom, a
knife holding box, carrying pivotted knives held at inclined angles from
perpendicular by stops on said box, the said box being reciprocated backwards
and forwards by the said endless gut, wire, or band, across the width of the fabric,
as it is woven in the loom.
4th. A knife or knives with rounded contour similar to that of a thumb nail,

page_text: adapted to travel across, and press with a uniform pressure upon a woven fabric.
the knife or knives being so held on a travelling box, that they press uniformly
and with a constant obliquity, opposite to the direction of travel, upon the woven
threads of said fabric, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 28th day of May 1896.
FELL & JAMES,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.