Year: 1887

page_text: 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:-
My Invention consists in improvements in the end of the picking stick and
the method of attaching the picking strap to the same, improvements in the method
of and devices for securing the picker to the end of the picker strap, and in improved
buffers and buffer straps to receive the superfluous power of the picker after the
shuttle has been shot.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents
a front elevation, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figure 3 a plan of the improved
picking mechanism. Figure 4 represents a plan and Figure 6 also a plan, on an
enlarged scale, of a buffer employed to receive and partially neutralize the shock of
the picker which strikes it after it has shot the shuttle, Figure 7 represents a plan
of the picker Figure 5.
Figure 5 represents an elevation of one of my improved devices for securing the
picker to the picker strap and Figure 8 represents a plan of the same. Figure 9
represents a plan of the clip or clasp employed in the modifications shown at
Figures 5 and S for the purpose of attaching the picker to the picker strap.
Figure 10 represents a front elevation of a modified form of picker and Figures 11
and 12 a sectional plan and a front elevation respectively of the end of a picking strap
secured to the modified form of picker represented at Figure 10.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the Figures. My improvements in the
formation of the ends of the picking stick represented at L in Figure 2 consists
in cutting off the end of the stick diagonally and cutting the hole through which the
picking strap C passes in a slanting direction in order that the strap may not
be twisted but lie evenly between its two working extremities when the strain is put
upon it during the operation of picking.
In Figure
2 and 3 the picker A is represented as being attached to the end
of the picking strap C by means of the hide clip B which clasps the top part of the

page_text: eye of the picker. The two wings of this clasp are pressed together passed through a
slit near the end of the picking strap and then held in position by means of a taper
hard wood pin driven tight into the two holes in the wings of the clasp. The end of
the picking strap when secured to the picker in this manner is strengthened by means
of the two thicknesses of leather or washers M M.
In Figures 5 and 8 the end of the picking strap is represented as being perforated
by a slit in the middle to receive the wings of the clasp B which are passed through
this orifice. Other slits are formed one midway between each side of this orifice and
the outer edges of the strap. A hardwood peg is driven tight into the holes in
the wings of the clip, the peg being when fixed in position as shown in the drawing
above the two outer strips of the picking strap and below the two inner strips.
Figure 10 represents a modified form of picker which has two eyes for the
reception of the picker strap, which strap has an incision made in it forming a loop,
this loop is passed through both eyes of the picker and the strap is drawn through the
loop until tight whereby the picker is securely attached to the end of the strap.
In figures 1. 2 and 3, my improved buffer spring and strap is represented the
buffer F. formed by preference of pressed and moulded buffalo hide integrally
with the buffer strap G one end of which is bolted to the bent spring H which spring
is fixed to the going part J. The buffer slides upon the picker spindle K and receives
the shock of the picker after the shuttle has been struck and owing to the elasticity
of the spring H to which the buffer is connected the shock is very much reduced and
the strain upon the picker strap relieved.
In the modified form of buffer represented at 4 and 6 the buffer is formed with a
projecting lug F. which passes through a slit in each thickness of the doubled end of
the buffer strap G and the lug prevents the strap from being displaced or slipping off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the picking mechanism of power looms the slanting end and slanting orifice
or slot in the picking stick through which the picking strap passes substantially
as and for the purpose described and represented.
2. In the picking mechanism of power looms the devices for securing or attaching
the picker to the end of the picking strap consisting of the clip or clasp B with the
wooden peg driven tight into the holes in the wings of the clip the washers or
thicknesses of leather M and the modified form of picker having two eyes to receive
the picking strap formed as represented in Figures 10. 11. and 12, all substantially
as and for the purpose substantially as described and represented.
3. The formation of the ends of picking straps for attachment to pickers substantially
as described and represented in Figures 1. 2. 3. 5. 8. 11 and 12.
4. The improved buffer F formed by preference of pressed and moulded buffalo
hide and either made integrally with the buffer strap G as represented in Figures 1. 2
and 3 or attached to it and held in position by means of the lugs F1 Figures 4 and 6,
also the spring H Figures 1. 2 and 3. all substantially as and for the purpose described
and represented