Improvements in Looms for Weaving Tufted Fabrics.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Looms for Weaving Tufted Fabrics.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM MCCORD residing at 375 Main Street, and JOHN JOSEPH
DEVITT, residing at 29 Lewis Street; City of Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield
and State of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, Gentlemen, 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 needle looms designed more especially for weaving tufted
fabrics, such foi example, as moquette carpets; and the invention consists of certain
improvements in the construction and operation of the following-named parts: viz.,
the shuttle-race and carrier, the tension device for the weft-thread, the nippers that
draw the tuft-yarns down through the warp, the knives that cut the tufts, the comb
that lifts the tuft-yarns up through the warp, and the needle.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifi-
cation, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
Figure 1, is a sectional plan view of our new loon, taken on line, a, a, Figure 2,
parts being broken away to show the construction of other parts of the loom.
Figure 2, is a side elevation of the loom.
Figure 3, is a sectional elevation of the loom, taken on line, y, y, of Figure 1,
parts being broken away to avoid confusion.
.
Figure 4, is a sectional elevation taken on the line z, z, of Figure 1.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, are detailed views of the means for operating the tuft-
cutting knives..
Figure 9, is a transverse sectional clevation of the knives and their supporting-
plates, showing also one of the spring-retaining posts in elevation.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, illustrate, respectively in enlarged views and in con-
nection with sections of carpet, the sequence of movements of the nippers, the lay,
בז'

page_text: the comb, and the knives, Figures 10 and 11, showing in sectional- elevation tuft-yarn
spools and their frames and a portion of the transfer-arms.
Figure 14, shows a section of the fabric and the knives ready to cut the tufi-
yarn; and
Figure 15, shows an enlarged section of a part of the tufted fabric or carpet made
by the loom.
Figure 16, is a side view of the cam, E, that moves the shuttle.
Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, are detail views illustrating various forms of
our improved needles which we use in connection with our loomi.
A, represents the main frame of the loom, which may, be of any appropriate form
and size to receive the power shaft, B, and other working parts.
Upon the bracket, A', of the main frame, A, is formed or secured the shuttleo
race, B, and upon the arm, A2. on the opposite side of the frame, A, is placed the
sliding block, C, to which is attached the needle, D, which is reciprocated by means
acting upon the block, C, for carrying the filling or weft thread, a, between tlie warp-
threads, b, and across the loom to the shuttle, E, that is properly reciprocated by
means acting upon the shuttle-carrier, E', and carries a thread, e, for forming with
the weft-threads, a, one selvage of the carpet or fabric being woven.
The shuttle-race, B', is by preference, curved, as shown in Figure 1, and it is
channeled or grooved in its upper surface, as shown at, d, Figures 1 and 4, to form
the flanges, d, to receive the T-rib, , formed upon the under surface of the shuttle
carrier, E, which rib holds the carrier in place. A plate, E2, is secured to the
inner edge of the race, B1, against which the shuttle, E, runs, and this plate, E³ has
the opening, e; Figure 4, made through it for the passage of the point of the needle, D,
and this plate, E, has also the guard, f, secured to it to prevent the looping or
tangling of the shuttle or selvage thread, c, where it. reaches from the completed
portion of the fabric to the shuttle.
The shuttle carrier, E₁, has the studs, g, g, formed upon its upper surface, and
the carrier and the shuttle, E, are reciprocated upon the race, B. so as to produce a
reciprocating action, in which there is a dwell while the needle is withdrawing past
the shuttle by the vertical shaft, E³, and the forked arm or plate, E4, secured to its
upper end, the shaft, E³, being rotary reciprocated by the cam, E³, on shaft, B, and
the spring, E, (shown clearly in Figure 1,) the said cam, E6, acting to turn the
shaft, E3, by the lever, F, and connecting-rod, F1, that connects the lever, F, with
the horizontal arm, F, attached to the shaft, E³. The arms or prongs, el, e', of the
divided plate E, embrace the pins, 9, 1, of the shuttle-carrier, E, and also the ends
of the shuttle, E, and as the shaft, E³, and plate, E, are rotary reciprocated the
prongs, e, e, cause the shuttle and shuttle-carrier to traverse the curved shuttle-
race, B, and the prongs, el, e, arò such distance apart relative to the length of the
shuttle and the distance of the pins, g, g, are apart as to leave space for a slight move-
ment of the shuttle-carrier independant of the plate, E, so that the shuttle will not
cut or break the weft-thread, a, in passing through the loop or fold thereof formed
by being carried across the loom by the needle, 1). The needle, D, is reciprocated by
the cam, G, on shaft, B, acting through the lever, G¹, bell-crank lever, G³, and the
connecting-links, G³, and, G, which respectively connect the lever, G, with lever, G²,
and the latter lever with the block, C, as shown clearly in Figure 4. "The lever, G¹,
is held in contact with the cam, G, by the heavy coiled spring, G. (Shown in
Figure 2.) The needle, D, is formed with the hooks or prongs, h, and made
spoon-shaped at its inner end, as shown clearly in Figure 1, so that as it carries
the weft-thread forward through the opening, e, in the plate, E, in front of the
shuttle, E, the. back of the needle will not-interfere with the shuttle in. picking_up
the loop or fold of the weft-thread, which the nose or point of the shuttle will
hold while the needle, D, recedes. Then the shuttle will be carried on by the
action of the cam, E, through the loop or fold and back to the rear of the
race, B, ready again to take up and pass through the next shot of weft-thread
forced forward by the needle, D. The weft-thread, a, comes from the spool, H,

page_text: placed at the needle side of the loom, and passes from the spool, H, first up between
the tension wheels, i, ¹, then through the eyes, 2, 2, 1, and is fed to the needle, D
-that is, laid across the hooks, h, thereof from the front of the feeder, J, which is
pivoted at, j, and formed with the prongs or arms, j,, that straddle the weft-
thread, a, and is reciprocated by the action of a cam, J, on the shaft, B, and the
spring, J, that act through the lever, J, and connecting-rod, J³. (Shown clearly in
Figure 2.) The feeder straddles the weft-thread, a, at a point slightly in front of the
point of the needle when the same is withdrawn to the limit of its outward movement,
as shown clearly in Figure 1. The tension-wheel, i, is held in stationary bearings,
while the wheel, i, is journaled at the lower end of the arm, k, which is properly
reciprocated for grasping and releasing the weft-thread by the cam, K, on the shaft, B,
and the spring, K', the cam and spring acting through the lever, K2, and the
connecting-rod, K³, that connects the lover, K², with the arin, k, as shown in Figure 2.
Any slack that may occur in the weft-thread, a, will be taken up by the grooved
roller, k, which is of considerable weight and rests against the weft-thread, as
shown in Figure 1 and 2, the spring, ², being provided to prevent the roller, k',
pivoted arm, ³, on which it is mounted, from dropping out of place when the loom is
not in operation.
and
In weaving tufted fabrics the yarn, 1, (see sheet 3 of the drawings,) from which the
tufts are formed, will be carried on spools, F, attached to spool-frames, , carried
upon endless chains, L, that pass around the chain-shaft, L, and the spool-frames will
be carried from the chain, L, down near to the warp-threads, 6, by transfer-arms, M.
For drawing the tuft-yarns, l, from the spools, 12, down through the warp-threads.
to be wrapped around the weft or filling and bound in or upon the fabric, we employ
a series of nippers, N, (shown in Figures 3, 10, and 11,) arranged so that a pair of
nippers will stand between each pair of warp-threads. The nippers are composed
of the jaws m, and, n. The jaws, m, are attached to the bar, 0, while the jaws, n,
are attached to the bar, O', that is secured to the bar, O, by the pins or bolts, o,
that pass through the slots, o', in the bar, O¹, the slots permitting the bar, O', to
have a slight longitudinal movement for opening and closing the jaws, this move-
ment being imparted by the cam, Q2, on the shaft, B, (see Figure 1) acting
through the lever, Q³, attached to the bar, 01, and pivoted or fulcrumed on the
stud or pin, o, formed upon the bar, O, as shown in Figure 3. The bar, O,, is
attached by the arms, o³, and, o, to the shaft, p, the arm, o³, being pivoted to
the arm, o, which is rigidly secured to the said shaft, p. The bar, O, is also
attached by the connecting-rod, p¹, to the arm, p², of the sleeve, p³, that placed
loosely upon the shaft, P. The shaft, p, has the downwardly-projecting arm,
attached to it, and the sleeve, p³, has the downwardly-projecting arm, p, attached.
to it, so that the said shaft, p, and sleeve, p³, may be rotary reciprocated by
the cains, P1, P2, (shown in Figure 1) on shaft, B, acting through the levers, p,
and connecting rods, p, and, "This movement of the shaft, p, and sleeve. p³, serves
to raise the nippers to the position shown in Figures 3 and 10, where they are closed
to grasp the tuft-yarus and to lower and advance them to the position shown in
Figure 11, where they stand out of the way of the lay, Q, and reed, R. (Shown
clearly in Figure 3.) Before reaching the position shown in Figure 11, the nippers,
after drawing the tuft-yarns below the warp, are opened by the action of the cam, Q²,
and lever, Q, to release the tuft-yarns, 1, leaving the ends thereof between and
reaching below the warp-threads, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The tuft-yarns
being thus drawn down through the warp and released by the nippers, the needle, D,
puts in a shot, b', of weft or filling, which of course stands in front of the tuft-
yarns, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and then the weft is beaten up by the
lay, Q, which is operated by the cam, Q¹, on shaft, B, acting through lever Q²,
connecting-rod, Q³, and arm, Q% of the lay, the same being secured upon the
shaft, Q, as shown clearly in Figure 3. The beating having been performed, the
comb, R, the teeth, 4, of which are upturned, as shown clearly in Figure 12, is
opérated by mechanism, hereinafter described, so as to comb up or raise the lower
4

page_text: ends, of the tuft-yarns 1, around the shot, '-that is, raise them from the position
shown in Figures 11 and 12, to that shown in Figures 13 and 14. This done, and
while the comb, R, still holds the yarns, l, the needle, D, inserts the shot of
filling, 62, which is beaten up and bound by the warp, and then the knives, S, S',
are brought forward from the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and. 3, to that shown in
Figure 14.
The knives, S, S', have a shear-cut, each being formed with corresponiling cutting-
fingers, s, s, (shown in Figures 5 and 9,) the sharp edges of which are moved across
each other at the proper time by a longitudinal inovement of the knives, s, s¹. The
knives S, S¹, are held upon the horizontal cross-plate T, attached to the arms, T, T¹,
rigidly secured to the above-mentioned shaft, P, held in the frame of the loom
between the center screws, t, t. The knives are kept in position upon the plate, T,
by the bolts or studs, t, t, that pass through slots in the knives, so that the knives
may be moved longitudinally in opposite directions. The lower knife, S, has the
eye-stud, secured to it, which reaches up through the slot, ³, in the upper knife, S¹,
and this upper knife has the eye-stud t, secured to it, and to these eye-studs, 2, 4, are
attachéd the ends of the coiled spring, U, that normally holds the knives in such
position that the cutting-fingers of the upper knife stand immediately over the cutting-
fingers of the lower knife, as shown in Figure 5, so that when the knives are carried
rearward for cutting the tufts the tuft-yarns will come properly between the cutting-
fingers. The knives are carried rearward to cutting position by the action of the
cam, V, on shaft, B, acting through the lever, V, (shown clearly in Figures 6 and 7,)
the connecting-rod, V, and arm, V3, the latter being rigidly secured to the shaft, P,
as shown clearly in Figure 6. The knives are brought back to vertical position by.
the, spring, V. (Shown in Figure 6.) The knives having been carried down to the
tuft-yarns in cutting position, they are moved longitudinally to cause the cutting-
fingers, s, to effect the cutting of the yarns by the cam, W, acting, through the
levers W, WI, and chains W2, W³, that connect the knives, S, S₁, respectively, with.
the outer ends of the levers, W₁, W', as shown in Figure 5. The said chains pass
over the pulleys, 1e, w, so that when the adjacent ends of the levers, W1, W1, are
elevated by the toe on the cam, W, the corresponding depression of the outer ends of
the lever will draw downward upon the chains, and thus simultaneously move the
knives longitudinally in opposite directions. The toe of the cam, W, having passed
the levers, W, W₁, the spring, U, will act to return the knives, and also the
chains and the levers, W, to their original positions. The cam, W, is secured upon
the shaft W, which is revolved from the main shaft, B, by the heveled gear-
wheels W. (Shown clearly in Figures 1 and 8.)
The comb, R, is pivoted at its ends to the bars, R', R¹, that are held in the race
pieces, R2, R2, and are reciprocated longitudinally from the cams, R3, R³, on shaft, B,
by the bent levers, R', (see Figure 3) and springs, R, that draw the levers, R,
backward, as illustrated in the last-mentioned figure. The comb, R, while being
moved forward is tilted by the cams, R, acting through the levers, R7, and con-
necting-rods, R³, so that the teeth of the comb pass down through the warp-threads, b,
just in the rear of the tuft-yarns, l. Then, by the action of the cams, R, levers, R7,
and rods Rs, the comb is tilted back to bring the upturned ends of the teeth, 7, in
front of and in line with the yarns, l, as shown in Figure 12. Then the springs R,
in connection with cams, R³, and levers and rods, R, R', act to gradually draw back-
ward the comb, R., the teeth of which are at the same time tilted upward by the
cams, R, and levers, R7, and rods, R, which movements continue until the comb
reaches the position shown in Figure 13, where it completes the work of combing the
yarns, around the shot, b, of weft or filling, which is inserted by the needle, D, as
above described: At the position shown in Figure 13, the comb, R, dwells while the
shot, 2, of filling is inserted by the needle, D, after which it is carried back to its
original position that is shown clearly in Figures 1 and 3-ready to repeat the
operation for each row of tufts that is put in the fabric.
In Figure 2, L2, represents the selvage-point, which is pivoted above the warp, b,

page_text: and is reciprocated by a cam L³, on the shaft, B, through the lever, 1º, and connecting
rods, 1, (shown in Figures 1 and 2.) so that it drops over each shot of weft or filling
thread, a, just after each stroke of the lay, Q. to hold the filling at the selvage while
a close weave at the
the next shot is being inserted by the needle, D, thus making
edge of the fabric, as will be understood clearly from Figure 2.
In Figures 17 to 23, inclusive, we have shown the various styles of needles which
we use in our improved loom, and which we will now describe.
The object aimed at and attained by the construction of our needles is to maintain
a constant grasp on the weft by the needle, and also to allow the warp threads to be
crossed at a less angle without any danger of being displaced or broken by the nose
of the needle as the latter passes between the same. In Figures 17 and 18, the
needle, D, is inclosed by a shield, D", having a V-shaped nose projecting beyond the
needle head.
The needle extends from the rear of the shield for ready attachment to the needle-
carrier.
Between the heel of the needle and the rear end of the shield is a coil spring, Co,
This movement is limited
which renders the movement of the needle resilient.
longitudinally by the stops P10 on the other end of the needle.
The needle, has an eye, D10, in vertical alignment with the prong, h, and the thread
is led from the bobbin through the eye and thence to the fabric.
Just before the needle reaches the limit of its forward throw, an extension, E", of
the shield strikes against a projection, F, on the frame of the loom and causes the
needle to be advanced in its further throw beyond said shield and against the
resiliency of the spring, C10; the shuttle, E, enters the recess, 10, between the eye
and prong of the needle and behind the thread, so that on the retraction of the
needle the return weft will be laid, and after the operation of the beaters the thread
will be guided in the usual manner within the prong.
By forming an eye in the needle, a constant grasp may be maintained on the thread
independent of the usual thread-carrying mechanism. By the use of a needle having
an eye and prong in vertical alignment, the thread will always be properly laid for the
operation of the shuttle.
In Figures 19 and 20, we have shown the nose of the needle hinged to the shank of
the needle and adapted to have a vertically swinging movement which latter is
rendered resilient by means of the spring, G, arranged within said shank and having
a bearing on the rear end of said nose.
The underside of the nose is notched as shown at, EI10, and the shuttle passes
through said notch and over the thread, so that when the needle is retracted the nose
thereof will ride over the shuttle thus leaving the thread caught by the shuttle and
guided by the eye, D10, for the return weft.
The needle shown at Figures 21, 22, and 23, is practically the same as that shown
at Figures 19 and 20, with the exception that the spring actuated nose has the
prongs h, which shut closely to the needle-shank, thus confining the thread.
After the shuttle has entered between the nose and shank, the needle is retracted,
the nose rides over the shuttle (which latter being in the immediato rear of the
thread retains the latter) and shuts against the shank of the needle thus confining the
thread for the laying of the return weft.
These needles all having eyes, never lose their grasp on the thread, and the spring
actuated shield and nose merely effect the, proper withdrawal of said thread when the
needle is retracted from the shuttle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination with the operative parts of a needle loom, of the shuttle
race, B, and shuttle, E, operated by a rotary reciprocating plate, substantially as
.

page_text: 2. The shuttle race, B₁, and carrier, E', curved, and the race provided with the
apertured plate, E2, in combination with the needle, D, and means substantially as
described for operating the shuttle carrier, as set forth.
3. The vertical rotary reciprocating shaft, E', provided with the forked plate, E',
at its upper end in combination with the curved shuttle race, B', and carrier, E¹, the
shuttle-carrier having a slight independent movement between the prongs of the
plate, E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth:
4. The curved shuttle-carrier, E', held in the curved race, B¹; by flanges, d¹, and
provided with pins, g, upon its upper surface, in combination with the rotary
reciprocating plate, E, for reciprocating the carrier, substantially as described.
5. The needle, D, formed or provided with prongs or fingers to receive the weft,
substantially as described.
6. The reciprocating needle, D, made spoon-shaped and provided with prongs or
fingers in combination with the shuttle, E, substantially as described.
7. The coinbination with the needle, D, having hooks or fingers, of the reciprocating
feeder, J, for feeding the weft upon the hooks or fingers, substantially as described.
8. The tension-wheel, i, held in fixed bearings in combination with the reciprocating
tension-wheel,, arranged to be moved to and from the wheel, i, substantially as
described.
9. The series of nippers, N, composed of jaws attached to bars, one of which is
adapted to be moved for opening and closing the jaws, in combination with means
substantially as described for raising, lowering and opening and closing the jaws; as
set forth.
10. The bar, O; provided with the jaws, m, rocking arms, o, the pivoted arms, 0³,
the "sleeve, p³, the links, p', and arms, p², and the bar, 0¹, having jaws, n, and
lever, 03, in combination with means for reciprocating the lever, 0³, sleeve, p³, and
arms, o, substantially as described..
11. In a needle loom, the knives, S, S₁, formed with cutting-fingers in combination
with means substantially as set forth for reciprocating them and moving them one
upon the other for cutting the tufts, substantially as described.
12. The knives, S, S, formed with cutting-fingers and held upon movable supports,
in combination with a cam lever and connecting-rod for swinging the knives and a
cam and suitable connection for moving the knives upon each other, substantially
as described.
13. The combination with the knives, S, S', of the cam, W, levers, W₁, and
chains, W, W3, connecting the levers with the knives, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
14. The knives, S, S₁, formed with cutting-fingers and held together by the
spring, U, in combination with the chains, W, W³, levers, W¹, and cam, W,
substantially as described.
15. The comb, R, pivoted in the sliding bars, R¹, in combination with means
substantially as described for reciprocating and tilting the comb, substantially as
described.
16. The comb, R, having upturned teeth, 9, the comb being pivoted in the
reciprocating bars, R₁, in combination with a cam, and suitable connections for tilting
the comb, R, substantially as described.
17. The comb, R, pivoted to the sliding bars, R', in combination with the cams, R³,
levers, R, springs, R, for reciprocating the comb, and the cams, Rº, lovers, R',
and rods, R, arranged for tilting the comb, substantially as described.
18. The selvage point, L2, arranged above the warp in combination with the cam,
and suitable connections for reciprocating the point, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
19. A needle for looms and the like, consisting of a shank having pivoted within
its forward extremity a resilient nose, said nose notched on its underside and
provided with an eye extending vertically therethrough, substantially as shown and
set forth.

page_text: 20. In a needle for looms, a shank having pivoted to the forward end thereof a
pointed nose, said nose being adapted to retain a constant hold on the weft-thread
and cut away to permit the passage of the shuttle above the lower weft, in combination
with a spring adapted to normally hold said nose in an alignment with said shank,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
21. In a needle for looms, the combination with the shank, of a pointed nose
pivoted thereto, said nose having an eye through which the weft-thread passes and
being cut away back of said eye, whereby the shuttle is permitted to pass between
the upper and lower weft, and a spring for keeping the. nose normally in alignment
with the shank of the needle, as and for the purposes set forth.
22. A needle for looms, having a shank, in combination with a spring actuated
nose pivoted to said shank and adapted to be held in horizontal alignment therewith
during the movements through the warp and capable of being elevated by the
shuttle when the latter is in the act of taking the weft-thread, as specified.
23. In a loom, a needle the head of which is formed with an eye and a prong in
vertical alignment, substantially as set forth.
24. In a loom, a needle having an eye within which the thread always remains
and having also at a short distance below said eye a prong within which the thread
is guided and temporarily held during the forward movement of the needle, sub-
stantially as set forth.
25. In a loom, a needle having a head formed with a recess from side to side,
and provided with an eye and a prong opposite to each other and leading within said
recess, whereby the thread may be always carried by the needle and guided within
the prong and the shuttle allowed to enter within said recess back of the thread in
order to take off the latter, substantially as set forth.
26. In a loom, the combination with the needle of a shield enveloping the latter and
extended beyond the head thereof,.substantially as set forth.
27. In a loom, the combination with the reciprocating needle, of a spring actuated
shield adapted to be intermittently withdrawn from the head of said needle inimediately
prior to the operation of the shuttle, substantially as set forth.
28. In a loom, the combination with the needle of a shield enveloping said needle,
and projected in normal position by the action of a spring beyond the head of said
needle, substantially as set forth.
29. The combination with the needle, of the shield around the same, and a coil-
spring between the heel of the needle and the rear end of the shield, substantially as
set forth.
30. The combination with the shield, of the needle interior thereof and extending
beyond the rear of said shield, a head formed at the heel of said needle, and a coil-
spring around the needle and confined between the rear end of the shield and said
head, whereby the nose of said shield is normally beyond the head of the needle,
substantially as set forth.
31. The combination of the needle arranged within a resilient shield, and means
for retracting said shield immediately prior to the end of the forward movement of
the needle, whereby the field of operation of the shuttle is unobstructed, substantially
as described. .
32. In a loom, the combination of the reciprocating needle, the shield around the
same and provided with a laterally extending lug, the coil-spring around the needle
and confined between the head of the latter and the rear end of the shield, and a
projection from the frame of the loom within the path of travel of said lug, sub-
stantially as set forth.
33. In a needle for looms and the like, a stationary jaw adapted to retain a constant
hold on the thread, in combination with a spring actuated. jaw adapted to spread said
thread, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
34. A needle. for looms the nose of which is composed of two jaws, one being
provided with an eye for carrying the thread, and the other having a spring movement
and adapted to spread the thread, as described.

page_text: 35. In a needle for looms, the jaw, D, formed with the shank of the needle and
having an eye for carrying the thread; in combination with the movable jaw hinged
to said shank and having its forward. end forked to receive and spread the thread,'
and a spring for actuating said movable jaw, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
CHARLES WILLIAM MCCORD..
JOHN JOSEPH DEVITT.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.