CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Oddie, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager, William Lancaster, of the same Place, Manufacturer, and
John Lancaster, of the same Place, Manager, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 8th April 1856, and dated the 10th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Oddie, William
Lancaster, and John Lancaster at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 10th October 1855.
We, THOMAS ODDIE, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Manager,
WILLIAM LANCASTER, of the same Place, Manufacturer, and JOHN LANCASTER,
of the same Place, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING" to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention relates to the pickers which are employed
in looms for the purpose of impelling the shuttle across the loom. The picker
is formed of one or more pieces of buffalo hide, bent or rolled round the
spindle of the shuttle box, and having an opening or slot formed in the under
side thereof beneath the spindle, to admit of the picking band passing through
the picker and round the spindle, so as to drive the picker at the point where
the spindle passes through it.
The picker where it surrounds the spindle is previously raised or hollowed

page_text: out in the centre by means of a suitable cramp or block, so as only to bear on
the spindle at each end, and thereby cause less friction on the spindle; or a
spiral spring, or a tube of buffalo hide or other suitable material, may be placed
at each end of the picker between, it, and the spindle, so as to leave space for
the picking band to swivel: upon the spindle. The front of the picker is
formed bell-shaped, so as to receive the point of the shuttle.
"
The second part of this Invention relates to the taking-up motion employed
for winding the cloth on to the cloth beam as it is woven, and consists in
employing a lever of the second order for that purpose, that is to say, a lever
having the fulcrum at one end and the power applied to the other, whilst the
taking-up catch is placed between the two, the power being communicated to
the lever from the "slay sword." By the use of this kind of lever the cloth is
taken up as the slay "beats up or advances towards the front of loom, the
shed being closed instead of being taken up as the slay is returning, as is the
case when a lever of the first order is employed, as in the ordinary arrange-
ment. This change in the time and mode of taking up effects a great saving
in the heals, and. causes, less strain upon the yarn, and, allows the cloth to
be distended, wider by the temple, in, consequence of, the "beating-up" and
taking-up being simultaneous.
The third part of this Invention consists in the employment of a compen-
sation roller or bearer, which is placed transversely upon the yarn behind the
back bearer or yarn carrier, and rises and falls in a slotted bracket or guide at
each end, as the "shed" opens and closes, thereby reducing a great portion of
the weight upon the yarn beam, and causing a more positive delivery of the
yarn, and also serving to indicate the weight required on the yarn beam. A
modification of this arrangement may be made by employing a single sliding
beam or yarn carrier, which is allowed to slide horizontally on a bracket
towards the healds (as the "shed "opens,) and is drawn back by means of a
bow or other spring applied at each end of the yarn carrier.
The fourth part of this Invention relates to the apparatus. for stopping the
loom when the shuttle does not enter the shuttle box or when the weft thread
breaks, and consists of a self-acting break for stopping the loom without the
aid of "frogs" or "stop rod fingers."
This break is so constructed as to allow the fly or balance wheel to apply
its own friction and effect its own stoppage when necessary by means of a
friction lever or break placed underneath or at the back of the fly or balance
wheel. The power is applied to the lever or break by a vertical slide or
bracket bearing upon it, at the front of the wheel behind the. slay. There is
a slot in this slide or bracket which allows, a projection upon the side of the

page_text: fly or balance wheel to pass through when the shuttle is in the shuttle box,
and the loom in its working position. A sinall swivel lever is placed upon
the top of the slide or bracket, and covers the before-mentioned slot. This
swivel lever is removed by the shuttle when it enters the box by means of an
intermediate lever, and then the projection upon the fly wheel is allowed to
pass through the slot. When the shuttle is not in the box the swivel remains
and covers the slot, and if the shuttle should be obstructed or otherwise fail to
enter the box, the projection on the fly wheel comes into contact with the
swivel, and presses the slide or bracket upon the friction lever or break, and
thereby causes the instantaneous stoppage of the loom. At the same time it
releases the "spring handle" or "setting on rod," and removes the strap from
the fast on to the loose pulley, by means of a small rod from the fulcrum of
the friction lever or break which acts upon the said "spring handle."
There is also a lever for stopping the loom in any part of the shuttle's
progress when the weft breaks, or is otherwise absent. This lever is placed
with its fulcrum at the lower end, and extends from below the rod of the
break to the weft fork lever, so that wlien the lever is drawn back to stop
the loom, it will also draw back this upright lever (which is connected to the
rod of the break by a small projection from the rod), and thus stop the loom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Oddie, William Lancaster, and John Lancaster, in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
ODDIE, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Manager, WILLIAM LANCASTER,
of the same Place, Manufacturer, and JOHN LANCASTER, of the same Place,
Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Thomas Oddie, William Lancaster, and John Lancaster, Her especial licence
that we, the said Thomas Oddie, William Lancaster, and John Lancaster, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas
Oddie, William Lancaster, and John Lancaster, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time

page_text: and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Oddie, William Lancaster, and
John Lancaster, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Oddie, William Lancaster,
and John Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings
(that is to say)-
The first part of our Invention relates to "pickers" for impelling the shuttle
and to that class of pickers which work on a spindle; and it consists in making
such pickers of an improved shape and construction, which we shall most
readily explain by reference to the Drawings, in which several modifications of
this part of our Invention are exhibited by Figs. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6,
7 and 8, 9 and 10, and by 11 and 12, the first and second Figure of each
modification being respectively an edge and a side view (full size). The
same letters and figures of reference will denote the same and corresponding
parts in each Figure of the Drawings.
it
Our improved pickers are made of buffalo hide, the same as common pickers,
and are principally made of one piece bent in the staple form, and blocked or
shaped to leave a hole (a) for the spindle of the shuttle box, and a cavity (b)
to receive the tip of the shuttle, as will be seen by examination of the
Drawings. That part of the picker surrounding the spindle of the shuttle
box may be made to bear upon it through the entire length of the picker, as is
the case in those modifications represented by Figs. 9 and 10, 11 and 12; or
may be chambered or hollowed out in the centre part, so as only to bear on
the spindle of the shuttle box at each end, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, 5 and 6,
and in 7 and 8; or it may be bushed at each end with tubes (a¹) of buffalo
hide, wood, or other suitable material, as is represented by Figs. 3 and 4.
The cavity (b) for the tip of the shuttle may be made in the picker on one side,
as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and in 7 and 8, or on both sides, as
shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, 9 and 10, and in 11 and 12. When the picker is
constructed with a cavity for the tip of the shuttle on both sides, it may be

page_text: The
turned when one side is worn so as to bring the other side into use.
opening or slot (c) formed in the picker for the picking band to pass through,
may be made in it on either side of the part surrounding the spindle of the
shuttle box, as represented in Fig. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and in 5 and 6, or as
In the modi-
represented in Figs. 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and in 11 and 12.
fication shewn by Fig. 7 and 8, the central part is blocked upward from the
spindle, and the slot (c) is cut in that part. In Fig. 9 and 10, and in 11 and
12, a portion of the material is left above the part which surrounds the spindle
of the shuttle box, in which portion is cut the slot for the "picking band." In
the modification shewn by Fig. 11 and 12, a small piece of buffalo hide (d) is
inserted to make that part where the slot for the picking band is cut more
secure and solid. The pieces of buffalo hide forming the pickers have the
required shape imparted to them when in a soft state by dies or blocks, acted
upon by pressure, and the shape so imparted in a soft state will be retained by
them when dry and hard. In blocking or shaping the pieces of buffalo hide
to the forms required by such pickers, as are represented by Fig. 3 and 4,
9 and 10, and by 11 and 12, only one operation and one pair of blocks or dies
is required. These blocks or dies have cavities formed in the face of them to
suit the required shape of the picker. The piece to be blocked is bent in the
staple form, and a mandril is passed through it to form the hole (a) for the
spindle of the shuttle box; it is then placed on one die or block, the other die
or block being brought down upon it, by force applied to a screw, lever, or
other mechanical arrangement, and while the pressure is upon it a punch of
suitable shape is forced between the two pieces to separate them, and form the
cavity (b) for the tip of the shuttle, which completes the blocking ог shaping of
the picker. But for such pickers as those exhibited by Figs. 1 and 2, 5 and 6,
and by 7 and 8, which are chambered out in the centre of the parts surrounding
the spindle, another blocking operation is required preparatory to that just
described, which consists in bending the piece in the staple or loop form, and
blocking the upper portion of the part surrounding the spindle of the shuttle box.
This may be done by a block (e), the punch (f), shewn by Figs. 15 and 16; the
first (Figure 15) is a plan view, the punch being shewn in section; the second
(Fig. 16) is a cross sectional view of the block and punch, on the line A, B,
Fig. 15. In this view the punch (f) is represented in dotted line as just
forcing the piece to be blocked into the block (e), when it arrives at the position
shewn in full line the operation is completed, the punch (f) being withdrawn;
and the piece removed from the block is then to be placed in between blocks
or dies, represented by Fig. 13 and 14, which are similar to those already
referred to for blocking pickers, which do not require chambering. Fig. 13

page_text: is a plan view of the lower block (9), and the mandril or core h, which is held
in the position required by notches g'in the lower block, into which it is placed,
being prevented from moving endways by shoulders h¹ formed on the ends of
the mandril or core which come against the sides of the notches g. The
punch which forms the cavity for the tip of the shuttle is partly shewn in this
Figure (Fig. 13), and is lettered k. Fig. 14 is an edge view of the upper and
lower block (g and g2) with the piece subjected to their operation between
them. (The blocks or dies and punches, herein-before referred to, may be
readily arranged and adapted to the screw or fly press.) When the blocking
is completed, the maundril or core (h) is removed, and the piece is secured in
the position in which it is left by the blocking process by staples of wire (m),
which pass from one side, and are clinched on the other side. Fig. 17 shews
a front view of the shuttle box of a loom, having our improved picker applied
according to the modification represented by Figs. 1 and 2, and with the picking
band (n) attached. The picker slides upon the shuttle box spindle (p), and
its lower part in a guide slot in a plate at the bottom of the shuttle box, in the
same manner as the common picker. The advantages of this improved picker
consist in its lightness and durability, the latter quality chiefly arising from the
cavity made for the tip of the shuttle, by the arrangement of which it will be
seen that the point of the tip of the shuttle cannot act to penetrate the solid
material, but passes between the two sides, and the cavity being slightly elastic
it acts as a buffer to retard and break the force with which the shuttle strikes
the picker, and thus diminishes the destructive action of the shuttle upon
the picker.
upon
The second part of our Invention relates to the taking-up motion employed
for winding the cloth on to the cloth beam as it is woven, and it consists in com-
bining with a series of wheels employed for this purpose a lever of the second
order, actuated from the slay sword in place of a lever of the first order hitherto
used; that is, a lever having the taking-up catch attached to it on the same
side of its fulcrum as the actuating power is applied, in place of a lever having
the catch attached to it on the opposite side of the fulcrum to which the actuating
power is applied. By the proposed arrangement the cloth will be taken up
when the slay beats up or advances to the front of the loom, the shed then
being closed instead of being taken up when the slay is returning, as is the
case when a lever of the first order is employed, as in the ordinary arrange-
ment. This change in the time and mode of taking-up effects a saving in the
healds, and causes less strain upon the yarn, and also allows the cloth to be
distended wider by the temple in consequence of the beating-up and taking-up
being simultaneous.

page_text: This arrangement is shewn in Fig. 18, which exhibits the side elevation of
part of a loom. q, framing; r, slay; r', slay sword; t, taking-up lever, actuated
by a pin fixed in the slay sword, which takes into the slot in the taking-up
lever; t', fulcrum of lever; 2, catch, that acts on the ratchet wheel w, which is
mounted on a short shaft having a pinion w¹ keyed on it that geers with a
wheel w, that has another pinion w³ on its axis, that geers with a wheel w
on the sand or taking-up roller s (these wheels are only represented by dotted
circles); vis the cloth beam.
The third part of our Invention consists in the employment of a compen-
sating roller or bar, which is placed transversely upon the yarn between the
back bearer or yarn. carrier and: the healds, and it is free to.rise:and-fall-in-a
slotted bracket or guide placed at each end as the shed opens and closes,
thereby reducing a great portion of the strain upon the yarn; and also serving
to indicate the weight required on the yarn beam.
The application of this arrangement to a loom is shewn by Fig. 18. x, yarn
beam, weighted in the usual manner; x³, yarn; y, yarn carrier; y', compen-
sating roller or bar (both the latter parts shewn in section); y², bracket or
guide with vertical slot, in which the compensating roller or bar is free to rise
and fall.
Another modification of this arrangement may be made by employing a yarn
carrier bar or roller, arranged to slide horizontally to and from the healds in
slotted brackets as the shed opens and closes, the proper tension being given to
the yarn by bow or other springs of the requisite strength applied to each
end of the sliding carrier, and tending to force it from the healds. This
arrangement is shewn by Fig. 19. 9, part of the side framing of a loom;
x, yarn beam, weighted in the usual manner; a³, yarn; y', sliding yarn carrier
or roller, supported at each end in slotted brackets y²; y³, bow spring, secured
to bracket y².
The fourth part of our Invention as described in our Provisional Specification
we have discovered since the filing thereof will be of no practical utility; we
therefore make no claim in respect to it.
We have now particularly described the nature of our Invention, and the
manner in which the same is performed and carried into effect, and claim as
our Invention,―
Firstly, the shape and mode of constructing pickers, and particularly the
arrangement of the cavity for the tip of the shuttle, herein-before described
as the first part of our Invention.
Secondly, we claim the combination of mechanism for taking-up the cloth
as it is woven, herein-before described as the second part of our Invention.

page_text: Thirdly, we claim the arrangements for regulating the tension upon the yarn,
herein-before described as the third part of our Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Oddie, William Lancaster, and
John Lancaster, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day
of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six.
THOMAS ODDIE.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM LANCASTER. (L.S.)
JOHN LANCASTER.
(L.8.)
THOMAS ODDIE.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM LANCASTER. (L.S.)
JOHN LANCASTER.
(L.B.)