IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Algernon Freeman Firth, Carpet Manufacturer, and
John Boothman, Loom Tuner, both of Bailiffe Bridge, in the County of York,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Algernon Freeman Firth
and John Boothman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
29th September 1880.
ALGERNON FREEMAN FIRTH, Carpet Manufacturer, and JOHN BOOTHMAN, Loom
Tuner, both of Bailiffe Bridge, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
33
This Invention relates to improved apparatus employed for operating the fork of
the wire motion' to improved construction and arrangement of tappets and
levers for working the healds and for operating the picking stick and picker, and
for operating the head of the wire motion. In combination with the wire motion
I attach or employ on the cross head a lug, which at each forward movement of the
cross head operates a lever carrying the wire fork, and at the same time charges a
spring, the latter giving to the fork its traverse; there is also a lug and incline by
means of which the wire when being carried by the fork forwards to be inserted is
raised above and clear of the wires in the body of the fabric.
The tappets for operating the healds and for working the wire motion are
arranged outside the looms and frame, so as to be accessible and greatly simplify the
number of parts or tackle used heretofore, the lever for actuating the wire motion
is connected by a link with the cross-head, whilst the picking stock is operated by
means of levers having fulcrums outside (by preference) the end frames, which
levers are by bowls applied to an arm on the driving shaft or to one of the gear
wheels, operated so as by means of fingers or levers connected to the foot of the
picking sticks to give the necessary motion thereto.

page_text: fabric; the spring 5 then presses the lever 3 and its fork and wire forwards in
the direction of the retreating slay, until the end of the wire is in position for being
inserted in the open shed on the next advance of the crosshead or slide piece 1.
The to and fro traverse of the crosshead or slide 1 is obtained by means of the
cam plate 12 on the shaft 13, which cam, as shewn, is applied directly to and
actuates the lever 14, and through the latter the link 15 and crosshead 1, there
being no intervening apparatus between the cam plate 12 and lever 14 save the
antifriction bowl or runner 16, the usual links and connections being dispensed
with.
For operating the healds (of which, in example illustrated, there are 3 sets), the
treaddle levers 17, 17, 17, are so arranged and combined with the healds 18, and
treadding tappets or cams 19, that the ends 20 of the said treaddle levers 17
extend under the loom, and are by rods 21 directly connected to the healds 18, so
that as the levers 17 are worked on the fulcrum stud 23 by the tappets 19 on the
shaft 13, direct and positive motion upwards and downwards is secured and
imparted to the healds, which are guided by supports 24, in and through which the
guide rods 25 work, the whole of the jacks or rocking levers and connecting roda
heretofore usually employed for transmitting motion from the treaddle levers to the
healds being dispensed with.
At 20 is a picking stick having arms or finger 27 connected to and operated
by the lever 28 fulcrumed at 29, and having inclines 30 acted upon by the bowl or
runner 31 attached to the rotary arm 32 on the driving or other shaft. At 33 is
a lever guide bracket; 34 is a spring for returning the picking stick to its starting
point. The shaft on which the cams or tappets for operating the crosshead lever
and treaddles are mounted is driven by gear wheels as ordinary.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this our said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, we would have it understood that an important
feature of, or arising out of this Invention is, that numerous parts of the loom as
heretofore constructed are dispensed with, and that we do not claim any of the
parts per se.What we do claim is-
Firstly. The use in combination of the catch notched incline 8 for holding, and
the incline lug 11 for releasing and raising the wire fork lever 3, as described
and illustrated by Drawings annexed.
Secondly. The use of the treaddle tappets or cams and treaddles, the latter
directly connected with, attached to, and operating the healds, as described and
illustrated.
Thirdly. The employment in combination of cain 12, lever 14, link 15, and croзs
head or slide head 1, as described and illustrated by Drawings annexed hereto.
Lastly. The use in combination of the improved appliances for operating the
wire motion and for operating the healds in manner herein described and
substantially as illustrated by Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Algernon Freeman Firth, for and on behalf
of myself and the said John Boothman, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
A. F. FIRTH. (L.S.)