Improvements in Lappet Looms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lappet Looms.
I, EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH, of Hutchinson, Hollingworth, and Company,
Limited, of Dobcross Iron Works, Dobcross, in the County of York, Machine
Makers, 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:-
:-
The present invention relates to a lappet loom and is embodied in a novel
construction and arrangement of the devices for weaving lappet, including the
means for determining the pattern, said devices being so constructed as to be
readily applicable to plain or fancy looms as now constructed without materially
altering the arrangement thereof or modifying their operation.
In accordance with the present invention, the reciprocating movement of the
needles for making the lappet stitch is produced by connecting mechanism
co-operating with the devices which move the harness frames, the said mechanism
being so arranged that a complete reciprocation of the needles is produced at
each pick; while the pattern device which controls the lateral movement of
said needles, and regulates the length of the lappet stitches is operated directly by
the same mechanism that reciprocates the needles.
The attachments forming the subject of the invention are especially adapted
for use with a dobby loom and will be shown and described in connection with
such a loom, but they may obviously be used in connection with looms of different
types.
The take-up device for the lappet threads is operated by a connection with the
device which operates the needles, while the shuttle guide pin bar which is
provided in lappet looms to protect the needles, is moved into position before, the
throw of the shuttle, and out of the way of the reed after the shuttle is thrown
by means of a cam engaging therewith during the forward and backward move-
ment of the lay.
When, as herein shown, the lappet attachment forming the subject of the
present invention is applied to a dobby loom the needles, the tension device, and
the pattern chain are all operated by a strap or flexible connection with the
dobby blades similar to the strap which operates the harness frames, and in order
to produce a complete reciprocation of the needles at each pick, means are provided
for shifting the connection from one to another of the two alternately operating
dobby blades, so that the movement of each dobby blade from an intermediate
position to one of its extremes and back to the said intermediate position produces
a complete up and down movement of the needles. This is accomplished by
providing at the end of the flexible strap by which the needles are operated a
double hook or hook having two members so arranged that one of the said
members is in the path of one dobby blade and the other in the path of an
adjacent dobby blade which moves alternately with the blade first mentioned.
At the intermediate point, therefore, or point at which two dobby blades pass
each other in reversing the position of the warp threads to open a new shed,
the hook will embrace both of said blades, being immediately engaged by one of

page_text: said blades and following the same from its intermediate to its extreme position
and back again, thus producing a complete up and down reciprocation of the
needles, and on again returning to said intermediate position the said hook is
caught by the alternately moving dobby blade as it passes the one which has
previously engaged the hook thus repeating the operation and causing a second
complete reciprocation of the needles. Thus the needles are always down when
the shed is formed and while the shuttle is passing therethrough and up as the
harness frames pass each other or when the shed is closed, or in other words when
the dobby blades pass each other at their intermediate positions as above described,
at which time the filling thread is beaten up, and the threads of the lappet needles
are also taken up to tighten the lappet stitches just formed.
The pattern device is mounted on the lay, and consists of a band or chain
provided with pins differing in length which control slides or followers against
the ends of which the needle bars are held by means of a spring and the said
pattern chain is advanced the distance between two adjacent pins at each
reciprocation of the needles by a direct connection with the lifting rod which
actuates the needle bars; as for example a pawl co-operating with a ratchet.
Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation of a dobby loom provided with lappet
weaving devices embodying the present invention;
Fig. 2 a detail showing the dobby blades and the connecting hook whereby the
needles are operated';
Figs. 3 and 4 details shewing respectively a front elevation and a sectional
elevation of a modification;
Fig. 5 a side elevation of the loom;
Fig. 6 a detail on an enlarged scale, showing in front elevation the pattern'
devices and means for operating the same;
Fig. 7 a similar view partly in section, shewing the means for supporting and
guiding the needle bars, and the manner of their co-operation with the pattern
chain and pattern devices;
Fig. 8 a similar detail showing the pattern devices and the needle bars in plan;
Fig. 9 a sectional detail showing the shuttle guide pin bar and means for
operating the same; and
Fig. 10 is a section of one of the boxes or guides for the needle bars shewing
the yoke which carries said needle bars.
The lappet needles a project downward from the needle bars a 2 which are
supported in guides or boxes b mounted at the ends of the lay A which is con-
structed and operated in the ordinary way, it being mounted upon the swords A²
which are rocked to produce a backward and forward movement of the lay by
means of a crank and pitman operating from the main shaft A³, it not being
deemed necessary to specify the construction and arrangement since the invention
is shown as applied to a loom of usual construction, the main elements of which
of themselves embody no part of the present invention.
The shuttle boxes and picker staffs are of usual construction and operating in
the usual way, and, need not therefore be referred to by letter nor described.
The needles and needle bars thus move with the lay in its forward and back-
ward movement and are capable of an up and down and lateral movement with
relation thereto in order that the threads carried by the needles may be carried
below the shed so as to be caught by the filling threads at each pick and after-
wards carried up through and across a portion of the warp threads to form the
lappet stitch 'determined by the pattern, after which they are again carried below
the shed to be caught at the opposite end of said stitch at the next pick.
To this end the needle bars a² are movable both vertically and longitudinally
in guide slots b¹ formed in the walls of the guide boxes b, there being one of said
boxes at each end of the lay securely supported thereon over the shuttle box at
the end of the shuttle race. Within each of the said boxes is a yoke or bracket b
adapted to be moved up and down in said box as will be hereinafter described
in order to give the proper up and down reciprocating movement of the needles.

page_text: The said yoke 62 is provided with recesses, (see Fig. 10) for the needle bars
preferably formed in lateral wings or extensions 624 through which recesses the
said needle bars are longitudinally movable so that while the up and down move-
ment of said yoke produces a corresponding up and down movement of the needle
bars the said bars are capable of longitudinal movement with relation to the
yoke, thus giving a corresponding lateral movement of the needles, which move-
ment is controlled by the pattern device which will be hereinafter described.
To produce the reciprocating movement of the needles corresponding to a pick
of the loom, the yoke 6 is moved up and down by the same mechanism which
operates the harness frames, shown in this instance as the dobby blades B which
are arranged and operated in the usual manner, the construction and operation
thereof being well known and needing no further description.
The movement is imparted to the yoke or yokes 62 (there being a box 6 and
yoke 6 at each end of the needle bars which extend the length of the lay) by
means of a rod 63 connected to one end of an arm 6 mounted on a rock shaft 65
adapted to be oscillated by a strap or flexible connecting piece 66 connected as
by a rod 660 to the end of an arm 67 projecting from said rock shaft (see Fig. 5)
the said strap passing over a pulley 68 and terminating in a hook 6º operated by
the dobby blades B.
The said hook 69 is made with double prongs 60, 691 projecting from opposite
sides thereof (see Fig. 2) the shank of said hook passing between two adjacent
dobby blades which are operated to reverse their position at every pick of the
loom. At the time, therefore, when the lay is in its rearmost position and the
shed open for the passage of the shuttle, that one of the said pair of dobby.
blades B which is furthest to the right of a person facing the loom as shown in
Fig. 1. is engaged with the corresponding prong of the hook, as shewn in dotted
lines Fig. 2, drawing up the strap 66 to its highest position, and thus causing
the needles to be carried down to the lowermost position where the eyes thereof
are below the lower warp threads, and the needle threads running from the point
of engagement with the fabric to the eyes of the needles rest upon the shuttle
race so that the filling thread passes above them when the shuttle is thrown across.
Then while the lay is advancing to beat up the filling thread and returning the
position of the pair of dobby blades B is again reversed and in the movement
of the dobby blade, which has been engaged with the hook 69, from the extreme
right hand position to an intermediate position, shown in full lines Fig. 2, the
strap 66 is lowered and the rock shaft 65 permitted to be turned by the action
of one or more springs 650 to raise the needle bar lifting rods 63 and needle bars,
thus carrying the lappet threads above the warp threads, at which time the
position of the needle bars is shifted by the longitudinal movement controlled
by their pattern.
The springs 650 are shewn as right and left coiled springs connected at one of
their ends with the rock shaft 65 and at their other ends with the floor or a
stationary object, such as the frame work, so that they have a tortional effect
on the shaft with a tendency to lift the needle bar.
As the two blades B pass one another at substantially their intermediate
position, and at substantially the time when the lay is in its extreme forward
position the blade which is moving from left to right engages the corresponding
prong of the hook 69, and again lifts the strap 66, this movement taking place
during the backward movement of the lay, and being completed and the needles
again wholly depressed by the time when the shed is fully opened and the shuttle
again thrown across therethrough.
Thus at each operation of the blades, and at the proper time in the corresponding
pick of the loom the needle bars are caused to have a complete up and down
reciprocation, being lowered when the lay is back and the shed open, and raised
when the lay is forward, and the last pick of filling thread is being beaten up.
The needles are supplied with thread from one or more beams c mounted in
any suitable way, each thread c³ passing down across a stationary guide bar

page_text: provided with slots for the threads, one corresponding to each needle, and thence
across a movable take-up device and thence through a guide bar on the lay
provided with a hole for each thread, and thence through the eye of the needle.
The take-up device which is provided for the purpose of taking up the slack
thread as the needles rise, consists of a bar or roll mounted on arms pro-
jecting from a rock shaft c¹¹ having a lever arm 3 connected by a rod 3 with
an elbow lever best shown in Fig. 1, said elbow lever being rocked in one
direction by means of a tie 45 connected with the hook which operates the
needles as has been 'described, and in the opposite direction by a spring
connected to a stationary portion of the frame.
As the needles rise, therefore, the tension or take-up device c swings back
to the position shewn in Fig. 5 taking up the slack thread, and thereafter moves
forward to allow the said slack to be carried down by the said needles when the
needles descend at the next operation."
The pattern device is mounted on the lay, and preferably consists in series
of pins d of different lengths one series for each needle bar, so arranged that the
ends of said pins co-operate with the ends of the needle bars to determine the
position of said needle bars in their longitudinal movement which obviously
depends upon the length of the pin in engagement therewith at any given time.
As herein shown, the said pins are carried upon a chain running over
sprocket wheels 3 arranged to travel intermittingly such a distance as to bring.
the pins d of each series carried by the chain consecutively into engagement with
the heade of a slide or follower, best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, provided with a
guiding portion e² extending through a slot in the box b (see Fig. 10) so that
it is capable of longitudinal movement therein, and the opposite or inner side
of the head e is engaged by the end of the corresponding needle bar a³, each of
which needle bars is pressed against the corresponding follower head by means of a
spring a³, herein shewn as located at the opposite end of said needle bar, it being
obvious, therefore, that the position of each needle bar is determined by the:
length of the pin engaged by the corresponding head e, this being clearly illus-
trated in Fig. 7. The pattern chain dis driven directly front the reciprocating
rod 63 which produces the up and down movement of the needles, one of the
sprocket wheels d³ being provided with a ratchet wheel d co-operating with a
pawl mounted at the end of an elbow lever do pivoted at d and connected
by a rod 8 with the rod 63 aforesaid, a lug or extension 630 being preferably
secured to the said rod, to which extension the said rod as is directly connected.
Thus at each upward movement of the rod 63 which raises the needles from the
shed the pattern chain will be advanced the distance between two adjacent pins,
so that the pin which has previously determined the position of the needle bars
is carried beyond the surface of the follower e, while the next pin comes in contact
therewith the said surface being preferably, as shewn, curved and constituting a
cam co-operating with the pattern pins so that if the succeeding pin is longer
than the one which is moved away it will engage an inclined surface on the
head e, so as to move the same and carry the needle bars to the right as 'seen in
Fig. 7. against the stress of the springs a³ above described.
In order to securely hold the pattern chain and to prevent any possibility of
a reverse movement thereof a retaining pawl d is provided pivoted at 10 as best
shewn in Fig. 6.
To prevent an overthrow of the pattern carrier, the pawl do is preferably provided
with a rearward extension (50 shown in dotted lines Fig. 6, adapted to be engaged
by a shoulder 760 (also dotted) on the elbow lever 76, so that when said elbow
lever is actuated by the rod de the said shoulder will engage the said extension
thus holding the under face of the pawl against the upper surface of the preced-
ing tooth of the pawl (the said under surface being, as shewn, shaped to conform
thereto) thus effectually preventing a further forward movement of the ratchet
wheel until the rod de again moves down.
It is obvious that one or more needle bars may be employed if desired, two

page_text: being herein shewn to illustrate the invention, each needle bar being provided
with a separate series of pattern pins all operated simultaneously by means of
the ratchet d 4 and pawl do above described.
As herein shown, the two needle bars are both operated simultaneously by a
single connection or strap 6° from the mechanism that shifts the harness frames,
and the said needle bars have an independent longitudinal movement, each being
controlled by its own series of pattern pins, although both series move simul-
taneously, being actuated by the mechanism that raises and lowers the needles.
It is obvious however that each needle bar might be actuated independently
in its up and down reciprocations as well as in its longitudinal movement, it
being necessary only to provide separate lifting bars 3 and connecting mechanism
therefrom to a corresponding pair of dobby blades or equivalent actuating means.
Such construction is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the arms 6, 67 that
connect respectively with the needle bar lifting rods and the dobby blades are
mounted upon a second rock shaft 600 shewn as a sleeve enclosing the rock shaft 6"
that separates the other needle bar.
It is obvious furthermore, that the pattern and feeding device therefor illus-
trated in Fig. 6 may be duplicated for each independently operated needle bar
lifter and in as much as the dobby blades may be controlled by the usual pattern
so as to operate only at predetermined picks, each lappet needle bar may be con-
trolled entirely independently of the others as may be sometimes desirable for
certain forms of lappet pattern.
In lappet looms it is necessary to provide a guide for the shuttle in order to
protect the needles from injury and it is obviously necessary that the said guide
should be movable in order to permit the reed to beat up the filling during the
forward movement of the lay. In accordance with the present invention, the said
guide consists of a series of pins f mounted on a pin-bar or blade (see Fig. 6)
movable vertically in a slot f3 extending longitudinally through the lay A.
The said bar is arranged to move through the said slot as the lay moves
back and forth, so that when the said lay is in the position assumed just before
the pick takes place the pins f will have been carried up above the surface of the
lay in front of the needles a to form the necessary guide for the shuttle as it
is thrown across.
The pin-bar is lowered just before the lay completes its beating-up movement
as shewn in Fig. 9, by means of a cam f* supported on the main frame below
the lay which is shewn in this Figure in its forward position with the lappet
needles raised and the guide pins lowered and the reed C in the position assumed
when the filling is practically fully beaten up.
The bar or blade f is connected at its ends by means of ties or links f³ to
arms f of a rock shaft 7 provided with a spring få tending to press the said arms
upward, and said rock shaft is also provided with another arm f, having a cam
roll fo co-operating with the cam surface f4, it being obvious, therefore, that as
the lay moves back the cam roll will ride up the inclined surface f* causing the
blade to rise and carry the pins f up above the surface of the lay, and con-
versely as the lay moves forward, the cam roll and pin-bar are depressed.
The appliances for weaving lappet as herein described may be applied to various
forms of existing looms without substantial change in the main operative elements
of the loom employed for weaving plain or fancy fabrics.
It is necessary only to provide the slot or passage for the pin-bar in the shuttle.
race and the lay, and to apply to the lay thus slotted the pin-bar and its actuating
rock shaft and to apply to the loom frame a cam for actuating the pin bar.
The guides and pattern for the needle bars and the parts directly co-operating
therewith are all supported upon the boxes b which may be secured to the swords
of the lay of existing looms without interfering with any of the functions thereof,
and the remaining connections from the needle bar mechanism to the actuating.
part of the loom, and for lappet thread take-up mechanism are readily supplied
as an attachment to looms of the usual construction,

page_text: Moreover, by supporting the pattern device directly on the lay a very positive
control of the needle bars is afforded, which produces a more perfect pattern
in the woven fabric, there being no necessity of providing complicated connecting
mechanism, the use of which is liable to result in considerable lost motion and
consequent inaccuracy, as has heretofore been necessary. By this construction
on the contrary, the pattern device co-operates directly with the needle bars,
there being practically no intermediate connection, the device therefore not only
being productive of better results, but also being more readily applied to existing
looms.
It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific construction herein
shewn and described, since modifications might obviously be made without depart-
ing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination with the lay, of the needle bar, vertically movable yokes
therefor, guides for said yokes, secured to said lay near the ends thereof, the
needles secured to said bar, the harness frames, levers for operating the same
to open and close the shed, and means for connecting said movable yokes with
said levers to produce an up and down movement of the needles substantially
as described.
2. The combination with the lay, of the needle bars and needles supported and
vertically movable thereon, the harness frame actuating levers, means for con-
necting said needle-bars with said levers, and a device whereby the said connecting
means are shifted from one harness operating lever to another as they pass each
other in intermediate position, substantially as described.
3. In a dobby loom, the combination with the lay, of the needle bar and needles
mounted thereon, a pair of adjacent dobby blades and a flexible strap or connecting
member extending therefrom to the said needle bar, and a double hook at the
end of said flexible connecting member in the path of said dobby blades whereby
the connection is shifted from one to the other as they pass each other, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The combination of the lay and needle bar guides fixed thereon near the
ends of the shuttle race with the needle bar capable of longitudinal and vertical
movement in said guides, a pattern bearing pulley supported in bearings fixed in
the lay adjacent to the end of the needle bar, a pattern chain on said pulley a
follower arranged in the needle bar guidés and having a longitudinal movement
only and adapted to be acted upon by the pattern chain for controlling the
position of the needle bar longitudinally, and means for producing a vertical
movement of said needle bar independently of said pattern, and for intermittingly
rotating said pulley substantially as described.
5. The combination of the needle bars mounted and capable of vertical and
longitudinal movement on the lay with the lifting rod for said needle bars and
means for actuating the same, the pattern bearing pulleys fixedly mounted on the
lay adjacent to the needle bars a pattern thereon for controlling the position of
the bars longitudinally, and a device for advancing or shifting said pattern
connected to and operated by said lifting rod, whereby the said pattern is shifted
in the vertical movement of the needle bars, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the needle bars and guides therefor supported on the
lay of a loom, of means for reciprocating said needle bars vertically in said guides,
and a pattern bearing pulley fixedly mounted on said lay in proximity to said
needle bars and a pattern thereon adapted by its movement to produce a longi-
tudinal movement of said needle bars, the extent of said movement being also

page_text: determined by said pattern, and a device for actuating said pattern connected
to and operated by said needle bar reciprocating means, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the needle bars mounted on the lay and capable of
vertical and longitudinal movement with relation thereto, of the harness operating
devices, the lifting rod for said needles connected with the said harness operating
devices, the pattern device comprising a series of pins mounted on an endless
chain, said pins co-operating with the needle bars to determine the position
thereof longitudinally with relation to the lay, a ratchet adapted by its move-
ment to drive said chain, and a pawl connected with said lifting rod and
co-operating with said ratchet, substantially as described.
8. In a lappet loom, the combination of the lay and needle bar guides fixed
thereon near the ends of the shuttle race, with a needle bar capable of longitudinal
and vertical movement in said guides, means for vertically moving said needle-
bar, a follower for said needle bar arranged in said needle bar guides, and having
a vertical guide surface engaging the end of the needle bar, and a pattern
supported in bearings fixed on the lay having projections co-operating with said
follower to move it longitudinally substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. The combination of the lay and needle bar guides fixed thereon near the
end of the shuttle race, with the needle bar capable of longitudinal and vertical
movement in said guides, means for vertically moving said bar, a pattern-chain
bearing-pulley supported in bearings fixed on the lay with its axis at right angles
to the length of the needle bar, and means for intermittingly rotating the same,
a pattern-chain having its links provided with pins or projections carried by
said pulley, and a cam surface co-operating therewith interposed between said
pins and the needle bar whereby said pins cause longitudinal movement of the
needle bar as they are successively brought forward by the intermittent rotation
of the pulley, substantially as described.
10. The combination with the needle-bars, of guides therefor supported on the
lay, the harness operating levers, a device for connecting said needle bars with
said levers to produce a reciprocating vertical movement of said bars in said
guides, and a take-up for the needle-threads also operated by said levers through
said connecting devices, substantially as described.
11. In a lappet loom the combination with the lay of the guide pins and guide
pin bar supported and guided in a vertical longitudinal slot in said lay, a spring
actuated rock shaft mounted on said lay and provided with an arm or projection
connected to said pin bar and a cam secured to the frame of the loom and adapted
to engage a cam projection on said rock shaft during the movement of the lay,
to produce an oscillation thereof, substantially as described.
12. In a lappet loom, the combination with the harness operating levers, of a
rock-shaft mounted near the base of the loom, a transverse arm on said rock-
shaft, one end of which is connected with one or more of said levers, a needle-bar,
and a lifting rod therefor connected with the opposite end of said arm sub-
stantially as described.
13. In a lappet loom, the combination with the harness operating levers of a
rock-shaft mounted near the base of the loom, means for connecting said rock
shaft with said levers to produce an oscillation of said shaft, the lay provided
with guides, a needle bar vertically and longitudinally movable in said guides,
a needle-bar lifting rod connected with an arm or projection from said rock-
shaft a pattern device co-operating with the end of the needle-bar to produce a
longitudinal movement thereof and determine the extent of such movement,
and an actuator for said pattern device connected with said lifting rod, sub-
stantially as described.
14. In a lappet loom, the combination with the lay, of a needle-bar supported
thereon and vertically and longitudinally movable with relation thereto, a
pattern device comprising a series of pins mounted on an endless chain, sprockets
or pulleys for said chain mounted on the lay, a follower interposed between the
said pattern device and the end of the needle-bar, the needle-bar lifting rod,

page_text: and a pawl connected therewith and adapted to co-operate with a ratchet wheel
connected with one of said sprockets, substantially as described.
D
T
Ow
3
1007
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents,
Halifax, Agents for Applicants.