IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS' FOR LOOMS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Rhodes, Thomas Brown Rhodes, and Joseph
Roberts Stoney, all of Armley, near Leeds, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS' FOR LOOMS."
Sealed the 1st August 1876, and dated the 24th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Rhodes, Thomas
Brown Rhodes, and Joseph Roberts Stoney at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 24th February 1876.
BENJAMIN RHODES, THOMAS BROWN RHODES, and JOSEPH ROBERTS STONEY, all
of Armley, near Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS' FOR
LOOMS."
Our improvements have reference to the apparatus known as a "picker" used on
looms for throwing the shuttle or its equivalent in the operation of weaving. The
ordinary "pickers" are formed generally of buffalo or other hide entirely, and are
very liable to break, but in some cases a carriage of metal or wood is used provided
with a box which is filled with a composition; this composition soon becomes
wasted or worn by the action of the "tip" of the shuttle, also the box used for
carrying or containing the compound adds so much weight to the carrier and
produces much wear to the machine, and there is also a difficulty in imparting a
direct throw to the shuttle.
Now according to our arrangement we employ a carrier, on which, and at a
suitable position and angle we fix a block of hide, which is secured to the carrier
by bolts or other convenient means. This block comes in direct contact with the
shuttle "tip" during the weaving operation, and gives the desired motion thereto.
We by preference place the block of hide edgeways, though not necessarily so;
by this arrangement it stands much better the blow on the shuttle "tip." The
block may consist of one solid block of hide or of any number of layers. When
any wear takes place the block can be readily turned on the carrier, and another
face thereof brought to act on the tip of the shuttle. When the block is made of
a number of layers of hide, should any of these layers become defective, they can
be readily taken out and others substituted for them.
Motion is transmitted to the "picker" in the ordinary manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Rhodes, Thomas Brown Rhodes, and Joseph Roberts Stoney
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd August 1876.
BENJAMIN RHODES, THOMAS BROWN RHODES, and JOSEPH ROBERTS STONEY, all
of Armley, near Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKERS' FOR
LOOMS."
"
Our improvements have reference to the apparatus known as a "picker," used on
looms for throwing the shuttle or its equivalent in the operation of weaving. The
ordinary "pickers are formed generally of buffalo or other hide entirely, and are
very liable to break; but in some cases a carriage of metal or wood is used
provided with a box which is filled with a composition. This composition soon
becomes wasted or worn by the action of the "tip" of the shuttle, also the box
used for carrying or containing the compound adds so much weight to the carrier
and produces wear to the machine, and there is also a difficulty in imparting a
direct throw to the shuttle.
Now according to our arrangement we employ a carrier, on which, and at a
suitable position and angle we fix a block of hide which is secured to the carrier
by bolts or other convenient means. This block comes in direct contact with the
shuttle "tip" during the weaving operation and gives the desired motion thereto.
We by preference place the block of hide edgeways, though not necessarily so ;
by this arrangement it stands much better the blow on the shuttle "tip." The
block may consist of one solid block of hide or any number of layers. When any
wear takes place the block can be readily turned on the carrier and another face
thereof brought to act on the "tip" of the shuttle. When the block is made of a
number of layers of hide, should any of these layers become defective, they can be
readily taken out and others substituted for them.
Motion is transmitted to the "picker" in the ordinary manner.
And in order that our Invention may be more completely understood, reference
is given to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings and to the letters and marks
thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1 represents various modifications of our Invention, the various views of
each being bracketed together.
Sheet 2, Figures 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 represent further modifications of our
Invention, the different views of each are also bracketed together.
Figure 31 shews the application of our Invention.
In the arrangement shewn at Figures 1 and 2, the boss a of the carrier bis
provided on one side thereof with a flange call round the opening, and on the
opposite side with a flange d carried only part of the way round, as shewn, the
layers of the hide e are cut sufficiently small to pass into the boss a under the
flange d. After the boss a is filled, as shown at e, c, e, e, we provide a pin or rivet
f, with its ends clenched, as shewn, which has the effect of forcing down the hide
behind the flange d, as shewn, whereby it is retained firmly in position and ready
for use.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and sectional plan. In this case we
provide a slot a in the boss b, through which the hide is passed into the interior
until filled, as shewn at c, c, c; and in order to prevent the hide from coming out
at the sides, and to provide the required amount of resistance, we provide the
flanges d.
In Figures 5 and 6 the boss at the side a is open at the top, through which opening
the hide is passed into the interior of the boss, as shewn at b, b, behind which a
wedge c may be passed in order to keep it in position against the flange d, and at
the same time providing the required amount of resistance when in operation.
In Figures 7 and 8 the hide is placed in the interior of the boss a in a horizontal

page_text: direction, as shewn at b, and in order to keep the hide in position when working
we provide the flanges c, which extend as far down the boss as d, below which
point the hide is passed into the boss and then up into position, as shown at b, the
hide being cut out in the centre to receive the flanges. They are wedged tight in
the interior by means of the wooden wedge e.
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a plan and side elevation of another modification
of our Invention, in which arrangement we dispense with the ordinary boss and
provide a number of layers of hide, shewn at a, and secure them to the carrier b
by means of the bolts c or their equivalent, forming by this means a solid block,
through which to transmit motion to the shuttle.
Figures 11 and 12 is of the same construction as that shown at Figures 3 and 4,
with this exception, that the slot hole a (through which the hide is passed into the
interior of the boss) is provided in the end of the carrier instead of the position
shewn at e, Figures 3 and 4.
The arrangement shewn at Figures 13 and 14 is provided with flanges a and b at
the top and bottom of its boss c, and at one side with a flange d. In this case the
hide is forced into the interior by any suitable means. In some instances wo
dispense with the flange on one side entirely, whereby the hide e may be more
readily passed into the interior of the boss.
Figures 15 and 16. In this instance the flange of the boss a is cut away at b,
through which opening the hide c is passed into the interior of the boss a.
The arrangement shewn at Figures 17 and 18 is of a similar construction to that
shewn at Figures 13 and 14, but instead of having two fixed flanges on the boss a
we have only one, as shewn at b; the other consists of a plate c, which is screwed
or otherwise fastened to the boss a. By this means the hide d is retained in
position.
Figures 19 and 20 shew an arrangement of securing the block of hide which is
precisely the same as that shewn at Figures 7 and 8, the only difference being the
external construction of carrier; also the same arrangement is applied to Figures 21
and 22, 23 and 24.
In the arrangement shewn at Figures 25 and 26 the boss a of the carrier bis
provided with a plate c, which is screwed thereto in a similar manner to that shewn
at Figures 17 and 18, and the hide is retained in position against the flange d and
the side of the boss a respectively by means of the set screws f and g, or their
equivalents.
In Figures 27 and 28 the layers of hide are retained in position in the boss a by
a plate b, which is screwed into it, as shewn.
The arrangement shewn at Figures 29 and 30 is similar to that shown at Figures
11 and 12, and the layers of hide are passed into the boss of the carrier through tho
slot hole a in a similar manner. The hide is retained in position by means of the
corner pieces or flanges b, as shewn.
In our Drawings we have shown a large number of carriers for the purpose of
showing the different modes of applying the hide in accordance with our Invention,
the other parts of the carrier will be readily understood by any competent persons,
and are formed to suit the various kinds of machines.
Figure 31 shews the application of picker. This application varies in accordance
with the machine.
Having now declared the nature of our said Invention, and shown by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, we would bave it understood that
we do not limit ourselves to the exact limits, details, or configuration of the various
parts we have explained and shewn, as the same may of course be varied or
modified without in any way departing from the nature or principle of
Invention, but what we do claim and desire to be secured to us by Letters
Patent is,
our
First. The arrangement and construction of blocks consisting of hide, and the
means employed for fixing them in position, substantially as herein set forth.
•

page_text: Second. The arrangement and combination of the various parts forming the
picker, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Benjamin Rhodes, Thomas Brown Rhodes,
and Joseph Roberts Stoney, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six
BENJAMIN RHODES.
(L.S.)
THOMAS BROWN RHODES. (L.S.)
JOSEPH ROBERTS STONEY. (L.S.)