IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING PILED FABRICS AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to. John Orr, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WEAVING PILED FABRICS AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 6th January 1868, and dated the 11th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Orr at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
July 1862.
I, JOHN ORB, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN WEAVING PILED FABRICS AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the weaving of certain piled fabrics called
"chenille fabrics," wherein the piled surface is produced by introducing
"chenille fur" into the fabric as weft, and consists principally of an improve.
ment.in.the mode of weaving such fabric, constituting an adaptation of what
may be termed the "chenille process" to the power loom.
Hitherto in weaving chenille fur as weft it has been.customary to stop the
loom and to fix back the "lathe" whilst the fur shoot was being put through.
the shed and set to the pattern, but by the present plan the loom may be kept
in motion, and the intervening shoot or shoots requisite to form the ground of

page_text: the fabric be put in whilst the weaver is setting the fur shoot. To accomplish
this the "catcher" warp will be adjusted so as to remain at what is called an
"open shed" in relation to the ground warp, except at one shoot for each fur
shoot put into the fabric, which shoot may be called the "fastening shoot,"
but during all the other movements of the loom the "catcher" warp remains
at the
open shed thus leaving the fur shoot free to be properly set to the
pattern without stopping the loom and fixing back the "lathe as previously
practised.
One method of forming and keeping the open shed already referred to is
by passing the "catcher" warp threads through needles set in a frame similar
to the well-known lappet frame, only in this case the frame is placed above the
ground warp with the points of the needles downwards, exactly contrary to
the usual lappet method and also as is usual in lappet weaving. The threads
that are through the eyes of the needles are kept out of the reed through
which the ground warp passes, but may be brought down into it whilst the
fastening shoot already mentioned is being put in. If a reed open at the top be
used, or if a common reed closed at the top is used for the ground warp, the
"catcher" warp may be brought down into the shed in front of the reed whilst
the fastening shoot is being put through, after the manner of lappet weaving.
Besides allowing the process of weaving the ground cloth to go on. whilst
the fur shoot is being set, the open "catcher" shed affords the further advantago
of allowing a considerable number of fur shoots to be put through at once
instead of only one at a time, as previously practised. To effect this the fur
shoots are arranged on the surface of a flat board set with rows of pins, and the
shoots are so arranged thereon as to be ready for being drawn forwards one at
a time as the process of weaving goes on, thus effecting a great saving of labor
and time.
In some cases (more especially when a very short-piled fur is to be used)
the "catcher" shed may be formed more after the usual manner, namely, by
heddles and a common reed, and the fur shoot may be put through shoot by
shoot either by the "fur stick," the "hand shuttle," or the sewing-frame
shuttle without interfering with the continuous motion of the loom.
It may here be mentioned that in weaving hearth rugs and other heavy
fabrics by a power loom arranged according to the foregoing plan, it will
generally be advantageous to make up the requisite thickness of each ground
shoot by causing the ground shuttle to pass two or more times through each
shed, in the manner practised in weaving some kinds of light cotton cloths.
'

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Orr in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ORR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Manager,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Orr, Her special licence, that I, the said John Orr, my.
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Orr, my executors, administrators; and assigns, should at any time agree with;
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during tho
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, uso, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING PILED.
FABRICS AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Orr, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said John Orr, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:—
My said Invention relates to the producing in an improved and advantageous
manner of fabrics having a velvet- or piled surface of worsted, silk, or other.
fibrous material, upon a ground or foundation cloth or fabric, usually of jute,.
hemp, or cotton, or a combination, thereof, and made more or less strong
according to circumstances; and my said Invention has more particular
reference to the mode of forming the piled side of the fabric, whilst the ground
or foundation thereof may be made according. to any suitable mode at present.
in use.
In fabrics to the manufacture of which the present Invention i

page_text: applicable thero is used a "fur" or "chenille" material, which usually consists
of a narrow section or strip of gauze cloth woven with and serving as a
"backbone" to a double fringe of worsted, silk, or other fibrous material, of
which double fringe the opposite sides are bent or inclined towards each other,
and form the piled or velvet surface of the finished fabric, being fixed to the
foundation fabric by means of the backbone. It will at the same time be
obvious that a fur weft, however produced, may be used in working out the
Invention. Before proceeding to particularly describe the Invention, it may
be premised that various arrangements and modes of operating of the details
of the loom remain as in existing systems of weaving, similar fabrics and
such parts will consequently not be referred to, except where the explanation
of my improvements appears to require it. With the view however of more
clearly showing the differences between my improved-modes and arrangements
and those hitherto in use with the hand loom, and for producing what is known
in the trade as "Axminster" or "chenille breadth carpeting," I shall briefly
describe the mode hitherto adopted in producing the piled surface. It has
been the practice of the weaver, after putting in the requisite number of
foundation weft shoots, usually two or four, to fix back the lathe by a catch,
and also to fix down the treadle, which raises the catcher warps by another
catch; then whilst the lathe is held back and the catcher shed kept open
the weaver pushes through the fur stick or staff, which is an oblong piece of
wood with the fur or chenille weft wound round its length, and answers the
purpose of a hand shuttle. He then proceeds to take out any twist that
may be on the fur shoot, and sets the several colored parts to suit the require-
ments of the pattern, finishing the operation by combing up the pile through
the catcher warps. The ordinary movements of the loom are then resumed,
the proper series of foundation shoots are put in as before, and another fur
shoot is in its turn inserted and adjusted in the same manner as the former,
the loom movements being interrupted for the purpose, and this alternation
of the foundation and fur shoots is continued to the end of the piece.
My improvements are capable of being practised under various modifications,
but in most it is an important feature that instead of the catcher warps being
raised only at intervals whilst the ordinary movements of the loom are inter-
rupted, as in the old system, these catcher warps are kept raised or in an open-
shed condition during the continuance of the movements by which the foun-
dation of the fabric is being formed, being depressed only for short periods at
comparatively distant intervals to admit of the ground weft or catcher weft
shuttle being passed over them to fasten them down into the foundation between
the lines of fur. The. introduction and adjustment of the fur is effected between

page_text: the intervals at which the catcher warps are depressed; and during the time
that the foundation is being woven, whence arises the important saving of the
time during which under the old system the weaving of the foundation was
interrupted to permit of the fur being woven in. It is further to be observed
that the improvements are designed and suitable for the advantageous appli-
cation of steam or other power, although adaptable to hand looms if desired.
To provide for the arranging and working of the catcher warps in a convenient
manner the heddles for shedding the foundation warps are, according to one
modification, formed with double upper shafts or bars, or, in other words, the
upper shafts are linked at the extreme ends to shafts distant sixteen to eighteen
inches above them, which latter shafts are connected to the ordinary upper
levers or coupers by which the heddles are actuated. The catcher warps
being drawn off a beam in an elevated position at the back, pass forward
through the clear space between the ordinary and the added heddle shafts,
and at a little distance in front of the heddles are entered through the eyes of
needles which project from a bar or frame, as in the well-known "lappet
frame," but in a downward direction, the bar or frame being above the warps
and not in the opposite position of the ordinary lappet frame. It is by means
of this needle frame, which answers the purpose of heddles, that the catcher
warps are depressed at the proper periods, as herein-before mentioned, for the
ground weft or catcher weft to be passed over them, but there is not neces-
sarily any transverse movement of this needle frame as with the ordinary lappet
frame. In the modification now being described the needle frame works
behind the reed, and the reed differs from an ordinary, one in being without
the upper rim. The splits of the reed may either be all left open at the top or
only those into which the catcher warps have to enter on being depressed, that
is, in most cases, every third split, and the intervening splits may be bent
together and be soldered or united so as to present sharp points, by which the
catcher warps will be guided into their proper splits. To render this open top
reed sufficiently strong for the work to be done by it, a band of strong solder
is run into it close to the bottom rim binding all the splits together, and
forming a proper hold for a metal clutch to bind the entire reed firmly to the
back of the shuttle race, thereby enabling it to stand the shocks of striking
home the weft shoots.
.
In order that the arrangements just described may be properly understood
and carried into effect, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of Drawings, upon
which there is delineated an explanatory Diagram corresponding to a vertical
section of the loom as taken parallel to the warps and across the beams.
In this Diagram the ground or foundation warps are marked A, being drawn off

page_text: a beam Bat the back of the loom. (In some cases these foundation warps
A may be supplied from two or more beams.) The fabric or cloth C
passes round a frictional take-up roller D, and is wound upon the cloth
beam E. The foundation warps A are passed through and actuated by a set
of heddles F, and the upper shafts G of these heddles are connected by links
at the extreme ends, but not shown in the Diagram, to shafts E above, which
latter are connected to the upper coupers or actuating mechanism. The
catcher warps I are drawn off a beam J, placed in a comparatively elevated
position at the back of the loom, and proceed forward between the heddle
shafts G, H, to the needle frame K, and passing through the eyes of the
needles descend thence in an inclined direction, but above the reed L, down
to the fell. Instead of fitting the heddles F with double upper shafts G, H,
the upper clefts or casters of the heddles may be lengthened sufficiently to
permit of the elevated catcher warps I being passed through them without
the heddle action being interfered with; or the ordinary upper heddle shafts G.
may be connected to the upper coupers or actuating mechanism at their
extremo onds, so as to leave a clear middle space of the full width of the
warps. Or, again, the heddles may be formed with rigid frames, and be
actuated by connections at the sides, working either from below or from above.
Or, instead of the catcher warp beam J being placed at the back of the loom,
it may be placed in an elevated position just in front of the heddles, the warps
passing directly downwards, and then turning round a guide roller behind the
needle frame K. Or, again, the catcher warp beam J may be mounted.upon
or in connection with the needle frame K, and so as to move therewith.
These two modifications last described will permit of the heddles F being
arranged and worked in the ordinary way. The normal position and the
position of longest duration of the catcher warps is the raised or open-shed
position (namely that in which it is shown in the accompanying Diagram),
and even when the ground warps or some of them are raised to form a shed,
the catcher warps are in their normal position still so much higher as to
permit of the fur being easily brought forward to the fell beneath the catcher
warps and between them and the foundation warps.
With the herein-before described arrangements the inserting and adjusting
of the fur may be effected in various ways, and by modifications, which
will severally be found to suit the different sizes of fur that may be
employed.
Under a first modification there is substituted for the ordinary fur stick or
staff a thin flat board or plate of about thirty-one inches long (for the ordinary
width of breadth carpeting), and of a breadth of about three inches. This

page_text: board plate, or, as it will herein-after be termed, fur staff, will generally have
along its surface eighteen or twenty rows of small prickles similar to those of
hand loom temples; or, instead of the prickles, the staff may be fitted with a
number of steel springs bearing crossways upon its surface, and by preference
at regular intervals apart. On this staff the fur material is placed so as to
run forwards and backwards from end to end thereof, each fold corresponding
to a shoot length of the fur weft in the woven carpeting, and being laid care-
fully upon the prickles or under the springs in such a way as to be free from
twist. In the case of the springs the fur material will be folded round a
spring at each end, as it might be round a selvedge cord. The fur staff being
thus prepared with its supply of eighteen or other convenient number of shoots
it is inserted beneath the catcher warps I and above the ground warps A, being
placed upon supports for each end provided at the sides of the loom, either
immediately in front of the heddles E, as at M in the accompanying Diagram;
or between the upper heddle shafts G, H. When a shoot of fur has just been
woven in, or when the first end of a new supply of fur is held to the selvedge,"
on commencing with it the fur will extend from the selvedge at one side in a
backward direction to the same side (or end) of the fur staff. On laying the
next fur shoot in position the portion which extended back will form part of
the shoot, and the remainder of the shoot will consequently be a part only of
the length of fur then taken off the staff, the remainder of this length being
of course just sufficient to extend from the selvedge at the other side back to
the staff as before. The fur material must therefore be laid upon the staff
with its selvedge points not at the ends of the staff but in intermediate positions,
corresponding to the distance of the staff from the fell; it being however pre-
ferred to make the folds or lengths of fur on the staff of the same length as
the ultimate fur shoots; and it will greatly facilitate the adjusting of the
shoot lengths if the fur material is formed with marking piles, of white or
other suitable distinctive color, introduced at the points which are to be
adjusted to the selvedges of the woven carpeting. The foregoing arrangements
being completed, the power-loom weaver will at starting place his lathe so
that the catcher warps (I) will be above the reed (L); he will then take hold
if the end of the fur with one hand, and with the other hand at the first'
inarking piles will draw the first shoot forward off the fur staff (M) to the
fell of the cloth, and set the loom in motion. The loom action will cause the
weaving in of, say, four ground shoots in succession, and at the fourth shoot
the needle frame K, actuated by any suitable known heddle movement, will
depress the catcher warps (I), which entering the open top splits of the roed (L)

page_text: will descend to the shuttle race, and be passed over by the ground. shoot
being thereby, fixed to the foundation fabric, and binding thereto the fur
shoot already put in. It must be understood that the weaver has been
adjusting and combing this fur shoot during the time that the ground shoots
were being woven in. As the lathe is passing back from striking home the
fourth or last ground shoot the weaver will catch another length of fur near
the next marking pile.c
or selvedge mark, and draw it forward from the fur
staff to the proper position for setting, without stopping the action of the loom,
which will go on putting in the next cycle or repeat of ground shoots whilst
the weaver. is adjusting and combing the fur shoot last drawn forward. This
drawing forward and adjusting of the fur material to the extent of the length for
a shoot at each operation, as each cycle or repeat of the ground shoots is being
woven the weaver will continue until all the fur material on the staff is woven up,
he will next insert another staff with a fresh supply of fur material, stopping
the loom for that purpose if necessary, and then resume the weaving action as
before. The operations thus severally described are of course repeated in order
until the carpet piece is completed. The putting of the fur on the staffs may
be considered equivalent to pirn filling for other kinds of weaving, and is
suitable employment for young girls.
The second modification, which I shall now proceed to describe, is suitable
for a fur material having a comparatively short pile. In this modification
the fur staff or its equivalent carries, in under the catcher warps each time
it is inserted only such a length of the fur material as corresponds to two
shoots thereof, and it has consequently to be inserted for every second fur
shoot.. Its insertion, however is accomplished by the power movements of
the loom itself, and by the agency of contrivances of any suitable kind, such as
are well known and in common use for producing similar movements in power
looms or other machinery; in this case the fur staff.does not. require to be
more than about an inch in breadth, but it may be of about the same length
as in the first modification. It is fitted with a row of bent wire staples or
eyelets through which the fur material is passed. At the proper periods the
loom mechanism causes this staff to move from its normal position. at one side
of the loom and to enter through the shed between the catcher warps and the
ground warps (in the position marked M in the Diagram) so that its end reaches
a support at the further side of the loom, whilst its other end never completely
leaves its support at the side of the loom from which it is inserted. In con-
nection with the fur staff there is a reel for holding the fur material, which
reel is in the present example placed at the side of the loom from which

page_text: the staff is inserted. The reel may be of any convenient size, and the fur
material is wound upon it after the manner in which warp bobbins are
filled by band winders, great care being taken to keep the fur material free
from twist. On commencing with a fresh reel or fresh length of fur material
the end of the latter is put through the staples or eyelets along the staff,
and being drawn through at the other extremity a sufficient distance is applied
by the weaver's hand to the selvedge nearest the reel. The loom being now
set in motion the fur staff is by the mechanism thrust into its proper shed;
which has the effect of placing two folds of fur corresponding to two
shoot lengths under the catcher warps. The first shoot length extends
from the selvedge at the entering side to the end of the fur staff at the
other side, and has been drawn through and become clear of the staples
or eyelets on the staff by the inward movement of the staff, a quantity
to follow it up and take its place being by the same action drawn off the reel
and lying along the staff. The first free shoot length the weaver then draws
forward, and adjusts and combs it whilst the loom action is proceeding with
the foundation fabric, the length being finally bound down by the catcher
warps as in the first modification. The loom mechanism then withdraws the
fur staff, leaving a length of fur lying in the shed ready to be adjusted, combed,.
and woven in in the same way during the next repeat of ground-weaving
movements. This completes two repeats or cycles of the ground-weaving
movements and one repeat of the staff movements, and these several movements
are repeated in proper order until the fur material on the reel is exhausted,
the fur staff passing either into or out of the catcher-warp at each repeat
of the ground shoots. Instead of the reel being on the side of the loom from
which the fur staff is inserted it may be on the other side, in which case the
staff will act on the fur material by means of a single hook, eyelet, or pulley
at its end drawing the two folds of fur material into the shed whilst being itself
withdrawn, instead of doing so at its inward movement. Where it is important
to economise space, the rigid fur staff, which projects laterally from the side of
the loom when out of the shed, may be dispensed with, and various contrivances
which will readily suggest themselves to the machine maker may be used for
drawing the two folds of the fur material into the shed at the proper periods.
Thus a staff formed of short lengths jointed together may be arranged to
work upon guides, which, giving the staff its proper horizontal rectilinear_
position within the shed, are at the side curved into any convenient direction
parallel to the side of the loom; or there may be substituted for the staff an
endless. belt fitted with staples or eyelets to receive the fur material, and

page_text: stretched through the shed and over pulleys at the sides, being made to move-
backwards and forwards at the proper periods by the loom mechanism; or
a single hook, eyelet, or the like upon an endless belt, cord, or chain,
arranged as last described, may be made to answer the same purpose. In ono
modification of the endless strap arrangement the staples or cyelets for
holding the fur may be upon the edge of the strap, the strap being vertical or
slightly inclined, and the strap may be so guided by pulleys as to cause it at
the sides to approach the fell, whereby it will lay the fur nearer to the fell, and
so greatly assist the weaver.
In a third modification the fur material is upon a reel placed centrally at
the back of the loom, and it passes off the recl to the back end of a lever,
which serves the purpose of the staff in previous modifications. This lever
staff is arranged upon a pivot or centre at or near its back end in such a
way as to permit of its vibrating in an inclined plane a little below the
catcher warps in their highest position, and it is made to vibrate across from
one side to the other at the proper periods by the loom mechanism, so as
at the end of each vibration to have its front end projecting laterally
a little outside of the selvedge on the side at which it happens to be. The
fur material is guided along this vibrating staff by eyelets or equivalent means
so as to be delivered at the front end thereof, and its end being held to the
fell at starting each vibration of the staff causes a shoot length of it to be laid:
in the shed conveniently for the weaver to adjust and comb it whilst the-
ground-weaving movements are proceeding, as in previous modifications.. In-
length this vibrating staff (when in its middle position) may extend from a
distance of five or six inches inwards from the fell to a point at the back of
the loom directly or nearly above the ground warp beam. The length and pro-
portions may however be varied according to the width of the fabric and other
circumstances. In a modified arrangement of the vibrating lever fur staff
it may be actuated in such a way as to cause its front end to move in a
curved path approaching the fell at the sides; this will cause the fur to be
laid nearer to the fell, and leave less for the weaver to do in adjusting it. In
one simple arrangement for obtaining this movement the lever is made
capable of sliding on its pivot, or the pivot itself is made to slide forwards and
backwards, whilst the vibrating motion is imparted to the lever staff by
a short lever projecting backwards from a fixed centre and jointed to the
lever staff.
In a fourth modification, in place of the fur staff (M) described in the first
modification as fixed in the shed whilst the cigliteen or other convenient

page_text: number of shoots are taken off it and woven into the piece, there is substituted
an endless cloth which passes round one stretching roller in the position of the
fur staff (M), and proceeds thence over the heddle shafts (G) to a second
stretching roller at the back of the loom. On the outer surface of this endless
cloth there are sewn or otherwise fixed transverse- rows of hooks similar to
dress books, which are placed so as to present their openings towards the front
on the top side of the endless cloth. The fur material is laid in the hooks in
lines alternately from one side to the other, being filled in by an assistant
stationed at the back of the loom, who commences by laying in the fur
material in the row of hooks which happens to be most conveniently presented
to bim at the back. As the filling proceeds, one of the stretching rollers is
turned a little, step by step, to carry the top side of the endless cloth forward
to the front, and when the fur reaches the front stretching roller the weaver
can commence weaving, taking the fur out of the hooks length by length just
as he would take the fur off the fixed fur staff. as described in the first
modification. As the operation proceeds, the endless fur cloth, as it may be
termed, is shifted round by means of one of the stretching rollers acted upon
by hand or by the loom mechanism, so as to present the front line of fur in
the most convenient position for being taken off by the weaver. In proportion
as the lines of fur are being taken off the fur cloth in front, the assistant may
proceed to fill in additional lines of fur at the back, and as the fur can be.
filled into the hooks inore speedily than it is taken off, one or more additional
stretching rollers may be adapted to the back part of the endless fur cloth in
such a way as to present a considerable part of the cloth in a vertical or
inclined position convenient to the hand of the assistant, who can with this
arrangement fill in a number of lines of fur material at once, and be able to
employ in other useful ways the time elasping before another supply of fur
material will be necessary.
In a fifth modification the arrangement of the parts remains much the
same as in the fourth just described, but the fur material is used in separato
shoot lengths, these lengths being left with. about two inches of their original
warps at each end for the purpose of being afterwards tied or otherwise
fastened at the selvedges of the woven carpeting. In this. case the endless fur
cloth has the rows of books placed so as to hold the fur shoots at short.
distances apart, and in place of the front stretching roller (or along with and
in front thereof) there is a non-rotating shaft or bar tapered to a slightly
rounded edge at the front, round which the front of the fur cloth passes...
This front stretching shaft and all or some of the stretching rollers are

page_text: mounted so as to receive from the loom mechanism at the proper periods a
movement by which the front stretching shaft is carried downwards and
forwards, so as to present at the fell of the cloth the fur shoot next to be used,
and which should be just upon its edge. The weaver then at once combs the
shoot out of its hooks into its proper position at the fell, and with its pile
properly directed; the endless fur cloth is next made to retire back by the
loom mechanism whilst the catcher warps are depressed for the ground weft
shoot to bind the fur shoot to the foundation, and after that the endless fur
cloth is brought forward again to present the next fur shoot at the fell, the
weaving of the ground fabric of course going on as before, whilst the fur is
being brought forward and adjusted. In this modification the separate fur
shoots are carefully adjusted to correspond to the pattern whilst they are being
placed upon the endless fur cloth by the assistant at the back of the loom, and
as the adjustment is not altered by the combing action the weaver in front has
so much the less to do, so that he can perform all that is required of him with
a comparatively greater speed of those parts of the weaving operation which are
effected by power, and this whilst still leaving the assistant at the back ample
time for the careful adjustment of the fur shoots upon the endless fur cloth.
The several modifications herein-before described may be adopted in con-
nection with various kinds of ground or foundation cloth, and with any
convenient number of ground shoots intervening between each fur shoot.
When a considerable number of intervening fur shoots are used the catcher
warps may be depressed and interwoven with the ground fabric more than
once between each fur shoot, this being of advantage in weaving rugs and
mats with heavy backs; and in weaving such articles the heddle movements may
be arranged to cause the ground weft to be laid a number of times in the same
shed, being each time passed round a catching warp thread at the selvedges
as is practised in weaving "corded" fabrics. The putting of a number of
ground shoots into one shed may be adopted to make up the thickness of
ground fabric required for rugs and mats and other liko articles which can be
woven under the present Invention.
It now remains to be particularly observed that for the open top reed herein-
before referred to there may be substituted a closed top reed of the ordinary
kind, but the catcher warps will still be above and clear of such reed in their
normal position. This alteration of the reed will however require the following
modifications, that is to say, the needle frame will be made to depress the
catcher warps down amongst the ground warps in front of the reed when the
lathe is back, and the lathe will be constructed more like that of a lappet loom

page_text: with a frame fitted with pins projecting upwards to support the inner side of
the ground weft shuttle, as this last will be made to pass to and fro in front not
only of the reed but also in front of the needle frame, just as in the lappet
loom. Further, in connection with this arrangement, and when fur of a very
short pile is used, the fur may be put through the open catcher shed by means
of a shuttle, such as has been hitherto used for inserting fur weft, the normal
position of the catcher warps being still that of the open shed, and the adjust-
ment of the fur shoot proceeding simultaneously with the weaving of the ground
fabric. In using the shuttle the catcher warps may be worked by common
heddles instead of the inverted needle frames; it is however to be observed
that in this modification, as in others, the simultaneous or contemporaneous
laying in and adjusting of the fur and weaving of the ground fabric are to be
retained. The weaving of the ground fabric and the adjusting of the fur shoots
have been herein-before described as proceeding simultaneously or contem-
poraneously, but it may in some cases happen that such arrangements will not
allow sufficient time for adjusting the fur shoots, and in such case a partial
pause may be arranged to take place in the ground-weaving movements. It
may also be here observed that several of the herein-before described arrange-
ments are advantageously applicable notwithstanding that the ground-weaving
movements are arrested during even the entire time occupied in introducing
and adjusting the fur shoots as hitherto practised. In hand looms, as at
present arranged, the simultaneous or contemporaneous action cannot con-
veniently take place, and of the improvements herein-before described those
applicable to hand looms are the arrangements for the introduction of the fur
in connection with the inverted needle frame.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein-before described, but that what I believe
to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is :-
1. The system or mode of weaving piled fabrics wherein the forming of the
foundation fabric and the adjusting of the fur shoots are effected simultaneously,
substantially as herein-before described.
2. The arranging of the catcher warps and other paris so that the normal
position or position of longer duration of those warps is that of an open shed,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
3. The introducing of the fur material in either power or hand looms by the
improved. means herein-before described.

page_text: And, 4. The working of the catcher warps by means of an inverted needle
frame, and the arranging of other parts in relation thereto to facilitate the
introduction of the fur material,. substantially as herein-before described..
In witness whereof,. I, the said John Orr, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,.
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
(L.S.)