to Reversing Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOHN THOMPSON CREE, Gentleman, of Worcester,
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
to Reversing Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
:-
This invention comprises certain improvements, applied to the upper portions of a
loom, for unweaving cloth, and ascertaining the location of "mis-picks" and also in
placing the heddle levers in direct contact with the pattern chain, and operating said
levers either upwardly or downwardly in a positive manner, and this invention
consists in the peculiar constructions and combinations of elements, hereinafter fully
described and claimed.
To properly appreciate the importance of this Invention I will refer briefly to the
manufacture of tricot doe-skin and similar fabrics, and will suppose that during the
weaving, the filling runs out or breaks and the loom runs a number of picks
without filling. To one skilled in the art it will be apparent, if the shuttle be
changed, new filling added, and the loom started again, without finding where the
filling left off, and matching it, there will be a mis-pick, in other words an imperfect
place in the cloth, the pattern is therefore broken and the cloth damaged.
These imperfect places have in most cases to be picked out by hand; but by the
use of these improvements this laborious process is dispensed with, the weaver easily
picking out one at a time the threads of loose filling across the warp, until the
"overshot' or imperfection is picked out.
"
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a loom embodying this invention.
T
1

page_text: Figure 3 is a detached view of the mechanism for discovering the lost "picks."
Figures 4 to 13 inclusive are details representing the several detached portions of
the same invention.
Figure 14 represents a side elevation of a portion of a loom, having the improved
mechanism for operating the heddles applied thereto.
Figures 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are detached views of the same.
In Figures 1 to 12 inclusive is illustrated the mechanism adapted to unweave cloth
or to enable a portion of the loom to be operated backward by hand (when the loom
is not in motion) to find lost picks.
A represents a frame within which the crank shaft B is suitably mounted and in
the top of the frame A, is journalled a transverse shaft S¹ having secured thereon a
disc or wheel M₁ provided with notches V V' which, when said shaft and disc are
turned as hereinafter described, are alternately engaged by the free end of a spring M¹
secured to the frame A, as shown in Figure 1. A handle or crank M, on the shaft S¹
is designed to be used to partially rotate said shaft, and wheel M¹ alternately in
opposite directions, the spring M" serving to engage the notches and hold the wheel
in the two opposite positions shown in Figures 1 and 3.
The shaft is also provided with a bevel gears which meshes with a similar gear
on the inner end of a longitudinal shaft P, journalled in the frame and carrying at its
outer end a bevel gear O which meshes with a similar gear 05 on a vertical shaft 0111
whereby when shaft S' is actuated by the movement of the crank M, the shaft Oil is
rotated to cause the pattern chain, and its attachments to be moved backwards for a
purpose and in a manner hereinafter fully described.
In addition to the features above enumerated the shaft S¹ is provided at its other
end with an arm M¹ having a projecting pin or stud N while a curved catch bar N"
pivotted to the lower end of said arm by a pin n is provided with a notch N, and is
engaged by the pin or stud N' to permit the raising and lowering of said catch bar.
The notch N in the bar N₁ is designed to engage the pin T' on the rocker
arm F.
On the lower end of the shaft O¹¹¹ is secured a pinion S" which engages with and
operates a rack bar R" mounted on the frame of the loom and provided with a catch
spring R' as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 6.
The pitman E in the present case is connected with a lever carrying a pin engaging
with the groove of the cam 5, on the lower or cam shaft L, see Figure 11, the cam
being preferably thus mounted in order to enable a longer connecting rod to be used
and to secure greater ease of movement.
The pitman extends upwardly and is provided with a jaw J, which engages a stud
or pin O¹, on the arm of the rocker F, said pitman being connected with the
arni M on the shaft S¹ by a link or connecting rod N as shown.
From the foregoing description it is manifest that if the operator pulls the crank M,
in Figure 1, downward so as to rotate the wheel M¹ to being the notch V¹ into
engagement with spring M" the shaft S₁ will be rotated and through the medium of
the arm M will draw the pitman E away from the pin O¹.
The movement of the arm M and its pin N', with the shaft S will first permit the
catch bar N to drop, until its notch N11 engages the pin T¹ in the upper end of the
rocker bar F, and then during the continuation of the movement of the crank,
the bar N will serve to move the rocker from the position represented in Figure 1,
to that represented in Figure 3 bringing the harnesses, levers and other parts into the
closed shed position.
The partial rotation of shaft S₁ will also by means of the shafts P and O and their
respective gears move the rack bar R" horizontally and cause the projecting hooked
end of its catch spring R¹ to engage one of the pins P¹ projecting from the adjacent
face of a ratchet wheel F on the pattern barrel shaft 3, thereby reversing the pattern
chain one step or bar.
The movement of the crank M in the reverse direction will bring the parts again to
their normal positions, ready for either repeating the operation, or for the regular
working of the loom being resumed; in this movement the bar Ni first acting to move

page_text: the rocker F back to the position of Figure 1, and the said bar then being engaged
by the pin n', and lifted out of engagement with the pin O'.
The stud N¹ before mentioned by raising and lowering the catch arm N", as
described prevents any damage to the machinery by the carelessness or negligence of
the weaver as it is practically impossible for the shedding mechanism and pick finding
mechanism both to remain in operative connection while the loom is running.
The curved catch arm thus becomes the pitman for closing and opening the sheds
during the period, the pitman E is withdrawn from engagement with pin O¹, motion
is transinitted from the lay shaft B, through bevel gears 4, 6 and 9, see Figure 12 to a
bevel gear 7 on one end of a transverse shaft 8, journaled in the frame of the loom and
carrying at its opposite end a wheel or disc Fi having a crank pin R, working in the
slot R of the link F. The pawl T pivoted to the side of said lever and engaging
with the ratchet wheel F to impart forward rotation to the pattern barrel and chain,
is provided on its side with a pin P, projecting into the slot P of the riser Pi
pivoted to the side of the lever 11. During the rotation of the wheel, crank pin R
acts upon the slotted riser Pu to raise the pawl T from engagement with the
ratchet wheel F11, after each advance of the pattern barrel and chain, so that when
the lay stands in the rearward position the pattern barrel may be free to be operated
by the pick finding mechanism.
The old method of finding lost picks was, and in many looms is, to take hold of a
handle placed in ratchet wheel For its equivalent and turning the chain back-
wards one notch or chain bar, and then pushing the lay backwards to spring the
harnesses until the shed is open wide enough to see and feel by inserting the thumb
and finger in the warp if the pick is loose and if not repeat the operation until
the loose pick is found.
With this invention the operator simply takes hold of the crank M and moves it
downward, and then upward from the notch V to V₁, and during each movement
the pattern chain is moved backward one bar, and the heddles changed to correspond,
the operator inserting her thumb and finger as above until she finds the lost pick ;
thus the hard labour of handling the loom by hand is saved, also much time.
"
Figure 4 represents the pick finding mechanisin in two sections or disconnected,
the hedles or harnesses being operated by one crank and the pattern chain mechanism
by another.
It may sometimes happen on exceedingly heavy work or cloth, and where a number
of beams of warp are used in the same loom, and heavy friction placed on each beam
for the purpose of making extra heavy goods, that there may be more weight or strain
than the weaver can operate with one crank.
In such cases the weight or strain can be divided by employing two shafts and
cranks, and connecting the heddle levers and harnesses with one, and the chain and
chain mechanism with the other, the weaver will then operate these devices by taking one
crank in each hand and pulling down and then pushing up, the same as with one crank,
or if unable to operate both cranks at once, the weaver can operate one at a time by
closing the shed, and then operating the second crank to move the pattern chain
mechanism, and having moved both cranks downward he will then move the cranks
upward, (first, the one operating the heddle and heddle levers, and then the one that
operates the pattern chain mechanism) to their respective notches in the wheels, this
motion is essentially the same as that shown in Figure 3 but is made in two parts and
can be applied when required, and will be used only for extra heavy work."
That portion of this invention represented in Figures 14 to 19 inclusive is of great
importance, and is used in connection with the previously described mechanism to
complete the upper portion of the loom and to act in conjunction with said features to
provide a simple and yet positive mechanism for elevating and depressing the heddle
levers, whereby said levers engage and are temporarily held by devices on the riser
and sinker frames. In Figure 14 the usual cam shaft B is illustrated and this shaft
is connected with the pitnian E, which operates any well known form of rocker F,
said rocker being connected with the riser and sinker frames H, H by arms G G¹ as
shown and said frames being provided with the risers and sinkers I and I¹¹¹ placed

page_text: near the upper and lower ends of the heddle levers or jacks. The heddle levers Care
placed in the machine in such a manner that they are in direct contact with the
pattern chain.
These levers are each provided with projections I, I¹ with which the risers and
sinkers engage, and a central elongated slot a, through which passes a transverse
shaft D, the ends of said shaft being suitably journaled in an extension of the main
frame A.
The slots a give the pattern chain rolls room to move the levers upward until they
come into engagement with suitable risers as hereinafter described.
K represents the pattern chain and K¹ the chain rolls, the chain passing around a
barrel R which is operated in this case in the usual manner it being understood that
the chain rolls cause the jacks to be lifted so that the risers may engage and actuate
the levers to raise the heddle frames. The rolls on the pattern chain are intended as
usual to determine which way the levers shall, be vibrated, and thereby whether the
heddles connected therewith shall be raised or depressed.
Secured to one end of the operating shaft B is a gear wheel a¹ which meshes with a
similar gear wheel a" on one end of the transverse shaft L, said shaft being placed at
the rear of the levers and provided with a cam surface b the said cam receiving its
motion from the operating shaft and operating every time the "sheds" close to depress
the levers into position to be acted upon by the next succeeding chain roll.
In Figure 15 the rearmost heddle lever is illustrated as in the raised position it assumes
upon being engaged by one of the rolls on the pattern chain, the said lever being
thereby moved vertically and caught and moved by the risers I" into the position
shown to raise its connected heddle frame.
Where there are no rolls on the pattern chain or projections on the chain roll the
levers remain down on the sinker I and are engaged and moved by said sinkers as
shown in the case of the front lever in Figure 14 thereby depressing their connected
heddle-frames.
'
In Figure 16 the heddle lever is represented in the position it would assume after the
frame H H and risers and sinkers carried thereby have returned to the positions
shown in Figure 14 and the shed has been closed, said Figure shows the cam surface b
of the shaft L, engaging the projection 61 on the lever to force said lever to its normal
depressed position, preparatory to said lever being operated upon again by the pattern-
chain, for the next shed, thereby preventing what are commonly known as "mis-picks
and dispensing with the weight or spring often employed to cause the lever to assume
its normal position.
"
Figure 17 represents the frames H, H and risers and sinkers secured thereto. It
will be observed that these frames are mounted upon the same pivotal shaft as the
heddle levers and carry, at or near their extreme upper and lower ends, the risers and
sinkers. This locating the risers and sinkers at the ends of the frames, instead of near
the centre, has been found by experiment to greatly strengthen said frames.
Figure 18 represents a side view of the frames H, H showing the shaft upon which
they oscillate, and the risers secured at the extreme upper and lower ends of frame H.
In Figure 19, is shown a barrel Re having lugs or cams formed thereon, a finger M®
being mounted between said barrel and each of the levers and designed to prevent the
lugs injuring that portion of the lever with which the lug would engage if the finger
were not interposed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination with the cam shaft L, the rocker F, and the riser and sinker
frames connected therewith, of the pitman E, the grooved cam, the lever, the shaft S¹,
the arm M¹, a rod connecting said pitman and arm and an operating crank for with-
drawing the pitman from engagement with the rocker, substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the cam shaft I, the grooved cam, the lever, the
pitman E, the rocker F, and the riser and sinker frames connected therewith, of the

page_text: shaft S¹ the arm M¹¹, rod N, a catch bar pivoted to arm M¹¹ for engaging the rocker
to operate the same when the pitman is withdrawn, pin N¹, and a crank for actuating
the arm and catch bar substantially as described.
Third. The combination with cam shaft L, the grooved cam, the lever, the pitman E,
the rocker and the riser and sinker frames connected therewith of the arm M, a
rod connecting the arm and pitman, the shaft S¹ the catch bar N", pin N', the notch
disc or wheel M', the spring M" and the operating crank M, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the pattern chain of the shafts S¹, P and O, having
gears S,, 0, 0 and S₁ respectively, a rack bar having a catch spring R', and ratchet
wheel F having pins P' engaged by said spring and moving the pattern chain and
attachment backward substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the rocker, the pitman, mechanism for operating the
rocker, the pattern chain and barrel and the oscillating frames, provided with risers
and sinkers, of the heddle levers C, having at or near their centres elongated slots a,
whereby the levers may be vertically moved, the transverse shaft D, upon which both
the frames and levers are mounted and a mechanism operated by hand, for disconnecting
the pitman, with the rocker and connecting the latter with a notched catch bar,
whereby the machine may be operated backwards for discovering loose picks substan-
tially as herein described.
Sixth. The main frame, the operating shaft, a cam mounted thereon a rocker, and
its operating mechanisin and a mechanism for temporarily withdrawing the pitman
from the rocker and connecting it with a catch bar whereby loose picks may be found
in combination with the pivoted frames H, H, a transverse shaft D, journalled in an
extension of the main frame and upon which the frames H, H are mounted, a pattern-
chain and barrel, the heddle levers mounted upon the shaft D, and provided at or near
their centres with elongated slots a, and the risers and sinkers secured respectively to
the extreme upper and lower ends of the frames H H substantially as herein
described.
Seventh. The main frame the operating crank shaft, a cam thereon, a rocker, a
pitman and a mechanism for temporarily withdrawing the pitman from the rocker and
connecting it with a catch bar whereby loose picks may be found, in combination with
the oscillating frames H, H, the centrally slotted vertically moving heddle-levers, the
shaft D, a pattern-chain and barrel, and the risers and sinkers secured to the
frames H, and located at the extreme ends of the levers, substantially as herein
described.
Eighth. The combination with the slotted vertically moving heddle-levers and
mechanism substantially as shown and described, for operating said levers, of the
shaft L, a cam upon the shaft adapted to engage a lug upon the heddle-levers, and
mechanism operated by hand for disconnecting the driving mechanism with the rocker
and connecting the latter with a pivoted catch-bar, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
D
111 1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.