Improved Apparatus for Operating Shuttle Boxes in Looms for Weaving Ginghams and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Operating Shuttle Boxes in Looms for
Weaving Ginghams and the like.
I, EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH of the Dobcross Iron Works, Dobcross, in the
County of York, Power Loom Maker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (which invention has been communicated to me by William Wattie
and George Frank Hutchins, both of Knowles Loom Works Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Machine Makers) to be as follows :--
This invention relates to looms for weaving textile fabrics and more particularly
to looms for weaving ginghams, and other like fabrics, where the shuttle boxes are
generally arranged four to one, or seven to one, that is four movable shuttle boxes
at one end of the lay and one stationary shuttle box at the other end of the lay;
or seven movable shuttle boxes at one end of the lay and one stationary shuttle box
at the other end of the lay. My improvements are applicable to the Hollingworth
and Knowles loom where the box lifting mechanism comprises an upper and lower
cylinder gear vibrator wheels, and vibrator levers together with vibrator connectors
for operating the shuttle box lifting rod.
In carrying out my present invention the box lifting mechanism is arranged at
the lower part of the loom instead of at the head of the loom as is customary; and
practically I employ the same kind of box motion as just mentioned and what is
usual in the Hollingworth and Knowles loom but with certain improvements and
modifications adapted thereto the object of my present invention being to improve
upon the construction of the present box shifting mechanism and to provide means
for positively locking the vibrator levers independently in their raised or lowered
positions, and also means for locking the vibrator connectors and coupling them
and the vibrator wheels connected therewith to the vibrator levers so as to prevent
any accidental movement of the same after the rotation of the vibrator wheels or
gears. To carry out my several improvements the outer or free ends of the
vibrator levers are provided with projecting surfaces adapted to be engaged by
cam surfaces on the locking lever, such locking lever being in connection by a rod
with the pattern chain which indicates and regulates the shuttle boxes and
simultaneously therewith locks the vibrator levers and vibrator connectors which.
connectors are attached to levers and rods to the shuttle box lifting rod. By
means of the lock levers being provided with cam surfaces, I have provided an
independent positive locking of the vibrator levers both in their raised and lowered
positions and it must be understood that one or both of the vibrator levers are
provided with lock levers to communicate motion by one or both of the vibrator
connectors to the mechanism of the box pattern chain. I also employ locking
fingers bent at their upper ends and adapted to engage with pins on each of the
connector levers. Each pair of locking fingers serves to lock said connector and
couple it to the vibrator lever at each extremity of the movement of said connector
so that the vibrator wheels, after having been rotated by the action of the upper
or lower cylinder gear may be retained in their position and prevented from being
moved except at the proper time. The bottom of the locking fingers are connected
together by a spring which yields when stretched apart so as to release the
locking fingers from engagement with the pins in the connector levers and certain

page_text: stops or studs are fixed on the vibrator levers to limit the upward motion of the
fingers.
Dated this 17th day of December 1895.
EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH,
Dobcross Loom Works, Dobcross.
.
Improved Apparatus for Operating Shuttle Boxes in Looms for
Weaving Ginghams and the like.
I, EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH, of the Dobcross Iron Works, Dobcross, in the
County of York, Power Loom Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (which invention has been communicated to me by William Wattie
and George Frank Hutchins both of Worcester, in the County of Worcester,
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Machine Makers) and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to looms for weaving textile fabrics and more particularly
to looms for weaving ginghams, and other like fabrics where the shuttle boxes are
generally arranged four to one, or seven to one, that is four movable shuttle boxes
at one end of the lay and one stationary shuttle box at the other end of the lay;
or seven movable shuttle boxes at one end of the lay and one stationary shuttle box
at the other end of the lay. My improvements are applicable to the Hollingworth
and Knowles loom where the box lifting mechanisin comprises an upper and lower
cylinder gear vibrator wheels, and vibrator levers together with vibrator connectors
for operating the shuttle box lifting rod.
In carrying out my present invention the box lifting mechanism is arranged at
the lower part of the loom instead of at the head of the loom as is customary; and
practically I employ the same kind of box motion as just mentioned and what is
usual in the Hollingworth and Knowles loom but with certain improvements and
modifications adapted thereto, the object of my present invention being to improve
upon the construction of the present box shifting mechanism and to provide means
for positively locking the vibrator levers independently in their raised or lowered
positions, and also means for locking the vibrator connectors and coupling them
and the vibrator wheels connected therewith to the vibrator levers so as to prevent
any accidental movement of the same after the rotation of the vibrator wheels or
gears. To carry out my several improvements the outer or free ends of the
vibrator levers are provided with projecting surfaces adapted to be engaged by
cam surfaces on the locking lever, such locking lever being in connection by a rod
with the pattern chain which indicates and regulates the shuttle boxes and
simultaneously therewith locks the vibrator levers and vibrator connectors which
connectors are attached to levers and rods to the shuttle box lifting rod. By
means of the lock levers being provided with cam surfaces, I have provided an
independent positive locking of the vibrator levers both in their raised and lowered
positions and it must be understood that one or both of the vibrator levers are
provided with lock levers to communicate motion by one or both of the vibrator
connectors to the mechanism of the box pattern chain. I also employ locking
fingers bent at their upper ends and adapted to engage with pins on each of the
connector levers. Each pair of locking fingers serves to lock said connector and
couple it to the vibrator lever at each extremity of the movement of said connector
so that the vibrator wheels, after having been rotated by the action of the upper
or lower cylinder gear may be retained in their position and prevented from being
moved except at the proper time. The bottom of the locking fingers are connected
together by a spring which yields when stretched apart so as to release the

page_text: locking fingers from engagement with the pins in the connector levers and certain
stops or studs are fixed on the vibrator levers to limit the upward motion of the
fingers.
Referring to the drawings
Fig. 1 is a right-hand end elevation of a loom side, with sufficient portions of the
box shifting mechanism, to illustrate the nature of my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a cross section on line a, a, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow b,
same figure, and,
Fig. 3 is, on an enlarged scale, a sectional detail on line c Fig. 1.
In the accompanying drawing, 1 is the loom side, 2 a plate bolted thereto on
which are supported portions of the box shifting mechanism, 3 is the bottom shaft,
and 4 the upright shaft which drives the box pattern chain shaft, (not shown) at
the top of the loom.
The upright shaft 4 is driven through the elliptical gear 5, fast on the bottom'
shaft 3, which meshes with and drives the elliptical gear 6, fast on the lower
cylinder gear shaft 7. On the opposite end of said shaft 7 is a bevel gear 8, see
Fig. 2, which meshes with and drives a bevel gear 9 fast on the lower end of the
upright shaft 4, all in the usual way. Also fast on the upright shaft 4, above the
bevel gear 9, is a bevel gear 10, see dotted lines Fig. 1, which meshes with and
drives a bevel gear 11 fast on the upper cylinder gear shaft 12, carrying the upper
cylinder gear 13 fast thereon.
The vibrator
The lower cylinder gear 14 is fast on the lower cylinder gear shaft. 7. Between
the upper cylinder gear 13 and the lower cylinder gear 14 are arranged the two
vibrator levers 15 pivoted at their inner ends on a pin 16 projecting from the
plate 2; said vibrator levers 15 carry the two vibrator gears 17 which are
supported and adapted to rotate thereon in the usual way.
connectors 18 are pivoted at one end on the vibrator gears 17, at one side of the
axis of said gears, and are connected at their other end with the mechanism which
operates the shuttle box lifter rod. All of the above parts are of substantially the
same construction, and combined together in the same way as in the shuttle box
lifting mechanism common to the Hollingworth and Knowles loom and forms no
part of my present invention, although the mechanism just described has hitherto
been employed at the head of the loom instead of the position shewn in the
drawings.
The box shifting mechanism shewn in the drawing is adapted to be applied to,
and used on a loom in which there are four movable shuttle boxes at one end of the
lay, and one stationary shuttle box at the other end.
The mechanism intermediate the vibrator gear connectors 18 and the box lifter
rod 19, is of well known construction and operation, and consists of two angle
levers 20 and 21, fulcrummed on a pin 22, with the upright arm 20' of the lever 20
adjustably connected with one vibrator connector 18, and the upright arm 21' of
the other lever 21 adjustably connected with the other vibrator connector 18 in the
usual way. A lever 23 is pivotally connected with the two levers 20 and 21 by
two parallel connectors 24, and also with the lower end of the box lifter rod 19,
on the top of which are supported the shuttle boxes in the usual way not shewn.
A connecting rod 27 connects the front end of the lever 23 to the arm 25 loose
on a stud 26, fast in the loom side 1.
A spiral spring, not shewn, is mounted on the stud 26 with one end thereof
attached to the arm 25, and the other end to some stationary point, and acts to
raise the arm 25, and through connecting rod 27 the lever 23 to help to support
the shuttle boxes on top of the lifter rod 19, and take the weight thereof off the
vibrator levers 15 in the usual way.
The lever 23 is in this instance made in two parts, 231 and 23", and the
adjoining ends of said parts are attached together, as shewn in Fig. 3, so as to form
a yielding or give-way joint in said lever, which, as long as the loom operates in
the proper way will remain rigid, but in case a shuttle fails to box, etc., the joint
will yield, causing the part 23 to move on the part 23" at its point of connection

page_text: therewith, thus preventing any injury to the box shifting mechanism. The give-
way joint, between the parts 231 and 23" of the lever 23, is preferably made as
shewn in Fig. 3.
One of the parts, as 231, is provided with two tapering recesses 28, into which
extends the tapering heads of pins 29, secured in the part 23". A bolt 30 passes
through the two parts 231 and 23" and makes a joint connection between them.
A stiff coil spring 31 is supported on the outer end of said bolt, between the
adjustable nut 32 and a washer 33 thereon, and acts to hold the two parts 231
and 23 together, with the tapering ends of the pins 29 extending into the
recesses 28, as shewn in Fig. 3, and said spring 31 is of sufficient strength to hold
said parts together, and cause the lever 23 to act as a single lever during the
ordinary operation of the loom.
In case the box lifting rod 19 is prevented from moving by reason of a shuttle
extending out from its box, or for any other reason, then as the box shifting
mechanism continues to operate, the pins 29 will be forced out of the recesses 28,
and the part 231 of the lever 23 will be moved on the other part 23" through the
pivot pin 30, without any injury to said mechanism.
Returning now to the vibrator levers 15, the outer free ends of said vibrator
levers, instead of being made in the usual way, to be engaged and held by a
locking arm, are provided with projecting surfaces 15 and 15" adapted to be
engaged by the cam surfaces 33 on the lock lever 33 centrally pivoted at 34 on
the plate 2. The outwardly extending arm 3311 of each lock lever 33 is pivotally
connected with vertical links 35, adjustably connected to the lower end of the
vertical connectors 36, leading to the levers, not shewn, which are acted on by the
box pattern chain.
When the two connectors 36 are moved upward, by the operation of the pattern
chain, the lock levers 33 are moved on their pivots, and the lower can surfaces 33'
are moved away from the lower projecting surfaces 15 of the levers 15, and the
upper cam surfaces 33' are moved in under the upper surfaces 15' of the levers 15,
as shewn in Fig. 1, to positively lift up said levers 15 and to cause the vibrator
gears 17 to engage with the upper cylinder gear 13, such said levers 15 being
thereby locked in their raised position by the lock levers 33.
When the box pattern chain permits the vertical connectors 36 to drop and pass
from under the levers the lock levers 33 move on their pivots, and the upper cam
surfaces 33 thereof move outwardly away from the upper surfaces 151 of the
levers 15, and the lower cam surfaces 33' move inwardly into engagement with the
lower surfaces 1511 of the levers 15, which levers drop down from gravity, carrying
the vibrator gears 17 with them, to mesh with the lower cylinder gear 14, such said
levers 15 being locked in their lowered position.
It will thus be seen that by means of the lock levers 33, provided with the cam
Burfaces 33, I communicate a positive motion to levers 15 to raise the same, and
I provide an independent positive lock for said levers 15, both in their raised
position, when the vibrator gears are in engagement with the upper cylinder gear,
and in their lowered position, when the vibrator gears are in engagement with the
lower cylinder gear. It will be understood, that one, or both of the vibrator
levers 15 are operated by the lock levers 33 to communicate motion, through one
or both of the vibrator connectors 18, to the mechanism to call the shuttle boxes,
according to the indications of the box pattern chain, in the ordinary way.
prefer to combine with each vibrator lever 15, two upright locking levers or
fingers 37, pivotally supported thereon, as shewn in Fig. 1, with an expansive
spiral spring 38 supported between their lower ends to act to move their upper
ends towards each other.
We
The locking fingers 37 are bent at their upper ends, as shewn, and adapted to
engage a pin 39 on each of the connector levers 18.
Each pair of locking fingers 37 in connection with the pin 39 on each
connector 18 serves to lock said connector and couple it to the vibrator lever 15,
at each extremity of the backward, and forward movement of said connector, as

page_text: indicated by full and dotted lines, in Fig. 1 so that the vibrator gears 17, after
they have been rotated by the action of the upper or lower cylinder gear, will be
retained in their position and prevented from being moved except at the proper
time.
The spring 38 allows the upper ends of each pair of locking fingers 37 to yield
and spread apart, to release the pin 39 from engagement therewith, as the
connector lever 18 is raised and lowered, and moved in one direction or in the
other, by the rotation of the vibrator gear 17. Stops 40 on the vibrator levers 15
on the outside of the fingers 37, below their pivot limit the inward motion of the
upper ends of said fingers.
From the above description, in connection with the drawing, the operation
of my improvements will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that the details of construction of some of the parts of my
improvements may be varied if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:-
Firstly. In a loom, the combination with upper and lower cylinder gears,
vibrator connector 18, and vibrator lever 15, provided at its free end with
projecting surfaces as 15 and 15" of a lock lever 33 centrally pivoted and provided
with an outwardly extending arm 33" attached to the lower end of the connector
to the pattern surface, and also provided with two cam surfaces 331 adapted to
engage with projecting surfaces on the vibrator lever, to positively raise said
lever and lock the same in its raised and lowered positions, substantially as set
forth.
Secondly. In a loom, the combination with the upper and lower cylinder gears,
and vibrator connector 18, of the vibrator lever 15 carrying two spring actuated
locking levers or fingers 37 pivotally supported thereon, with their upper ends
adapted to engage with, and be disengaged from a pin on the vibrator connector 18,
to couple or lock said vibrator connector 18 to the vibrator lever 15, for the
purpose stated, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 8th day of September 1896.
EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH.