New or Improved Automatic Loom Knock-off" Mechanism.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Automatic Loom Knock-off" Mechanism.
We, JOHN WILLIAM HILL, of 214, Wellington Road, South Stockport,
near Manchester, and EDWARD BARDSLEY, of 16, Heathland Terrace, Shaw Heath,
Stockport, near Manchester, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates chiefly to automatic "knock off" mechanism for power
looms, especially looms weaving "terry" towelling, in which it is desired to
automatically stop the weaving at the end of each length of pile, or terry. Hereto-
fore such stopping of the loom has been accomplished by a length of string (vary-
ing in length according to the length of pile to be woven) wrapped around the cloth
beam but the expedient is a poor one, as the string is liable to break or stretch,
and requires considerable care in determining the exact length of string re-
quired for each length of towelling.
In accordance with our invention, we mount upon the shaft of the "stand"
beam a small spur pinion, and alongside such pinion wé fix a bracket, or set of
brackets. In the horizontal arms of such brackets we form two slots, and
through such slots we pass a bar or rod, having upon one of its edges a set of
spur teeth, forming a rack, adapted to gear with the said spur pinion.
The said slots are long enough however to allow the rack to be moved up and
down therein without engaging the teeth of the pinion, and therefore of allowing
the rack to be set to engage with the pinion at any point along its length.
When so set, we fill up the space in each slot behind the bar, with a cottar or
filling strip, which holds the bar in gear, whilst allowing it to move down under
the movements of the pinion. The face of the rack bar is marked or formed
with divisions representing, to scale, various lengths of "terry" weaving, say
from ten to sixty inches, more or less. The top end of the rack bar carries a
stud or projection, and at a point alongside the brackets is a lever-arm, or the
like, connected with the mechanism for stopping the loom.
According to the length of towel or terry" pile to be woven the rack bar is
raised until the corresponding measure, indicated on the bar, lies above the
aforesaid lever-arm, when the rack is caused to mesh with the pinion, the filling-
strip inserted, and the loom started in the ordinary way.
As the weaving proceeds the bar slowly descends until the projection at its
upper extremity comes to rest upon and depresses the lever-arm connected with the
stopping mechanism, and thus stops the loom.
To facilitate the readjustment of the bar after the first length of pile is pro-
duced, we provide an adjustable collar below the brackets aforesaid, which, after
the first setting of the bar, we fix by a set screw, so relieving the operative of
having to carefully reset the bar for each length of pile. The same effect can

page_text: be obtained by the bar being set to rise instead of fall, or by gear wheels, but we
prefer the rack and pinion.
Dated this 12th day of December 1898.
JOHN WILLIAM HILL,
EDWARD BARDSLEY.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
New or improved Automatic Loom Knock-off Mechanism.
We, JOHN WILLIAM HILL, of 214, Wellington Road, South Stockport,
Manager, and EDWARD BARDSLEY, of 16, Heathland Terrace, Shaw Heath, Stock-
port, Mechanic, 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: —
Our invention relates to automatic "knock-off" mechanism for power looms
especially looms weaving terry" towelling in which it is desired to auto-
matically, stop the weaving at the end of each length of pile or terry. Hereto-
fore, such stopping of the loom has been regulated by a length of string, varying
in length according to the length of pile to be woven and wrapped around the
cloth beam, but the expedient is a poor one as the string is liable to break or
stretch and considerable care is required in determining the exact length of
string required for each length of towelling.
To permit of our invention being readily understood and carried into effect
we have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings upon which, Fig. 1 is a part
side elevation, Fig. 2 a part front elevation, and Fig. 3 a part plan of so much
of the front portion of a loom as is necessary to shew our invention applied
thereto.
Fig. 4 illustrates a modification.
On the shaft (A) of the sand beam (A³) we mount a small spur pinion, (B)
and alongside such pinion we fix a bracket (C). In the horizontal portion of
such bracket we form two slots and through such slots we pass a bar or rod (D),
having upon one of its edges a set of spur teeth (E) forming a rack adapted to
gear with the spur pinion (B).
The said slots are long enough, however, to allow the rack to be moved up and
down therein without engaging the teeth of the pinion (B), and therefore of
allowing the rack to be set to engage with the pinion (B) at any point along its
length. When so set the space in each slot behind the bar (1) is filled up by
a cottar or filling strip (F) which holds the said bar in gear whilst allowing it
to move under the movements of the pinion. The face of the rack bar (D) is
marked or formed with divisions representing to scale various lengths of "terry"
weaving. The top end of the rack bar (D) carries a stud or projection (G) and
upon the "knocking-off" rod (H) we place a lever arm (J). According to the
length of towel or terry" pile to be woven the rack bar (D) is so adjusted as
to bring the corresponding measure opposite the pinion or other, starting point
desired.
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The filling strip (F) is then inserted and the loom started in the ordinary way.
As the weaving proceeds the bar slowly rises at a speed relatively proportionate
to the weaving until the projection (G) at its upper extremity comes against
and raises the lever-arm (J) connected with "knocking-off" rod (H), which in.

page_text: turn operates causes the lever arm (J*) to press against lever (K), and lever (K)
in turn to press against the handle (K), which loosing its abutment at (K)
moves to the position shewn in dotted lines and so stop the loom. If for example
the length of pile to be woven is 12 inches the division of the scale corresponding
to 12 inches is brought opposite the pinion and the distance between the pro-
jection (G) and the finger (J) is exactly equal (or thereabouts) to the measure
of 12 inches on the scale, hence as the bar rises and the projection (G) reaches
and raises the arm (J), the zero of the scale is exactly opposite the pinion.
Therefore, by setting the numeral of the desired length of weaving opposite the
pinion such length will be woven before the loom is stopped.
To avoid the need of resetting the bar when the lengths of pile are equal, we
provide an adjustable collar (L) fixed by set screw (M) above the bracket (C)
so that after first setting the bar its subsequent readjustment to the starting
point is effected by removing the cottar, dropping the bar until the collar meets
the frame, and then replacing the cottar.
The same effect can be obtained by the bar (1) being set to fall, instead of
rise, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the projection (G) being situated above the arm (J)
and the bar being marked with divisions which count from the top end of the
bar downwards, but we prefer the arrangement previously described. Or the
same effect may be obtained by a train of gear wheels one of which has an adjust-
able pin designed to press upon the lever arm (J), or its equivalent, after a pre-
determined traverse, but we prefer the rack bar and pinion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1: In means for stopping a loom after a predetermined length of fabric has
been woven, a pinion on the sand beam axle, a rack engaging with the said
pinion and bearing or marked with divisions representing a measure or scale,
and designed to rise or fall and by contact with a crank or finger to stop the
loom, substantially as set forth.
2: A rack-bar such as (D) bearing or marked with a measure or scale, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3: In means for stopping a loom after a predetermined length of fabric has
been woven, the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein
set forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of September 1899.
JOHN WILLIAM HILL,
EDWARD BARDSLEY,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Patent Agents to the Applicants, 55, Market Street, Manchester.