IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hunter, of Glassford Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 23rd November 1861, and dated the 31st May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hunter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
May 1861.
I, WILLIAM HUNTER, of Glassford Street, in the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention comprises improved mechanism for actuating changing
shuttles, and improved arrangements for shedding the warps when the shed
has occasionally to be kept open for more than one pick.
In one modification of changing-shuttle mechanism the ordinary vertically-
shifting shuttle box with two or more cells is used. This shuttle box has fixed
to it a rod passing down across the axis of the lathe, near which axis the rod
has jointed upon it a short link, passing up to an arm fixed upon a back rod
moving vertically in a plane about parallel to the lathe in its midway position.
The back rod has its lower end entered through a guide eye, whilst its upper
end is jointed to a horizontal lever centered on a stud or spindle projecting

page_text: laterally from the loom framing, a counterweight being connected to the back
end of this lever, so that the action of shifting the shuttle box is positive in
the downward as well as in the upward direction. Upon the spindle of the
horizontal lever there is mounted a barrel, formed with inclined ridges (or their
equivalent), arranged to act by means of a fork or pin upon a lever jointed to
the front end of the horizontal lever. This secondary lever is also hung upon
the spindle, about which it and the primary lever move as one. The back end
of the secondary lever is arranged to be acted upon by a species of gab lever
disposed vertically, and made to reciprocate by means of a link and eccentric
pin carried by the low or second-motion shaft of the loom. The gab lever is
formed with notches having inclined sides, some of which notches may be in
separate adjustable pieces fixed to the sides of the lever. The secondary lever
moved laterally by the barrel is acted upon by the gab lever, so as to enter
one or other of the notches, and is thereby made to assume a corresponding
position vertically, and so shift the shuttle box. It will be understood that
there are two or more gab notches according to the number of shuttles, and
that these notches are in different positions, both horizontally and vertically.
When the eccentric action carries back the gab lever, the secondary horizontal
lever on which it acts is free to be moved laterally by the barrel, should the
pattern then require it, and on the return forward of the gab lever a different
notch coming into action causes the required change of the horizontal levers
and shuttle box. The barrel is actuated by catches, which may be con-
veniently carried by the gab lever, and the action of the catches is determined
by means of jacquard apparatus or similar-pattern mechanism. The arrange-
ment of the parts is such, however, that the pattern mechanism by a single
action determines both the period and the extent or direction of shift, so that
when the loom has to be put back these actions cannot be put out of corre-
spondencé.
A modification of pattern mechanism which it is proposed to adopt, consists
of an endless chain of wire links arranged with projecting points at the proper
parts; this endless chain being carried on a reciprocating frame which causes
the projecting points to act on the barrel catches, the same reciprocating
motion being contrived to effect the gradual moving round of the endless
chain.
In another modification of changing-shuttle mechanism a rotating shuttle
box is used. This shuttle box is mounted so that the shuttle in action is the
lowest of the series, the picking action being, direct and from below. The
shifting of the shuttle box may be effected by a modification of the mechanism
already described.

page_text: In arranging two-beddle leaf looms for weaving tarleton, corded, or similar
fabrics according to this Invention, a single cam is used, which forms one shed
by direct action, whilst the other shed is formed by the reaction of a spring:
Then when a shed has to be kept open more than one pick, for the purpose of
throwing in more than one weft to form a cord, the treadle or lever acted
upon by the cam is held down by contrivances regulated by the pattern
mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Hunter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HUNTER, of Glassford Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Hunter, Her special licence that I, the said William
Hunter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Hunter, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William.
Hunter, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under.
ny, 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 William Hunter, 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 statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: My said Invention comprises improved mechanism for actuating changing
shuttles, and improved arrangements for shedding the warps when the shed
has occasionally to be kept open for more than one pick.
In one modification of changing-shuttle mechanism, the ordinary vertically-
shifting shuttle box with two or more cells is used. This shuttle box has fixed
to it a rod passing down across the axis of the lathe, near which axis the rod
has jointed upon it a short link, passing up to an arm fixed upon a back rod
moving vertically in a plane, about parallel to the lathe in its midway position.
The back rod has its lower end entered through a guide eye, whilst its upper
end is jointed to a horizontal lever centred on a stud or spindle projecting
laterally from the loom framing, a counterweight being connected to the back
end of this lever, so that the action of shifting the shuttle box is positive in
the downward as well as in the upward direction. Upon the spindle of the
horizontal lever there is mounted a barrel, formed with inclined ridges (or
their equivalent), arranged to act by means of a fork or pin upon a lever
jointed to the front end of the horizontal lever. This secondary lever is also
hung upon the spindle, about which it and the primary lever move as one.
The back end of the secondary lever is arranged to be acted upon by a species
of gab lever disposed vertically, and made to reciprocate by means of a link
and eccentric pin carried by the low or second-motion shaft of the loom. The
gab lever is formed with notches having.inclined sides, some of which notches
may be in separate adjustable pieces fixed to the sides of the lever. The
secondary lever moved laterally by the barrel is acted upon by the gab lever,
sons to enter one or other of the notches, and is thereby made to assume a
corresponding position vertically, and so shift the shuttle box. It will be
understood that there are two or more gab notches according to the number
of shuttles, and that these notches are in different positions, both horizontally
and vertically. When the eccentric action carries back the gab lever, the
secondary horizontal lever on which it acts is free to be moved laterally by the
barrel should the pattern then require it, and on the return forward of the gab
lever a different notch coming into action causes the required change of the
horizontal levers and shuttle box. An obvious modification of the parts just
described is to impart the lateral shift to the notches instead of to the lever
they act on, and in this case the notched pieces are carried by a lever jointed.
upon what has been termed the gab lever in such a way as to be moved
laterally by the pattern barrel, this last being carried by the gab lever. The
barrel is actuated by catches, the action of which is determined by means of
jacquard apparatus or similar pattern mechanism. The arrangement of the
parts is such, however, that the pattern mechanism by a single action

page_text: determines both the period and the extent or direction of shift, so that when
the loom has to be put back these actions cannot be put out of correspondence.
A modification of pattern mechanism which it is proposed to adopt, consists
of an endless chain of wire links arranged with projecting points at the proper
parts; this endless chain being carried on a reciprocating frame, which causes
the projecting points to act on the barrel catches, the same reciprocating
motion being contrived to effect the gradual moving round of the endless
chain. In applying this pattern mechanism, some of the details previously
described may
be dispensed with, provided the pattern chain is made strong
enough.
In another modification of changing-shuttle mechanism a rotating shuttle
box is used. This shuttle box is mounted so that the shuttle in action is the
lowest of the series, the picking action being direct and from below. The
shifting of the shuttle box may be effected by a modification of the mechanism
already described.
In arranging two-heddle leaf looms for weaving tarleton, corded, or similar
fabrics according to this Invention, a single cam is used, which forms one shed
by direct action, whilst the other shed is formed by the reaction of a spring.
Then when a shed has to be kept open more than one pick, for the purpose
of throwing in more than one weft to form a cord, the treadle or lever acted
upon by the cam is held down by contrivances regulated by the pattern
mechanism.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, and
carried into effect, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
upon which are delineated examples of my improved loom mechanism. The
same reference letters mark the same or like parts in all the Figures in which
they occur; but in all the Figures there are omitted several loom details not
necessary to the present explanation.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing ono modification of my improved.
shifting shuttle box mechanism; and Figure 2 is a plan of the pattern barrel
and gab lever.
The shuttle box A, constructed in this example for three shuttles, is moved
by a rod a, to the lower end of which is jointed a link b, connecting it to a
lever B centred on a stud projecting from the side frame C, and the lever B
is connected by a link d to a lever D, also centred on a stud projecting from
the side frame, the other end of the lever D carrying an antifriction pulley,
and having suspended from it a weight E, arranged to balance the shuttle box
and connections. The lever D is actuated by what has been termed the gab
lever, which, in this example, is a compound lever, consisting of a lever F

page_text: jointed on a stud near the back bottom corner of the side frame C, and
receiving a reciprocating motion from an eccentric G on the crank shaft II,
whilst on this lever F there is jointed, so as to move transversely, a lever I, the
upper end of which is formed with or has fixed to it three projecting notched
or indented plates J. The indentations of the plates J are in different vertical
positions in each, and are formed with inclined sides, which depress or elevate
the back end of the lever D, according as one or other of them act upon it.
The lever I with the notched plates J is moved laterally by means of a rod K
acted upon by a grooved pattern barrel L carried by the lever F. This barrel
is turned by the reciprocating action of the lever F, combined with the action
of a catch jointed on a stud on the side frame C, but which is held up out of
action by the jacquard tail m, except when a change of shuttle has to be
effected. The catch is also represented as having jointed to it a rod m³,
which is acted upon by a cam on the picking motion disc on the low shaft, in
such a way as to prevent the catch from acting, except at the proper alternate
picks; this contrivance, however, is not essential. In order that the shuttle
box A may be adjusted accurately in any one of its three positions, the rod a
is provided with three adjustable pins น (as best seen in Figure 3), and one
or other of these pins is held by a concavity on a projecting part of a
lever N, made to bear against them by a spring, the pressure being sustained
by an antifriction roller on one of the pins bearing and running against the
back of the lathe sword. The projection of the lever N is formed with inclines,
so that when the shuttle box is being shifted the pins n can force it back,
whilst the extreme upward.and downward shifts are limited by stops on the
lathe sword. In some cases a lever n may be arranged, as shown in Figure 3,
to draw back the retaining lever N at the period of the loom's motion when
the shuttle is changed, this lever n² being actuated by the low shaft.
Figure 3 is a side elevation showing a second modification of my improved
shifting shuttle box mechanism; Figure 4 is a front elevation of some of the
details; and Figure 5 is an enlarged view of some of the component links of
the endless pattern chain. In this example the rod a of the shuttle box is
connected by a link to a lever D centred towards the front, and carries a
weight E at its front end to balance the parts. This lever D is shifted by
means of rods P passing upwards through guides in a bracket R, and fitted
with adjustable stops or feelers p, which are directly acted upon by the pattern
chain S. This pattern chain S, which may be of any convenient length, is
carried by a barrel T mounted in a frame U, which reciprocates vertically.
between the forked sides of the bracket R, being actuated by means of an
adjustable cam V on the low or second-motion shaft of the loom, this cam V

page_text: acting on a lever v, which is connected to the rod of the frame U. The
pattern barrel T is formed with a ratchet wheel, and a catch is fixed to the
bracket R, in such a position as at each descent of the frame U to turn the
barrel sufficiently to bring a fresh link of the pattern chain into action. The
effect of the pattern chain takes place when the barrel moves upwards, and is
due to projections from both sides of the chain inserted at parts corresponding
to the periods at which the changes are required. A projection at one side of
the chain causes the shuttle box to be raised, and one at the other side cau es
it to be lowered. The projectious are of two widths, and the stops p are fork:
shaped, so that the narrow chain projections enter the fork and elevate the
stops to only half the extent that the broad projectious do, these last acting ou
the bottoms of the stops p. A simple and convenient mode of constructing the
pattern chain S is shown in Figure 5. Each joint consists of a metal tubo
with projecting eyes shaped to embrace the tube of the next joint, and may be
formed of sheet metal. The joints are connected by wire pins passed through
the eyes of one joint and the tube of the next, and held by a head or collar at
one end and a small cross pin at the other. At the joints corresponding to the
changes of shuttle a long joint pin is introduced with its projecting part of the
proper shape. In applying the pattern mechanism just described to shifting
shuttle boxes having more than three shuttles, additional stops or feelers p, or
stops p and rods P may be introduced, and in some cases an additional barrel
and endless pattern chain may be used.
Figure 6 is a front elevation, and Figure 7 is a side elevation, showing a
third modification of my improved shifting shuttle box mechanism. In this
example the shuttle box A is of the rotating class, and it is mounted so that
the shuttle in action is the lowest of the series, and so that the picking is
effected by a lever W projecting up from below, according to a well-known
arrangement used in plain weaving looms. In this example the shuttle box
is supposed to be turned by pattern mechanism of the kind last herein-before
described, the shifting round being effected by means of a pair of ratchet
wheels X with their teeth set in opposite directions, and acted on respectively
by the stops'p and rods P through the links Y, levers Z, and catches 1.
Figures 8 and 9 are side and front Diagrams explanatory of my improved
shedding arrangements. The heddle leaves 2, 3, are connected by a cord
passing over a pulley 4, so that when the leaf 2 is depressed by the treadle or
lever 5, the other leaf 3 is elevated, the reverse movement being caused by the
reaction of a spring 6. When the shed is to be kept open, a lever 7 disposed
transversely is shifted by suitable mechanism, so as to hold down the treadle

page_text: or lever 5, which prevents the spring from acting, and the shed consequently
remains open, as shown.
Ilaving thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I have to state
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described and
delineated, and that I do not claim to have invented every separate detail
herein described or delineated, but that what I consider to bo novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the actuating of shifting shuttle boxes by combinations of pattern
mechanism, substantially such as are herein-before described.
Second, the arranging of rotating shuttle boxes so that the shuttle in
use is thrown from the lowest part thereof, substantially as herein-before
described.
Third, the arranging and actuating of a pair of heddle leaves, so that one
shed is produced by the reaction of a spring, and the keeping of the shed
open by preventing the recoil of the treadle, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hunter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WILLIAM HUNTER. (L.S.)