Improvements relating to Shuttles for Looms, particularly in connec- tion with Means for Stopping the Loom on Failure of Weft.
Year: 1898

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by GEORGE FAIR, of 11, Central Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements relating to Shuttles for Looms, particularly in connec-
tion with Means for Stopping the Loom on Failure of Weft.
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 has relation to means for stopping a loom when it is time to do
so by reason of the near running out of the weft carried by the shuttle or bobbin
in order to avoid a mispick.
The means commonly employed, prior to my invention, to stop the loom when
the weft failed, either from being broken or from running out in the shuttle,
has been the weft-fork. With this device so long as the weft remained intact the
weft-fork would be tilted on its pivot, and escaped acting upon the knocking-off
means, but when the weft broke or run out, as before indicated, there being no
weft present to actuate the fork, the loom would be knocked off or stopped.
As the weft-fork in existing machines is arranged to be operated upon between
the selvage of the cloth being woven and the shuttle, when in the shuttle-box,
it will be understood that the loom will not be knocked off until after the shuttle
has completely traversed the shed, and is in its box, no matter at what point the
weft failed-in other words, no matter whether the pick was a broken pick or a
mispick.
In the weaving of all fabrics, if a broken pick or mispick is allowed to go
uncorrected, the cloth produced will be damaged, and be subject to dis-
count in sales. In case the matter is corrected at the time of weaving
the cloth, the broken pick must be picked out and the loom turned
back to find the proper shed in order to enable the weaver to go on
again in an orderly way. All this occasions considerable waste and much loss of
time; as is well known to weavers and those skilled in the operation of looms.
Prior to my invention the mischief of a broken pick or a mispick, as I have
already stated, nearly always occurred when the weft or filling thread was exhausted
from the cop or bobbin in the shuttle. By my improvements the loom is controlled
by mechanical means from means in the shuttle, so as to obviate or prevent the
aforesaid mischief at the time mentioned. At other times than when the weft
or filling is nearly exhausted from the shuttle--as when, for instance, the weft-
thread breaks with a substantial supply still in the shuttle-the commonly-
employed weft-fork or other known means will be relied upon to detect broken
picks and mispicks.
In addition to preventing partial and mispicks when the filling-thread from
he shuttle is nearly exhausted my invention serves the purpose of preventing
**smashes" by the lodgment of the shuttle in the shed or from the failure of the
shuttle being sent fully "home" in its box.

page_text: To these ends my invention consists of the improved shuttle and its equipment
and to means coacting therewith whereby the specified results or functions are
attained, as will hereinafter fully appear.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters marked there-
on, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts
or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
Of the drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of a simple form of my invention showing the same
as connected with a shuttle and as though the shuttle were in the box and operating
on the feeler or rod extending up from a rock-rod which may act like a protection-
1od to knock off or stop the loomi.
Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1, a part of the shuttle being broken out to show
the manner in which the inner end of the feeler forming a part of my invention
may be constructed to bear upon the base of the cop.
Fig. 3 is a plan view somewhat similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the yarn
on the spindle in the shuttle as nearly exhausted or run out.
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevation, partially in section, of a loom showing
the manner in which several parts may be related with respect to my invention."
Fig. 5 is a diagram on a small scale of my invention as applied to a shuttle
operating in a box provided with a swell or binder.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of part of a shuttle provided with my invention, showing
the manner in which the latter cooperates with a bobbin instead of a cop in the
shuttle, the bobbin in this figure being shown as full.
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the yarn as nearly run out on
the bobbin and parts being shown in section or as broken out.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of what is represented in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a front view of the lay, the shuttle-box, the upper part of the picker
sticks and what may be supposed to be the protection, or other knock-off or
stopping rod with the usual swell in the shuttle box.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a detached view of the swell on a shuttle-box showing how the same
may be slightly modified in form in the use of my invention, as shown in Figs. 9
and 10.
Fig. 12 is side elevation of a portion of a shuttle provided with my improve-
ments parts being shown as broken away and the shuttle being shown as provided
with a split spindle to hold the cop thereon, and showing how the opening or split
in the spindle may be utilized in connection with my invention.
Fig. 13 is a plan view of what is shown in Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a view similar to what is represented in Fig. 13, but showing the
yarn on the spindle as having been exhausted to an extent that will permit my
invention to effect the stopping of the loom before the yarn is fully run out.
Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a front view of the invention in the form of an attachment to a loom
of slightly different kind from that previously instanced.
Fig. 17 is an end view, parts being represented in section, of what is portrayed
in Fig. 16, and showing also an end view of the breast-beam and frame, and some
of its attachable parts.
Fig. 18 is designed to show the mode of operation of a part of the improvements
illustrated in Fig. 17.
Fig. 19 is a modified form of means shown in Figs. 17 and 18.
Fig. 20 is a front view of a drop shuttle-box equipped with my invention.
Fig. 21 is a detail view of parts shown in Fig. 20.
Fig. 22 is a plan view of what is shown in Fig. 16, with some additions thereto.
Fig. 23 is an end view of the shipper-lever, and its coacting parts.
Fig. 24 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 25 is a front view of the shuttle, parts being shown as in section and other

page_text: parts as broken away and representing a modified form of that part of the improve-
ments immediately connected with the shuttle.
Fig. 26 is an inverted plan view of the shuttle represented in Fig. 25, and show-
ing in addition a cooperating part.
Fig. 27 is a view of the shuttle shown in Fig. 26, but representing some of the
parts in a different position from that in which they are shown in said Fig. 26.
Fig. 28 is a plan view of a modified form of shuttle-equipping means.
Fig. 29 is a front view of the shuttle represented in Fig. 28.
is a
a designates the loom frame. bis the lay. c is the shuttle-box. d is the picker-
stick. e is the protection-rod connected with the lay. f is the shuttle.
feeler-finger pivoted at one end, as at i, to the body of the shuttle, and resting at
the other end or end portion, as at h, on the yarn last to be drawn from the cop
or bobbin and bowing outward along its length, as at j, so that when the shutile
is in its box and there is still considerable yarn in the shuttle, the said bowed
part, j, will act upon the upper end of a finger, m, to press it outward.
n is the
spring-pressed swell on the shuttle-box and bearing upon the shuttle when in
the box, and pressed and moved outward by the shuttle as the latter enters the
box. m' is the finger on the protection-rod, which, at its upper end, bears against
the outer surface of the free end of the swell.
The parts so far described may be of the form and arrangement shown or of
any other having substantially the same functions.
The portion of the invention that is confined to the shuttle is shown in Figs. 1,2
and 3 as consisting of a feeler-finger, g, pivoted at one point, as at i, to the shuttle,
and having another part or point, as the part h, adapted eventually to be brought
to bear on the next to the last rounds of yarn of the cop on the spindle, as is
represented in Fig. 3. At another point the feeler is provided with a swell, j,
which extends through a slot in the side of the shuttle and beyond the regular out-
lines of the body of the same, so long as the part h bears upon any considerable
yarn on the shuttle spindle, but as soon as the yarn is drawn off from under the
part h so as to leave more than about two picks of yarn in the shuttle, the swell j
will fall within the bounds of the body of the shuttle.
In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the shuttle is shown as provided with a rounded recess, q,
out into which the swell j bulges, and this is the form in which I prefer and propose
to make the invention. In the last mentioned figures the invention is adapted
to shuttles using bobbins, and in the first to shuttles using cops on spindles.
In Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive the invention is shown as adapted to split spindles,
and in this case the inner end of the feeler, g, may be bent into a ring or loop, w,
which may eventually be brought to bear on the last rounds, a, of yarn, and
finally pass into the split of the spindle, as shown.
In most of the other views the inner end of the feeler is shown as of angular
form to give it greater bearing on the yarn.
Until next to the last rounds of yarn on the spindle are drawn off, the swell, j,
will project outward through the slot in the shuttle and act on a finger m to press
it back each time the shuttle enters the box; but when the swell recedes into the
shuttle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 15, it will fail to act upon the finger m to press
it back. As the finger is connected with the protector-rod or other stopping
mechanism, it will be seen that with my invention in the shuttle the loom will
be stopped before the yarn in the shuttle is entirely exhausted. m¹ designates the
finger on the protection-rod, e, and acting against the shuttle-binder or swell, n,
in the usual way. I prefer that the finger m, cooperating with the swell, j, shall
extend up inside of the shuttle-binder or swell n, room being made for the same
by the vertical recess, p. The groove, o, provides for the swell j passing freely
by the shuttle-binder or swell n.
In Fig. 10 the finger. m is shown as fixed at its lower end in a collar, t, loose
on the protection-rod. Another finger, u, extends out from said collar and pro-
vides means, if need be, for giving initial motion to the mechanism for supplying
fresh filling to the shuttle.

page_text: In a further description of the present invention, having reference particularly
tc Figs. 16 to 28, inclusive, let 2 designate a rock-rod having suitable bearings in
means connected with the lay or its equipments, the said rod being acted upon by
a spring, 3, with a tendency to press the finger, m, inward against the swell, j, of
the feeler-finger, g.
On the rock-rod 2 is secured a dagger, 4, the forward end of the dagger being
projected under the breast-beam, b¹.
5 is the stop-rod beneath the breast-beam, which stop-rod is provided at its
right-hand end with a crank or cam, 6, to act against the side of the shipper-
lever, 7, when the said stop-rod is rocked in its bearings, as will be presently
explained. When the shipper-lever is moved by the crank or cam 6, it will be
disengaged from its latching or holding means, 8, and moved by the spring, 9, so
as to effect a stopping of the loom in a well known way.
On the stop-rod, 5, nearly in the line of movement of the outer end of the
dagger, 4, there is rigidly fixed a block, 10, having a projecting portion, 11, at
its outer end. So long as considerable yarn remains on the base of the bobbin or
cop the swell will press the finger m outward and rock the rod 2 slightly against
the tension of the spring, 3, acting thereon, and depress the outer end of the
dagger, 4, so that it will pass under the projection, 11; but when the yarn is
exhausted or nearly exhausted by being drawn off from under the free end of the
finger, g, the spring, 3, will act to rock the rod 2, and raise the outer end of the
rod in such manner that when it is moved forward by the lay its free end will
engage the offset 11, rock the stop-rod 5, and stop the loom, as before indicated.
Instead of providing the block 10 with a projection 11, may pivot a dog, 12,
upon the block, 10, and provide a spring, 13, for pressing the dog forward normally
against a stop, 14. With this construction when the free end of the dagger, 4, is
raised so as to strike the dog, 12, the latter will be moved back to rock the rod, 5,
and stop the machine, and also move upon its pivot to the extent allowed by the
stop, 15, and compensate for the deviation of the point of the dagger from a right
line movement, and by this means relieve the dagger and finger, m, from undue
strain or pressure toward each other, which, it will be seen, would be the case if
there were no play or lost motion between the point of the dagger and the dog, 12,
or the projection, 11.
Instead of employing a feeler-finger, g, as the element or device against which
the finger m operates, I may employ a dog, 16, pivoted in the body of the shuttle,
as at 17, which dog is provided with an inclined slot, 18, through which passes a
pin, 19, projecting laterally from a slide-piece 20. Said slide at its inner end moves
in the slot or groove, 21, formed in the spindle or in the bobbin, and is offset toward
its inner end or otherwise made to abut against the yarn wound upon the base of
the spindle or bobbin, so that when there is yarn on the spindle or bobbin at the
base thereof the slide will be held back and the parts maintained in positioned.
When the yarn nearly runs out of the shuttle or is drawn off of the base of the
bobbin beyond the offset or inner end of the slide, the latter will be allowed to move
inward and thus effect substantially the same result as the inward movement of
the feeler-finger, g.
In this case instead of employing a straight finger, m, I may equip the upper end
of the finger at a proper point with a roller, 22, which will operate against the
outer face of the dog, 16, and press the same inward, when the yarn drawn off from
the spindle or bobbin will permit of such action being done.
Again, instead of employing a feeler-finger, may employ a finger pivoted at
one end of the shuttle and extending along the bobbin or cop to the base of the
same, where it is bent inward to rest against the yarn on the base of the bobbin
or cop, and then is swelled or bent outward, as at j¹, so that the finger m may
operate thereagainst.
Precisely the same result is accomplished whether the feeler-finger, g, is
employed, or whether the dog, roller and slide are employed, which result is that
of effecting the stopping of the loom when the yarn is nearly all drawn off from

page_text: the bobbin or cop in the shuttle, always retaining enough yarn to effect a complete
pick before the loom is knocked off."
It will be noted that after the shuttle is picked from its box, say on the left-hand
end of a lay, the finger m will be free to move inward so as to raise the outer end
of the dagger, 4, and effect the engagement of said dagger with parts connected
with the stop-rod, 5, and knock off the loom when the lay moves forward and the
shuttle is in the opposite box-that is, the box on the right-hand end of the lay.
To avoid this mishap, I employ a supplemental spring, 23, to bear against the
free end of the swell and press the said swell inward, whether the finger m', on
the protection-rod, e, operates with the same effect or not. In addition to this
I arrange a lever-rod, 24, in such a position as to cause its upturned angular
end, 25, to bear against the inner side of the swell, and fulcrum the said rod at 26,
extending the other end outward behind the finger, m, as at 27, so that whether
the shuttle is in the box or not, the free end of the swell will be pressed inward,
which will press the upturned end of the lever-rod, 24, in the same direction and
press the opposite end of the rod outward, forcing the finger m outward, the same
as would be done by the engagement of said finger with the feeler-finger, g, or the
dog, 16, When the shuttle enters the box, the free end of the swell will be pressed
outward and the upturned end, 25, of the lever-rod, 24, will not be acted upon at
all, leaving the finger m free to act to set in motion the means for knocking off
the loom or not as it may be acted upon by the means connected with the shuttle,
as before described.
In case of fancy looms where drop boxes are used for the shuttles, I may employ
in place of the spring, 23, a roller, 28, fixed upon an arm extending upward from
a spring-pressed rock-rod, 29, which roller would act with the same effect against
the free end of the swell as the spring, 23, and would allow of the free movement
of the shuttle-box up and down, the roller 28 running on the free ends of the swells
or binders.
In this case I propose to extend the rod upon which the finger m is fixed
outward parallel with the rod, 29, and fix a dog, 30, upon said rod, 29, which dog
is so constructed and arranged as to engage a dog, 31, on the rear end of the
dagger, 4, or it might as well be a pin or projection on the rod, 2, and rock the
rod 2, so as to hold the dagger down out of operative position.
In using the invention on fancy or drop-box loomis, I propose to provide the
front side, 32, of the drop-box with a vertical slot, 33, through which the finger m
or its equivalent operates upon the feeler-finger, g, or its equivalent. This slot, 33,
will be formed in the shuttle box just outside of the line on which the swells or
binders are pivoted thereto, so that in this case the finger m may not extend up
between the swells and the shuttle, as in the other cases described.
Both shuttle-boxes may be equipped in the same manner; and the protection-
rod and its adjuncts may operate in the usual way without interference by the
presence of my improvements.
By beveling the free end of the dagger, 4, as at 4'. I am enabled to adjust the
parts with the utmost nicety-that is, with such a degree of exactness that the
dagger 4 will not be brought into position for knocking off the loom so long as the
single coil or series of coils remain under the feeler-finger, and not until after a
full pick has been made, still leaving a fraction of a pick or even more in the
shuttle.
The invention is designed to accomplish the initial functions or operations of
stopping or knocking off a loom, and to do this just before the yarn entirely fails
in the shuttle, whereby miss and broken picks are avoided from the cause mentioned,
though I do not in any way limit myself to the uses which may be made of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion 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:-
1. A shuttle provided with a feeler-finger having one end pivotally connected

page_text: with the shuttle, and the other and free end resting upon the yarn on the base of
the bobbin or cop, the body portion of the feeler being formed with a swell extend-
ing beyond the outline of the body of the shuttle, when considerable yarn remains
wound upon the spindle or bobbin.
2. A shuttle provided with a feeler-finger having one end pivotally connected
with the shuttle, and the other and free end resting upon the yarn on the base
of the bobbin or cop, the body portion of the feeler being formed with a swell
extending beyond the outline of the body of the shuttle, combined with a finger
against which the swell on the feeler is adapted to act until substantially all of the
yarn is withdrawn from under the free end of said feeler-finger.
3. The combination, with the shuttle provided with a feeler-finger, 9, as shown.
and described, of the rock-rod, e, the shuttle-box and its swell, and a finger con-
nected with the rock-rod and extending up from the latter between the swell and
the shuttle, as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination, with a shuttle provided with a movable feeler-finger or
device, pressed outward by the yarn last to be drawn off from the shuttle, of a
spring-pressed rock-rod, a finger, m, connected therewith and normally pressed
inward against the said feeler-finger or device, and a dagger connected with the
said rod constructed and arranged, when the yarn fails to be moved into operative
position, to stop the loom.
5. The combination, with a shuttle provided with a movable feeler-finger or
device, pressed outward by the yarn last to drawn off from the shuttle, of the swell
on the shuttle-box, a spring-pressed rock-rod, a finger, m, connected therewith
and extending up between the shuttle and swell, means intermediate of the swell
and finger, m, to act with a tendency of pressing the finger outward or away from
the said movable feeler-finger or device, and a dagger connected with the said
rod constructed and arranged, when the yarn fails to be moved into operative
position, to stop the loom.
6. The combination, with a shuttle provided with means bearing upon the yarn
last to be drawn off from the shuttle, said means being adapted to yield when the
yarn is so drawn off, of a finger, m, adapted to bear upon the said means, a spring.
pressed rock-rod to which the said finger is secured, a dagger, 4, secured to the
said rod, the shipper-rod, and means connected with the shipper-rod with which
the dagger is adapted to engage when it is brought to operative position.
7. A shuttle for looms provided with a pivoted dog, 16, a slide, 20, adapted to
be engaged and held back by the last coils of yarn to be drawn from the shuttle,
and operative connections between the dog and slide, whereby the dog is held
outward when the slide is held back, as described, and when the yarn fails the dog
may be moved inward and move the slide forward.
8. The combination, with a rock-rod and dagger, 4, and means for operating
the same, of the shipper-rod, the block, 10, secured thereto, and a spring-pressed
dog pivoted upon said block with which the dagger is adapted to engage.
D11
с
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.