IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIR-CLOTH LOOMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Joshua Bicknall, of the City and County of
Providence, and State of Rhode Island, United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIR-CLOTH LOOMS." A communication
from Martin Ransom Kenyon, of Providence, State of Rhode Island
aforesaid.
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 24th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Joshua Bicknall
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1877.
EDWARD JOSHUA Bicknall, of the City and County of Providence, and State
of Rhode Island, United States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAIR-CLOTH
LOOMS." [A communication from Martin Ransom Kenyon, of Providence, State
of Rhode Island aforesaid.]
This Invention has reference to that class of looms known as hair-cloth looms,
and consists in the novel arrangement by which a positive reciprocating motion is
imparted to the shuttle stick; in the arrangement of hinged stops by which the
shuttle is opened to receive the hair, and again opened to release the hair after it is
laid in the warp; in the peculiar arrangement of reversing gear and automatic
means by which, when the shuttle has missed a hair, the motion is reversed and the
hair secured; in improved mechanism for carrying the hair to the shuttle by means
of a carrier drum supplied with pickers, and in means for controlling the same;
in the arrangement of reciprocating shears for clipping the ends of the hair;
and in the arrangement of various parts by which an automatic hair-cloth loom
is produced wherein every defect is self-adjusting, as will be more fully herein-after
set forth.
In practising this Invention I combine with chain pulleys secured to the lay
and with the chain thereof, other pulleys with a chain and revolving lever journalled
on the shuttle stick and secured to the chain arranged to impart reciprocating motion
to the shuttle. The shuttle is provided with a spring lever and hinged stops

page_text: arranged to open the shuttle at or near the end of the reciprocation of the said
shuttle.
I combine with a shaft carrying bevel gear, and one of the chain pulleys, the chain
wheels and other means described by which reciprocating motion is imparted to
the shuttle and shuttle stick whilst the same is carried on the lay. With the hair
receptacle I combine a carrier drum provided with pickers operated by a stationary
cam, and arranged to pick the hair from the said receptacle and present the same to
the shuttle. And in combination with the said carrier drum I arrange cams to
operate the stop mechanism.
One of the other cains for operating the said stop mechanism, and which is secured
to the carrier drum, has combined with it a binged jaw and lever, and a stop lever
arranged to stop the revolution of the carrier drum when a hair is secured.
I combine with a picker arm hinged in the carrier drum and provided with a
heel, a picker arm hinged in the drum and connected with another arm, so that
both will open and close simultaneously, being operated by the aforesaid stationary
cam.
I also employ a detector arm, in combination with a hinged arm and stop, and a
cam and vibrating arm, forming stop mechanism, which so acts as to ensure the
securing of a hair when the shuttle has missed the same.
I combine with the carrier drum provided with an adjustable cam plate standard
a hinged lever, a guide, and shears, arranged to clip the hair when required. The
reciprocating shuttle is arranged to open to receive the hair and to release the hair,
and the revolving carrier drum is provided with pickers arranged to present the
hair to the shuttle, and the detector stop mechanism controls the revolution of the
carrier drum, so that the same will revolve until a picker has delivered a hair, and
stop as soon as the hair is delivered.
I also employ reversing mechanism, consisting of two drums mounted loosely on
a shaft and driven by belts in opposite directions, the same being provided with
ratchets and two spring-pressed clutches operated by a lever, so that either can be
connected with its respective drum, and being secured to the shaft, either drum may
be connected with the said shaft and the motion of the shaft reversed.
In combination with the weft fork I employ a vibrating lever, a cam, a detaching
arm, and shipper rod arranged to operate the said reversing mechanism.
In combination with the lay I employ detaching mechanism, consisting of a rod,
a projecting head, and a hinged slide, arranged to detach the shipper rod by the
reciprocation of the lay.
The carrier drum used in combination with the reciprocating shuttle may be pro-
vided with any required number of pickers.

page_text: LOOMS.
A
communication from marum manson Kenyon, of Frovidence, State
of Rhode Island aforesaid.
This Invention has reference to that class of looms known as hair-cloth looms,
and consists in the novel arrangement by which a positive reciprocating motion
is imparted to the shuttle stick; in the arrangement of hinged stops by which the
shuttle is opened to receive the hair, and again opened to release the hair after it is
laid in the warp; in the peculiar arrangement of reversing gear, and automatic
means by which, when the shuttle has missed a hair, the motion is reversed and
the hair secured; in improved mechanism for carrying the hair to the shuttle by
means of a carrier drum supplied with pickers, and in means for controlling the same;
in the arrangement of reciprocating shears for clipping the ends of the hair;
and in the arrangement of various parts by which an automatic hair-cloth loom
is produced wherein every defect is self-adjusting, as will be more fully herein-after
set forth..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved loom showing the various parts at the
moment when the shuttle receives the hair.
Figure 2 is a top view of the loom in the same relative position as Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of the loom where the hair is fed to the shuttle, showing
the drum carrier, the hair pickers, and the detector mechanism by which the pickers
are controlled.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view shewing the lay and the mechanism for imparting
reciprocating motion to the shuttle by reciprocating the shuttle stick.
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lay and shuttle reciprocating mechanism,
and also the means for oscillating the lay.
Figure 6 is a top view of the lay and the shuttle reciprocating mechanism, also
enlarged.
Figure 7 is a section through the lay showing the hinged stop by which the
shuttle is opened in view.
Figure 8 is a section of the chain pulley, a portion of the chain, and the hinged
lever by which the chain is connected with the shuttle stick and reciprocating
motion is imparted to the shuttle.
Figure 9 is a side view of the carrier drum in which the pickers for carrying the
hair to the shuttle are secured and operated, showing the spring for holding the
pickers, this view being the side of the drum near the loom.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of the carrier drum vertically through its centre,
showing the block to which the pickers are secured, as also the lower end of the
picker arm in contact with the cam by which the same opened; this cam is
shown in view.
Figure 11 is an interior view of the carrier drum showing the position of the
pickers and the heels of the pickers where they come in contact with the cam by
which the pickers are opened to receive the hair.
Figure 12 is an outside view of the carrier drum, showing the cam plate and the
screws and slot for adjusting the same.
Figure 13 is an enlarged view of one of the pickers shewing the position of the
parts, the heel by which when in contact with the cam the picker is opened, and the
spring for closing the same,

page_text: し
Figure 14 is an enlarged end view of the picker showing the V shaped groove in
one of the picker fingers.
Figure 15 represents different views of the oscillating picker heads.
Figure 16 represents end and side views of the forked pickers by which the hair
is picked and carried to the shuttle.
Figure 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the reversing mechanism shewing the
clutches by which the driving pulleys are connected with or disconnected from the
driving shaft.
Figure 18 is a view through the centre of the reversing mechanism shewing the
pulley provided with ratchet teeth, the clutch secured to the driving shaft, and the
rods connecting with the shipper levers.
Figure 19 shews the connection of the weft fork stop mechanism with the cam on
the driving shaft.
Figure 20 is an enlarged view of the shipper detaching lever.
Figure 21 is an enlarged view of the clutch by which the driving pulleys are
.detached from the main shaft and the loom is stopped.
Figure 22 is an enlarged horizontal section showing the shipper rods and the
detaching rod secured to the lay by which the shipper rod is released.
Figure 23 is a top view of the end of the loom frame shewing the slot and rest in
which the shipper rods move.
Figure 24 is an enlarged side view of the stop motion by which the motion of the
carrier drum and the pickers are controlled, the position indicated being when a
hair is secured.
Figure 25 is an end view of the same mechanism controlling the motion of the
carrier drum.
Figure 26 is a side view of the same stop mechanism shown in the position
occupied when the hair has been missed and the carrier drum continues to
revolve, bringing other pickers in contact with the hair until a hair is properly
delivered.
Figures 27 and 28 are enlarged views shewing the operation of the stop
mechanism on the shipper rod by which the carrier drum is connected with or dis-
connected from the driving mechanism.
Figure 29 is a view of the hinged hair detector operating the controlling
mechanism of the carrier drum.
Figure 30 is a side view of the hair clipping device shewing the lever by which
the same is operated.
Figure 31 is a view of the opposite side of the hair clipping device.
And Figure 32 is an end view of the same device shewing the clamp by which
the same is secured to the stationary shaft on which the carrier drum revolves.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
In the Drawings A is the main driving shaft from which power is communicated
to the shaft A' by gear wheels; secured to this shaft A¹ is the bevel gear wheel a,
arranged to gear into the bevelled pinion b, driving a shaft at right angles with the
shaft A', to the end of which the pulley c is secured, which by means of the chain c¹
gives motion to the pulley & secured to a shaft which is secured to the lay B. On
the same shaft and rotating with the pulley & is the chain pulley e, whilst near the
end of the lay is another pulley e over which the chain e¹ is passed; the distance
from end to end of the pulleys e, e, is equal to the length of the reciprocation of the
shuttle and shuttle stick, which is provided with the revolving lever f, one end of
which is secured to the chain and the other journalled on the shuttle stick, so that as it
reaches each end of the reciprocation the end secured to the chain will pass with the
chain around the pulleys e, e, and thus at the end of each motion and before
the same is changed the velocity gradually diminishes and as gradually accelerates,
thus producing an even reciprocation of the shuttle without the shock or jar
incidental to the usual reciprocating motion; g represents the shuttle, which con-
sists of two jaws, the lower being fixed and the upper hinged, and provided with
a spring-pressed trigger g¹ arranged to hold the two jaws firmly together; g² is the

page_text: shuttle stick, by which a positive reciprocating motion is imparted to the shuttle;
h, h, are two hinged stops provided with revolving rollers, which when they come in
contact with the trigger g depress the same and open the jaws of the shuttle g; the
stops h, h, are placed in such position that they will open the shuttle to receive the
hair from the picker on the carrier drum, and again open the shuttle when the hair
has been laid in the warp, the shuttle being closed as soon as the trigger leaves
the stop.
C is the carrier drum, represented enlarged in Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12.. It is
supported on a stationary pin or shaft, on which it rotates, and is provided with
four or more pickers, arranged to pick the hair from the hair-containing receptacle
and carry the same to the shuttle. i, i, represent the pickers, hinged to a block
within the carrier drum, and consist each of two finger bars. The finger i is hinged
on a pin near the periphery of the drum, and is connected with the finger i by a
pin further down, whilst the finger 2 is also hinged to a block within the carrier
drum, and is provided with a curved end or heel which rests against the actuating
cam, so that when passing the higher portion of the cam the heel is pushed inward,
and both the fingers i¹ and 12 separate, whilst as soon as the heel end passes the
cam the spring shewn in Figure 13 presses the fingers and 22 together. This
motion of both of the picker arms is produced by the stationary cam k and the
peculiar manner of connecting the arms, and thus all the pickers are operated at the
proper time to open and close so as to secure a hair, and in the rotation of the
carrier drum deliver the same to the shuttle.
Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16 shew different modifications of the picker heads or
fingers, relating to the portion which selects and separates the hair, and then firmly
holds the same until it is taken up by the shuttle.
The picker in Figure 13 consists of a pad with a rounded surface, and the picker
provided with a V shaped groove, whilst Figure 14 shows a rounded surface provided
with four or more pickers, all provided with the V shaped grooves in their edges.
The picker in Figure 15 is provided with an oscillating spring-pressed trumpet-
shaped picker, and the picker shewn in Figure 16 with a forked picker, all of which
forms being constructed to facilitate the picking and retaining of the hair.
,, are the guide wires or springs on which the hair detector is raised so as to
slide on the hair secured by the picker, and in the absence of the hair will fall
behind the picker, and thus cause the carrier drum to revolve until a hair is properly
secured. The hinged detector arm m is shown in Figure 29 in solid lines, supported
on a hair, and in broken lines when no hair is presented; and in Figure 24 the
detector mechanism is shewn in the position occupied when a hair is properly
secured. The hinged arm m' is then raised by the detector m, and the stop catch m²
passes between the lever o and the hinged jaw o'. Secured to the carrier drum,
and revolving with the same, are as many cams n as there are pickers, and each of
these cams operates the hinged jaw o'. When therefore a hair is properly secured
the cam n operating the hinged jaw o¹, between which and the lever o the stop
catch or arm m² is then inserted, pushes the pin o², secured to the upper end of the
lever o, against the hinged lever p, and the pin p' is projected so as to interfere
with a suitable device on the carrier drum, such as the pin p², and thus stop the
rotation of the same, whilst the lever o disengages the clutch and so disconnects the
drum D from the shaft A. The carrier drum is now stopped until the shuttle has
carried the hair forward, when the cam m³ on the shaft A operates the hinged
lever. m, as shewn in Figure 24, raises the stop catch m² and releases the stop
pin p', and also connects the drum D again with the shaft A'. As often as the
picker takes a hair, and the hair is taken, so often will this motion be performed.
When the picker misses a hair and the stop catch m² is not inserted between the
lever o and hinged jaw o' the cam n will operate the hinged jaw o', but the lever o
will pass into the slot provided in the jaw o' and the carrier drum will revolve
presenting picker after picker until a hair is properly secured. To facilitate the
picking of the hair from the receptacle F it is necessary that the ends of the hair

page_text: should be kept even, and as some ends will creep out beyond the others a clipping
device has to be secured.
Figure 12 represents the end of the carrier drum, to which the cam plate E is
secured and properly adjusted. This cam plate E is provided with as many cams
as there are pickers, and as each cam passes the heel of the hinged lever q' the
guard q² and the shears q³ are brought forward, and as the arms of the shears pass
between two studs secured to the standard q the shears are opened, and in with-
drawing as the heel of the hinged lever passes beyond the cam suddenly the pro-
jecting hairs are clipped even.
If every picker would deliver a hair, and the shuttle take up the hair each time,
the loom would require but little mechanism; but as some picker will from time to
time miss a hair, and the shuttle miss receiving the same, mechanism is required to
compel the shuttle to return until a hair is finally secured, and also during this time
stop the lay from beating up, and the harnesses from shifting the warp. To
accomplish this a peculiar reversing gear is arranged and operated through a weft
fork, so that when a hair is missed the motion of the shuttle is reversed and it
returns to the carrier drum to receive, or attempt to receive, a hair, and until the
hair is properly received by the shuttle the same is made to reciprocate near the
end of the lay, whereas as soon as the hair is properly secured the shuttle will
continue and lay the hair between the warp. The weft fork is shewn in Figure 19,
both in solid and broken lines. When the shuttle passes the weft fork without a
hair the same is left in the position shewn in solid lines, and the cam R in its
revolution raises the lever r, and, pushing back the slide containing the weft fork,
partially turns the arm r¹, secured to the shaft 2, to the other end of which the
arm is secured, and this disengages the shipper rod 4, and being connected by
means of the hinged lever releases the clutch, securing the driving pulley with
the shaft A, and engages the clutch in the reversing pulley, and so reverses the
motion of the shaft A and the reciprocating motion of the shuttle, and returns the
same so as to secure a hair. The lay in reciprocating detaches by means of the rod 8
secured to the same, and provided with the hinged slide 82, the reversing lever, and
both levers return to their first position by means of suitable springs, so that as
soon as the shuttle reaches the end of its reciprocation the driving pulley is again
secured to the shaft A, and when now the hair is secured the hair coming in
contact with the weft fork raises the same, and the lever r is allowed to vibrate
without interfering with the shaft 2; the hair is laid between the warp, and the
operation continued until either the pickers miss a hair or the shuttle, when the
reversing gear wheels are again thrown into action.
When the loom is to be stopped the clutch shipper u, shewn in Figures 18 and 21,
is pushed between the clutches t, t, and thus both clutches are released, thus releasing
the pulleys which turn loose on the shaft.
The operation of the loom is entirely automatic, and every defective operation is
at once corrected by suitable mechanism.
When, all parts being properly adjusted, hair is placed into the receptacle F and
the clutches t, t, released, the carrier drum provided with the pickers revolves, the
pickers carry the hair forward, and the shuttle approaches the hair and carries the
same into or between the warp, the harness is sprung, a new shed opened, and
the shuttle advances to receive another hair, and so continues. If however one
picker misses a hair, the detector arm m suddenly falls behind the picker, and as
the cam n vibrates the jaw o¹, without affecting the stop mechanism, the carrier
drum continues to revolve and present picker after picker until a hair is secured,
and if by the time the shuttle arrives to receive the hair a hair has been secured,
the shuttle will continue its regular work. If however no hair has been secured,
the hinged vibrating lever will at once act upon the reversing mechanism described
and reverse the motion of the shuttle, and this will continue until a hair has been
properly secured and laid in the warp.
2°
By thus arranging a hair-cloth loom to be entirely automatic, much time, care,
and labor will be saved, and the cost of manufacture reduced.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same,
I wish it understood that I claim,--
First. The combination with the chain pulley c, chain c¹, and chain pulley d,
secured to the lay B of the pulleys e, e, chain e', and the revolving lever fjournalled
on the shuttle stick, and secured to the chain arranged to impart reciprocating
motion to the shuttle, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second. In combination with the shuttle y provided with the spring pressed
lever g the hinged stops h, h, arranged to open the shuttle at or near the end of the
reciprocation of the shuttle, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Third. The combination with the shaft A of the bevel gear wheel a, pinion b,
and chain pulley c secured to the frame of the machine, of the chain wheels e, e,
and means, substantially as described, by which reciprocating motion is imparted to
the shuttle and shuttle stick whilst the same is carried on the lay, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the hair receptacle F of the carrier drum C pro-
vided with the pickers i, i, operated by the stationary cam k, and arranged to pick
the hair from the receptacle and present the same to the shuttle, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The combination with the carrier drum C of the cams n arranged to
operate the stop mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The combination with the carrier drum C and pickers i, i, of the wires l, l,
and detector arm m, arranged to guide the detector arm on the hair, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination with a picker arm 2 hinged in the carrier drum, and
provided with the heel ³, and the picker arm i¹ hinged in the drum, and connected
with the arm i² so that both will open and close simultaneously, being operated by
the stationary cam k, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Eighth. The combination with the cam n secured to the carrier drum C of the
hinged jaw, the lever o, and stop lever p, arranged to stop the revolution of the
carrier drum when a hair is secured, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination with the detector arm m of the hinged arm m¹ and
stop m², arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the carrier drum C provided with the adjustable
cam plate E of the standard q and hinged lever q₁, the guide q², and shears q³,
arranged to clip the hair, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Eleventh. The combination with the detector stop mechanism, consisting of the
arm m, the hinged arm m¹, and stop m², of the can m³ and vibrating arm m*,
arranged to release the detector stop mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Twelfth. In a hair-cloth loom the combination of the following instrumentalities:-
A reciprocating shuttle arranged to open to receive the hair, and also open to release
the hair, by means substantially as described, a revolving carrier drum provided
with pickers arranged to present the hair to the shuttle, and a detector stop
mechanism arranged to controul the revolution of the carrier drum, so that the same
will revolve until a picker has delivered a hair, and stop as soon as the hair is
delivered, by means substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Thirteenth. A reversing mechanism, consisting of two drums mounted loose on a
shaft and driven by belts in opposite directions, the same being provided with
ratchets of two spring-pressed clutches operated by a lever, so that either can be
connected with its respective drum, and being secured to the shaft, either drum may
be connected with the shaft and the motion of the shaft reversed, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
Fourteenth. In combination with the weft fork the vibrating lever r, the cam R,
shaft ², lever, detaching arm, and shipper rod, arranged to operate the reversing
mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifteenth. The combination with the lay B of the detaching mechanism, consisting

page_text: of the rod s, projecting head 81, and hinged slide s³, arranged to detach the shipper
rod by the reciprocation of the lay, as described.
Sixteenth. In a hair-cloth loom the combination with the reciprocating shuttle
of the carrier drum provided with any required number of pickers, a reversing
mechanism, substantially as described, operated through the weft fork when a hair
is missed, so as to reverse the motion of the shuttle, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Joshua Bicknall, have hereunto set
iny hand and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDWARD JOSHUA BICKNALL. (L.S.)