IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1879

page_text: 56
LETTERS PATENT to John Collins and John Brownlee, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 5th September 1879, and dated the 8th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Collins and John
Brownlee at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March
1879.
JOHN COLLINS and JOHN BROWNLEE, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This said Invention has reference to certain improvements connected with the
throwing or picking of the weft and shuttles, and with the weft fork and picking
mechanism connected therewith of pattern weaving power looms, with two, three,
or more shuttles and changing shuttle boxes on one or both sides, such as in leno,
gauze, and other figured pattern weaving, which improvements will save much
time and trouble in getting the loom restarted with fresh joined weft; after being
stopped by the weft fork through the breaking or running out of the weft thread.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist essentially in preventing the
picking mechanism from throwing any of the other shuttles and weft through the
"shed" and across the fabric after one weft thread of a single shuttle has broken or
run out, by making the weft fork mechanism and its connections do this before,
and while, and in addition to stopping the looms as usual, which by the momentum
of its wheels has the disadvantage of overrunning for a few revolutions and picks
of weft before being stopped. One simple combination or arrangement of the
improved mechanism for effecting this, as applied to one very common form of
picking power loom known as the "pin or "plate" pick given by the motion of
the lathe, consists in mounting on each side of the web and reed a weft fork
(preferably of an improved construction with the lower ends of the prongs bent
back horizontally, sufficient to prevent the loose weft threads of the idle shuttles
from getting up and entangling behind the prongs of the fork), upon the upper end
of a lever secured to and projecting up from a horizontal spindle oscillating in
>>

page_text: bearings in the side frames below the front breast beam, and which by the ordinary
lever or pusher disengages the self-acting spring hand stopping lever of the loom,
all so far much as usual, but having two new levers (or equivalent arms or catches)
secured on each end of this cross spindle on the inside of each side frame of the loom,
stretching back under each shuttle box end of the lathe under the rising and falling
pin, which gives or causes each pick when lowered or set in acting position opposite
the acting pin or arm of the vertical spindle on the sword or lathe of the pick
action; all so that as the back catch end of the.weft fork. falls into the pulling
notch of its actuating lever (through the broken thread or absence of the weft shot
of the last shuttle reaching its box); this lifts the two new levers so as to lift the said
shifting picking pins both out of action, so that no other shuttle or weft shot can be
thrown through the warp or web until the loom is stopped, and the weft thread that
was broken or run out was renewed and the loom started again. The same oscillating
action of the weft fork carrying spindle by a short lever at the taking-up ratchet
wheel lifts the taking-up pawl out of action, and so prevents the taking-up of the
web while the loom had ceased to pick and work in the weft, the equivalent
mechanical action controlled by the weft fork preventing the jacquard mechanism
and pattern cards from turning during the time the loom ceased picking, or other-
wise, the weaver could turn back the card barrel until the proper card was brought
into action for starting the pattern at the shot where the picking had been stopped,
all as stated. A further improvement in these two pick-and-pick- looms from
opposite sides, alternately consists in the addition of a third motion shaft driven
from the ordinary second-motion shaft, making only one revolution for two of that,
or one for four of the crank shaft, and mounting it preferably low down-near the
back of the loom, so as to have all the cams connected with the picking and weft
fork mechanism mounted on it, each in duplicate or pairs on each side of the loom
to be easily set to act in proper sequential time to each other; one pair for working
the said raising and lowering picking pins, namely, to pick two shots alternately
from either side, each half revolution of the said cam shaft and cams, the other half
. revolution keeping the picking pins out of action on the one side and half
revolution, while the cam on the other side is keeping. its picking pin in acting
position. The second set of cams are set on the shaft to correspond in proper time
to the first, to work the long horizontal or angular arm of an improved arrange-
ment of bell-crank or kneed lever for working the vertical hauling notched lever of
each fork in front of the loom, just, after each shuttle reaches its own box. on either
side of the loom. While the third pair of cams are for depressing the back arms of
two long horizontal beam levers below, which raise the front arms, and two new or
improved vertical sliding wires in front of the breast beam, with eyes above,
attached to the front end of two cords stretching back over the race through the
reed to a fixed point, or front "leese rod" behind (all instead of the horizontal
wires heretofore used), and so as to raise or depress the weft threads or shots of the
the idle or first shuttle or shuttles thrown up or down out of the way of the proper
working of the weft fork in front of the weft shot then being thrown. Although
these several cams (for working the picking mechanism, weft fork loom, stopping
and new or improved picking machines, and idle weft raising wires and cords)
have been described as preferably mounted on a new third motion shaft for giving
a slow steady motion to their respective levers and members, and ease of setting
these for sequential action, it is to be understood that any of them as desired might
be mounted on the ordinary first or second motion shaft, or on stud centres or axés
worked from these by wheels, and that these or the new or improved mechanism
worked by the weft fork for stopping further picking or shuttling might be
considerably modified in accordance with the object and improvements of this
Invention to suit different constructions of looms for weaving various pattern
fabrics, as those requiring different picking mechanical motions or mechanism than
that described, and with two, three, four, or more shuttles lifting and dropping
or revolving shuttle boxes on one or both sides of the loom. In applying this
Invention to the under pin picking motion taken from the duplex pin cam on each

page_text: end of the second motion shaft, through the horizontal intermediate pin picking
spindle carried in bearing blocks on the lower rails of the loom, or on their side
frames, the picking action is stopped by making the improved weft fork spindle
and lever mechanism shift the said cross spindle endways in its bearings sufficient
to take its acting pin out of the plane of its striking or actuating revolving cam
pins by the action of a connecting clutch, or fork lever, and collar box, or other
equivalent on the cross spindle, or otherwise, in making these connections shift the
pick pin in its fixing slot in the web or feather for holding it in this spindle,
similarly out of the plane of the cam picking pins on both sides of the loom, so
as to stop all picking or throwing of the shuttle or weft threads after one thread
broke or ran out. Then for applying the Invention to the ordinary cam or cone
pick with intermediate vertical spindles at each side of the loom with the picking
arm fixed to the duplex couplings at the top, and stretching forward to the front so
as to oscillate and pick horizontally over the shuttle boxes in front; the top part
of the coupling to which the picking arm is secured would in this case be mounted
loose on the top of the vertical picking shaft or spindle, and the lower clutch would
be made to turn with it by an internal sliding pronged boss, or equivalent feather
and groove so as to slide up and down below on the spindle into or out of gear
with the top clutch, both preferably made with deeper and stronger catch teeth, so
as to stand this frequent engaging and disengaging action which would be effected
by a collar groove in the lower shifting clutch, oscillated out of gear by a clutch or
fork lever actuated as in the former modifications, from the new or improved weft
fork shifting mechanism for this purpose, and which would instantly stop all.
further picking after a weft thread brakes or runs out, and so prevent all further
weaving until the loom was stopped and the weft rejoined or added and the loom
started again. In both of the last arrangements in which gravitation does not act
to take the picking mechanism into action after being let go by the disengaging
weft fork mechanism, a spring or other equivalent could be made to do this and
maintain the picking pin or clutch always in proper working gear, except when
disengaged by the power of the weft fork disengaging and loom stopping
mechanism. Then for making this improved weft fork pick stopping mechanism.
also stop the jacquard mechanism, the actuating hook or hooks of the pattern card
barrel could be lifted out of action by a light lifting or sliding rod, or studs, or arms,
through rods and wires with bell-cranks or other equivalent connecting mechanism,
led up above the loom from a lever of the weft fork mechanism, which would thus
stop the motion of the pattern cards simultaneously with the picking motion the
moment a weft thread broke or ran out in the shuttle.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Collins and John Brownlee in the Great Seal Patent Office on,
the 6th September 1879.
JOHN COLLINS and JOHN BROWNLEE, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Our said Invention has reference to certain improvements connected with the
throwing or "picking" of the weft and shuttles, and with the weft fork and
picking" mechanism connected therewith, of pattern weaving power looms, with
two, three, or more shuttles, and changing shuttle boxes at one or both sides, such
as for weaving leno, gauze, and other fancy figured or pattern fabrics, which im-
provements will save much time and trouble in getting the looms re-started with
fresh joined weft after being stopped by the weft fork through the breaking or
running out of any of the weft thread.
.
And the general nature and novelty of the Invention consist essentially in pre-
venting the "picking" mechanism on either or both sides of the loom from throwing
any of the other shuttles and weft through the "shed" and across the fabric after
one weft thread of a single shuttle has broken or run out, by making the ordinary
weft fork mechanism by special additional new mechanism or connections, for the
purpose, to do this before or while and in addition to stopping the looms as usual,
and which by the momentum of its wheels has the disadvantage heretofore of
"over running" for a few revolutions and "picks" of weft before being stopped.
And in order that the full nature, novelty, and mode and means of performing
or putting our said Invention or improvements into effect or practice may be pro-
perly understood, we shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet
of Drawings, which we have hereunto appended for that purpose, the same letters
of reference indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures where shown.
"
«
"
Figures 1 and 2 are a transverse section and front elevation, and Figure 3 a plan
of one end, all respectively of the main frame, and sufficient of the working parts
of a power loom A, A³, of an ordinary type or construction, for weaving fancy and
figured fabrics with two vertical rising and falling shuttle boxes mounted on each
side of the loom at B, B, and rocking lathe C, with the reed C2 and lathe race C",
and known as the under, and pin or "plate pick" loom, in which the "picking"
shafts D, D, are each working upright in bearing brackets secured on the
swords C¹, C', of the lathe C at each side, and connected direct by straps S¹ to the
picking" stick S, also carried on lathe C below the shuttle box frame C³. The
picking" shafts D being thus worked by the back motion or oscillation of the
lathe C by the radial arm and pin D¹ at its upper end striking the slide pin or
plate D raised and lowered in the slotted guide bracket D₁ fixed to each side
frame A, A, and actuated through the vertical connecting rod F jointed at its
upper end to the slide pin D", and at the lower end to the front arm F¹ of the
beam lever F, F, fulcrumed at F, and having the back arm F" actuated or
depressed under the cam f on a new third motion cam shaft g driven by the train
of reducing wheels g', g¹, G¹, G¹¹, from the ordinary crank shaft G and second
motion shaft H of the loom, all so as to give the "pick and pick" or two "picks
from the double shuttle box B on each opposite side of the loom alternately, and
so far very much as heretofore practiced in this class of looms; but shown further
as fitted with our improvements, and in accordance with and illustrative of our
said Invention as applied to this class of fancy loom, and for the purposes and
advantages stated. In this combination or arrangement our improvements,
Figures 1, 2, and 3, are or consist all as follows:-In mounting on each side of the
"

page_text: web and reed C2 a weft fork a, a¹, by its usual arm I, preferably of an improved
construction, as shown detached to a large scale in Figure 4, with the lower
ends of the prongs a' bent back horizontally close down to the lathe race C
sufficient to prevent the loose weft threads of the idle shuttles from getting
up and entangling behind the prongs of the fork upon the upper end of a
lever I secured to and projecting up from a horizontal spindle I" oscillating
in bearings in the side frames A, A, below the front breast beam A¹, and
which by the ordinary lever or pusher disengages the self acting spring.
hand stopping lever of the loom, all so as to stop the loom much as usual.
But having two new levers b, b, (or equivalent arms or catches) secured
one on each end of this cross spindle I", of the fork lever I', and preferably
on the inside of each side frame A of the loom, stretching back under each shuttle
box end of the lathe race C", under the rising and falling pin D", which gives or
causes each "pick" when lowered or set in its lowest or acting position opposite the
acting pin or arm D¹ of the vertical picking spindle D, carried on the sword C¹ of
the lathe C, so that, as through the breaking of a thread or absence of the weft
"shot" in the last shuttle reaching its box, the back catch or hook end of the weft
fork lever a falls and takes into the check or catch.on the upper arm c of the bell-
crank acting lever c, c', for the purpose, the motion of which raises the two new
levers b, b, so as to lift the said shifting "picking" pins or plates D₁!, D", out of
action on both sides of the loom at once, so that no further "picking" of the.
shuttle or weft at each back action of the lathe can be thrown through the warp.
or web from either side, until the loom is stopped automatically by the usual'
stopping mechanism as stated; and the weft thread that was broken or run out is
renewed, and the loom started again by the attendant. The same oscillating action
of the spindle I" (carrying the weft fork a, a', on its arm and lever I, I', by a short
lever d, lifts the holding pawl P, or it might be the taking up pawl of the taking up
ratchet wheel P¹ out of action, and thus prevent the taking-up of the web or fabric
while the loom had ceased to "pick" and work in the weft. As soon as the hook
end of the fork a, a', is freed from the catch on the upper end c of the disengaging
bell-crank lever c, c', by the hand of the attendant or the presence and proper
picking of the weft, its spindle I" turns by the gravitation or weight of the levers
b, b, d, which then allow the "picking" pin D" and holding pawl P to resume their
working position for the loom, and weaving to go on again.
An equivalent mechanical action is taken from the spindle I", controlled by the
weft fork as stated, to prevent the jacquard mechanism and pattern cards from
turning during the time the loon thus ceases "picking.". Or otherwise the weaver
could turn back the card barrel, until the proper card was brought into action for
starting the pattern at the "shot" where the picking had been stopped as stated.
A further improvement in these "pick and pick " looms, with double picks from
opposite sides alternately, consists in the addition of the third motion shaft g
driven by the reducing gearing g', g", from the ordinary second motion shaft H,
making only one revolution for two of that shaft, or one for four of the crank
shaft G, and mounting it preferably in bearing brackets low down near the back
stay A of the loom. For the purpose of mounting all the cams on this one shaft
g, connected with the "picking" and .weft fork mechanism, which are usually
mounted on the second motion shaft H, thus getting a nice steady slow motion for
the cams, only requiring to duplicate them, mounted and set on each side of the
doom respectively at right angles, to act in the opposite or intermediate times to
suit the picks from the opposite sides of the loom, enabling those on each side to
be easily set to act in proper sequential time to each other. The one pair f, f, is for
working the levers F¹, which raises and lowers the "picking" pins or plates D", as
shown in side and edge view to a large scale in Figures 5 and 6, for "picking" two
"shots" alternately from either side, each half revolution of the said cam shaft g,
and cams f,.the other half revolution or concentric part fl keeping the picking pins
D!! up out.of.action. on the one side and half revolution, while the cam fon the other
2.

page_text: side, and the weight or gravitation of the parts is keeping its picking plate or pin
D" in acting position alternately and respectively as stated. The second pair of
cams are formed as shown to a large scale in side and edge views in Figures 7 and
8, and set on the shaft g, to correspond and act similarly in proper time to the first
cams f, and actuate the long horizontal or angular arm c' of an improved arrangement
of bell-crank or kneed lever c, c', mounted on a fulcrum stud c" on the frame A, so that
the weft fork a, a, will act as the weft and shuttle are coming home into their boxes B
on that side of the loom. The vertical. arm c of this lever c, c', is bolted to the
other c', near c¹¹, for ease of setting it to catch and pull forwards toward the breast
beam A just after each shuttle reaches its own box on either side of the loom.
While the third pair of cams i, i, on this shaft g, shown also in side and edge view
in Figures 9 and 10, are for actuating the back ends or arms of two long hori-
zontal beam levers i¹, i¹¹, mounted on a fulcrum centre at F, low down, which
raises the front end or arms i¹ and two new or improved vertical sliding or guiding
wires j, j', in front of the breast beam A¹, one behind the lathe race and reed C", C²,
with eyes in them at top, attached to a cord j" stretched between them over the
lathe at each side, under the weft thread of the upper shuttle, or it might be
only attached to the front end of two cords stretching back over the race or
through the reed and attached at the back end to a fixed point or front leese rod
behind the lathe (all instead of the horizontal stationary wires heretofore used),
and so as to raise or depress the weft thread or slots of the idle or first shuttles or
shuttles thrown high up or down against or below the race C₁ out of the way of
the proper working of the weft fork a, a', in front of the weft slot then being
thrown or "shot." Although these several cams f, h, and i, (for working
the picking" mechanism weft fork loom stopping and new or improved
picking machines and idle weft raising wires or cords) have been described as
preferably mounted on a new third motion shaft g for giving a slow steady motion
to their respective levers and other members, and ease of setting] these for sequen-
tial action it is to be understood that any of them when desired might be mounted
on the usual second motion shaft H, or even the crank shaft G, or on stud centres
or axes, and worked specially from either of these shafts G or H, and the shape of
the cams or levers which they actuate would be modified accordingly, as is well
understood by loom mechanics. And further that the new or improved
mechanism b, c, c¹, worked by the weft forks a, a', for stopping further "picking
or shuttling when the weft is absent on either side of the loom might be con-
siderably modified from that shown and described in accordance with the improve-
ments and object of our Invention to suit the different constructions of looms with
different "picking" mechanical motions than that herein described and shown, and
in use for weaving various pattern fabrics. And for those therefore with three,
four, or more shuttles, with lifting and dropping or revolving shuttle boxes on one
or both sides of the loom extra levers i¹¹¹, and wires j, j¹, with their cords j¹¹
would be required for the extra threads of wefts used. Thus Figures 11, 12, and
13, 14, represent a modification or mode and means of applying our improvements
to three ordinary constructions of power looms in use with different arrangements of
picking" mechanism. And referring to the application of these our improvements
to the loom shown in Figures 11 and 12 with the ordinary under pin "picking
motion taken from the duplex pin, cam, or tappet D", D", on each end of the second
motion shaft H, through the usual horizontal intermediate pin "picking'
spindle D, in this case carried in bearing blocks on the lower cross rails of the
frames A, A¹¹, so as to revolve and slide on end.
«
"
11
"
"
The "picking" action is stopped (in accordance with this Invention as described
from the absence of weft) by making the improved weft fork spindle and lever
mechanism a, a', I¹¹, C, by the lever b, shift the said spindle D endwise in its bearings
sufficient to take its acting "picking" pin D¹ out of the path of its striking or
actuating revolving cam pins D" by the action of a connecting clutch or fork lever b,
and collar b¹, or other equivalent on the cross spindle. D. Or, as an alternative, the
lever b of the new arrangement of weft fork mechanism might shift the pin or boss D¹

page_text: "
or arm carrying it on its spindle D'similarly out of the path of the cam "picking"
tappets D, D; mounted on both sides of the loom so as to stop all "picking" or
throwing of the shuttle or weft after any one of the weft threads breaks or runs out.
For applying the Invention to an ordinary cam and cone "pick" loom, as shown
in Figures 13 and 14, having intermediate vertical spindles D, one at each side of
the loom, with the picking arm S.fixed to the upper end of two couplings J, J¹,
at the top of the spindle D and stretching forward to the front so as to oscillate and
'pick" horizontally in front over the shuttle box frame C³. The top part J of the
couplings J, J¹, to which the "picking" arms S is secured would in this case be
mounted loose on the top of its vertical "picking" shaft or spindle D, and the
lower clutch J would be made to turn with the spindle by: an internal sliding
pronged boss or an equivalent feather and groove so as to slide up and down on the
spindle D below, and into or out of gear with the top clutch J, both clutches being
preferably made with deeper and stronger catch teeth than is usual to stand this
frequent engaging and disengaging action by the raising and lowering of the lower
clutch J which would be effected by a collar groove b' on the eye of the lower
shifting clutch J' oscillated out of gear by a fork lever 6" actuated as in the former
inodification by the lever band a connecting rod ba from the spindle I¹¹ of the new
or improved weft fork shifting mechanism for this purpose, and which would
instantly stop all further "picking" after a weft thread breaks or runs out and so
prevent all further weaving until the loom was stopped by its stopping lever and
the weft rejoined or added and the loom started again. In both of these arrange-
ments, shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13, 14, in which gravitation does not act to
take the "picking" mechanism into action after being let go by the disengaging
of the weft fork a, a¹, and moving bell-crank c, c¹, b, a spring b³, or other equivalent
could be made to do this and maintain the "picking" pin of the horizontal
picking" shaft D of the under "pick" arrangement always in proper working
gear, and also the said lower clutch J, 63, of the vertical "picking" spindle D of the
top "pick" arrangement except when disengaged by the action of the weft fork
and the disengaged bell-crank lever c, c', and the new connection or lever 61, 61, 62,
with the spindle mechanism 1¹¹, b, b. Then for making the improved weft fork
pick" stopping mechanism; also stop the jacquard mechanism, the actuating hook
or gab lever of the pattern card barrel is lifted out of action by a light lifting or
sliding rod, or studs, or arms through rods or wires with bell-cranks or other equi-
valent connecting mechanism led up above the loom from a special lever, as b or d,
on the spindle I of the weft fork disengaging mechanism, which would thus stop
the motion of the pattern cards simultaneously with the "picking" motion the
moment a weft thread broke or ran out in the shuttle.
"
«
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the mode and
means by which it is or may be performed or carried into effect or practice, we
would observe that we do not confine ourselves to the precise form or construction
of the details herein described or shown, as many variations may be made therefrom
without departing from the main or essential features of the Invention, but what
we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination or arrangement and adaptation of new or improved
mechanism indicated by the italic reference letters connected with the weft fork
motion in power looms, with double or compound shuttle boxes for weaving fancy
or figured fabrics, for stopping the "picking" action or mechanism, and the taking
up ratchet mechanism, or the pattern card mechanism, all as and for the purposes
herein described, and distinguished as applied to different classes of looms, with
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second. The instantaneous stopping of all "picking" or throwing of the shuttle
and weft, and the taking up of the fabric or the pattern cards in fancy and
figured weaving power looms after any one weft thread breaks or runs out by the

page_text: weft fork action or mechanism for and in addition to only stopping the loom as.
heretofore, and all substantially as and by our new or improved connection or
mechanism applied thereto, for the said purposes or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Collins and John Brownlee, have here-
unto set our hands and, seals, this Fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JOHN COLLINS.
(L.S.)
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN BROWNLEE. (L.S.)