for Controlling the Operation of the Picking Arms.
Year: 1886

page_text: for Controlling the Operation of the Picking Arms.
We EDWIN KNOWLES, and JAMES HOUGHTON, both of California Works, Gomersal,
near Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers, do hereby declare the nature
of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATING DROP SHUTTLE BOXES OF
LOOMS AND FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE PICKING ARMS" to be as
follows:-
This invention comprises improved apparatus for operating the rising and
falling shuttle boxes of looms, and improved apparatus for controlling the picking
mechanism so as to suspend or vary the action of the latter according to the pick
required and shuttles to be operated.
The shuttle box motion comprises a main horizontal lever one end carries the box
rod and shuttle boxes, the other end of the lever, a counterbalance weight-
A vertical or pendant lever free to swing on a stud is connected at its lower end by
a stud or hinged joint forming the fulcrum of a horizontal lever, having a fork at its
outer end, and each prong of the fork terminates in a hook, the hooks are for the
purpose of engaging with studs in a tappet plate-The pendant lever is caused by
means of a tappet on the tappet shaft to oscillate or swing after the manner of
a pendulum, so drawing the forked lever to and fro horizontally, the fork lever is
connected by rod with the pattern mechanism whereby the said lever is raised and
lowered thereby to permit one or other of its hooked prongs to engage with one of
the studs on the tappet plate and turn the latter part of a revolution, in one
direction or the other whereon the throw of the tappet acts upon a stud fixed in
shuttle box lever referred to and lifts or depresses the boxes accordingly-To
steady and ease the boxes during their descent there is provided a presser lever
and runner held to the tappet by means of spiral springs.
For controlling the operation of the picking mechanism we employ a boss fast on
the picking shaft having a recess or slot in its periphery above which is a loose boss
forming part of the ordinary clutch box-attached to the loose boss is a bell crank
lever, the lower arm is formed to enter a recess cut in the fast boss, its upper arm
is provided with a radius plate which is clipped by a fork at the end of a second
bell crank lever, the latter lever being operated by connecting rods and slotted cam
plates controlled by pattern mechanism and levers as ordinary, so that according to
the pattern or indicating mechanism so will the levers, cam plate, connecting rods,

page_text: bell crank lever operate the radius bell crank lever and bring the end of its lower
arm into the recess cut in the fast boss and thereby ensuring picking action or
by restraining the lower arm of the bell crank from the recess and so there will be
no pick.
The picking mechanism can also be thrown out of action by means of a hand or
levelling lever for letting back, levelling, or other like purpose.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Town Hall Buildings, Halifax,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Operating Drop Shuttle Boxes of Looms, and
for Controlling the Operation of the Picking Arms.
We, EDWIN KNOWLES and JAMES HOUGHTON, both of California Works Gomersal,
near Leeds, in the County of York, Machine Makers do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OPERATING DROP SHUTTLE BOXES OF
LOOMS, AND FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE PICKING ARMS and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
33
This invention comprises improved apparatus for operating the rising and
falling shuttle boxes of looms, and improved apparatus for controlling the picking
mechanism so as to suspend or vary the action of the latter according to the pick
required and shuttles to be operated.
The shuttle box motion comprises a main horizontal lever, one end carries the
box rod and shuttle boxes, the other end of the lever a counterbalance weight.
A vertical or pendant lever free to swing on a stud is connected at its lower end
by a stud or hinged joint forming the fulcrum of a horizontal lever, having a fork at
its outer end and each prong of the fork terminates in a hook, the hooks are for
the purpose of engaging with studs in a tappet plate The pendant lever is caused
by means of a tappet on the tappet shaft to oscillate or swing after the manner of a
pendulum, so drawing the forked lever to and fro horizontally. The fork lever is
connected by rod with the pattern mechanism whereby the said lever is raised and
lowered thereby to permit one or other of its hooked prongs to engage with one of
the studs on the tappet plate, and turn the latter part of a revolution in one
direction or the other, whereon the throw of the tappet acts upon a stud fixed in
shuttle box lever referred to, and lifts or depresses the boxes accordingley.

page_text: To steady and ease the boxes during their descent there is provided a presser
lever and runner held to the tappet by means of spiral springs.
For controlling the operation of the picking mechanism we employ a boss fast on
the picking shaft having a recess or slot in its periphery, above which is a loose
boss forming part of the ordinary clutch box-attached to the loose boss is a bell
crank lever the lower arm is formed to enter a recess cut in the fast boss, its upper
arm is provided with a radius plate which is clipped by a fork at the end of a
second bell crank lever, the latter lever being operated by connecting rods and
slotted cam plates controlled by pattern mechanism and levers as ordinary, so that
according to the pattern or indicating mechanism so will the levers, cam plate,
connecting rods bell crank lever operate the radius bell crank lever, and bring the
end of its lower arm into the recess cut in the fast boss, and thereby ensuring
picking action or by restraining the lower arm of the bell crank from the recess
and so there will be no pick.
The picking mechanism can also be thrown out of action by means of a hand or
levelling lever for letting back, levelling or other like purpose.
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
forming a part of this specification in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved apparatus for operating drop shuttle
boxes.
Fig. 2 is a back view in elevation of apparatus for controlling the picking arms.
Figs. 3 and 4, 5 and 6 are details of same.
Apparatus constructed according to this our invention for operating the drop
shuttle boxes of looms comprises at each side of the loom a main horizontal lever 1,
one end of which lever carries the box rod 2 and shuttle boxes 3, at the other end
of the lever is a counterbalance weight 4, the stud 5 fast in the frame 5ª of the
loom acting as a fulcrum for the lever 1. A vertical or pendant lever 6 free
to swing on a stud 7 is connected at its lower end by a stud or hinged joint 8,
which forms the fulcrum of a horizontal lever 8ª having a fork 9 at its outer end,
and a counterbalance weight 10 at the opposite ends each prong of the fork 9
terminates in a hook 11.
The hooks are for the purpose of engaging with studs 12. 12, in a tappet plate 13.
The pendant lever 6 is caused by means of a tappet 14 on the tappet shaft 14° to
oscillate or swing after the manner of a pendulum thus moving the lever 8 to and
fro causing the hooks 11 to operate the studs 12. 12, and tappet plate 13, the
forked lever 8 is connected by rods 15 15° to the pattern mechanism whereby the
said lever 8ª balanced by the weight 10 is raised or lowered, and the upper or lower
hook 11 of the fork 9 engages with the upper or lower stud 12, as the case may be
and thus to turn the tappet plate 13 part of a revolution in one direction or the
other, whereon the throw of the tappet plate 13 acting on the stud and runner 16
on the horizontal arm 1 lifts or depresses the shuttle boxes 3.
To steady and ease the boxes during their descent, there is provided a presser
lever 17, and runner 17ª held to the tappet by means of a spiral spring 18 fastened
at one end to the lever 17, at the other to the frame 5 of the loom.
The pendant lever 6, and its runner 6ª are kept in position close to the tappet 14
by means of a spiral spring 19 fastened at one end to the lever 6, and at the other
to the stud 20 on which the presser lever swings.
For controlling the operation of the picking mechanism we employ a boss, (see
Fig. 2 sheet 2) of conical or other shape fast on the picking shaft 2, the said boss 1
has a recess or slot 3 cut in its periphery, above the boss 1 is a loose boss 4 forming
a part of the ordinary clutch box 5; attached to the loose boss 4 is a bell crank
lever 6 the lower arm 7 of the said bell crank lever is formed so as to enter the
recess or slot 3 cut in the boss 1, and its upper arm forms a radius plate 8 which is
clipped by a fork 9 at the end of a second bell crank lever, the latter lever being
operated by connecting rods 10 and slotted cam plates 11, controlled by pattern
mechanism consisting of barrel 11ª plates 11b and knives 11º the said plate 11 and

page_text: parts just described being of well known construction and form no part of this
invention, and it will be understood that the rod 15° extends along the back of the
loom to the other side, and by means of bell crank lever and rod connects the
corresponding rod 15 for operating the box motion at that side of the loom and
which as stated is alike on both sides-that is-similar to the parts illustrated by
Fig. 1.
The picking mechanism can also be thrown out of gear by means of a hand or
levelling lever 12 and arm 12" which lifts the cam plate 11 thereby throwing both
ends of the picking apparatus out of gear and permitting the stud 14 to work up
and down in the slot 13 without lifting or depressing the cam plate 11.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what
we claim is;
Firstly. The combination of parts illustrated on Sheet 1, and constituting the
improved mechanism herein fully described and illustrated, and for purpose set
forth.
Secondly. The combination of parts constituting the improved mechanism for
controlling the picking action and herein fully described and illustrated by
drawings on Sheet 2.
EDWIN KNOWLES.
JAMES HOUGHTON.
By their Agent, Walter Brierley,
Town Hall Buildings, Halifax.
Dated this 10th day of November 1886.
EDWIN KNOWLES.
JAMES HOUGHTON.
By their Agent, Walter Brierley,
Town Hall Buildings, Halifax.