Improvements in or relating to Looms.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 22nd Sept.. 1900
ONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or relating to Looms.
I, CHARLES DRATZ, of 58, Rue de Hongrie, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Looms now in use are constructed in such a manner that the warp threads
as well as the fabric have an intermittant movement produced by the action of
the cloth beam or roller which is governed by a regulating apparatus. This
regulator acts by means of a ratchet wheel or pawl movement which takes one
or more teeth at each oscillatory movement of the frame or reed.
It results that the warp threads have alternately a
a period of stoppage, the latter corresponding to the time of the shuttle throw.
period of movement and
Further there is a period of slackness and a period of tension of the threads
produced by the alternate opening and closing movement of the shed. These
periods of arrest and of movement combined with the movement of slackness
and of excess of tension to which the warp threads are submitted are the
principal causes of the breakage of these threads; they are equally the cause
of irregularity of movement of these threads or rather of irregularity of move-
ment of some with regard to others. That is to say during the advancement of
the whole of the warp threads these threads do not keep perfectly in line. These
defects are prejudicial to weaving designs of all kinds in general and more
especially to those where the design printed on the warp threads at the moment
of their unwinding from the warp beam is intended to preserve exactly in the
same form up to the moment of weaving.
I have therefore endeavoured to suppress the shocks produced by the alternative
stoppages and movements above described.
In order that the design produced on the threads is not deformed during their
passage between the warp beam and the fabric it is necessary to obviate these
liverse operations by replacing the regulator with intermittent movement by a
simple sliding movement (continuously acting) of the entire body of warp
hreads, such for instance, as would be the continuous and regular movement
f a sheet of paper being unrolled from one cylinder on to another.
Also it is necessary to establish a compensating tension preventing the threads
rom stretching during the closing of the shed.
These two conditions, as well as others relative to the proper production of
be design on the fabric are realised by the improvements described hereinafter
hich has the special purpose of practically realising the imprinting of the warp
reads in course of weaving.
For the better understanding of my invention I will first describe the principal
atures and an example of their realisation.
The loom here described and chosen as an example is for the manufacture of
pps.
It has in consequence two shuttle boxes on each side allowing the u
D
077

page_text: throw of a coarse and a fine weft. It has also two warp beams one for the
lower warp (very fine) the other for the upper warp which is to be imprinted
in course of weaving.
Independently of the special arrangement hereafter described intended for the
impression of the warp threads in course of weaving, the improved loom, in
view of the industrial wants above mentioned has the following features.
1. The movement of the fabric is operated by an endless screw
or other
equivalent means which causes the fabric to advance in a continuous fashion
without stoppages or shocks.
2. The gradual raising of the threads behind the reed the raising being done
by a cam, or other equivalent organ, of which the curve is so calculated that
the threads have always an equal tension whatever be the degree of opening of
the shed.
3. The employment of two guide rollers placed behind the reed and con-
stituting an invariable fixed line for the separation of the threads.
This last arrangement allows the healds to move invariably in a vertical plane
situated at equal distances between the two fixed points which constitute the
opposite apices of the two angles of opening of the shed and are formed the one
by the last weft of material and the other by the meeting line of the threads
between the guide rollers.
For the purpose or giving an impression on the warp threads in course of
weaving the warp beam is inserted in a tank containing the mordant; at the
outlet of this bath the wet threads pass over a felt roller where the moisture is
somewhat removed and are directed towards a copper roller which they envelop
almost entirely. This roller is for drying the threads, and is warmed by means
of steam. Two other rollers then lead the threads to the loom proper an inter-
mediary roller causing the threads to have contact with these rollers in order
that they all advance uniformly.
The impression is made between the felt roller and the copper roller.
An impression roller carrying solid colouring matter is placed above the threads
in such a manner that it can be easily removed and replaced by another when
it is desired to modify the design without interrupting the action. This roller
is not in permanent contact with the threads.
The threads are brought in contact with the colour roller by a smaller roller
which is raised and lowered alternately at each stroke of the loom in such a
manner as to form by the impression a number of transversal lines. The number
of raisings of this roller is regulated according to the number of shoots of weft
in such a manner that there is no break of continuity of the lines. For this
purpose the movements of the small roller are governed by an eccentric con-
nected with the shaft of the machine, which connection is such that the number
of movements per unit of time of the small roller can be regulated.
The rod of the excentric can be regulated in length so that the small roller
can act with greater or less pressure on the colour roller. To prevent too hard
a pressure a spring is arranged in the excentric rod. After passing over the above
mentioned rollers the imprinted threads are lead between two guide rollers where
they meet those of the lower warp but before reaching their guide rollers the
threads pass on a roller or bar which is for the purpose of raising them pro-
portionately to the movement of the healds in such a manner that when the
healds arrive at the middle of their course the roller or bar reaches its greatest
height. This movement of this roller or bar is regulated by a cam in such a
manner that whatever be the movement of the healds the threads will preserve
a continuously uniform tension. Suitable gear regulates the movement of this
cam, so that the same makes a revolution for each throw of the shuttle. These
arrangements are indispensable to the regular and uniform movement of each
of the threads, of which the least displacement would be harmful to the design.
The drying roller and the cloth beam are actuated by endless screws and suitable
transmission gearing. Their speed is proportional and regulated for each of

page_text: separately within limits which depend on the limits of. thickness of fabric
to be woven.
The drying roller carries a pulley allowing the actuation by the held of a belt,
of the printing roller and also if necessary the guide roller.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1899
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Looms.
0 I, CHARLES DRATZ, of 58, Rue de Hongrie, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Manufacturer, 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:-
Looms now in use are constructed in such a manner that the warp threads
as well as the fabric have an intermittent movement produced by the action of
the cloth beam or roller which
regulator acts by means of a ratchet wheel or pawl movement which takes one
governed by a regulating apparatus. This
or more teeth at each oscillatory movement of the frame or reed.
It results that the warp threads have alternately a period of movement and
a period of stoppage, the latter corresponding to the time of the shuttle throw.
Further there is a period of slackness and a period of tension of the threads
produced by the alternate opening and closing movement of the shed. These
periods of arrest and of movement combined with the movement of slackness
and of excess of tension to which the warp threads are submitted are the
principal causes of the breakage of these threads: they are equally the cause
of irregularity of movement of these threads or rather of irregularity of move-
ment of some with regard to others. That is to say during the advancement of
the whole of the warp threads these threads do not keep perfectly in line. These
defects are prejudicial to weaving designs of all kinds in general and more
especially to those where the design printed on the warp threads at the moment
of their unwinding from the warp bean is intended to be preserved exactly in the
same form up to the moment of weaving.
I have therefore endeavoured to suppress the shocks produced by the alternative
stoppages and movements above described.
In order that the design produced on the threads is not deformed during their
passage between the warp beam and the fabric it is necessary to obviate these
diverse operations by replacing the regulator with intermittent movement by a
simple sliding movement (continuously acting) of the entire body of warp
threads, such for instance as would be the continuous and regular movement
of a sheet of paper being unrolled from one cylinder on to another.
Also it is necessary to establish a compensating tension preventing the threads
rom stretching during the formation of the shed.
These two conditions as well as others relative to the proper production of
he design on the fabric are realized by the improvements described hereinafter
hich have the special purpose of practically realising the imprinting of the warp
reads in course of weaving.
For the better understanding of my invention I will first describe the principal
eatures and an example of their realization.
The loom here described and chosen as an example is for the manufacture of
ps.

page_text: It has in consequence two shuttle boxes on each side allowing the alternate
throw of a coarse and a fine weft. It has also two warp beams one for the
lower warp (very fine) the other for the upper warp which is to be imprinted
in course of weaving.
Independently of the special arrangement hereinafter described intended for the
impression of the warp threads in course of weaving, the improved loom in
view of the industrial wants above mentioned has the following features.
1. The movement of the fabric is operated by an endless screw or other
equivalent means which causes the fabric to advance in a continuous fashion
without stoppages or shocks.
2. The gradual raising of the threads behind the reed the raising being done
by a cam or other equivalent organ of which the curve is so calculated that
the threads have always an equal tension whatever be the degree of opening
the shed.
3. The employment of two guide rollers placed behind the reed and con-
stituting an invariable fixed line for the separation of the threads.
This last arrangement allows the healds to move invariably in a vertical plane
situated at equal distances between the two fixed points which constitute the
opposite apices of the two angles of opening of the shed and are formed the one
by the last weft of material and the other by the meeting line of the threads
between the guide rollers.
The annexed drawing shows a side elevation of the improved loom.
.
For the purpose of giving an impression on the warp threads in course of
weaving the warp beam A is inserted in a tank containing the mordant: at the
outlet of this bath the wet threads pass over a felt roller B where the moisture
is somewhat removed and are directed towards a copper roller C which they
envelop almost entirely. This roller C is for drying the threads and is warmed
by means of steam. Two other rollers D) D¹ then lead the threads to the loom
proper, an intermediary roller E causing the threads to have contact with these
rollers in order that they all advance uniformly.
The impression is made between the felt roller B and the copper roller C.
An impression roller F. composed of solid coloring matter is placed above the
threads in such a manner that it can be easily removed and replaced by another
when it is desired to modify the design without interrupting the action. This
roller is not in permanent contact with the threads.
The threads are brought in contact with the color roller F by a smaller roller G
which is raised and lowered alternately at each stroke of the loom in such a
manner as to form by the impression a number of transversal lines. The number
of raisings of this roller is regulated according to the number of shoots of weft
in such a manner that there is no break of continuity of the lines. For this
purpose the movements of the small roller G are governed by an eccentric H
connected with the shaft of the machine which connection is such that the
number of movements per unit of time of the small roller G can be regulated.
The rod of the eccentric is provided with the stirrup k and can be regulated
in length so that the small roller can act with greater or less pressure on the
colour roller. To prevent too hard a pressure a spring L is interposed in the
eccentric rod. After passing under the roller D' the imprinted threads are led
between two guide rollers M M where they meet those of the lower warp from
beam A but before reaching their guide rollers the threads pass tangentially on
a roller or bar N¹ which is for the purpose of raising them proportionately to
the movement of the healds O in such a manner that when the healds arrive at
the middle of their course the roller or bar reaches its greatest height. This
movement of this roller or bar is regulated by a cam P in such a manner that
whatever be the movement of the healds the threads will preserve a continuously
uniform tension. Suitable gear R S regulates the movement of this cam so
that it makes a revolution for each throw of the shuttle. These conditions are
indispensable to the regular and uniform movement of each of the warp threads

page_text: of which the least displacement would be harmful to the design. The drying
roller C and the cloth beam Q are actuated by endless screws T T and suitable
transmission gearing U U¹.
Their speed is proportional and regulated for each of them separately within
limits which depend on the limits of thickness of fabric to be woven.
The drying roller C carries a pulley allowing the actuation, by means of a
belt, of the printing roller F and also if necessary the guide roller M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
-
1. In a loom the arrangement consisting in communicating to two rollers
between which the fabric is produced a continuous rotary movement by means
of an endless screw or by some other similar device.
2. In a loom in which the rollers, between which the fabric is produced have
a continuous rotary motion, a tension compensator characterized by a cam of
suitable contour, alternately lifting and lowering a roller or bar over which the
warp threads pass, in order to neutralize the tensional effect of the movement of
the shed.
3. In connection with the loom in Claims 1 and 2 the method for the purpose
of printing patterns upon the warp threads of a fabric being woven, consisting,
in immersing the warp beam in a mordanting bath, and printing upon the threads
by means of contact with a roller consisting of various solid coloring substances
and drying the threads by means of a steam cylinder placed upon the loom.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1900.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.