Improvements in the Art of and Apparatus for Weaving Selvages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Art of and Apparatus for Weaving Selvages.
We GEORGE BROWNING, Mechanical Engineer, WILLIAM ALFRED JOHNSON,
Broker, and HARRY FRANCIS MAYDWELL, Broker, all of Hinsdale, in the
County of Du Page, and State of Illinois, United States of America, with place
of business at Room 66, Board of Trade Building, Chicago, Illinois, 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:-
The present invention relates more particularly to that branch of the weaving
art, in which the loom is adapted to weave two or more widths of cloth, at one and
the same operation, and in which the inner selvages are formed at the same time or
coincident with the progress of the weaving operation.
The objects of the present improvements being :
I. To provide a simple and efficient method of forming selvages upon woven
fabrics by the introduction of a separate thread, to tie or lock the warp and weft
threads together and form a selvage at the edge of the cloth, and which separate
or independent thread is formed into a series of succeeding locps, each of which is
successively formed within the succeeding, or alternately succeeding, sheds of the
warp and in front of the weft threads, so that as the reed beats up, such loop will
be beaten into the cloth along with the weft thread.
II. To provide a simple, durable and efficient mechanism for introducing such
separate or independent thread, and forming the same into a successive series of
loops within the sheds of the warp, so that such loops will be in position, to be
successively beaten into place, at the same time that the weft threads are beaten
into the cloth by the reed.
III. To provide in connection with the above mentioned selvage forming
mechanism, an automatically operating shears for cutting away the weft threads
between the separate widths of cloth that are being woven on the loom.
IV. To provide in connection with the before mentioned selvage forming
mechanism, an automatically operating auxiliary mechanism, for holding the
selvage forming mechanism in a dormant condition, during alternate movements of
the loom parts, so that the selvage forming loops of the present invention will only
be formed in the alternately succeeding sheds of the warp threads.
I attain such objects by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in
the accompanying drawings, in which :
Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the present improved selvage
forming mechanism, the parts being shown in a partly advanced position previous
to casting the initial loop.
Figure 2, a side elevation of the forward portion of such mechanism, the parts
being shown in a fully advanced position, and illustrating both the loop forming
needles within the shed, and at the end of their forward stroke.
Figure 3, a detail bottom plan, illustrating the shearing mechanism, of the
present invention.
Figure 4, a top plan of the mechanism in the position illustrated and described
in connection with Figure 1.
Figure 5, a horizontal section at line X-X, Figure 2, with the parts shown in
their fully retracted position, after having formed the loops, and retreated out of
the way of the reed.

page_text: Figure 6, an end elevation of the forward portion of the mechanism, illustrating
the loop forming needles in the position described in connection with Figures 1, 4 or 5.
Figures 7, 8 and 9, enlarged diagramatic views illustrating the loop forming
needles, in their various positions, during the operation of forming the selvage
loops of the present invention.
Figure 10, an enlarged diagram of a piece of cloth formed with the present
improved selvage.
Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts, in the several views.
In the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, as illustrative of the
present improvement in the art of weaving selvages, a dual arrangement of the loop
forming needles are employed, so as to form selvages on the two inner and adjacent
edges of the cloth, as it is woven in two widths. It is within the province of this
part of the present invention to use two or more of such apparatus or mechanism,
so as to enable the weaving of three or more widths, at one and the same time; as
well as to construct such apparatus with but a single loop forming mechanisın, so
as to form the selvage upon the outer edge of the cloth.
Referring to the drawings 1, represents the supporting frame or base of the
present selvage forming mechanism, which is attached in a stationary manner to a
suitable stationary portion of the loom, usually to the breast beam 2, by means of
a thin webbed bracket 3, as illustrated in Figure 1.
4, is the head portion of the movable supporting frame of the loop forming
mechanism, adapted to slide or reciprocate longitudinally in suitable guides upon
stationary frame or base 1. In the construction shown, the head 4, is provided
with a horizontal guide bar or rod 5, that slides in guide lugs or brackets 6, on the
fixed base or frame 1.
7, are the cop carrying spindles arranged at each side of the center of the
mechanism, upon a cross bar 8, attached to the rear end of the guide bar or rod 5.
9, are the thread tension disks of any usual and suitable construction arranged
at each side of the center of the mechanism, and in the path of the threads passing
from the cops to the loop forming needles, so as to engage therewith and keep the
same under tension.
The tension disks 9, will usually be carried on the cross frame 10, which is
adjustably secured to the horizontal guide bar or rod 5, of the movable carrying
frame, and which on its under side is provided with laterally arranged and adjustable
bearing projections 11, that ride upon the top surface of the main stationary base 1,
to prevent any tendency to a tilting sideways of the movable carrying frame and its
different attachments.
By the adjustment of this cross frame 10, upon the rod or bar 5, the amount of
longitudinal movement of the carrying frame is regulated to suit varying angles of
the shed of the warp threads, or other similar contingencies that may arise in
weaving different classes of goods.
12, are laterally extending guide slides secured to the centrally arranged head 4,
of the movable carrying frame, and projecting laterally therefrom in opposite
directions to afford a support for the laterally moving carriages of the loop forming
needles.
Each of such carriages will consist of a sliding head 13, moving on the slides 12;
springs 14, secured to such laterally sliding heads 13, and to the central head 4,
the tendency of which springs is to draw said heads 13, towards each other;
laterally adjustable slides 15, made adjustable on the heads 13, by means of
suitable guides and adjusting screws 16; and vertically adjustable needle carrying
brackets 17, attached in a vertically sliding manner to the laterally adjustable
slides 15, by means of suitable guides and adjusting screws 18.
The above described adjustable nature of the needle carriages, admit of a wide
range of adjustment of the loop forming needles, so as to meet with the varying
requirements that may arise in practical use.
19 and 20, are a pair of counterpart loop forming needles or fingers, secured
respectively to the pair of counterpart brackets 17, and which needles in the

page_text: present invention are of a downwardly curved formation, with their points or eyes
projecting towards each other as shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Each needle is provided at its front edge with a groove 21, to receive and
protect the thread; which groove, extends from the shank eye 22 to the point
eye 23 of the needle as shown.
24, are upwardly projecting posts on the sliding heads 13, of the right and left
hand needle carriages, preferably in the form of a friction rolls, as shown, and
which are adapted to be engaged by a suitable operating cam, during the operation
of the mechanism, as hereafter more fully described.
25, is a transversely extending gauge or cloth positioning plate, attached to the
centrally arranged head 4, of the carrying frame, and adapted to press upon the
cloth, so as to maintain the same, as well as the sheds of the warp threads in proper
position with relation to the loop forming needles.
26, is the operating cam plate or bracket of the present mechanism, secured to
the cap 27 of the reed 28 of the loom. Such cam is formed with inclined operating
edges or faces 29 and 30, and straight holling edges 31 and 32, which in the present
construction is arranged as follows: the incline of the one face or edge arranged
opposite to the straight or holding face of the other side, and vice versa; the
arrangement being such that one of the laterally moving loop forming needles will
have first fully entered the shed of the warp threads to cast a loop, before the other
needle begins to enter such shed to cast or form its loop.
33, is a shoulder near the point of the cam, which initially abuts against one of
the posts 24, and acts to move the sliding carrying frame back against its stops 36,
before beginning to operate the needle carriages.
34, is a spring dog on the cam plate 26, that is adapted to engage back of the
top edge of the head 4, of the main carrying frame, so that in the movement of
the cam away from the mechanism, the present mechanism will be carried forward
until its stop frame 10, comes against the forward guide bracket 6 on the main
stationary frame 1.
35, are lateral projections on the cam plate 26, that are adapted to engage
against the projecting posts 24, of the needle carriages, so as to force said needle
carriages, etc. backwards, in order that the loop forming needles, etc. will not be in
the way of the reed in beating the weft thread, and the selvage loops of the present
invention, into the cloth.
36, are adjustable stop screws, projecting forward from the main stationary
frame 1, and which in the present construction has a two fold function, to wit: to
initially stop the backward movement of the sliding frame needle carriages, etc.
until the needle carriages, have been moved laterally apart; and then to allow the
full backward movement of such needle carriages, etc.
The shearing mechanism of the present invention consists of a pair of stationary
blades 37, secured in a laterally adjustable manner to the stationary base 1, of the
mechanism, by means of a slide 38, and adjusting and holding screws 39 and 40;
and a movable spring blade 41, arranged between the two stationary blades, with
its shank projecting up into the path of the movable carrying frame, preferably
the cross head or frame 10, so as to be operated at each backward movement of
the loop forming mechanism.
The cutting edges of the shears will be arranged on a plane with the cloth, and
as so arranged will nip out the exposed portions of the weft threads, that extend
from width to width of the cloth that is being woven.
The mechanism so far described is adapted to form selvage loops from the
separate threads employed in the present invention, for insertion along with each
individual weft thread. Where from reasons, such for instance, as the requirement
of a separate selvage thread of some bulk, or where a very close pick of cloth is
desired, it is necessary to alternate such selvage loops; to this end I have arranged
in connection with the loop forming mechanism heretofore described, an auxiliary
automatic mechanism for rendering the action of such loop forming mechanism,

page_text: dormant, during two strokes of the reed, then active during two succeeding strokes
of the reed, and so on during the continued operation of the loom.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 1, of the drawings, 42 is a two pointed
cam, turning in bearings on the fixed frame 1, its carrying shaft being provided
with an eight tooth ratchet wheel 43.
44, is a pawl on the reed cap for operating the ratchet wheel 43.
45, is a forwardly projecting finger on the carrying frame of the needle carriages,
that is adapted to bear against the surface of the cam 42, preferably by means of
a friction roller, as shown.
The construction is such that it will require two strokes of the reed cap 27, to
move the raised part of the cam 42, away from the projecting finger 45, so that the
same will be allowed to play towards the sunken part of the said cam; and in like
manner it will require two strokes of the reed cap to move the sunken part of the
cam away from the finger 45, and bring the other raised portion of the cam in
contact with such finger and so on continuously.
With the above construction the loop forming mechanism is active, while the
finger 45, is in line with the sunken part of the can, and dormant while said finger
is in line with the raised part of the cam; in which dormant condition it is held
at its backward position, and the needle carriages held apart by resting against
the sides of the stops 36.
While in the drawings, the loop forming mechanism is shown attached to the
breast beam, of the loom, it is within the province of the present invention to
support the same in any other usual manner, such for instance as an auxiliary
transverse beam, arranged in a fixed position immediately above the breast beam,
so that the cloth will pass between said auxiliary beam and the regular breast beam.
Such means of support are common in the present type of apparatus, and will be
used, where it is desired to weave inner selvages without cutting the different
widths apart until after the same have been printed or otherwise treated.
The operation of the present selvage weaving mechanism is as follows:
As the reed moves away, after having beat up the last weft thread, the spring
dog 34, on the cam plate 26 of the reed cap, being in engagement with the head 4,
of the carrying frame, acts to draw the same forward until the adjustable stop 10,
comes in contact with the forward guide bracket 6, of the stationary frame, to
prevent further forward movement of the movable frame and the needle
carriages, etc. arranged thereon; at this point the spring dog 34, leaves its
engagement.
With the needle carriages in above described forward position, the loop forming
needles 19 and 20 will rest upon the upper warp threads, in manner indicated in
Figure 7, with the needle 19, depressing the same to a greater degree than the
needle 20, so that such needle 19 will enter the shed first.
With the continued movement of the cam plate 26, away from the present
mechanism, the inclined face 29, thereof permits the needle carriage and with it the
needle 19, to move inwardly in a lateral direction, drawing off enough thread from
the cop and through the tension 9, to form the selvage loop and such needle 19 will
thus enter the shed, as indicated in Figure 8. During such movement of the
needle 19, the needle 20, is held at its outer or dormant position by the straight
holding surface of the cam 26, bearing against the post of the needle carriage.
With the needle 19, at its full stroke within the shed as shown on Figure 8, the
upper warp threads are allowed to return to their normal position, as indicated in
said Figure 8, so that the needle 20, will be capable of entering the shed in the
further operation of the mechanism.
With a further movement of the cam plate 26, away from the present mechanism,
the inclined face 30, thereof permits the needle carriage, and with it the needle 20,
to move inwardly in a lateral direction, drawing off enough thread from the cop,
and through the tension 9, to form the selvage loop, and such needle 20, will thus
enter the shed, as indicated in Figure 9.

page_text: The loop forming mechanism now lies dormant during the interval that the weit.
thread is being placed in the shed by the shuttle, after which the reed returus
bringing the operating cam plate 26. into an operative position; during such.
movement of the reed, the shed is heing shut by the loom healds.
The cam plate 26, by means of its shoulder 33, on its point, now pushes back the
needle carriage etc. against the stops 36, and brings the loop forming needles 19.
and 20 nearer to the apex of the shed.
With a continued movement of the cam plate 26, towards the present mechanism,.
the inclined face 30, thereof presses the needle carriage of the needle 20, laterally
outwards, to bring the needle 20 out of the shed, and leaving the selvage-
forming loop 46, of the independent thread 47 within the shed, as illustrated in
Figure 10.
With a further movenient of the cam plate 26, towards the present mechanism,.
the inclined face 29, thereof presses the needle carriage of the needle 19, laterally
outwards, to bring the needle 19 out of the shed, and leaving the selvage forming.
The loom
loop, within the shed in manner similar to that above described.
healds have now fully crossed over to form the succeeding shed, and confine the
selvage loops of the present invention, and the weft thread within the previous
shed.
The outer lateral movement of the needle carriages just described, brings the
same clear of the stops 36, so that with a further movement of the reed towards
the present mechanism, the lateral projections 35, on the cam plate 26, engages
against the posts 24 of the needle carriages to push the same fully back, and out of
the way of the reed, while the same is beating up the weft thread and the selvage
loops that have just been formed.
With the engagement of the lateral projections 35, with the posts 24, the spring
dog 34, re-engages with the head 4 of the main carrying frame, so that the
mechanism will be ready for the next cycle of operations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The herein described improvement in the art of weaving selvages, the same.
consisting in introducing a separate thread, in the form of succeeding loops, into
the sheds along with the weft threads, and beating the same into the cloth by
means of a reed, substantially as set forth.
2. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a.
needle carriage having a compound lateral and longitudinal reciprocation, a loop.
forming needle attached to such carriage, and carrying a separate thread, and.
means for imparting the compound movements to said carriage, substantially as set.
forth.
:
3. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a pair
of needle carriages having a compound lateral and longitudinal reciprocation, a
pair of loop forming needles, attached to said carriages, one of which needles is set.
in advance of the other, and means for imparting the compound movements to said
carriages, substantially as set forth.
4. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a pair-
of needle carriages having a compound lateral and longitudinal reciprocation, a pair-
of loop forming needles attached to said carriages, one of which needles is set in.
advance of the other, means for imparting the compound movement to the carriages,
and a centrally arranged shears, actuated by the movement of said carriages, to.
nip the weft threads, substantially as set forth.
5. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a pair
of needle carriages having a compound lateral and longitudinal reciprocation, a pair
of loop forming needles attached to said carriages, one of the needles being set in
advance of the other, means for imparting the compound movements to the carriages,
and a cam having an intermittent movement, and adapted to engage and hold the

page_text: needle carriages in a dormant condition at regular intervals, substantially as set
forth.
6. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a
stationary supporting frame, a longitudinally moving carrying frame, a pair of
laterally moving needle carriages mounted thereon, stops 36, on the main frame, a
pair of loop forming needles upon said carriages, and a cam plate 26 on the reed
cap for operating the mechanism, substantially as set forth.
7. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a
stationary supporting frame, a longitudinally moving carrying frame, a pair of
laterally moving needle carriages, mounted thereon, each consisting of a sliding
head 13, laterally adjustable slide 15, and vertically adjustable brackets 17, a pair
of loop forming needles secured to said brackets, stops 36, on the main frame, and
a cam plate 26 on the reed cap for operating the mechanism, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a
stationary supporting frame, a longitudinally moving carrying frame, a pair of
laterally moving needle carriages mounted thereon, stops 36, on the main frame, a
pair of loop forming needles upon said carriages, each needle being of a downwardly
curved formation and provided with eyes 22 and 23, and a thread protecting
groove 21 at front, and a cam plate 26, on the reed cap for operating the
mechanism, substantially as set forth.
9. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a
stationary supporting frame, a longitudinally moving carrying frame, a pair of
laterally moving needle carriages mounted thereon, stops 36 on the main frame, a
pair of loop forming needles upon said carriages, and a cam plate 26 on the reed
cap for operating the mechanism, the same being formed, with a pair of lateral
lugs 35, substantially as set forth.
10. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a
stationary supporting frame, a longitudinally moving carrying frame, and adjustable
stop 10, on said frame, a pair of laterally moving needle carriages mounted on said
frame, stops 36, on the main frame, a pair of loop forming needles upon said
carriages, a cam plate 26 on the reed for operating the mechanism, and a spring
dog 34 attached to the cam, substantially as set forth.
11. In a loop forming mechanism for weaving selvages, the combination of a
needle carriage having a compound lateral and longitudinal reciprocation, a loop
forming needle attached to such carriage and carrying a separate thread, a cloth
positioning plate 25, and means for imparting the compound movements to said
carriage, substantially as set forth.
12. As an improved article of manufacture, a width of cloth having a selvage
formed by a separate thread, in the form of a series of loops, woven into the cloth
along with the weft threads, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of Annil 1000
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for Applicants.