IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Orlando Tucker, of Hartford, Connecticut
United States, but at present residing in Huddersfield, in the County-of
York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Orlando Tucker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November
1880.
FREDERICK ORLANDO TUCKER, of Hartford, Connecticut, United States, but at
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
present residing in Huddersfield, in the County of York.
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This Invention relates to looms for weaving woollen or other textile fabrics, but
is especially applicable to looms having change shuttle boxes, and the object of the
Invention is to ascertain by self acting mechanism when the weft is absent, and
thereby stop the loom and prevent weaving faulty pieces. The improvements
consist in combining with the slay board or "going part" of the loom needles or
fingers connected at one end to a boss fixed upon a small horizontal shaft operated
by a crank or cam from an upright rod, such upright rod being operated by a cord
attached to a spring fixed to the breast beam, which at each movement thereof
causes the said needles to lift up into a vertical position rising through the warp.
At right to the upright rod is a horizontal finger or dagger also connected
by a cord to a spring connected to the breast beam, and to this lever is attached a
latch held in position by a pin. The pin is operated or moved in and out by
means of another lever actuated by a fixed projection on the upright rod.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the weft is present and resting
upon the slay board the needles (or weft fork) fall and rests upon the weft until
the weft is moved from under the needles by the traverse of the slay board, when
the weft fork falls into a groove cut in the slay board, and the horizontal finger or
dagger is lowered thereby so that its point passes under the knocking off apparatus
and the loom proceeds. If, however, the weft is absent, the weft fork immediately
drops into the groove cut in the slay board and the pin is moved or slided in a
hole formed in the latch, by which means the horizontal lever or dagger is held up
high enough, so that the next beat up of the slay board the knocking off apparatus
is actuated and the loom is stopped.
Instead of using the latch and pin the dagger may be connected to the upright
rod, and the upright rod actuated by a bell crank lever from a cord attached to
springs previously referred to.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Orlando Tucker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th May 1881.
FREDERICK ORLANDO TUCKER, of Hartford, Connecticut, United States, but at
present residing in Huddersfield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This Invention relates to looms for weaving woollen or other textile fabrics, but
it is especially applicable to looms having change shuttle boxes, and the object of
the Invention is to ascertain by self acting mechanism when the weft is absent,
and thereby stop the loom and prevent weaving faulty pieces. The improvements
consist in combining with the slay board or "going part" of the loom ncedles or
fingers connected at one end to a boss fixed upon a small horizontal shaft operated
by a crank or cam from an upright rod, such upright rod being operated by a cord
attached to a spring or weight fixed or attached to the breast beam, which at each
movement of the slay board causes the said needles to lift up into a vertical
position rising through the warp. At right angles to the upright rod is a
horizontal finger or dagger, also connected by a cord to a spring or weight
connected to the breast beam, such dagger being prevented from dropping when
required by means of a horizontal pin sliding in and out of a hole formed in the
said dagger.
The horizontal pin is operated or moved in and out by means of another lever
actuated by a fixed projection on the upright rod.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the weft is present and resting upon the slay board the needles (or weft
fork) falls and rests upon the weft until the weft is moved from under the needles
by the traverse of the slay board, when the weft fork falls into a groove cut in
the slay board, and the horizontal finger or dagger is lowered thereby so that its
point passes under the knocking off apparatus and the loom proceeds.
If, however, the weft is absent, the weft fork immediately drops into the groove
cut in the slay board, and the horizontal pin is moved or slided in the hole
formed in the dogger, by which means it is held up sufficiently high that on the
next beat up of the slay board the knocking off apparatus is actuated and the loom
is stopped.
In order that the Invention may be better understood reference is given to the
accompanying Sheets of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is cross section of so much of a
loom us is necessary to illustrate my improvements; Fig. 2 is plan, and Figs. 3, 4,
and 5 are some of the parts detached. Number 1 is the breast beam, 2 the slay
board, and the reed; 4 are the needles or weft fork attached to the boss 5, keyed
upon the short shaft 6, operated by crank 7 and rod 8. The rod 8 and the weft
fork 4 are held up, as shewn in Figs 1 and 3, by means of the cord or rod 9 passing
around the shaft G, the other end of the cord or rod being connected to a spring 10
attached to the breast beam. Number 11 is the horizontal finger or dagger having
an upright piece 12, which is raised by one end of a bell crank lever 13, also
connected by cord or wire 14 to a spring 15 attached to the breast beam. The
horizontal pin for locking or holding up the dagger is shown at 16, operated or
moved in and out of a hole formed in the dagger by means of the weighted vertical
lever 17, shewn more clearly in Fig. 6, which is a front view of the apparatus, the
weighted lever 17 being tilted by the collar or projection 18 fixed on the vertical
rod 8, and when liberated the pin is withdrawn from the hole in the dagger, and
the weighted lever resumes its normal position by means of the weighted part 19,
assisted by the inclined part 20.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the slayboard has taken its furthest stroke backward and the warp is

page_text: open ready for the shuttle passing between the open shed, the weft fork is in the
upright position, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3, but immediately the shuttle has crossed
the loom and the slay board commences to return or move forward towards the
breast beam the cord 9 is slackened, and it therefore ceases to hold up the rod 8,
which will immediately lower by its own weight, bringing the weft fork with it
into the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the needles or weft fork 4 are lowered
upon the weft 21 (if present), and held up thereby or prevented from lowering
further until the needles have been drawn off the weft by the movement of the
slay and taken past the ends 6 of the needles, so that the needle would drop into
the groove 22 formed in the slay board. The " dwell or interval between the
needles lowering upon the weft, and the time that the ends b drops off the weft,.
the second cord 14 is slackened by the movement of the slay towards the breast
beam, and the dagger 11 is lowered by its own weight before the horizontal pin 16
has been acted upon by the lever 17 and collar 18 on the rod 8, by which incans.
the point of the dagger c is lowered sufficiently far as to pass under the knocking
off lever 24.
"
When the upright rod 8 and needle 4 are lowered into the position shewn in
Fig. 4, and tho weft is absent, the needles would not be held up by the weft, as
previously explained, but they would immediately drop into the groove 22, and the
horizontal pin 16 would be pushed into the hole formed in the dagger by the
downward action of the collar 18 coming into contact with the projection or lip
formed on the lever 17 before the second cord 14 was slackened, and therefore
before the dagger had been allowed to drop, by which means the end c of the said
dagger would come in contact with the knocking off lever 24 (shewn more clearly
in front view, Fig. 7), forcing it inwards against the inclined end of the rod 25,
pushing the rod forward in the direction of the arrow, thereby operating the
lever 20, and forcing the strap guide 27 out of its holding slot 28, and thereby
changing the strap from the fast to the loose pulley and stopping the loom.
In order that the warp may not be entangled with the fingers 4 nor boss 5 the
fixing 31 is connected by a bridge 32, which effectually prevents the warp getting
lower than the top of the fixing 31. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate modifications of my
improved apparatus for stopping the loom when the weft is absent; in this case
the dagger is connected to the bottom of the rod 8 and hinged upon a fulcrum 29.
The needles are lowered upon the weft, as previously explained, by the cord 9
releasing the bell crank lever 33 (acting underneath a pin on the rod 8), which
allows the rod to fall, and if the weft is present the dagger passes clear of the
knocking-off lever, but if the weft is absent the dagger is brought into contact
with the knocking off lever, and the loom is stopped. Instead of the cord 9 passing
around the shaft 6, or being connected to the bell crank lever 33 for lowering and
raising the rod 8 and dagger 11, a pulley 30 may be employed, the cord 9 being
attached to the rod and dagger, and passing over tho said pulley, as shewn in
details, Figs. 10 and 11. At Fig. 12 I have shown another method of operating
tho dagger; in this case the cord 14 is connected to the underside of the dagger,
and when this construction of apparatus is employed on a fast running loom the
rod 8 is weighted at 34, so as to insure the said rod falling immediately after it is
released.
Although I have shewn on the Drawings three different methods or construction
of knocking off apparatus, it will be evident that various constructions of knocking
off apparatus may be employed and attached to the breast beam. I therefore lay
no claim to the methods shewn and described, nor do I confine myself thereto, my
Invention being in the apparatus for actuating the knocking off lever; and having
fully shewn and described the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the exact details herein illustrated, as some of them may be varied
without departing from their peculiar character, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The method of raising the weft fork 4 by means of the cord, tape, or
chain 9, substantially as herein shewn and described.

page_text: Secondly. The apparatus for operating the needles or weft fork consisting of
bell crank lever 33, cord, tape, or chain 9, and spring or weight 10 or their
equivalent, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The horizontal pin 16, operated by lever 17 from the rod 8, employed
for locking and holding the dagger in position for acting on the knocking off lever,
substantially as shewn and described.
Fourthly. The employment of apparatus actuated by the falling motion of the
upright rod 8 for locking the dagger, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fifthly. The employment of cords, tapes, rods, or chains 9 and 14 for operating
the apparatus attached to the slay board, whereby the back ward and forward
motions of the slay board arrests and releases the parts, substantially as described.
Sixthly. The employment of apparatus whereby the needles or weft fork are
released and operative prior to the dagger, for the purpose substantially as berein
shewn and described, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6.
Seventhly. The employment of weft fork 4 and dagger 11 connected by rod 8,
as shewn in Figs. 8 and 9, for the purpose substantially as described.
Eighthly. The general combination and arrangement of the parts, substantially
as herein shewn and described, for discovering and automatically stopping the loom
when the weft is absent.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Orlando Tucker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
FREDERICK ORLANDO TUCKER. (L.B.)