IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph McCabe and John Walker, both of Droylsden, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 16th September 1876, and dated the 15th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph McCabe and John
Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th July 1876.
JOSEPH MCCABE and JOHN WALKER, both of Droylsden, in the County of Lan-
caster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
<:
Our Invention consists, firstly, in improvements in the construction of the
pegged roller" which actuates the hooks for raising the healds, and for which
Letters Patent were granted to Charles Ashworth, bearing date the 23rd March
1860.
Secondly. In a new method of either opening or locking fast as required the
loose reed employed in weaving looped fabrics.
And, Thirdly. In a certain modification of the "taking up motion" whereby the
cloth may be taken up more quickly whenever required by the weaver.
Under the Letters Patent above referred to the roller (which was solid and pro-
vided with a double set of pegs or projections for the purpose of obtaining two
distinct textures of cloth in the same piece) was capable of being moved bodily in a
lateral direction, so that either one or the other set of pegs acted upon the hooks at
the will of the weaver.
We now make the roller hollow with a series of longitudinal slots around its
circumference, and having its axes hollow, also without allowing it any lateral
motion. Through these hollow axes slides a spindle to which are keyed or other-
wise fixed arms carrying segments which fit in the above-mentioned slots and are
capable of sliding longitudinally in the same for the required distance, and as the
pegs or projections are cast or fixed on to the segments it will be evident that the
necessary traverse can be imparted to them by moving the spindle.
By this arrangement all lateral scrape on the bowls or swells against which the
pegs act is avoided. Hitherto for the purpose of working the loose reed a combrous
arrangement of levers and very strong springs has been employed, which arrange-
ment has been very uncertain in its action and has made the looms heavy to work.
Beneath the shuttle race, and carried by the slay, we fix a transverse shaft which
acts as the fulcrum of a series of bell-cranked levers having one arm acting on the
[Price 6d.]

page_text: "loose reed" and the other carrying a bowl, so that when these bowls are raised the
reed is open, but when the former are depressed the latter is locked tight.
As the slay beats up the bowls pass either under or over inclined planes which
raise or depress them as may be required, these inclined planes being carried by a
bar capable of sliding longitudinally, and thus presenting the proper plane for
either raising or depressing the bowls as the pattern to be woven may demand.
The lateral movement may be imparted to this bar by a suitable arrangement of
cams, tappets, or chains, worked from any convenient part of the loom mechanism.
It will be evident that by modifying the shapes of the pieces to act upon the bowls
the bar may either move vertically, oscillate, or rotate, always bringing about the
same results, namely, providing a positive and "metal to metal" motion for open-
ing and locking the "loose reed" as the weaving of the looped fabric may require.
In order to render the loom capable of taking up at a greatly increased speed
when required, we key upon the stud which carries the ratchet wheel of the
"taking up" motion a second ratchet wheel having (say) one-fifth of the number
of teeth, and actuated by a pawl working at the same speed as the one for working
the first-mentioned wheel. When it is thought desirable for any reason for the
loom to take up at an increased speed this auxiliary pawl and ratchet wheel are
put in gear, and immediately take up (say) five times as fast as before. When this
increased speed of taking up is not required the pawl is taken out of gear, and the
weaving proceeds in the ordinary manner. If necessary the yarn beam may be
relieved of the weights by an arrangement of levers worked by the weaver's hand or
foot to enable the yarn to be drawn off more easily and to avoid any undue strain
upon the healds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph McCabe and John Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 12th January 1877.
JOSEPH MCCABE and JOHN WALKER, both of Droylsden, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING.'
"
Our Invention consists, firstly, in improvements in the construction of the
pegged roller" which actuates the books for raising the healds and for which
Letters Patent were granted to Charles Ashworth, bearing date the 23rd day of
March 1860.
Secondly. In a new method of either opening or locking fast as required the
"loose reed" employed in weaving looped fabrics.
And, Thirdly. In a certain modification of the "taking up" motion whereby the
cloth may be taken up more quickly whenever required by the weaver.
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention, we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
we have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan view
showing our improved construction of pegged roller for actuating the tappets a, a,
connected to the hooks for raising the healds.
Under the Letters Patent above referred to the roller (which was solid and pro-
vided with a double set of pegs or projections for the purpose of obtaining two
distinct textures of cloth in the same piece) was capable of being moved bodily in
a lateral direction, so that either one or the other set of pegs acted upon the hooks
at the will of the weaver. We now make the roller b, b, hollow with a series
of longitudinal slots around its circumference, and having its axes c, c, hellow
also without allowing it any lateral motion. Through these hollow axes slides a

page_text: spindle d, d, to which are keyed or otherwise fixed. arms or discs e, e, carrying
segments which fit in the above-mentioned slots, and are capable of sliding longitu-
dinally in the same for the required distance, and as the pegs or projections f, f,
are cast or fixed on to the segments, it will be evident that the necessary traverse can
be imparted to them by moving the spindle d, d. By this arrangement all lateral
scrape on the bowls or swells against which the pegs act is avoided.
:.
Our improved arrangement for working the loose reed is shown at Figs. 3, 4,
and 5. Fig. 3 being a front view; Fig. 4 a plan view, and Fig. 5 a section of this
part of the loom.
Hitherto for the purpose of working the loose reed a combrous arrangement of
levers and very strong springs has been employed, which arrangement has been very
uncertain in its action, and has made the looms heavy to work. Beneath the
shuttle race and carried by the slay we fix a transverse shaft which acts as the
fulcrum of a series of bell-cranked levers i, i, having one arm i acting on the loose
reed, 1, and the other ix carrying a bowl so that when these bowls k,-k, arc
raised the reed 1, L, is opened, but when the former are depressed the latter is
locked tight.
:
As the slay g, g, beats up the bowls pass either under or over inclined planes m, m,
which raise or depress them as may be required; these inclined planes being
carried by a bar n, n, capable of sliding longitudinally and thus presenting the
proper plane for either raising or depressing the bowls as the patterns to be woven
may demand. The lateral movement may be imparted to this bar m, m, by a
suitable arrangement of cams, tappets, or chains or other suitable appliance worked
from any convenicut part of the loom mechanism. In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 it is shown
as actuated by means of a cam o, o, upon a shaft q, q, driven by means of the
worm gearing P, P, and it is held against the cam by the spring 1, 1.
A modification of this movement is shown in front elevation and plan view at
Figs. 6 and 7. In this case the upper end of the lever o, o, takes into a slot in the
end of the bar n, n, the lower end of the said lever being acted upon by the
tappet p, p, driven by the bevil gearing 7, q. In Fig. 8 the tappet o, o, is at the
top of a vertical shaft 9, 9, driven by worm gearing p, p, from the tappet shaft.
When it is desired to lock the reed fast so as to weave plain cloth instead of terry,
the bar n, m, must be locked in the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of the
double catches m*, m*.
It will be evident that by modifying the shapes of the pieces to act upon the
bowls,,,the bar n, n, or its equivalent may either move vertically, oscillate
or, rotate, always bringing about the same results, namely, providing a positive
and metal to metal" motion for opening and locking the "loose reed
weaving of the looped fabric may require.
"
as the
In order to render the loom capable of taking up at a greatly increased speed,
when required, we key upon the stud 8, 8, (see Figs. 3, 4, and 5,) which carries the
ratchet wheel t, t, of the "taking-up motion," a second ratchet wheel u, u, having
(say) one-fifth of the number of teeth, and actuated by a pawl v, working in the
same manner and at the same speed as the one for working the first-mentioned
wheel. When it is thought desirable for any reason for the loom to take up at
an increased speed, this auxiliary pawl and ratchet wheel are put in gear, and
immediately take up (say) five times as fast as before. When the increased speed
of taking up is not required, the pawl is taken out of gear and the weaving proceeds
in the ordinary manner.
If necessary the yarn beam may be relieved of the weights by an arrangement
of levers worked by the weaver's hand or foot to enable the yarn to be drawn off
more easily and to avoid any undue strain upon the healds.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention.
First. The peculiar construction of "pegged roller" herein-before described and
illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 in the annexed Drawings.

page_text: Secondly. The methods of and apparatus herein-before described (and illustrated
by Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the annexed Drawing) for locking and unlocking
the loose reed when required.
Thirdly. The adaptation and use of an auxiliary ratchet wheel with a fewer
number of teeth than the ordinary taking up wheel, as described, and illustrated
by Figs. 3, 4, and 5, for the purpose of enabling the weaver to "take up" at a
greatly increased speed when required.
And, Fourthly. We claim any mere modification or imitation of the above
apparatus constructed and operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph McCabe and John Walker, have here-
unto set their hands and seals, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
In the presence of
JOHN NEWTON.
JOSEPH M'CABE. (L.S.)
JOHN WALKER. (L.S.)