IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1882

page_text: •
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Keighley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1882.
GEORGE KEIGHLEY of Burnley in the County of Lancaster Machine Maker
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING"
This Invention relates firstly to a new method of and apparatus for letting off
the warp and taking up the woven material in a positive manner.
The warp is
let off by means of a surface roller, the warp being retarded sufficiently to prevent
overrunning. The said surface roller and the usual taking up roller are connected
together by shafts and gearing so that their relative speeds can be varied at will
by the use of change wheels, this variation being necessary on account of the
difference between the length of the warp and the woven fabric caused by the
introduction of the weft. By this arrangement tbe "let off" and "take-up" are both
positive. The worm shaft which imparts rotation to the rollers above mentioned is
driven as follows-On the end of the low or tappit shaft of the loom is a worm which
gears with a wheel fixed on the end of a short shaft placed at right angles to the
said low shaft and parallel to the end frame of the loom. On the other end of this
shaft is a toothed wheel which by means of a carrier wheel imparts rotation to the
worm shaft connecting the delivery and taking up rollers. From this arrangement
it results that the letting-off of the warp will be in accordance with the revolution
of the low shaft as is also the taking up of the cloth with such variation of the
speed of the taking up roller as may be required to suit different qualities of cloth.
The delivery and taking up rollers being geared to the low shaft it is necessary
that the first named wheel should be disengaged when the weft breaks. This is
effected by the said wheel being fitted on to a key or feather and made to slide on
the shaft by a clutch connected to the weft motion and brake lever so that when
the weft breaks the clutch is put out of gear instantly, in fact before the loom is
completely stopped and remains out of gear until adjusted by the attendant so that
ID 431

page_text: the number of weft threads that are left out by the breakage are put in when the
loom starts thereby preventing cracks or thin places in the cloth caused by the
breaking of the weft.
My Invention also relates to a new method of constructing a crank arm in such
manner as to prevent the constant wear of straps, gibs and cotters with which
I entirely dispense. On the portion of the arm which spans the crank I construct
a tail piece on which is fitted a sliding block.
The brasses are held by the block and the arm, the block being held firmly in its
place by a vertical bolt and by a horizontal one which passes through the end of
the tail piece.
My Invention also relates to the shedding apparatus employed for keeping the
warp threads at a uniform tension during the working of the treading tappits.
This is effected by means of a beam or rod somewhat of the usual form but instead
of vibrating on a centre and actuated by a lever it is made to move bodily and
laterally either on a plane or on a lever or link by means of a tappit on the crank
shaft opposite each end of the bearer they being connected by another link or
connecting rod. By this means the tappits that actuate the warp bearer can be
made an exact divisional part of the treading tappit therefore giving the exact
length of warp necessary to form a shed which cannot be done by a bearer moving
on a centre in the usual way.
My Invention relates also to apparatus for holding the reed firmly in its place, in
loose reed loomis, during the beat up of the slay. I place a shaft across the loom
parallel to the crank shaft on which is placed a lever. This lever is made to
move by means of a tappit on the tappit shaft which gives vibratory motion to the
said shaft. On the said shaft are other levers to which are connected vertical
bars or bolts which are made to slide through suitable openings in the slay
or in a plate attached thereto. The ends of the said bars move behind or into the
reed case or lever on which it is fixed thereby holding it firmly at the time when
the weft is being driven in, at all other times the bars or bolts are drawn down
quite clear of the reed case leaving it free to work in the usual way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Keighley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th May 1883.
GEORGE KEIGHLEY of Burnley in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This Invention relates,
Firstly. To a new method of and apparatus for letting off the warp, and
taking up the woven material in a positive manner. The warp is let off by means
of a surface roller, the warp being retarded sufficiently to prevent overrunning.
The said surface roller and the usual taking up roller are connected together by
shafts and gearing so that their relative speeds can be varied at will by the use of
change wheels, this variation being necessary on account of the difference between
the length of the warp and the woven fabric caused by the introduction of the
weft. By this arrangement the "let off" and "take up" are both positive. The
worm shaft which imparts rotation to the rollers above mentioned is driven as
follows. On the end of the low or other shaft of the loom is a worm which gears
with a wheel fixed on the end of a short shaft placed at right angles to the said
low shaft and parallel to the end frame of the loom. On the other end of this
shaft is a toothed wheel which by means of a carrier wheel imparts rotation to the
worm shaft connecting the delivery and taking up rollers. From this arrangement
it results that the "letting-off" of the warp will be in accordance with the
revolution of the low shaft as is also the taking up of the cloth with such variation
of the speed of the taking up roller as may be required to suit different qualities of
cloth. The delivery and taking up rollers being geared to the low or other shaft
it is necessary that the first named wheel should be disengaged when the weft
breaks. This is effected by the said wheel being fitted on to a key or feather and
made to slide on the shaft by a clutch connected to the weft motion and brake
lever so that when the weft breaks the clutch is put out of gear instantly, in fact
before the loom is completely stopped, and remains out of gear until adjusted by
the Attendant, so that the number of weft threads that are left out by the breakage
are put in when the loom starts thereby preventing cracks or thin places in the
cloth caused by the breaking of the weft.
My Invention also relates to a new method of constructing a crank arm in such
manner as to prevent the constant wear and tear of straps, gibs, and cotters with
which I entirely dispense. On the portion of the arm which spans the crank
I construct a tail piece on which is fitted a sliding block. The brasses are held by
the block and the arm, the block being held firmly in its place by a vertical bolt
and by a horizontal one which passes through the end of the tail piece. My
Invention also relates to the shedding apparatus employed for keeping the warp
threads at a uniform tension during the working of the treading tappets. This is
effected by means of a beam or rod somewhat of the usual form, but instead of
vibrating on a centre and actuated by a lever it is made to move bodily, and
laterally, either on a plane or on a lever, or link, by means of a tappit on the crank
shaft opposite each end of the bearer, they being connected by another link or
connecting rod. By this means the tappits that actuate the warp bearer can be
made an exact divisional part of the treading tappit, therefore giving the exact
length of warp necessary to form a shed which cannot be done by a bearer moving
on a centre in the usual way.

page_text: In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof Fig 1. is an end
elevation of a loom having my improvements applied thereto. Fig 2 is a back
elevation thereof, and Fig 3 a plan view. Fig 4 is a portion of the front elevation.
A is the warp beam from which the warp passes partially round the roller B, under
roller C, and over the vibrating bar D which forms the subject of the second part
of my. Specification. (see Fig. 6.)... The roller B rests upon, friction pullies E at
each end thereof and gravitates towards the roller C. On the end of the roller C
is a toothed wheel a into which gears a worm 6 on a shaft c, the train of gearing
being continued through the pinions e, f, g, worm h and worm wheel j, which is
mounted on the end of the taking up roller F. The shaft c receives its motion
from the low shaft of the loom through the train of gearing consisting of worm k,
wheel, clutch box m and toothed wheels n. The construction of the clutch
box m is peculiar, the driving half being provided with one tooth only, the tooth of
which is much narrower than the spaces between the teeth of the opposite half.
The operation of the clutch fork G is controlled by the lever H, which, when the
loom is in motion supports the bell crank lever J, and the rod K-connected there-
with, retaining the clutch fork in the position shewn in the drawing. The foregoing
arrangement ensures a positive delivery of the warp by the roller C, and also a
positive take up of the cloth by the roller F. The object of the clutch box mis to
prevent the formation of thin places in the cloth whenever the weft breaks. In
all looms a certain interval of time must elapse between the actual breakage of the
weft, and the complete stoppage of the loom, which allows in fast running looms
for several revolutions of the crank shaft during which time the warp continues
to pass through the loom.
By my Invention the lever J which keeps the clutch box in gear acts slightly in
advance of a similar bell crank lever J₁ which applies the brake. (see Fig 7) and
thus disconnects the two halves of the box, the moment the weft breaks, and the
warp at once ceases to travel through the loom. That half of the clutch box which
is in gear. with the worm will however continue to revolve until the brake brings
the crank shaft to a standstill and when the loom is again set on and the clutch
box connected; it will be found to have slipped a tooth, and moreover owing to the
width of the spaces between the teeth of the sliding half, one or two revolutions of
the crank shaft will occur before the "letting off" and "taking up" motions begin
to act, thus allowing for the introduction of the picks of weft necessary to make
up for the picks left out between the weft breaking and the weft motion acting on
the sliding clutch. My improved crank arm is shewn in Fig 5. The parts of the
arm marked a are constructed in one piece, the block 6 being secured thereto by
the bolts c and d. On reference to Fig 1 it will be seen that the whole force of
the beat-up is borne by the solid portion a whereby there is little liability to the
parts becoming loose. The vibrating bar D herein before referred to, rests upon
inclined surfaces L and to each end thereof is attached an arm M having a fork or
clip N which rests upon the cam or eccentric O on the crank shaft. As the crank
shaft revolves the bar D is caused to move laterally upon the surfaces L and by
calculating the extension of the warp produced by the action of the treading
tappits the size of the cams O may be regulated so as to produce the exact amount
of vibration on the rod D which is required to ease the warp during the formation
of the shed.
Instead of allowing the bar D to slide upon the inclined surfaces L the bar may
be connected to a hinged link, or lever, whereby the same result will be obtained.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and shewn by drawings how
the same is to be, or may be performed, or carried into practice, I would have it
understood that I claim, Firstly. The use of a clutch box and levers for operating
the same in combination with positive “letting off” and “ taking up” mechanism
such as I have herein shewn and described.

page_text: Secondly. The method of operating the vibrating rod D by cams, or eccentrics, as
herein shewn and described
Thirdly. The construction of crank arms in manner substantially as shewn and
described
In witness whereof I the said George Keighley have hereunto set my hands
and seal this Twenty third day of May, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
GEO KEIGHLEY (L.S.)