US814000A - Loom. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTES) FEB. 2'?, 1906.

A. S. GOWAN.

LOOM.

uruoulon mmm 1320.23, moa.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' 3mm/woz dzcur/S Coward,

(5l/Draw das No. 814,000. PATENTBD FEB. 27, 1906.

A. S. CWAN.

LOOM.

APPLIUATIOH FILED DEU. 28, 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

PATENTED FEB. 2'?, 1906.

. S. CGWAN. LOM.

APPLIUATION FILED 1330.25, 1903.

PATBNTBD FEB. 27, 1906.

A. S. GOWAN.

LOOM.

APPLIGATI-on FILED ma. 2s, 190s.

Not 814,000. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. A. S. GWAN.

LOM.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 2H, 1903- 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6. 0

No. 014,000. PATENTED FEB. 2v, 1900.' s. cowAN. 1,0010.

APPLIGATIDH FILED 17110.28, 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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fr; 0 30% mi 00 M0/iw M2M/e134.

No. 814,000. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. A. S. CWAN.

LOOM.

APPLIUATION FILED DBGJB, 1903.

B SHEETS-BHEET 7.

PATENTBD FEB. 2'?, 1906.

No. BMOD.

A. S. GOWAN.

l LOOM.

Arrmonxon FILED mm. sa, nos.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR S. COI/VAN, OF VVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO (JROMPTON t KNOW'LES LOOM WVORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LOOM.

No.r 814,000.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed December 28,1903. Serial No. IiifgA To all whom it indy concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. Cowan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyin letters and gures on the drawings representing-like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel loom for weaving fabrics in which short or separate lengths of vweft are laid in sheds formed in Warp-threads, the loom herein to be described also having the capacity of inserting into sheds in the Warp following those in which the short wefts are inserted a weft taken from a cop or bobbin` I and hereinafter designated as a continu-i ous" weft as contradistinguished from a short weft. The short wefts will preferabl Y be of hair or some such material that will give stiffness to the fabric between its selvages and will aid in maintaining the vvar s separated as determined by the Weave of t e fabric, it being understood that the warps may be manipulated by shed-forming mechanism in the formation of the sheds as they are commonly manipulated in Weaving plain or twill cloth or in Weaving leno or cross or any fancy Weavin The manipulation of the warps depen s on the shed -forming mechanism, and in connection with my invention, to be hereinafter more fully described, I may use any known form of shedforming mechanism, that depending on the weave or character of the cloth to be woven.

Prior to this-invention hair-wefts in short lengths have commonly been engaged at their leading ends and drawn into the shed by means o nippers moving transversel r of the warps and traversing the shed, the s iort Wefts of hair or whatever material being taken one at a time from a biinch at the loom end. I have devised an entirely new system and means whereby fabrics containing short wefts in whole or part ma be woven, and, if desired, a continuous we t may be inserted at intervals in any sheds omitting the short wcfts.

In accordance with my invention I employ a shuttle for carrying a plurality of Wefts which are selected singly by suitable shortdrawings, is a specification, like weft-selecting means, each selected weft bein engaged by a weft-holder. The wefthoIder after taking the selected weft from the selecting means is moved toward and is stopped outside one selvage, While the shuttle carrying the remaining portion of the selected weft is moved through the shed into the opposite box, the shuttle in traversing the shed paying out the selected weft, a part of which is yet engaged by the weft-holder, the said shuttle leaving the short weft in the shed to be beat into the fell in usual manner. Further, besides employing a shuttle as the means for holding a plurality of short wefts and for layin said short wefts in the shed by moving the s uttle across the warps I have provided means whereby said shuttle is carried in a shuttle-box, so that the short-weftcarrying shuttle-boL-With its shuttle, may be put into operative or ino erative position with relation to the race o the lay, as it is desired that said shuttle shall be operated to lay a short weft or its operation be suspended for any desired number of picks, that depending on usual shuttle-box pattern mechanism. The shuttle-box illustrated has a cell (shown as located below the shuttle-box cell) for controlling the short-weft-oontaining shuttle, and when the cell of the shuttleboX containing the short weft containing shuttle is in its inoperative position the other cell of the shuttle-box containing a shuttle for supplying a so-called continuous weft occupies lts operative position with relation to the race of the lay. The shuttle-box cell containin the shuttle carrying and presenting the slgiort wefts has coacting therewith weft-selecting means to be described. It will be understood that the loom may have like shuttle-boxes and weft-selecting moans at its opposite ends. The short wefts aro usually of a length a little in excess of the Width from selvage to selvage of the fabric to be Woven, and, as will be understood7 one end of the short weft is held outside one selva e while the shuttle containing the short vieIt is being moved through the shed, the leading end of the short weft in the shuttle being delivered therefrom substantially as the shuttle enters the opposite box, and to prevent any accidental curling or undue bending of the short weft that might result in the formation of loops therein when the iOO selecting means and operating devices therel through gears,

reed meets the short weft to beat it into the fell l have provided what I shall hereinafter designate as sliort-weft-controlling" means, said means, as herein illustrated, being more or less in number of the war -threads It is custonnri'y in looms or'weaving pei'- feet goods to provide devices acting to control the stopping ol the loom automatically whenever the weft is exhausted oi' broken, aiid one part of the loom being stopped all parts are stopped. In the nove loom herein to be described, wherein short wel'ts are used, the absence of a short weft eliects only the immediate stopping, throu rli the feeler cooperating with the lay, of Viut a part of the loom viz., the pattern mechanism for controlling both the shed-forming and the shuttle-boX-movirig ii'ieclianisms-and at this time the knives and hooked jacks of the sliedforming mechanism may move andl continue to hold open the same shed, the short-weftselecting means and the means Jfor moving the short-weft-carrying shuttle continuing to run after said pattern-surfaces have been stopped, so that said weft-selecting means, in case a short weft should iiot be selected when the nippers were first closed, will continue to operate throughout the time allotted therefor in the cycle of operations of the loom, and if the sliort-weft-selecting means selects a short weft in the allotted time said patternsurfaces will iiinnediatel),7 start again automatically, and the short weft will enter the then o en shed-the saine shed that said weft s iould have entered if the selecting means had operated in its proper time. Should the continuous weft be exhausted or broken, the action of the mechanism will be suspended in like manner until the continuous weft has been supplied in usual manner, and at suoli time the entire loom may be stopped in any usual manner by disconnecting the shaft of the loom, that is driven by power, either the crank-shaft or the camshaft, from its primary moving means.

Fi ure 1 is an elevation looking at the front of a oom at the left-hand end thereof, said loom containin some of the features of my invention, the s Little-box rod, part of its actuating-chain, and means for moving the picker-stick Ba being omitted to avoid coinlication of the drawing. Fig. 2 is a leftand end elevation of the loom shown in Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a partial section of the loom Fig. 1, together with part of the shown in means for moving the shed-forming inechanism and pattern-cylinder and the feeler of the weft stop-motion and part of the take-up. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the outer uides for the shuttle-boxes, the standard 4, and the guide-rod for the weft-holder being broken out, the weft-holder-opening means being omitted, said figure showing the short-weftlor more in detail on a larger scale, the weftliolder bein,r shown as engaging a short weft. Fig. 5 is a pian view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 directly below it lookin at Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrow (l, ut with the parts iii the position Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts of Fig. 4 directly below it, said figure showing the weftholder having been started oii its return stroke. Fig. 6a is a detail showing the weft-holder in its position for holding the short weft near the selvage while the short-weft shuttle completes its movement, this figure showing the parts of Fi 6 iii the position occupied by them just beore the weft-holder starts on its return stroke. Fi 7 shows in elevation the selecting means o Fig. 4, the weft-holder bein in a position to engage and hold the short we t selected from the mass carried by the shuttle and next to be laid in the shed. Fig. 8 shows part of the short-weft-selecting means illustrated in Fig. 7, the nippers of the selecting means being shown as having entered the shuttle preparatory to grasping the short weft and as being held open, the shaft DT being rotated, it will be supposed. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a shuttle without the short wefts. Fig. 1() is a section in the line zr, Fi f. 9, showing the shuttle with a plurality of s ort wefts laid therein. Fig. 11 is a section of the loom lfrom front to rear, chiefly to show one form of short-weft-coiitrolling means, the means illustrated being adapted to act through the warps that they may act frictionally on the short weft as the latter is laid in the shed. Fig. 12 is a view looking at Fig. 11 in the direction ofthe arrow 3. Fi 13isa detail showing one form of shed-forming mechanism that may be used. Fig. 14 is a detail of the shed-forming pattern-surface and means for rotating the same. Figs. 15 and 16 are details in plan view of the lever moved by the weft stop-motion, showing the clutch, to be described, closed and open. Fig. 17 shows part of the loom represented in Fig. 1 with the shuttle-box rod, part of its actuatin -chain, and pickeractuating mechanism. ig. 18 is a left-hand side elevation of thc parts shown in Fig. 17.

Referring to the drawings, A represents part of' a loom-frame having erected upon it a stand A for supporting the arches of the loom, portions of said stand also supporting the head A2, (see Fig. 13,) in which is moved the usual knife-bars 14 14, actuated bv an elbow-lever A5, common to any do byhead-as, for instance, in United States Patent No. 388,318, dated August 21, 1888. The loom-frame has a crank-shaft A6, that may be driven in any usual manner, the cranks of which are embraced by connectingrods A7, connected with the lay A", pivoted at its lower end in usual manner and having a reed A". The loom-frame also has a camshaft A10, that is driven from the crank-shaft (shown by dotted lines, Fig.

2,) the cam-shaft revolving once while the crank-shaft revolves twice. Part of the warp Vze w', taken from the Warp-beam B, is led over a Whip-roll B' and a roller B2, and thence in any usual manner, according to the Weave of the fabric, through the harnesses, as represented in Fig. 11, thence between the dents of the reed and over the roll B, sus tained in front of the breast-beam B4, the fablric being led thence to any usual4 take-up rol The parts so far referred to by letter are and may be common to usual power-looms. The lay has usual guideways to sustain the ends 2 of a shuttle-box B5, containing1 two cells, one above the other. The upper cell contains the novel shuttle B, herein to be described and best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 1G, said shuttle carr ing a plurality of short wefts e, arrange in a bunch, the shuttle shown in Fig. 9 and representing my invention in one goed form having a short-weft-receiving space in which may be laid the bunch of short wefts, the Wefts being folded backwardly, one end of the bunch being cut even and substantially abutting, as shown, a partition o of the shuttle. The shuttle has a short-weft-tension device e3, (shown as a lever pivoted at 112,) the short arm of which is acted u on by a spring all, said spring serving to pro( uce pressure upon the short Waits, forcing the same with a gentle pressure against the abutment a5. This lever a? also yields somewhat as the nippel-s of the shortweft-selecting means to be described are closed to grasp a short weft. The cell of the undermost shuttleebox of the pair, as herein shown, is adapted to receive a shuttle B7, (sce Fi 7,) that may be supplied with a cop or bo bin containing Wound filling, said shuttle presenting the continuous filling herein referred to.

Figs. 17 and 18 show the shuttle-boxes B6, the box-rod BG", the spring B, and the chain B52, extended over sheaves B72 and B73, said parts constituting a portion of usual means for shifting the shuttleboxes on the lay that either the shuttle containing the short weft or theshuttle containingr the continuous weft may be placed at the level of the race of the lay to be moved through a shed in the warps. Further illustration of such mechanism would only tend to complicate the drawings, and it will be understood that I may employ any usual drop-bex-shifting mechanism common to Crompton or Knowles or other looms, the position of the shuttle-boxes beingP controlled automatically by a moving chain B, common to the loom referred to, the time of movement of said chain being determined by indication carried by the usual shuttle-box means and not necessary to be herein illustrated.

The shuttle B, containingr the short wefts, and the shuttle B7, containing the continuous weft, Will be moved through the shed from either salvage or end of the loom and from the cell of the shuttle-box containing the same, whichever shuttle occupies its operative position at the level of the race of the lay by picker-sticks B", (one only shown,) that may he moved in any usual manner common to looms. Figs. 17 and 18 show one common form of devices for moving the picker-stick, and, referring to said figures, B64 shows a strap connected with an arm B65 of a pickeractuating shaft B, sustained in bearings at the loom side and having a shoe B", that is struck by the roller B, carried by an arm B5, fast on the shaft All. The piclrerfstick, Fig. l., will cause the shuttle to traverse the warps and enter the usual box (not shown) at the opposite end ofthe loom-frame. The shuttle-box referred to has two stands B B, that sustain a guide B, (shown as a rod, see Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6,) the guide being broken out partially in Fig. 4. This guide receives loosely upon it a carrier C, having a depending slotted arm C and a projection C2', (see Figs. 5, 6, and 7,) overlapping a portion of the shuttle-box, said projection sustaining the weft-holder, comprising a stationary jaw al and a movable jaw al, having a irojection a8, that abuts the short weft held y the seF lecting means, said movable jaw being pivoted at of on the fixed jaw, the other end of said movable jaw having a cam projection ax. The movable jaw is acted upon by a spring (1,1, that normally serves to close the jaws that they may grasp a selected short weft e, as represented in Fig. 4, said weft having been selected from a mass of short wefts bynippers forming part of short-weft-selecting means to be described and held in the path of movement of the jaws of the weft-holder. The slide C has a depending portion C', slotted as represented in Fig. 4. to be entered b v a stud C3 of a lever C, pivoted at its lower end on a stud Cx. There is a slide and alever C ateach end of the leoni, and that said levers may he actuated to move said slides and weft-l'ioldcrs l have provided the cam-shaft Af of the loom with a scroll-cam C5, the edge of which is made to travel between rollers @revoluble about studs erected on a plate bx, that may tip on an arm ti of a lever, the hub of-which is erected on a stud b2, rising from a stand b3, connected with a suitable brace b4. The arm b5 of the lever b has a stud lix, that receives the hubs of two like eonnectinff-rods b 5" of different lengths, each'one, however, connected to a lever C4. As the scroll-cam is revolved once for each two motions of the crank-shaft, it will be noticed that, viewing,r Fig. 1, the slide C will be moved during a portion of the revolution of the shaft Am and will then remain at rest for a portion of the revolution of said shaft and will then be returned to its starting point, Fig. 1. The weft holder may be opened sooner or later in the movement thereof in the direction olI the arrow 4, Fig. 5, by adjusting a welt-holder opener a, shown as a lever pivoted at a and made adjustable. through an adjusting devicc a, shown as a screw held in a projection ail lroln the shuttle-box, the projection a K of the movable jaw f1.7 contacting with said weft-holder opener as the slide (l is moved to the right from the position Figs. l. and 5. The weft-holder when the slide C2 occupies its outward position (see Figs. 1 and 5) stands at a short distance to one side of the position ol the short-we'ft-selecting means, to be described, that is to select and hold a short weft to be presented to said weft -holder. Then the slide (T2 is moved, as will be described, the projection (l,X of the movable aw of the weft-holder in the n'iovement of the latter contacts with the first weft-hold er opener (L12 ljust as the jaws of the weft-holder arrive at the point where the weft-selecting means holds a short weft a, (see Fie. 4,) that is to be given. up to the weftho der. The shuttle-box at its inner end sustains weft-holder-relcasiiig means. (Shown best in Figs. G and f3 and at the right in. Fig. 4.) rlhe weft-holder-releasing means acts to open the weft-holder just as the latter starts to move outwardly from the position occupied by it, Fig. 6d, while the short-weft-carrying shuttle traverses a shed, and, as herein illustrated, said means comprises, essentially, a bracket (15, connected with the shuttle-box or stand B10 and the mouth BM of the shuttle-box, said bracket having a stud-screw al, upon which is pivoted an arm all, the outer end of which is shown as somewhat upturned (see Fig. 4) and ollset (see Figs. 6 and 6) with relation to the part of the arm designated aux, the extremityv of the upturned portion of the arm CLU being somewhat rounded, as represented. The arm has a tail c, that is acted upon by a spring al", secured to the bracket a, said spring serving normally to keep the free end of said arm lifted, as shown in Fie. 4, in line with the rounded proj ection cli oi? the movable jaw a7. When the weft-holder is moved inwardly from the position Fig. 4 to the position Fig. 6a, the projection ax passes over and de resses the inner free end of the arm a", an( the jaw is not opened. rlhe weft-holder opener having acted and the weft-holder having grasped a short weft, the weft-holder will be closed immediately by the spring al and holding the short weft will continue its movement into the position Fig. 6, when the further movement of the slide will be stopped, and the weft-holder will hold the short weft at a short distance from the selvage of the fabric being woven. During the movement of the weftholder into this position the projection a* met the inclined upper edge of the arm a,1T and depressed said arm7 the spring al" yielding, and said holder was not opened. The weft-holder is stopped with the projection ax olE the movable aw a7 almost or substantially touching the rounded portion c4M of the arm ai". (See Fig. (iu.) During the movement of the weit-holder, as described, the shuttle B, provided with a series of short wefts, has been or is being moved by the picker-stick referred to across the warps to its opposite b oX, and the selected weft, one portion of which is held by the weft-holder and the other portion of which is yet within the control of the shuttle, is paid out or trailed behind the shuttle as the latter crosses the warps and is deposited on the warps in the lower plane of the shed, said shuttle Giving up fully the short weft about as the shuttle enters the opposite box. The particular point at which the short-weft shuttle shall give ulp the short weft is not, however, of essentia importance so long as said shuttle carries the portion of the short weft retained. by it, which weft has been selected and is held by the weft-holder and lays said weft across the warps of the shed. The short weft having been laid in the shed, the weftholder must be opened to release the short weft. This is done immediately as the weftholder is started backwardly from its position Fig. 6 into the position Fig. (j, the weft at this time being held by the closing shed. The wett-holder is started toward the left from the position Fig. 6", and the projection af of the movable jaw contacts with the weftholder-releasing means. As the short weftholder is moved into the position Fig. 6 the projection a meets the rounded upheld end of t 1e arm a, said arm at this time, however, not yielding, and consequently the aw a7 is opened to release the short weft then laid and to be left in the fabric. It will he understood that the weft-holder will grasp the short weft while yet held by the selecting means outside the shuttle, and while said weft is so held the shuttle B" and the weftholder will be started in their movement toward the right, viewing Fig. 4, the weftholder being stopped next the selvage-warps and holding onto the short weft while the short-weft shuttle continues through the warp and delivers the selected short weft into the shed. It will also be understood that a portion of each short-weft length will be left protruding beyond the sclvage-warps at both sides of the fabric.

Heft-Selecting means-As shown best in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8, the shuttle-box has erected upon it a stand D of suitable shape to sustain short-weft-selecting means, said means, as herein shown, comprising a shaft D7, sustained in suitable bearings of said stand, the stand having at its front end a head D12 The shaft D7 has fixed upon it a nipper-opener cam D, a sto -cam b21, and a belt-pulley E. As the sha t rises and falls with the shuttle-box the shaft D7 is shown as being driven from a belt E, surrounding the IIO `by a screw b.

ulley E thereon and deriving its movement rom a pulley E, carried by a shaft E3, hav ing its bearings in an upright E", connected with and rising from that portion of the lay having the usual guideway in which the shuttle-boxes are moved up and down. The shaft El* has a second pulley El, that receives a belt E5, surrounding a driving-pulley E", fast on a shaft El, sustained in suitable bearings 3() 31 of the loom end. The shaft El derives its movement from a bevel-pinion E8, fast on the end ofthe crank-shaft, through a bevel-pinion 17 on an upright shaft 18 and bevel- pinions 33 and 34, said shaft E7 being driven continuously as long as the crankshaft is rotatedv A crank-pin of the disk DB enters a cam-groove in a block D, fast upon a rod D1, having suitable bearings in the head Di2 and carrying at its lower end the nippers of the short-weftselecting means. These nippers, as herein represented, comprise a member D', connected by a screw al* with an enlargement at the lower end of said rod and a movable lever D, free to be turned about a stud D3, carried by the member D of the nipper. A spring 1() acts normally to elose the nippers onto the short welt when the nippers are lowered in contact with the bunch of short wefts presented by the shuttle BB. The nippers have to be opened when they a preach the bunch of short wefts in order t lat they may grasp a short weft, and to do this l have provided a nipper-opener (shown as a lever D4) pivoted at D5, said pivot being surrounded by a suitable spring 20", that normally acts to keep the short arm of said flipper-opener in contact with the nipper-oponin cam DE. The stop-cam b21 on said shaft as a shoulder b2, with which at times eoaots a stop-lever b1, mounted on a stud 39, Carried by a project-ing arm D of the vframework D, the stop-lever when in the osition Fig. 7 arresting the rotation of the shaft D7 and retaining the weft-selecting nippers in closed position, holding a weft a', as re resented in Figs. 4 and 7. The nippers re erred to andforming part of the short-weftselecting means are and may be substi'tntially such as represented in United States Patent to Lindsley, No. 119,278, dated Se temher 26, 1871; but the parts ooacting't erewith and herein illustrated are designed somewhat diilerently.

The head l)wl of the frame D has ears t, that receive loosely a rod bl" of a stop-levermoving device, comprising besides said rod a two-armed plate b, (shown best in Figs. 4, 7, and 8,) the lower depending arm of which has a foot b, ad'ustably connected thereto he rod b has at its upper end a nut b", that limits the descent of said rod, and below its upper bearing said rod has a connected nut bl, against which bears the upper end of a s )ring bl?. This spring (shown in Figs. 4, 7, an 8, but omitted from Fig. 1,)

is used chiefly as a eounterbalanee to overcome the weight of said rod and its attached parts and to aid somewhat in moving the stop-lever b from the position Fig. S into the osition Fig. 7. The hub of the sto lever lill* surrounds loosely the stud 39, ani between the hub of said lever and the head 4() of said stud there is interposed a spiral spring 40, that normally acts to hold said lever in the position Fig. 4. The stop-lever has a depending outturned portion 42, rovided with a roller-stud 41. The end of t ie longer arm of the lever t is slotted to embrace a pin b, extended upwardly from the arm 12.

The stationary member D of the nippers has a projection provided with a groove leaving side walls 13, between whiohis mounted a slide-plate14, havin 1u s 15, that receive and constitute bearings or t e journals of a shaft 14X, Jfrom which projects a short-weft feeler 16. The upper end of the shaft 14X is surrounded by a spring 17, that acts normally to move the feeler into weft-feelingposition, said feeler when moved by said spring traversing the position that should be occupied byV the short weft if engaged by the nip ers, and in case a short weft is absent the leeler is arrested by the lower end of the plate 14 after, however, passing the lower end of the stationary member D. The plate 14 is slotted, as shown, to receive a pin projected from the nipper member D', to which pin is connected the lower end of a spiral sprin 19, the upper end oil which is connected wit an extension of said plate, said spring acting normally to move said late downwardly in-said guideway until t supper end of the slot in said plate meets said pin, as shown in Fig. 7. The shaft of the feeler 14x (see Figs. 4, 7, and S) has a prijection 18 and a downturned linger 20, said nger when the rod D1 occupies its lowest position meeting an incline 21 (see Figs. 4 and S) on the top of the shuttle-box, said incline acting on said `linger to turn the rod 14 and move the feeier 16 away from the lower end of plate 14 and outwardly with relation to the portion D of the nippers.

The stop-earn lil on shaft D7 has a shoulder el, (see Fig. 7,) that is engaged by the stop-lever, as shown, when tie nipper is raised and a holds a short weft, the arm 12 of the two-armed )late l?" at such time moving said stop-lever irom the position Fig. S into the position Fig. 7. The arm 12 turns the stop-lever to arrest further movement oi the shal t D1 only after the nippers have selected a short weft and holds it in position to be acted u on by the feeler preparatory to being engage( by the short-weft holder. ln the descent of the rod D to put the nip )ers in contact with the bunch of short weite the lower end of the slide 14 meets a projection 14X, connected, as shown, with the shuttlebinder 16", ivoted at 162, and lsaid slide is arrested whi e the rod D continues to de- IOC IOS

scend, as in Fig. 8, and at this time the feeler 1G is turned backwardly by the incline 21 far enough against the sprin r 17 to permit the short weft, il" selected7 tothe put in the path of movement of said fceler` Fig. 8 shows the nippers open and in position to be closed by the spring l() when the ni per-opener D* is permitted to move to the let in said figure by its spring 20X, the cam D being of such shape as to permit such movement. Vhen the nippers are closed, the rod Dl" is immediately lifted and the projection 2() of the feeler-shaft retires from the incline 21, letting sprin f 17 turn the feeler into feelin position, andi thenippers have selected a slziort weft and hold the sameinthe ath of movement of the weft-holder the fee er will meet the said short weft and the stop-lever Will be turned to engage the stop-cam if". As the rod D1" is completing its upward movement after a short weft has been selected by the nip ers the end of the rojection 18 of the fee er-shaft, the fecler liaving met a selected short weft, is retained in such position that it meets the foot b and lifts the rod b1", causing the arm 12 thereof to turn the stop-lever fiom the position Fig. Sinto the position Fig. 7, thus stopping temporarilyv the further rotation of the shaft D7 of the short-weft-selecting means, and consequently the reciprocation of the rod D1 and nippers is stopped until at such time as the said rod and ni pers in the cycle of operation of thc loom sliould again descend to select another short weft, when said stop-lever is moved, as will be described hereinafter, to release the stop-cam b21 and let the shaft D7 be again rotated. Should, however, the nip ers fail to catch a short weft, the feeler 16, when turned by spring 17 as the rod D" is raised after an unsuccessful attempt to seize a short weft, will be arrested by the plate 14, which will leave the end of the projection 18 in such position with relation to the finger 15 of the two-armed lever b that when the rod Dl and nippers rise the projection will not engage the lower end of the foot b, and consequently the stop-lever will not be turned into position to stop temporarily the rotation of the shaft D7 and suspend the operation of the short-Weft-selecting means. In this way it will be understood that the nippers have one or more chances to engage a weft.

The action of the short -Weft selecting means takes place in a defined portion of the cycle of operation of the loom, and at a predetermined time With relation to the rotation of the crank-shaft, and if it should so ha en that the ni pers fail alto ether to et hdl of a short We t in the erio of time a lotted for that action then o course other means than the stop-rod-moving means so far described must be rovided for automatically moving the stopever from the position Fig. 8 into the position Fig. 7 to stopthe shaft D7 and hold up the nippel's in the position Fig. 7 until such time as the weft-selecting means should be again moved to select a short weft, the holding up of said nippers preventing injury to the same by the return of a shuttle into its box. lf the short-weft-selecting means fails to select and present a short weft, inipcrfect goods would of course be woven, and consequently for the production of perfect goods it is essential that the continued movement of the shed-forming and shuttleboX-moving parts of the loom must depend upon the fact that the short-weft-selecting means has, within the time allotted for its operation, selected a weft. So, also, it will be understood that in case a short weft should not be selected by the nippers of the short- Weft-selecting means Within the time allotted in each c Ycle of operation of the loom that the sto ever b1 must be moved independently o the rod b1 and its attached )arts that said lever may be put into the position shown in Fig. 7 until the weft-selecting means is again to be started into operation. It will also be understood that the shaft D7 is held temporarily at rest with the ni pers of the selecting mechanism holding a siiort weft, as in Fig. 7, until that weft has been deposited properly in the shed and that thereafter in the proper position in the cycle of operation of the loom the sto -lever bl" must be moved to release the cam 7 and ermit the shaft D7 to be again rotated that t ie nippers may select another short weft.

The means for moving the stop-lever b1 outside of the rod b and its connected arts, before referred to, Will now be described), and it will be understood that the means to be described for this purpose is duplicated at both ends of the loom, so l need herein describe specifically the parts at but one end of the loom.

The loom end (see Fig. 2) has a stud 47X, on which is mounted a gear-wheel 47, that derives its motion of rotation from a gear 48, (see Fig. 1,) fast on the cam-shaft, said ear rotating twice While rotating the Whee 47 once. The wheel 47 has an attached cam 50, that in its rotation meets the foot 6() of a sliderod 45, on the front end of which is connected an arm 44. The slide-rod, surrounded by a spring 62 and having a fixed collar 61, is sustained in bearings of a frame 46, connected by screws 46 to the end oi' the loom. The spring 62 acts normally to keep said foot in the path of movement of the cam 50, the lever 44 when the foot is out of contact with said cam being out of contact with the rollerstud 41. The cams 50 on the Wheels 47 at opposite ends of the loom are so located one with relation to the other that the action of j each cam is timed to the requirements of the loom and to the operation of the short-weftselecting means at opposite ends of the loom and to the movement of the short-weft shut- IOO tle. If in the operation of the short-weft-selecting means the nippers fail to select the short weft in the allotted time with relation to the cycle of operation of the loom, it will be understood that the rod b" will not be lifted, and the shaft D7 and short-weft-selecting means would continue to operate and the movements would be of no use whatever, so the stop-lever b mustbe moved at times from the position Fig. 8 into the position Fig. 7 by other means. When the nippers stand in the position Fig. 7, the foot t, carried by said rod, occupies its highest. position and the extended arm 12 holds the stop-lever Z219, as shown in said figure, thus temporarily arresting the action of thc Welt-selecting means.

In this situation inthe continued movement of other parts of the loom the rotating cam 50, carried by the wheel 47, acts upon the foot of the slife-rod 45 at exactly the proper pre1`etermined time in the cycle of o erations of the loom and moves outwardlDy the arm 44, fast on said rod, said arm con tacting with the roller-stud 41, shown as carried by said stop-lever, thus sliding the hub of said lever on the pin 39 in opposition to the spring 40, this movement being for a distance sufficient to remove the upper end of said stop-lever from engagement With the projection at the face of the cam b21, thus permitting the selecting means to be again started. As the cam 50 leaves the foot 6U spring 40 acts to move the stop-lever inwardly on the stud 39 toward the cam b2x into the position Figs. 4 and 8, From the position Fig. 8 said stoplever may be moved into the position Fig. 7 by the following means.' If, for instance, the nippers have selected a weft, the stop-lever b1? is put in the position Fig. 7 by the arm 112, before described, as it rises with the rod blo, and as soon as the projection of cam b21 meets the end of stop-lever the selecting means is again temporarily arrested. If the selector fails to get a weft, the lay in its re ular backward stroke causes the long arm o said stoplever to be acted upon by the arm 44, extended from the rod 45, and turns said stop-lever about its stud 39 in a direction to put the upper end of said stop-lever in such position that it will meet the cam b, and as soon as the projection b2 of said cam meets the end of said stopdever further rotation of the shaft Dl, actuating the weftselecting means, is stopped until such time as the short-weftse lee-ting means can be again permitted to act. When the shaft D7 has been stopped, as dcscribed,to suspend the operation of the weftselecting means after said means has failed to select a weft, the weft-selecting means must be again started in operation at a period when in the movement of the crank-shaft in the cycle of operation of the loom the time again arrives when the weft-selecting moans should again operate. The weft-selecting means can he started only by the action of thc cam 50 on the foot 670 of rod 45, as above described.

Sfiort-/weftwontrolling means-w-To prevent any possibility of the short wefts left by the shuttle during its movement through the shed curling up or getting into such a position that when the reed meets the short weft to beat it into the shed said weft might be bent or looped, I have provided short-weftcontrolling means that will act to retain said weft in the position in which it leaves the shuttle and hold the short weft until the reed meets and beats the same into the fell. This invention is not limited to the exact means shown for acting against and controlling the position of said short weft and rcventing it curling in the shed; but I have erein chosen to illustrate for this purpose some or all of the warps, said Warps being made to grasp the short weft by a preliminary partial closing of the Warps onto the short weft immediately after or While the shuttle is laying said short weft in the shed and before closing and crossing the Warps for a succeeding shed. The means for controlling the position of the short Wefts by a preliminary closing of the warps, as stated, is shown in Figs. 11 and l2. The cam-shaft A has a cam G, that acts upon alroll G' of a forked leg G2, jointed at G3 to one end of an elboivdever G, pivoted at G5. One arm of this elbow-lever has pivoted upon it at Gr a rod Gi, the upper end of which is adjustably connected. with one arm of a lever G8, pivoted at G and forked at its opposite end to embrace a stud G10, extended from a hollow tube G, adapted to he slid in suitable guideways G13, there being like tubes and guideways at the opposite ends of the loom. The hollow tubes (l12 at their lower ends at opposite ends of the loom have connected with them in suitable manner-21s, for instance, by set-screws-a cross-rod G15, having, as shown, one or more connected fin ers Gm, notched, it maybe, at its lower en -to embrace one or more Warps. The lever G8 has a stud d, that is connected by a link d with a stud d of a lever d, slotted at its ends (see Fig. 11) to embrace a stud d4, extended laterally from a head d5, connected with the upper end of a rod d, that in practice, as herein shown, is extended through the hollow rod G12, said rod d5 having suitably secured to it near its lower end a cross-bar d", having one or more slotted lingers da, like the fingers Gm. As shown7 the fingers d* and G1 stand one in front of the other, and the prongs of the iingers at all times embrace some of the warpthreads, and when the ngers are separated to their farthest extent the slots between one and the next finger are of sufficient length to permit the shed to he fully opened by the shed-forming means, and when the 'lingers are closed, as shown in Figs. l l and 12, then those Warps embraced by the fingers are IOO IIO

brought together or have given to them a preliminary closing movement, so that they may act, as has been outlined, upon a short weft laid or being laid in the shed. Fig. 1.1 shows some of the harness-frames with usual lieddles having warp eyes to receive the warp-threads. These harness frames or heddles will and may be operated, as has been stated, in any usual. manner according to the class of weaving to be done. The warps that are moved independently of the shed-forming n'iechanism to in this instance of my invention control the position of the short wefts and. prevent them from curling are sustained by the whip-roll B, it having a slotted arm. e, that is connected by link e with the lever G4, before referred to. Other warpthreads taken from the beam B are extended over the usual roller-rest The link and arm constitute part of an easing motion that )erinits slack in the warp-threads that are to be partially closed on and to prevent the short weft from curling up. In Fig. 11 the f ull linesf in front of the reed represent the warps with the shed fully open, the shuttle shown by dotted lines in said figure being supposed to be moved through the shed while the lay is at its back center, as in said figure, and during this inovementof the shuttle containing the short weft, one end of the weft being retained by the weft-holder,` the short weft is laid in the shed by the movement of the short-weft shuttle through the shed, and supposing that the leading end of the short-weft shuttle has arrived substantially at its box at the opposite end of the loom and is about to give up the short weft then being laid by it, then at this time the controlling means eoaeting with said short weft acts to prevent any curling or wrong position thereof with relation to the length of the warps. At this time the cam G moves the hollow tubes Gr12 and the rods d into the position Fig. 11 and immediately causes those warps, under the influence of the fingers G16 d8, to be moved toward each other, rep-l resented by the inner threads markedf 1n Fig. 11, and at the same time the whip-roll B is permitted to descend to afford the necessary amount of slack to permit of such movement of the threads f before the final action of the harnesses in changing the shed to inclose the short weft just laid therein, the warps so partially moved closing the shed sufficiently to enable said warp-threads to act as weft-controllers and keep the short weft substantially straight to be acted u on by the reed and be carried forward to the ell.

In myinvention as herein illustrated Ihave represented but a portion of thewarps as used to control the short weft to prevent it from curling or wetting out of place; but it will be understood that all of the warps might be so closed, if desired, by contact therewith of any suitable means without departing from my inventionf-as, for instance, by the rods G15 and d1, the fingers G1 and d being wholly omitted, and these rods niight be used by simply changing the shape of the cam G.

b'Lcd-nm'ing means- The cani-shaft (see Fig. 3) has a cam H, provided with a groove that receives a roller-stud ll', mounted on a lever lll, connected by rod ll3 with the lever A5 (see Fig. 13,) for moving the knives 14 of the dt)bby-motionJ such as indicated by like number in` United States Patent No. 388,318, said knives engaging at the proper time hooks connected with harness-levers fully shown in said patent and joined with harness-frames having heddles7 all as provided for in said patent.

Fig. 13 shows in position theworm-toothed gears h and h', secured, respectively, to the shafts h2 h3, carrying, respectively, the shedforming pattern chain or cylinder h1 and the shuttle-box pattern chain or cylinder h5, each designated by a dotted circle, as the same are and may be of conventional construction.

The shaft H7, sustained in suitable bearings HS, has worms H l'l to engage and actuate intermittingly said pattern-cylinders, said shaft having keyed to it near its inner end a clutch-hub H9, having an annular groove to receive a fork H1, which constitutes a clutch- Inover. The clutch-hub H9 has a hele at its side next the toothed ear H12, which is mounted loosely on sha Yt H7 and provided with a ping (see Figs. 15 and 16) to enter a hole in the hub H9 whenever said pin registers with said hole. The gear H12 is supposed to be driven constantly through a train of gearing (shown in Figs. 3 and 13) from a gear H20 on the crank-shaft, the rotation of the gear H12 being in unison with the motion of the crank-shaft. The fork H10 referred to is located at the end of an arm g,fast on an upright shaft g2, suitably sustained in bearings 62 at the leoni end the lower end of said shaft having a second arm g1, that is extended forwardly to a point, as shown, under the breastbeam,|where it is provided with a stud g4. A spring h1, surrounding shaft g1, acts normally to cause the lever g' to move the hub H9 into its clutching position, Figs. 13 and 16. The stud g4 is adapted to be acted upon by a side cam g5, secured to a rock-shaft g, usually employed to throw the shi per out of its holding-notch and stop the oom; but it will be understood herein that said shaft does not releasea shipper and stop the entire loom. The shaft g1 will, however, be rovided with its usual spiral spring to hold t 1e side cam g5 normally in the position Fig. 3. This shaft is herein turned in one direction against said spring by the dagger g?, pivoted at g8 and connected by link g with an arm g1, carrying a feeler 912, commonly used in connection with the usual weft sto -motion of the lay, said arm, when to turn sai shaft, being lifted into the dotted-line position, Fig. 3, the feeler at such lOO time, owing to the absence of either the short weft or the continuous weft, having dropped into the dotted-line position, Fig. 3. When the dagger moves the rock-shaft g, the cam g5 moves the lever g to slide the clutch-hub H longitudinally of the shaft from the position Figs. 13 and 16 into the position Fig. 15 in the absence of weft, immediately freeing the shaft H7 from the control of gear H, leaving said shaft and both patterncylinders at rest. The disconnection of the clutch-hub H from the ear H12 is effected just before the pattern-cy inder is to be started to effect achan cof pattern. Thestopping of the pattern-cy inders does not, however, stop the weft-selecting means, and the latter may continue to operate until stopped b f the lever h1", as before described, and the s ort- Weft shuttle in the meantime continues to move into position that the weft-selectors may engage a short weft, the movement being continued until a short weft has been selected. A weft having been selected and insorted, the feeler working with the lay will be held up, and immediately the attern-surface will be started, and this wit out a mispick. It will be understood when the pattern-surfaces are stopped, due to the absence of weft, that the knives 14 continue to hold open the same shed until suoli time as the short weft has been properl laid in the shed g also that the da ger g?, wliich engages and moves the rock-s raft g6 throu h intermediate connectors, moves the clutch or pin which stops the pattern-surfacesJ just before a new weft is to be presented, to change the shed, and the knives 14 remain at rest until the pin again enters the clutchJ whichwill occur when the selecte-d weft is inserted in the shed. This done,the feeler engages said weft and permits the dagger g7 to pass under the rock-shaft g. The action of spring h1 Will cause the pin g to enter when it registers with the hole in the hub H", and the pattern-surface will then be started immediately at the same place in its cycle of operation of the loom at which it was Withdrawn, and at the same time the shuttle-box pattern-surface will be started.

In the operation of the loom as the lay is going toward its front position to beat u the weft if a short weft is not in the she( the feeler gl2 will fall into the dotted-line position before the cam H operates the knives for moving the usual harness-levers and also before the shed -forming attern cylinder is turned to bring a new indicator in position to change the shed. When the dagger g" strikes the projection gs* (see Fig. 13) of rock-shaft g, the shaft g2 is turned and moves the clutch-hub H" to disengage the same from the driving-gear H, thus stopin the pattern-surface. The lay now is on its ont center and starts to make one more revolution. The selector, as has been stated, repeats its operation in the time allotted in each cycle of operation of the loom until a short weft has been selected and is laid in the shed to sustain the feeler g, and the knives of the shed-forming mechanism are operated and remain in engagement with the same hooked jacks, thus obviatin changing the shed, this being made possible owing to the fact that the indicators of the arrested pattern-surfaces continue to act on the same hooked jacks, If a short weft is roperly selected Within the prescribed 'al otted time and laid in the shed, the da ger will pass under the. projection g6X of tie rock-shaft y Without turning the same, and immediately the spring h1 acts and allows the pin g to enter the hole in the hub Hg, starting the shaft H7 and its Worm to turn and move the pattern-cylinder, the latter being started before the cam H starts the movement of either knife-bar from its extreme inward toward its extreme outward position.

The shaft H7 is employed to actuate both the shed-forming pattern-surface and the shuttle-box pattern-surface. Each patternsurface will have usual indicators and a worm-toothed gear.

The arm g3 has connected with it a chain h, carried over a sheave h and connected with the aWl h", em loyed for moving the ratchettoot ied gear li; for moving the take-u k. The movement of arm g3, as descried through said chain lifts said pavvl from the teeth of said ratchet-toothed gear and stops further movement of the take-up.

In practice the crank-shaft will have applied to it usual fast and loose or a clutch pulley to control the movement of said shaft and the other shaft of the loom driven therefrom. 1f the supply ci' weft is exhausted, the crank-shaft must be stopped, and this may be done by the operator or in any usual manner.

Having described my invention, what claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is#

1. In a loom, means to form sheds, a shuttle to carry a plurality of short Wefts, and means to move said shuttle to leave a short weft in the shed.

2. ln a loom, a shuttle adapted to carry short lengths of weft, means to select said Wefts singly,means to hold the selected weft and means to move the shuttle to deliver therefrom a weft.

3. In a loom, a shuttle to contain a plurality of short wefts, weft-selecting means, and weft-holding means to engage and hold a selected weft, and means to move the shuttle while the weft-hold er holds the weft.

4. In a loom, a shuttle-box, a shuttle to contain a plurality of short Wefts, means to select the Wefts in said shuttle, and means to move the shuttle that it may deliver therefrom weft so selected.

5. In a loom, a shuttle-box, a shuttle to IDO IIO

contain a plurality of short wefts, means to select a weft to be delivered from said shuttle, means to engage and hold the selected weft, and means to move the shuttle to deliver said weft.

6. In a loom, a shuttle box, a shuttle adapted to receive weft doubled on itself, and selecting means to enter the shuttle between its ends and engage and select the weft.

7. In a loom, a shuttle box, a shuttle adapted to receive a plurality of doubled short wefts, selecting means to enter the shuttle and engage one of said short wefts near its end, and withdraw said end from the mass of short weft in the shuttle.

8. In a loom, a shuttle box, a shuttle adapted to receive a plurality of short wefts, selecting means to enter the shuttle and engage one of said short wefts near its end, and withdraw said end from the mass of short wefts in the shuttle, and means to exert tension on the mass of short wefts in the shuttle and the single weft being drawn therefrom.

9. In a loom, a shuttle-box, a shuttle to contain a plurality of short wefts, weft-selecting devices, means to actuate said devices to select a weft, and means to arrest ther movement of said devices after selecting a weft.

10. In a loom, a shuttle-box having a connected guide, weft-selecting means sustained by said shuttle-box, short-weft-holding means comprising normally closed jaws, means to move said holding means on said guide, and means to open said jaws to embrace a selected weft.

11. Ina loom, shed-forming means, a shuttle to carry a plurality of short wefts, and a shuttle to carry a continuous weft, shifting shuttle-boxes to contain said shuttles,- means for selecting said short wefts and for movin said shuttles as desired through the shed.

12. In a loom, a shuttle-box having a connected guide, weft-selecting means sustained by said shuttle box, short weft holding means comprising normally closed jaws, means to move said holding means on said guide, means to o en said jaws to embrace a selected weft, an means to then open said 'aws a second time that the short weft held y it may be discharged.

13. In a loom of the class described, a guide, a shuttle to contain short weft, selecting means to select a short weft to be delivered in the shed by the shuttle, a weft-holder comprising normally closed jaws, actuated means to slide said weft-holder on said guide to engage and deliver the weft, and means for openin said holder to release the weft.

14. n a loom, a shuttle to contain a plurality of short wets, a shuttle or shuttles to contain a continuous weft, shed-forming mechanism, shifting shuttle-boxes, picking mechanism, short-weft-selecting means, a short-weft holder, a pattern-surface, and

V mechanism connected with the shuttle-boxes and controlled as to its time of movement by said pattern-surface to place the shuttle-box containing the short wefts and the selecting mechanism, or the shuttle-box containing the shuttle carrying the continuous weft in operative position with relation to the race of the lay, that the loom may weave a fabric aving a 'series of short wefts and a series of of short weft and of continuous weft being controlled by said pattern-surface.

15. In a loom, a short-weft-carrying shuttle, means to select a short weft, means to move said shuttle through the shed, controlling means to act upon said weft in the shed, and prevent the same from curling or getting out of position therein before the action of the reed thereon.

16. In a loom, shed-forming mechanism, a short-weft-carrying shuttle, selecting means to select the wefts singly, means to move said shuttle to deliver a short weft, and oppositely-moving devices to contact with the warps in the upper and lower planes of the shed, and cause said war s to be closed onto so as to engage and prouce tension on the short weft laid in the shed preparatory to crossing the warps for the next shed and beating the weft into the fell` 17. In a loom for weaving with short wefts, a short-weft-carrying shuttle, and short-weftselecting means ada ted to select a short weft from the bunch of short wefts in said shuttle, said selecting means retaining temporarily one end of said selected short weft, and a holder to which said weft-selecting means gives up the end of said short weft.

18. In a loom, a shuttle-box, a short-weftcarrying shuttle adapted to carry a bunch of short, wefts, short-weft-selecting means coacting with said short-weft-carr ing shuttle, and occupying such position wit relation to the shuttle-box as to enter the ends of the bunch of short wefts of said shuttle when the latter is in its shuttle-box.

19. In a loom for weaving with short weft, a shed-forming pattern-surface, means for selecting and laying the short wefts in the shed, a lay, a feeler to feel for a short weft laid in the shed, a device under the control of said feeler, and means intermediate said device and said pattern-surface whereby when a weft is absent from the shed said device will actuate said means and arrest the movement of the attern-surface, the presence of weft in the shed rendering said device inoperative, thus permitting said means to be moved and effect the automatic starting of the patternsurface.

20. In a loom, shed-forming mechanism, a pattern-surface,means for actuating said pattern-surface and shed-forming mechanism, means to lay weft in the shed, a lay, a feeler to feel for weft in the shed, and means interpicks of continuous weft, the number of picks f IIO mediate Seid feeler and said pattern-surface, whereby when a weft is absent Said pattern W be stepped.

21. In alecm, shed-forming mechanism, e drop shutte-box, e pattern-surface, means controlled by Seid pattern-surface to actuete the shed-forming mechanism, means arise centrolled by the pattern-surface te move the shuttle-box, a. device enacting with the pattern-Surface to move said pattern-surface or leave it et rest, weft-feeling mechanism, and Ineens intermediate seid feeler and device coacting with said pattern-surface te step the petternsurface when Ithe weft fails, and Ineens t0 effect the starting e? the attern- 15 serfece when weft is suppiied te the s ed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR S. COVVAN.

Vtnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, EDITH M. STODDARD.

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