The loose reed is a better way of preventing damage to the warp by the shuttle being caught. If the shuttle is caught in the shed it throws out the reed and stops the loom. Its action will be understood from [Fig. 68]. A rod, C, runs underneath the shuttle-race at the back of the slay, and the finger B is fastened to it. The reed is held in position by a board, A, which is also connected to the rod C, as shown in the diagram. If the shuttle is caught in the shed, it presses back the reed and the board A, and lifts the finger B to the upper side of the frog F, and as the slay moves forward it throws the board A further back and the reed out at the bottom, and the lever H is brought into contact with the loom handle, and the loom is stopped. If the shuttle passes safely through the shed, the reed is not pressed back, and the finger F comes under the frog as the slay gets to the front of its stroke, and holds the reed comparatively fast. The disadvantage of the loose reed is that the reed is not sufficiently firm to put a large amount of weft into the cloth, but improvement is being made in this respect, and loose-reed looms are to-day made for weaving fabrics for which it was formerly necessary to have fast reeds.
FIG. 68.
The invention of the loose reed is generally attributed to Mr. James Bullough. It was invented about 1842.
THE WEFT FORK STOP MOTION.
FIG. 69.
One of the most useful adjuncts to the power-loom is the motion for stopping the loom when the weft breaks or runs out. [Fig. 69] will explain the principle of this useful contrivance. The grid A is placed at the side of the reed between the reed and the shuttle-box, and the fork is so placed that as the grid moves forward the prongs of the fork pass through it. When the weft comes between the fork and the grid it raises the end of the fork E, out of the way of the hammer H, which is moved forward every two picks by a cam or lifter, D, on the bottom shaft of the loom. If the weft breaks or runs out the fork will of course pass through the grid, and it is so balanced that the hook E will be caught by the hammer and the loom handle knocked off. The invention of the Weft Fork Stopping Motion is claimed by several persons, but it was perfected about the year 1842, when the brake was applied to it. The action of this brake is illustrated at [Fig. 70]. When the handle is pushed sideways in starting the loom it lifts the rod R and the lever L, and thus takes the brake off. When the handle is knocked off by the weft fork being caught, the lever L drops and the brake is applied. The brake power can be regulated by altering the position of the weight on the levers.
FIG. 70.