IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER PILE FABRICS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Collier, of Halifax, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND
OTHER PILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 25th January 1856, and dated the 5th September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Collier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th September
1855.
I, GEORGE COLLIER, of Halifax, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CARPETS AND OTHER PILE FABRICS" to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to employing two shuttle boxes to each side of the
loom, separated from aud operated independently of the middle of the batten
or lay when two shuttles are used, suitable for different thicknesses of weft,
either of such shuttle boxes on each side of the loom being capable of acting
with, and for the time of being locked to, the middle part of the batten or lay,
whereby those shuttle boxes for the time in use will at the traverse of their
shuttle partake of the motions, and operate as part of the centre part of the
batten or lay.
Also, to the application therewith of independent picking motions to, and
selecting for picking of, the shuttle for the time to operate.

page_text: Also, to adjusting the motions of the instrument which aids to keep the
point of the wire in the 'deep part of the shed to the different elevation of the
work when operating with the respective shuttles.
Also, to the application of separate weft forks to each shuttle box, to act also
in tightening the weft between the work and the shuttles, and thereby improve
the selvages of the fabric.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Collier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th March 1856.
•
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
COLLIER, of Halifax, in the County of York, send greeting.
14
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight, hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Collier, .Her special licence that I, the said George Collier, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others' as I, the said George
Collier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CARPETS AND OTHER PILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Collier, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-:
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Collier, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
The improvements relate to employing two shuttle boxes to each side of the
loom, separated from 'and operated independently of the middle of the batten
or lay when two shuttles are used; suitable for different thicknesses of: weft,

page_text: either of such shuttle boxes on each side of the loom being capable of acting
with, and for the time of being locked to, the middle part of the batten or lay,
whereby those shuttle boxes for the time-in use will at the traverse of their
shuttle partake of the motions, and operate as part of the centre part of the
batten or lay.
'
Also, to the application of separate, weft forks, to each shuttle box, to act also
in tightening the weft between the work and the shuttles, aud thereby improve
the selvages of the fabric..
Also, to the application therewith of independent picking motions to, and
selecting for picking of, the shuttle for the time to operate..
Also, to adjusting the motions of the instrument which aids to keep the
point of the wire in the deep part of the shed to the different elevations of the
work when operating with the respective shuttles..
But that the nature of my said Invention, and the means by which I carry
the same into effect, may be fully understood, .I will proceed to describe the
Drawings annexed.
F
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
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Figure 1 shows a front view, Figure 2 a right-hand end view, Figure. 3 &
left-hand end view, and Figure 4 a section, of a loom constructed according to
these improvements. Other Figures shew some of the parts separately, but in
each of them, the same letters indicate similar parts whereever they occur. a, a,
is the main framing; b is the main or crank axis, motion to which is given
from a steam engine or other suitable power, acting by. a strap or band upon
a fixed drum or pulley c fixed, on the axis or shaft c, upon which is also affixed
a loose pulley c², to which the strap or band may be shifted from the drum or
pulley when desired, to stop the motions of the loom; but as the movements
which I employ for this purpose have been fully described and shewn in the
Specifications of former Patents granted to me, and are now well understood,
I have not thought it necessary to enter into any precise detail concerning
them further than may serve to illustrate parts of these. improvements; and
movement is communicated from the axis. or shaft c to the main or crank
axis 6 by there being fixed upon the axis or shaft ca pinion c³, which takes
into and drives the tooth wheel 6' affixed on the axis b. d is the main cam or
tappet shaft, upon which are affixed the principal cams or tappets for operating
the parts of the loom. This shaft or axis d receives motion by there being
affixed thereon the toothed wheel d'; which is taken into and driven by the
pinion b, affixed upon the main or, crank axis b, so as to.drive the axis or
shaft d,once round, to every four rotations, of the, main of crank shaft b., At

page_text: the left-hand end of this main or crank shaft 6 is affixed the pinion b³, which
takes into and drives the toothed wheel e, affixed upon the axis or shaft c¹, upon
which are affixed the cams or tappets for operating the healds or harness of
the loom, and also the cams or tappets, hereafter referred to, for effecting the
variations desired in the order of picking.
I would here state that the arrangement of loom shewn is adapted for the
weaving of carpets, rugs, or other similar pile fabrics by the use of what are
generally called printed or party-colored pile warps; but I would remark, that
in place of employing printed or party-colored pile warp, separate sets of dyed
warp may be used when carrying out these improvements, and the selection
for pattern obtained by the use of jacquard or other pattern surface. f is the
pile warp beam; g, h, and i are other warp beams. The pile warp from the
beam fis operated by the leaf of heddles f', which is actuated by the cam or
tappet f. The warp from the beam g is to form the upper chain, or that by
which, aided by the thin weft (when two thicknesses of weft are used) the pile
warp is tied in, and it is operated for the opening and change of shed by the
leaves of heddles g', 9', which are actuated by the cams or tappets g², g². The
warp from the beam h serves to form a stufler or thickening in the middle of
the fabric, and it is operated by passing through loops f³, as shewn in the leaf
of heddles f', and the warp from the beam i forms the bottom chain to secure
the thick weft to the body of the fabric, and it is operated for the opening and
change of shed by the leaves of heddles , , which receive movement from the
cams or tappets 2*, .
This arrangement of warp threads from the beams g, h, i, is especially
adapted for the production of rugs, aided by the use of a thick and a thin weft;
but the saine may be varied as desired for other classes of pile fabrics where it
may be desired to use a thick and a thin weft. j is the breast beam, the
surface of which is furnished with pin or other points to take into the back of
the fabric as produced and draw it forward, but I have not thought it necessary
in the Drawings to show the particular motions for causing the rotation of this
beam j, or for operating to let off warp from the separate warp beams, as
various arrangements may be adopted for that purpose, and such forms no part
of my present improvements. k is the batten for the beat-up, which is operated
by the cranks b' on the crank axis 6, by being connected thereto by the links
b, as shown; but in place of the batten k carrying the shuttle boxes, the
shuttle boxes are separate therefrom, and there are two of them on each side
of the loom, one of each of which is adapted to a small shuttle to carry an
ordinary weft thread, whilst the other of each is adapted to receive a larger
shuttle for the throwing of a thick weft for the production of a thick or soft

page_text: back to the fabric being produced. These two shuttle boxes 1, ', on each side
of the loom are together supported upon arms forming a frame., from the
axis of the swords of the batten, and are free to move independently of the
batten, so that either box or may be brought into a line with the middle of
the batten or lay, and be capable of acting with it; and in order to the changes
of position of the shuttle boxes 7, 1, being effected as desired, the arms 1², sup-
porting the two shuttle boxes at either side of the loom, are connected by links
to the upper ends of arms l', affixed. to the axes, which axes turn in
bearings carried by the main framing, and have each another arm / with a
truck or bowl, which is borne by springs, acting on the arms against cams
or tappets. The cam or tappet, for operating the shuttle boxes at the right-
hand end of the loom, is affixed to the main cam or tappet shaft d, and
the cam or tappet, for operating the shuttle boxes at the left-hand end of the
loom, is affixed to the separate shaft or axis P, which turns in bearings carried
by the framing, as shown, and has affixed upon it the tooth wheel 110, by which
it receives motion from the toothed wheel e, affixed upon the axis e', at, the
rate of two to one of that axis, in order to cause the two cams to operate
simultaneously. There are bolts m, m, one to each lay sword, capable of
sliding in guides carried by such swords, so as to enter holes in projections, one
from an arm or bracket of each pair of shuttle boxes, in order that.when
the selection of the particular shuttle boxes for the time to act with the central
portion of the batten or lay has been effected they may be locked thereto.
These bolts m, m, are each borne upwards in their guides m¹ by a spring m²,
and to each is affixed a pin, carrying a truck or bowl m³, which by its spring
is borne against the under side of a projection m from the side framings of the
loom. These projections m' are so formed, .that when the batten comes
forward with the reed to effect the beat-up, they may act upon the trucks m³
to withdraw the bolts m from the projections ", affixed one to a supporting
arm of each pair of shuttle boxes; and it is at such time, if a change for the
next throw of shuttle is desired, that the change is effected in the position
of the shuttle boxes in relation to the central portion of the batten or lay, and
so soon as the batten or lay recedes back a certain distance, the bolts m will
be permitted, by the form of the projections m', to be drawn by their springs
m to pass into and lock with one of the holes in the plates ", by which the
shuttle boxes will again be secured to operate with the central portion of
the batten or lay.
But that the operations of these improvements may be better understood, I
will proceed to describe a mode of working by the arrangement shown; and
supposing a wire to be passing into the shed, those shuttle boxes.will be locked

page_text: with the central portion of the batten or lay, by which the smaller shuttle, or
that carrying thin weft, is thrown into its shed simultaneously with the putting
in of wire. The batten theu comes forward to effect'a beat-up, when, by the
bolts being withdrawn from the plates, the shuttle boxes will be released there-
from; but as in the next two throws of weft the same weft will be employed,
no change in the relative positions of the shuttle boxes takes place, and in
the going back of the batten after the beat-up upon this and the next weft the
bolts m again enter the same holes; when the beat-up takes place upon the
second weft after that thrown in with the wire, the bolts being withdrawn,
and a thick weft häving next to be inserted, the shuttle boxes at each side of
the loom changé, so as to bring those for carrying the larger shuttle, or that
carrying thick weft, into a line with the central' portion of the batten or lay,
and the thick weft being thrown in, a beat-up takes place, at which, the bolts
being withdrawn, a change of shuttle boxes again takes place, in order that thin
weft may next be thrown in simultaneously with the wire; and the operations
succeed each other, as stated; but I do not confine myself to this order of
working. r, r, are weft forks, arranged to operate one with each of the shuttle
boxes l.
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These forks rr, are each connected to an arm r¹, which arms turn upon
centres of motion at 2, carried by brackets, one from each pair of shuttle
boxes. In each arm r' is fixed a pin with a bowl, which rests upon and is
supported by a bracket from each side framing of the loom. "These brackets
are so formed as to support the forks r,r, out of the way of the shuttle when
working with the boxes, 'with which they operate, and when the batten is at
the back; but when those shuttle boxes come forward with the batten for
the beat-up, the trucks or bowls, by moving along the brackets 'r', permit the
forks 1, r, to fall into the recesses formed for the purpose in the bottom of the
shuttle boxes l, and press upon the weft if the shuttle is therein, and by their
weight to hold tight that part of it which is between the work and the shuttles,
whilst the plates affixed to the forks prevent the shuttles from being drawn
or rebounding from the boxes. 3,8, are other weft forks; acting similarly with
respect to the shuttle boxes l', or those in which the thick weft shuttle operates,
except that these forks 's, s, in place of being governed in their movements by
fixed plates, are 'operated by means of cams or tappets s'; s', affixed to the main
cam shaft d, the cams or tappets & acting upon trucks or bowls s², carried by
levers, which at one end turn upon axes of motion s', whilst at the other they
are by links connected to the lever arms se affixed to the axes s', which turn
in bearings carried by the arms ro, and at their other ends have affixed to them
the arms of the forks 8, 8. To these forks are affixed plates s³, to prevent the

page_text: shuttle rebounding or being withdrawn from its box, whilst the ends of these
forks are turned downwards and project into recesses in the front side of the
Box, to insure their laying properly on the weft to hold it tight between the
work and the shuttle; by thus causing the weft forks to hold tightly on to
the weft between the work and the shuttles better selvages are produced to
the work. t, t, are swell levers, one to each shuttle box, to act to stop the
loom, as is well understood, in the event of the shuttles not properly boxing.
These levers t, t, at one end turn upon axes of motion at t¹, whilst by their
form they are capable of rising through openings formed for the purpose in the
under side of their boxes, in position to be acted upon by the shuttles, and ät
their other ends they rest upon levers u, u, which turn upon axes of motion u',
carried by the back of the batten; and they are so formed, that when either
of them is pressed on by a levert of one of the shuttle boxes for the time
operating by the proper boxing of its shuttle, it will be depressed, and act
upon the end of an arm v, affixed to the axis v', to which are affixed the
arms v² for operating the frog, by which those arms will be raised out of
the way of the frog; but when from any cause the shuttle in operation does
not properly box, neither of the levers t of the boxes for the time acting with
the central portion of the batten or lay will act to depress either of the
levers u, and the arms will be down in position to act upon the frogs to
stop the motions of the loom, as is well understood. w, w," are springs,
affixed, one to the front of each pair of the shuttle boxes at each side of
the loom, to serve as an elastic guide to the smaller or frontermost shuttle in
passing from the work to its boxes: n, n, n', n', are the picker sticks. The
picker sticks n (one at each side of the loom) act with the boxes l, whilst the
picker sticks n' act with the boxes . 'The two picker sticks at each side of
the loom move freely on axes n², carried by the arms or frames supporting the
shuttle boxes, and they are by suitable straps n³ connected to arms n', which
have bosses or collars, by which they are capable of turning and sliding freely
on the axes o. The pair of arms n' to each axis o are connected together by
straps or forks n³ from a rod nº, each of which is formed with an arm n', in
which is formed a slot to receive a pin from a lever p or p¹. Upon each axis o
is also formed an arm o¹, which at each revolution of the main or crank axis b
is acted upon by the projection from the tappets or wipers o² carried by that
axis, in order that the axis o inay by the T pieces 0³, formed on the upper ends
of the arms o, be capable of operating the picker sticks. The arms n* are,
however, capable of being slided on their axes o, so as to be altogether out of
the way of the T pieces o³, or only so as to operate on one or other of them,
which movements are effected by the arms p,p'. The arm p is affixed to the

page_text: spindle or axis p' for operating the arm n' at the right-hand side of the loom,
and upon this axis p² is affixed the lever arm p', which at its upper end bears
a truck or roller, which is operated by the cam or tappet p', affixed on and
moving with the axis e¹. The arm p¹ is affixed to the tubular axis p', which is
supported by and so as to be capable of moving on the axis p², whilst to it
is also affixed the lever arm p, which by its truck p' is operated by the
cam or tappet ps, affixed also upon the axis e'. By this means the picking
motions are independent of each other, and capable of operating only as
governed by the cams or tappets to move the particular picker for the time
desired.
I have not thought it necessary in the Specification to enter into any detail
of the mode of operating for the insertion of the wires to the shed, or of with-
drawing them at the proper time in order to their re-insertion, as such have
been repeatedly shown and described in the Specifications of former Patents
granted to me, and the Drawings, aided by my previous Specifications relating
to the weaving of carpets and other like fabrics, sufficiently show the means
which I adopt in the present case.
In the Specification of one of my former Patents, bearing date the Ninth
day of December, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, I described the
operations of an instrument for aiding to keep the point of the pile wire in the
deep part of the shed; but when weaving with two shuttles of different sizes,
whereby the recently formed work will be at a different elevation at one time
to what it will be at another, it is important that the lower end of this instru-
ment, whilst it is capable of acting upon the wire in the shed when the
recently formed fabric is in the lowest position, may yet be raised somewhat
when by the opening of shed for the larger shuttle the recently formed work is
raised, and when such lower part of the instrument would otherwise interfere
with the proper laying in of weft and tend to injure the work. q represents
the instrument arranged according to my present improvements, and it will
be seen that it is supported by a pin projecting from the end of the lever q¹,
and it is borne back against the stop 2 affixed in that lever by means of
the spring of india-rubber or other suitable material . In Figure 4 the
instrument is shown in position suitable for when a wire is being inserted
into the shed opened for it; Figure 5 shows the parts in the position they
would assume when the shed is opened for the laying in of a thick weft, with
the instrument q raised out of the way of the work. This raising is at such
time effected by means of the pin q', affixed to one of the supporting links of
the leaf of heddles f¹; when that leaf rises with the other leaves an extra
height for the proper clearance for the passage of the larger shuttle, the

page_text: pin q acts upon the under side of the lever q', to raise it and the instrument q
as desired.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means
which I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, I would have
it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shown
and described, as variation may be made therein without departing from the
peculiar character of any part of the improvements; but what I do claim is,
the so arranging and combining parts in connection with looms for the manu-
facture of carpets and other pile fabrics, that two shuttle boxes may be
employed at each side of the loom operated independently of the middle portion
of the batten or lay when two shuttles are used suitable for different thicknesses
of weft, and capable of acting with and for the time of being locked to the
middle part of the batten or lay, for the purpose explained.
Also, I claim the application of separate weft forks to each shuttle box
to operate to tighten the weft between the work and the shuttles, as explained.
Also, I claim, in connection with such mode of working shuttle boxes, the
adaptation of independent picking motions for the selection of picker for the
time to operate, as explained.
Also, I claim the adjusting the motions of the instrument 7 to the different
elevations of the work when operating with shuttles carrying different sized
weft, as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Collier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
T. PALETHORPE,
Halifax.
GEORGE COLLIER. (L.S.)