IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WEAVERS' HARNESS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Year: 1881

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WEAVERS' HARNESS, AND IN
MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by the Kendrick
Loom Harness Company, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th May 1881.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
WEAVERS' HARNESS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." [A communication from
abroad by the Kendrick Loom Harness Company, of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America.]
The said Invention relates to weavers' harness, and comprises machinery
embodying certain combinations of devices whereby a heddle can be formed from
one continuous twine instead of from two separate twines looped together. The
harness manufactured by my machine is suitable for use when mounted upon proper
shafts in an ordinary loom for weaving fabrics, but it is especially intended to be
separated after it is manufactured into the individual heddles composing it for use
in jacquard looms. The harness consists of a single twine laid in continuous folds
returned upon itself and knitted to the back bands at the end of each fold with a
crochet stitch or suitable binding thread.
The two legs of each of the individual heddles composing the harness are
connected by metal clasps which define the length of the heddle eye and secure
the two adjacent lengths of twine together.
A
In the said machinery a platform or bed is mounted on a suitable frame.
bobbin of harness twine is set upon a stud pin so that it can revolve and give off
the twine as required by the machine in its action.

page_text: In order to start the machine it is to be supposed that a sufficient length of
twine has been led by the operator from the bobbin, and the end of said twine tied
to the back band. Two vibrating arms of peculiar construction are provided to
lay hold of the twine by means of their hooked ends and carry the same out to the
back bands in such a manner that the twine will be returned upon itself from
back-band to back-band in a continuous fold. Each of these vibrating arms is
composed of a sleeve portion and a member which is capable of sliding longitudinally
in the hollow axis of the sleeve-portion, and is furnished with a hook end. By
means of this telescopic joint connection of the two members composing each
vibrating arm, the length of such arms can be varied to meet certain requirements
in the performance of their offices, presently to be explained.
The means by which the length of the vibrating arms can be varied consists of
a pin, which projects at right angles from the shank of the hook member, and passes
through a longitudinal slot cut through the underside of the sleeve portion. This
pin during the vibration of its arm rides over the face of a stationary cam.
The
cam face in conjunction with the contractile spring causes the vibrating arm to be
lengthened or shortened during its path of vibration, conformably to the
configuration of the said cam.
The extensible and contractible arms are mounted upon the upper ends of vertical
shafts extending through tubular supports. Upon their lower ends the shafts bear
toothed segments which gear with racks upon arms journalled upon the frame of
the machine. Each of these arms is made to vibrate independently of the other by
cams upon a continuously revolving shaft.
An
In connection with the said machine I provide the ordinary mechanism for
applying to the heddles as they are formed the metallic clasps to form the heddle
eyes. Moreover, the machine is to be furnished with spools or bobbins carrying
binding threads, which spools revolve around the back bands. It is also furnished
with vertically moving latch needles for crocheting the heddles to said bands.
eye is provided in the end of a sliding rod to guide the twine which is held by a
notch on a stationary finger. The movement of the said sliding rod is effected by
means of a rocking arm which is actuated by a cam or any other convenient means
through a rod or link connecting such rocking arm with the cam.
In machines of this class take-up devices have long been employed in case the
bobbin delivers the twine too freely by its momentum. I improve such take up
devices as follows, that is to say:-I provide a brake, which is brought into action
to arrest the momentum of the bobbin in case there is any necessity for so doing.
The twine supports a ring which serves merely as a weight, and embraces two
vertical guide rods which allow it to have a free up and down movement, but
confine it within proper limits as to its sidewise movement. The twine passes from
this weighted ring upward through two guide eyes, and between the two guide
eyes a light weight in the form of a rod is suspended on the twine. The device
thus far is the same as that in common use, but I add to the weighted ring an arm
projecting at right angles therefrom, and a friction brake, which, by means of
weights, is held in a balanced position when the brake is not required to be brought
into action.
As above stated I form the heddle of one continuous piece of twine, returned
upon itself, to form the two legs of the heddle, and with one leg longer than the
other to allow of tying upon one side and near one end of the heddle, and the
heddle eye is formed by clasping the parallel halves of the heddle together with
metal bands which determine the length of said eye. My improvements comprise
methods of producing such heddles economically by continuously returning a single
twine upon itself in parallel folds to make a continuous series of legs of heddles,
securing the ends of such folds to back-bands by binding threads, attaching
metal clasps to each pair of heddle legs to form eyes, varnishing and dressing
whole series of heddles, cutting the whole series in a line parallel with one of the
bank-bands so as to leave one leg of each heddle longer than the other, and finally

page_text: withdrawing the back bands to separate the series with single heddles as
described.
As usually constructed heretofore, jacquard heddles have been composed of a
metal eye piece, to which two distinct leg portions have been attached by passing
the twines composing such leg-portions through perforations in the ends of the metal
eye piece, and tying the respective ends of each leg portion together. A heddle
thus formed has two knots, which obstruct the operation of the heddle when
in usc.
In my improved heddle there is but one knot, which is located in the most
desirable position, and the parallel halves of the heddle being secured to each other
by metallic clasps, such knot cannot change its position during the use of the
heddle.
After being placed upon shafts and dressed, the series of heddles is divided into
individual heddles by a single cut.
The binding threads are then cut, and the series will be separated into individual
heddles, one leg of each of which will be longer than its fellow. The ends of the
heddle are then tied, and the heddle is complete for use upon a jacquard loom.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st November 1881.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
WEAVERS' HARNESS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by the Kendrick Loom Harness Company, of Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America.
The said Invention relates to weavers' harness, and comprises machinery
embodying certain combinations of devices whereby heddles can be formed from
one continuous twine, instead of from two separate twines looped together. The
harness manufactured by my machine is suitable for use when mounted upon
proper shafts in an ordinary loom for weaving fabrics, but it is especially intended
to be separated after it is inanufactured into the individual heddles composing it
for use in jacquard looms. The harness consists of a single twine laid in continuous
folds returned upon itself and knitted to the back-bands at the end of each fold
with a crochet-stitch or suitable binding thread.
The two legs of each of the individual heddles composing the harness are con-
nected by metal clasps which define the length of the heddle-eye and secure the
two adjacent lengths of twine together.
In the accompanying Drawing I have represented only so much of the machine
as is necessary to enable my improvements to be fully understood. Much of the
mechanism which is employed, and all that is not fully represented, is of the
ordinary construction, and is familiar to constructors of this class of machinery.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, are plans or top views of the said machine, showing different
positions of the vibrating hooked arms which carry the twine in proper folds to the
back-bands to which the heddles are knitted.
Figure 4 represents a front view of the machine.
A is the platform or bed of the machine which is mounted on a suitable frame.
B represents a bobbin of harness-twine which is set upon a stud-pin, so that it can
revolve and give off the twine as required by the machine in its action.
In order to start the machine, it is to be supposed that a sufficient length of
twine a has been led by the operator from the bobbin B in the part indicated in
Figures 1 and 4, and the end of the said twine tied to the back-band b¹. C, C¹,
represent two vibrating arms of peculiar construction designed to lay hold of the
twine by means of their hooked ends, and carry the same out to the back-band in
such a manner that the twine will be returned upon itself from back-band to back-
band in a continuous fold. Each of these vibrating arms is composed of a sleeve-
portion of a definite length, and a member c¹ which is capable of sliding
longitudinally in the hollow axis of the sleeve-portion c, and is furnished with a
hook end. By means of this telescopic joint connection of the two members
composing each vibrating arm C, C', the length of such arm as a whole can be
varied to meet certain requirements in the performance of their functions presently
to be explained.
The means by which the length of the vibrating arms C, C', can be varied,
consist of a pind which projects at right angles from the shank of the hook-
member c¹, and passes through a longitudinal slot cut through the underside of the
sleeve portion c, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and in
elevation at Figure 4. This pin d during the vibration of its arm rides over the
face of a stationary cam D. This cam-face in conjunction with the contractible
spring d¹ located between the end of the sleeve-member c and the collar on the

page_text: hook member c', and fastened to such collar and the end of the arm respectively,
causes the vibrating arm to be lengthened or shortened during its path of vibration,
conformably to the configuration of the said cam D. The extensible and con-
tractible arms are mounted upon the upper ends of vertical shafts E, E', extending
through tubular supports E2, E³, secured to the bed of the machine. Upon their
lower ends the shafts bear toothed segments e, e', which gear with the racks f, f',
upon the arms F, F', journalled upon studs projecting from the frame of the
machine, as shown in Figure 4. Each of these arins is made to vibrate independently
of the other by cams G, G¹, upon a continuously revolving shaft G³.
In connection with the said machine I provide the ordinary mechanism for
applying to the heddles as they are formed the metallic clasps to form the heddle-
eyes. Moreover, the machine is to be furnished with spools or bobbins H, H',
carrying binding threads, which spools revolve around the back-bands b, b', and it
is also provided with the ordinary vertically moving latch needles J, J¹, for
crocheting the heddles to the said bands.
Assuming the machine to be in operation and the twine a to be conducted as
shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that the said twine passes through. A guide
eye is provided in the end of a sliding rod K to guide the twine, which is also
held by a notch on a stationary finger L. The vibrating arm commences to
move in the direction of the arrow, and as during its previous return movement it
passes over that length of twine which lies between the notch and the eye k, it
will in its present movement have its hooked end engaged with the twine, as
shown in Figure 1. During this movement the other vibrating arm C' is moving
in the direction of its arrow, and presently the relation of the two vibrating arms
to each other will be as shown at Figure 2, the said arm C¹ having within the time
supposed moved to its furthest extent towards the front of the machine, and
commenced its return movement. In moving outward or in the direction of the
arrow shewn in Figure 1, the hooked end of the said arm C will ride over the
short length of twine between the notch and the eye k; and in making its return
movement inward, or in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, its hooked
end will be engaged with the twine, as shown in the said Figure. The vibrating
arm Creaches its furthest extent of movement inward, and delivers the heddle-
twine to the mechanism which knits it to the back-band b before the vibrating
arm C¹ has reached its furthest extent of inward movement. In Figure 3 the same
heddle-twine that is shown in Figure 2 under the control of the vibrating arm C,
is shown as laid in a heddle and in position to be made fast to the back-band b, or
in other words, the point a on the twine a in Figures 1 and 2 will be located at the
back-band b, as shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3 the vibrating arm C is represented
as returning towards its extreme outward position, which position is a little beyond
that shown in Figure 1. At or about the time that the vibrating arm C is in the
position shown in Figure 3, the arm C¹ has reached the furthest extent of its
inward movement, as shown in the said Figure, has laid the twine under its control
in a heddle, and delivered it to the mechanism which knits it to the back-band b¹.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the arm C¹ is a little later in its
respective movements than the arm C. This arrangement is desirable in order
that the booked ends of the arms shall not interfere with each other when they
take hold of the twine, and is also of advantage in that the slack which is produced
in the twine, as the arm C starts to move outward, will be taken up by the finishing
inward movement of the arm C¹.
As heretofore stated the vibrating arms C, C¹, are extensible and contractible in
length. This construction is important for the reason that the arm is required to
be longest when it engages with the twine preparatory to moving inward towards
the back-bands, and also a peculiar movement in a rearward direction is required
to be given to the twine when it passes the back-band, to enable it to be delivered
to and be taken by the latch-needle. By observing the contour of the cams D it
will be readily seen how the necessary changes in length are effected. That portion
of the cam marked g operates to extend the hooked member c¹ to the proper length

page_text: to engage the twine without unnecessary lost motion, while that portion of the
cam marked g¹ is the means of giving an extension to the hooked end rearward
of the back-band to enable the latch needle to take the said twine.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the guide-eye % in the end
of the sliding rod K occupies a different position to that shown in Figure 3. The
movement of the rod K to the position shown in Figure 3 is made at or about the
time that the vibrating arm C is completing its inward movement.
This move-
inent of the rod K from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to that shown in
Figure 3 is to enable the twine to be carried over the notch on the finger L, so
that upon the return of the sliding rod to its original position there will be a length
of twine between such notch and the eye le in a position which will enable the
extensible and contractible vibrators to engage with such twine. The movement
of the said sliding rod is effected by means of a rocking arm M, shown in Figures
1 and 4, which arm is actuated by a cam or any other convenient means through
a rod or link m connecting the said rocking arm with the cam. When the
vibrating arm C has moved inward far enough it will take the twine out of the
notch and lay it in a straight line from back-band to back-band. The mechanisın
for putting the metallic clasps upon the heddle to form the heddle-eyes operates
after both of the arms C, C, have delivered the twine to the crocheting
mechanism.
In machines of this class take-up devices have long been employed in case the
bobbin delivers the twine too freely by its momentum. I improve such take-up
devices, as shewn in Figure 4, that is to say, I provide a brake which is brought
into action to arrest the momentum of the bobbin in case there is any necessity for
so doing. As shown in Figure 4 the twine supports a ring N which serves merely
as a weight. It is made in the form of a ring so as to embrace two vertical guide-
rods 0, 0, and allow it to have a free up and down movement, but be confined
within suitable limits as to its sidewise movement. The twine passes from this
weighted ring upward through two guide-cyes P, P¹, and between the two guide-
eyes, a light weight in the form of a rod Q is suspended on the twine. The device
thus far is the same as that in common use, but I add to the weighted ring an
arm n projecting at right angles therefrom, and a friction-brake R pivoted at r,
as shown in Figure 4, which by means of the weight S and the counter balance
weight R is held in a balanced position when the brake is not required to be
brought into action.
When the twine is being delivered properly the said ring N occupies a much.
higher position than that shown in the Drawing, and the arm n projecting there-
from is not in contact with the weight S. If however the bobbin by its
momentum gives off too much twine, the weighted ring N will descend to a lower
plane, and the arm n, the end of which is formed into an eye and surrounds the
wire to which the weight S is attached, will come in contact with the said weight S,
as shown in the Drawing, and thus a portion of the weight of the ring N, being
added to that of S, will tilt the brake R and arrest the momentum of the bobbin.
As the machine continues forming heddles the weighted ring N will be clevated to
its normal position and relieve the bobbin of the brake.
As above stated I form the heddle of one continuous piece of twine returned
upon itself to form the two legs of the heddle, and with one leg longer than the
other to allow of tying upon one side and near one end of the said heddle, and the
heddle-eye is formed by clasping the parallel halves of the heddle together with
metal bands which determine the length of the said eye. My improvements
comprise a method of producing such heddles economically by continuously
returning a single twine upon itself in parallel folds to make a continuous series
of legs of heddles, securing the ends of such folds to back-bands by binding
threads, attaching metal clasps to each pair of beddle-legs to form eyes, varnishing
and dressing the whole series of heddles, cutting the whole series in a line parallel
with one of the back-bands, so as to leave one leg of each heddle longer than the

page_text: other, and finally withdrawing the back-band to separate the series into single
heddles, as described.
A
As usually constructed heretofore, jacquard heddles have been composed of a
metal eye-piece to which two distinct leg-portions have been attached by passing
the twines composing such leg-portions through perforations in the ends of the
metal eye-piece, and tying the respective ends of each leg-portion together.
heddle thus formed has two knots, which are objectionable, and the leg-portions not
being immovably secured to the eye-piece, these knots are liable to obstruct the
operation of the heddle when in use. In my improved heddle there is but one
knot, which is located in the most desirable position, and the parallel halves of the
said heddle being secured to each other by metal clasps, such knot cannot change
its position during the use of the heddle.
Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which the continuous twine is returned upon
itself in parallel folds to form a series of uncut heddles.
Figure 6 shows such series of heddles secured to back-bands by binding threads,
so that the heddles may be economically dressed.
Figure 7 represents the same mounted upon shafts in such a manner that the
series of heddles can be cut into individual heddles with different lengths of legs.
Figure 8 shows a single heddle when removed from the back-bands, and
Figure 9 represents the same with its ends tied, forming a complete jacquard
heddle.
A machine for making a series of heddles from a continuous twine by returning
the same upon itself in parallel folds, and securing the ends of such folds to back-
bands has been fully described above.
Although the improved heddles may be constructed individually by hand, yet it
is preferred to form them in the manner above set forth, that is to say, by forming
the heddles in series by returning a continuous twine upon itself and securing
the ends of the folds to back-bands by suitable binding threads, in order that tho
series may be economically varnished or dressed.
The
After being placed upon shafts, as shown in Figure 7, and dressed, the series of
heddles is divided into individual heddles by a single cut upon the line x, x.
binding threads are then cut, as, for instance, upon the lines y, y, and the series
will be separated into individual heddles, one leg of each of which will be longer
than its fellow, as shown in Figure 8. The ends of the heddle are then tied, as
shown in Figure 9, and the heddle is complete for use upon a jacquard loom.
By an examination of Figures 5, 7, and 8, it will be readily seen how, by
cutting the series on the line x, x, one leg of a heddle will be longer than its fellow.
As shown in Figure 5, the loops at the left hand of the series belong to distinct
heddles, while each loop at the right hand forms a part of two adjacent heddles.
When the series is cut on the line x, x, Figure 7, therefore a heddle, such as
shown in Figure 8, is the result.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim,-
First. The combination, substantially as above set forth, of the extensible and
contractible vibrators and the fixed cams for varying the lengths of the same.
Second. The combination, substantially as above set forth, of a single twine-
carrying bobbin, devices as described for leading the said twine to one of the
back-bands, and vibrators arranged to engage with such twine and carry it to
mechanism for fastening it to the back-bands, so that the twine will be returned
upon itself to form the heddle.
Third. The combination, as above set forth, of a device having a notch for
holding the portion of the length of twine that is to enter into the formation of
the next ensuing heddle, a movable guide-eye k, and the hooked vibrators adapted
to engage with the length of twine between the said notched device and the
guide-eye, and carry the said twine returned upon itself to the mechanism for
fastening it to the back-bands to form a heddle.

page_text: Fourth. The combination, as above set forth, of a twine carrying bobbin, a
balanced friction-brake as described, and a weight ordinarily held suspended by
the twine running from the bobbin, but which if the twine runs off too freely will
be lowered in position and by its weight tilt the brake to one side and cause
friction to be applied to the bobbin to retard its rotation.
Fifth. The improved heddle for weaving in a jacquard loom consisting of a single
twine returned upon itself and having one leg longer than the other for tying, as
shown, and having the eye formed by two metal clasps uniting the two legs,
substantially as above set forth.
Sixth. The improvement in the method of manufacturing jacquard heddles,
which consists in continuously returning a single twine upon itself in parallel folds,
to make a continuous series of legs of heddles, securing the ends of the said folds to
back-bands by binding threads attaching metal-clasps to each pair of heddle-legs
to form eyes, varnishing and dressing the whole series of heddles, cutting the whole
series to form one leg of each heddle longer than the other, as described, and finally
withdrawing the back-bands to separate the series into single heddles, as above
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.