Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus used in the Manufacture of Wire Healds.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus used in the Manufacture
of Wire Healds.
We WILLIAM STERN Traveller and JAMES ARROWSMITI
of the firm of
Messieurs Horsfall and Bickham, Wire Card Manufacturers, both of Bridgewater
Works Pendleton in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of wire healds and
especially of such healds as are made from two lengths of wire soldered together the
object of the apparatus being to form with perfect accuracy the eyes or "mails"
and the end loops of such healds.
"
Our invention consists in the first place of two pairs of clamping jaws set at a
suitable distance apart in adjustable bearings which carry the spindles or rods to
which they are fixed. These spindles are prevented from revolving, but are
capable of sliding in their bearings to a limited extent and are provided with
springs to allow the clamps to approach each other as hereafter described, the
tension of these springs being regulated by collars on the spindles or otherwise.
These two clamps are for the purpose of holding the double wire whilst the eye
or mail" is being formed and we provide one of the above named spindles or rods
with an adjustable stop to gauge the position of the eye or "mail" which is formed
in the double wire between the two pairs of clamps one end of the double wire being
pushed up to this stop as it is being placed in the clamps. These latter are then
tightened to grip the wire, and a small tool of the exact section required for the eye
or mail and reduced to a wedge or chisel edge at one end is inserted between the
two wires breaking the solder and separating them at the point between the two
pairs of clamps. Using this small tool as à lever the wire is then twisted at this
point thereby forming the eye or mail of the heald, and as the wire is twisted
it becomes shorter and causes the two pairs of clamps to approach each other which
they are enabled to do by the springs before named.
An adjustable plate is mounted upon each pair of clamping jaws so that the
position of the wire in the jaws can be varied to prevent the grooving which
would result from continually holding the wire in the same part of the said jaws.
The eye or mail" being thus formed it is necessary to make the loop at each
end of the heald wire, and the next part of our improved apparatus consists of three
sockets. adjustable upon a suitable bed plate. The socket in the centre carries a
peg of exactly the shape of the eye or mail previously formed. The two end
sockets carry pegs the sections of the outer sides of which correspond or nearly
so in form and size to the shape of the end loop required.
One or more wires being placed on the central peg the ends are merely doubled
and the outer pegs and the wire is thus prepared for the succeeding and final
mechanism which completes the loop.
This consists of a fixed clamp formed of a blade which is mounted as hereafter
described in such a manner that it can be brought down between two adjustable
plates which are fixed so close together that the wires can just pass between them.
In a line with this clamp, and at a suitable distance therefrom is a twisting
spindle capable of being revolved by spur gearing and provided with a head or
socket for holding a hook, the end of which is made of such form in section
as to agree with the shape and size of the loop to be made at each end of the
heald wire.
The eye or mail" of the heald wire to be treated is fixed upon a peg exactly
corresponding with its form and mounted upon a hinged bracket which is held in

page_text: place by a catch lever and is adjusted in a slide or slot in a suitable position and at
the requisite distance beyond the clamp, between the plates of which the wire (bent
by the previously described means) is passed the short bent end is then passed
round the hook hield in the head or socket of the twisting spindle and then passed
between the clamping plates, and the b'ade being then brought down securely
holds the loop thus formed. The hook is then rotated by a spur pinion gearing
with a spur wheel upon a parallel shaft provided with a handle; and the loop
is then completed by twisting.
As the loop is shortened by this twisting the hook is drawn towards the clamp
and this is allowed for by causing the spindle to slide in its bearings and providing
it with a suitable tension spring. The sliding spindle is also connected to a lever
or catch which is so mounted and situated with regard to the handle on the driving
shaft that the latter is automatically stopped when the loop has received sufficient
twist, and is at right angles to the eye or "mail."
A catch is also preferably so applied to the apparatus that the handle can pass as
it is being turned forwards but, when turned back this catch will stop the handle
exactly at the point where the hook on the sliding spindle will be in the proper
position for the ready removal of the loop therefrom..
The clamping blade above described is carried by a vertical sliding rod held up
by a suitable spring but capable of being brought down to hold the wire loop as
above described by means of a lever worked preferably by a treadle.
Dated this 16th day of May 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus used in the Manufacture
of Wire Healds.
We WILLIAM STERN, Traveller and JAMES ARROWSMITH of the firm of
Messieurs Horsfall and Bickham, Wire Card Manufacturers both of Bridgewater
Works Pendleton in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
d'escribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of wire healds used in
looms for weaving, and especially to such healds as are made from two lengths of
wire soldered together, the object of the apparatus being to form with perfect
accuracy the eyes or "mails" and the end loops of such healds.
The nature of the said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the three sheets of drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation
thereof.
On Sheet 1 of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan view of
the apparatus for forming the central eye or mail" of the heald, and Figs. 3 and 4
are similar views of the apparatus for determining the depth of the heald and for
forming or bending round the end loops previously to twisting the same.
On Sheet 2 of the drawings Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of the apparatus for
twisting the said end loops.
On Sheet 3 of the drawings Fig. 7 is an end elevation, and Fig. 8 a detached
portion of the said twisting apparatus.
Fig. 9 on the same sheet illustrates a modification of this last named machine
whereby it may be adapted to forming the central eyes or "mails."
The first part of our invention (see Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 1.) consists of two pairs of
clamping jaws a and b set at a suitable distance apart in adjustable bearings which
carry the spindles or rods d, e to which the clamps a and b are fixed. These

page_text: spindles d and e are prevented from revolving but are capable of sliding end wise
in their bearings c to a limited extent, and are provided with coiled springs to
allow the clamps a and b to approach each other as hereinafter described the tension
of these springs being regulated by the collars g fixed on the spindles d and e or
otherwise.
These two clamps a and b are for the purpose of holding the double wire whilst
the eye or "mail
is being formed, and we provide one of the above named spindles
or rods (say e) with an adjustable stop to gange the position of the eye or
"mail" which is formed in the double wire (see Fig. 1) between the two pairs of
clamps and bone end of the double wire being pushed up to this stop as it is
being placed in the clamps. The latter are then tightened to grip the wire hand a
small tool k (see Fig. 24) of. the exact section required for the eye or "mail
reduced to a wedge or chisel edge at the end, is inserted between the two wires,
breaking the solder and separating them at the central point between the two pairs
of clamps a and b.
and
Using this small tool as a lever the wires are then twisted at this point thereby
forming the eye or "mail" of the heald, and as the double wire is twisted it
becomes shorter, and causes the two pairs of clamps a and b to approach each other,
which they are enabled to do by the action of the coiled springs before named.
An adjustable guide plate is mounted upon each pair of clamping jaws so that
the position of the wire in the jaws can be varied to prevent the grooving of their
interior faces which would result from continually holding the wire in the same part
of the said jaws.
The
The eye or "mail" being thus formed it is necessary to form the loops at each
end of the heald wire, and the next part of our improved apparatus (see Figs. 3
and 4) consists of three sockets m n o adjustable upon a suitable bed plate p.
socket n in the centre carries a peg n¹ of exactly the shape of the eye or
previously formed.
mail"
The two end sockets m and o carry pegs m', o', the sections of the outer sides of
which correspond in form and size to the shape of the end loop required.
One or more wires being placed on the central peg n the ends are merely
doubled round the outer pegs m and o (see Fig. 4) and the wire is thus prepared
for the succeeding and final mechanism (see Figs. 5, 6, and 7) which completes
the loop.
This consists of a fixed clamp formed of a blade 7 which is mounted as herein-
after described in such a manner that it can be brought down between two
plates q, fixed so close together that the wire h can just pass between them.
A convenient way of adjusting these plates (see detached view Fig. 8) is to place
between the two plates y¹ and 2 above the screw bolt q³ a strip or wire of thin
metal of the same size or say one size thicker than the wire and then to screw
up which will leave a space between the two plates of such a width as will just
allow the wire h to move end wise as it becomes shortened in twisting, the strip or
wire forming the abutment against which the wire is held as in a clamp by the
pressure of the blade q.
In a line with this clamp and at a suitable distance therefrom is mounted a
twisting spindle capable of being revolved by spur gearing and provided with a
head or socket for holding a hook the end of which is made of such a form in
section as to agree with the shape and size of the loop to be made at each end of
the heald wire.
The eye or "mail" of the heald wire to be treated is fixed upon a peg exactly
corresponding with its form and mounted upon a lever or hinged bracket 8 which is
held in place by a catch lever s¹ and adjusted in a slide or slots 2 in a suitable
position and at the required distance beyond the clamp between the plates q'q' of
which the wire h (bent by the previously described means) is passed. The short
bent end is then placed round the hook in the head or socket 2 of the twisting
spindle and then passed between the clamping plates q', q² and the blade q being
pressed down by the spring qt securely holds the loop thus formed.

page_text: The hook is rotated by means of the spur gearing actuated by the handle ³,
and the loop is thus completed by twisting the ends together.
As the loop is shortened by this twisting, the hook is drawn towards the
clamp g and this is allowed by causing the spindle to slide endwise in its bearings
and providing it with a suitable tension spring t.
The outer end of the spindle r is connected to a lever or catch which is
mounted on a fulcrum at and so situated with regard to the handle 5, of the
driving shaft that the latter is automatically stopped by the catch u coming in front
of it when the loop has received sufficient twist.
A catch (see Fig. 7) is also preferably so applied to the apparatus that the
handle can pass as it is being turned forwards, but when turned back this catch v
will stop the handle exactly at the point when the hook 3 (and consequently the
loop) is just at the proper position for removal, that is when the loop is at right
angles to the eye or "mail."
The clamping blade g above described is carried by a rod w sliding vertically in
a frame and preferably pressed down by a suitable spring 21 to hold the wire, and
raised when required to release the wire, by the lever which is worked by a
treadle or by hand, but if preferred, the sliding rod w may be raised by the
spring and pressed down by the lever ..
Fig. 9 shows how a slight modification of this apparatus may be utilized for
forming the eye or "mail" by simply duplicating the blade and clamping
plates and 2. In this case no spring spindles will be required as the wire will
slip (as it becomes shortened by twisting) between the blade 9 and the clamping
plates and q².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is, to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
The improved apparatus for performing the various operations required in the
manufacture of wire healds, either separately or collectively substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 16th day of September 1891
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.