IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN MACHINERY FOR COMMUNICATING MOTION TO LOOMS AND OTHER MACHINES.
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Hardon, of Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Manufacturer, and Joseph Henry, of the same Place, Mechanic,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN
MACHINERY FOR COMMUNICATING MOTION TO LOOMS AND OTHER MACHINES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Hardon and Joseph
Henry at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 24th June 1856.
We, EDWIN HARDON, of Stockport, in the County. of Chester, Manufacturer,
and JOSEPH HENRY, of the same Place, Mechanic, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND
IN MACHINERY FOR COMMUNICATING MOTION TO LOOMS AND OTHER MACHINES," to
be as follows:-
Our Invention consists, first, of an improved picking motion; this motion is
given by studs and bowls on the fly-wheels acting alternately on elbow levers,
which are brought in a line with or moved beyond the reach of the said studs
and bowls, as required. The elbow levers are connected to the picking sticks,
which are hinged to levers jointed to brackets fixed to the cross shaft of the
lay swords, and guided by studs projecting from the said brackets, by which
Bieans the upper part of the picking stick is made to travel in a horizontal or
nearly horizontal line, instead of moving through the are of a circle, as hereto-

page_text: fore customary, the ordinary picker is dispensed with, and the shuttle is acted
upon by a hood of leather or other material attached to the end of the picking
stick.
Secondly, in working twenty or other convenient number of shafts or heddles
in any required succession by means of two treading levers and a series of a
jacquard hooks, which are acted upon by a chain, the links of which are
furnished with notches or pegs. The levers for opening and closing the shed
are moved up and down by a crank piu on the second motion wheel acting on
an elbow lever, one arm of which has a toothed segment driving a pinion on a
cross shaft, which cross shaft has a crank connected to the said levers. The
said cross shaft may be worked by a straight lever with a vertical rack and
pinion, or by other suitable mechanism.
Thirdly, in working the drop box of a loom in which two or more shuttles
are used, by means of a spiral barrel, with clevators and depressers acting on a
lever connected to the drop box.
Fourthly, in working the lay by crank pins fitting in fly-wheels placed
outside the framing, and in attaching the crank pin to the fly-wheel in such
wise that the length of the stroke of the lay may be altered to suit the fabric
to be woven.
Fifthly, in making the prongs of the weft fork at right angles to the hook,
and bending the prongs of the fork at or near the fulcrum on which the hook
is hinged. Also, in an improved mode of connecting the weft fork to the stop-
rod, so as to stop the loom at the same pick as the weft breaks.
Sixthly, in an improved mode of regulating the amount of motion given to
the taking-up roller according to the quantity of cloth on the cloth beam. To
a rod or roller bearing on the cloth is attached a link connected to a lever, the
end of which slides in a slot in the click lever, acting on the ratchet wheel for
giving motion to the cloth roller.
Seventhly, in an improved mode of setting out the tappets for working the
heddles of looms. The guide ribs of the tappets are segments of circles or
curves of such a shape that when the tappet has been moved half way between
the elevator and the depresser the shed shall be closed.
Eighthly, in hinging the backs of the shuttle boxes to the lay, and in support-
ing the stop-rod in bearings fixed to breast beam or side frames. When the
shuttle enters a shuttle box the back yields, and a lever attached thereto moves
a light rod passing under the lay bottom so as to bring the feeler beyond the
reach of a projection on the stop-rod, but as soon as the shuttle fails to enter
the shuttle box, the feeler comes against the projection, and the motions of the
loom are arrested.

page_text: Ninthly, in certain improved self-acting temples, consisting of an endless
band of card, fillet, or chain, with needle points, passing over rollers supported
in brackets attached to the breast beam or other convenient part of the frame-
work. The front bearings of the rollers are held by springs, which yield in
case of the shuttle being trapped in the shed. Also, in making the ordinary
horizontal roller temples of a partly conical form, and placing them in a
diagonal position, so as to obtain a better hold on the selvages of the fabric.
And, lastly, our Invention of improvements in machinery for communicating
motion to looms and other machines consists in mounting the driving pulley
on a separate shaft, and in fixing to the shaft a disk or crank, with a hook
hinged thereto. When the loom or other machine is at work, this hook takes
on a stud projecting from the wheel or other article to be driven, and both
revolve together; but when the loom or other machine is to be stopped, the
hook is disconnected from the stud by means of a bowl on a lever, or by other
suitable mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edwin Hardon and Joseph Henry in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWIN
HARDON, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH
HENRY, of the same Place, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Edwin Hardon and Joseph Henry, Ier special license that we, the
said Edwin Ilardon and Joseph Henry, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Edwin Hardon and Joseph Henry,
our 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 LOOMS FOR
WEAVING, AND IN MACHINERY FOR COMMUNICATING MOTION TO LOOMS AND OTHER
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Edwin
Hardon and Joseph Henry, our executors or administrators, by an instrument

page_text: in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands and seals, should
particularly 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 immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edwin Hardon and Joseph Henry,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
The nature of our Invention consists, first, in an improved picking motion,
by means of which the upper part of the picking stick is made to travel in a
horizontal or nearly horizontal line.
Secondly, in an improved picker or instrument for imparting motion to the
shuttle.
Thirdly, in an improved combination of machinery for working the shafts or
heddles in any required succession.
Fourthly, in an improved mode of connecting adjustable crank pins for
working the lay to the fly-wheels or disks fixed on the driving shaft, by means
whereof the length of the stroke of the lay can be varied.
Fifthly, in an improved arrangement of parts for arresting the motions of
the loom when the weft breaks or fails.
Sixthly, in an improved combination of parts for arresting the motions of
the loom when the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box.
Seventhly, in the application of a spiral barrel, with elevators and de-
pressors, for working the drop box of a loom in which two or more shuttles
are employed.
Eighthly, in an improved mode of setting out the tappets for working the
heddles.
Ninthly, in certain improved self-acting temples for holding the selvages of
the fabric while in the loom.
And, lastly, in an improved combination of machinery for communicating
motion to looms and other machines.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
in effect, we will proceed to describe the means pursued by us, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
Figures 1 is the end view of a loom, to which the first six of our improve-
ments, herein-before referred to, are applied; Figure 2 is a front view; and
Figure 3, a plan of the same. a is the driving shaft, on which are fixed the

page_text: fly-wheels a'; b is the lay, supported by the lay swords b', keyed on the
fulcrum shaft, which is supported in bearings fixed to the loom side in
the usual manner. Near each end of the shaft 62 is fixed one of the bearings c;
these bearings support short shafts, furnished at one end with a lever c', and at
the other with a lever c. Each picking stick d is jointed to a stud projecting
from one of the levers c', and the lower end of each picking stick is guided by
a stud projecting from each bearing c. The motion is communicated to the
picking sticks in the following manner :-Each fly-wheel a' is provided with a
bowl a², mounted on a stud fixed in a slot of the fly-wheel. These bowls act
alternately on the upper arm of the elbow levers d', the lower arms of these
levers being connected by links d to the levers c², above referred to. The
lower end of each link d is acted upon alternately by the cams e¹ and e² fixed
on the cross shaft e, to which a partial rotary motion is communicated by the
pinion as on the driving shaft a gearing into the wheel a', from which projects
a stud; to this stud is jointed the link a', the lower end of which is connected
to the double lever a; the longer arm of this double lever has a segment a',
gearing into the pinion a fixed on the shaft e, consequently the rotary motion
of the shaft a imparts a vibrating motion to the shaft c.
When the picking stick on the right-hand side of the loom is required to be
put in motion, the cam e¹ raises the end of the link d, thereby moving the
elbow d' into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and bringing the
shoulder on the link in contact with the under side of the lever c, so that
when the bowl a comes round, it strikes the said elbow lever, thereby raising
the end of the lever c, and causing the lever c' to move the right-hand
picking stick d suddenly into the position shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2;
this sudden action of the picking stick throws the shuttle from the right to the
left-hand side of the loom; but the upper end of the picking stick, instead of
moving through the arc of a circle as usual, acts in a horizontal or nearly
horizontal line, owing to the are of the circle performed by the stud in the
lever c', counteracting that usually performed by the upper end of the picking
stick; by this means the motion imparted to the shuttle is more direct, con-
sequently less power is required, and the shuttle is less liable to jump out of the
shed than by the ordinary modes of giving motion to the picking sticks. The
upper end of each picking stick is furnished with one of our improved pickers
d', consisting of a hood of leather, or other suitable material, fitting on the
picking stick, and having a recess into which the end of the shuttle fits.
Our improved combination of machinery for working the shafts or heddles
in any required succession consists of the following parts:-The shaft e is
cranked near the centre of the loom,. as shewn in Figures 2 and 6; to this

page_text: crank is jointed the connecting rod in, the upper end of which is connected to
the lever m¹; this lever vibrates on the stud m²; to the lever m' are jointed
the two links m³ and m, the former giving motion to the treading lever n, and
the latter to the lever n'; the lever n gives motion to the square barrel 1" by
means of the catch 3. A chain of plates o³, furnished with pegs or notches,
passes around this barrel and another guide barrel, and these plates act upon
the jacquard books o, which are guided in the plates o'. To the hooks o are
attached strings connected to the hedilles o, as shown in Figure 2; these hooks
are double, one side being slightly bent for the treading lever n to act on, and
the other side being acted upon by the lever n', to close the shed. The mode
of operation of these parts is as follows:-The Drawing represents the relative
positions of the parts when the shed is open; as soon as the crank assumes a
horizontal position to the shaft c, the connecting link m, acting on the lever m',
causes the lever n to rise, and the lever n' to descend, thereby drawing down
those hooks that had previously been selected by the pegs or notches on the
plate o³, and causing the catch n³ to turn the square barrel n one fourth
round, by this means another plate with pegs is brought to act on the hooks o,
to select those of the hooks that are in connection with the heddles required
to form the next shed. By this arrangement every oscillation of the shaft e
brings forward a fresh plate of the chain o³ to select the hooks and heddles
required; and after each shed has been formed, the hooks o are brought to
the same level by the lever n', around which the books are bent, as shewn
in Figure 2. When the square barrel n has been turned one fourth round,
as described, it is retained in its position by the spring n', and the bowl
jointed to it, which fits in recesses in the disc no.
Our improved mode of connecting the lay to the fly-wheel is shown best in
the detached views, Figures 4 and 5. One end of each connecting link fis
jointed to the lay in the usual manner, but the other end has a stud f¹ passing
through the connecting link, and through the boss f, and then through the
disc of the fly-wheel a', in which it is secured by a screw nut. The disk of
the fly-wheel has a slot with angular sides, into which fit the angular
projections on the boss f2; by this arrangement the length of the throw
of the crank, and consequently the stroke of the lay, can be varied, the angular
projections on the boss ƒ effectually preventing any variation in the length of
the crank when the nut of the shed f¹ is tightened. The other end of the
link may in like manner be connected to the lay sword.
Our improved combination of parts for arresting the motion of the loom
when the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box is constructed in the following
manner: The lay b is made, by preference, of cast iron; the shuttle box at

page_text: cach end of the lay consists of a fixed piece ³, of the usual construction, and a
loose back binged to the lay at ; to the piece 3 is fixed the spring b
which presses against the loose back b, to hold the shuttle box open. Near
each end of the lay is binged a bent lever ; these bent levers are acted upon
by pins projecting from the backs ; the rods h pass through the ends of
the bent levers 7, and are united near the centre of the loom by a stud fixed
in the lever ', seen best in Figure 2; this lever h¹ swivels on a stud fixed in
the lay, and to it is fixed the feeler h. When the shuttle is in the shuttle
box, as shewn at the right-hand side of Figure 3, the pin projecting from the
back ', acting against the bent lever b, draws the rod in the direction of
the arrow, thereby moving the feeler h into the position shewn in Figure 2,
and contracting the left-hand shuttle box by means of the left-hand bent lever
acting on the piu projecting from the back b. The stop-rod, marked i, is
supported in the eyes of shot bolts a passing through the bracket, fixed to
the loom sides; these shot bolts have springs to allow the supports of the stop-
rod i to yield; near the centre of the stop-rod i is the projection ", against
which the feeler he strikes if the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box; the
stop-rod i is also provided with frogs i, to which are fixed the brackets i³ for
the weft forks j. The side shafts & are supported at one end by bearings
fixed to the loom sides, and at the other ends by bearings fixed to the breast
bean; these side shafts support the hammer heads, which are constructed
as usual, and the levers against which the feeler he acts alternately, and the
projection, when the feeler he comes in contact with it; is an inclined
plane fixed to the left-hand end of the stop-rod i. The mode of operation is
as follows: When the shuttle enters the right-hand shuttle box, as shewn in
Figure 3, the lever draws the rod and lever h¹ to the right-hand side,
thereby bringing the feeler h beyond the reach of the projection ³, con-
sequently the lay is at liberty to strike home the weft; and in like manner
when the shuttle enters the left-hand shuttle box, the feeler is drawn to the
left-hand of the projection ; but if the shuttle fails to enter either of the
shuttle boxes, the levers remains in a vertical position, and when the lay
advances towards the breast beam, the feeler he comes in contact with the projec-
tion, thereby causing the stop-rod i to move partly round, and to raise the
frogs i, which arrest the advancing of the lay, and the force of the lay against
the frogs causes the shot bolts to yield, thereby causing the inclined plane
to disengage the starting lever p from the retaining notch-piece p', and
throwing the strap from the fast to the loose pulley, if the loom is driven in
the ordinary manner, or disconnecting the driving hook from the left-hand
stud f, when our improved mode of communicating motion to looms, which

page_text: will be explained hereafter, is adopted. The improved arrangement of parts
for arresting the motion of the loom when the weft fails or breaks, acts in
the following manner :-The side shafts and the hammer heads ¹ are
acted upon alternately by the feeler h, which at every stroke of the lay
comes in contact with and moves one of the levers. As long as the weft
is supplied, the hook of each weft fork j is raised above the hammer heads
k, but as soon as the weft fails, the hook of one of the weft forks remains
down, and the hammer head acting on that hook causes the stop-rod i to
swivel partly round, and to raise the frogs, as before described. The action of
each weft fork is common to looms now in use; but our Invention consists in
the improved arrangement of parts for working two weft forks, whereby the
motion of the loom is arrested at the same pick as the weft breaks. The stop-
rod i is also provided with a lever 1, connected by a cord or wire to the
catch ³, for the purpose of raising the catch and arresting the motion of the
square barrel n³, or jacquard cylinder, when, owing to the absence of the weft
or the failing of the shuttle entering the shuttle box, the stop-rod i is turned
partly round. This mode of connecting the stop-rod to the working parts of
the loom may also be applied to the drop boxes of looms in which two or more
shuttles are employed, and to the tappets for acting on the heddles.
On Sheet 2, Figures 7 and 8 are two views of our improved machinery for
working the drop box of a loom in which two or more shuttles are employed.
q is a spiral barrel furnished with elevators and depressors acting on the bowl
connected to the lever q'. To the outer extremity of this lever is jointed a
link q, the lower end of which is jointed to a rod whose centre coincides with
that of the fulcrum shaft of the lay swords; the link is connected in the
ordinary manner with the drop box, which in this instance is supposed to
contain three compartments. The spiral barrel 7 is fixed on the shaft q', which
is made with a screw passing through a screw nut; the ratchet wheel is
connected to the shaft q' by a key; when the ratchet wheel is turned round, the
screw causes the shaft q' and barrel q to move laterally, thereby bringing all
the elevators and depressers on the barrel in succession under the bowl of the
lever q. By this means the drop box may be raised and lowered to suit the
pattern to be woven, and by increasing or diminishing the length of the barrel,
and the number of elevators and depressers in the circle, the pattern can be
varied to any extent.
Figure 9 represents our improved mode of setting out the tappets for working
heddles. The tappet plate shewn is one for working three to the round;
but the same principle is applicable to tappets with any other number. In
setting out these tappets we divide the space between the dwells, as indicated

page_text: by the dotted lines and r, into twelve, or any other number of equal parts,
and the entire lift into a similar number of equal parts; the points obtained
by drawing lines intersecting each other, give the centres for striking
segments of circles equal in diameter to the bowl of the jack levers, as
shewn by the dotted lines; the shape of the guide ribs of the tappet is
obtained by drawing a line touching these circles; by this means when the
tappet has been moved half way between the lowest part and the summit of
the elevator, the shed will be closed, and at every portion of the rotation of the
tappet, the heddle will move through a corresponding space, thereby acting
regularly on the warp and preventing sudden jerks. The shape of the tappets
may also be obtained by striking a segment of a circle through the points s, s²,
and s, and marking on each side thereof the radius of the bowl on the jack
lever, as shewn to the right-hand side of Figure 9.
Figure 10 is a section, Figure 11 a side view, and Figure 12 a plan, of
our improvements in self-acting temples. a is an endless belt of strong card
fillet passing around the rollers a¹ and a; the former revolves in the bracket a³,
and the latter in the bracket a. A chain with needle points may be used
instead of the belt æ; the bracket fits in grooves made in the bracket a
which is bolted to the breast beam ; these brackets are shewn in Figure 3,
to denote the position of the temples in the loom; the bracket a is screwed
to the bracket a³, and the head of the screw is slightly bevelled or rounded
where it comes against the spring a. The selvages of the fabric are secured
by the card teeth, and a guard 7 is placed over them; the belt a passes over
the plate of the bracket, which is inclined at the edge, as shewn in Figure 12,
in order to distend the fabric as it passes over the temples. The Drawing
represents the parts of the temple in their proper positions when the loom is at
work; if the shuttle should become entangled in the shed, the action of the
reed on the front of the slides a³ causes the head of the screws, by which the
slides and are connected, to overcome the resistance of the springs a
thereby allowing the slides to advance sufficiently towards the breast beam for
the lay to complete its stroke without breaking the machinery. The screws a
see dotted lines in Figure 3, are for the purpose of moving the temples
according to the width of the fabric; each screw being furnished with a nut
fitting in a slot in the breast beam bean, and into one of the brackets a", and
with a small hand wheel by which the screw is turned round. Our improve-
ments in self-acting temples also consist in making the ordinary horizontal
roller temples of a partly conical form, and in placing them in a diagonal
position, so as to cause them to obtain a better hold on the selvages of the
fabric.
?

page_text: Figures 13 and 14 represent two views of our improved combination of
machinery for communicating motion to two looms; these improvements are
also applicable to communicating motion to other machines; t and are the
side frames of the machines to which motion is to be communicated; these
two frames are connected by the stay bars ; is the driving shaft, supported
in the bearings ; on this shaft is keyed the driving pulley , and the two
discs 3; each disc u³ has a stud passing through it, one end of which has a
hook , taking on a stud projecting from the fly-wheel a', or other wheel to be
driven, and a finger v', by which the hook is connected to or disconnected from
the stud to be driven; w is a side shaft to which is fixed the starting lever p,
and the lever w¹ furnished with the bowls w³ and w³, which act on the finger v¹.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The Drawing represents the hook v in
connection with the stud projecting from the wheel to be driven, and the
bowls w² and w³, in the positions to allow the finger v¹ to pass between them;
consequently, as long as the machine is required to be kept in motion, no
alteration takes place in the position of the parts; when the starting lever p is
depressed, it raises the lever w³, thereby bringing the bowl w² into the proper
position for acting on the finger v¹, so that when the finger comes against this
bowl, the stud to which the finger is fixed and the hook v are turned partly
round, thereby disconnecting the hook from the stud f, and stopping the
machine. When the machine is again required to be put in motion, the
starting lever p is raised, and the bowl w³ is thereby brought into position for
acting on the finger v', and the hook v is then brought into position for taking
hold of the stud f', as before. The object of this improved combination of
machinery for communicating motion to looms and other machines is to reduce
the number of parts, and to afford means for stopping and starting more
expeditiously than heretofore.
Also, in an improved
the taking-up roller
To a rod or roller
Having thus particularly described the nature of our Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, we wish to observe that in our Provisional
Specification we stated, that our Invention consisted "in making the prongs of
"the weft fork at right angles to the hook, and bending the prongs of the fork
at or near the fulcrum on which the hook is hinged.
"mode of regulating the amount of motion given to
"according to the quantity of cloth on the cloth beam.
bearing on the cloth is attached a link connected to
"ratchet wheel for giving motion to the cloth roller."
that since filing the said Provisional Specification we have found that the
said alleged improvements are not new, or not beneficial, we therefore make
no claim thereto; but what we do claim is,
a
lever acting on the
We wish to remark,

page_text: First, the improved picking motion, shewn and described, by means of which
the upper part of the picking stick is made to travel in a horizontal or nearly
horizontal line.
Secondly, the improved picker, shewn and described.
Thirdly, the improved combination of machinery, shewn and described, for
working the heddles of looms, placed below and near the centre of the loom,
and particularly the pieces marked n, n', ', and o.
Fourthly, the improved mode of connecting the crank pin for working the
lay to the fly-wheel or disc, as described, and shewn best in Figures 4 and 5.
Fifthly, the improved combination of machinery for arresting the motion of
the loom when the weft fails or breaks, as shewn and described.
Sixthly, the improved combination of machinery, shewn and described, for
arresting the motions of the loom when the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle
box, and particularly the loose back marked b'.
Seventhly, the application of the lever marked to the stop-rod, for dis-
connecting the motions of the loom, as described.
Eighthly, the application of a spiral barrel with elevators and depressors
for working the drop box of a loom, as described, and shewn in Figures
7 and 8.
Ninthly, the improved mode of setting out the tappets for working heddles,
as shewn and described in reference to Figure 9.
Tenthly, the improved self-acting temples, shewn and described in reference
to Figures 3, 10, 11, and 12.
Eleventhly, setting the ordinary temples in a diagonal instead of a horizontal
position, as described.
And, lastly, the improved combination of machinery, described and shewn
in Figures 13 and 14, for communicating motion to looms or other machines.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Edwin Hardon and Joseph Henry,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twenty-third day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Witness,
II. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
EDWIN HARDON.
(L.S.)
JOSEPH HENRY. (L.S.)