IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHS AND IN WEFTS' EMPLOYED IN WEAVING THE SAME, ALSO IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH 'WEFTS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clapham, of Leeds, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHS AND IN WEFTS' EMPLOYED IN
WEAVING THE SAME, ALSO IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SUCH 'WEFTS.""
Sealed the 1st April. 1879, and dated the 5th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clapham at the Office
86
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1878.
JOHN CLAPHAM, of Leeds, in the County of York. IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHS
AND IN 'WEFTS' EMPLOYED IN WEAVING THE SAME, ALSO IN THE MEANS OR APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH WEFTS.'"
My improvements refer to the production of a cloth soft to the touch, either plain,
dappled, or other patterns, with much less labour than when ordinary means are
employed.
For this purpose I manufacture a yarn having a central untwisted thread, the
exterior of which having one or more twisted threads coiled or wrapped round it;
such twisted threads may be coiled or wrapped round the untwisted thread in one
direction, or these threads may be coiled or wrapped on in opposite directions, so as
to form cross laps either of the same or varied colours.
And in order to produce the "weft" (threads) above-mentioned I proceed as
follows:-
I provide one or more bobbins or cops containing twisted thread (the axes or
centres of which are in a line with each other); these bobbins or cops are mounted
on hollow spindles, and may or may not be caused to revolve. Through the hollow
spindle or spindles I pass a central untwisted thread or "sliver," and whilst this
untwisted thread or "sliver" is being moved forward the twisted thread or threads
are attached thereto, and coiled or wrapped thereon either in the same or opposite
directions, such coiling or wrapping being produced by the movement of the thread
[Povice Sid]

page_text: as it passes round and off the cops or bobbins whilst being "paid out" to the
central untwisted thread.
In some cases I prefer to dispense with the hollow spindle or spindles, and mount
the cop or bobbin in suitable bearings, and pass the central untwisted thread through
the centre of the cop or bobbin.
"Wefts" constructed in the manner described may be produced in the shuttle
whilst the weaving operation is going on by applying within the shuttle the herein-
before mentioned arrangement, thereby dispensing entirely with the necessity of
employing mules or other spinning or twisting machinery. When the weft is
manufactured in the shuttle it is necessary to have the central thread a twisted one,
but in other cases I prefer it to be untwisted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Clapham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th April
1879.
JOHN CLAPHAM, of Leeds, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHS
AND IN 'WEFTS' EMPLOYED IN WEAVING THE SAME, ALSO IN THE MEANS OR APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH 'WEFTS.'"
My improvements refer to the production of a cloth soft to the touch, either plain,
dappled, or other patterns, with much less labour than when ordinary means are
employed.
For this purpose I manufacture a yarn having a central untwisted thread, the
exterior of which having one or more twisted threads coiled or wrapped round it;
such twisted threads may be coiled or wrapped round the untwisted thread in one
direction, or these threads may be coiled or wrapped on in opposite directions, so as
to form cross laps either of the same or varied colours.
And in order to produce the "weft" (threads) above mentioned, I proceed as
follows:-
I provide one or more bobbins or cops containing twisted thread (the axles or
centres of which are in a line with each other); these bobbins or cops are mounted
on hollow spindles, and may or may not be caused to revolve. Through the hollow
spindle or spindles I pass a central untwisted thread or "sliver," and whilst this
untwisted thread or "sliver" is being moved forward the twisted thread or threads
are attached thereto and coiled or wrapped thereon, either in the same or opposite
directions, such coiling or wrapping being produced by the movement of the
thread as it passes round and off the cops' or bobbins whilst being "paid out"
to the central untwisted thread.
In some cases I prefer to dispense with the hollow spindle or spindles, and mount
the cop or bobbin in suitable bearings, and pass the central untwisted thread
through the centre of the cop or bobbin.
"Wefts" constructed in the manner described may be produced in the shuttle
whilst the weaving operation is going on by applying within the shuttle the herein-
before mentioned arrangement, thereby dispensing entirely with the necessity of
employing mules or other spinning or twisting machinery.
When the "weft" is manufactured in the shuttle it is necessary to have the central
thread a twisted one, but in other cases I prefer it to be untwisted.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood, reference is
given to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and marks
thereon.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of shuttle with bobbins in position;
Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a plan looking at the top; Fig. 4, a longitudinal
elevation of condenser bobbin ; Fig. 5, an end elevation of the same; Figs. 6 and 7,
8 and 9, 10 and 11, shew respectively longitudinal and end elevations of methods
of forming the yarn; Fig. 12, an elevation of one arrangement of winding and
twisting apparatus.
I manufacture a yarn having a central untwisted thread, the exterior of which
having one or more twisted threads wrapped round it; such twisted thread may be
coiled or wrapped round in the manner shewn at Fig. 10, in which a represents the
untwisted central thread, which passes through the hollow spindle b, on which is
mounted condenser thread c on section of condenser bobbin d, or on a bobbin of
ordinary construction; such sections of condenser bobbin will be described here-
after. As the thread from the cop or bobbin a is drawn forward, as shown at e,
along with the thread c coils or wraps round it in the manner shewn at f. When a

page_text: cross twist is required other additional bobbins similar to d may be placed in front
of it and mounted on a similar spindle to b. For this purpose the threads on such
bobbins are bound thereon either alternately in opposite directions, or the number
of coils in one direction may be more or less than those in the other direction, this
being produced by the number of revolutions given to the hollow spindle which
carries the bobbin d.
When the bobbin d is made stationary on the spindle b, I employ the flange g
for the purpose of clearing the thread as it is uncoiled, but when a rotary motion is
given to the bobbin d for the purpose of twisting the thread for the weaving shuttle,
I dispense with the flange g, as shewn at Figs. 6 and 7. The size of the bobbins
may be varied to suit different kinds of work.
The condenser bobbin, on to which the thread is coiled direct from the condenser,
is constructed as shewn at Fig. 4, being made up of a number of sections or
bobbins ; these for receiving the condenser thread are mounted on a spindle i,
at one end of which is a fast collar or flange j; at the other end is a collar or
flange k, which is screwed or otherwise fastened thereon, so that it may be readily
removed for the purpose of taking off the sections or bobbins when filled. Each
of these sections h may be employed in place of the cop or bobbin a, or when the
yarn is taken direct to the shuttle I place the sections or bobbins h on to a hollow or
solid spindle, and cause it to revolve; the yarn is by this means twisted for the
shuttle. The twisted yarn o wraps or coils round the central twisted thread p, and
in that manner passes off in the direction shewn by arrow, and is used as a "weft,"
being supplied to the loom in the manner of ordinary yarn.
The shuttle is made longer than the ordinary shuttle for the purpose of
admitting the bobbins m and 1. The bobbin n is mounted on a hollow spindle or
pin 8, through which the twisted thread p is passed as shewn, or in some cases I
dispense with the hollow spindle or pin altogether, and pass the twisted thread
through the centre of the bobbin.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and described by the aid
of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts I have
described and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without departing
from the nature of my said Invention, but what I do claim and desire to be secured
to me by Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement, construction, and application of shuttle, with its hollow
spindle or pin having a twisted thread passing through it, or a twisted thread
passing through the centre of bobbin, and thus dispensing with a hollow spindle, for
producing "cloths," substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement and application of sections or bobbins arranged sub-
stantially as herein described, and forming in combination a condenser bobbin, on
cach of which the separate condenser threads are wound preparatory to being
applied for forming the yarns, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clapham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
`JOHN CLAPHAM. (L.S.)