IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Hacking and Thomas Hacking,
Machine Makers, and James Chambers, Mechanic, all of Bury, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,”"-
Partly a communication from abroad by William Lancaster, of
Cannstatt, in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg.
Scaled the 9th October 1869, and dated the 14th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry
Hacking, Thomas Hacking, and James Chambers at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 14th
April 1869.
We, WILLIAM HENRY HACKING and THOMAS HACKING, Machinc
Makers, and JAMES CHAMBERS, Mechanic, all of Bury, in the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH," the same having been in part communicated to us from
abroad by William Lancaster, of Cannstatt, in the Kingdom of
Wurtemburg, and being in part our own Invention, to be as
follows:-

page_text: This Invention refers to improvements in looms for weaving and
apparatus used in connection therewith, and consists, first, of an
improved conical self-acting side temple used for the purpose of
stretching the cloth to the full width of the reed, and thereby preventing
the breakage of selvage ends, and also producing a wider cloth than can
be made with the ordinary side temple.
Second. The employment. of one or more damping rollers covered
with flannel or other porous material, and carried in suitable bearings
in a trough formed in the back rest of the loom. The trough carries
water or other suitable fluid, which by means of the roller or rollers is
conveyed to the warp as it passes over the back rest of the loom. The
rollers are carried in adjustable bearings, so that they can be pressed
more or less on the yarn of the warp, and so impart that exact amount
of dampness to the yarn of the warp as will render it best prepared
for the process of weaving.
Third. Of an improved picking motion, consisting of vertical shafts
attached to the slay swords of the loom, and furnished with loose
tongues, which are raised or dropped by means of bell-crank or other
suitable levers acted upon by the swells of the shuttle boxes. The
tongues of the picking shafts when picking are brought in contact
with fast tongues fixed to the loom side or other convenient place,
which as the slay passes communicate the required motion to the
picking sticks, one advantage of this motion being that the loom will
not pick or throw the shuttle except it is so far boxed as to raise the
swell, and bring the picking tongue into position. This motion is
especially applicable to what are termed cranky or pick-and-pick looms.
Also of an improved check-strap motion applicable to all descriptions of
picking motions. In this motion we use the ordinary check strap
similar to that in general use, and apply to the same a curved steel
spring which presses on the strap. This pressure is regulated by means
of a screw in the spring, and can be set so as to give the right amount
of friction to prevent the rebound of the shuttle when striking the
picker.
Fourth. Of an improved loose reed motion. The bell-crank or other
suitable lever referred to in the improved picking motion is also used to
lock the reed when the shuttle enters the shuttle box and raises the swell.
This is accomplished by means of a bolt or slide attached to the said
lever. We also in this and in the ordinary loose reed motion employ

page_text: square wrought iron for the. stop rods, and the tongues for the casing
and other purposes arè made loose and of cast or malleable iron; these
are fixed in their places by means of set screws.
Fifth. Of an improved one-roller positive taking-up motion, consisting
of a sliding bowl driven from the crank or tappet shaft of the loom,
and working against a friction plate, causing the same to revolve. The
friction plate imparts motion to the ordinary taking-up lever, and as
the cloth increases in size the sliding bowl is brought in the same pro-
portion towards the outer circumference of the friction plate, and there-
fore proportionately reduces the speed of the taking-up motion.
Sixth. Of an improved letting-off or escape motion. The yarn beam
in this motion is held from revolving by means of a chain or band,
which is lapped round a drum at the end of the yarn beam, one end of
the chain being attached to a spring. This spring is released from time
to time by a finger attached to the slay sword, and by means of the
ordinary vibrator and other suitable levers and eccentrics this finger is
made to act on the above-described spring at necessary intervals, and
allows the yarn to escape as required..
Seventh. Of an improved motion for reducing the length of pattern
chains in shuttle looms, applicable to such motions in which the pattern
chain barrel is turned by a catch or pawl, and consists in the intro
duction of a second pattern chain and barrel, which by means of snugs
and levers is brought into operation when a number of picks is required
off the same shuttle.
Eighth. Of an apparatus applicable to a Patent for improvements in
looms for weaving granted to William Hunter, of Glasgow, and dated
31st May 1861, No. 1358. This application is to prevent the pattern
chain barrel from turning when the loom from any cause happens to be
reversed, and bringing up a wrong shuttle, and causing traps and
breakages in the warp. We accomplish this by means of a disc placed
on the tappet shaft, and furnished on one side of it with an incline of
such a shape that when the loom is running in the right direction it
allows a finger lying on the disc to remain stationary, but when the
loom is reversed the finger is raised over the machine, and raises by
means of levers the catch of the pattern chain. barrel, and prevents the
same being turned from its position.
Ninth. Of an improved shuttle motion for weaving long patterns. In

page_text: this motion we employ a slide furnished with steps of different heights
to correspond with the different shuttle boxes.. This slide is operated
on by a pattern chain furnished with rows of pegs or holes, each hole or
peg giving an indication to the shuttle motion. By this means we are
enabled to obtain from 8 to 12 picks from each card or lag, and are
at the same time able to change the shuttle at every alternate pick if
required. We can also use a pattern chain with one row of holes in
conjunction with the same motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Henry Hacking, Thomas Hacking, and
James Chambers in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 14th
October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. we, WILLIAM
HENRY HACKING and THOMAS HACKING, Machine Makers, and JAMES
CHAMBERS, Mechanic, all of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said William Henry Hacking, Thomas
Hacking, and James Chambers, Her special license that we, the said
William Henry Hacking, Thomas Hacking, and James Chambers, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
William Henry Hacking, Thomas Hacking, and James Chambers, 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 "Ix.
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH," being in part communicated to us from abroad by William
Lancaster, of Cannstatt, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, and in part
our own Invention, upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said William Henry Hacking, Thomas Hacking, and James Chambers,

page_text: our executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Lotters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Henry Hacking, Thomas
Hacking, and James Chambers, 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 state-
ment, that is to say :-
This Invention consists, first, of an improved conical self-acting
temple used for the purpose of stretching the cloth to the full width of
the reed.
Secondly. In the employment of one or more damping rollers
covered with flannel or other porous material for damping the warp as
it passes over the back rest of the loom.
Thirdly. Of an improved picking motion.
Fourthly. Of an improved loose reed motion.
Fifthly. Of an improved one-roller positive taking-up motion.
Sixthly. Of an improved letting-off or escape motion.
Seventhly. Of an improved motion for reducing the length of pattern
chains in shuttle looms.
And, eighthly. Of an improved shuttle motion for weaving long
patterns.
These improvements will be clearly understood by the following
particular description thereof, reference being had to the Figures on the
accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and numerals
marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of our conical self-acting side temple,.
and Fig. 2 a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a transverse section, and
Figure 4 a longitudinal section of the conical roller separately. The
diameter of the roller at a is larger than the diameter at b. The
amount of taper we find to produce the greatest beneficial effect in
templing the cloth is one-sixteenth of an inch for every two inches in
length, but we do not confine ourselves to this proportion.

page_text: Figure 5 is a transverse section of our damping rollers, and Figures 6
and 7 an elevation and plan of the same. The trough a, the edges of
which are rounded, is affixed to the loom, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, in
the same place and answers the same purpose as the ordinary loom back
bearer or back rest. In the trough (a) a roller b is carried by means
of two small moveable blocks c, c, which are raised or lowered in
the trough a by means of two small screws d. d, Figure 6. On the
roller b there is a sheet of flannel or other porous material, which is
stretched by means of a small rod, shewn in Figure 5. In the trough is
placed water, water and soap, oil or tallow, which may be kept in a fluid
condition by means of a small steam pipe passing under the trough a,
or we use any other suitable ingredient or compound for moistening or
mellowing the warp threads as they pass over the trough a.
It will
be easily perceived that by means of the screws d, d, the roller b
can be raised or lowered so as to come more or less in contact with the
warp threads, and can be so regulated that the exact amount of moisture
will be imparted to them that is found most beneficial.
Figure 8 is an end elevation of our improved picking motion, and Figure
9 a front elevation of the same. e represents one of the slay swords
of the loom on which is carried by suitable fixings the picking shaft f
having a loose tongue g placed in a slot and attached to the picking shaft
by means of a stud or pin so that it can be freely moved up or down in
the slot. To the ordinary swell finger h is attached a finger i, which
together form a bell-crank lever. On this finger i the loose tongue g
of the picking shaft rests, and rises or falls according to the motion of
the finger i. When no shuttle is in the shuttle box ; the swell finger
is pressed against the box back by the action of the spring k, and by
means of the finger i keeps the tongue g raised. When the shuttle
enters the shuttle box j it pushes back the finger h and depresses the
finger i, thereby allowing the tongue g to fall into such a position that as
the slay moves back the tongue shall come in contact with a picking
nose or bit carried in a bracket attached to the loom side. The contact
of the 'tongue g with the picking nose causes the shaft f to make a
partial revolution, which by means of the ordinary strap m and picking
stick n imparts motion to the shuttle, and it is obvious that this picking
motion can only occur when the shuttle is properly boxed in the shuttle
box and has pushed back the swell finger h.
Figure 10 is a front elevation, and Figure 11 a plan of our improved

page_text: On
loose reed motion, in which o is the ordinary swell of the slay p.
the pin or centre to which the swell o is affixed is attached a lever r
forming with o a bell-crank lever, and to the lever is jointed the bolt
s, which slides in suitable fixings; t is a finger projecting from the stop
rod u, and having in it a recess into which the bolts may slide and
fasten or lock the reed. When the shuttle is properly boxed, as shewn
in Figure 11, the swell o is pushed back, and by means of the lever r
forces the bolts into the notch in the finger t and effectually fastens the
reed. If the shuttle fails to reach the shuttle box or is so imperfectly
boxed as not to push back the swell o then the bolt will not advance
and the reed will be ready to fly out. We make the stop rod u of
square iron, and the fingers t, v, are made of cast or malleable iron.
Figures 12 and 13, Sheet 2, arc front and end elevations of our improved
one-roller positive taking-up motion, in which a' is a pair of mitre wheels,
one fixed on the ordinary tappet shaft and the other on the small shaft
6', and a small bowl or disc c' slides on a fast key in the shaft 6', there
being in the boss of the bowl a groove to which a pin at one end of the
lever d' is fitted, and the other end of the lever d'is in contact with the
cloth roller e'. To the frame side is fixed a bracket carrying a large
disc f having a centre part of the same diameter as the cloth roller e¹
projecting a little beyond the plane of its remaining surface, and
this disc is made to revolve by the frictional contact of the bowl c'.
A lever g' is made to oscillate by means of a stud in the disc f',
which oscillation by means of the shaft h¹ and lever i¹ communicates
When
motion to the ordinary take-up catch and train of wheels j'
the cloth roller e' has only one fold of cloth round it the lever
d¹ forces the bowl c' towards the centre of the disc f' as far as the
projecting surface upon it will allow. The disc by means of the
wheels a' and bowl c' is made to revolve at the same speed as the tappet
shaft of the loom, and consequently the motion communicated to the
taking-up lever by means of the lever g' will be exactly of the same speed
as if it were operated upon from the slay sword in the usual manner.
As the cloth accumulates on the roller e' the lever d¹ draws the driving
bowl c' towards the periphery of the disc f in exactly the same pro-
portions as the cloth increases on the roller e'; this proportionately
reduces the speed of the disc f' and the oscillations of the lever g³, so
that the speed of the taking-up catch is always in exact ratio with the
diameter of the cloth roller e'.

page_text: Figure 14 is a view of the method we adopt to give a more continuous
motion to the take-up movement. k' is the ordinary take-up lever
furnished with two pawls ', ', which as the lever is oscillated act
alternately on the catch wheels m', m', and by means of toothed wheels
transmit motion to the ordinary train of take-up wheels.
Figures 15 and 16, Sheet 1, are end and side elevations of one end of
our improved letting-off or escape motion, in which 1 represents one end
of the yarn beam; 2, a chain, rope, or band passing round the drum or
ruffle at the end of the beam 1. This chain or rope is attached at one
end to a hook fixed to the loom rail, and at the other end to the L
lever 3, having a weight hung on it at one extremity, this weight being
only heavy enough to keep the yarn beam 1 from revolving until
required, or instead of the levers and weights 3 we can also use strong
springs for the same purpose. 4 is a shaft extending across the back of
the loom and carried in suitable brackets. and on each end of this shaft
is keyed a vibrator 5 carrying a roller 6. One of these vibrators is
attached to the L lever 3 by means of the loose T-headed bolt 7, and
the other vibrator is attached by means of a spring to the loom side, as
shewn in Figure 17. 8 is a tappet fastened on to the ordinary tappet
shaft, which as it revolves comes in contact with the L lever 3, and
depresses it. When the warp is being opened, as at 9, by the action of
.the ordinary shedding motion it draws the roller 6 forward so that the
contrary end of the vibrator 5 comes in contact with the nut of the
bolt 7, and raises the weighted end of the L lever 3, thus allowing the
yarn beam 1 to revolve and give off a portion of warp, and the tappet 8
is so set that when the slay is about to beat up the tappet comes in
contact with the L lever 3, and depresses it. This action causes the
rope or chain 2, 2, to be drawn tight, and holds the yarn beam rigid and
fast, and also causes the T-headed bolt 7 to draw the vibrator 5 back,
which tightens that portion of the warp between the yarn beam and the
fell of the cloth, and thus enables the slay to beat up the weft hard and
solid into the fabric being woven. Instead of the L lever 3, and the weight
affixed thereto, we also employ a spring which draws or pulls against
the rope or chain 2, 2, and is attached to the parts in a similar manner
to that already described for the L lever 3. Also where it is inconvenient
to have a tappet shaft and the tappet 8 we employ a loose T-headed
bolt similar to the bolt 7, which passes from the lever 3 and connects
it to the slay sword, which at each forward movement catches the bolt

page_text: head and draws forward the lever 3, producing the same result as
described by the action of the tappet 8. By these arrangements it
will be easily perceived that the yarn is comparatively free and
loose when the shedding motion opens the shed for the shuttle to
pass through, and that when this is finished and the slay is about
to beat up the whole of the warp is drawn up tight to resist the
blow.
Figure 18, Sheet 2, is a view of our improved movement for reducing
the length of the pattern chain for shuttle motions, in which 10 is a
catch wheel, having attached to it a barrel for carrying the chain 11.
This chain is composed of a number of links of a horse-shoe shape, one
link of which is flat at the top. This low link always lics under the
stud 17 of the catch 16 when the reducing motion is not in operation
and does not stand so high as the remainder. 12 is a pawl carried by
the lever 13, which is furnished with a feeler 14; 15 is the barrel for
the shuttle motion card, which is made to revolve as it moves backwards
and forwards by the catch 16 catching in the teeth of a catch wheel.
This catch has a stud 17, which rests on the links of the chain, and
cach movement of the card barrel 15 brings up a fresh card for the
shuttle motion, and if in the card there is a hole for the feeler 14 to fall
into no movement takes place. When, however, a card is brought up
which has to be repeated several times in the pattern, then there is no
hole for the fecder 14 to fall in, and as the barrel 15 moves forward it
forces the lever 13 forward, which causes the catch 12 to move the catch
wheel 10 one tooth. The movement of the catch wheel causes the low
link of the chain 11, which was lying under the stud of the catch 16
out of gear with the catch at the end of the barrel 15, which is con-
sequently prevented from revolving until by means of the catch 12, the
low link of the chain 11 is brought again under the stud 17 of the
catch 16, and allows it to descend into gear again. The position of this
motion in relation to the other parts of the loom is shewn in Figure 19.
It is obvious that the same result may be obtained by various modifi-
cations of this movement without departing from the leading principles
of this part of our Invention.
Figure 19 is an end elevation of our Invention of an improved shuttle
motion for weaving long patterns. The parts which we consider novel
in this motion are the lever 18, which has cast on it two snugs or.
projections 19, 20, also the slide 21 having steps to correspond to the

page_text: shuttle boxes at 22. This slide is made to adjust itself in the right position
to bring up the shuttle box required by means of the feelers 23, 23, and
the connecting rod 24. These feclers are acted upon by the pattern
card 25, which cards are brought successively into action by the revolu-
tions of the pattern card barrel 26. This revolving motion is effected by
means of the catch 27, as already described in Figure 18. When the
slide 21 has by these means been placed in its right position it is then
caused to rise by means of the tappet 28, the lever 29, and the cross 30.
In the upward motion of the slide 21 the steps of the same are brought
into contact with the snugs 19 and 20 of the lever 18. This contact
forces the lever 18 either up or down according to the position of the
slide 21, and this movement of the lever 18 causes a change in the
shuttle boxes 22 by means of a series of levers 31 and 31.
Figure 20 is an elevation of a modification of our improved shuttle
motion, in which 32 is a slide with steps on. In this modification there
are as many slides placed together as there are shuttle boxes in the
shuttle motion, each slide having steps on it to bring its own box into
operation. At the bottom of cach slide is a small snug 33, which when
it is forced out by the feeler 34 is caught by the tumbler 35, and pre-
vented from being drawn back by the spring 36 on the feeler. When
another slide is required to be forced out the snug 33 will depress the
tumbler 35, causing it to liberate the slide previously held, which returns
to its place by the action of the spring 36. The feelers 34 are made to
force out the slides in the order required by means of the action of the
pattern card and barrel 37. When a hole occurs in the pattern card
opposite the feeler then no movement is produced in it by the approach
of the barrel 37; but if there be no hole then the card pushes the
feelor, and the slide is brought under the smugs of the lever 18. Figure 19,
and produces the change in the shuttle boxes, as already described. In
this modification we revolve the pattern card barrel by means of gearing
38, 38, and a star wheel 39, this enables the loom to be turned back
without disarranging the pattern. Instead of the tappet already in usc
for moving the compound lever 40 we use a star wheel 41 and cam 42,
by which means we have an intermittent and more easy motion given
to the changes of the shuttle box, and also a better opportunity to work
our slides We also employ an improved check strap motion applicable
to all descriptions of picking motions.
ordinary check strap, similar to that in general use, and apply to the
same a curved steel spring which presses on the strap. This pressure is
In this motion we use the

page_text: regulated by means of a screw in the spring, and can be set so as to
give the right amount of friction to prevent the rebound of the shuttle
when striking the picker.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire
it to be understood that we do not restrict ourselves to the precise
details herein described, and that we do not claim to have invented every
separate detail herein described or delineated; but what we claim as
our Invention is,-
First. The trough and damping rollers for damping the warp.
Secondly. The picking motion acting with a loose tongue raised and
lowered by means of the swell, or any mere modification thereof.
Thirdly. The loose reed motion worked from the swell and also the
substitution of the square rod with loose tongues.
Fourthly. The improved positive one-roller taking-up motion and the
mechanism employed for reducing the speed.
Fifthly. The improved letting-off or escape motion and the mechanism
employed for alternately liberating and tightening the warp threads.
Sixthly. The method of reducing the length of pattern chains in
shuttle looms.
And, seventhly. The improvements in shuttle motions, consisting of
handle lever with snugs on, the use of one or more slides with steps
for adjusting the shuttle boxes, tumbler, and snugs for locking the slides,
and the star wheel motions for the objects described, and also the regu-
lation of the drag of the check strap by means of a spring, as all such
improvements are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
two Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Hacking, for and on
behalf of myself and the said Thomas Hacking and James
Chambers, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day
of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sisty-nine
WILLIAM HY. HACKING. (L.S.)