IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE ΤΟ THE PREPARING AND WEAVING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Buchanan, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE ΤΟ THE PREPARING AND
WEAVING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 18th August 1857, and dated the 12th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Buchanan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th June 1857.
I, JAMES BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS
FOR WEAVING, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE PREPAR
AND WEAVING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the mechanical details of
arrangements of machinery for the manufacture of heddles or healds
for weaving, for which separate grants of British Letters Patent were
obtained by Mr. James Buchanan, on or about the Fifteenth day of
November, Onc. thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and on or about
the Fourteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.

page_text: The machine described in the Specifications of the two Patents
referred to, is driven by an ordinary belt pulley arrangement. In the
improved arrangement the engagement and disengagement is effected
by the instantaneous contact and release of frictional surfaces, or other
similar appliances, in a certain position of which the machine is free
to move in either direction; but in order to stop the machine with
greater certainty, and avoid the momentum of the moving parts, a lever
actuated either by the attendant or by the prime mover, presses the
contiguous faces of the pulleys or frictional driving details against each
other, at the same time causing a friction brake to press upon the
periphery of the fast pulley. By this means the machine is instantly
started and stopped, and the inconvenience attending the movement of
the parts after the strap has been shifted is avoided. A continuous
movement is given to the lap cord holder by means of gearing, instead
of a pitch chain, as used in the machine herein-before referred to. By
means of a spiral spring fitted on the mechanical finger, the pressure
of which is regulated by a milled-headed screw, an accurate and readily
adjustable tension on the yarns is obtained. The bobbins are held by
-centre contact with spring pressure, small conical points or projections
fitting each end of the bobbins, which are placed between a retaining
spring. By this means the motion of the bobbin is rendered very
steady and uniform. The clasp yarn bobbin is carried upon the same
arm as the mechanical finger, which lays the thread on to the needle
and mesh stud. The tension of the nippers through which the yarns
are drawn is regulated by means of a spiral spring and milled-headed
screw, so that the pressure or tension on the yarn can be instantly
altered or adjusted. The point of the hook of the needle is depressed
by an instantaneous pressure, in lieu of the prolonged pressure formerly
used, the effect being that the action is continued only long enough to
cause the closing and pass the loop. The eyes of the heddles are pushed
off the mesh stud by means of a curved lever, actuated by the moving
parts of the machine. The regulating of the unwinding of the rib cords
is effected by means of cords passed round the rib cord pulleys, and
attached to spiral springs, the tension of which is adjusted by thumb
screws. This arrangement is also applicable to the yarn beams of
looms, and for other purposes in mechanical combinations used in the
preparation and weaving of fibrous materials.
The "count" of the heddle is regulated by means of an arrangement
of a ratchet wheel; this wheel has two pins projecting from its face,
one of which pins is fixed, and the other moveable; and a series of holes
are made round the wheel, these holes being numbered. By fixing the
moveable pin a given number of holes from the fixed pin, so many splits

page_text: will be made before reversing the marking thread. The arrangement
of the ratchet wheel and its actuating levers is applicable to other
machinery, such as check looms and slubbing frames, and in different
circumstances where a varying motion is required. The knot or eye
of the heddle is formed by mechanical means, the folder being turned
round or set over by the action of a toothed rack upon a pinion carried
by the folder spindle. The take-up cylinder and worm divider are also
mechanically combined with the preceeding movements, actuated by
steam or other motive power. Various parts of these improved heddle
machines are made of malleablized cast iron in lieu of wrought iron or
brass, as has heretofore been the case.
The second part of this Invention consists of improvements in the
system or mode of dressing the heddles. The apparatus for this purpose
consists of a machine, by means of which the paste or varnish is
thoroughly and evenly distributed over the yarns of the heddles, and
the fibre of the material laid by means of revolving brushes or other
smoothers, to which a reciprocatory action may likewise be imparted as
the heddles traverse between the polishers. The heddles are distended
by mechanical means, and they traverse oblong a rail overhead, and as
the heddles pass between the brushes or smoothers, the rapid rotatory
and reciprocating motion imparted thereto brushes the paste or varnish,
with which the heddles were previously roughly coated, evenly and
uniformly over the surface. The combined rotatory and traverse
motion of the brushes is compensated for in the endless belt, which gives
them the rotatory action by giving the belt a turn round a central
tensional guide pulley, which being fixed never deranges the tensional
action of the belt. The paste or varnish is applied to the heddles by a
suitable mechanical arrangement, in which heat may be applied, used
in conjunction with the brushing and smoothing machine.
The next improvement consists in drying the heddles by means of
air heated by passing it through a length of pipe or pipes, which may
be fitted in a chimney or furnace shaft. A portion of the heated air
pipe is preferred to be of unglazed fire-clay, in order to absorb the
moisture of the air passing through. A current of air may be driven
through the pipe by the mechanical action of a fan or blower, or the
may be allowed to pass through the pipe or pipes without being
put in motion by mechanical means.
air
In the heddle or heald machinery herein-before described and referred
to, what is known as the "Scotch rib cord" is especially intended to be
mechanically combined and used in connection with a mechanical
counter, token, or porter marker, or indicating apparatus, such arrange-
ments or combination being of material value for the effective working

page_text: of the said machinery, or other heddle or heald making apparatus. A
spring clutch or other yielding connection is also adopted between the
driving shaft or early movements of the machinery, arranged in such a
way that, should any obstruction to the working arise, this connection
yields, and allows the driving shaft or earlier portion of the movements
to continue in motion, whilst the rest of the apparatus is stopped for
the time being.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Buchanan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Buchanan, Her special license that I, the said
James Buchanan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Buchanan, my executors, administrators, or
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 THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING
OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO THE PREPARING AND WEAVING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Buchanan, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said James Buchanan, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Draw-
ings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say-

page_text: My said Invention relates to improvements in the mechanical details
or arrangements of machinery for the manufacture of heddles or healds
for weaving, for which separate grants of British Letters Patent were
obtained by me on or about the Fifteenth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and on or about the Fourteenth
day of May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty five.
The machine described in the Specifications of the two Patents
referred to, is driven by an ordinary belt-pulley arrangement. In the
improved arrangement the engagement and disengagement is effected
by an instantaneous contact and release of frictional surfaces or other
similar appliances, in a certain position of which the machine is free
to move in either direction; but in order to stop the machine with
greater certainty, and avoid the momentum of the moving parts, a
lever, actuated either by the attendant or by the prime mover, presses
the contiguous faces of the pulleys or frictional driving details against
each other, at the same time causing a friction brake to press upon the
periphery of the fast pulley. By this means the machine is instantly
started and stopped, and the inconvenience attending the movement of
the parts after the strap has been shifted is avoided. A continuous
movement is given to the lap cord holder by means of gearing, instead
of a pitch chain, as used in the machine herein-before referred to. By
means of a spiral spring fitted on the mechanical finger, the pressure
of which is regulated by a milled-headed screw, an accurate and readily
adjustable tension on the yarns is obtained. The bobbins are held by
centre contact with spring pressure, small conical points or projections
fitting each end of the bobbins, which are placed between a retaining
spring. By this means the motion of the bobbin is rendered very steady
and uniform. The clasp yarn bobbin is carried upon the same arm as
the mechanical finger, which lays the thread on to the needle and mesh
stud. The tension of the nippers through which the yarns are drawn
is regulated by means of a spiral spring and milled-head screw, so that
the pressure or tension on the yarn can be instantly altered or adjusted.
The point of the hook of the needle is depressed by an instantaneous
pressure, in lieu of the prolonged pressure formerly used, the effect
being that the action is continued only long enough to cause the closing
and pass the loop. The eyes of the heddles are pushed off the mesh
stud by means of a curved lever, actuated by the moving parts of the
machine. The regulating of the unwinding of the rib cords is effected
by means of cords passed round the rib cord pulleys, and attached to
spiral springs, the tension of which is adjusted by thumb screws. This
arrangement is also applicable to the yarn beams of looms, and for other

page_text: purposes in mechanical combinations used in the preparation and weav-
ing of fibrous materials.
The "count" of the heddle is regulated by means of an arrangement
of a ratchet wheel. This wheel has two pins projecting from its face,
one of which pins is fixed and the other moveable; and a series of holes
are made round the wheel, these holes being numbered. By fixing the
moveable pin a given number of holes from the fixed pin, so many splits
will be made before reversing the marking thread. The arrangement
of the ratchet wheel and its actuating levers is applicable to other
machinery, such as check looms and slubbing frames, and in different
circumstances where a varying motion is required. The knot or eye of
the heddle is formed by mechanical means, the folder being turned
round or set over by the action of a toothed rack upon a pinion carried
by the folder spindle. The take-up cylinder and worm divider are also
mechanically combined with the preceding movements, actuated by
steam or other motive power. Various parts of these improved heddle
machines are made of malleablized cast iron in lieu of wrought iron or
brass, as has heretofore been the case.
The second part of this Invention consists of improvements in the
system or mode of dressing the heddles. The apparatus for this pur-
pose consists of a machine, by means of which the paste or varnish is
thoroughly and evenly distributed over the yarns of the heddles, and
the fibre of the material laid by means of revolving brushes or other
smoothers, to which a reciprocatory action may likewise be imparted
as the heddles traverse between the polishers. The heddles are dis-
tended by mechanical means, and they traverse along a rail overhead,
and as the heddles pass between the brushes or smoothers, the rapid
rotatory and reciprocatory motion imparted thereto brushes the paste
or varnish, with which the heddles were previously roughly coated,
evenly and uniformly over the surface. The combined rotatory and
traverse motion of the brushes is compensated for in the endless belt,
which gives them the rotatory action by giving the belt a turn round a
central tensional guide pulley, which being fixed never deranges the
tensional action of the belt. The paste or varnish is applied to the
heddles by a suitable mechanical arrangement, in which heat may be
applied, used in conjunction with the brushing and smoothing machine.
The next improvement consists in drying the heddles by means of air
heated by passing it through a length of pipe or pipes, which may be
fitted in a chimney or furnace shaft. A portion of the heated air pipe
is preferred to be of unglazed fire-clay, in order to absorb the moisture of
the air passing through. A current of air may be driven through the
pipe by the mechanical action of a fan or blower; or the air may be

page_text: allowed to pass through the pipe or pipes without being put in motion
by mechanical means.
In the heddle or heald machinery herein-before described and referred
to, what is known as the "Scotch rib cord" is especially intended to be
mechanically combined and used in connection with a mechanical
counter, token, or porter marker, or indicating apparatus, such arrange-
ments or combination being of material value for the effective working
of the said machinery or other heddle or heald making apparatus. A
spring clutch or other yielding connection is also adopted between the
driving shaft or early movements of the machinery, arranged in such a
way that should any obstruction to the working arise, this connection
yields, and allows the driving shaft or earlier portion of the movements
to continue in motion, whilst the rest of the apparatus is stopped for
the time being.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe the several explanatory Figures on the
illustrative Drawings, which I have hereunto appended, for the pur-
pose of showing certain modifications under which my improvements
may be judiciously carried out in practice.
The first part of my present Invention relates to improvements in
the mechanical details and the arrangement of the parts of machinery.
for manufacturing heddles or healds for weaving, for which I obtained
separate grants of British Letters Patent, respectively dated on or
about the Fifteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four, and the Fourteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.
The principal portion of my present improvements in the heddle
making machinery have reference to the machine described and shown
in the Specification of the first-recited Letters Patent, but some portion
of the improvements are modifications of parts shown and described
in the Specification of the Letters Patent secondly recited.
My present improvements are shown upon the three accompanying
Sheets of Drawings, the first of which is devoted to the improvements
in the heddle making machinery; the second, to the machinery for dress-
ing or varnishing and polishing the yarns of which the heddles or healds
are composed; and the third Sheet of my Drawings represents the
details of my improvements in drying and finishing the manufactured
heddles or healds.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a back view or elevation of
a heddle making machine, or at least of so much of the machine as is
necessary to explain my present Invention; Figure 2, on the same Sheet,
is an end view showing the train of wheels by which the motion of the

page_text: "lap cord" is obtained; this train of wheels or driving movement being
used in lieu of the "endless pitch chain," described in the first-recited
Specification.
"
I may here state, that in referring to these Specifications, I shall
simply designate them as my Patent of 1854" and of 1855,"
respectively.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are modifications of improved bobbin and adjust-
able tension holders; Figure 6 is an enlarged detached view of the
arrangement for readily and accurately obtaining the requisite tension
or nip on the threads as they are wound off the bobbins; Figures 7 and
8 are enlarged detached views of the arrangement of the needle
depresser; Figure 9 is a detached side view of the arrangement for con-
trolling the starting and stopping of the machine; Figure 10 is a front
view of the details for marking the heddle with a thread to indicate
any convenient number of splits throughout the length of the heddle;
Figure 11 is a detached side view of an improved modification of a
folder or claw for forming a knot in the heddle yarn; Figure 12 is a
plan of the same; Figure 13 is an elevation, showing another arrange-
ment for effecting the same object; Figure 14 is a sectional view corre-
sponding to the upper part of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a plan corre-
sponding to Figure 14.
In order to distinguish the new parts or modifications forming. my
present Invention, these parts are coloured of a blue tint in Sheet 1
of my Drawings, whilst the parts corresponding to or analogous to
those before shown and described are left untinted.
The framing consists of two open cast-iron side standards A, united
by the longitudinal bars B. The moving parts of the machine are
actuated by the main driving shaft C, which is driven by the fast and
loose pulley D, and an endless belt which is not shown in the Figure.
Instead of starting the machine by the shifting the belt from the loose
to the fast pulley, it is effected by bringing the loose pulley in contact
with the fast pulley, or rather with a leather or other disc E, which
is interposed between the two, but not attached to either pulley. The
loose pulley is driven by an endless belt, which is carried round a drum
fitted overhead, and driven by a steam engine or other prime mover.
The contact of the loose pulley with the fast one is controlled by an
The
arrangement which is shown separately in Figure 11 on Sheet 1.
loose pulley is moved to or from the friction disc E by a lever F, the
free end of which is forked, and passes between the collars formed on
the boss of the loose pulley. The lever F is carried upon a centre stud
which is fast to a bracket bolted to the framing of the machine; the
lever is actuated by a rod which is carried across the front of the

page_text: machine parallel to the upper cross bar B. This rod is not shown in
the Drawing, but is marked H in the Drawings of my Specification of
1854; it has two stops attached to it which can be shifted by the knee
of the attendant, so as to bring the loose pulley in contact with the
friction disc E, or disengage it at pleasure, or by keeping these stops
midway the machine is free to be moved in either direction by hand.
The other end of the lever F is connected by a pin to a lever G, which
turns upon a stud bolted to a bracket below the one carrying the
lever F; the lever G has at its free extremity a wedge-shaped piece
of metal H, which presses against and brings into action the brake I;
this brake is suspended over the fast pulley D, it turns upon a centre
stud, and its lower end is furnished with a roller so as to allow the
brake to fall upon the periphery of the fast pulley D, when released
from the wedge-shaped piece of metal H. When the brake is off the
fast pulley D, the roller at the end of the brake rests against the highest
part of the inclined plane H, and the brake I is thereby kept up and
away from the fast pulley. But when the lever G is brought into action,
it moves away laterally, which releases the lower end of the brake,
causing it to fall upon the pulley and instantly stop its motion. This
mode of starting and stopping the machine by frictional contact is
greatly superior to the mode of shifting the strap, as the moving parts
are instantly arrested and the effect of momentum avoided.
Instead of using a weighted cord to obtain the requisite degree of
tension upon the "rib cords," as formerly used and shewn in my Patent,.
1854, I prefer the arrangement shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1, in which
the tension is obtained by the reaction of a helical spring or springs.
This mechanical arrangement is also applicable to the yarn beams of
looms, and other purposes where an easily adjustable tensional pressure
is required. The rib cord is wound upon the larger sheave of the
double pulley J, which is carried upon a stud bolted to the end standard
A. Above the pulley J is fitted to the framing A a bracket piece K,
which carries the helical spring L, through the longitudinal centre of
which is passed a small rod or wire M, the lower end of which is turned
to form an eye, an external screw thread being cut upon the upper
end. The screwed end of the wire M projects through the elongated
eye N, the lower end of which is made with a flange that presses upon
the upper end of the spring L. A thumb-screw O is fitted to the
wire N, and as this is screwed down, the pressure of the spring upon
the flange of the eye N is increased. One end of the tension cord is
fastened to the eye in the lower end of the rod or wire M, whilst its
other end, after passing round the smaller sheave of the pulley J, is
secured to an eye made in the lower part of the fixed bracket piece K.

page_text: By this means the tension of the cord may be increased or reduced
at pleasure by the thumb-screw O, which regulates the pressure of the
spring L, securing a nice elastic action.
The modifications shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, on Sheet 1, represent
three different arrangements of bobbin holders, by which a steady and
uniform pressure is obtained upon the bobbins, so as to retain them in
their proper position. In Figure 3 the lower end of the bobbin P is
held upon the conical end of the fixed stud Q, the upper end of the
bobbin being held by the end of a short lever R, which is jointed at S,
its other end being pressed upwards by the spiral spring T. This spring
is passed over the vertical stud U, and its pressure upon the lever R is
regulated by the nut V, which screws up and down the stud U. In the
modification shown in Figure 4, the bobbin holder consists of a bent
arm or bow piece W, which is riveted or otherwise attached to the
tube X; the upper extremity of the bow piece W terminates in a conical
point, which fits the upper end of the bobbin. The pivot for the lower
end of the bobbin is riveted to a blade spring Y, the other extremity
of which may be attached to the tube X, or other convenient part of
the machinery. The arrangement shown in Figure 5 is similar to the
foregoing, except that the lower pivot is formed upon a short horizontal
lever Z, which turns upon a pin projecting from the side of the bow
piece W.
The lever Z is prolonged outwarns beyond the pivot, the
extension serving as a finger rest when the lever is depressed, for the
purpose of removing or replacing the bobbin. The upward pressure of
a blade spring Z' against the lever Z, retains the bobbin in its place
in the holder, but without interfering with its rotatory motion.
Two bobbins a and b, are shown in Figure 1, working in connection
with the mechanical fingers through which the rib cords pass. One of
these mechanical fingers for winding the loop ends on the rib cord is
shown in the enlarged view, Figure 6. It consists of a stem c, through
which the thread is passed by a hole d, made just beyond the collar e.
As the thread passes away from the hole dit is nipped by a moveable
ring, which corresponds in size and shape to the collar e. This ring/,
which slides upon the stem of the mechanical finger, is pressed against
the collar e by a helical spring g, the other end of which abuts against
an adjusting nut h. This nut is made with an internal screw which
fits the screw thread cut on the end of the stem c, so that by screwing
up the nut the pressure of the ring f on the thread may be increased
or reduced as may be required. At the extremity of the stem c is a
cap or head c¹; this head has an internal screw which fits the stem c,
and a small hole is made near the edge of the cap through which the
thread from the bobbins a or b is passed. These mechanical fingers

page_text: take the place of and are substituted for the "moveable tubes O and P,"
described in my Patent of 1854, and perform the same office, namely,
that of winding or "lapping" the binding cords round the rib cords.
A corresponding arrangement, as regards the mechanical finger, is used
in this modification for guiding the "clasp yarn." The bobbin i, from
which the clasp yarn is supplied, is carried on centres or pivots, one of
which projects from the rim wheel j, the other pivot being carried
upon a tube k, which slides upon the finger stem l. The tube has a
slot m made in it, in which a pin projecting from the stem works, the
slot admitting of the adjustment of the tube, when the bobbin is to
be replaced or removed. The inner end of the sliding tube kabuts
against a helical spring, the other end of which presses against the
collar of the stem ; this spring has a tendency to press the sliding
tube outwards towards the free end of the stem. A counteraction is
obtained by a corresponding helical spring, which presses against the
opposite end of the tube, its pressure being adjusted by the nut l',
which regulates the drag of the clasp yarn bobbin i. The stem of the
mechanical finger is fast to the rim wheel j; this wheel is indicated by
the letter Z in my Patent of 1854, and it performs an office in this
modification similar to that described in the Specification of that Patent.
The clasp yarn n, from the bobbin i, is passed through an eye in the
guide o, which is attached to the rim wheel j, and from the guide o
is passed through a hole in the flange of the tube k, and finally through
a hole in the cap p, in manner similar to the caps c' on the extremities
of the mechanical fingers herein-before described, by which means a
corresponding elastic action is obtained.
Instead of actuating the mechanical fingers, or "lapping cord"
holders, by means of an endless pitch chain, as described in the Speci-
fication of my Patent of 1854, in this modification they are driven by
gearing, as shown in the end view, Figure 2, Sheet 1. The main
shaft C has fast to it a pinion q in gear with the wheel 7, which
carries the pinion s; this pinion gears with the wheel t, which gives
motion to the vertical bevil wheel u This last wheel drives the
bevil wheel, which is fast to the lower extremity of the vertical
shaft w, on the upper end of which is a corresponding bevil wheel x,
which gives motion to the bevil wheel y. The two vertical bevil
wheels u and y are carried upon the tubular stems c of the mechanical
fingers, through which the rib cords 2 are passed. The tubular stems
terminate just beyond the bobbins a and b, and the rib cords emerge
from this point; the stem of the finger is bent at this part at a right
angle, and is there attached to the tubular stem. By means of this
modification of gearing for carrying the lap cord holders and mechanical

page_text: fingers, a continuous or uniform movement is obtained in lieu of an
intermittent motion.
The eyes of the heddles, as they are successively formed on the mesh
stud, are in this present Invention thrust off the mesh stud by a
tumbler 1, which is carried by a stud affixed to the moveable frame 2.
The tumbler 1 acts upon the curved end of a lever 3, which turns upon
a stud projecting from the inner side of the upper cross-rail B. To the
end of the horizontal rod 4, only a portion of which is shown in Figure 1,
is fitted a curved end which is attached by an eye to the lever 3. To
the lower part of the vertical portion of the lever 3 is attached one
end of a helical spring 5, the end of which is secured to an eye which
is fast to the standard A, This portion of the mechanism is in lieu
of the arrangement described in the Specification of my Patent of 1854,
in which the thrusting off of the eyes of the heddles from the mesh
stud, therein marked X, is effected by a rod "32" jointed to a lever
"33," this lever being jointed to a rod "34." In my present Invention,
the rod "34" is marked 4; the upward curved end which is attached to
the lever 3, actuated by the tumbler 1, is sufficient to show the simpli-
fication of the arrangement and reduction of the number of parts for
effecting the doffing movement.
In the Specification of my former Patent of 1854 is described a
depresser for pressing down the point of the bent needle into a groove
made therein, this pressure being continued during the whole back-
ward traverse of the needle, or whilst it is receding from the driving
end of the machine. In the present modification this depressing action
is instantaneous, and is effected only at the moment required. The
improved arrangement is shewn in the detached views, Figures 7 and 8,
Sheet 1. The needle 6 is carried in a small vertical holder 7, which is
bolted to the moveable frame 2, Figure 1. The upper extremity of
the holder terminates in an inclined plane 8; as the needle holder
recedes with the backward traverse of the moveable frame 2, the inclined
plane 8 comes in contact with the tumbler 9, attached by a pin to
the depresser 10. This tumbler acts upon the depresser 10, which
turns upon a centre at 11; the backward traverse of the incline 8
causes the oblique point of the tumbler 9 to force the fore end of
the depresser 10 down upon the needle 6, causing its point to enter
the groove made below it in the stem of the needle. The instant, how-
ever, that the incline 8 has passed the tumbler 9 the pressure of the
point of the depresser 10 is taken off the needle, and upon the return
of the moveable frame 2, the tumbler, when struck by the incline 8,
turns upon its supporting pin, and consequently exerts no action upon
the depresser 10. The instantaneous action of the depresser, as in this

page_text: arrangement, is far superior to that of continuing the pressure during
the backward traverse of the needle, as in the modification described
and shown in the Specification of my Patent of 1854.
A modification in the arrangement of the depresser 10 is shown in
Figure 8, in which instead of the fore end of the depresser being rigid
and unyeilding, a spring 10, Figure 8, is used in lieu of the bent arm
in Figure 7. This spring is fitted in the depresser lever, and carries
at its curved end a nib, which is attached to the spring by a nut, so
that its length can be accurately adjusted. The marking the number
of "splits" in the heddle by causing a a thread to be worked into the
backing, is effected in this modification by the action of the ratchet
wheel 12, which moves in either direction upon its sustaining stud,
which it attached to the sliding frame 1. The ratchet wheel 12 is
shown detached and drawn to the full size in Figure 10, with a portion
of its connected mechanism. The face of the ratchet wheel has a series
of small holes 13 made in it, as shown in Figure 10, and at the back
of the wheel is another and corresponding series of holes. Into these
last holes a pin upon the extremity of a spring falls successively as the
wheel is moved tooth by tooth; the spring serves to hold the wheel
stationary when not being acted upon by the other parts of the
mechanism. In one of the holes 13 upon the face of the wheel is a
fixed pin 14; there is also a pin near the extremity of the moveable
arm 15, which pin may be set in any of the holes round the face of
the wheel, and the arm may be fixed in that position by the pinching
screw 16. These pins 14 and 15 alternately come into contact with
the projections 17 and 18 upon the sliding bar 19, which moves to and
fro in the two pendent supports 20 and 21, screwed to the upper part
of the frame piece 22. To the front end of the sliding bar 19 is attached
one end of a small bell-crank lever 23, which turns upon a centre stud
attached to the frame piece 22; the other end of the bell-crank lever 23
is connected to a sliding piece 24, which slides up and down a small
spindle fixed to the frame piece 22. The sliding piece 24 has fixed to
it an arm 25, having a guide eye in the end of it; this guide serves to
convey the marking thread to either side of the backing, and cause it
to be worked therein at regular predetermined intervals. Upon the
sliding bar 19 in front of the ratchet wheel 12 are two studs 26, which
act alternately upon the upper extremity of a weighted lever 27, the
end of which rises between the studs; the lever 27 turns upon a stud
fixed in a bracket, which forms a part of the frame 22; this bracket
also carries a stud, on which the double pawl 28 turns; the lower part
of this pawl has two studs 29 and 29', which project on each side of
the weighted lever 27. The arms of the pawl 28 are curved outwards,

page_text: and each has a stud or pin projecting from its under side; these pins
are shown in dotted lines at 30 and 31, Figure 10; the ratchet wheel
is moved round one tooth at a time as the frame 2 traverses backwards,
a tooth of the wheel 12 coming in contact with the pin on the upraised
arm of the pawl 28, the wheel is thereby pushed round to the extent
of one tooth. This rotatory motion would go on continuously but for
the pin 14 and moveable arm 15 on the ratchet wheel 12, the distance
between which regulates the reversing action of the wheel 12, and
the marking thread in the guide 25. The moveable arm 15 is fixed as
many holes apart from the fixed pin 14 as there are to be "splits"
between each marking; the wheel is moved round by the traverse of
the frame 2 and action of the pawl, until one of the pins in the disc
comes in contact with one of the projections 17 or 18, on the sliding
bar 19. The effect of this contact is to move the sliding bar either
backwards or forwards, according to the direction in which the ratchet
wheel has been moving. The motion of the bar 19 actuates the bell-
crank lever 23 and sliding piece 19, which causes the guide 25 carrying
the marking thread to shift its position to the other side of the backing,
and the thread is at that point worked into the backing. The motion
of the bar 19 causes the pin 26 against which the end of the weighted
lever 27 has been lying during the partial rotation of the ratchet
wheel to shift the weighted lever 27 over to the other pin 26 on the
bar 19. The motion of the lever 27 from one pin to the other alters
the position of the pawl 28, by acting upon the studs 29 or 29' at its
lower end, this throws the arm of the pawl, which has been inoperative
during the partial rotation of the ratchet wheel 12 in one direction,
up against the teeth of the wheel 12, so that it becomes the acting arm
during the partial rotation of the wheel 12 in the reverse direction.
This reversing action should only be effected when the moveable
frame 2 has completed its backward traverse, otherwise the "count"
will show one less than the proper and predetermined number if the
shift be made during the forward traverse of the frame. To obviate
this evil the pin 31 of the pawl 28 is allowed to fall into the hook 32
of the arm 33, when the reversing takes place; this arm 33 is attached
by its upper end to the frame 22.
The pawl 28 is held by the hook 32
in this manner, until the frame 2 has again made its backward traverse,
upon which a projecting arm 34 strikes the lower end of the arm 33,
and pushes it away, thus disengaging the pin 31 of the pawl 28. The
instant the pawl is released, the other arm is thrown up by the weight
of the lever 27 pressing against the pins 29'; the pin 30 of the upraised
arm is thus brought into contact with the ratchet wheel 12, and pushes
it round the distance of the first tooth. In this manner a regular and

page_text: uniform count is obtained, and any number of splits in a porter or
dents in an inch is readily arrived at.
Figure 12 and 13, Sheet 1, are a side view and plan of an improved
"claw" for forming the knot by mechanical means in the manufacture
of heddles. In the Specification of my Patent of 1855 is described
the arrangement and use of these "claws;" upon the one shown. in
Sheet 1 is an improvement. To the tubular spindle 35 is fixed the
plate 36, the outer end of which is turned over to receive the spindle
of the claw 37, which is shown in Figure 12, thrown back preparatory
to grasping a thread, and in dotted lines in its other position. The
turned back portion of the plate is fastened down by screws or other
means. A small pinion 38 is fitted in the end of the plate 36; this
pinion is fast to the spindle of the claw 37, and is actuated by a
small rack 39 upon the end of a sliding plate 40. This plate 40 is
secured to the upper plate 36 by screws, which slide to and fro in slots
cut in the plate 36; the sliding plate 40 is attached to a rod 41, which
passes through the tubular spindle 35. The reciprocatory movement
of the rod 41 causes the rack 39 to actuate the claw 37, so as to grasp
and release the yarn to be knotted. These mechanical claws may also
be applied to other useful purposes where a rapid engaging and dis-
engaging action is required, combined with rotatory or reciprocatory
movements of the claw itself.
Another modification for effecting the same end, namely, forming
a knot by mechanical means, is shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15, of
Sheet of my Drawings. In this arrangement the claw consists of a
segmental rack 42, which is with its spindle cut through to its centre;
the rim of this rack is toothed and gears with a pinion 43. The pinion
43 is fast on a short horizontal shaft 44, which has at its other end a
pinion 45 in gear with the bevil wheel 46, which is fast to the upper end
of the vertical shaft 47. This shaft has upon its lower extremity a
bevil pinion 48, which receives its motion from the discs 49 and 50;
these discs are fast to the shaft 51. The shaft 51 is carried in brackets
fixed to the end standard of the framing, and is driven by gearing
connected with the main shaft or with either of the principal movements
of the machine. The shaft 51 communicates a continuous rotatory
movement to the discs 49 and 50, which impart an intermittent rotatory
motion to the shaft 47, and by means of the horizontal shaft 44 and
bevil wheels 43, 45, and 46 corresponding amount of rotatory motion
to the segmental rack 42. The rotatory motion of the segmental rack 42
is not only intermittent, but alternately in opposite directions; these
motions are obtained by means of the discs 49 and 50, which are made
with a certain number of teeth upon their bevilled faces, followed by

page_text: a space in which there are no teeth. The discs are so arranged, that
when the teeth of one, say, for example, 49 are in gear with the pinion
48, and consequently communicating rotatory motion to it, the teeth
of the pinion are passing over the plain untoothed portion of the
disc 50. When the teeth of the disc 50 is brought into gear with the
pinion 48, it is driven in a contrary direction; in this manner the
segmental rack 42, is made to partially rotate in opposite directions,
the amount of its circular motion being regulated by the extent of
the segmental racks on the discs 49 and 50. The frame 52, in which
the pinion 43 and segmental racks 42 is carried, slides up and down
the V-grooved guides 53; the frame 52 is carried by the rod 54. The
central part of this rod forms a rack 55, and it slides up and down
in bushes or guides secured to the framing A.
The upper end of the
rod 54 is made duplex, and terminates in a frame forming a guide, in
which the frame 52 slides to and fro horizontally. The rod 54 derives
its vertical reciprocatory movement from a pinion 56, shown in dotted
lines in the Figure; this pinion is fast to the shaft 57, which also carries
the pinion 58 in gear with a segmental rack upon the upper end of
the lever 59. The lever 59 turns upon a centre fast to the framing,
a pin projects laterally from the lever, which takes in a groove in the
cam 60, which is fast to the shaft 51. The rotatory motion of the
cam 60 imparts a reciprocatory motion to the lever 59, which is com-
municated to the rack 55 of the rod 54. The horizontal traverse of the
frame 52 is effected by the lever 61, which turns upon a centre at 62;
this lever is attached by means of a link 63 to the frame 52, which
slides in the frame of the rod 54. The lever 62 is caused to move upon
its centre by a grooved cam 64, forming part of or attached to the
disc 50; the tail of the lever 61 slides in the groove of the cam 64, by
which it is moved to and fro, its upper end giving the horizontal
traverse to the frame 52. The bobbin 65 is fitted within the segmental
rack 42, the partially rotatory movement of which carries its thread
round the rib cord Z, whilst its vertical traverse carries it round
the mesh stud X. The several movements are so combined as to act
in concert with the traverse of the needles as they emerge from their
guides on the plate x, as described in my Patents of 1854 and 1855.
The second part of my Invention consists of improved mechanical
arrangements for effecting the dressing or stiffening, smoothing and
polishing of the yarns of which heddles or healds are composed. Onc
modification of the machinery or apparatus is shewn in Sheet 2 of my
illustrative Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation or front view of the heddle-dressing machine,
a portion of the traversing frame heddle, and parts connected there-

page_text: with to the right of the Figure, being broken off, but it will be under-
stood that the omitted part corresponds to that shewn upon the left-hand
side of the Figure; Figure 2 is a partially sectional elevation, taken at
right angles to Figure 1; rigure 3 is an elevation or end view of the
machine, corresponding to the end of the left of Figure 1; Figure 4
is a front view; and Figure 5 an end view, of the apparatus for heating
and laying on the stiffening varnish or polishing material; Figures 6
and 7 are front views of a portion of the details for reversing the
motion of the heddle through the machine; Figure 8 is a detached view
of the arrangement for varying the distance between the rails by which
the heddles are supported, so as to adjust them to heddles of different
widths or depths..
This machinery or apparatus consists essentially of two parts, the
oné a stationary framing, which carries the shafts and pullies from
which the different movements are derived, and also the rotatory brushes
or other polishing media; and the other part, consisting of a moveable
frame suspended overhead, and moving to and fro with the heddle whilst
it is undergoing the operations of dressing or polishing.
The stationary parts of the mechanism consist of the open rectangular
cast-iron standards A united by transverse rails, and the overhead rail
B, which is suspended to the pendant brackets C, these brackets being
attached to beams above them.
The different movements of the machine are derived from the driving
or main shaft D, which is actuated from a steam engine or other prime
mover. Towards the right-hand end of the shaft D is keyed a fly wheel
E, which serves to equalise the motion of the moving parts, and beyond
the fly wheel are fitted two fast and loose pulleys of different diameters
F and G. The belts H and I, which the pulleys F and G actuate, are
carried upwards and pass over a drum fitted to an overhead shaft, not
shewn in the Drawing, because the drum and shaft perform no other
office than distending the useless belts H and I. The main shaft D
has keyed to it a pulley J, which by means of the endless belt K gives
motion to the pulley L on the shaft M. The bearings of the shaft M
are carried in a bracket projecting from the back to the left-hand
standard A, Figure 1, and in a short vertical standard bolted to the
flooring, but not seen in the Drawing. This shaft has upon it two
pulleys N and O, which give motion, by means of the endless belts P.
and Q, to two pulleys R and S running loosely upon the shaft T. Only
one of these pulleys can be seen in the end view, Figure 3, but the
two are shewn in the detached detail view, Figure 6. Each of these
pulleys is provided with a coupling, by means of which either can be
put in gear with the clutch U on the shaft T. The belt P, Figure 1,

page_text: which gives motion to the pulley R is crossed, whilst the fellow belt Q
which actuates the pulley S is open, so that the pulleys R and S rotate
in opposite directions. The effect of this arrangement is, that the
shaft T may be made to revolve in either direction at pleasure, just
as either of the two pulleys are coupled with the clutch U. The
coupling and disconnecting is effected by means of the handle V, which
is fast to the rod V₁. This rod is supported in brackets, which are
bolted to the standard A, and near to its upper extremity is attached
the forked arm W. The forked ends of the arm W pass between the
collars of the clutch U, so that as the handle V is moved either to
the right or left, the shaft T may be put in connection with either the
pulley R or S, and thus be made to move in unison with it. The move-
ment of the handle V also puts the main driving belts H and I on
to their respective pulleys F and G, but this part of the mechanism
will be referred to after describing the next movement, namely, the.
means by which a reciprocatory motion is imparted to the leaf of heddles.
Upon the shaft T is fixed a drum or cylinder X, having a flange at
each end; round this drum or cord Y is passed some four or five turns.
The drum is shewn separately in Figure 7. The cord Y is carried
upwards from the drum and passed over the two central pulleys Z, and
end pulleys Z'.
These pulleys are suspended by brackets bolted to
The
the fixed rail B. The cord Y is passed round the end pulleys Z', and
its ends are fastened to studs projecting from the moveable frame a.
One of the studs is shewn in the end view Figure 2. The rotatory
motion of the cylinder X winds up the cord Y at one end of the
cylinder as fast as it is unwound from the other, and by this action
the frame a is moved either to the right or left, just as the pulleys R
or S are put in connection with the shaft T by the handle V.
frame a, in which the heddles under operation are carried, consists
of the two upper parallel rails a, and bottom rail b. These are united
by the vertical side pieces c, to the upper extremities of which are
bolted two pulleys d. These pulleys are made with flanges, and they
traverse to and fro upon the fixed rail B, and at the same time serve
as carriers to the frame a. Parallel with the lower rail a and bottom
rail bare two adjustable rails, V-shaped, e and f; the upper one e is
attached to vertical sliding pieces g, which slide up and down in slots
cast in the side pieces c, the sliding pieces g being fixed by the pinching
screws h. The lower moveable railf has a stud at each end of it, which
travels in a slotted guide i at the ends of the rail b. The leaves of the
heddles are held by hooks, fitted in the rails e and f. The lower leaf
is first hooked on to the hooks of the rail f; the slots in the guide i
admit of the rail ascending so far that the upper leaf may be readily

page_text: passed over the hooks of the upper rail e, the weight of the rail f
serving to keep the heddles stretched or distended whilst undergoing
the stiffening or polishing processes. The frame a, its connected parts,
and the heddles, and also the polishers, move to and fro in vertical open-
ings m, Figure 2, made in the side standards A, and its motion is more
rapid in one direction than the other, that is to say, it moves from left
to right at a certain velocity, but from right to left the speed is
increased, or vice versa. The object of this is, that as the dressing
material is laid on in the passage of the heddle, say, from the left to
the right, the speed of the polishers is comparatively slow, so that the
dressing material may not be brushed off, but in the opposite direction
during the perfecting of the polishing process the speed may be
advantageously accelarated.
This differential speed is effected through the different sized pulleys F
and G, and by means of the handle V, which shifts the belts H and I
on to their respective fast pulleys as required. The handle V is held
in position by a catch n, having three notches made in it. When the
handle is held by the central notch, the coupling U is held midway
between the couplings of the pulleys R and S, and the machine is at
rest, but if set either to the right or left the corresponding pulley is
coupled and the shaft T thereby set in motion. The movement of the
handle V either to the right or left also actuates a lever o, the fulcruin
of which is a stud fitted below the handle V. When the lever is
moved to the right by the handle V, the lever comes in contact with a
pin p, which projects downwards from the rod q, and moves the rod
towards the right hand. The extremity of the rod 7 terminates in a
fork, in which the belt H runs, so that the motion of the rod shifts the
belt from the loose to the fast pulley F on the main shaft D, which con-
sequently imparts a corresponding rate of motion to the shaft M and
the belts P and Q. The movement of the handle V having also coupled
the shaft T with the pulley S, it imparts its motion to the cylinder X,
and by means of the cord X the frame a with the heddle is drawn from
left to right, passing along through the openings m in the standards A.
It is when travelling from left to right at the slower speed that dress-
ing material or varnish is in this modification applied. This part of the
arrangement will be presently referred to. When the frame a has
reached the extremity of its traverse, and the heddle has been subjected
to the first operation of the brushes or polishers, as will be herein-after
described, the handle V is shifted to the left-hand notch of the catch n.
When the pin p of the rod q is released from the lever o, the rod is
drawn back by the action of the helical spring 7, one end of which is
held by a nut, which presses against a pin on the upper side of the rod q,

page_text: whilst the other end of the spring is fast to an eye projecting from the
standard A. The recoil of the spring therefore draws back the belt
Hand shifts it to the loose pulley F, and that portion of the mechanism
is thrown out of operation. When the handle V is moved to the left,
the lever o comes in contact with a pin s which stands up from the
rod t.
This rod is forked at its outer or right-hand end, and shifts the
strap I from the loose to the fast pulleys G. The shifting of the strap
off the fast pulley is effected by the spring u, as before described, one
end of the spring being fast to the rod t and the other to the right-hand
standard A. The movement of the handle V to the left having likewise
coupled the shaft T with the pulley R, which derives its motion
from the crossed belt P, it follows that the shaft T will revolve at an
increased velocity due to the smaller diameter of the pulley G, and that
the frame a will traverse from the right to the left at a corresponding
speed.
The dressing material or varnish is in this modification put on to the
heddle as it traverses from the left to the right; and the object of the
differential speeds is to prevent the dressing material from being
brushed off, or not properly spread over the heddles, as would be the
case if its traverse were too quickly effected. The dressing material or
varnish is, from preference, contained in a trough or vessel, which may,
if necessary, be heated by steam, gas, or other means.
One modification of this portion of the machinery is shewn in the
detached end and front views, Figures 4 and 5. The dressing material
or polishing mixture is contained in a trough v, which is made double,
so as to be heated by steam or hot water, the outer casing forming an
encircling jacket to the trough v. The steam is admitted to the annular
space by the pipe w, which is controlled by a cock. There is also a
cock at the bottom to draw off the water of condensation. If hot
water is used for heating the polishing mixture, it is admitted through
the cock a, and the surplus water drawn off by the pipe w. A copper
or other roller y is fitted within the trough v; this roller is put in motion
by means of a cone pulley, fitted at one end of its spindle, and by which
the rotatory speed of the roller may be varied as required to increase
or diminish the feed. Upon the other end of the spindle of the roller y
is a wheel i, which is in gear with an intermediate wheel 1, and this
wheel gives motion to a wheel 2 on the spindle of the roller 3. The
roller takes up a coating of the polishing mixture and distributes it
upon the periphery of the roller 3, and this roller puts it upon the yarns
as they traverse parallel to it, the apparatus being fitted in a convenient
position in front of the heddles. In Figure 4 the roller 3 is shown in
contact with the heddle, as it would appear when distributing the

page_text: polishing mixture thereon. Any convenient mechanical movement may
be used either for suspending the rotatory movement of the roller 3
when a proper quantity of the polishing mixture has been laid upon
the heddle, or removing it altogether from contact with the
yarns. The
polishing mixture may in some cases be conveniently applied to the
brushes or polishing media, or applied to the yarns by hand in lieu of
the mechanical distributor before described.
Connected with the frame a is an arrangement for varying the dis-
tance of the rails e and f, so as to adjust them to heddles or yarns of
different widths. This is effected by means of double inclined planes
or wedge-pieces 4, which are fitted at each end of the moveable frame a.
One of these wedge-pieces is shewn separately in Figure 8; it consists of
two inclined planes parallel to each other, but opposed in the direction
of their inclines. These wedge-pieces 4 pass through their respective
slots at 4', Figure 3, made for the purpose in the double-sliding pieces g,
to which the rails e and f are attached, so that when the pieces g are
released from the pinching screws h, they are free to move up and down
the inclined planes of the wedge-pieces 4, by which they are then sup-
ported. The wedge-pieces at either end of the frame a are connected
to each other by the transverse rod 5, which is supported near its centre
by an eye pendant from the upper rail a Both the wedge-pieces 4 at
each end of the machine are moved by means of a lever 6, which has
its fulcrum on a stud attached to the upper rail a. The lower end of
the lever 6 is connected by a link 7 to the rod 5; the upper extremity of
the lever is formed into a handle, by which it may be moved to and fro.
At the back of the lever 6, and fast to the rail a, is an arched piece of
metal 8, having a segmental groove or slot cut therein; the face of the
metal arch 8 may be graduated to indicate the points to which the lever
6 should be set for heddles of a certain depth. The lever 6, when moved
to its proper place upon the arch 8, is fixed thereto by radial slots in
the segment, which indicate the different widths of heddles. The
double sliding pieces g being suspended upon the inclines of the wedge-
pieces 4, when the rail 5 is moved outwards, the sliding piece g, to
which the horizontal rail e is attached, moves up the incline upon which
it rests, thereby raising the rail. Simultaneously with this movement
the sliding piece g, to which the lower rail b is attached, moves down
its incline, thereby causing the rail b to descend; thus, by a very small
amount of motion upon the two inclines, a considerable variation is
obtained in the width of the rails e and f from each other, or vice versa.
The distributing of the dressing material or polishing mixture over
the surface of the yarns and the subsequent polishing operation is
effected in the modification shewn in my Drawings, by means of brushes

page_text: to which rotatory and vertical reciprocatory movements are imparted;
but other media than that of brushes may be used in conjunction with
this machine for effecting the distributing and polishing operations.
In this modification, however, the brushes 9 are disposed radially
around the periphery of a drum 10, to which the brushes are secured by
screws or other convenient means. There are two of these rotatory
brushes shewn in the Drawing, arranged one upon cach side of the
yarns, and sufficiently near to each other that the yarns are thoroughly
subjected to their action. The spindles of the drums 10 are carried in
the divergent forked end of two vertical rods or spears 11, the lower
ends of which travel in bushes fitted in the floor, or at the lower part of
the machine, whilst their upper ends are guided by the bushes of the
spindles of the drums, which pass through the vertical openings 12 cast
in the side standards A. The spears 11, carrying with them the drums
and brushes, traverse up and down in the openings 12; this alternate
reciprocatory motion is communicated to them from the pulley L on
the shaft M; to this shaft is attached a slotted crank 13, which is con-
nected by the rod 14 to a pin on the pulley 15; this pulley runs loosely
upon the shaft D. By means of the slot in the crank the rod 14 can
be varied as regards its reciprocatory traverse so as to alter
the vertical traverse of the polishers, and thus suit the extent of their
motion to the work under operation. The two ends of a strap 16 arc
fastened to a stud at the lower part of each of the spears 11; this strap
passes over the loose pulley 15, by which it is actuated. The pulley L
is driven by the endless belt K, which passes round the pulley J on
the shaft D, as before described. The rotatory motion of the pulley L
communicates a reciprocatory movement to the pulley 15, the strap 16
of which alternately lifts the spears 11, thereby causing the brushes or
polishers to pass each other on their traverse. During this rectilinear
motion a rapid differential rotatory movement is also imparted to the
circular brushes, or whatever polishing media may be used. The
arrangement for effecting this compound movement by means of an
endless belt arrangement is shewn in the end view, Figure 3, and in
side view in Figure 1, Sheet 2 of my Drawings. Upon one end of each
of the spindles of the drums 10 is fitted a pulley 17; and below these
two pullies is another, 18, which is carried by a stud in a bracket cast
on the side standard A; in connection with these there is also a pulley 19
keyed upon the end of the main shaft D. The endless belt 20, which
gives motion to these upper pulleys, is passed over the right-hand
pulley 17, then twisted and passed under the pulley 18, passes open
over the second pulley 17, and again twisted before passing under the
pulley 19. By this arrangement both the brushes or other polishing

page_text: media are made to revolve in a downward direction, as indicated by the
arrows in Figure 3, Sheet 2. The passing of the belt under the pulley
18 also compensates for the reciprocatory movement of the pulleys 17,
for as the belt is slackened or given off by the descent of one pulley, it
is taken up by the ascent of the other, and the belt is always kept tight
and in working order. The slow traverse of the yarns and of the brushes
or polishing media admits of the dressing material or polishing mixture
being uniformly distributed over both sides of the yarns, and thoroughly
incorporated with the yarn; whilst, during the accelerated motion, the
fibres of the yarn are smoothly laid, and its surface receives a glossy
polish; the particles of dirt or superfluous polishing mixture removed
by the brushes fall below. To prevent this extraneous matter from
falling among the moving parts, small trays are fitted beneath the
brushes; these trays are occasionally removed and cleaned out. In some
instances an uniform speed in both directions of the heddles or polish-
ing media may be found sufficient without employing the differential
speeds herein-before described. By means of these arrangements for
polishing yarns, it will be evident to those conversant with the business
that the polishing operation may be effected with a much smaller
expenditure of power than has heretofore been required for the pur-
pose. It will be obvious also that this polishing may, with very trifling
modifications, be applied to the polishing of yarns in the hank. In this
arrangement the brushes or other polishing media may be so disposed
as to run in opposite directions, and set sufficiently apart as to act only
upon the surface of the hank nearest to them. I do not confine myself
to any particular mode of suspending the hank, but prefer the usual one
of passing it round rollers; or this mode may be varied by arranging
three rollers equidistant from each other, or in any other suitable way;
the hanks to be polished are passed round these rollers. The brushes
or other polishing media rotate within the hanks, the polishing media
being so arranged as to come into contact with each part of the bank
between the three rollers.
The third part of my Invention has reference to improvements in the
mode of drying yarns, where such an operation is necessary. One
modification for effecting this process is shewn in Sheet 3 of my Draw-
ings, Figure 1 of which is a vertical section of a drying room, heating
furnace, flue, and hot-air ducts, showing the longitudinal arrangement
of the pipes for heating and absorbing the moisture from the admitted
current of air; Figure 2 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3
is transverse vertical section, taken through the hot-air duct; Figure 4
is a corresponding section, taken at the end of the first series of heating
pipes; Figure 5 is an elevation or front view of the furnace. A, is of

page_text: the ordinary kind; the flame and heated products of combustion pass
along the longitudinal flue B to the chimney or shaft C. The flue B is
carried diagonally or otherwise across the area of the lower drying
room D, and below its flooring, which is by preference formed of tiles
or bricks. The flue is composed of slabs of fire-clay, and is divided at
intervals by vertical partitions E of the same material.
Along the
flue B, and passing through the several partitions E, is arranged a
series of pipes F and G; the pipes F, which are immediately over the
furnace A, are of iron. These pipes are protected from the direct action
of the flame by perforated slabs of fire-clay, which form a roof H over
the flue at that part where the flame from the fire would otherwise
infringe upon the pipes F and burn them away. The socket ends of
the pipes F pass through a fire-clay partition at the front end of the
air-heating apparatus, the other ends of the pipes F being inserted
into the socket ends of the pipes G. The pipes G are made of unglazed
fire-clay, in order that the moisture of the colder air as it passes down-
wards from the drying rooms above may be quickly absorbed. A
sufficient number of the fire-clay pipes G are connected together to run
throughout the flue B, at the extremity of which they pass through a
fire-clay partition into the hot-air duct I. This hot-air duct is carried
up to the highest room of the series to be heated, so that the heated
air as it is diffused through the room may force down the colder air to
the lower rooms; for this purpose openings are made in the floors of the
rooms through which the air is to circulate. The socket ends of the
pipes G are supported on T angle irons, which rest upon the fire-clay
slabs J that extend from side to side of the flue B. The iron pipes F
are arranged to incline downwards towards the sockets of the first series
of pipes G, from which point the latter pipes rise gradually upwards
until they emerge into the duct. The effect of this arrangement is, that
as the colder air, which is loaded with moisture from the drying rooms,
is borne down by the superincumbent dry air it passes into the pipes F,
the downward inclination of which tends to arrest the progress of the
air through the pipes. By this means the air becomes highly heated
in its passage through the pipes F, and any moisture it may carry with
it is completely absorbed by the unglazed pipes G as it passes upwards
to the flue I. The ascending force of the heated air always tending to
maintain the circulation of the current, and the velocity, of which is
greatly accelerated by the rarefaction of the dry air as it passes through
the unglazed pipes, and draws after it the cooled moist air. The mouth
of the furnace is closed by doors K, and the ash-pit by a door L, not
differing from those in ordinary use. By means of these several im-
provements, both mechanical and operative, in the manufacture of

page_text: heddles, and also in the preparation and treatment of yarns, not only
is the manufacture of the heddle simplified and improved, but the yarns
so treated are thereby rendered more durable, and their mechanical
utility greatly increased.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of
my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery,
apparatus or means to be used in the manufacture of heddles or healds
for weaving, and for the dressing and polishing or preparing of yarns
or threads of fibrous materials, as herein-before.
Second, the system or mode of starting and driving heddle or heald
making machinery by the agency of gearing involving the frictional
contact of the faces of a disc or discs.
Third, the application and use of a brake or frictional retarding
movement for the purpose of stopping the motion of heddle or heald
making machines.
Fourth. the system or mode of obtaining an elastic tensional pressure
in heddle or heald making machinery by means of an adjustable helical
spring acting upon the rib cords or other parts of heddle or heald making
machinery, which mechanical arrangement is also applicable to
machinery used for preparing and weaving fibrous materials, in lieu of
the ordinary pacing action, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of holding and retaining the bobbins used
in heddle making machinery, and the obtaining an adjustable tensional
pressure thereon by means of helical or other springs, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the arrangement and construction of the "mechanical fingers,"
and the system or mode of obtaining a nip, or adjustable tensional
pressure, upon the thread by means of springs, as herein-before
described.
Seventh, the system or mode of communicating a regular and
uniformly continuous rotatory movement to the mechanical fingers and
lap cord holders by means of toothed or other gearing, as herein-before
described.

page_text: Eighth, the system or mode of closing the point of the hooked needle
by means of a depresser, the pressure of which upon the needle is inter-
mittent, but of sufficient duration to close the point and allow the needle
to enter the loop. Also the obtaining of an elastic or yielding pressure
upon the needle by means of a spring depresser, as herein-before
described.
Ninth, the use and application of the counting motion in heddle
making machinery, for marking any predetermined number of splits,
and the means for effecting the reversing action only at the backward
traverse of the moveable frame, so that no error may occur between
the number of splits and the count of the ratchet wheel, as herein-before
described.
Tenth, the use and application of the improved counting motion in
machinery for weaving or for other purposes connected with the treat-
ment of fibrous materials, where an arithmetical register or regular
alternate reversing action is required.
Eleventh, the arrangement and construction of mechanical claws for
casting or forming knots by mechanical means, as herein-before
described.
Twelfth, the system or mode of forming mechanical knots by means
of a segmental rack to which lateral and vertical movements are
imparted by means of the connected mechanism, as herein-before
described.
Thirteenth, the use and application of malleable cast iron in the con-
struction of various parts of heddle making machinery, in lieu of
wrought or ordinary cast iron or other material as heretofore used for
such constructive purposes.
Fourteenth, the system or mode of dressing or varnishing yarns or
heddles by mechanical means, in which both sides of the yarn are
operated upon at one and the same time.
Fifteenth, the system or mode of polishing yarns or heddles by means
of rotatory brushes or other polishing media or operating surfaces, to
which a differential speed may be imparted as desired.
Sixteenth, the use and application of the mechanical arrangement
whereby brushes or other media or operating surfaces for dressing or
polishing yarns are caused to rotate upon their axes at the same time
that a reciprocatory rectilinear movement is imparted to them or to the
yarns, as herein-before described.
Seventeenth, the system or mode of drying yarns or fibrous materials
by mechanical means, as herein-before described.
Eighteenth, the use and application of unglazed pipes or tubes or

page_text: other absorbent apparatus, for the purpose of absorbing moisture from,
and heating air during the operation of drying yarns or fibrous materials.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Buchanan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JAMES BUCHANAN. (L.S.)