IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robertson, of Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, North Britain, Engineer, and James Guthric Orchar, of the same
Place, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING."
Sealed the 31st August 1859, and dated the 16th March 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robertson and
James Guthrie Orchar, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 16th March 1859.
We, WILLIAM ROBERTSON, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain,
Engineer, and JAMES GUTHRIE ORCHAR, of the same Place, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING,"
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement, construction, and working of
looms for weaving various classes of goods, and it consists in the better
arrangement, contrivance, and action of what is technically known as the
"take-up" motion, or the movement which winds the cloth upon its proper
beam in accordance with the rate of weaving. In this take-up motion a
pike" roller, or beam studded with pointed projections or pins, is used as the
actual agent in taking up the cloth, the "drag or quadrant" up-take being
applied to or fitted up in connection with this pike or pin roller, which appa-
ratus can be so adjusted as to give the exact number of weft shots in the cloth
that are required, whilst at the same time it provides that there shall be no

page_text: take-up when the shuttle in action ceases to give off any weft. A separate
and distinct roller is employed for receiving and taking on the woven cloth, so
that as the piko or studded roller to which the quadrant is applied always
remains at its normal diameter, the quadrant can be trimmed or adjusted at
the commencement of a piece of cloth to work steadily and evenly to the end
thereof.
There are two or more arrangements by which this desirable end may be
conveniently attained, the woven cloth being 'wound upon the second roller.
In one of these arrangements a pulley or disc is fitted on each end of the
studded or pointed roller or its spindle, and similar pulleys or discs on the
corresponding portions of the actual cloth roller, the pulleys of the cloth roller
being allowed to rest in frictional contact with the pulleys on the studded
roller, so that the frictional effect rolls on the cloth.
In another arrangement there is a toothed spur wheel on one end of the
studded roller, and a corresponding wheel on the cloth roller, the two being in
gear. The wheel on the cloth roller is frictionally connected to the roller or
its spindle; this is very conveniently and effectively accomplished by fitting on
the end of the. cloth roller arbor or spindle a faced disc, with an elongated
boss attached to the spindle by a transverse set screw; the boss is long enough
to form a tube with a solid external end, which is screwed to receive a thumb
nut for adjustment. The external projecting portion of the boss is turned to
receive the spur wheel, which is of the disc class, faced up on each side för
frictional purposes. Between the faces of the spur wheel and the face disc
already mentioned there is inserted a layer of "plaiding," or other convenient
frictional material. On the other and outer side of the spur wheel there is fitted a
second frictional disc, bored to fit upon the boss of the inner disc, frictional
material being interposed between its face and the opposite or external face of
the spur wheel. The thumb nut already mentioned is arranged to bear. hard
up against the boss of this external disc, so that on turning it the spur wheel
can be tightened up to a greater or less extent between the two discs. In
this way, just as the frictional contact is made feeble or strong, the cloth roller
will wind up the fabric slack or tight. For very heavy weaving it is preferred
to use the positive or direct motion as applied to the studded roller, with the
cloth roller taking up either by the frictional contact of the pulleys hercin-
before referred to, or by the spur. wheel interposed between frictional plates,
as herein-before described. Instead of an actually studded roller, a roller
covered with emery, or otherwise prepared so as to be capable of taking up
the cloth with a good hold, may be used; or a plain roller may be adopted,
the object of this part of the present Invention being the adaptation of the drag

page_text: or quadrant take-up to a roller which always remains empty, and is consequently
always of the same diameter.
In these arrangements the studded roller may either be actuated directly or
through the intervention of a spur wheel and pinion movement, and the
quadrant or ratchet lever movement may be operated upon by a caoutchouc or
belical spring, or by a weight, the quadrant or ratchet lever movement being
operated upon by connection with the sword slay of the loom or any other
convenient movement. Instead of actuating the "quadrant" up-take of the
loom by the agency of the rocking shaft, it may be worked by contact with
the cloth itself. In this modification the quadrant is put in such a position,
that when the lathe or slay is at the face of the cloth driving up the weft shot,
the quadrant at that instant takes up the exact quantity which the weft shot
gives it.
The present Invention also comprehends a convenient and effective means
of taking back the warp yarn when necessary, and to this end the yarn beam
has fast upon it a pair of ratchet wheels set side by side and close together,
the teeth being cut or formed in reverse directions as regards each wheel.
This part of the looin movement is actuated by a horizontal lever passing
forward to the front side of the loom, and having two palls or catches, so that
the turning of the yarn beam can thus be accomplished in either a forward or
backward direction, as may be required. When the lever is set in a horizontal
position, the upper pall or catch rests on a fixed stud pin in the framing and
quite clear of the ratchet teeth; but when the weaver must take any warp
yarn back, he simply gives a few strokes to the lever, when the pall comes at
once into contact with the ratchet as the lever is lifted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robertson and James Guthrie Orchar in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 16th September 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, WILLIAM
ROBERTSON, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Engineer,
and JAMES GUTHRIE ORCHAR, of the same Place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, .Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Robertson and James Guthrie Orchar, Her special license

page_text: that we, the said William Robertson and James Guthrie Orchar, our exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said William
Robertson and James Guthrie Orchar, our 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 WEAVING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said William Robertson and James Guthrie
Orchar, by an instrument in writing under our 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 bo
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Robertson and James Guthrie
Orchar, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
Our said Invention relates to the arrangement, construction, and working
of looms for weaving various classes of goods, and it consists in the better
arrangement, construction, and action of what is technically known as the
"take-up" motion, or the movement which winds the cloth upon its proper
beam in accordance with the rate of weaving. In this take-up motion a
pike "roller, or beam studded with pointed projections or pins, is used as
the actual agent in taking up the cloth, the "drag or quadrant" up-tako
being applied to or fitted up in connection with this pike or pin roller, which
apparatus can be so adjusted as to give the exact number of weft shots in the
cloth that are required, whilst at the same time it provides that there shall be
no take-up when the shuttle in action ceases to give off any weft. A separate
and distinct roller is employed for receiving and taking on the woven cloth,
so that as the pike or studded roller to which the quadrant is applied always
remains at its normal diameter, the quadrant can be trimmed or adjusted at
the commencement of a piece of cloth, to work steadily and evenly to the
end thereof. There are two or more arrangements by which this desirable end
may be conveniently attained, the woven cloth being wound upon the second
roller. In one of these arrangements a pulley or disc is fitted on each end
of the studded or pointed roller or its spindle, and similar pulleys or discs

page_text: on the corresponding portions of the actual. cloth roller, the pulleys of the
cloth roller being allowed to rest in frictional contact with the pulleys on the
studded roller, so that the frictional effect rolls on the cloth. In another.
arrangement there is a toothed spur wheel on one end of the studded roller,
and a corresponding wheel. on the cloth roller, the two being in gear. The
wheel on the cloth roller is frictionally connected to the roller or its spindle.
This is very conveniently and effectively accomplished by fitting on the end
of the cloth roller arbor or spindle a faced disc, with an elongated boss,
attached to the spindle by a transverse set screw. The boss is long enough to
form a tube with a solid external end, which is screwed to receive a thumb
nut for adjustment. The external projecting portion of the boss is turned to
receive the spur wheel, which is of the disc class, faced up on each side for
frictional purposes.
Between the faces of the spur wheel and the faced disc.
already mentioned there is inserted a layer of "plaiding" or other con-
venient frictional material. On the other and outer side of the spur wheel,
there is fitted a second frictional disc, bored. to, fit upon the boss of the inner
disc, frictional material being interposed between its face and the opposite.
or external face of the. spur wheel. The thumb nut already mentioned is
arranged to bear hard up against the boss of this external disc, so that on;
turning it, the spur wheel can be tightened up to a greater or less extent
between the two discs. In this way, just as the frictional contact is made
feeble or strong, the cloth roller will wind up the fabric slack or tight. For.
very heavy weaving, it is preferred to use the positive or direct motion as
applied to the studded roller, with the cloth roller taking up either by the
frictional contact of the pulleys herein-before referred to, or by the spur
wheel interposed between frictional plates, as herein-before described. Instead
of an actually studded roller, a roller covered with emery, or otherwise prepared
so as to be capable of taking up the cloth with a good hold, may be used;.
or a plain roller may be adopted, the object of this part of the present Inven-
tion being the adaptation of the drag or quadrant take-up to a roller which
always remains empty, and is consequently always of the same diameter.
In these arrangements the studded roller may either be actuated directly or.
through the intervention of a spur wheel and pinion movement, and the
quadrant or ratchet lever movement may be operated upon by a caoutchouc
or helical spring, or by a weight, the quadrant or ratchet lever movement
being operated upon by connection: with the sword slay of the loom or
any other convenient movement. Instead of actuating the " quadrant".
up-tako of the loom by the agency of the rocking shaft, it may be worked,
by contact with the cloth itself. In this modification the quadrant is put

page_text: in such a position, that when the lathe or slay is at the face of the cloth
driving up the weft shot, the quadrant at that instant takes up the exact
quantity which the weft shot gives it.
.
The present Invention also comprehends a convenient and effective means.
of taking back the warp yarn when necessary, and to this end the
yarn beam
has fast upon it a pair of ratchet wheels, set side by side and close together,.
the teeth being cut or formed in reverse directions as regards each wheel..
This part of the loom movement is actuated by a horizontal lever passing
forward to the front side of the loom, and having two palls or catches, so that:
the turning of the yarn beam can thus be accomplished in either a forward or
backward direction, as may be required. When the lever is set in a horizontal
position, the upper pall or catch rests on a fixed stud pin in the framing, and
quite clear of the ratchet teeth; but when the weaver must take any warp
yarn back, he simply gives a few strokes to the lever, when the pall comes at-
once into contact with the ratchet as the lever is lifted.
And in order that our said Invention of improvements in weaving may be
properly understood, we shall now proceed to describe the several illustrative
Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings, which we have hereunto.
appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under which our
improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that is to say:-
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an elevation or side
view of a portion of a loom, sufficient to show the application of two modifica-
tions of our improvements thereto; Figure 2 is a front elevation, corresponding
to Figure 1, but taken at right angles thereto; Figure 3 is a side elevation,
showing another mode of arranging the "take-up motion;" Figure 4 is a front
view of this modification; Figure 5 is a vertical section of a frictional apparatus
for regulating the tension or drag on the cloth beam; Figure 6 is an elevation
of a mechanical arrangement for turning the yarn beam, in order to take back
the warp when necessary. Referring to the arrangements shown in Figures 1.
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, the framing A of the loom is of the
ordinary kind. The rocking shaft B, to which the swords C of the slay are
attached, extends out beyond the framing, and has keyed to its extremity the
spanner or short crank lever arm D. The upper part of the spanner has a
slot made in it, in which is fitted the adjustable stud and antifriction roller E,
which by the oscillatory movement of the shaft B, comes in contact with the
lower part of the bell-crank lever or quadrant F each time that the slay
moves back after beating up the weft. The upper extremity of the quadrant F.
carries a stud, to which is secured one end of a helical spring G; the other end
of the spring, or the stud spindle portion of it, has a screw thread cut on it,

page_text: which part passes through an eye made in the laterally projecting arm 11,
bolted adjustably to the loom framing. A thumb nut I is fitted to the end of the
spring G, by means of which it can be tightened up or slackened at pleasure.
The stud on the lever arm F, to which the spring G is attached, serves also to
carry the pall J, which falls into the teeth of the ratchet wheel K, and when
the quadrant is put in motion, serves to draw the wheel round in the direction
indicated by the arrow. The ratchet wheel F is fast to the spindle of the
roller or beam L, which consequently moves in accordance with the ratchet
wheel, the motion of which in a contrary direction is prevented by the two
palls M, which are carried upon a laterally projecting stud adjustable in a slot
made in the loom framing. The roller L is a "pike roller," the surface of which
is covered with needle points, or is made rough by means of a coating of
coarsely powdered emery or glass, so as to take a firm hold upon the cloth N.
The spindle of the piko roller L also carries the spur wheel O, which gears
with a corresponding wheel P, fitted to the spindle of the cloth beam Q. The
details of the parts connected with the wheel P are shown in the sectional view
Figure 5. The spindle R of the cloth beam Q has fitted to it the frictional
disc S, which is made with an elongated tubular boss to fit the spindle, and is
fastened thereto by the set screw T. The outer extremity of the tubular boss
is made solid, and has a screw thread cut on it, to which is adapted the thumb
nut U. The spur wheel P is of the disc class, or made with a solid central
part; the wheel is slipped over the tubular boss up to the face of the disc S, a
layer of "plaiding" V, or other textile or frictional material, being inserted
between the contiguous faces to increase the frictional contact. A second
frictional disc W is in like manner arranged in contiguity to the outer side of
the wheel P, and by means of the thumb nut U, the frictional surfaces may bo
tightened up so as to cause the cloth to be wound on the beam Q more or less
tightly as required. In weaving with this arrangement of the "take-up," the
motion of the shaft B imparts a corresponding reciprocatory movement to the
spanner or arm D, so that the antifriction roller E comes in contact with the
lower end of the quadrant F each time that the slay makes its backward
traverse. The movement of the quadrant by the arm D carries the pall J
forward, and it falls into the next tooth of the ratchet wheel K, but the
quadrant being connected to the spring G, its contraction after the momentary
elongation brings the quadrant back to its normal position, and drawing with
it the ratchet wheel K. The movement of the ratchet wheel is communicated
to the actual cloth beam Q, by means of the wheels O and P, and the cloth is
wound to a corresponding extent on to the beam Q. In weaving with this
improved take-up, it will be observed that the cloth N passes only partially.

page_text: round the pike or studded roller L, the diameter of which does not vary
throughout the weaving operation, and the "drag" upon the cloth remains
uniform to the end; but as the diameter of the cloth beam is constantly.
increasing, the ratchet wheel K would cause it to take up too much cloth, were
it not for the contrivance of the frictional discs and wheel P. The pressure of
the discs against the faces of the wheel being regulated by the thumb nut U,
it is only necessary to temper this frictional contact in such a manner or to
such an extent as will admit of the wheel slipping to a certain extent as the
cloth beam increases in diameter, this simple operation securing a uniform
take-up throughout the weaving. This arrangement of the take-up has
another important advantago attending it, as by its means weft protectors may
bo dispensed with, as the motion of the ratchet wheel ceases upon the breakage
or failure of the weft. Before commencing the weaving of a piece of cloth
the quadrant movement is adjusted so that the proper number of shots of weft
may be thrown in to make the cloth of the required thickness; this is done by
tempering or adjusting the spring G, so that it moves the ratchet wheel K,
and causes the cloth to be taken up as the shots of weft are successively
thrown in; but upon the failure of the weft, the spring G remains intact, and
the ratchet wheel not being moved, there is no take-up, and no injury can
arise from the movements of the loom after the failure of the weft.
Another of our improvements in effecting the take-up of the fabric as it is
woven is shown in Figures 3 and 4 of our illustrative Drawings. The quadrant
F, which is moved in both directions by the arm E, has jointed to it the arm G,
tho front extremity of which forms a frictional catch H, which, rests upon the
periphery of the frictional wheel I, which is cast in one piece with the ratchet
wheel J. The ratchet wheel is fast to the spindle K of the pike roller L, the
motion of which takes up the fabric N as it is woven. The frictional catch H
is connected by the link O to the arm P, which is attached to the horizontal
shaft Q, and secured thereto by a transverse screw. The shaft Q extends across
the loom framing, and is carried in bearings fitted in the side standards, on the
inner sides of which the shaft carries two pendant or downwardly projecting arms
R; these in their turn carry the transverse rail S, which rests against the cloth
during the weaving operation. The outer extremity of the arm P is jointed to the
rod T, which passes through an eye formed in the laterally projecting bracket U:
The lower extremity of the rod T has a thread cut on it, to which is adapted
the thumb nut V, which serves to compress the helical spring W against the
under side of the bracket U, and thus temper the pressure of the rail S against
the cloth. In lieu of this arrangement of a spring, weights may be hung on
the rod T, so as to obtain the required degree of pressure on the cloth. The

page_text: motion of the pike roller L is imparted to the cloth beam by means of the
frictional pulley X, which is in contact with the pulley Y on the cloth
beam Z; or in lieu of this arrangement, the spur wheels and frictional discs
shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be used. At the commencement of a web
the spring W is properly adjusted so as to cause the rail S to take the cloth
forward as it is woven; as each slot of weft is thrown in, the slight relaxing
of the warp allows the rail S and shaft Q to move a little. This motion of
the shaft causes the arm P to descend, and the frictional catch 'I comes in
contact with the wheel I, and by the continuous reciprocatory movement of
the quadrant, the wheel I is moved round a little, and the cloth is thus wound
up to a corresponding extent on the cloth beam Z. The tightening up of the
cloth brings the rail S back to its normal position, and the frictional catch is raised
from the periphery of the wheel I, the motion of which in a contrary direction
is prevented by the palls M, which rest in the teeth of the ratchet wheel J.
This mode of arranging the up-taking apparatus ensures an accurate and
efficient co-operation of the several working parts, and in such manner as to
lessen to a great extent the labour of the loomi tenter.
Another mode of imparting motion to the quadrant F is also shown in
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings. In this arrangement the lower arm a
of the quadrant extends backwards in an angular direction above the tappet
shaft b, as indicated by the blue lines, the extremity having an antifriction roller
fitted thereto. In this way the rotatory inovement of the shaft 6 causes the
cam c'to raise the free extremity of the quadrant at each half revolution:
When the backward end of the quadrant arm is in the position shown in
Figure 1, the pall J, at the next upward movement of the arm, moves forward
and falls into the next tooth of the ratchet wheel, the contraction of the spring
G serving to draw the wheel round the moment the cam c has passed the
antifriction roller. The other parts connected with this modification are in all
respects similar in arrangement and action to those hereini-before.described.
In this Figure is also shown in red lines another mode of actuating the
quadrant of the tappet shaft, but is applicable only to the arrangement deli-
neated in Figures 3 and 4. The longer arm of the quadrant extends back-
wards below the tappet shaft 6 in a nearly horizontal direction, as indicated
by the red lines; this arm also extends forwards in front, and carries a
counter-weight e, which keeps the backward extremity of the arni up in contact
with the cam c on the tappet shaft. With this arrangement the quadrant F
is moved at each depression of the lower arm'; the actual take-up of the cloth;
however, is only effected when the frictional catch II is brought by the weaving
action in contact with the periphery of the wheel I.

page_text: The last improvement in our present Invention consists of a mechanical
arrangement for taking back the warp yarn when necessary, and is shown in
Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings, which represents a longitudinal
elevation or sido view of a portion of the loom framing, having the mechanical
-arrangement for taking back the warp yarn applied thereto. The spindle or
arborf of the yarn or warp beam projects out beyond the side standard of
'the loom framing, and this spindle or arbor has fitted thereto the ratchet
wheel g; this wheel is made with a tubular boss to admit of its being attached or
secured to the spindle f by means of a transverso set screw. The loom standard
bas projecting laterally from its face the stud h, which serves as a fulcrum
for the band lever i; this lover extends forward to the front of the loom, the
handle projects out beyond the framing so as to be within convenient reach of
the loom tenter. The front end of the hand lever i is upheld by the pro-
jecting rest, which is cast on or attached. to the loom framing; the backward
end of the lever has a laterally projecting stud on its outer face, which carries the
pawl j, by means of which the ratchet g is turned back when required. When
the hand lever i is in the position shown in the accompanying Drawings, the
pállj then rests upon the pin k, which is screwed into the framing. In this
position of the several parts, the weaving goes on in the ordinary manner, the
ratchet wheel g being free to turn in a forward direction, and thus unwind the
warp. If, however, the warp be required back a little, or to be more or less
rewound upon the warp beam, the loom tenter has only to lift the hand lever i,
when the pall takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel g, and turns it in a
backward direction so as to rewind the yarn upon the beam. In this way,
with a few strokes of the handle, the warp may be taken back to any required
extent, the long leverage enabling the loom tenter to turn back the beam with
ease against the drag upon it, and so take up any slackness of the warp, or
cause it to be rewound upon the beam, should any portion have been let off
after the failure or during the absence of the weft.
With these several improvements the operation of weaving by power is
rendered more exact, certain, and efficient; at the same time the machine is
more automatic in action, thus dispensing to a greater extent with the constant
supervision of the loom tenter than heretofore.
:
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe, in conclusion, that what we consider novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of the weaving apparatus,

page_text: or that portion of the loom mechanism which is used for taking up or causing
the cloth to be wound upon the cloth beam, as herein-before described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of effecting the "take-up" of the cloth during
the weaving operation, by means of the mechanical arrangements, shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 5 on the accompanying Drawings, in which the cloth passes
round a separate or independent pike or other roller before reaching the cloth
beam, the said rollers being actuated by a non-positive motion, as herein-
before described and shown, or any mere equivalent therefor.
Third, the mechanical arrangement of a toothed disc wheel and pair of
frictional discs fitted to and acting in conjunction with the cloth beam, by means
of which it is caused to take up the cloth at a uniform rate throughout the
weaving of the piece, notwithstanding its continually increasing diameter, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing the take-up
movement of looms, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings,
in which the pressure of the cloth against a transverse rail, which acts in con-
junction with the other mechanism, causes the cloth to be taken up in exact
accordance with the throwing in of the weft, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of taking back the warp or yarn when it is
required to rewind a portion of it again upon the yarn beam, by means of the
mechanical arrangement herein-before described and delineated in Figure 6
of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Robertson and James Guthrie
Orchar, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of
September, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.