CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING LACE COMMONLY CALLED BOBBIN NET LACE
Year: 1833

page_text: ญ. AND
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JAMES SMITH
the younger, of Radford, near Nottingham, Mechanic, and FRANCIS SMITH,
of the same place, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS we did, by Petition, humbly represent unto His 'present most
Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, that we had, after considerable
application and expense, invented and found out "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING LACE COMMONLY CALLED BOBBIN NET
LACE," which we believed will be of great benefit and advantage, whereupon
His said Majesty, being willing to give encouragement to all arts and
inventions which may be for the public good, was graciously pleased to issue
His Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date'
at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of April (One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-three), in the third year of His reign, by which Letters Patent
His said Majesty, for Himself' and His successors, hath given and granted
unto us, the said James Smith and Francis Smith, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, His special licence, sole privilege and authority, that
we or they, by ourselves or themselves, or by our or their 'deputies, servants,
or agents, or such others as we or they should at any time agree with
(and no others), during the term' of fourteen years from the date of the said
Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use;" exercise, and vend
our said Invention within that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain

page_text: and Ireland called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, so as to enjoy the whole profit, benefit, and advantage from time to time
arising by reason of the said Invention; and whereas the said Letters Patent
also contain a proviso obliging us, the said James Smith and Francis Smith,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and seals (or under the hand and seal of one of us), and to
cause the same to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (reference being
thereunto had) will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Francis Smith, for myself and for the said James Smith, do hereby declare
that our said Invention is described and ascertained in manner following,
that is to say:
Our said improvements relate to that kind of machinery for manufacturing
lace commonly called bobbin net lace, which is known to machine makers and
manufacturers by the name of circular comb or circular bolt machinery, and
which is of the class called double tier traverse bobbin machinery, because the
bobbins and carriages are disposed in two rows, for the purpose of passing one
of those rows through between the warp threads before the other row is so passed
between them; also for the purpose of traversing the two rows of bobbins, when
required, in order to form crossings of their bobbin threads, and make the tops and
bottoms of the hexagonal meshes of the bobbin net lace; and likewise in such cir-
cular comb or circular bolt machinery the said two rows of bobbins and car-
riages are both moved alternately backwards and forwards in their circular combs
or circular bolts (in order to pass and repass them between the warp threads)
by means of what are called driving bars or swing bars applied above the said
combs or bolts, which driving bars vibrate or swing backwards and forwards, so
as to push or drive the two rows of carriages before them out of one row of the
combs or bolts between the warp threads into the other opposite row of combs
or bolts, and also by means of lockers turning on axles, and applied beneath
the combs or bolts, so as to take hold of suitable teeth, which project down-
wards from the under parts of the carriages, and thereby the said carriages,
after having been pushed partly through between the warp threads by the
driving bar are quite drawn through between the warp threads clear thereof
by the locker, and locked securely within one or other of the rows of combs or
bolts, whilst the warp threads are racked sideways. In all such machines the

page_text: carriages of one row are required to give motion to the carriages of the other
row by pushing forwards those which stand before them in the combs or bolts.
by an actual contact of the carriages edge to edge.
The above description is sufficient to identify the sort of circular comb or
circular bolt machinery, with driving bars and lockers, to which our said
Invention relates, and which machinery is well known. Our said improvements
consist in substituting in place of the two ordinary driving bars or swing bars
of circular comb or circular bolt machinery two bars with blades, similar to
those which are called catch bars in the single tier machinery known by the
name of Lever's machines, and in forming the carriages with suitable notches
and ears at each end of each carriage, like the notches and ears of the
carriages of Lever's machines, the said. notches admitting the edges of the
blades of the catch bars, so that the carriages will be securely connected with
the said catch bars, in order to be thereby moved backwards and forwards in
the combs or bolts whenever the catch bars swing or vibrate backwards and
forwards along with the swing jacks (by which they are suspended) with a
similar vibratory motion to that of the driving bars commonly used (except
that it is an uninterrupted vibration, as will be herein-after explained.
And whereas those ordinary driving bars are only capable of pushing or
driving the carriages before them towards and between the warp threads, the
said catch bars according to our improvement are thereby rendered capable of
pulling the carriages after them away from the warp threads, as well as
pushing the carriages towards the same, and likewise in forming the carriages
with four teeth projecting downwards, at the under part of each, viz, two
teeth at each end of each carriage, instead of only one tooth at each end of
each carriage, as heretofore, in order that the acting edge of the blade of each
of the lockers (which lockers are situated beneath the combs in the usual
manner) may be caused to take into the notch or space between the said two
teeth, whereby the lockers, according to our improvement, are rendered
capable of acting to push the carriages towards the warp threads, as well
as to pull them away from the warp threads, which latter action of pulling
is all that the locker blades in ordinary circular bolt or circular comb
machinery can perform, and by virtue of our said improvements of substituting
catch bars in place of driving bars, with suitable corresponding notches and
ears in the carriages, and with double teeth beneath each end of each carriage
to form notches for the blades of the lockers to act between, as afore-
said, the passing of the two rows of carriages in succession, one after the
other, through. between the warp threads (giving the necessary racking of
those threads in the interval, after one row has passed through, but before
A 2

page_text: the others pass) can be performed with an uninterrupted vibration or swinging
motion of the swing jacks and of the catch bars (which are suspended
therefrom), without requiring any pause at the middle of that vibration, as
heretofore practised in circular comb or circular bolt machines with driving
bars and lockers, for the purpose of allowing time to draw out the carriages
completely from between the warp threads, and to lock them up into the
combs whilst the warp threads are racked.
For further explanation of the action of our said improvement, see Sheet I.
of the Drawings hereunto annexed, which is a transverse section of the prin-
cipal parts which are to operate upon the threads in a machine constructed
according to our aforesaid improvements. The names of many of the parts
are written on the Drawing and do not require other explanation. Suppose
both rows of carriages, A and B, are in the front-row of combs, the. front row
or division of carriages A being secured by the blade.I. of the front catch
bar 2, acting in the notches of those carriages and holding them securely, so
that the said front carriages A do not rest against or toutch the carriages B of
the other or back row or division, as is usual in ordinary. circular. bolt or comb
The: back row or division of
machinery with driving bars and lockers.
carriages B. are at the same time locked out from between the warp threads
into the front row of combs by the blade D of the front locker acting in the
notch 3 or space left between the two teeth 4 and a, which project downwards
from the under part of the carriages, in place of the single tooth in ordinary
circular bolt or comb-machines. The action of our said improvement in
passing the two rows of carriages A and B, one after the other, from the
front row of combs between the warp threads into the back row of combs, is
as follows: After the warp threads have been properly racked the swing
jacks E, with both front and back catch bars 2 and 6, which are suspended
from those swing jacks in place of the usual driving bars, begin their
vibratory motion. They move slowly at first, and at the same time the front
locker D begins to turn down inwards with a quicker motion, whereby the
edge of its blade acting (as shewn in Figure 1) against the teeth a of the
back carriages B, will push those carriages in between the warp threads, at
the same time by the swinging motion of the two catch bars the front one 2
pushes the front row of carriages A after the others B, but with a slower
motion; wherefore the back carriages B will run away from the front ones A
until a suitable space or interval is left between the two rows of car-
riages by the time that the back carriages have got a little more than half
way through between the warp threads into the position délineated at
Figure 2, Sheet II., and then the notches 5 of the back carriages B having

page_text: arrived exactly beneath the edge of the blade 7 of the back catch bar 6, that
back catch bar 6, 7, is let fall in order that its blade 7 may enter into the
said notches 5 and take a secure hold of the back carriages B by the back
catch bar 6, 7, in the same manner as the front catch bar 1, 2, has got
secure hold of the front carriages A. After the back catch bar 6, 7, is
thus engaged with the back carriages B, the front locker D begins to move
more slowly, and the swinging motion of the catch bars more quickly, so
that the motion given to the back carriages B by the swinging of their
catch bar 6, 7, will come to correspond exactly with the motion then given to
the blade of the front locker D, which, by continuing to turn down inwards,
soon after quits the notch 3 of the back carriages B altogether by the edge of
the blade D descending below the reach of the teeth (as is seen in Figure 3),
so as to allow the teeth of the carriages to pass clear over it; and then the
locker D remains motionless, in the position there represented for the present,
as the other or back' locker F has hitherto done. The swinging motion of the
two catch bars continues to move both rows of carriages A, B, in their combs
with a regular vibration, without any intermission or pause; and when the
carriages arrive at the position Figure 3, the back carriages B being quite
withdrawn clear of the warp threads, those threads are racked with an instan-
taneous movement before the front carriages A begin to enter between the
warp threads; but the front carriages enter immediately after the racking, and
as they go through the back locker F, which as hitherto been laying motion-
less, begins to turn upwards and outwards, so as to take into the notches 9
between the two.back teeth of the front carriages; the back locker. F then
turns with such a rapidity of motion as will cause its edge to correspond
exactly with the motion which the back carriages B derive from the swinging
of the catch bars, until the front carriages have passed about half way through
between the warp threads, and then the front catch bar 2 is lifted up so much
as to raise the edge of its blade 1 out of the notches of the front carriages A,
whereby those carriages are no longer dependent upon the swinging motion,
but are left entirely dependent upon the back locker. F for their motion in the
combs, and which locker F then begins to move the front carriages A with a
quicker motion immediately after the front catch bar 1, 2, is lifted up, and
disengaged from the front carriages A; and also the swinging motion, arriv
ing near to its termination, begins to move the back carriages B slower
in the combs; therefore, the front carriages A run, after and overtake the back
carriages B, so as nearly to touch them, but not quite, by the time that the
swinging motion is terminated; and by that time the front carriages A will
have been drawn quite through between the warp threads into the back combs;
"

page_text: and then the necessary racking of the warp threads is performed with an
instantaneous motion, and immediately after the swinging motion begins to
return without having made any sensible pause; but it begins with a slow
motion, and at the same time the back locker F begins to return or turn
down inwards with a quicker motion, in order to repass the two rows of
carriages, one after the other, through between the warp threads from the back
combs to the front combs, by a series of movements similar to those before
described, but in a reversed order of succession, that is to say, the turning
down of the back locker giving a quicker motion to the carriages A than the
swinging motion of the catch bars then gives to the back carriages B, the
former run away and separate from the latter, opening a sufficient space
between them; and when the front carriages have got a little more than
half way through, they are engaged by their front catch bar, which after-
wards governs their motion, the same as the back catch bar governs the
motion of the other carriages, according to the vibration of their swing,
which is quicker at the middle part of its course, and slower at each end or
termination of that course. After the front catch bar is thus engaged,
the back locker F having no farther office to perform for the present,
continues to turn down inwards until it gets quite out of the way of the
teeth of the carriages as they advance, and the instant after the front car-
riages A are quite drawn through the warp threads those threads are
racked, and then the back carriages B begin to enter without any pause
being made in the swinging motion; and when the front teeth a and 4 of the
back carriages B get a little way through between the warp threads, the
front locker D begins to turn upwards and outwards, so as to take into the
notches 3, between the two front teeth a and 4 of the back carriages B, in
order to engage the front locker D with the back carriages B; and when by
the continuance of the swinging motion the back carriages B have got about
half way through between the warp threads, the back catch bar 6, 7, is lifted up
to take its blade 7 out of the back notches 5 of the back carriages B, which
being done, the front locker D begins to move the back carriages B with a
quicker motion than the front carriages A are moved with during the
same time by the swinging motion, which being now near its termination
moves slowly. In consequence the back carriages B overtake the front
carriages A, so as nearly but not quite to touch them by the time that the
back carriages B are drawn quite through between the warp threads, clear
of them, into the front combs, and by that time, the swinging motion being
terminated, the warp threads are then racked, and all the parts have regained
the position represented in Sheet I., ready to repeat the motions before

page_text: described, the swinging motion commencing its return without any sensible
pause, but beginning slowly, in order to avoid jerking.
The advantage to be derived from our said improvements is, that the
carriages are at all times retained securely in their respective rows without
being liable to disorderly movements; and hence the threads will draw off
inore uniformly from the different bobbins than in ordinary circular bolt or
circular comb machines with driving bars and lockers, which permit of great
derangement of the carriages, and jerking forwards of some beyond the others,
out of their rows. Also, as the two rows of carriages never touch each other,
they will not be liable to be bruised on their edges when they are worked
quickly, but the edges of the carriages may be bevilled and kept sharp, to
facilitate their entrance between the warp threads and avoid breaking the
same. Likewise time is saved by the passing and repassing of the carriages
between the warp threads with an uninterrupted vibratory motion, without any.
pause for locking the carriages and racking the warp threads, as must be
made in circular bolt or circular comb machines with driving bars and lockers,
and wherein one row of carriages drives the other before it. Also, according
to our improvement, the lockers are only required to act half as often as
usual, and for all those reasons the machinery may be worked quicker than
usual.
The mode whereby all parts of machinery, constructed according to our afore-
said improvements, is to be actuated by rotary motion from a continuous turning
motion of one handle or axis, is represented in Sheets IV. and V., and the said;
mode is very similar to the mode commonly used in those kind of circular bolt
or circular comb machines with driving bars and lockers which are commonly
called rotary machines, except that a crank may be used in lieu of a driving
camm to give the uinterrupted swinging motion to the swing jacks and catch
bars. Each of the swing jacks E, at the ends of the machine, has a link e jointed.
to it to connect them with the upper ends of back levers G, which are poised on
axles or centres of motion c, near the middle of their length, and the lower ends
of the levers G are connected by connecting rods H with revolving cranks b
formed upon each end of a horizontal axis I, which is turned continually
round with an uninterrupted rotary motion, so as to make three revolutions for
every row of complete meshes of bobbin net lace which is made by the
machinery. This axis I of the cranks may be put in motion either by tho
power of mill work, by means of a pulley on the end of the axis I; to receive
an endless strap or belt, or otherwise by a double winch handle K, which
the
person who attends the machinery turns round with his hands, the said
handle, K being situated in front of the machine on an axis d, supported in.

page_text: bearing brackets affixed to the framing, and which axis communicates its:
motion to the axis I of the cranks by cog wheels L, M, fixed upon each
axis d and I, with an intermediate cog wheel N to transmit motion from one
wheel L to the other wheel M, all which is usual in what are termed hand
rotary machines. The lockers D and F are actuated by camms ƒ and g fixed
upon the axis I of the cranks, one camm for each locker, and they act alter-
nately. The curved circumferences of those camms f and 9 act upon small
rollers k, k, carried by levers O; O, the opposite ends of which are mounted
upon fixed centre pins at i (Sheet IV.), and from the middle parts of those
levers links Q, Q, are jointed and go upwards to short lever arins h, h, which
project out from the bars of the lockers D. and F, which bars are mounted
on axles at their ends as usual. Therefore, when a prominent part of the
circumference of either of the camms for g, for either the front or the back:
lecker, comes to act upon the roller k of its roller O; it presses that lever down,
and by the link Q turns up the locker. belonging to the camm, which so acts
and moves the blades of that locker outwards from the warp threads, and
when the said prominent part of the same camm passes away from the
roller of the lever O, that roller and lever returns by the action of a suitable:
spring, so as to turn down the locker and move its blade inwards towards the
warp threads. And note, in order to ensure certainty of action by those
springs, curved pieces m, m, called belts, may be affixed to the said
camms fand g, opposite to their prominent parts, so as to revolve with the
said camms in a suitable manner to act beneath, their rollers k, in order to
raise them upwards if the springs should fail to do so.
turned up and let down again once at every revolution of the axis I' of the
cranks b and camms f and g. The motion given to the swing jacks E and
catch bars 2 and 6, by the aforesaid cranks b, rods H, levers G, and links e,
as aforesaid, will be a continual repetition of vibrations like those of a pen-
dulum, one vibration for each revolution of the axis I of. the cranks b; that
vibrating motion being, quick in the middle part of the course, and slow
towards each end thereof, as before stated. But the motion given to the
lockers D and F by their camms f, g, levers 0, "links Q; and lever arms h;
will be occasional, with intervals of rest between! Their blades being then
tnrned down inwards, and alternately, the front locker D, and the back
one F, will be moved, each being moved once for one turn of the axis I.
Whenever the lockers are begun to be turned up, in order to lock the
carriages away from the warp threads, the lockers move slower than they do
afterwards, that is, after the carriages which either of the lockers has taken
hold of are disengaged from their opposite catch bar, and also in returning the.
Each locker is thus

page_text: lockers move quicker at first, until the carriages to which they then give
motion towards the warp threads become engaged again by their catch bar;
and after that the locker moves slower, the reason for which has been before
explained, and the proper motion for the lockers at the proper times to
produce the action therein-before explained will be produced by giving a
suitable form to the camms f and g, with their prominences projecting out
from the axis I, on the proper side thereof in respect to the cranks b, so that
when motion is given to the lockers it will correspond in the manner herein-
before described with the vibrating motion given to the catch bars, and by
them to the carriages. The catch bars. 1, 2, and 6, 7, are lifted up and
let down precisely at the required periods of the operation herein-before
described, by means of a roller 10, Figure 5, Sheet IV., at the end of an arm
which is fixed upon an àxle or pin which projects out at one end of each catch
bar, which roller 10 runs upon a fixed circular path or sweep 11, when the
catch bars vibrate with the swing jacks E, as before explained, and the said
sweep 11 is so fixed in respect to the roller 10 as to allow the catch bars to
descend low enough for their blades 1 and 7 to enter properly into the notches
of the carriages when it is intended they should do so, as herein-before
explained; but when either of the catch bars which approaches inwards
towards the warp threads gets near to the end of the vibration, and is required
to be raised in order to disengage the carriages, as before explained, the
roller 10 belonging to that catch bar then meets with an inclined part 12 of
the said sweep 11 on which the roller 10 runs; and in mounting up the
inclined I part 12, the roller 10 lifts up the catch bar out of the notches of the
carriages at the precise moment and position required, and 'the inclined
part 12 of the sweep 11 is suitably formed to keep the catch bar so raised
until the vibration is completed and its return is begun, then when the catch
bar arrives at the precise position where it is required to take the carriages, as
before explained (and as represented in Figure 2), its roller 10 descends the
said inclined part 12 of the sweep 11, and lets down the catch bar. The
racking motions which are to be given to the guide bars for 'the warp threads,
and to the front comb bar for traversing the carriages, and also the motions
must be given to the point bars for taking up the crossings of the bobbin
threads, and giving form to the meshes of the net, may be the same as usual
5 in ordinary circular bolt or circular comb machinery with driving bars and
lockers, and may be produced by the same means, viz, by camm's and racking"
wheels, with suitable notches on their circumferences, fixed as shewn in
Sheet V. upon a main axis P, which makes one revolution for every row of
complete meshes of the net which are made by the machinery. The said

page_text: axis P is turned round by a large cog wheel R fixed upon it, and turned by
a smaller cog wheel S, of one third the size and number of teeth, fixed upon
the axis I of the cranks b, and camms.f.g. The manner of applying these
racking wheels and taking-up camms being well known to competent
machinists, and forming no part of our Invention, require no farther
description. The same of the warp roller and lace roller, with the wheel-
work for turning it round, in order to wind up the lace net as it is made;
all these parts may be constructed as usual in any other lace machines.
The description herein-before given will enable a competent workman to
construct machinery according to our improvements for making what are called
wide pieces of lace net, but other parts of our improvements extend to the making
of what are called breadths of lace net by the machinery and improvements
herein-before described, with the following additions thereto, that is to say,
the said additions are for the purpose of making the wide piece of lace net
which is woven in the machinery in such a manner that it can afterwards be
divided into several narrow breadths like ribbands, having true selvages at the
two borders or edges of each breadth, which selvages will not unravel.
To do this, the lateral traversing of the bobbins and carriages of the front
and back rows respectively, which takes place at every successive time of
crossing the bobbin threads over each other, must be interrupted in those
carriages which arrive by the progress of lateral traversing at the borders of
the several breadths. For instance, for every row of complete meshes of lace
net which is made by the machinery, the carriages of the first row progress
one space towards the right hand, and the carriages of the back row one space
towards the left hand, by the ordinary action of traversing for crossing the
bobbin threads; and in consequence of such progress there will be one odd
carriage over or in excess at the right-hand end of the front row, without any
corresponding carriage behind it in the back row, and at the next succeeding
tiine of traversing there will be one carriage in excess at the left-hand end of
the back row. The odd carriages which are thus become in excess must be
transferred from that row in which they are so in excess into the other row,
in which there is a corresponding deficiency, in order to restore the evenness
of the two rows. The act of so transferring is called performing the turn-
again, and the carriages which are transferred at each turn are called the turn-
again carriages, and every one of the carriages in its turn will have to perform
that turn again. In the process of making a wide piece of lace the turn-
again is only performed by one carriage at a time, viz', by that carriage which
has arrived by progressive lateral traversing at the extreme edge or border of
the wide piece of net, so as to become an odd carriage, and in excess there.

page_text: At one time of performing turn again, it will be by an odd carriage at the left-
band border, and at the next succeeding time by an odd carriage at the right-
hand border; but in making breadths the same kind of turn again must be
performed by several carriages at a time, viz, by all those which have arrived
by the said progressive lateral traversing at the edges or selvages of the
different breadths respectively; hence they are also called selvage carriages,
which, after they have performed their turn again, or been transferred into the
opposite row of carriages, begins then to traverse obliquely across the width of
the lace, in a contrary direction to that in which they traversed before. Also
it is requisite, in making breadths, to introduce what are called joining or
lacing or whipping threads, in order to join the adjacent selvages of the
several breadths together with zigzag cross stitches from selvage to selvage,
like a lacing, so that the whole net, although composed of several narrow
breadths, will form one united tissue during the process of weaving it in
the machinery, and also in the subsequent finishing; but such whipping
threads can afterwards be drawn out so as to undo their zigzag lacing
stitches, and that will leave the breadths separated into narrow ribbands, each
having true selvages at its two borders or edges. The whipping threads are
supplied from bobbins which are mounted in carriages like the other carriages,
and which are disposed amongst the carriages in the back row, one whipping
carriage at every place in the width of the machinery where two adjacent
selvages of the breadths are intended to be formed. The said whipping
carriages must always remain at those places in the width of the machinery,
and they must therefore avoid that continual progressive traversing whereof
all the other carriages partake, as well as the periodical turn-again action,
which all the other carriages must go through in turn, in order to change the
direction of their traversing from right to left into the contrary direction, and
vice versa. And in order that the whipping carriages may escape the tra-
versing and the turn-again actions to which the others are in turn subjected,
the whipping carriages require to be put backwards out of their proper places
in the back row of carriages every time that the periodical traversing of the
other carriages and the turn-again of the odd or selvage carriages requires to
be performed. All these actions of the turn-again carriages and whipping
carriages which are necessary for making breadths of lace net are well known
to competent mechanics, and are commonly used in circular bolt or circular
comb machines with driving bars and lockers for making breadths thereby,
therefore it requires no further explanation herein than to show the means of
performing it according to our improvements. The acting edges of the blades
1 and 7, Sheets I., II., and III., of the two catch bars, and also the acting

page_text: edges of the blades of the two lockers D and F, are cut out with notches
opposite to every place in the width of the machinery where the selvedges of
adjacent breadths are required to be made in the lace net, and consequently
where whipping threads are required to be introduced to join those selvedges;
the width of each of the said notches being such that one of the carriages
in each row opposite to each notch will be missed and left disengaged when
the catch bars or lockers take hold of all the other carriages in the row
in order to move them in the combs, as herein-before described. The
carriages this left disengaged are the whipping carriages in the back row
and the turn-again carriages in the front row, which latter stand immediately
before the whipping carriages. Whilst the machinery is performing the
twisting of the bobbin threads around the warp threads, all the carriages are
required to be passed and repassed between the warp threads in complete
rows without leaving any of the carriages behind, in the same manner as when
making wide pieces, and as herein-before déscribed. The said notches in
the acting edges of the several blades are then closed by small moveable
teeth, which enter into them and fill them up, so as to make thé séveral acting
edges complete, and then they will take hold of the entire rows of carriages
to move them altogether in the combs. The said inoveable teeth for filling up
the notches in the catch bars are the extremities of small prongs 14, 15, which
are fixed by screws upon small extra catch bars 16, 17,' which are supported
by the real catch bars 2 and 6, by axles or pivots of the extra bars 16, 17,
which are fitted into bearing sockets 'screwed to the catch bars 2, 6. One of the
said moveable prongs 14 or 15 is fixed by a screw upon the extra catch bar 16
or 17 at every place where a notch is cut out in the acting edge, 1 or 7; of the
blade of the catch bar, and the tooth at the extremity of the prong which enters
into the said notch is bended into a, suitable form to correspond exactly with the
said acting edge of the blade when the tooth is put down into the notch, but
by turning the extra catch bars 16 or 17 a little round upon its ..pivots or
axles, it will lift up all the several prongs 14 or 15 belonging to that bar at
once, so as to raise up the teeth at their extremities out of the notches, leaving
those notches open. The moveable teeth for filling up the notches in the
acting edges of the locker blades D and F are in like manner the extremities
of prongs 18, 19, which are fixed by screws to extra locker bars 20, 21,
which are supported by the real locker. bars by bearing sockets fixed to those
bars, and receiving the pivots or axles of the extra locker bars 20, 21, within
them. Wherefore by turning the said extra locker bars 20 or 21 upon their
pivots, the teeth at the extremities of their prongs 18 or 19 will quit the
notches in the edges of the blades D and F of the lockers, leaving those

page_text: notches open. The extremities of the said prongs 18 or 19, moving in a
circular arch about the axles or pivots of their extra locker bars 20 or 21,
may be made to act independently of the blades D and F, in the manner of
lockers to those particular carriages which are opposite to the extremities of
the said prongs, viz, the whipping carriages and turn-again carriages, so as to
lock or move those carriages in the combs with a different motion from that
which is at the same time given by the blade D or F of the locker to all
the other carriages, or otherwise the prongs 18 or 19 may be kept motionless
whilst the blades D or F of their lockers are turned down inwards towards
the warp threads, whereby those particular carriages which the extremities of
the prongs 18 or 19 take hold of. will be detained from moving towards the
And in order that the
warp threads when all the other carriages do so move.
whipping carriages may be left behind out of their places, in the back row of
carriages B, when required, the before-mentioned notches in the acting.
edge 7 of the blade w of the back catch bar are cut deep enough into or
across the said blade w to receive a whipping carriage within each notch, as
is shewn at W in Figure 4, in the same manner as deep notches are usually cut
into the blade of the back driving bar for making breadths in ordinary.
circular bolt or circular comb machines. And in like manner the back extra
catch bar 17 is moveable a little endways in the bearing sockets for its pivots, in-
order to carry all its prongs 15 a little sideways, after their extremities have been
raised up out of the notches in the blade 7 of that back catch bar, and thereby
the deep notches in the blade w are left quite open for the whipping carriages
W to be received therein. And after the whipping carriages W have been so
received into the said deep notches in the blade w of the back catch, bar, they
are detained or locked within the said deep notches, by giving the back
extra catch bar 17 a small returning motion endways, in order to move its
prongs 15 towards their proper places over the notches in the blade 7, though.
not quite so far as their proper places, and then suitable lateral notches,
which are cut out in the edges of the prongs 15, take the upper
parts of the whipping carriages W into them, and thereby retain those
carriages. securely within the deep notches in the blade w of, the back.
catch bar, so that the said whipping carriages. W must then partake
of the backwards and forwards swinging motion of the catch bars until
the back extra catch bar 17 is moved endways again, so as to carry the
prongs 15 sideways as much as will liberate the whipping carriages W
from the hold which the said lateral notches in the edges of the prongs 15 had
taken of those carriages, as before stated. The extra catch bars 16, 17, and,
their prongs 14, 15, are lifted up or let down when required by means of

page_text: fingers, shewn at Figure 6, Sheet IV., which are fixed upon one end of each of
the extra catch bars 16 and 17, and project out therefrom towards the warp
threads in the manner of short lever arms; and each finger has a small roller or
truck at its extremity, to run upon a circular sweep 22, of suitable curvature
to correspond with the swinging motion, which sweeps are formed at the upper
ends of upright stems 23, shaped like crutches, those upright stems 23 being
guided in the manner of sliding bolts by sockets fixed to the frame of the
machinery. The lower ends of the said upright stems 23 rest upon levers, which
may have trucks to run on the circumferences of two racking wheels 24, 25,
which are affixed on the main axis P, by the side of the other usual racking
wheels, for the guide bars and front comb bar. When an elevation or hill in the
circumference of the wheels 24 or 25 comes beneath one of the said stems 23,
the clutch 22, belonging thereto, is lifted up and raises the roller at the end of
the finger of that extra catch bar 16 or 17 to which it belongs, so as to lift
the extremities of the prongs 14 or 15 out of the notches in the blade 1 or 7.
But when a hollow in the circumference of the same racking wheel 24 or 25
comes beneath the lever of the stem 23 the crutch 22 is let down, and then the
extremities of the prongs 14 or 15 drop down again into their places in the
notches of the blades 1 or 7, and then the said blades act on the whole row of
carriages. And note, one of the said racking wheels 24, with its crutch 22, 23,
at one end of the machine, serves to lift up or let fall the prongs 14 of the front
extra catch bar 16, but the other racking wheel 25, and its crutch 22, 23, at
the opposite end of the machine, serves for lifting and letting fall the prongs 15
of the back extra catch bar 17. The extra locker bars 20, 21, are provided
with suitable springs, by means of which the teeth at the extremities of
their prongs 18 and 19 are urged to enter into the corresponding notches in
the blades D and F of the lockers, and when they are so entered the notches
are filled up thereby, and then the prongs 18 or 19 move with the blades D
or F in every respect like a part thereof. But whenever the extra lockers
18 or 19 are required to move with independent motions from those of the
lockers D or F, they are actuated by camm wheels 31, 31, fixed upon the
same main axis P as the racking wheels and the wheels 24 and 25. Short
lever arms 26, 26, are fixed to the extra locker bars 20, 21, projecting
outwards therefrom, and from the extremities of those arms 26 links 27, 27,
are jointed, and descend to levers 28, 28, which are mounted upon fixed axles
30, 30, at one end of each, as centres of motion, and the other ends of the
levers 28 apply beneath the circumferences of the camm wheels 31, 31. When-
ever a prominent part of one of those circumferences presses down the end of one
of the levers 28, it pulls by the link 27 and lever arm 26 so as to turn the extra.

page_text: locker bar 20 or 21, and move its prongs 18 or 19 upwards and outwards from
the warp threads, quite independently of the motion which may be given at the
same time to the blades of the lockers D or F by their own camms for g.
The back extra catch bar 17 is moved endways after the extremities of its
prongs have been lifted up out of the notches of the blade 7, as herein-before
described, by similar means to those commonly used in circular bolt or
circular comb machines with driving bars and lockers, when they are used for
making breadths; viz, at one end of the machine an upright lever is applied
on a horizontal axis placed crossways of the machine, and the extreme end
pivot of the back extra catch bar 17 bears laterally against a broad flat
vertical surface at the upper end of the said lever, the pivot describing an arch
of a circle against that surface, conformably to the swinging motion. The
lower end or tail of the said lever is occasionally borne sideways by a lateral
projection; which is fixed for that purpose at the side of the rim of one of the
racking wheels, and which when it comes in contact with the lower end of
the lever presses it sideways, and then the aforesaid surface at the upper end
of the lever moves the extra bar 17 endways, and it is pulled in the opposite
direction by a spring, when the projection of the racking wheel quits the tail
of the lever.
Machinery constructed according to our improvements, as herein-before
described, may be used to make breadths of bobbin net lace by modes
which will be obvious to competent mechanics who are conversant with the
usual modes of making breadths by circular bolt or circular comb machines,
with driving bars and lockers; but for the more complete explanation of the
manner of carrying our Invention into effect, I shall conclude this Specifica-
tion with a description of the succession of the movements which we recommend
to be given to the aforesaid parts of machinery constructed according to our
improvements, as the most suitable for making breadths of bobbin-net lace
thereby. It is usual to employ two extra guide bars for guiding the selvedge
warp threads of the several breadths, and for occasionally racking those
threads independently of the regular racking motions given to the other warp
threads by their guides, in order that the selvedge threads may be so placed
that the whipping carriages when required will pass round them in a suitable
manner to lace the selvedges of the breadths together; we find that one such
extra guide bar for selvedge threads is sufficient to give the requisite racking
motions to both sets of selvedge guide threads. It is placed in front, as
shewn at V, Sheet I. The upper ends of the extra or selvedge guides are
bended backwards, as shewn at t, in order to reach over the tops of the
usual front guides v for the regular warp threads, which, guides are for that

page_text: The bended extre-
purpose placed a little lower down than the back guides s.
mities of the selvedge guidest have eyes through them to receive those selvedge
threads which are at the left-hand edges of the several breadths to which
they belong (and which are usually threaded through the back extra guides).
The other selvedge threads which are at the right-hand edges of the several
breadths to which they belong (and which are usually threaded through the
front extra guides) are here threaded through the main front guides v, but in
order to rack the latter selvedge threads when required, the bended parts of
the extra guides t are pressed laterally against the last-mentioned selvedge
threads, so as to bend them sideways towards the left, in order to produce
the intended effect of joining the adjacent selvedge threads by the threads
of the whipping carriages. The selvedge guide bar V must be capable
of racking two spaces endways. The whipping carriages are disposed in
the back row of carriages, as usual, and those back combs between which
they are inserted must be be bended towards each other in order that they
may spring together and hold the whipping carriages so firm that they will
not slide or move therein by their own weight without being impelled. The
whipping carriages always occupy the same spaces between the combs, because
they do not traverse laterally as all the other carriages do.
To begin the description of the movements.-Suppose the two rows of
carriages to be both behind the warp threads in the back combs, with the front
comb bar and both the guide bars standing racked to the left, and with the
selvedge guide bar V standing in its middle position, from which it is capable
of being racked either way; the prongs 15 of the back extra catch bar 17
being raised out of the notches in the acting edge of the blade 7 of the back
catch bar, and the extra bar 17 being racked endways, as much towards the
right hand as will remove the prongs 15 from over the deep notches in the
blade w of the back catch bar, so that those notches are standing open to
admit the whipping carriages into them. This situation of the parts being
understood as a commencement, the movements succeed each other in the
following order :-The carriages commence advancing in their combs, whereby
the front row of carriages is brought forwards between the warp threads. This
is done by the vibrating motion of the catch bars in concert with the turning
down of the back locker F, as before described, but the back extra locker 21
does not turn down with the locker F, because a prominence of its camm 31
depresses its lever 28, and by the link 27 and short lever arm 26 detains the
prongs 19, keeping them turned up away from the warp threads, as shewn in
Figure 4, Sheet III., although at the same time the blade F of the back
locker turns down towards the warp threads by the action of its own camm g.

page_text: Note, the prongs 19 have hold of those carriages of the front row which are
'the odd carriages at the right-hand edge of each breadth, and which are
going to perform their turn-again, that is, they will be transferred from the
front row to which they have lately belonged into the back row, just before
traversing of the front row takes place towards the right hand by the racking
of the front comb bar, in order that those turn-again carriages may thereby
escape that traversing action. But note, they will soon afterwards begin to
traverse in the opposite direction' towards the left hand, along with the back
division, into which they become incorporated after being transferred. The
said odd or turn-again carriages with which the prongs 19 are engaged as
aforesaid will be detained by them from coming through between the warp
threads along with the rest of the carriages of the front row and the whipping"
carriages which are immediately behind. The said odd carriages in the same
spaces between the back combs will also be detained by the said detention
of the odd carriages. Note, the deep notches in the blade w of the back,
catch bar will receive the whipping carriages into them when those carriages
are detained motionless, although the catch bar is moving forwards by its
vibrating motion. As soon as the whipping carriages get quite into those
deep notches the back extra bar 17 is racked endways so much to the left as
will include the whipping carriages within the lateral notches before men-
tioned in the edges of the prongs 15, whereby those carriages become securely
engaged in the said deep notches for the present, and cannot move forwards,
except along with the catch bars. The instant that the front row of carriages
(but without its odd carriages, which have been detained) has got quite
through into the front combs, clear from the warp threads, and before the
back row arrives at those threads, although no pause is made in the swinging
motion of the carriages, the racking movements are performed instantaneously,
viz, the back guide bar and the front comb bar are both racked to the right,
'the latter with the front carriages in it. Note, as the back row of carriages
remains behind when this racking of the front row takes place, it produces the
traversing of the front carriages to the right, and then the vacancies left in it
by the aforesaid detention of the turn-again carriages will not correspond to
those carriages which have recently quitted them. In consequence of this
racking, the carriages at the left-hand edge of each breadth become in excess
there, and are now the odd carriages, instead of being in excess at the right-
hand edge, as before. Then the back row of carriages, following after the
front one, comes through forwards, between the warp threads, into the front
combs, including the former odd carriages which were transferred into. it, as

page_text: aforesaid (but which are no longer the odd carriages), and which are now
brought forwards with the others by the prongs 19 turning down towards the
warp threads, in consequence of the prominence of the camm 31 passing away
from its lever 28. The front locker D, with its prongs 18, then takes the
whole back row (with the former odd carriages included in it) like one blade.
The carriages being now all in the front combs, except the whipping carriages,
which are left behind in the back combs, the front combs are racked to the
left, the front catch bar and front locker bar racking along with it, but none
of the guides are racked this time. By this racking the back row of carriages
are traversed to the left, in respect to the warp threads. The back row of
carriages is next taken back between the warp threads, but the odd carriages,
viz, those recently become so (and which are at the left-hand edges of the
several breadths to which they belong) do not go through with the back row,
being detained in the front combs, in order to perform their turn again.
They are so detained as shewn in Figure 7, Sheet III., by the prongs 18 of
the front extra locker, which do not turn down towards the warp threads
along with the front locker blade D, in consequence of a prominence of the
other camm 31 coming into action, so as to keep them turned up; therefore
the said odd carriages are transferred from the back row to the front row,
which has vacancies in it to receive them. The front extra catch bar 16 is
also lifted in consequence of a prominence of its racking wheel 24 coming into
action so as to raise its prongs 14 out of the notches in its blade 1, which
must be done in proper time, before the odd carriages, which remain motion-
less, are overtaken by those of the front row, so as to range together, and the
instant that they do so range, the prominence of the racking wheel 24 passing
away lets the prongs 14 down into their places in the notches of the odd
carriages, which are then become incorporated with the front row. The
instant that the back row of carriages has got clear through the warp
threads, but before the front row enters them, the front guides and the
front combs are both racked to the right, the latter with the front row
of carriages, which racking completes that traversing of the back row to
the left which was begun at the last time of racking; for the back row
is now traversed in respect to the front row, as well as in respect to the
warp threads. Note, in consequence of this last racking, the carriages at
the right-hand edge of each breadth becomes in excess there, as at first,
and are now the odd carriages. At the same time of racking, the back extra
catch bar 17 racks so much to the right that its prongs 15 will leave the
whipping carriages quite free in the deep notches of the blade w. Then, the

page_text: front row of carriages following after the back ones goes between the warp
threads, the prongs 18 of the front extra locker turning down towards the
warp threads to allow what were the odd carriages to go with the others.
The whipping carriages having been disengaged from the back catch bar.
remain motionless in the back combs, and withdraw from the deep notches in
the blade w, of the back catch bar, all the while that the back row of car-
riages is mounting up the ascent thereof; and that back row having corre-
sponding vacancies in it (by the absence of the turn-again carriages which were
detained out of it), receives the whipping carriages into its vacancies as it
overtakes them, until they range exactly with the back row; and by that
time the back extra catch bar 17 has been racked back so far to the left as to
bring the extremities of its prongs 15 to their proper places over their notches.
in the blade 7; and then the prominence of the racking wheel 25 having
passed away, they drop therein to fill them up; after which the blade 7, with
its prongs 15, act together like one blade, taking into the notches of the.
whipping carriages along with those of the back row with which the whipping
carriages are now incorporated. When the front carriages get quite through,.
and all the carriages are behind in the back combs, the front guides are racked
to the left. The front row of carriages is next brought forwards through tlie,
warp threads, and whilst they are coming through,. the front points take up;
those carriages of the bobbin threads which were made the first, at the pre-
ceding time of traversing of the carriages. For note, the points leave the
twists for another row of half meshes below those which they take up, accord-
ing to the mode which is termed hugging the twist. The front guides are
then racked to the right, the back guides to the left, and the selvedge guides to.
the left, in order that the whipping carriages, in coming through the next time,
may begin to whip round the left-hand selvage threads of each breadth.
Note, the selvedge guides at the same time bend the other right-hand selvedge.
threads aside, towards the left. The back row of carriages follows,.coming
through forwards; then the back guides rack to the right, and the selvedge
guides to the right, to prepare for the whipping carriages returning next time,
that they may then complete the whipping round the left-hand selvedge thread of
each breadth, and at the same time whip round the right-hand selvedge thread of
the adjacent breadth, in order to unite the two breadths together. The back row
is next taken through backwards, and the selvedge guides are racked to the
right one space farther than the last time. The front row follows, going through.
backwards, and then both the front and the back guides, and the selvedge.
guides also, are all racked to the left. The front row is next brought through.
forwards, and at the same time the back extra catch bar 17 is raised, so as to

page_text: lift the extremities of its prongs 15 out of the notches in its blade 7. This is
done by a prominence of the racking wheel 35 coming into action, and then
the bar 17 is racked endways so much as to remove the prongs 15 from over
the deep notches in the blade w, to open them in preparation for admitting the
whipping carriages therein. The back guides are racked to the right. The
back row follows coming through forwards, but the whipping carriages remain
motionless behind the deep notches of the blade w, leaving room for them.
Note, the prongs 19 of extra back locker may be turned up so far as to
intercept the whipping carriages and hold them motionless, but this is not
essential; both rows of carriages being now come into the front combs, the
back row having vacancies in it, by the absence of the whipping carriages,
the front guides and also the selvedge guides are racked to the right. The
back row is next passed through backwards, and whilst they are going through
the back points take up the crossings made at the last time of traversing the
carriages. The front guides and also the selvedge guides are racked to the left.
The front row follows going through backwards, and then the back guides, and
also the front combs rack to the left, the latter having no carriages in them.
All the parts have now regained the position chosen for the commencement
of the description, and the future working of the machinery goes on in exact
repetition of what has been described.
Having now described our said Invention, I, the said Francis Smith, do
hereby declare that the improvements in circular bolt or circular comb
machinery, whereof the exclusive use is granted to us by the said Letters
Patent, consists in the substitution (in the manner herein-before described) of
catch bars which act to move the carriages in their combs by pulling them
away from the warp threads when required, as well as by pushing them
towards those threads when required, in lieu of driving bars, which can only
act by pushing, that substitution being made in combination with lockers,
which act (as herein-before described) by pushing the carriages towards the
warp threads when required, as well as by pulling them away therefrom when
required; the action of the combination being, as herein-fore described, to
pass and repass the two rows of carriages between the warp threads, one after.
the other with an uninterrupted swing or vibratory motion, the same as is done
in what is called fluted-roller machinery for making wide pieces of bobbin net
lace. And also in the application to the aforesaid combination of the extra
catch bars, and extra lockers herein-before described, for the purpose of
making breadths of bobbin net lace thereby in the manner herein-before set
forth with an uninterrupted swing or vibration of the two rows of carriages,
following one after the other between the warp threads, which uninterrupted