AN IMPROVED METHOD OR SYSTEM OF PRODUCING MATTINGS OR TABBY WEAVINGS IN LACE MANUFACTURED IN TWIST LACE MACHINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hartshorn, of Nottingham, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR SYSTEM OF PRODUCING MATTINGS OR TABBY
WEAVINGS IN LACE MANUFACTURED IN TWIST LACE MACHINES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Leon Berquier, residing at St. Pierre-les-Calais,
France.
Sealed the 28th September 1866, and dated the 5th May 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hartshorn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
May 1866.
I, JAMES HARTSHORN, of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR SYSTEM OF PRODUCING MATTINGS
OR TABBY WEAVINGS IN LACE MANUFACTURED IN TWIST LACE MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improved method or system of producing
mattings or tabby weavings in lace manufactured in twist lace machines.
Heretofore where such mattings or weavings have been made with the straight
down threads alternately bobbin and warp and with the wefting threads,
also a bobbin and a warp alternately transversing the straight down threads,
the twisting of the wefting threads together so as to produco twisted purls at

page_text: both edges of the matting or weaving, although very desirable, has not hereto-
fore been accomplished, but which by this improved method or system I am
able to do. Heretofore also in producing such mattings or weaving the
number of motions required has increased with each addition to the number
of straight-down threads in the weaving, whereas by this improved method or
system the number of motions does not require to be increased when an
addition is made to the number of straight-down threads in the weaving.
Where the matting or weaving is at all wide it is produced by this improved
method or system with considerably fewer motions than would be required
according to the methods or systems now known and practised.
I proceed as follows:-Suppose, in the first place, that the straight-
down warp threads of the weaving are standing so that the straight-down
bobbin threads separate them the one from the other, that is to say, in the
space between each straight-down warp thread and the next a straight-down
bobbin thread stands. The bobbin thread which is to form a portion of the
weft of the matting or weaving is on one side or the other of the straight
down threads. This thread then in the order in which I am describing the
motions commences by twisting with the warp thread, which also is to form a
portion of the weft of the matting or weaving, and this twist is taken and
held out by lacing threads or otherwise, as is well understood; the warp weft
thread then passes across over the straight-down bobbin threads and under
the straight-down warps; then a warp thread (usually an extra or draw
thread) passes across from the side opposite the weft bobbin under the straight-
down bobbin threads, and catching the said weft bobbin thread pulls a loop
of it through under the straight-down bobbins, the straight down warps being
at this time out of the way on one side, thus when these warps return the weft
bobbin thread will be interlaced with the straight-down threads, being under the
bobbins and over the warps. This return of the straight down warps does not
however immediately take place, but the weft warp and weft bobbin twist
together to make a twisted purl on the side of the matting or weaving opposite
to that at which the wefting bobbin works; the extra or lacing warp thread
also which brought the wefting bobbin across repeats its action, but passes
round the wefting bobbin in the opposite direction, thus freeing itself from it and
remaining caught only with the lacing bobbin with which it works to retain
the twisted purl, but for this motion the extra or lacing warp thread would
be too much caught into the work to be easily drawn or removed afterwards.
The straight down warp threads now return passing over the wefting bobbin
thread but under the other bobbins, so that the wefting bobbin may not at
this motion be caught by them; next the weft warp returns in the same way

page_text: that it came over the bobbins and under the other warps. Lastly, all the
straight down warp threads pass first over and then under the wefting bobbin
thread, and return to their places carrying the wefting bobbin across with
them in a loop, the upper half of which is free at the back of the weaving
and serves to obliterate the return of the loop of this bobbin thread which
was before taken across by the extra or lacing warp thread. The lower half
of the loop carried across by the straight down warps forms the next shoot of
the weft, passing over the straight down warp threads and under the straight
down bobbin threads. The threads are now in the positions they occupied
at the commencement of this description, and the operation may be repeated
as often as required.
It will be understood that the work described as done by lacing threads
may, if desired, be done by threads forming part of the fabric. Also that the
same warp and bobbin threads need not be used continuously for wefting the
matting or weaving, but may be changed for other warp and bobbin threads
if desired; also that in place of making twisted purls at the two edges of the
matting or weaving, these twists may be omitted, or the twisting of the warp
and bobbin wefting threads may be employed for other purposes. Also that in
this description the words "under," "over," and similar words are liable to
be reversed by changing the positions of the threads in the machine.