IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS."-A communication from abroad by
Arthur Villeminot, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 14th July 1874, and dated the 1st May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st May 1874.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS," a communication to me
from abroad by Arthur Villeminot, of Paris, in the Republic of France,
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the obtaining of a continuous supply
of weft thread into the shed or openings of the chain or warp threads,
and thus obviating the necessity of stopping the loom when a breakage
or lack of the weft thread occurs, and consists of a peculiar arrangement:

page_text: and combination of apparatus whereby in the case of a failure of the
weft thread from any cause whatever the shuttle in operation is removed
and replaced by another having a fresh supply, and the end of the broken
thread is automatically withdrawn without its being requisite to arrest
the motion of the loom.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to employ two weft forks,
one at each end of the loom, each weft fork being mounted on the end
of a vibrating lever which follows the movement of the lay or batten
against which it is pressed by a spring, the motion being regulated by
the aid of a chain attached to the framing. By this means the fall of
the weft fork may be utilized as soon as the shuttle, the thread of which
is broken or the supply of which is exhausted, has arrived at the end of
the race.
In order to ensure that one only of the two weft forks shall operate
at one time, and that only at the side where the weft thread is broken,
a vibrating lever arm is arranged behind each of two gratings or
trellises with which the lay or batten is provided. These vibrating
arms may be operated in various ways. According to one arrange-
ment they are actuated by the strap, through the intervention of
which the impact of the cams is transmitted to the peckers or drivers,
so that when the shuttle arrives in the box or trough at one side
the grating or trellis at that side is opened or uncovered, and the
opposite one is closed or covered. Or the lower end of the arms is
moved by a lever, to which motion is imparted from the lower shaft of
the loom, which shaft revolves at a speed corresponding to two vibrations
of the lay or batten, so that by arranging the eccentric tappets or cams
which actuate the levers in opposite directions one only of the two weft
forks will be capable of operating at one time.
When a rupture or failure of the weft thread occurs the tail of the
weft fork comes against a slide, which by recoiling acts upon a curved
arm formed in one piece with or attached to a socket piece, which is
fitted on, and is capable of turning around a shaft situate beneath the
breast beam, and causes such arm to vibrate. The socket piece carries
a tappet which is caused to act upon an arm or projection fixed on the
shaft, and present it to rods which open the reed.
In order to effect the change of the shuttle at the side where the
thread is broken, each of the socket picces is provided with an arm,

page_text: which, through the intervention of a connecting rod and another arm,
imparts rotatory motion to a shaft which is supported in bearings in the
frame of the loom and carries two projections, one of such projections
being intended to open a shuttle guard which retains the shuttle in its
box or trough and admit of the discharge of the shuttle, the thread of
which is broken or the supply of which is exhausted, whilst the other is
provided for the purpose of replacing the shuttle by another ready for
operation. The former projection is arranged opposite to a vibrating
lever arm, the upper end of which at each stroke of the lay or batten
comes in contact with a rod with which the fastening of the shuttle
guard is connected, the arrangement being such that the lever arm may
vibrate freely in the normal condition of the apparatus without being
acted upon by the projection, but that when a breakage or failure of the
thread occurs the projection arrests the motion of the vibrating lever
arm, and the rod being simply maintained by a spring yields and opens
the shuttle guard and discharges the shuttle. The other projection is
capable of turning freely on the shaft, but is drawn forward by a helical
spring, which maintains it in contact with a key fixed to the shaft so as
to cause the shaft to turn when the weft thread breaks and raise the
projection until it meets a stop attached to the frame. The projection in
its motion conducts with it a species of hinged spring detent, which
under the action of a blade spring is caused to bear against the eye or
boss of such projection.
When the lay or batten arrives in front the spring detent comes in
contact with a projection which yields and allows it to pass in one
direction, but opposes a resistance, causing the spring detent to yield on
the return motion of the lay or batten.
The projection lastly herein-before-referred to is connected with the
shuttle magazine herein-after described through the intervention of a
longitudinal shaft carrying levers which are provided with angular pieces
or wedges which support the shuttles, so that when it is acted upon by
the spring detent a fresh shuttle is caused to enter the box or trough for
the purpose of replacing the one which has been discharged.
The shuttle boxes or troughs are situate one at each end of the lay
or batten, and are slotted at their front part so as to admit of the
passage of the ends of the weft threads, and above them there are.
formed cases or receptacles containing a supply of full shuttles for use
s required.

page_text: The shuttle is retained in its box or trough by a guard herein-before
referred to, consisting of a hinged door which is maintained closed by a
spring catch or detent connected with the rod with which the vibrating
lever arm comes in contact, so that when a shuttle has to be discharged
under the action of the mechanism a support for the shuttle descends, a
helical spring is extended, and a projecting arm provided on the. hinge
pin of the guard is released from the spring catch or detent. The
helical spring then acts suddenly upon a lever, raises the shuttle guard,
and an elastic air vessel is caused, under the action of the spring, to
project the shuttle on to a table provided for its reception.
When the lay or batten arrives at the end of its rear stroke the motion
of the parts is reversed and the shuttle guard is reclosed. A fresh
shuttle in. substitution for the one which has been discharged is then
caused to leave the case or receptacle above under the action of
mechanism herein-before described, and the parts are returned to their
normal position. The rod of the pecker or driver is below the box or
trougl, the pecking cords are above, the pecker or driver is inserted
and actuated in the ordinary manner.
When the pecker or driver has passed beyond the end of the guard plate
it is maintained in a suitable position by a fork, a suitable piece being
provided on the lay or batten at the other end of the box in order to
guide the entrance of the shuttle, and a lever assisted by a spring is
employed to bring back the pecker or driver immediately into the
fork, so as to leave a free passage for the descent of the shuttles. The
upper part of the lay or batten has a groove formed in it, into which
groove the full shuttles are placed and directed by a sliding driver into
one or other of the cases or receptacles when it is required to charge
the same.
The apparatus which it is proposed to employ for the purpose of
opening the reed and removing the weft thread is as follows:-The
upper part of the lay or batten is provided with pins or spindles which
serve as a joint for its moveable portion, which in the normal condi-
tion of the parts is maintained against the fixed part by spring levers;
but as soon as the weft thread fails the reed is caused by means of rods
acted upon by an arm or projection by the motion of the weft fork, as
herein-before described, to move away from the lay or batten so as to
prevent the broken thread from being beaten up, and admit of its subse-

page_text: quent removal. The frame is provided with a fixed stop opposite to each
of the spring levers, which maintains then securely, so as to ensure the
closing or fastening of the reed when the shoot is beaten up into the
fabric, but which will not impede their motion when they are raised by
reason of the opening of the recd.
In order to remove the broken end of the weft thread remaining in
the fabric rotatory discs or rollers are employed, such discs or rollers
being provided with an oblique notch or groove and caused to enter at
each blow of the lay or batten between the chain or warp threads, so
that the fragment of the broken thread is laid hold of by the notch
or groove in the discs or rollers, and wound up and removed from
the fabric.
According to one arrangement the discs or rollers are mounted on a
shaft carried on the ends of two levers, to which a vibratory motion
is imparted by a connecting rod jointed to the lay or batten, by which
means the rollers are caused to enter the chain after each blow on the
shuttle. The shaft is provided with a grooved pulley which is driven
at a high velocity by means of a cord from another pulley fast on the
upper shaft of the loom. Or the rocking motion of the disc or roller
shaft may be produced by means of a vertical connecting rod moved by
a vibrating lever under the action of a cam, fast on the lower shaft
of the loom.
In order to diminish friction two dises or rollers only may be employed,
their shaft actuated by a grooved pulley turning between two points or
pivots supported on the end of vibrating levers applied to the two ends
of the loom.
In order to recover the shed in which the fresh weft thread is to be
shot, the crank shaft is provided at the opposite end to the driving end
with a double clutch which transmits motion to the shaft in one direc-
tion or the other, according to the position which it occupies; this clutch
is actuated on one side by a toothed socket piece carrying the gearing
which drives the heddle cams, and on the other side by a toothed pro-
jection on a pulley revolving in the opposite direction to the socket piece
and driven by a pulley and crossed strap; a ratchet wheel is provided on
the cam shaft placed near the frame, such ratchet wheel having a detent
in gear with it which admits of the cams turning in one direction, but
when the motion is reversed prevents their making more than a fraction

page_text: of a revolution corresponding to the number of heddles in the loom.
On the shaft which is situate beneath the breast beam there is placed an
eye or boss having a segmental piece formed on it, which segment is pro-
vided with a groove in which a projection connected with the clutch lever
works, so that when a weft thread is broken the lever throws the heddle
cams out of action, bringing into action the pulley herein-before referred
to, and causing the cams to turn in the reverse direction until the detent
takes into one of the ratchet teeth, which position exactly corresponds
to the starting point of a shuttle, and to the shed in which the broken
thread was inserted; the heddle cams are then brought into action
again, the broken thread is removed, and the operation of weaving pro-
ceeded with.
By means of these arrangements patches, false threads, and other
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 37th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
Looms," a communication to me from abroad by Arthur Villeminot.
of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the condition (amongst
IN

page_text: others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
The said Invention has for its object the obtaining of a continuous
supply of weft thread into the shed or openings of the chain or warp
threads, and thus obviating the necessity for stopping the loom when a
breakage or lack of the weft thread occurs, and consists of a peculiar
arrangement and construction of apparatus whereby in the case of a
failure of the weft thread from any cause whatever the shuttle in
operation is instantaneously removed and replaced by another having a
fresh supply, and the end of the broken or incomplete thread is auto-
matically withdrawn without its being requisite to arrest the motion of
the loom. By this means the occurrence of holes, patches, or false
threads in the fabric is prevented, and the operation of weaving is con-
siderably accelerated by reason of the continuity in the working of the
loom.
These improvements may be applied with facility to looms of every
description whatever may be the nature of the textile materials employed
or the number of leaves of heddles adopted.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that.
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a front elevation of a portion of a loom shewing
the general arrangement of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of the
same with some of the parts removed; Figures 3 and 4 are transverse

page_text: sections corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 respectively. The remaining
Figures illustrate detached portions which will be herein-after referred to.
At each end of the loom there is fitted a weft fork a (Figures 2 and 4,
Sheet 1), mounted on the extremity of a vibrating lever 6 which follows
the motion of the batten c against which it is pressed by a spring d to
the extent allowed by a chain e attached to the frame; by this means
the fall of the weft fork may be utilized directly the shuttle, the thread
of which is broken, or the supply of which is exhausted has arrived at
the end of the race.
In order to ensure that one only of the two weft forks shall operate at
one time, and that only at the side required, according to the direction
from which the broken or incomplete weft thread has proceeded, a
vibrating lever arm is disposed behind each of two gratings with which
the batten c is provided so as to close them alternately.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 10 (Sheet 2) the-vibrating arms f
are actuated by the picking cord g, so that when the shuttle arrives in
the right-hand box the left-hand grating is closed or covered, and the
right-hand grating opened or uncovered, and vice versa. In the arrange-
ment shewn in Figure 11 (Sheet 2) the arms fare actuated by levers h,
to which motion is imparted from the lower shaft of the loom, which
shaft revolves at a speed corresponding to two vibrations of the batten,
so that by arranging the eccentric tappets or cams which actuate the
levers in opposite directions one only of the two weft forks will be
capable of operating at one time.
When a breakage of or a failure in the supply of the weft thread
occurs the tail of the weft fork a comes against a slide i (Figures 1, 2,
and 4, Sheet 1), which by recoiling acts upon a curved rocking arm j
fast on a sleeve or socket piece / which is fitted on and is capable of
turning around a shaft 7 situate beneath the breast beam 1, and causes
such arm j to move round upon its centre. The sleeve or socket
piece k carries a tappet m (Figure 13) which acts upon an arm or pro-
jection n fixed on the shaft and brings it in front of rods 0, which cause
the reed of the batten c to open or move away from the batten as herein-
after explained. The same arrangement being adopted at each end of
the loom, whichever weft fork is operating the reed of the batten is
opened or disengaged as soon as a breakage or failure in the weft thread
takes place.

page_text: In order to effect the change of the shuttle at the same side as that at
which the break in the thread occurs, each of the sleeves or socket.
pieces is provided with an arm p (Figures 1 and 3), which through
the intervention of an oblique connecting rod p¹ and another arm q
imparts motion to a spindle 2 which is supported in bearings in the
frame of the loom. The spindle 2 carries two projections rand's, one.
of which, videlicit, the projection r, is designed to open the shuttle
guard and admit of the discharge of the shuttle, the thread of which is
broken or exhausted whilst the projections is intended to effect the
supply of another shuttle ready for operation in the place of the one
which has been discharged. Opposite the projection there is disposed
a vibrating lever arm t (Figures 1 and 3), the upper part of which comes
in contact at each stroke of the batten with a rod u which is connected
to the fastening of the shuttle guard in the manner herein-after
described. The arm & vibrates freely during the normal working of the
apparatus without being acted upon by the projection which is made
of a suitably curved form for this purpose, as shewn in Figure 3. When
on the contrary a breakage or failure of a thread occurs the projection >
by the motion of its spindle assumes the position shewn by dotted lines
in Figure 12, and prevents the arm & from vibrating, and the rod u
being simply maintained by the spring 3 (Figure 3) yields and opens
the shuttle guard and discharges the shuttle.
The projections (which is shewn in detail in Figures 5 and 8) is
capable of turning freely on the spindle 2, but is acted upon by a helical
spring 4, which maintains it in contact with a key v secured to the
spindle so that the spindle 2 by turning under the action of the arm q
when the weft thread is broken or fails will raise the projection s until
it meets a stop x attached to the frame. The projection s conducts with
it in its motion a catch y, which is hinged or jointed at its upper end,
and is acted upon by a blade spring, which maintains it in contact with
the boss of the projection s. In this arrangement when the batten
arrives in front, the catch y comes in contact with a projection z
(Figures 1 and 3), which by yielding it allows to pass, but when the
batten returns to the rear the catch y offers a resistance to the passage
of the projection z and causes the latter to yield it, being simply main-
tained by means of the spring 5. The projection z controls through the
intervention of the shaft w the rods which support the shuttles in their
box (as hereinafter described), so that the effect of its motion is to

page_text: cause a fresh shuttle to be supplied in substitution for the one which
has been discharged from the box. The operation of the various parts
being now completed the whole are brought back into their original
position by means of a lever 6 acted upon by a spring 7 (Figure 3). To
each end of the batten c there is secured a box A (Figures 1 and 3) for
containing a supply of shuttles, which box is slotted at its front part in
order to admit of the passage of the ends of the weft thread; when the
batten has completed its fore traverse and a weft thread has been broken
or is incomplete, the arm t being maintained fixed by the projection r,
as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 12, presses against the rod u,
which by acting upon the short arm of the bell-crank lever 8 lowers the
catch B. The rod C at the same time descends, the spring D is
extended, the bar E is then released from its catch, and the sping D
acting suddenly upon the lever F raises the shuttle guard G; at this
instant an elastic air vessel H under the action of the spring 9, with
which it is provided, projects the shuttle on. to the table I which is
placed on the top of the frame within reach of the attendant. When
the batten returns to the rear the catch B is raised again under the action
of a spring 10, and the rod C pressing upon the lever F the shuttle
guard G is again closed and secured by the catch B.
In order to admit of the descent of a fresh shuttle to supply the
place of the one which has just been discharged, levers K, which are
keyed on to the shaft w (herein-before referred to), are caused to move
backwards, conducting with them from beneath the shuttles angular
projections or wedges 11 with which the levers K. are provided at their
upper end, and at the same time to draw out slightly the elastic air
vessel H by the aid of links 12 provided for that purpose. A fresh
shuttle then descends in the place of the former one and the parts are
restored to their original position, the angular projections or wedges 11
of the levers K again enter the box A and support the shuttles still
remaining therein, leaving the fresh shuttle free to operate. It results
from this arrangement that the shuttle, the thread of which is broken
or has failed, is discharged at the side which it enters, and that it is
replaced by a fresh shuttle immediately and without the loss of a single
stroke of the loom. In this improved loom the rod of the picker or
driver is below the box, the picker or driver is actuated in the same
manner as in ordinary looms, the whip levers are above, the picker
or driver is reversed, and the cords for receiving its shock or impact,

page_text: or for imparting motion to it, remain unchanged. When the picker
or driver has passed beyond the end of the guard plate it is maintained
in a suitable position by the fork L (Figures 1 and 9); a piece M secured
to the batten at the opposite end of the box serves to guide the entrance
of the shuttle; a lever N acted upon by a spring 13 is employed for the
purpose of bringing back the picker or driver immediately within the
fork L in order to leave a free passage for the descent of the shuttles.
In order to facilitate the recharging of the boxes A with shuttles the
batten has a groove 14, (Figure 15, Sheet 2,) formed in it at its upper
part, in which groove the full shuttles are placed, whence they are pro-
jected into one or other of the boxes A by the aid of a driver O, which is
free to move along the groove.
The apparatus employed for the purpose of opening out the reed and
removing the weft thread is arranged in the following manner :-The
batten c is provided at its upper part with pins or pivots, (as shewn in
Figure 13, Sheet 2,) which serve as a hinge joint for its movable portion,
which during the normal working of the apparatus is maintained against
the fixed portion by spring levers P, but as soon as the weft thread
breaks or fails the projections » are caused, under the action of the weft
fork, (as herein-before mentioned) to press upon the rods o, which has
the effect of moving the reed away from the batten so as to prevent the
incomplete thread being beaten up, and admit of its subsequent removal.
In order to ensure the closing or fastening of the reed at the moment
when the shoot is to be beaten up into the web the frame is provided
with a fixed stop Q opposite cach of the levers P, which stops, then
maintains such levers firm and secure, whilst such stops are prevented
from coming in contact with the levers when the latter are raised by
reason of the opening or disengagement of the reed.
For the purpose of removing the end of the broken or incomplete thread
which is remaining in the web rotatory discs R, (Figure 16, Sheet 2,)
each provided with an oblique notch or groove, are employed; these
discs pass at cach stroke of the batten between the chain or warp threads
so that the fragment of the broken or incomplete weft thread is laid hold
of by the notch or groove in the discs, which immediately wind it up,
and remove it from the web.
In the arrangement shewn in Figures 14 and 15 (Sheet 2) the discs R
are mounted on a shaft 15, which is carried on the extremities of two

page_text: levers S, to which an oscillating motion is imparted by means of a crank
arm 16 and a connecting rod 17, which latter is jointed to the batten c,
whereby the discs are caused to enter the chain after each throw of the
shuttle. The shaft 15, on which the discs are carried, is provided with
a grooved pulley 18, which is driven by means of a strap passing round
the pulley 19, the latter deriving its motion from the upper shaft of
the loom, whereby the disc shaft is caused to revolve at a high
velocity.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 17 the rocking motion of the
disc shaft is obtained by means of a vertical connecting rod 20 moved
by a lever 21, which is caused to vibrate under the action of a cam or
tappet provided on the lower shaft of the loom.
In order to diminish friction two discs only may be employed, and the
shaft (actuated by a grooved pulley) may be arranged to turn between
two pivots or centres supported at the extremity of the oscillating levers S
applied one at each end of the loom.
Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21 (Sheet 2) illustrate the arrangement which
is employed for recovering the shed into which the fresh weft thread is
to be shot. The crank shaft 22 is provided at the opposite end to the
driving end with a double toothed clutch T, by means of which motion is
transmitted to the cam shaft 23 in the one or the other direction, according
to the position which the clutch occupies. For this purpose the clutch
is so arranged as to be capable of engaging on the one side with a clutch
picce U, which is formed in one piece with the pinion 24, from which
motion is imparted to the cam shaft 23, carrying the heddle cams 25 in
one direction, and on the other side with a clutch piece V formed on a
pulley 26, which by means of a pulley 27 and crossed strap 28 drives
the cam shaft 23 in the opposite direction.
-
On the cam shaft 23 there. is fitted a ratchet wheel X, with which
engages a detent 29, which leaves the cams free to turn in one direction,
but prevents their making more than a fraction of a revolution (thic
denominator of the fraction being equal to the number of leaves of
heddles in the loom) when the motion is reversed. The loom shewn in
the Drawing is arranged for four leaves of heddles, and the ratchet
wheel is provided with four teeth, as shown.
The shaft which is situate beneath the breast beam carries a seg-
mental piece Y (Figure 20) having a groove 30 formed in it, in which

page_text: groove works a projecting arm Z, so that when a weft thread breaks or
fails the lever W is caused to disengage the gearing which actuates the
heddle cams and bring the pulley into gear, whereby the cams are turned
round in the reverse direction until the detent engages with one of the
ratchet teeth, which position exactly corresponds to the starting point of
a shuttle and to the shed in which the broken or incomplete thread was
inserted.
away
The apparatus operates in the following manner :-Assuming that a
shuttle is thrown from the left-hand box to the right-hand box, and that
the thread breaks or fails during its traverse, when the shuttle arrives in
the right-hand box the batten has performed rather more than half its
fore traverse, the weft fork not meeting with any obstacle in the grating
retains its horizontal position, but soon, conducted by the action of the
batten on the lever b, it acts upon the slide i and the curved arm j,
causing the latter to rock, the reed is disengaged or moved from
the batten, the heddles are thrown out of gear, the shuttle guard G is
opened, and the clastic air vessel acting upon the shuttle the latter.
loses its centre of gravity, and by the velocity which it has acquired
falls upon the table I within reach of the weaver. As soon as the rear.
motion of the batten is effected the projection ≈ comes in contact with
the detent y (acting in concert with the projection s), which causes the
levers K to fall back; a shuttle ready for operation then descends in the
room of the one which has been expelled, the shuttle guard G is at the
same time restored to its original position, and the heddles are again
thrown into gear. The disc shaft then enters the chain or warp threads,¨
and the end of the broken or incomplete weft thread is removed, the
right hand shuttle receives the stroke of the picker or driver, and is
thrown into the left-hand box, and the operation of weaving is again
proceeded with. If another weft thread breaks or fails the before-
mentioned operations are recommenced without the necessity in any
case for arresting the motion of the loom for the purpose.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manuer in which the same. is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The application and use of two weft forks, one only of which
operates at a time, such weft fork being brought into action immediately

page_text: the broken or incomplete weft thread is shot, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The peculiar arrangements and combinations of intermediate
lever arms, stops, detents, and catches for transmitting the action of t
the weft forks to the mechanism which is to be put in motion, sub-
stantially as hercin-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
•
Third. Automatically replacing a shuttle when the thread is broken
or exhausted by another shuttle ready for operation, and at the same end 1
of the batten as that- at which the former shuttle has arrived, without
arresting the motion of the loom, substantially in the manner herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The opening out or disengaging of the reed from the batten
for the purpose of preventing the beating up of a false weft thread, and 1
the application and use of rotatory discs for effecting the removal or
withdrawal of such false thread, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. Arranging the apparatus for disengaging the heddles in such a
manner that the shed or opening in which a broken or incomplete thread 20
has been shot may be recovered for the insertion of a fresh shoot, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and scal this Thirtieth day of o