CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOONS TO BE IMPELLED BY MECHANICAL POWER FOR WEAVING VARIOUS KINDS OF FIGURED FABRICS, WHETHER OF SILE, COTTON, FLAX, WOOL, OR OTHER MATERIALS OR MIXTURES OF THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO HAND Looms
Year: 1824

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
POTTER, of Smedley, near Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster,
Spinner and Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Thirteenth day of May, in the fifth year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Potter, His especial licence, that I, the said John Potter, my exors,
admňors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Potter, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOONS TO BE IMPELLED BY MECHANICAL POWER FOR WEAVING VARIOUS
KINDS OF FIGURED FABRICS, WHETHER OF SILE, COTTON, FLAX, WOOL, OR OTHER
MATERIALS OR MIXTURES OF THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO HAND Looms;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso obliging me, the said John Potter, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said

page_text: in part recited Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Potter, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in and by the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof (that is to say):-
Fig. 1 is a view of the right-hand side of the loom; Fig. 2 a view of the
left-hand side of it; Fig. 3 a view and section of the parts beyond the dotted
line in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 4 a back elevation of the machine; Fig. 5 a
plan of it; and Figs. 6 to 11 are views and sections of separate parts of
the loom; in all which said Figures the same letters and figures of referenco
apply to the similar parts of the machine. A, the right-hand standard of the
machine frame. B, the left one. C, C, &c., cross braces for combining and
strengthening the frame, and to which some of the parts are affixed. D, the
main or crank axis, having upon the end of it the fast and loose pullies,
riggers, or band wheels E and F, which receive motion by means of a strap or
band G from the steam engine or other first moving power. H, a fly wheel
for regulating the motion of the machine. I, I, the cranks. J, J, the craalt
rods which communicate an alternating or backward and forward movement
to the swords K, K, of the lay L, which carries the reed, and is formed in the
same manner and consists of the similar parts which are generally employed
in the lays for power looms in common use. M, the fly shuttle. N, N, the
pickers or drivers for giving motion to it. 0, 0, the rods which actuate the
pickers. These rods move on the studs P, P, as centres, and which are s
affixed to the arms Q, Q, which are attached to the lay axis R, R. S, S, are
two connecting rods which communicate motion to the picking or driving rods
from the cranks or quadrants T, T, which turn upon pins affixed in the
brackets U, U, which are secured to the lay swords K, K. V, V, are two.
springs affixed upon the lay swords, and which act against the cranks T, T, so S
as to bring them back again after being driven or moved alternately by the
arms or lifters W, W, which are affixed upon the shaft or axis X, X, turning
on the centres Y, Y, in the brackets Z, Z, which are secured to the standards.
A, B, of the machine frame. The lifters W, W, are moved up and down by
means of the rod a, which is jointed to the extremity of the lever b, b, which s
turns upon the stud c affixed to the standard A of the machine frame. Upon
the lower edge of the lever b, b, a perforated plate d is affixed, and also a
stud e upon the side of the lever, and another stud f is also affixed to the lower
part of the plate d. Against the studs e and f the eccentric 9 acts, which is

page_text: affixed upon the axis h of the toothed wheel i, which turns in a socket k
attached to the standard A of the machine frame. Tho wheel i is driven by
the pinion upon the crank axis D so as to make one turn whilst the crank
axis makes two, and by the curves given to the eccentric 9 acting against the
studs and the rod a is raised and lowered, and consequently the lifters
W, W, connected with it, and which remains stationary during the times that
the circular curves of the eccentric g are acting against tho studs e and f of the
of the lever b. m and n are two yarn beams whose pivots turn in bearings
affixed in the standards A and B, and around which is wound the yarn or warp
necessary for forming the fabric. The warp is kept in a proper degree of
tension by means of the straps or cords o and p, one of which is passed two or
three times around each beam; one end of each of these straps is fastened or
secured to the stud q, affixed to the standard B, and to the other end is
appended a sufficient weight r and a to give the necessary tension to the warp.
t is a carrier roller or beam over which the warp passes to another carrier
roller u at the front of the loom, and it is wound or taken upon the cloth beam
by the action of the click win the teeth of the ratchet wheel a, and which
wheel turns upon a stud y affixed in the standard A. The click w is jointed
ats to one end of the bent lever 1, which moves upon a stud 2 affixed in the
standard A. Upon the other or longer end of the lever 1 a weight 8 is hung,
and a stud 4 projects from the side of as, arm 5 of the lever i so as to hang
over the upper side of the lever b, and to be lifted thereby as it rises. The
click w is constantly urging the ratchet wheel a forwards, except whilst the
weight 8 is lifted by the action of the lever upon the stud 4 of the bent
lever 1, and the ratchet wheel is held fast by means of one or other of the
three teeth in the compound catch 6, falling into a tooth of it. The ratchet
wheela has a pinion 7 affixed to it, working into a toothed wheel 8 mounted
upon the axis of the cloth beam v. Upon the main or crank axis D of the
machine an eccentric wheel 9 is also affixed, shewn separately and in section
in Figs. 6 and 7. This eccentric wheel consists of a flat metal plate 10,
having two elevated rims 11 and 12 affixed to it, and projecting from it side-
ways. Between these rims the friction wheel or roller 13 is placed, and which
turns upon a stud projecting from the side of an adjusting arm 14, which is
affixed to the swinging frame 15, which moves upon an axis 16, turning upon
centres in the bearings 17 and 18 affixed to the machine frame. This
swinging framo 15 carries the axis 19 of the two pattern cylinders 20 and 21,
and also the pattern wheel 22, which has a number of equidistant gaps or
notches made around it, the solid parts or teeth between which are rounded at
their extremities. The pattern cylinders 20 and 21. have each of them rows

page_text: of holes made in them parallel to
division of the pattern wheel 22.
around the cylinders, and are pierced in a direction pointing to the centres
of the cylinders. Into these holes more or fewer studs, pegs, pins, or screws
23 are inserted, according to the figure or pattern to be woven, as will be
described hercaftor. One of these studs is shewn separately at 23, Fig. 8.
These studs, &c., are made to act upon projecting points 24 affixed to the
shorter arms of two sets of bent levers 25 and 26, which turn upon the studs
27, 27, affixed to the machine frame. The opposite ends of the projecting
points 24 are guided in holes made in two plates to steady them. The longer
arms of the levers 25 are connected by means of the cords 28, &c., with one
end of the straight double levers or jacks above 29, and those of the levers 26
with the lower short levers or lams 80, &c. The opposite ends of the levers
or jacks 29, &c., are united by the cords 31, &c. with the upper shafts of the
heddles 82, &c., and the short levers or lams 30, &c. are connected in like
manner by the cords 33 with the lower shafts 34, &c. of the heddles, so that
by the arrangement of the studs or pins 28, &c. in the pattern cylinders 20
and 21, which act upon the points 24, &c. of the bent levers 25, &c., the
heddles are raised and lowered, the pins being disposed around the pattern
cylinder 20 in such a manner as to form the requisite arrangements for raising
the heddles, whilst those on the other cylinder 21 form the arrangements for
lowering them, and consequently the arrangements of the pins or studs on the
one cylinder are exactly the counterpart of those on the other, and there are
also as many studs or pins required as would fill all the holes in one of the
cylinders. The pattern wheel 22 is moved one division at a time by coming in
contact with the impellent 35 at each outward swing or oscillation of the
frame 15, produced as above mentioned. The impellent 35 consists of a
double lever moving upon a pin or stud 36, affixed to the bracket 37, which is
united to the machine frame. The action of the lever 35 is limited by two
studs 38 and 39, which are affixed in the bracket 37, and it has on its outer
end a piece 40 projecting sideways, of a proper size and form to enter the
divisions or gaps made around the pattern wheel 22. The pattern wheel is
kept stationary between each movement by means of the detent 41, which
moves upon a stud 42 affixed to one side of the swinging frame 15, and it has
an angular projecting piece or tooth 43 formed of two inclined planes, which
lodges itself in each gap or division of the pattern wheel 22 in succession.
This detent is kept in contact with the pattern wheel by the stout spring 44
pressing against the back of it, and which said spring is affixed to the side of
the swinging frame 13. In order to keep the longer arms of the bent levers
their axes, and corresponding with each
They also form rings or circles of holes

page_text: 25 and 26 in an horizontal position, so as to retain the points 24 in a proper
situation to be acted upon by each row of pins or studs in the pattern cylinders
after having been raised or lowered in the manner before described, a counter-
weight 45 is employed consisting of a straight ponderous bar of metal
extending over both the sets of bent levers 25 and 26, and united with
two arms 46 and 47: with holes in them which turn upon the studs 27, 27,
as centres. The arms 46 and 47 are besides braced or strengthened by
means of the cross piece or bar 48, which proceeds from the one to the other,
and is firmly united with them..
In order the better to enable the attendant to mark the progress of the
pattern cylinders during the action of the machine, I have provided the following
additional parts. In Figures 2 and 5, 49 is a flat table or bracket affixed to
the standard B of the machine frame. Upon this table I affix by means of
screws or otherwise a card or patteboard 50, which has drawn upon it the
representation of the figure or pattern to be woven by the loom. In the side
of the table or bracket 49 is a groove 51, in which slides a piece of metal 52
which carries an arm 58; extending across the card; and it has two lines 54
and 55-affixed-to-it, one of which passes over a pulley 56 and has a small
weight 57 hung to it. The other line 55 extends along the side of the loom to
the forked arm of the slider 58, to which it is hooked by the stud 59, first,
however, passing over the pin 60 which is affixed to the end of the axis 16 of
the swinging. frame. 15. The slit 61 in the forked arm of the slider 58
receives the pin 60 within it, and the slider has besides another wider groove
or slit 62. which receives within it the axis 19 of the pattern cylinders 20
and 21, and upon these two supports the slider rests and is permitted to move
upwards and downwards. From the lower end of the slider 58, a pin or
stud 63 projects sideways, which presents itself against the edge of/a metal
plate 64, which is formed of a spiral shape by drawing radii lines at equal
distances apart, each extending by equal increments, and the whole extent of
the spiral being equal to the length of the figure or pattern drawn upon the
card. 50. To the lever of the impellent 35 an arm 65 is affixed, having a pin
or stud in the side of it, to which is fastened a line or cord 66 which extends
to the tumbler 67, being a weight moveable upon a stud 68 as a centre
affixed to the machine frame. When hanging in the position shewn in Fig. 8,
the cord or line 66 is loose, but when the weight is turned by the attendant
into the position shewn by the dotted lines, the cord winding upon the boss
or centre of the weight becomes tight and draws the impellent 35 into the
position also shewn by dotted lines, and as resting against the upper stud 39.

page_text: In this situation it withdraws the tooth 40 of the impellent out of reach of
the teeth or gaps in the pattern wheel. In the lower side of the detent 41 a
stud or pin 69 is affixed, which, whilst the impellent is drawn into the position
just described, and supposing the swinging frame 15 to be moved outwardly,
comes in contact with the raised end of the impellent and disengages the
tooth 43 of the detent from the divisions in the pattern wheel, which leaves
the pattern axis 19 and its appendages at full liberty to be turned either way
as may be required. In order to enable the attendant to turn the pattern axis
without quitting the front of the loom, a pulley 70 is affixed to the pattern
cylinder 20, around which an endless band or line 71 passes, and over a loose
pulley 72, turning upon a stud 73 affixed to the machine frame. This endless
line hangs loose, excepting at the time that the swinging frame is at the
extremity of its oxillation outwards, as above described, when it becomes tight
and enables the attendant to turn the pattern axis by pulling it as required.
In case the shuttle M should lodge in the warp and not reach the shuttle box
in the lay, the motion of the loom is stopped in the following manner :-74 is
a stop rod affixed to the under side of the lay L. It consists of a round bar of
metal which turns in two loops 75, 75, affixed to the lay. This bar is
furnished with two horizontal arms 76, 76, or striking pieces, and also with
two vertical arms 77, 77, which rise upon each side behind the shuttle boxes.
Within the shuttle boxes are lodged two horizontal inclined planes of wood
78, 78, which turn upon pins 79, 79, affixed to the backs of the shuttle
boxes. Two springs 80, 80, are also affixed to the lay L, which press the
upright arms 77, 77, of the stop rod against the inclined planes 78, 78.
When the shuttle is lodged in either shuttle box, as is shewn in Figs. 3 and 5,
it forces the inclined plane 78 in that box outwards, and which in con-
sequence acts upon the upright arm 77 in contact with it, so as to cause it to
lift or raise up the horizontal arms 76, 76, affixed to the stop rod and prevent
them from striking against two stop pieces 81, 81, which are affixed upon the
machine frame. When, however, the shuttle is stopped in its progress and
does not reach either of the shuttle boxes, the inclined planes 78, 78, are
pressed into the shuttle boxes by the action of the springs 80, 80, and the
horizontal arms 76, 76, become depressed and strike against the stop pieces
81, 81, so as to arrest the movement of the loom and to throw the band or
strap upon the loose pulley F in the following manner. 82 is a bent
forked lever turning upon the stud 83 affixed in a bracket attached to the
machine frame. 84 is the gearing spring affixed to the machine frame at
its lower end and its upper, and passes through a groove made in another

page_text: bracket 85, and is formed into a handle. This spring has also a hole in it
through which one end of the forked lever 82 passes. The spring 84 bas à
tendency to press towards the machine frame, but is retained when the
machine is at work by being lodged in a gap or notch 86. formed in one side
of the groove. On the under side of the bracket 85 is a lever 87 turning
upon a stud. To one end of this lever a sliding piece 88 is jointed at right
angles, and which is kept in its position by a guide book 89 attached to the
stop piece 81. When the arms 76 become depressed, one of them strikes
against the sliding piece 88 and moves the lever 87 connected with it
upon its stud, and the other end of it' strikes against the gearing spring
84, and dislodges it from the gap or notch 86, when by its action
it carries the forked lever 82 along with it, and causes the strap or band
which passes within the fork of the lever to pass from the fast to the
loose pulley and stop the machine. 90, 90, are the lease or leash rods.
91, the stretcher or temple; and 92, a front board to keep the cloth from
injury. The machine, as shown by the Drawing and references thereto, is
applied to the weaving of a certain pattern of diamond quilting, which requires
the loom to be mounted with eleven heddles or heald shafts; the first four
are, however, coupled in pairs, so as in fact to make nine heddles only, but it
is obvious that the number thereof may be increased or diminished so as to
weave other figured fabrics, in which case, however, the pattern cylinders and
levers must have correspondent alterations made in them likewise. The
method of arranging these parts so as to produce the required figures or
fabrics being well known to the weavers of figured works, need not bo
described here. The pattern wheel 22 must have as many gaps or. notches
around it as there are sheets to be made during the progress of the pattern in
weaving it. In the pattern of the cloth, shewn as being woven, forty-eight
shoots are made before the pattern repeats, and consequently there are forty-
eight gaps around the pattern wheel, and as many corresponding rows of
holes in each pattern cylinder. The eccentric wheel 9 in Fig. 2, shewn also
on a larger scale in Figa. 6 and 7, must have its eccentricity considerably
greater than is requisite to open the warp to a proper width for the passage of
the shuttle; one third part more I find to be a good proportion.' Its curve is
set out or formed in such a manner as to open the warp gradually, to keep it
open a proper time, say, during a fifth or a fourth part of its revolution, and
then to allow it to close again gradually. This is effected by the departure of
the curve from a regular spiral, it being swelled or rounded at its most
eccentric part, or where the motion of the swinging frame is to be reversed, and
hollowed or depressed on the opposite side where the motion of that frame is

page_text: to be stopped during the fifth or fourth part of the revolvtion of the eccentric.
The machine being set to work, the warp is opened or divided by the action of
the eccentric 9 upon the swinging frame 15, 15, which raises or depresses
the levers 25 and 26 by the action of the pins or studs in the pattern cylinders
20 and 21 upon the projecting points 24 of the bent levers 25 and 26, which,
through the agency of the jacks and lams, raise or depress the heddles whoso
upper shafts are numbered 82 and their lower ones 34. The warp being thus
divided, and the lay being drawn back by the action of the cranks and rods,
the shuttle is thrown through the divided warp by the cross action of the
pickers or drivers upon it, caused by the agency of the cranks or quadrants
T, T, as before described. The lay then returns, and the reed strikes up the
weft. The warp is then closed by the action of the counterweight or bar 45.
upon the longer arms of the bent levers 25 and 26. The pattern wheel 22 is
then turned or moved one division in the manner before described, by which
means another arrangement of the pins or studs in the pattern cylinders 20
and 21 are brought into action, which at the next inward oscillation of the
swinging frame 15 produces another arrangement of the heddles. The warp
is then again opened, the shuttle thrown, and these operations are continued
during the working of the machine, the cloth being wound as it is woven upon
the cloth beam and the warp let off from the yarn beams in the manner
already described.
Having thus described the whole machine, and its mode of action, I hereby
declare that it is not my intention to claim as my Invention any of the parts
described which are already in use in other power looms, but only the follow-
ing, viz', the applications of the eccentric wheel 9, of the swinging frame 15,
of the pattern wheel 22, and of the counterweight 45, and which applica-
tions I believe to be new. I also apply the several parts just enumerated,
with the exception of the eccentric wheel, to the weaving of figured fabrics by
hand looms, and which I effect in the following manner :-I connect the
swinging frame 15 to one or more treadles, to be worked by the feet of the
weaver in the usual manner, so as to communicate an oscillating motion to the
swinging frame, and by the action of which the other requisite movements for
working the heddles are produced in the loom in a similar way to those above
described in the power loom.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Potter, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.
JOHN (L.s.) POTTER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord 1824, the aforesaid John Potter came before our said Lord
the King in His Chancery and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.