IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOOMS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to John and Christopher Gratrix, of Preston, in the
County of Lancaster, Machine Makers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS."
Sealed the 7th July 1857, and dated the 10th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John and Christopher
Gratrix at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 10th January 1857.
We, JOHN and CHRISTOPHER GRATRIX, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Makers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN Looмs," to be as follows:-
Our said Invention relates, firstly, to an improvement in the self-acting
temple, by which we obtain considerably more reed space, which we accomplish
by the peculiar arrangement of the hinge, as shewn in the accompanying
outline Drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an end view, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the
temple. a represents the joint of the hinge; b, the part by which the temple
is attached to the framing of the loom; c, the rollers; and d, the thumb-screw
for holding the case together.
It will be observed that we use two or more bars or rollers; and by the
arrangement of the said hinge the operative can open the box or case, and
pass the fabric between the rollers, so that when the box or case is closed
the fabric will be under one roller and over the other, dispensing with the
necessity of a midfeather, as commonly used. The said bars or rollers may

page_text: either extend across the loom the whole width of the cloth or only part way,
as may be most desirable...
Secondly, to an improved taking-up motion, which we accomplish by
making the taking-up roller of a conical form, and the other either straight
or convex, by which we gain the advantage of preventing the cloth from
creasing or crimping, (which is now generally the case,) and laying it straight
on the cloth beam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John and Christopher Gratrix in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JOHN
and CHRISTOPHER GRATRIX, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John and Christopher Gratrix, Her special licence, that we, the said
John and Christopher Gratrix, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said John and Christopher Gratrix, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use; exercise, and vend; within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOмs," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said John and Christopher Gratrix, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal
of one of us, 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 Gratrix, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Christopher Gratrix, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that
is to say):

page_text: Our said Invention relates to improvements in self-acting temples for
looms, and consists, firstly, of improvements in the temples known as the
"roller and box," for which Messieurs Kenworthy & Bullough obtained Letters
Patent, dated January 14th, 1841; but the roller of the said temple as
described in their Specification, working in a slot with a common cap, or in
a bush at the end of the box, causes considerable inconvenience when any
float or damage to the cloth renders it necessary to be unwoven. And also
when a warp has to be put into the loom, the caps or steps have to be
removed and the roller taken out of the box, which causes much incon-
venience and loss of time. To obviate these inconveniences and overcome the
said difficulties, we have constructed a peculiar kind of hinge or apparatus,
in which the rollers work and are applied at each end of the box, by the
opening of which the roller is raised from its bed, exposing the cloth, and
thereby giving the weaver full liberty to unweave any damaged portion, which
plan also allows the warp to be put in without removing the roller from its
position. In that part which forms the bush and the joint of the hinge for
the roller to work in we have an oblong slot, through which a two-sided
thumb or gib-headed set screw passes, so that by part of one turn the hinge
and roller are liberated or held firm in their places. We use two or more
of the said rollers, according to the quality of the fabric to be templed,
and we case-harden them to make them more durable. By the arrangement
of the said hinge and rolers the operative can open the box or case and pass
the fabric between the rollers, so that when the box or case is closed the
fabric will be under one roller and over the other, dispensing with the
necessity of a midfeather, as now commonly used.
The manner in which our said Invention is to be performed will be clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and the
letters of reference thereon, in which the first part of our said Invention is
shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Figs. 1 and 2 are plans of our improved temple, shewing one roller extend-
ing across the loom the whole length of the box, which may be either with
or without a bearing in the centre, having a short roller at each end of the
box, which rollers work or revolve in the said hinges or apparatus; this
arrangement being peculiarly applicable for heavy picked fabrics.
In the said Figures a represents the joints or hinges in which the rollers
work, and when opened are raised from their beds; b, the rollers; c, the
oblong slot, through which the screw d passes, by partially turning which
the hinge and rollers are either liberated or held firm in their places.
The second part of our said improvements relates to self-acting side temples,

page_text: which will be understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6, in which a represents
the joint of the hinge, the peculiar construction of which gives us considerably
more reed space than has been hitherto obtained, and also enables us to
have the top and bottom rollers of equal length; b, the part by which the
temple is attached to the framing of the loom in the ordinary way; c, the
rollers; d, the oblong slot, through which the screw e passes and holds the
case firmly together. Figs. 7 and 8 shew the arrangement for three and
four rollers respectively, though we do not confine ourselves to any definite
number of them.
The third part of our said improvements is shewn at Fig. 9, which is a
view of our improved taking-up roller, made conical to prevent the cloth
from creasing or crimping, which is generally the case with straight rollers.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be understood that
we claim as our Invention, and which to the best of our knowledge and belief
has not been hitherto used within the realm, firstly, the working of temple
rollers on hinges; secondly, the application of an additional roller or additional
rollers to temples; thirdly, the peculiar arrangement and construction of
hinges with the arrangement of rollers; and, fourthly, the conical taking up
roller; as all such improvements are herein described, and illustrated in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gratrix, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Christopher Gratrix, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
JOHN GRATRIX. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named John Gratrix, in the presence of
EDWARD T. HUGHES,
17, Cross Street, Manchester.