A REGULATOR COMPENSATOR FOR THE WEAVING OF RIBBONS AND CLOTHS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Vignat, of the firm Vignat Frères, of No. 3,
Place des Victoires, in the City of Paris; Merchants, for the Invention of
"A REGULATOR COMPENSATOR FOR THE WEAVING OF RIBBONS AND CLOTHS."
Sealed the 5th August 1856, and dated the 13th February 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Vignat at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th February
1856.
We, LOUIS VIGNAT, of the firm Vignat Frères, of No. 3, Place des
Victoires, in the City of Paris, Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for A REGULATOR-COMPENSATOR FOR THE WEAVING OF RIBBONS
AND CLOTHS, to be as follows:-
The regulating system, used till now in the enrolling of cloths as they are
wove, only equalize the augmentation of the thickness of the roller by the help of
the workman, who is obliged from time to time either to change the wheelwork
of the machine, or to put in a number of different teeth, or to alter the clapper,
so that they may take a larger or smaller quantity of teeth; but all these regu-
lators have the fault of always increasing the same linear quantity, notwith-
standing the changes of thickness which are in the wool, so that if during
thirty strokes of the clapper (let us suppose) it is very thin, the tissue is
transparent and the thread is not compact; if, on the contrary, the wool is
thick, to arrive at the proper reduction by the regulator it is forcibly struck.
by the clapper, and that part is more compact and thicker than the
other, it may even result by this percussion a waving of the stuff, which
becomes very disagreable to the eye, and which deteriorates the tissue.
The regulating system, for which we ask a Patent, has the property of

page_text: precisely unrolling the stuff, so that each clapper produces to the duite or last
stroke to the wool a compactness which is always equal to the preceeding
threads, notwithstanding the different of thickness of these threads; that is
to say, if you pass a woollen thread of one-10th of a millimetre the roll of
the cylinder is precisely of that quantity, and as suddenly it passes to a thick-
ness of one-9th or one-12th of a millimetre; the motion of the roller varies
in the same proportion. We arrive at the result of preserving mathematically
and at every movenient the same effect and tightness of the stuff between the
comb and the rolling cylinder, notwithstanding the variation of the thickness;
so that at the moment of the stroke of the clapper the stuff is pushed back a
little by the comb, it softens during this shock, then the roller rolls it on till
its primitive tension is established; and as the extent of this roll has been
regulated precisely by the duite, it follows that every successive thread of the
tissue is brought closer together by an effort which is always constant.
To
give one an idea of the motion of this regulator, we are going to give a
legend explaining the annexed design to the present request; and afterwards
we will explain the mechanism.
We have taken, for example, the application of this regulator in the weaving
of ribbons. A, cylinder for the rolling of the stuff; B, a grooved wheel,
intended to move round by reaction roller A, to which it is fixed by 3 screws C.
These two pieces joined together are fixed on shaft D, which can have itself a
rotary movement, caused by a common regulator, or, perhaps, a fixed one. E,
a lever, tightly fixed on shaft D by means of an iron collar, which fixes it with
it in an invariable manner. It has fixed at its end two small clappers pressed
by springs, the use of which are to keep back the grooved wheel and the roller
in the position where they were placed after the action of the rolling up. G,
a double lever, having the property of taking a swinging and free movement
round the collar, which is destined for it. Between the grooved wheel and the
cylinder it is furnished at at its upper end with a clapper H, supported by.a
spring, so as to be able to impart the motion of the wheel a' rochets, and of a
hole to fix a string or flexible chain fastened to some part of the machine,
which has a regular roterary motion, as the clapper, for example. At the
lower end it has a small peaked cage, moveable round the point K, and sup-
plied with a small roller L, constantly pressing on the rolled-up stuff. To the
axle of this roller is fastened by means of a small arch in iron a string, which
is fixed at its other end to a curved lever N, on which is placed a-weight O,
moveable at will. It is by the shifting of this weight that is augmented or
diminished the tention of the stuff. G indicates the position that the moveable.
piece G takes when the clapper draws it back after each succeeding small roll.

page_text: We have very much removed it from the first position to shew it better, but
in reality the variation is almost imperceptible, since it only varies to each.
stroke but by the rolling of the thickness of a thread. L' indicates the posi-;
tion of the small roller by the position G of the piece G; L" shows the same.
position of the roller when the cylinder enroller is thick, by the accumulation
WORKING OF THE APPARATUS.
1. When we have placed the weight O at the desired place once during the
whole time the piece is being wove, it exercises a constant and always equal
strain on the string M, which causes the turning of the cylinder, enrolled by
means of the piece G and of the small clapper 11. The force of this strain
is regulated by the arm of the lever X, Y. At the moment of the stroke of
the clapper, the tention of the stuff having diminished between the stay and
the cylinder, on account of the pressure it causes to the thread, the piece G,
which in the first place had the position G', gives way to the straining of the
string M, and advances to G, dragging the notched wheel B, and afterwards
the cylinder A with it, till the same ratio of tention is established; at this
moment, the clapper having receded, brings back with it the piece G to its
primitive position G¹. During this time the clappers F of the piece E have
prevented the roller from moving backwards, since the piece E is fixed firmly
to the shaft; but, on the other hand, as the cylinder has thickened, on account
of the enrollment of the tissue, it follows, that it opposes to the rotary move-
ment a resistance, which increases in proportion to the increase of its radius;.
it is. therefore necessary that the power which causes the enrollment should
also increase the arm of the lever in the same proportion. It is by the move-
ment of the little roller L, and the cage at the end I, free round the point K,
that this is effected; indeed, the roller L, urged by the traction of the string. M,
adheres constantly on the enrolled, and receeds from the centre of the roller,
dragging with it the point where the string is fastened M, consequently the arm
of the lever increases in proportion to the number of rolls of stuff which are on
the roller. For the position L of the small roller, the arm of the lever by
the effort of the tension is X, Y; for the position L", the arm of the lever
becomes X, Y, precisely increased by a quantity equal to the increase of the
outer circle of the cylinder enroller. The small roller L can be fastened to
the moveable piece G in any other manner.
We have shewn the simplest
which came into our head, but it could be in a groove made at the end of the
piece G, and constantly pressed on the stuff by springs, the axle of the roller
pressing always the point where the string is fastened M.

page_text: We of course reserve to ourselves all other arrangement or change of form
which would act in the same manner or produce the same results. The
advantages of this Invention are sufficiently explained in the first part of this
treatise for us to refer to the subject.
It is evident, that in obtaining a perfect regularity in the serrage of the
threads of stuff woven mechanically, in preserving to the stroke of the clapper
always the same force as in the weaving by hand, one makes a great stride in
that branch of industry which tends each day to take a greater developement.
Such are the descriptions and Drawings of our petition for a Patent, of which
we are desirous of obtaining the grant for fourteen years.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Louis Vignat in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th August 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS'
VIGNAT, of the firm Vignat Frères, of No. 3, Place des Victoires, in the
City of Paris, Merchants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Vignat, Her special licence that I, the said Louis Vignat,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Louis Vignat, my 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 "A REGULATOR-COM-
PENSATOR FOR THE WEAVING OF RIBBONS AND CLOTHS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Louis Vignat, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Louis Vignat, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
The regulating system, employed till now to regulate the unrolling of cloths
as they are wove, only equalise the augmentation of the thickness of the roller
by the help of the workman, who is obliged from time to time either to change
the wheelwork of the regulator, or to put in a number of different teeth, or
to alter the clapper, so that they may take a larger or smaller quantity of teeth;
but all these regulators have the fault of always increasing the same lineal
quantity, whatever may be the changes of thickness which arise in the wool,
so that if during thirty strokes of the clapper (let us suppose) it is very thin,
the tissue is transparent, and the thread is not compact; if, on the contrary,
the wool is thick, to arrive at the proper reduction by the regulator it is
strongly struck with the clapper, and that part is more compact and thicker
than the other; it may even result by this percussion a waving of the stuff,
which becomes very disagreeable to the eye, and which deteriorates the
tissue.
The regulating system, for which we ask a Patent, has the property of
precisely unrolling the stuff, so that each clapper effects to the duite or last
stroke to the wool a compactness, which is always equal to the preceding
threads, notwithstanding the difference of thickness between these threads;
that is to say, if you pass a woollen thread of one-tenth of a milimetre, the
roll of the cylinder is precisely of that quantity, and as suddenly it passes to a
thickness of one-ninth or one-twelfth of a millimetre; the motion of the roller
varies in the same proportions. We arrive at the result, in preserving
mathematically, and at every movement, the same effect and tightness of the
stuff between the comb and the rolling cylinder, notwithstanding the varia-
tion of the thickness, so that at the moment of the stroke of the clapper
the stuff is pushed back a little by the comb it softens during this shock ;
then the roller rolls it on till its primitive tension is established, and as the
extent of this rollment has been regulated precisely by the duite, it follows;
that all the successive threads of the tissue are brought closer together by
an effort which is always constant.
.
To give one an idea of the motion of this regulator, we are going to give a
legend explaining the annexed design to the present request, and afterwards:
we will explain the mechanism.
We have taken, for example, the application of this regulator in the weaving
of ribbons. A, cylinder for the rolling of the stuff; B, a grooved wheel;
intended to move round by reaction the roller A; it is fixed by three screws C:
These two pieces joined together are fixed on the shaft D, which can itself
:

page_text: have a movement of. rotation arising from a.common regulator, or, perhaps, a
fixed one. E, a lever, tightly fixed on shaft D by means of an iron collar,
which fixes it with it in an invariable manner; it has fixed at its ends two
little clappers pressed by springs, the use of which is to keep back the grooved
wheel and the roller in the position where they were placed after the action of
the rolling up. G, a double lever, having the property of taking a swinging
and free movement round the collar, which is destined for it, between the
grooved wheel and the cylinder; it is furnished at its upper end with a clapper
H, supported by a spring, so as to be able to imprint the motion of the wheel
à rochets, and of a hole to fix a string or flexible chain, fastened to some part
of the machine which has a regular rotary motion, as the clapper, for example..
At the lower end it has a small peaked cage, moveable round the point K, and
supplied with a small roller L, constantly pressing on the rolled-up stuff. To.
the axle of this roller is fastened, by means of. a small arch in iron, a string,
which is fixed. at its other end to a curved lever N, on which is placed a
weight O, moveable at will. It is by the shifting of this weight that is
augmented or liminished the tension of the stuff. G indicates the position
that the moveable piece G takes when the clapper draws it back after each
succeeding small roll. We have very much removed it from the first position
to show it better, but in reality the variation is almost imperceptible, since it
only varies to each stroke but by the rolling of a thickness of a thread. L'
indicates the position of the small roller by the piston G₁ of the piece G; L"
shows this same position of the roller when the cylinder enroller is thick, by
the accumulation of the stuff on the cylinder.
WORKING OF THE APPARATUS.
When we have placed the weight O at the desired place once during the
whole time the piece is being wove, it exercises a constant and always equal
strain on the spring M, which causes the turning of the cylinder enroller by
means of the piece G and of the small clapper H. The force of this strain
is regulated by the arm of the lever X, Y. At the moment of the stroke of
the clapper, the tension of the stuff having diminished between the stay and
the cylinder, on account of the pressure it causes to the thread, the piece G,
which in the first place.had the position G', gives way to the straining of the
string M, and advances to G, dragging the notched wheel B, and afterwards
the cylinder A with it, till the same ratio of tension is established; at this
moment, the clapper having receded, brings back with it the piece G to its
primitive position G. During this time the clappers F of the piece E have
prevented the roller from moving backwards, since.the piece E is fixed firmly

page_text: to the shaft; but, on the other hand, as the cylinder has thickened, on account
of the enrollment of the tissue, it follows, that it opposes to the rotary move-
nient a resistance, which increases in proportion to the increase of its radius;
it is therefore necessary that the power which causes the enrollment should
also increase the arm of the lever in the same proportion. It is by the move-
ment of the little roller L, and the cage at the end I, free round the point K,
that this is effected; indeed, the roller L, inged by the traction of the string M,
adheres constantly on the enrolled stuff, and receedes from the centre of the
roller, dragging with it the point when the string is fastened M, consequently
the arm of the lever increases in proportion to the number of rolls of stuff
which are on the roller. For the position L of the small roller, the arm of
the lever by the effort of tension is X, Y; for the position L", the arm
of the lever becomes X¹, Y¹, precisely increased by a quantity equal to the
increase of the outer circle of the cylinder enroller. The small roller L can
be fastened to the moveable piece G in any other manner. We have shown
the simplest which came into our head, but it could be in a groove made at
the end of the piece G, and constantly pressed on the stuff by springs, the
axle of the roller pressing always the point where the string is fastened M.
We of course reserve to ourselves all other arrangement or change of form
which would act in the same manner or produce the same results.
The advantages of this Invention are sufficiently explained in the first part
of this treatise for us to refer to the subject.
It is evident, that in obtaining a perfect regularity in the serrage of the
threads of stuff woven mechanically, in preserving to the stroke of the clapper
always the same force as in the weaving by hand, one makes a great stride in
that branch of industry which tends each day to take a greater developement.
Such are the descriptions and Drawings of our petition for a Patent, of
which we are desirous of obtaining the grant for fourteen years.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Vignat, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
I, LOUIS VIGNAT,
(L.S.)
of the firm Vignat Frères, of No. 3,
Place des Victoires, in the City of Paris,
Merchants.