IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING ORNAMENTAL FABRICS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Crichton, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 20th February 1868, and dated the 27th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Crichton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th August 1862.
I, ALEXANDER CRICHTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING ORNAMENTAL FABRICS," to be as follows,
that is to say:-
This Invention comprises various improvements in looms for weaving
ornamental fabrics, and relates principally to the class of power loom arranged
with jacquard apparatus and with shifting shuttle boxes, to produce colored
figures by means of two or more colored wefts thrown in in single shots in
regular succession, as practised in weaving "Paisley" shawls.
A first improvement relates to the weft fork stopper action. There is a
weft fork with accompanying details at each side of the loom, but both acting
on the same stopper spindle, which is continued across the loom, and acts on
the stopping lever at one side in the usual way. The hook of each fork when
not acted on by the weft is in a position to be caught by a lever loose on the

page_text: stopper spindle, and these levers are made to reciprocate by cams on a shaft
driven at a suitable speed. The cams are shaped so that each causes the
reciprocation only when from the regular weaving action the weft can be
present at that side. The weft forks are situated a little higher than usual,
and instead of working in a groove cut across the race, move clearly over it,
and so as not to touch threads lying upon it. The last shot thrown is, however,
always raised to meet the fork when the lathe moves forward by a light finger
or lever, which at other times lies in a small groove cut for it across the race.
This finger or lever is centred on the lathe, and on the lathe moving forward
its back end comes in contact with a stationary stud or pulley, which causes
the front end to be tilted up. By these means the action of the weft fork is
confined to the last shot thrown, whilst any other wefts previously thrown
cannot act on the fork, or prevent its proper action in the event of the last
shot failing.
A second improvement relates to the picking motion. The low shaft
moving at the same speed as the crank shaft is fitted with wipers to act on
horizontal levers centred at the back of the loom near the floor at each side,
and connected at their front ends to the picking sticks or levers. It is
necessary that two or more picks should take place from one side, and then
two or more from the other alternately, and for this purpose each horizontal
lever is provided with a block fitted to slide longitudinally upon it, and
arranged to receive the stroke of the wiper in one position, whilst the wiper
does not reach or act on the lever when the sliding block is in the other
position. Each sliding block is moved into or out of its acting position by
means of a lever acted upon by a cam shaped to suit the requirements of the
pattern or kind of weaving.
A third improvement relates to the mechanism for actuating the shifting
shuttle boxes when of the ordinary "dropping" kind. The dropping of the
boxes cell by cell is effected and regulated by means of a cam or tappet wheel
driven at a speed corresponding to the number of shuttles, and having its
acting surface formed with steps, which act on a lever connected to the shuttle
boxes. The lifting of the shuttle boxes, which has to be effected the entire
height at once, is caused by the action of a separate wiper on the lever con-
nected to the shuttle boxes, this wiper acting on a block or sweep arranged to
shift longitudinally on the lever by the action of the stepped cam, so as only
to be acted upon at the proper time.
According to a fourth improvement there is substituted for the ordinary
rigid shuttle box an endless chain of separate shuttle boxes or cells, hinged, or
otherwise loosely connected together, and mounted on a "cylinder" or

page_text: "barrel" of, by preference, four sides. Such "cylinder" is mounted at each
side of the loom in a manner similar to the "cylinder" of a jacquard machine,
and with similar details for turning and steadying it, it being, by preference,
arranged so that the bottom of the box on the top of the "cylinder" is on a
level with the race board. The shuttles, of which there may be any convenient
number, are brought into action in regular succession, the chains of boxes being
shifted to the extent of one box at each stroke. For other classes of goods
the boxes may be shifted one or more at a time, and either backwards or
forwards by means of suitable pattern mechanism.
A fifth improvement relates to the working of heddles in combination with
harness mechanism in weaving "Paisley" shawls and similar goods. The
heddles are actuated by means of the jacquard mechanism to form what are
termed the "pressing," "dumflower," and "small shot" sheds, but to keep
each shed open for the entire run of shuttles, catches are provided, which
retain the heddles in position during the proper periods, such catches being
released again by the action of jacquard tails, whereupon the heddles return
by the action of springs or counterweights.
A sixth improvement consists in providing a small drum or pulley on the
"cylinder" or "barrel" of a jacquard machine, round which drum is passed
an endless chain or cord, for the purpose of turning the cards backwards or
forwards when they require adjusting. A second cord passing over a pulley is
connected to the turning catches to take these out of gear when adjusting the
cards. By these means the adjustment may be effected with facility from
below, and without having to mount to the top of the loom.
5 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Crichton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CRICHTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Mechanic,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
5 unto me, the said Alexander Crichton, Her special licence that I, the said
Alexander Crichton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others

page_text: as 1, the said Alexander Crichton, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING ORNAMENTAL FABRICS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Crichton, 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 per-
formed, 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 Alexander Crichton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention comprises various improvements in looms for weaving
ornamental fabrics, and relates principally to the class of power loom arranged
with jacquard apparatus and with shifting shuttle boxes to produce colored
figures by means of two or more colored wefts thrown in, in single shots in
regular succession, as practised in weaving "Paisley shawls."
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, to be herein-after referred to in particularly describing
my improvements. In the said Drawings only such portions of the loom
details are shown as appear to be required to render the application of my
improvements intelligible, and the same reference letters or numerals are
used to mark the same or like parts in all the Figures in which they occur.
A first improvement relates to the weft fork stopper action, and is illustrated
in Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawings, this Figure being a vertical section of
the loom taken at right angles to the front thereof. There is a weft fork 1,
with accompanying details at each side of the loom, but both acting on the
same stopper spindle 2, shown in section, and which is continued across the
loom, and on one side acts in the usual way on the stopping lever (not shown).
The hook 3 of each fork when not acted on by the weft is in a position to be
caught by a lever 4 loose on the stopper spindle 2, and these two levers 4 (one
on each side of the loom) are made to reciprocate by cams 5 on a shaft 6

page_text: driven at a suitable speed. The cams 5 are shaped so that each causes the
reciprocation only when from the regular weaving action the weft can be
present on that side. The example delineated is suitable for three shuttles;
the shaft 6 is geared to make one turn for every six picks, during three of
which the shuttles are in succession thrown to one side, being similarly
returned to the other side during the other three picks. The cam 5 on one
side has three projections 7, disposed so as to act on the lever 4 when the
shuttles are being thrown to that side, whilst the cam (5) on the other side
has three similar projections (7), but disposed to the opposite side of it to act
on the corresponding lever (4) when the shuttles are being returned to the
other side. The weft forks 1 are mounted in the usual way upon levers fast
on the stopper spindle 2, but these levers are in the Figure hid by the lever 4.
The weft forks are, however, situated a little higher than usual in relation to
the fell of the cloth or the shuttle race 8, and instead of working in a groove
cut across the race, they move clearly over it, and so as not to touch threads
lying upon it. The last shot thrown is, however, always raised to meet the
fork when the lathe 9 moves forward by a light finger or lever 10, which at
other times lies in a small groove cut for it across the race 8.
lever 10 is centred on a bracket attached to the back of the
the lathe moving forward its back end comes in contact with a stationary stud
or pulley 11 carried by the loom framing A, which arrangement causes the
front of the finger 10 to be tilted up. By these means the action of the weft
forks is confined to the last shot thrown, whilst any other wefts previously
thrown to the same or to the other side cannot act on the fork, nor prevent its
proper action in the event of the last shot failing.
This finger or
lathe 9, and on
A second improvement relates to the picking motion, and is shown in
Figures 7, Sheet 1, and Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 2; Figure 9 being a front
elevation of the loom, Figure 7 a vertical section at right angles to the front;
and Figure 10 a plan of some of the details. The low shaft 12, moving in
this case at the same speed as the crank shaft 13, is fitted with wipers 14 to
act upon horizontal levers 15, centred at the back of the loom near the floor at
each side, and connected at their front ends to the picking sticks or levers 16.
It is necessary in the present case that two or more picks should take place
from one side, and then two or more from the other alternately; and for this
purpose each horizontal lever 15 is provided with a block 17 fitted to slide
longitudinally upon it, and arranged to receive the stroke of the wiper 14 in
one position, whilst the wiper does not reach or act on the lever when the
sliding block 17 is in the other position. The sliding blocks 17 are moved
into or out of their acting positions by means of a lever 18 extending

page_text: horizontally across the back of the loom, to the opposite ends of which lever
the blocks 17 are connected by links 19. The transverse lever 18 is con-
nected by a link 20 to a lever 21, centred on a bracket on one of the cross
pieces B of the loom framing, and acted upon by a cam 22, shaped and driven
at a rate to correspond to the number of picks to be made continuously from
one side at a time. The lever 21 is kept against the cam 22 by the action of
a spring 23 upon the lever 18.
A third improvement relates to the mechanism for actuating the shifting
shuttle boxes when of the ordinary "dropping" kind, and is illustrated by
Figures 7, 9, and 10, herein-before referred to, Figure 8 being an enlarged
plan of a portion of the details. The dropping of the boxes 24 cell by cell is
effected and regulated by means of a cam or tappet wheel 25 driven at a
speed corresponding to the number of shuttles, that is to say, so as to make
one turn for every complete cycle of the shuttle box movements. In the
present example the cam 25 is fixed upon a short horizontal shaft 26, mounted
in bearings upon the cross pieces B, C, of the loom framing, and the shaft 26
is driven by means of a spur wheel 27 on one end of it, and in gear with a
pinion on the low shaft 12. The edge or acting surface of the cam 25 is
formed with a series of steps, each step corresponding to the dropping of one
box, which act on a lever 28 centred at the back of the loom, and connected
to the shuttle boxes 24. These shuttle boxes 24 are more immediately acted
upon by levers 29 centred upon the inner lathe swords D, and connected at
their inner ends by links 30 to a forked link-piece 31, which has a pin 82
across its bottom ends arranged to work in a slot in a guide-piece 33 fixed
upon the lathe axle or rocking shaft E. Finally, a link 34 connects the
pin 32 to the lever 28. The object of this arrangement, and more particularly
of the guide-piece 33, is to prevent the movement of the lathe from interfering
with the accurate adjustment of the shuttle boxes in their various positions.
The lifting of the shuttle boxes, which has to be effected the entire height at
once, is caused by the action of a separate wiper or cam 35 on the low
shaft 12. This wiper may act on a block arranged to shift longitudinally on
the lever 28, as in the arrangement in connection with the picking levers
herein-before described; it is, however, preferred to fit the lever 28 with a
pulley 36, which is moved into the way of the cam 35 when this cam has to
act on the lever. This pulley 86 is carried on a pin 87 passed through a boss
on the lever 28, and fitted with a spring, which draws it inwards (Figure 8).
The pulley is pushed outwards into the path of the cam 35 by means of a
piece 88 fitted to slide in the cross frame-piece C, and formed with a curved
plate, in contact with which the pin 37 always moves, and the sliding-piece 88

page_text: is acted upon at the proper times by a projection 39 (Figure 10) upon the
side of the
spur wheel 27.
A fourth improvement relates to the actuating of shifting shuttle boxes
when hinged together to form an endless chain, and is illustrated by Figures 2
and 4, Sheet 1, of the Drawings, Figure 4 being a front elevation, and
Figure 2 an edge view of the inner ends of the boxes. The endless chain of
boxes 40 is hung upon a "cylinder" or "barrel" 41, having four sides, and
fitted with four corner pins or teeth 42 at one end. The barrel 41 is mounted
with its outer end journal in a bracket or flying frame 43 fixed upon the lathe,
and with its inner end journal upon a smaller bracket 44 extending inwards
from the bracket or frame 43, so as to leave the inner ends of the shuttle cells
quite clear. A like arrangement is adopted on the other side of the loom,
and the barrels are placed in such positions that the top boxes for the time
being are on a level with the race, it being from one of them that the shuttle
is always thrown. At every pick the barrels are turned a quarter round to
bring a fresh box to the top by means of a booked link 45, which is jointed to
a lever 46 acted upon by a cam 47 on the low shaft 12. The link 45 is
forked, and formed with reversed hooks, and when shifted over it, causes the
barrel 41 to turn in the opposite direction. The position of the link 45 may
be adjusted by hand, or by the jacquard apparatus. The barrel 41 is kept
steady between its changes by a T-piece 48 sliding in the bracket 43, and
acted upon by a spring 49. This arrangement of endless chain shuttle box
with the described details for working it, is on account of its simplicity
well suited for weaving fabrics of the "Paisley shawl" class, wherein the
shuttles require to be brought into action in regular succession, the chains of
boxes being shifted to the extent of one box at each stroke.
A fifth improvement relates to the working of heddles in combination with
harness mechanism in weaving "Paisley shawls" and similar goods, and is
illustrated in Figures 7 and 9, herein-before referred to, and in Figure 3, this
last being an enlarged plan of some of the details. The heddles (50) are
actuated by means of the jacquard mechanism (indicated at 51) to form what
are termed the "pressing," "dumflower," and "small shot" sheds, but to
keep each shed open for the entire run of shuttles, catches are provided, which
retain the heddles in position during the proper periods, such catches being
released again by the action of jacquard tails, whereupon the heddles return
by the action of springs or counterweights. To facilitate the carrying out of
this improvement the heddles 50 are actuated by means of horizontal rods 52
lying upon arms formed upon brackets 58, which are attached to one of the
joists or bearers 54 supporting the jacquard apparatus 51. For four leaves of

page_text: "
heddles there are eight horizontal rods 52, four of them for raising the heddles
being connected to the tops thereof by cords 55 passing over pulleys 56, whilst
cords 57 from the other rods pass down to pulleys 58 at the floor, and return
up to the bottoms of the heddles, and serve to depress them. Each successive
shed is determined by the action of a barrel 59 carried by a pair of brackets 60
attached to the joists 54, this barrel 59 being turned by means of a ratchet
wheel acted upon by a pawl and weighted lever 61, which lever is lifted at
the proper times by a jacquard tail 62. The barrel 59 is fitted with pins
which act on catch pieces 63 jointed to the rods 52, raising up at each step
those requiring to be acted upon for the shed wanted. On the top of the
rods 52 there is moved backwards and forwards by means of the bell-crank
lever 64 a T-piece 65, which meeting with any raised catch-pieces 63 moves
along the corresponding rods 52, and the shed is formed in consequence. In
a modification of weaving routine for which the arrangements being described
are suitable, there are two sheds made by the heddles for every "run of
wefts, one of them immediately before the last weft shot, and the other at the
next or immediately before the first weft shot of the next "run," and this
shed has to remain open whilst all the weft shots are made, excepting the
last one.
The weaver of this kind of fabric will, however, be aware that it
is only the depressed sheds which require to be kept open in the way referred
to. To keep open these sheds there is jointed upon a bracket 66 a lever 67,
formed with a catch plate 68 lying on the tops of those four horizontal rods 52
which depress the heddles, as seen in Figure 3. The four rods 52 are formed
with inclined catch projections 69, which in moving forward lift the catch
lever 67, and the catch plate 68 of this lever falling in behind the catches 69
prevents those rods which may have been moved from returning. Supposing
the shed to be formed and to be kept open by the catch lever 67, the weaving
proceeds until before the last weft shot of the "run," when the jacquard
tail 62 is lifted, the barrel 59 turns to the extent of a tooth in consequence,
and this causes a pin 70 at the back of the barrel to lift the catch lever 67,
and so release the rods 52, these rods returning to their normal positions by
the action of cords 71 passing over pulleys to counterweights 72. These
cords pass through a hole board 73, and are knotted to prevent the counter-
weights from drawing any of the rods 52 too far over. The barrel 59 is
represented as arranged for a cycle of sixteen sheds corresponding to eight
runs "of weft shots.
66
A sixth improvement relates to the jacquard apparatus, and is illustrated by
Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1, of the Drawings, these Figures being end and face
views of the jacquard card barrel or "cylinder." The improvement consists

page_text: in providing a small drum or pulley 74 on the barrel or cylinder 75, or fast
on the spindle thereof, round which drum 74 there is passed an endless
chain 76, for the purpose of turning the cards backwards or forwards when
they require adjusting. A second cord (not shown) passing over a pulley
is connected to the turning catches to take these out of gear when adjusting
the cards. By these means the adjustment may be effected with facility
from below, and without having to mount to the top of the loom.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described and delineated, but that what I
believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The applying to power looms having changing shuttles and weft forks at
both sides of contrivances and details for confining the weft fork action to the
last shot thrown, substantially such as are herein-before described.
2. The arranging or constructing of picking motion details for picking a
regular predetermined number of shots alternately from opposite sides, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
3. The arranging or constructing of shifting shuttle box mechanism for the
regular action of dropping box by box, and raising them all at once, sub-
tantially as herein-before described.
4. The arranging or mounting and actuating of endless chain shuttle boxes,
substantially in the manner herein-before described.
5. The arranging and working of heddle details in connection with jacquard
apparatus, substantially as herein-before described.
6. The applying to jacquard apparatus of a barrel and endless chain for
adjusting the cards from below, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Crichton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ALEXANDER CRICHTON. (L.S.)
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.