IMPROVE- MENTS IN WEAVING BY JACQUARD LOOMS BY POWER
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WATSON, of Glasgow, Manager to Messieurs Gilmour and Kerr, Power Loom
Cloth Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-first day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, in the tenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Watson, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Watson,
my exors, adññors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Watson,
my exors, adñiors, or 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WEAVING BY JACQUARD LOOMS BY POWER;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said John Watson, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, 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 Watson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following Statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of improvements in the mounting of power looms,
and in the application of additional apparatus thereto, whereby certain varieties
of pattern fabrics not hitherto produced in looms of that kind may be econo-
mically made. And in order that these improvements may be fully understood
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe them in reference to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, in the various Figures of which the same
letters are used to indicate the same parts wherever they occur.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet I. Of this Sheet Figure 1 is a front view of the loom, showing its
connection with the Jacquard machine, also a front view of the apparatus for
disengaging the connection of that machine when required, together with the
cam barrel and levers for working the heddles in connection with the harness.
Figure 2 shows an end view of the loom with the cam and lever for working
the Jacquard machine, the supports for the "stenting rollers," and other
parts.
Sheet II. In this Sheet, Figure 3 is a ground plan of the entire loom, of
which Figure 4 is a general section. Figure 5 is a side and end view of the
disengaging apparatus detached.
Sheet III. In this Sheet, Figure 6 is a front view of the loom, in which
are shown the shuttle box of the lay, and the details of the apparatus for
working it. Figure 7 is an end elevation of the same.
Sheet IV. Figure 8 in this Sheet represents an elevation of the loom, as
seen from the back. Figure 9 is a general section shewing the internal
arrangement of the levers for working the shuttle box, &c. Figure 10 is a
ground plan. Figure 11 is a vertical section through the shuttle box,
showing the gearing by which it is shifted. Figure 12 exhibits the details of
the weft protector detached.
The main frame of the loom marked A is similar to that of other power
looms in common use. The motive power is communicated to the working
parts in the usual manner by a band from a drum on one of the leading shafts

page_text: 66
of the factory passing to the pulleys B, B, one of which is fast and the other
loose upon their common axis (a), as in other power looms. The reciprocating
motion of the lay is derived from two cranks on the pulley shaft (a) by means
of two connecting rods C, C, attached by pin joints to the lay swords D, D.
On one extremity of the shaft (a) is fixed a wheel E, which is in gear with
the wheel F on the corresponding extremity of the second shaft (b). The
ratio of the wheels E and F is as 1 to 2, so that the shaft (6) makes exactly
one revolution for every two picks or shots thrown. On the same shaft (b) is
fixed the cam or wyper G which works the Jacquard treadle H of the loom
when employed in producing fabrics requiring the use of that apparatus.
The motion of the cam G is transferred to the Jacquard lever I, which commu-
nicates with the treadle H by means of the small rod (c), and is supported by
a stud on a bracket J, attached in any convenient manner over the loom. The
action of these last-mentioned parts is as follows:-When the cam G revolves it
depresses the treadle H, and consequently the end of the lever I to which it is
attached by the rod (c). This action necessarily raises the opposite end of the
lever I in connection with the Jacquard machine, but immediately on the
treadle H being depressed by the cam it is brought under the control of the
disengaging apparatus," to be hereafter described, and which keeps it down,
and consequently causes the Jacquard lever to maintain its elevated position
until the required number of picks or shots pertaining to the card of the
machine at the time being passed is thrown, when the treadle rises, and the
cam G comes again into action. The treadle H is made to project in front of
the loom to enable the weaver to turn back the cards of the Jacquard
machine when any derangement takes place, and it is required to open out
any number of picks. By this arrangement the weaver avoids the incon-
venience of working the loom empty, that is, without weft, for the purpose of
bring the proper card into position. The conditions necessary to be observed
in forming the cam G are as follows:-First, the part of the periphery which
comes first into contact with the treadle H ought to have a curvature of large
radius so as to cause the Jacquard lever I to commence its rise slowly, and
gradually accelerate its motion until it has attained half the required elevation,
when its motion ought gradually to decrease until it has risen to the highest
point of elevation necessary. By thus regulating the motion of the lever any
undue vibration of the leads of the harness is avoided during their rise, and
the cards are less liable to be deranged on the barrel of the Jacquard machine.
When the lever has remained up during the time requisite, it is again slowly
lowered by the action of the cam becoming gradually less, until it finally
ceases to act upon the treadle H, in consequence of the hollow portion of its

page_text: perephery being brought opposite to the point of contact with the treadle.
The succeeding lift is regulated in the same manner as above described. To
regulate the number of shots or picks on the cards of the Jacquard machine,
the following arrangement is adopted :-A small pinion (a), on the shaft (6)
gives motion to the wheel (e), formed with a hollow projecting boss on which is
fixed a change pinion (f),.geering, with the wheel (9), carrying one, two, three,
or more small studs, as the pattern may require. On these.studs are carried
the small friction pulleys (h, h...) which coming round on the under side act
on the lever (i), causing one extremity. of. it to descend. In this extremity is
a hole through which a cord is made fast, and which communicates with the
bell crank lever j. The purpose of this is to keep the treadle H depressed when
the cam G has acted, upon it; and again, when the lever (i). is. pressed
down, it necessarily pulls the. cord. attached to the bell crank lever, . and
takes this out of contact with the treadle H, at the instant the cam G
begins to act upon it, thereby letting down the needles of the Jacquard
machine with the same kind, of gradual motion as they were raised. When
the machine is ready to take another lift, the small spring. (k).by contracting
pulls the bell crank lever (j) into.contact, with the treadle H, and the.action
proceeds as before described. ....
The mode of working the heddles may be., understood from the following
description in reference to the Drawings:A.shaft carrying a series of cam
plates (marked L) is driven from.. the. shaft (b) by a bevil pinion.(l) geering
with the bevil wheel (m). The ratio, of this. pair of wheels is properly
adjusted to the tweel which is required to be put, upon, the cloth at the
time worked. The cams are so formed and set in relation to each other that
the heddle leaves all, stand steadily in one position, except. the,two leaves in
action at the particular time...The. projection marked 1,on the cams is for
sinking the heddle leaves, and, that marked 2 is for raising them, while the
circular parts marked 8 are for keeping those leaves steady, which; are out of
action. These cams are so pitched or set. as to work in unison with:each
other and with the Jacquard machine and the lay,D', while the loom is, in
action. When the point 1 comes round to the part of the treadle at 4, it
causes the treadle (u) to descend at the point, and the cord marked 5 being
attached to the extremity of the treadle (u), and also to the heddles (marked
o), it makes the shed downwards; and the treadle (u') being acted upon
simultaneously with the treadle (u), and the cords marked 6 being attached
to the contiguous extremities of the upper levers (p), these extremities are
depressed by the action of the cords when pulled; but the levers being sus-
pended on an axis at or near the middle of their length, the depression at one

page_text: end is necessarily accompanied by the corresponding elevation of the contrary
end, which being attached by cords to the heddle leaves, the effect is to
cause those acted upon the shed upwards, and the other heddles being con-
nected in the same manner the cams to which they are respectively related
retain them in a middle position, neither up nor down, until by the motion of
the common axis of the cam barrel L they are brought into action, and those
previously engaged thrown idle. This arrangement of parts, and the motions
above described, are principally adapted to working two, three, four, five, or
six thread harness, more or less, 'as may be required, and can be applied to
work four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten heddle leaves, and the advantage
of it is that the cams keep the idle leaves steady when the others are shedding.
The tweeling cams may be formed of simple plates cut to the required shape,
or they may be formed with loose marginal pieces made to fit upon permanent
centres. They may also be formed with rollers at the projections marked
1 and 2. The stenting rollers (9), shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, are carried
in bearings acted upon by springs, to allow the yarn to yield, yet remain tight
when the heddles or harness is acting, without subjecting it to unnecessary
strain, which it would be were no such provision made for its stretch when the
heddles are shedding. There is one of these rollers for every leaf in the set of
heddles employed, and the springs marked (r) are so adjusted in tension as to
keep the yarn at the degree of tightness required for putting on the requisite
number of shots or picks on a given length of the warp yarn. In the Figures
referred to above the arrangement of parts is adapted to a five-leaved 'set of
heddles, but may be extended to any number, more or less, as may be required
for the particular kind of fabric to be woven; the yarn passing through the
eyes of the heddles of any particular leaf passes over one of the rollers, and
that particular roller yields to the yarn when the leaf of heddles through
which it passes is forming a shed, producing a similar effect as if the yarn
were elastic in itself. The brackets (s) carrying the rollers and springs are
fixed on the two side frames of the loom in any convenient manner. The
yarn beam M, the pace pulleys (t), the pace' weights N, the picking treadle
O; the picking stick P, are similar and similarly applied as in other power
looms.
I will now describe the selvage protector, the use of which is to prevent the
warp yarn from being broken by the weft shot drawing it too tightly. The
small pins (u) at each side of the web work up and down alternately, each
being down to the shot on that side from which the shuttle is thrown. The
two cams (v) on the shaft (b), (see Figures 8, 9, and 10;) are formed with
recesses to allow the levers (w) to fall. These last áré fixed in brackets at the

page_text: back rail of the room, and the small pulleys marked 6 in the levers (w) lift
the levers (a) which are suspended on axes at (y), so that when the
recesses in the cams successively come round, they allow the pins (u) to full
into position at the selvage, taking hold of the selvage threads, and the weft
of the successive picks turns upon them, thus preventing all unnecessary
strain on the selvage yarn. The cams are so made and set in relation to the
movements of the loom that whenever the shuttle is in the box of the lay at
the contrary side, the pins (u) rise out of contact with the yarn, and move
slightly back to allow the lay to drive up the weft shot to the fell of the cloth
without touching the pins.
I will now describe the apparatus for working the shuttle box Q, when
three or more shuttels are employed for the purpose of putting in different
kinds of weft into the web. The Drawings marked Sheets III. and IV. shew
an arrangement for six sluttels, and the mechanism is so constructed and
adapted that any number of shots of one kind of weft from two upwards may
be thrown in any order whatever of the shuttels answering to the particular
pattern to be woven. When the box Q is to be shifted to change the shuttle,
one-of the cords marked 7 attached to a spring marked 8 is pulled up by the
Jacquard machine, and this cord being attached to one of the bell crank
levers (2), provided with a toothed segment at one extremity, makes the
small tumbler (a¹) to rise in its place in the lever or treadle R, and this
tumbler (a) being moveable on a centre in the treadle, when the cam S on
the shaft (6) comes round, and depresses the treadle, the two chains at its
extremity are so adjusted as to act upon the pulleys (¹) to which they are
attached on the rod T. On this rod are also two wheels (c¹, c',) geering with
the racks (d', d) see Figure 11, which cause the box to shift to the position
required. Immediately on this being effected the cam S passes over the
tumbler (a) and touching the bell crank (z), throws it back, thereby causing
the tumbler to fall into its place in the lever R, and so on for every subsequent
shift of the shuttle box. Every shuttle has its own lever, tumbler, and pulley,
and the cam S making one revolution for every two shots thrown, it is always
ready to shift the box Q to whatever position Jacqueer's machine shall indicate.
To this end the pattern must previously be all completely arranged upon the
cards of the Jacquard machine. The shaft T is supported in bearing attached
to the swords of the lay, and therefore partakes of their reciprocating motion.
I wish it also to be observed that the treadles or levers being each attached
by two chains, one on each side of the pulley (61) of that treadle, they can
every one act independently of the others. That the box Q may shift freely,
the cam U on the shaft (b) is so pitched as to allow the small pulleys marked

page_text: When the box has been
full side to the pulley and
9 to come out of the notches in the racks (d, d¹).
shifted to its proper position, the cam U turns its
the lever W, and pulling the connecting rod (e), which is flexibly attached to
the small horizontal lever (ƒ³) at the bottom of the lay sword, it causes the
upright lever (g'), centred on or near the middle of its length, to act upon
the spiral spring (h), which, pulling the frame carrying the small pulleys
marked 9 into the notches of the racks (d', d¹), holds the box firmly in its
proper place until the instant for shifting again arrives. The reason for
having all the levers working at the rocking tree shaft X is, that at that
point there is the least motion of the lay. The weight of the shuttle box is
.counterpoised by the weight Y, to render it more easily shifted. The weight
is suspended by a cord or chain from the top of the box passing over the
pully Z; and to prevent the motion of the lay from communicating to it a
swinging motion, it is controlled by a small guide rod attached to the con-
tiguous sword of the lay. The protecting rod (¹), shewn at the back of the
lay in Figure 8, is similar to that in other power looms.
:
I will now describe the mode of stopping the loom when it happens from
any cause during its working that the shuttle driver is not taken back to its
proper position, it being understood that the driver or picker (k¹) ought
always to be back when the box is shifted, to touch the small curved lever
(3) shewn in front of the shuttle box Q, and send that end of it back also.
The effect of this is to raise the other end of the lever, and consequently the
lifter (1), clear of the frog; but when any derangement occurs to prevent the
driver from getting back, the lifter is not raised, but striking on the frog or
moveable catch (m³), this last is brought into action upon the upright lever
(n), and pushing it forward transfers the motion along the rod A¹ in front of
the loom to the opposite end, at which is the lever (0¹) connected with the
handle B' for stopping the loom. To secure the correct shifting of the shuttle
box before picking the first shot of the shuttle shifted to an apparatus called
the protector is provided, the character and action of which may be understood
froin the following description with reference to the Drawings. The small
pulleys marked 9 on the brackets V enter the notches of the racks (d', d³),
when the box Qis in its proper position, and the bracket V pressing on one
end of the lever (p¹) at the back of the shuttle box causes the other end to
press on the rod descending from the back tongue of the protector, and lifts it
over the notch of the frog (m³) (see Figure 7); but if not lifted the tongue
() strikes the frog when the lay is going back, and a pin in the frog pushes
the lever (9) back, and this being in connection with the lever (n') and the
rod or shaft (A', pulls the handle B₁, and stops the loom.

page_text: .
The weft protector, which I now proceed to describe, is similar to that in
common use on the side of the loom contiguous to the driving pulleys B, B;
but it is also applied at the side of this loom where the shifting shuttle box is
situated, to allow of the loom being stopped whenever any of the weft shots fail.
To accomplish this, I employ an apparatus of the kind depicted in the Drawings,
and which may be understood from the following description:-A frame (r¹) is
.fixed to the sword of the lay on that side at which the protector is to be applied,
and in this frame is a lever (s) carrying a small fork at its extremity.for lifting
the weft of the idle shuttles out of the way of the weft stopper forks (t¹). The
lever (S¹). is lifted by a wyper or cam C¹, on the shaft (b), and allows the
shuttle to pass below it from the single side of, the lay. After it has passed
into the box Q.the wyper E¹ acts upon the hanging lever (v), which. pulls the
lever. (w) hung upon the .frame (r) or sword of the lay. This lever is
provided with. a friction-pulley, and.. being pulled back idisengages the small
wires holding up the threads of weft, and allows them to fall to; the race of the
lay, when the wiper C¹ acting. upon the lever (¹): allows the lever (S¹) to fall
to the bottom of the slit. provided for it in the race of the lay. This done,
the wyper E allows the spring or weight (a) to pull the lever (s¹) with its
fork under the weft slots, when the shuttle, has, passed to. the. single side of
the lay, and thus lifts all the weft shots, by the wyper. C acting on the lever
(u'), as before described. When the weft of any shuttle is run out or breaks,
the fork (¹) is not lifted, and, the arm F on the shaft (6) acts in consequence
upon the.lever (y'), and thereby. communicates, motion to the; hauling catch
(2), which pulling the lever G pushes forward-the upright lever (n¹), and this
acting upon the handle. of the, loom stops it, in the same manner as the other
protectors before,described..
1
: '
.Having thus described the nature of my, Invention, and the means employed
by me for, carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself, to. the details shewn and described, so long as the peculiar
character of any part or parts of my Invention is retained. But what I
claim is,
2.
fo' "
1.
*
Firstly, the particular shape or form of the, cam or wyper G on the shaft
(6) for working the Jacquard machine. i ...
4.
Secondly, the form and position of the treadle H, whereby it is made to
project in front of the, loom, for the purpose of enabling. the weaver to work
the Jacquard machine independently of the loom.
"
Thirdly, the peculiar, apparatus for disengaging, the Jacquard machine.
Fourthly, the application, of a series of cams or other like, mechanisin .for
steadying the idle beddle leaves when the other leaves are working or in action.

page_text: Fifthly, the application of what I have called stenting rollers for keeping
the yarn at proper tension, at the same time that it is allowed to yield to the
working heddle leaves.
Sixthly, the apparatus depicted and described under the name of the
selvage protector.
Seventhly, the mode of working the shuttle box when three or more
shuttles are employed.
Eightbly, the mode of applying apparatus to stop the loom from the double
box side of the lay when the weft fails.
Ninthly, the mode of stopping the loom when the shuttle driver is not taken
sufficiently back. And,
Tenthly, the mode of stopping the loom when the shuttle box is not properly
shifted.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Watson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeeth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-seven.
JOHN (L.s.) WATSON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventeenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid John Watson came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci-
fication 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.
Enrolled the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord One