IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leeming, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 12th March 1858, and dated the 12th September 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Leeming at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
September 1857.
I, JAMES LEEMING, of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to looms for weaving plaids, checks, figures, &c., or
such other fabrics as require a change of shuttles for the introduction of
different colors of weft at certain determinate times or "picks" according to the
pattern of fabric to be produced. Various means have heretofore been employed
in order to effect this change of weft, and Letters Patent for one method were
obtained by John Carter Ramsden, dated 28th November 1853, N° 2771,
which consists in a mode of arranging and working rotary shuttle boxes, and
in the use of a pattern wheel for selecting the times, the direction, and the
extent of the changes that the rotary shuttle boxes require to make in order
to produce the pattern required, such pattern wheel being composed of a
series or chain of tappets of different forms or of different lifts, and inter-

page_text: .
mittent motion given thereto by means of a "star wheel" and stud plate
actuated by the crank shaft of the loom. The changes produced by this
method depend upon the number and difference in form or lift of the tappets
in the chain, and in order to produce any given number of "picks" or shoots
of weft of any one color it is necessary to have a corresponding number of
tappets in succession, of the form suitable, and which for some patterns or
designs of fabrics several hundreds of such appets are required in the chain
or pattern wheel, rendering the cost of such apparatus great, and the looms
cumbrous and difficult to manage. My improvements consist in a means or
method of dispensing with a great many of these tappets by throwing the stud
wheel in and out of gear with the star wheel when more than two picks of any
one color is required, which I effect by the application of a spring and a face
plate or wheel, with a spiral groove in the face thereof, in which I fix studs
at proper distances according to the number of picks required to be made of
any one color in succession, the said face plate or spiral grooved wheel
receiving continuous motion from the tappet or picking shaft by a worm and
wheel, or other suitable driving means; and as the wheel rotates the studs
come in contact with a projection on a lever and connecting rod, which operate
upon the stud wheel throwing it into gear with the star wheel, thus effecting
a change of shuttle, and by aid of the spring the stud wheel is forced out of
gear with the star wheel as soon as the stud on the face plate has passed the
point of contact on the lever, where it remains until another stud on the face
plate comes in contact with the lover, when another change is made, and so
on until the whole figure or series of changes have been made. Another stud
on the said face plate forces the projection out of the groove, when it drops
to the commencement of the groove and the figure is repeated. By this means
or contrivance I am enabled to arrange for any pattern required without the
use of a large number of duplicate tappets, and consequently I reduce the first
cost considerably; and also the cost of wear and tear in apparatus.
Although I have only sliewn these improvements as applicable to the
rotating shuttle boxes as arranged by John Carter Ramsden, they are also
applicable to other change boxes, whether circulating, oscillating, reciprocating,
or rising and falling.
. I also arrange the worm shaft which drives the face plate or spiral wheel
so that I can readily move it out of gear therewith, whereby I am enabled to
turn the said spiral wheel back if a thread breaks, or for any other purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed:
by the said James Leeming in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEEMING, of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Leeming, Her special licence that I, the said James Leeming,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Leeming, 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," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Lec-
ming, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particu-
larly 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 James Leeming, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say): -
This Invention relates to looms for weaving plaids, checks, figures, &c.,
or such other fabrics as require a change of shuttles for the introduction of
different colors of weft at certain determinate times, or "picks," according to
the pattern of fabric to be produced. Various means have heretofore been
employed in order to effect this change of weft, and Letters Patent to effect
such purpose were obtained by John Carter Ramsden, dated respectively
30th March 1853, No. 765, 28th November 1858, No. 2771, and December
1st, 1856, No. 2844, which (amongst other things) consists of a mode or
modes of arranging and working rotary shuttle boxes, and in the use of a
pattern wheel for selecting the times, the direction, and the extent of the
changes that the rotary shuttle boxes require to make in order to produce the
pattern required. And also the employment of a pattern wheel composed

page_text: of a series or chain of tappets of different forms, or of different lifts, and inter-
mittent motion given thereto by means of a star wheel and stud plate actuated
by the crank shaft of the loom. The changes produced by this latter method
depend upon the number and difference in form or lift of the tappets in the
chain, and in order to produce any given number of "picks" or shoots of weft
of any one color, it is necessary to have a corresponding number of tappets
in succession of the form suitable, and which for some patterns or designs of
fabric several hundreds of such tappets are required in the chain or pattern
wheel, rendering the cost of such apparatus great, and the looms cumbrous
and difficult to manage. My improvements consist in a means or method of
dispensing with a great number of these tappets by throwing the stud wheel
in and out of gear with the star wheel, when more than two picks of any one
color is required, which I effect by the application of a spring and a face plate,
or wheel with a spiral groove in the face thereof, in which I fix studs at proper
distances according to the number of picks required to be made of any one
color in succession, the said face plate or spiral grooved wheel receiving con-
tinuous motion from the tappet or picking shaft by a worm and wheel or other
suitable driving means, and as the wheel rotates the studs come in contact
with a projection on a lever and connecting rod, which operate upon the stud
wheel throwing it into gear with the star wheel, thus effecting a change of
shuttle, and by aid of the spring the stud wheel is forced out of gear with the
star wheel as soon as the stud on the face plate has passed the point of con-
tact on the lever, where it remains until another stud on the face plate comes
in contact with the lever, when another change is made, and so on until the
whole figure or series of changes have been made, another stud on the said
face plate forces the projection out of the groove, when it drops to the com-
mencement of the groove and the figure is repeated. By this means or
contrivance I am enabled. to arrange for any pattern required without the
use of a large number of duplicate tappets, and consequently I reduce the first
cost considerably, and also the cost of wear and tear in apparatus. Although
I have only shewn these improvements as applicable to the rotating shuttle
boxes as arranged by John Carter Ramsden, they are also applicable to other
change boxes, whether circulating, oscillating, reciprocating, or rising and
falling. I also arrange the worm shaft which drives the face plate or spiral
wheel so that I can readily move it out of gear, whereby I am enabled
to turn the said spiral wheel back if a thread breaks, or for any other
purpose.
The manner in which my said Invention is to be performed will be clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings, with

page_text: the letters and figures of reference thereon, in which Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a front
elevation of an ordinary loom, having rotary or revolving shuttle boxes with
my improvements attached, and shewing the way I work the said boxes or
effect the change of shuttles according to the pattern required. Figs. 2 and 3
are the two opposite end elevations of the same, similar letters representing
the same parts in each Figure.
A represents the general framework of the loom; B, the "slay board" of
the lathe or "going part;" C, a set of six rotary or revolving shuttle boxes
attached or connected to the end of the slay board, as heretofore; D is the stud
wheel, which is capable of sliding on the stud when required, yet prevented
or kept in place by the spiral spring E, and receives continuous motion
from the crank shaft of the loom; F is the star wheel, which has inter-
mittent motion communicated to it by pins on the stud wheel; G represents a
series or chain of tappets of different relative sizes or lifts, carried by the
pulley F connected to the star wheel; H, a lever with a pulley resting upon
and actuated or caused to rise by the tappets G when changing from one size
to another, and through the medium of the connecting rod I the weight 1 and
the spring 2 gives an oscillating or up-and-down motion to the arm and toothed
segment J, which gears into and turns the pinion K, which is fixed on a shaft
placed about in a line with the centres of the pivots of the lathe or "going
part." On the said shaft is a chain wheel by means of which and the chain L
the shuttle boxes are caused to rotate or turn upon their axis backwards or
forwards, to such an extent that the position of one box is changed for that of
another, according to the variation in relative size of the tappet that operates
on the lever H. Thus, if there are six different sizes of tappets in the chain,
each tappet is made to represent and govern its own box, so that if the chain
of tappets are arranged to follow in progressive order as 1, 2, 3, &c. in their
relative size, then the boxes will change in the same consecutive order accord-
ingly; but if the chain of tappets are arranged as 1, 3, 6, &c., or in any other
order, the boxes will be changed in like manner, skipping from 1 to 3 and
3 to 6, &c.
And in order that any given number of picks in succession may be made
of any one color of weft, I have so arranged the stud wheel which drives or
turns the star wheel and tappets, that it is kept out of gear therewith by
the spring E at all times except when a change in the boxes is desired to be
made. To accomplish which change I have a "scroll plate" or a plate wheel
formed with a spiral groove on its side M, which is driven or caused to rotate
slowly upon its axis by means of the shaft and worm N, which receives motion
from the picking shaft and turns the wheel O, which is keyed on the same

page_text: shaft that carries the scroll plate. The said scroll plate is divided into equal
divisions in its circumference or circumvolution of the spiral groove, each
division representing a double pick. Holes are provided to receive studs or
projections a, which are arranged in the order the changes of weft are required
to be made, each stud capable of producing a change of shuttle. P is a lever
jointed to the framing at one end; a stud b is fixed to the said lever, which fits
into and slides in the spiral groove as the scroll plate turns round upon its
axis. A rod Q connects the said lever to another lever R, which is attached
to the framing by a joint or fulcrum c, to the top end of which lever is a pin S
jointed thereto, which is capable of sliding through a hole in the framing and
operating against the boss of the stud wheel D. It will be perceived, that as
the scroll plate turns on its axis, and when a stud or projection in the groove
comes in contact with the stud or projection on the lever P, the lever will be
forced outward, drawing or pulling the rod Q, which operates on the lever R
and pin.S, pushing the stud wheel into gear with the star wheel, which makes
such change of the shuttle boxes as the tappets are arranged to produce.
The shaft and worm N can be readily removed out of gear with the worm
wheel by the lever f, as will be seen by reference to the Drawings, Figs. 1
and 3, whereby the scroll plate can be turned backward or forward when
desirable to do so..
Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet 2, are elevation and section in detail of the scroll
plate, about half the full size, with portions of the shaft and worm N, whee! O,
and lever P, intended to explain the particular construction and adaptation
thereof; and Fig. 6 is a section of a portion of the scroll plate with the lever
P, studs or projections a and b, intended to shew the action thereof. It will
be seen that as the scroll plate turns upon its axis or moves in the direction
of the arrow the stud a will come in contact with the stud b on the lever P,
which will be forced out or from the scroll plate by the one stud sliding up
or over the other (each being formed with an incline for that purpose) acting
upon the lever R, and thus throwing the stud wheel into gear with the star
wheel; and when the studs a and b have passed the point of contact the lever
P will be drawn.in again by the action of the spiral spring E, forcing back the
stud wheel, &c. to their original position; the scroll plate will then travel for-
ward until another stud in the plate comes in contact in like manner with the
stud on the lever, when the action will be repeated and a change of shuttles
.made. It will also be observed that the stud b will not leave the groove on
the scroll plate when passing the stud a, because the stud does not protrude
or project the full depth of the groove; but when it is desired or arranged
that the figure shall be repeated, a stud is introduced at the proper place in

page_text: the groove of the scroM plate of the full depth of the groove, as a', 'Fig. 6,
which will push the studentirely out of the groove, when the lever P by its
own weight will drop to the proper point or place where the stud 6 will enter
the groove again at the commencement of the figure, which point or place in
the groove is provided for by the adjustable stop plate T, screwed on the lever
P, and which drops to and rests on the boss of the scroll plate; and in order
to prevent the stud from entering any other part of the groove in its descent
before it reaches the proper place, a stud U is fixed on the lever P with a
pulley, which acts against the side of a spring V in its ascent; but when the
lever P is forced outward by the stud a', the pulley is drawn off the edge of
the said spring, which spring keeps the stud b out of the groove until it
arrives at the desired place, this spring V being capable of adjustment to the
proper place or drop of the lever P.
Fig. 7, in Sheet 3, is an elevation of the stud wheel. D, partly in section,
and of the star wheel F with tho pulley F¹ for carrying the chain of tappets;
drawn on a scale of about half the full size; Fig. 8 is a plan of the same, with
the spiral spring E; Figs. 9 and 10 are also elevations of the stud wheel, with
part of the framework of the loom A, and the lever R with the pin S for
acting on the stud wheel, and a portion of the rod Q which connects the same
with the lever P. W is a portion of the "picking shaft" with a tappet d,
which acts on the levers X and X' (when the pulley E is pushed forward by
the lever Y, which is actuated by the lever R) for easing the pressure or
removing the holder Z from contact with the adjusting wheel Z', which is fixed
on the spindle of the rotary shuttle boxes only at the time when the change
is to be made.
Fig. 11 is an illustration of a chain of tappets mounted on their pulley F¹,
drawn full size; and Fig. 12 shews the manner of connecting them with pins,
the ends of which are formed to rest in the notches of the pulley F¹ for carry-
ing the chain forward. By the use of this scroll plate or spiral grooved wheel
and apparatus in connection therewith, it will be readily perceived that a great
number of duplicate tappets can be dispensed with, as the star wheel is only
moved when a change of shuttles is required to be made, and an almost un-
limited extent of figure or pattern produced, as the scroll plate may be made
to any convenient size, and with a greater number of coils or circumvolutions
of the spiral groove than are herein set forth.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would have it distinctly
understood that I do not claim the use of rotary shuttle boxes, nor the means
or method of working them by a star wheel and a series or chain of tappets

page_text: with levers and segment wheel, pinion and chain, except when combined with
the apparatus as herein set forth, nor do I confine myself to the precise details
of arrangement, as such may be varied or modified without departing from
the main feature of my Invention; but what I claim and believe to be new is,
the scroll plate or spiral grooved wheel with adjustable projections, together
with the arrangement and combination of machinery or apparatus for actuating
the change of shuttle boxes in looms for weaving, whether the motion thereof
be rotary, oscillating, reciprocating, or rising and falling, as such scroll plate
and apparatus are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying three
Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Leeming, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the within-
named James Leeming, in the presence
of
JAMES LEEMING. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the within-
named James Leeming, in the presence
of
WM TASKER, Patent Agent,
Halifax.
JAMES LEEMING. (L.S.)