IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Kirkwood, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Kirkwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
February 1862.
I, JAMES KIRKWOOD, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Baitain,.
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention comprises various improvements in looms for weaving,.
designed principally to facilitate and cheapen the production of figured fabrics.
of and similar to the "Paisley shawl" class.
The improvements' are contrived to permit of the application of steam or
other mechanical power, and in one modification of loom embodying them are
combined with jacquard pattern mechanism of the single lift class. This
jacquard mechanism acts on the warps by means of the ordinary harness
mounting and a set of heddles; it is also made to regulate or determine and.
to effect the change of the shifting shuttle boxes, and at the same time to
regulate or determine the picking movements and the action of the weft fork
mechanism. The shuttle boxes may be arranged for various numbers of

page_text: shuttles, and for shifting to the extent of either one or more boxes at a
time.
gear
is
When arranged for shifting one box at a time, each shifting box has fixed to
its back a kind of single or double ratchet rack, with the inclined teeth pitched
at the distance of two boxes in depth, and with this rack there are arranged
to gear two spring catches centred on the lathe frame in such positions that
when one catch is in gear. with a rack tooth the other catch is half way
between two teeth. When a downward shift is required the catch in
moved back and the shifting box falls by its weight, or is otherwise shifted
into gear with the other catch. The catches are connected to or acted upon
by levers carried in such a way as on the lathe moving forward to be brought
against an obstructing piece, which piece causes one or the other catch to be
moved, accordingly as it-is placed in the path of one lever or the other by one
of the jacquard tails, or the catches may be actuated by jacquard tails con-
nected directly to them. The shifting shuttle box is lifted, when required, by
means of a lever acted upon by a special jacquard tail, and in rising the rack
forces back one catch and allows the other to fall into gear and support the
shuttle box. To provide for shifting two or more boxes at a time three or
more catches are required, and the rack must be differently pitched to corre-
spond. The shifting boxes on both sides of the lathe are of course arranged
to shift simultaneously.
The usual mechanism for stopping the loom when the shuttle does not
properly reach its cell in the shuttle box is modified to suit the improved
arrangements, the back of each cell being fitted with a lever, which is moved
outwards by the shuttle when properly home, and which acts on a lever carried
by the lathe, which last lever would otherwise cause the stoppage of the loom,
as is well understood. To prevent the pressure of this lever on the shuttle
box from obstructing the easy shifting of the shuttle box, an inclined piece is
fixed on the loom framing in such a position as on the lathe moving forward
to move the lever free from the shuttle box at the time when the same may
have to be shifted.
.
The picking motion is contrived so that the picking can be effected twice or
oftener in succession from the same side, and in the arrangement preferred for
this purpose the picking sticks or levers project upwards from centres near
the axis of the lathe, and are actuated by side levers, capable of being depressed
by cams, projections, or pulleys on the low shaft or on the crank shaft of the
loom, the former, when used, going at the same speed as the latter. The part
acted upon to produce the motion of each side lever is a movable piece capable
of being shifted sideways or transversely so as not to be acted upon. The

page_text: movable pieces of the opposite side levers are connected together and are
moved by a jacquard tail or tails as required, one being in gear when the
other is out of gear. The jacquard tail by which the picking movements are
thus determined is also made to suspend the action of the weft fork on either
side when, from the order of throwing the shuttles, no thread. can lie in its
way to prevent its stopping the loom.
According to another plan the weft. fork or forks may be. prevented from
causing the stoppage of the loom unnecessarily by making the piece or pieces
which cause the stoppage (by the fork or forks coming in contact therewith).
movable and capable of being shifted. by the stroke of the picking stick and
driver, so that the action of throwing the shuttle from either side will, as it
were, throw the fork out of gear at that side. For this purpose sliding pieces
are mounted on the driver spindles, and are connected together and to the fork.
piece or pieces by a wire or rod crossing the loom, and these sliding pieces are.
in consequence shifted from one side to the other, accordingly as the pick is in
one direction or the other. A shuttle guard is suspended in front of the reed,
consisting of a bar fitted with points projecting downwards, and which, when
the shuttle is obstructed in going across, prevents it from flying out of the.
loom. This guard may be made to rise on the beat-up taking place, so as to
leave the shuttle at the fell. The jacquard apparatus is strengthened, where.
necessary, to enable it to actuate the heddles, the shifting shuttle boxes, and.
the picking-motion details, the corresponding tails being made of strong wire,
and the lifting board: being formed of or defended by a metallic. plate at the
parts acting thereon.
Various kinds of jacquard apparatus. may obviously. be adapted. to- the
purposes of the present Invention, and the arrangement and construction of
the various details may be considerably modified without departing from the.
modes of action forming the object of the present improvements...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Pätent; filed
by the said James Kirkwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
KIRKWOOD, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Manufac-
turer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of February, in the year of ou

page_text: Lerd One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Kirkwood, Her special licence that I, the said James
Kirkwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the-
said James Kirkwood, 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 "IM-
PROVENENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition, amongst others, that
I, the said James Kirkwood, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Kirkwood, 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 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,
designed principally to facilitate and cheapen the production of figured fabrics:
of and similar to the "Paisley shawl" class.
The improvements are contrived to permit of the application of steam or
other mechanical power, and in one modification of loom embodying them are
combined with jacquard pattern mechanism of. the single lift class. This
jacquard mechanism acts on the warps by means of the ordinary harness
mounting and a set of heddles; it is also made to regulate or determine and
to effect the changes of the shifting shuttle boxes, and at the same time to
regulate or determine the picking movements and the action of the weft fork
mechanism. The shuttle boxes may be arranged for various numbers of
shuttles and for shifting to the extent of either one or more shuttles at a
time.
When arranged for shifting one shuttle at a time each shifting box has fixed
to its back a kind of single or double ratchet rack with the inclined teeth
pitched at the distance of two shuttle cells in depth, and with this rack there
are arranged 'to gear two spring catches centred on the lathe frame in such
positions that when one catch is in gear with.a rack tooth the other catch is

page_text: half way between two teeth. When a downward shift is required the catch.in
gear is moved back and the shifting box falls by its weight or is otherwise
shifted into gear with the other catch. The catches are connected to or acted
upon by levers carried in such a way as on the lathe moving forward to be
brought against an obstructing piece, which piece causes one or the other
catch to be moved accordingly as it is placed in the path of one lever or tho
other by one of the jacquard tails, or the catches may be actuated by jacquard
tails connected directly to them. The shifting shuttle box is lifted, when
required, by means of a lever acted upon by a special jacquard tail, and in
rising the rack forces back one catch and allows the other to fall into gear and
support the shuttle box. To provide for shifting to the extent of two or more
shuttle cells at a time three or more catches are required, and the rack must
be differently pitched to correspond. The shifting, boxes on both sides of the
lathe are of course arranged to shift simultaneously.
The usual mechanism for stopping the loom when the shuttle does not
properly reach its cell in the shuttle box is modified to suit the improved
arrangements, the back of each cell being fitted with a lever, which is moved
outwards by the shuttle when properly home, and which acts on a lever carried
by the lathe, which last lever would otherwise cause the stoppage of the loom,
as is well understood. To prevent the pressure of this lever on the shuttle
box from obstructing the easy shifting of the shuttle box an inclined piece is
fixed on the loom framing in such a position as on the lathe moving forward
to move the lever free from the shuttle box at the time when the same may
have to be shifted.
The picking motion is contrived so that the picking can be effected twice or
oftener in succession from the same side, and in the arrangement preferred for
this purpose the picking sticks or levers project upwards from centres near
the axis of the lathe, and are actuated by side levers capable of being depressed
by cams, projections, or pulleys on the low shaft or on the crank shaft of the
loom, the former, when used, going at the same speed as the latter. The part
acted upon to produce the motion of each side lever is a movable piece capable
of being shifted sideways or transversely so as not to be acted upon. The
movable pieces of the opposite side levers are connected together and are
moved by jacquard tail or tails as required, one being in gear when the
other is out of gear. The jacquard tail by which the picking movements are
thus determined is also made to suspend the action of the weft fork on either
side when, from the order of throwing the shuttles, no thread can lie in its
way to prevent its stopping the loom.
1
According to another plan the weft fork or forks may be prevented from

page_text: causing the stoppage of the loom unnecessarily by making the piece or pieces
which cause the stoppage (by the fork or forks coming in contact therewith)
movable and capable of being shifted by the stroke of the picking stick and
driver, so that the action of throwing the shuttle from either side will, as it
were, throw the fork out of gear at that side. For this purpose sliding pieces
are mounted on the driver spindles and are connected together and to the fork
piece or pieces by a wire or rod crossing the loom, and these sliding pieces are
in consequence shifted from one side to the other, accordingly as the pick is in
one direction or the other. A shuttle guard is suspended in front of the reed,
consisting of a bar fitted with points projecting downwards, and which, when
the shuttle is obstructed in going across, prevents it from flying out of the
loom. This guard may be made to rise on the beat-up taking place, so as to
leave the shuttle at the fell. The jacquard apparatus is strengthened, where
necessary, to enable it to actuate the heddles, the shifting shuttle boxes, and
the picking motion details, the corresponding tails being made of strong wire,
and the lifting board being formed of or defended by a metallic plate at the
parts acting thereon.
Various kinds of jacquard apparatus may obviously be adapted to the
purposes of the present Invention, and the arrangement and construction of
the various details may be considerably modified without departing from the
modes of action forming the object of the present improvements.
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, upon which are represented modifications of my
improvements as applied to a power loom designed for weaving Paisley shawls
or similar fabrics, and which I will now proceed to particularly describe,
premising that the same reference letters mark the same or like parts in all
the Figures, and that various well-known parts of the loom are omitted, in
order that the improved details may be more conveniently shown and
explained.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a front elevation, Figure 2 is a side
elevation, and Figure 3 is a plan of a loom embodying the improvements;
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of details within the loom framing, and
Figures 5 and 6 are explanatory views of details herein-after more particularly
referred to.
· Figures 7 to 11, Sheet 2 of the Drawings, represent details for stopping the
the loom, and are herein-after more particularly described. In this example
the shuttle boxes A are formed for six shuttles, and they are arranged to drop
to the extent of a shuttle at a time, the shuttles being used in regular succession,

page_text: commencing with the bottom one, whilst the shuttle boxes are lifted the entire
height at a single movement; this arrangement being required in the class of
weaving for which this modification is designed.
The shuttle boxes A are fitted to slide vertically in the usual way in the
shuttle box frames B, forming the wings of the lathe C, and they are attached
to bars D, which are jointed to levers E, centred on pedestals, and both con-
nected at the middle of the loom to a lever F, centred on a bracket G at the
back of the loom. The lever F is weighted to partly counterbalance the
weight of the shuttle boxes A, but these still retain sufficient weight to make
them drop. Each shuttle box A has fixed to its back a double ratchet rack H,
shown separately in Figure 5, each half of the rack having its teeth or catches
at the distance of two shuttle cells apart, but midway between the teeth of the
other half of the racks. On a rod at the back of the shuttle box frame B
there are jointed two pawls or catches I, acted upon by springs so as to bear
upon the rack H, their points, however, being on a level, only one of them is
engaged at once, the other one being midway between two teeth on its side
of the rack. It will be evident with this arrangement that if the catch in
gear is drawn back, the shuttle box will drop until the other catch engages.
the tooth next above it, but no further, and the distance it so drops will be
just the depth of a shuttle cell. The catches I are linked to levers J, centred
on studs K projecting out from the side frames L of the loom, and the motion of
the lathe causes these levers J to oscillate, the forward motion of the lathe making
their lower ends move backwards, and vice versa. For the purpose of acting
on the levers J, a horizontal rod M is fitted to slide transversely in guides
attached to the side frames L, and has fixed to it at each end a stop piece N,
which by the sliding of the rod can be moved into or out of the path of either
of the catch levers J. When either lever comes in contact with the stop N,
the corresponding catch I is immediately drawn out in consequence of the free
movement of the lever J being obstructed. The dropping of the shuttle boxes
is thus dependent on the movement of the stop rod M, and this rod is worked
by the jacquard mechanism according to the requirements of the pattern being
connected by cords P passing round guide pulleys to two jacquard tails Q.
The jacquard apparatus. is not shown in the Drawing, as it is intended to use
any suitable well-known kind. When the shuttle boxes A have reached their
lowest position they are lifted to their highest position by the action of a
wiper R on the low shaft S of the loom. This low shaft S is driven at the
same speed as the crank shaft (and not at half that speed as in ordinary looms),
and the wiper R acts on a tumbling piece T, jointed upon the lever F, herein-
before described as connected to both shuttle boxes A. A view, looking from

page_text: behind, of a portion of the details connected with the lifting action is given in
Figure 6. The tumbling piece T is drawn by a spring out of the way of the
wiper R, when it is not acted upon by à bent lever U. This bent lever U
is centred on a short arm projecting from the lever F, and is acted upon by a
lever V, also centred on the lever F, but near its back end. The lever V is
acted upon by a bènt lever W, centred on a stationary pedestal or bracket X,
and is actuated by a cord Y, passing up to the jacquard mechanism above.
The lever V is bent, as best seen in the plan Figure 3, in such a way that when
from the cord Y being drawn up the bottom of the lever W is thrown forward,
that movement forces over the lever V, and thereby turns the lever U into the
position of Figure 6, and from its vertical position the lever W keeps the parts
in the same rélative positions, whilst the lever F is being depressed by the
action of the wiper R on the tumbling piece T. On the cord Y being released
the lever W is turned back by the reaction of a spring.
The modified arrangement for stopping the loom when the shuttle does not
properly reach its cell in the shuttle box A is shown in sectional side elevation,
and in-plan in Figures 7 and 8, Sheet 2 of the Drawings. The back of each
cell is fitted with a lever 1, which is moved outwards by the shuttle when
properly home, and which acts on a lever 2, fast on a rod 3, carried by the
lathe C. This rod 3 has fast on it an arm 4, arranged to come in contact with
the catch 5 of a sliding piece 6 on the lathe moving forward if the shuttle does
not reach its proper position in the shuttle box. The sliding piece 6 is con-
trived in the usual way to throw off the stopping lever, and also to apply the
brake. When the shuttle gets properly home the lever 2 is turned over so
that the arm 4 clears the catch 5, but in moving further forward it comes upon
a curved or inclined piece 7 fixed to the loom frame L, and in sliding thereon
causes the lèver 2 to be further removed from the shuttle box A, so as to offer
no resistance to the shifting of the shuttle box which occurs at this period.
In the present example the picking motion has to be arranged so as to
throw the six shuttles in succession from one side, and then similarlarly back
from the other side. The picking sticks or levers Z (Sheet 1 of the Drawings)
are centred on brackets a, fast on the shaft or axle b of the lathe, and each is
actuated by a strap c attached. to a lever d centred at the back of the loom.
The levers & are formed with guides for movable pieces e to shift transversely,
and these movable pieces e are connected by a rod f extending across the loom
and.actuated by cords g from jacquard tails h. The low shaft. S is fitted with
a wiper i at each end, and in rotating one lever d or the other is depressed by
-the action of the wiper on the movable piece e, accordingly as one or other
piece e is in position. As long as the picking is to continue from one side the

page_text: piece e remains in position at that side, but when, the picking is to change to:
the other side, the rod f is shifted by the jacquard action, and in moving one
piece out of position moves the other into position. The same jacquard,
tails h are made to act on the weft stopper actions, being connected by cords j.
to the jointed ends of levers k, loose on the horizontal stopper rod 1. Wipers m,,
fixed on the low shaft S, act on these levers k, accordingly as one or other is,
thrown in the way thereof by the action of the cords j, the levers being con-
nected by a rod n, which puts one out of action when the other is in action...
A weft fork p is provided at each side of the loom, being jointed upon an arm q,
fast on the stopper rod 1, and being arranged to engage, when the weft is,
wanting, with the catch formed on an arm r, fast to the lever k. The plan,
Figure 3, shows the position of the parts when the shuttle is being thrown
from the left-hand side. At that side the absence of the weft against the fork;
should not act on the stopper, and the lever k is accordingly out of the way of,
the wiper m. On the other side the lever k and its catch arm r are acted on by:
the wiper m, and if the weft fork p is not tilted up by the presence of the weft
thread when the lathe moves forward, the arm r will engage with the hook of
the fork p, and by means of it draw forward the arm q, and turn the stopper
rod 1, which last, by means of the usual arm s on its end, will throw off the
stopping levert in the ordinary way. To prevent mistake it may here be
mentioned that there are shown fast on the stopper rod the usual arms u, by
which the loom is stopped when a shuttle rests partly in and partly out of the
shuttle box. In the plan, Figure 3, are also shown the lower levers v, by which
the heddles (w, Figure 2) are worked in conjunction with the upper levers
(x, Figures 1 and 2.)
:
Figure 9, Sheet 2 of the Drawings, is a front elevation, and Figure 10 is
ก plan, showing the parts in connection with the weft fork p, as arranged
according to the second plan herein-before described; Figure 11 is a side
elevation of the weft fork p, and parts connecting it to the stopper rod l. The
weft fork p is in this case carried on an arm 8, which is loose on the stopper
rod l, and it acts on a catch piece 9 fast on that rod, thereby turning it and
stopping the loom. When the weft thread, however, is present the fork is
tilted up so that its front end passes over and does not act on the catch piece 9.
The fork p is moved forward at the proper periods by the forward movement
of the lathe C; this acting on the fork by means of a bar or plate 10. There
is a fork at each side of the loom, and also an acting plate, and the two acting
plates are connected by a rod 11, and they are arranged to have a slight
movement from side to side, being also formed with arms 12 bent, and with
eyes in their ends to slide on the driver spindle 13. When the driver 14

page_text: makes its stroke it moves the parts 12, 10, 11, over to the other side, which
has the effect of bringing a notch in the plate 10 (scen in Figure 9) opposite
to the fork p, so that the fork at that side will be unacted upon. At the other
side of the loom, however, the same action brings the solid part of the plate 10°
opposite to the fork on that side, and causes it to be actuated, so that if the
weft shot just thrown does not present its thread on that side the loom will bo
stopped, whilst the necessary absence of the thread on the other side will not
stop 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 or delineated; but that, what
I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to mo
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the constructing
of looms for weaving ornamental fabrics with improved shifting shuttle box
and other mechanism, substantially such as is herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Kirkwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
JAMES KIRKWOOD. (L.S.)