IMPROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN NET OR TWIST LACE MACHINERY
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Rainford Ensor, of the Park, Nottingham,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN NET OR TWIST LACE
MACHINERY."
Sealed the 12th January 1855, and dated the 6th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Rainford Ensor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th November 1854.
I, FREDERIC RAINFORD ENSOR, of the Park, Nottingham, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN NET OR TWIST
LACE MACHINERY" to be as follows:-
This Invention is applicable when jacquard or other pattern surfaces move
the several warp bars simply to and fro, and the real position of the warp
threads is governed by what is called a split bar, or other similar spacing
instrument. Usually in such machinery each thread of the warp is passed
through a split or open space in the split bar, and each split or space is of
suitable dimensions for the, warp thread, according as it rests against one or
other end of its split or space, it shall admit of its carriage thread passing on
one or other side of it, the split or space being constant in its dimensions;
and when the split bar is fixed, each warp thread has only the capability of

page_text: being placed on one or other side of one carriage. Now, the object of my
improvements is to so arrange the split bar or spacing apparatus that each
warp thread may be stopped in four positions, and thus admit of three carriage
threads working with it; for which purpose I prefer to employ a split bar,
though other form of spacing apparatus may be used, and to arrange the
warp threads in four rows, each split or space being of such dimensions as to
allow the warp thread therein moving a distance equal to that of three
carriages; and I. cause the stops or divisions of the split bar or spacing
apparatus to be alternately fixed, and moveable, that is, each space or split is
bounded by fixed stops or ends; and intermediate of these two fixed stops or
ends there is a moveable stop, which in working is in a line with the middle
one of the three carriages which work with the one warp thread of that space
or split. If, however, in place of using a split bar other forms of spacing
instruments are used, they are to be similarly-arranged, with the stops thereof
partly fixed and partly moveable, so as to allow each warp thread to work
with three carriage threads.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Rainford Ensor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th May 1855.---
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
RAINFORD ENSOR, of the Park, Nottingham, send greeting.
"WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederic Rainford Ensor, Her special licence that I, the said Frederic
Rainford Ensor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Frederic Rainford Ensor, 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-
PROVEMENTS IN BOBBIN NET OR TWIST LACE MACHINERY," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I; the said Frederic Rainford Ensor, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain

page_text: 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 Frederic Rainford Ensor, do hereby
declare the nature of the said. Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and..by. the
following statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention is applicable when jacquard or other pattern surfaces move
the several warp bars simply to and fro, and the real position of the warp
threads is governed by what is called a split bar, or other. 'similar spacing
instrument. Usually in such machinery each. thread of the warp. is. passed
through a split or open space in the split bar, and each split or space is of
suitable dimensions for the warp thread (according as it rests. against. one
or other end of its split or space), to admit of its carriage thread passing on
one or other side of it, the split or space being constant in its dimensions;
and when the split bar is fixed or stationary, each warp thread has only
the capability of being placed on one or other side of one carriage. Now; the
object of my improvements is so to arrange the split bar or.spacing apparatus
that each warp thread may be stopped in four positions, and thus admit of
three carriage threads working with it; for which purpose I prefer. to: employ
a split bar, (though other form of spacing apparatus may be used,) and..to
arrange the warp threads in four rows, each split or space being of such
dimensions as. to allow the warp thread therein moving a distance equal to
that of three carriages; and I cause the stops or divisions of the split bar or
spacing apparatus to be alternately fixed and moveable, that is; each space, or
split is bounded by fixed stops or ends; and intermediate of these two fixed
stops or ends there is a moveable stop, which in working is in a line with the
middle one of the three carriages which work with the one warp thread of
that space or split. If, however, in place of using a split bar, other forms of
spacing instruments are used, they are to be similarly arranged with the stops
thereof partly fixed and partly moveable, so as to allow each warp thread to
work with any one of the three carriage threads at every passage or swing. of
the carriages to and fro..
;
In carrying out my Invention, the warp threads and carriage threads may
be actuated in any convenient manner, and the form of the plate or instrument
used for the passage of the warp threads (and which constitutes the fixed or
permanent stops) may be varied; and the form of the moveable stops may be
also varied; but the forms I prefer. for these parts I will proceed to describe.

page_text: For the permanent stops, through which the warp threads pass, and by which
each warp thread is separated from its neighboring warp thread, I prefer to
use a stationary plate, fixed from end to end of the lace machine, in a position
just below the carriages, and in a central position between the bolt or comb
bars. In this plate is formed as many short slits, splits, or spaces as there are
warp threads, and when only one warp thread is used to each bobbin or
carriage thread, these slits, splits, or spaces are arranged in four parallel rows;
but if more than one warp thread is used to each bobbin or carriage thread,
then there will be more parallel rows of slits, splits, or spaces accordingly for
the front warp threads and for the back warp threads; the odd numbers
forming the back warp threads, and the even numbers the front warp threads,
or vice versa. Each slit, split, or space is made of a length equal to three
gates or spaces of the bolts or combs, and so that at whichever end of the slit,
split, or space the warp thread therein may be for the time being, the carriages
may pass it; and such is the case also when the warp thread in a space is
resting against one or other side of the moveable stop which divides the space.
Jacquard or other apparatus is to be arranged so as to be capable of moving
the warp threads a distance of three gates or spaces of the combs or bolts, that
is, the whole length of the split or space. The moveable stops are arranged
at the front and back of the lace machine. Each stump point or moveable
stop is to be of the width of a gate or space of the bolts or combs, simply
allowing for the thickness of the warp threads. These moveable stops are
fixed to their bar, leaving a space between them equal to one gate or space of
the combs or bolts; they are also so arranged that when they are brought in,
they divide each of the slits, splits, or spaces into two spaces, each equal to
one gate or space of the combs or bolts. From the above description it will
be understood that the warp thread in any slit, split, or space will, when the
moveable, stop is out of the way, be able to be moved by its jacquard or pattern
surface to either end of its slit, split, or space, or a distance of three gates;
but when the moveable stop is introduced, the warp thread can only be moved
a distance of one gate. By this construction and arrangement, or combination
of parts, very improved working of bobbin net or twist lace machines is
obtained. The warp threads may be carried by any number of warp-bars-as-
heretofore, but as they may be well down below and out of the way, there will
not be that inconvenience in using numerous warp bars which has heretofore
been found where they have necessarily-been-brought-up-as near-as may-be-
to the combs or bolts of the lace machinc. It is preferred to use jacquard
apparatus for actuating the warp bars, but acting twice between each swing of
the carriages, that is, first when the carriages are passing through between the

page_text: of the machine by springs, as is usual.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING..
Figure 1 shows a transverse section of so much of a twist lace machine. as
will enable me more fully to describe the manner of performing my Invention;
and Figure 2 is a magnified plan of a. portion of the plate with slits, splits,
or spaces in it, suitable when using one warp, thread to each bobbin or
carriage thread, and also of the moveable, stops used. therewith. Figure 3.
shows a magnified plan of part of a plate and moveable stops when two warp
threads are used to each carriage thread; and Figure 4 shows a magnified
plan of part of a plate and moveable stops when three warp threads are used
to each carriage thread..
The slits, splits, or spaces, or openings through the plate, Figure 2, are
respectively numbered, according as the warp threads are: to be threaded
through such slits, splits, spaces, or openings, and each slit, split, space, or
opening is made suitable for the warp thread therein to move three gates or
spaces of the combs or bolts, and the dead or fixed stops a, a, between the
slits, splits, spaces, or openings are each equal to one gate. By this it will
be seen that each warp thread is capable of assuming four different positions;
first, when it rests against the dead or fixed stop a to the left hand; second,
when it rests against the dead or fixed stop a to the right hand; third, when
it rests against the left-hand side of the moveable stop 6; and fourth, when it
rests against the right-hand side of the moveable stop b. The slits, splits,
spaces, or openings of the plate are, as before described, arranged in four
rows, and the moveable stops b are arranged to divide the slits, splits, spaces,
or openings in each of these rows into two equal spaces, each equal to one
gate. The moveable stops which divide the slits, splits, spaces, or openings
of the two middle rows come opposite and cover the fixed stops a, which
divide the outer slits or openings one from the other. The jacquard or
pattern surfaces used come into action twice, as before stated, and the warp
bars are constantly borne by springs towards one end of the machine, generally
towards the left-hand end of the machine. The first movement of the jacquard
or pattern apparatus takes place when the carriages have entered between the
warp threads, therefore in nowise interfering with the lapping or twisting
together of the carriage and warp threads, according to the previous selection.
The moveable stops go out, and when the carriages are also out, the warp
threads will be, according to the selection, made by the aforesaid first move-

page_text: ment of the jacquard or pattern apparatus, and each warp thread will.rest
against one or other of the dead stops a at the end of its space, and whether
a warp thread at this time of the action is at the right-hand end or the left-
hand end of its space, slit, or opening, will depend on whether its warp bar
has been left free by the pattern surface to be acted on by the spring of that
bar, or whether the warp bar has been moved in opposition to the spring which
constantly tends to move it in one direction. The moveable stops then go in,
and before the carriages commence their swing, the second movement of the
jacquard or pattern apparatus takes place, and either-leaves each warp thread
at whichever dead stop a it may be against, or it moves the warp thread, and
causes it to rest against one side of the moveable. stop which divides the space,
split, or opening. The warp threads, when two or more, are used to each
carriage thread, are similarly governed and worked, as indicated by Figures 3
and 4; and it is only desirable farther to add, that in order to shorten the
motion of the bars which carry the moveable stops b, b, that the stops b on each
bar should be alternately long and short, as indicated by the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is, the com-
bined use herein described of fixed stops a, a, and moveable stops b, b, to
control and govern (at every passage or swing of the carriages to and fro) the
threads of bobbin net or twist lace machinery.
warp
In witness whereof, I, the said, Frederic Rainford Ensor, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
F. R. ENSOR. (L.S.)