IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD LOOMS OR MACHINERY FOR WEAVING."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Joseph Macaigne, of Paris, Rue de Bouloi,
No. 8, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD
LOOMS OR MACHINERY FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pierre Joseph Macaigue
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th April 1866.
I, PIERRE JOSEPH MACAIGNE, of Paris, Rue de Bouloi, No. 8, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN JACQUARD Looms OR MACHINERY FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
This Invention chiefly relates to improvements by means of which great
economy is obtained in the cards employed in jacquard looms. These
improvements mainly consist, 1st, in a new mode of dividing and in a new
form of perforation of the cards, which allows of placing in the same space
a number of holes at least double that which are formed in ordinary cards;
2nd, in a new arrangement of the needles in the mechanism called "reduced,"
and "with double body," (reduites et à double corps) chiefly employed in
figured shawls.
These improvements will be fully understood by the accompanying Drawings
and the following description :-
Figure 1 represents in part a card with the new form of perforation; these
perforations, formed in a matrix or otherwise, are square or lozenge-shaped,
and replace advantageously the round perforations hitherto employed. This

page_text: arrangement allows of placing in a much smaller space a considerably larger
number of needles, and consequently of having on a card of smaller size a
number of perforations equal to that for which the method of circular
perforations necessitates a greater size.
The following are the modifications in the arrangement of the needles:-
The needle board or plate, see Figure 2, is of course perforated according to
the division of the card. Near this board and at the extremity of the needle
I form a bend either on all the needles or on only half of them, but then in
an alternate manner. In the latter case the mechanism is arranged thus,-
the straight needle, Figure 3, is placed in the perforations (1) while the bent
needle, Figure 4, is placed in the perforations (2). In this manner the
needles are brought nearer together in the sense of their height only, the
hooks all rest at the place they occupy in the jacquard mechanism without
any other modification. When there is a bend in every needle, as in Figures 5
and 6, this bend is of a less dimension; then the needles being placed one
below another the point of the needle (1) enters the hole (1) of the needle
board, Figure 7, and the point of the needle (2) enters the hole (2), and so
on up to the end of the row. This arrangement of bent needles allows of
employing without any difficulty and with advantage mechanism with rows
called "countersimpled " (contre-semplées) without any injury to the working
of the internal parts; it can likewise be applied to mechanism with cards
having round perforations or having my new form of perforations. The
revolving bar is perforated according to the division and to the form of perfo-
rations of the cards. The width and height of the card is varied according
to the design to be produced. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and
other cords of the design are naturally in relation with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,
5th, 6th, and 7th needles, and so on to the end. The bars on which the card
passes to press the needles have generally four sides, but in order to facilitate
the work I employ bars having a greater number of sides 5, 6, 7, 8, more or
less, according to the breadth of the card, for it is evident that for cards of
12 rows a bar should have fewer sides than for cards of 8 rows. By this
means the revolution of the bar is effected in an easy manner without any
shock and with perfect security for presenting the card to the needles.
.
In Figure 8 I represent an arrangement of needles specially applicable to
the system of diminished mechanism with double body (mecaniques à double
corps reduites), without springs, with hooks, which themselves act as springs
and employed in the manufacture of figured shawls; Figure 9 represents the
needle board, and Figure 10 shows a needle with eyes which may also be
employed with my method of fitting. The needles are placed in the following

page_text: the manner :-The needle 1 enters the hole 1 of the needle board, the needle 2
hole 2 for the needles of the first transverse row of hooks. It will be understood
that it is the same for the needles corresponding to holes 3 and 4, and to the
holes 5 and 6 for the 2nd and 3rd rows of hooks, and so on to the end
of the row of needles, to recommence by needle 13 until the mechanism is
complete. The hooks placed against the bends are maintained by the
needles themselves, which separate them one from another and prevent their
getting the least disarranged. I can employ the same arrangement for the
needles with eyes (Figure 10.)
I proceed to give some explanations in order to show the difference between
my arrangements of needles and the ordinary arrangement..
Hitherto unreduced (non reduites) jacquard mechanism, that is to say,
where there are 12 plates for 12 rows in the body of the mechanism,
has always been fitted as follows, whether it has had needles with eyes A,
Figure 11, or needles with longitudinal enlargements or bends B, Figure 12.
The needle 1 which corresponds to the hole 1 of the needle board has the
eye
turned to the left, the needle 2 which enters the hole 2 has the eye at
the right, that of the hole 3 at the left, that of the hole 4 at the right, and
so on. Those with enlargements or bends are arranged in the same manner,
and besides it is necessary to place between every two adjoining rows of hooks,
to keep them against the needles, small rods c, Figure 13, which traverse the
mechanism and retain the hooks near the needles. By means of my method
of fitting, the needles E, Figure 14, have their eyes all turned to the same
side; those marked 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, form a row corresponding to the holes
of the needle board, Figure 15. The needles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, form a
second row; those 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23, a third row, and so on. It is
the same with the needles with bends F, Figure 16. By this arrangement,
which has never yet been employed, I can suppress the rod c which retains
the hooks, each row of needles forming or acting as a rod reciprocally and
maintaining the hooks in their place in a more certain manner. The above
arrangements can be employed for mechanism with single body, either reduced
or unreduced, whatever be the number and dimension, as well as for mechanism
with double body. To complete the combination of these improvements I
employ a method of supporting the needles at the back of the mechanism.
In a sheet of metal I form holes arranged as in Figure 17; each of these
holes is intended to receive the heel at the extremity of each needle, and in
which a pin is passed to hold it. In this manner, however compressed the
mechanism may be, the needles retain their freedom of action, the dimensions
of what is termed the "counter case or spring box (contr'etui) (ordinarily
.

page_text: composed of rods) are always in good relation with the needle board. The
method of perforating the metal sheet may vary according to the manner of
fitting the needles. It is unnecessary to speak of the pricking; it is
subordinate to the form and to the dimension of the cards. In jacquard
looms hitherto employed the griff or book box (boite de griffes) which raises
the hooks is furnished with a guide which slides in grooves in the frame of
the mechanism within the side uprights. For this method I substitute a
method which by avoiding the friction of these guides, especially at the
moment of the pressure of the card, renders the work easier, lighter, and
therefore quicker. Figure 18 represents the mechanism externally with the
box raised a certain distance; to this box a metal rollers or pulleys 6 are
b
fitted; these rollers are placed at the two ends of the iron piece c fixed on
the box a, and enclosed in the thickness of the wood so as not to project.
The piece c has a slide at d which receives a screw, the pressure of which
serves to retain it; this screw also serves to regulate the bringing of the rollers
against the guides f. The position of the rollers is maintained by the
screws 9 which traverse the side of the box. The guides f which enter the
groove of the rollers are fixed to the frame k; the rollers 6 are fitted at 4
places, that is 2 on each side of the box. The up-and-down movement of the
box is thus made very easy by means of these rollers, and there is scarcely
any friction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Pierre Joseph Macaigne in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
JOSEPH MACAIGNE, of Paris, Rue de Bouloi, No. 8, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Pierre Joseph Macaigne, Her special licence that I, the
said Pierre Joseph Macaigne, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Pierre Joseph Macaigne, 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

page_text: 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 JACQUARD LOOMS OR MACHINERY
FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Pierre
Joseph Macaigne, 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 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 Pierre Joseph Macaigne, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
annexed, that is to say:-
"
This Invention chiefly relates to improvements by means of which great
economy is obtained in the cards employed in jacquard looms. These
improvements mainly consist, 1st, in a new mode of dividing and in a new
form of perforation of the cards, which allows of placing in the same space at
least, double the number of holes which are formed in ordinary cards; 2nd,
in a new arrangement of the needles in the mechanism called "reduced" and
"with double body" (reduites et à double corps), chiefly employed for figured
shawls.
These improvements will be fully understood by the accompanying Drawings
and the following description :-
.
Figure 1 represents in part a card with the new form of perforation; these
perforations, formed in a matrix or otherwise, are square or lozenge-shaped;
and replace advantageously the round perforations bitherto employed. This
arrangement allows of placing in a much smaller space a considerably
larger number of needles, and consequently of having on a card of smaller
size a number of perforations equal to that for which the method of circular
perforations necessitates a greater size.
:
The following are the modifications in the arrangement of the needles:→
The needle board or plate, see Figure 2, is of course perforated according to the
division of the card. Near this board, and at the extremity of the needle, I
form a bend, either on all the needles or only half of them, but then in an
alternate manner. In the latter case the mechanism is arranged thus:-
The straight needle, Figure 3, is placed in the perforations (1), while the
bent needle, Figure 4, is placed in the perforations (2). In this manner the

page_text: needles are brought nearer together in the sense of their height only, the hooks
all rest at the place they occupy in the jacquard mechanism without any other
modification. When there is a bend in every needle, as in Figures 5 and 6,
this bend is of a less dimension. Then the needles being placed one below
another the point of the needle (1) enters the hole (1) of the needle board,
Figure 7, and the point of the needle (2) enters the hole (2), and so on up
to the end of the row. This arrangement of bent needles allows of employing
without any difficulty, and with advantage, mechanism with rows called
"countersimpled" (contresemplées) without any injury to the working of the
internal parts; it can likewise be applied to mechanism with cards having
round perforations, or having my new form of' perforations. The revolving
bar is perforated according to the division and to the form of perforations of
the cards. The width and height of the card is varied according to the
design to be produced. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and other cords
of the design are naturally in relation with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th,
and 7th needles, and so on to the end. The bars on which the card passes to
press the needles have generally four sides, but in order to facilitate the work
I employ bars having a greater number of sides 5, 6, 7, 8, more or less,
according to the breadth of the card, for it is evident that for cards of
12 rows a bar should have fewer sides than for cards of 8 rows. By this
means the revolution of the bar is effected in an easy manner without any
shock and with perfect security for presenting the card to the needles.
.
In Figure 8 I represent an arrangement of needles specially applicable to
the system of reduced mechanism with double body (mecaniques à double
corps reduites) without springs, with hooks, which themselves act as springs,
and employed in the manufacture of figured shawls; Figure 9 represents the
needle board, and Figure 10 shews a needle with eyes which may also be
employed with my method of fitting. The needles are placed in the following
manner-The needle 1 enters the hole 1 of the needle board; the needle 2
the hole 2 for the needles of the first transverse row of hooks. It will be
understood that it is the same for the needles corresponding to holes 3 and 4
and to the holes 5 and 6 for the 2nd and 3rd rows of hooks, and so on to the
end of the row of needles, to recommence by needle 13 until the mechanism
is complete. The hooks placed against the bends are maintained by the needles
themselves, which separate them one from another, and prevent their getting
the least disarranged. I can employ the same arrangement for the needles
eyes (Figure 10).
with
I proceed to give some explanations in order to shew the difference
between my arrangements of needles and the ordinary.arrangement. Hitherto

page_text: unreduced (non reduites) jacquard mechanism, that is to say, where there are
12 plates for 12 rows in the body of the mechanism, has always been fitted as.
follows, whether it has had needles with eyes A, Figure 11, or needles with:
longitudinal enlargements or bends B, Figure 12. The needle 1 which
corresponds to the hole 1 of the needle board has the eye turned to the left,
the needle 2 which enters the hole 2 has the eye at the right, that of the:
hole 3 at the left, that of the hole. 4 at the right, and so on. Those with
enlargements or bends are arranged in the same manner, and besides it is
necessary to place between every two adjoining rows of hooks, to keep them.
against the needles, small rods c, Figure 18, which traverse the mechanism:
and retain the hooks near the needles. By means of my method of fitting the:
needles E; Figure 14, have their eyes all turned to the same side, those
marked 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, form a row corresponding to the holes of the needle:
board, Figure 15. The needles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 form a second row, those:
18, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 a third row, and so on. It is the same with the
needles with bends F, Figure 16. By this arrangement, which has never
yet been employed, I can suppress the rod c which retains the hooks, each
row of needles forming or acting as a rod reciprocally, and maintaining the
hooks in their place.in a more certain manner.
The above arrangements can be employed for mechanism with single body,
either reduced or unreduced, whatever be the number and dimension, as well!
as for mechanism with double body.
To complete the combination of these improvements I employ a method of
supporting the needles at the back of the mechanism. In a sheet of metal I
form holes arranged as in Figure 17; each of these holes is intended to
receive the heel at the extremity of each needle, and in which a pin is passed
to hold it. In this manner, however compressed the mechanism may be, the
needles retain their freedom of action; the dimensions of what is termed the
counter case or spring-box (contr'étui) (ordinarily composed of rods) are
always in good relation with the needle board. The method of perforating
the metal sheet may vary according to the manner of fitting the needles. It
is unnecessary to speak of the pricking; it is subordinate to the form and to
the dimension of the cards.
In jacquard looms hitherto employed the griff or hook box (boite de griffes)
which raises the hooks is furnished with a guide which slides in grooves in the
frame of the mechanism within the side uprights. For this method I substitute
a method, which by avoiding the friction of these guides, especially at the
moment of the pressure of the card, renders the work easier, lighter, and
therefore quicker. Figure 18 represents the mechanism externally with the

page_text: box raised a certain distance.
To this box a metal rollers or pulleys 6 are
fitted; these rollers are placed at the two ends of the iron piece c fixed on
the box a and enclosed in the thicknesses of the wood so as not to project..
The piece c has a slide at d which receives a screw, the pressure of which
serves to retain it; this screw also serves to regulate the bringing of the
rollers against the guides f. The position of the rollers is maintained by the
screws g which traverse the side of the box. The guides f, which enter the
groove of the rollers, are fixed to the frame k. The rollers 6 are fitted at
4 places, that is, 2 on each side of the box. The up-and-down movement of
the box is thus made very easy by means of these rollers, and there is scarcely
any friction.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my " Improve-
ments in Jacquard Looms or Machinery for Weaving,”—
First, forming the cards with perforations of square or lozenge-shape
instead of round, as herein-before described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second, arranging the needles substantially in the manner herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the arrangement, substantially as herein-before described and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings, for supporting or maintaining the
needles at the back of the mechanism.
Fourth, the employment of rollers or pulleys fitted to the griff or hook box
(boites de griffes), substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Joseph Macaigne, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six..
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Jnc.,
Civil Engineer,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
à Paris.
P. JH. MACAIGNE. (L.S.)