IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECK AND FANCY WEAVING
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew Muir, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECK AND FANCY WEAVING."
Scaled the 1st February 1854, and dated the 5th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Andrew⚫
Muir at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th December 1853.
I, MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECK AND FANCY WEAVING" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an arrangement of power loom on the
"jacquard" or "barrel principle" for weaving check or fancy goods.
The main body of the loom is constructed in the ordinary manner, but
with the pattern producing apparatus placed in the framing near the
base, for being conveniently connected to the tappet shaft. In addition
to the heddle cams or tappets, this shaft carries a tappet set to work

page_text: against the free end of a lever carried at its opposite end upon a bottom
shaft, from which motion is conveyed to the oscillating frame of the
jacquard or barrel movement. The pattern cards of the jacquard, or the
pins upon the barrel, are opposed to the ends of a pair of parallel
horizontal sliding bars set in the stationary framing in suitable guides.
These bars are connected together, so as to be capable of simultaneously
traversing in both directions, either by an intermediate link or lever
piece, or by a rack and pinion- movement. The opposite end of one of
these bars is linked to a lever fast on a back horizontal shaft, which
extends out beyond the end of the loom, and is there linked to the
vertical traverse movement of the drop box for the shuttles. The
contact ends of these two bars next the pattern barrel are formed,
in each case, with two or more pins of varying lengths, regularly
graduated, so that the acting traverse of the barrel or pattern action will
push the two bars in reverse directions to a greater or less distance
corresponding to the particular pin which has been in action. Thus,
when a change occurs, if the longest pin is pressed upon, the drop box
or compound shuttle box is traversed to the furthest position that it has
to occupy in bringing a new shuttle into action. If the shortest pin is
similarly pressed, then the shortest drop box traverse ensues, and by
having a duplex bar arrangement, working in concert, it follows that this
movement answers the same end in both the upward and downward
shift. When the drop box has been shifted, it is held firmly in its
assigned position, to preserve the right shuttle action with due effect, by
a catch rod, the upper end of which is made to enter a corresponding
notch or hole at the back of the drop box. This catch rod vibrates
with the lathe and drop box, and it has a constant tendency to hold the
latter from the action of a spring in pulling it into gear. But as it must
be released at the monent of the drop box shift, an eccentric scroll pieco
is carried upon the outside of the tappet wheel, and as this scroll comes
round, it catches a link stud connected with the catch rod, and holds the
catch rod clear for the drop box change, in case the change should
require to be made from the jacquard action. The regulating move-
ment for the pattern apparatus is worked from a cam or lever, on the
tappet shaft, a rod from which passes to a ratchet catch rod vibrating

page_text: on a fixed centre, and gearing with the ratchet teeth on a stationary stud
in the loom framing. In addition to the serrations of this ratchet, the
side of the wheel carries a series or ring of stud pins adjustable in a
ring of holes at variable distances asunder. In addition to the primary
working ratchet rod or lever, there is a secondary catch gearing with
the ratchet, and capable of being put out of gear by the stud pins as
they come round. Each stud pin represents a shift of the jacquard in
setting the drop box for a change in the pattern. Honce, whenever a
pin presents itself to the secondary catch, it pushes this catch out of
gear, and the opposite end of the catch being in communication with
the usual turning catch of the jacquard barrel, the cam action at once
turns the barrel the proper shift round in the usual manner. The
weaving then goes on as before until a fresh pin comes round and
again regulates the barrel action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Matthew Andrew Muir in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, Her special
license that I, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthow Andrew
Muir, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-

page_text: tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECK AND FANCY WEAVING," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, by an
instrument in writing under my hana and seal, 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 Matthow Andrew Muir, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say-
My said Invention relates to an arrangement of power loom on the
"jacquard" or pattern working " barrel" principle, for weaving check
or fancy goods. The main body of the loom is constructed in the
ordinary manner, but with the pattern producing apparatus placed in
the framing near the base for being conveniently connected to the
tappet shaft. In addition to the heddle cams or tappets, this shaft
carries a tappet, set to work against the free end of a lever carried at
its opposito end upon a bottom shaft, from which motion is conveyed to
the oscillating frame of the jacquard or barrel movement. The pattern
cards of the jacquard, or the pins upon the barrel, are opposed to the
ends of a pair of parallel horizontal sliding bars set in the stationary
framing in suitable guides. These bars are connected together so as to
be capable of simultaneously traversing in reverse directions, either by
an intermediate link or lever picce, or by a rack and pinion movement.
The opposite end of one of these bars is linked to a lever-fast on a back
horizontal shaft, which extends out beyond the end of the 'com, and is
there linked to the vertical traverse movement of the drop box for the
shuttles. The contact ends of these two bars next to the pattern barrel
are formed, in cach case, with two or more pins, of varying lengths,
regularly graduated, so that the acting traverse of the barrel or pattern
action will push the two bars in reverse directions to a greater or less
distance, corresponding to the particular pin which has been in action.

page_text: Thus when a change occurs, if the longest pin is pressed upon, the drop
box or compound shuttle box is traversed to the furthest position that it
has to occupy in bringing a new shuttle into action. If the shortest
pin is similarly pressed, then the shortest drop box traverse ensues, and
by having a duplex bar arrangement working in concert, it follows that
this movement answers the same end in both the upward and downward
shift. When the drop box has been shifted, it is held firmly in its
assigned position to preserve the right shuttle action with duc effect, by
a catch rod, the upper end of which is made to enter a corresponding
notch or hole at the back of the drop box. This catch rod vibrates
with the lathe and drop box, and it has a constant tendency to hold the
latter from the action of a spring in pulling it into gear. But as it must
be released at the movement of the drop box shift, an eccentric scroll
piece is carried upon the outside of the tappet wheel, and as this scroll
comes round, it catches a link stud, connected with the catch rod, and
holds the catch rod clear for the drop box change, in case the change
should require to be made from the jacquard action. The regulating
movement for the pattern apparatus is worked from a cam or lover on
the tappet shaft, a rod from which passes to a ratchet catch rod vibrating
on a fixed centre, and gearing with the ratchet teeth of a wheel on a
stationary stud in the loom framing. In addition to the serrations of
this ratchet, the side of the wheel carries a series or ring of stud pins
adjustable in a ring of holes at variable distances asunder. In addition
to the primary working ratchet rod or lever, there is a secondary catch
gearing with the ratchet, and capable of being put out of gear by the
stud pins as they come round. Each stud pin represents a shift of the
jacquard 'n setting the drop box for a change in the pattern. Hence,
whenever in presents itself to the secondary catch it pushes this
catch out of gear, and he opposite end of the catch being in com-
munication with the usual turning catch or the jacquard barrel, the
cam action at once turns the barrel the proper shift round in the
usual manner. The weaving then goes on as before until a fresh pin
comes round, and again regulates the barrel action.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the two Sheets of
Drawings hereunto attached, representing so much of a loom as is

page_text: needed in explaining the principles and details of the Invention.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a front elevation; Figure 2,
on Sheet 2, of the Drawings, is a side elevation; and Figure 3, also
on the latter Sheet of Drawings, is a plan of my improved pattern
apparatus for check weaving, as applied to an ordinary power loom.
Figure 4, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a transverse vertical section of
a portion of the details, prepared more clearly to shew the mechanism
by which the periods of making the shifts of the drop box are marked.
The framing of the loom consists of two cast iron side standards A, and
two parallel front and back cross pieces B, C. The tappet shaft is at
D. carried in bearings bolted to cross bars cast on the side standards.
In addition to the usual cams or tappets for working the heddles, this
shaft has keyed upon it, near its longitudinal centre, a cam E, for
actuating the jacquard movement, by means of which the shifts of the
drop box are brought aboat. The cam E acts through an anti-friction
pulley F, upon a lever G, which oscillates upon a centre pin II, carried
by brackets at the back of the loom. The opposite free end of the lever
G is connected by a link I, which is capable of adjustment as to length
to a curved lever J, keyed upon a transverse shaft K, carried in bear-
ings on the side standards and on three frame pieces L, which serve to
carry several of the pattern movement details, being bolted to the front
and back frame pieces B, C, and lying parallel to the side standards A.
The shaft K has keyed upon it, near one end, two levers M, which
stand up from it, and have at their upper extremities sliding bearings
for the spindles N of the square jacquard barrel O, which is constrained
to traverse horizontally by guides in the frame pieces L. One of the
spindles N has fast upon its projecting end a small disc P, to the insido
face of which are fixed four pins Q. Immediately above these is a
catch lever R, carried loosely on a stud pin S, fixed to the frame piece
L. This lever has a hook on its under side, which catches one of the
pins Q on the barrel O being moved outwards, and causes the latter to
turn a quarter round, and so bring another cord into action. The
jacquard barrel is kept square by two levers Q', which are jointed to
tho frame pieco L, and embrace the pins Q. The levers project beyond
the barrel, and are connected by a strong spring which draws them
together, making them press firmly on the pins Q, but yielding

page_text: sufficiently for the barrel to turn at the proper time. The cards T
are linked together in the usual manner, forming an endless chain,
which may be of any length. Immediately behind, and on the same
level as the jacquard barrel O, are two bars U, which slide back and
forward horizontally in guides V, formed in a small frame fixed between
the two frame pieces L. These bars U are formed with teeth on their
inner adjacent sides, and they gear with a pinion W placed between
them, and turning on a stud pin carried by a bracket X, cast on the
under side of the small frame. This rack and pinion arrangement
causes the movements of the bars U to be always equal and opposite
to each other. On their ends nearest the jacquard barrel O, they each
carry three pins Y, of different lengths, by means of which the shifts
of the drop box, which is, in this instance, constructed for four shuttles,
are at the same time effected and regulated. When the jacquard
barrel O traverses towards the bars U, such of the pins Y as meet with
holes opposite to them in the card, enter such holes, and remain unacted
upon, whilst the solid card forces back any pin which may not have a
hole opposite to it. Thus, as the traverse of the jacquard barrel is
always the same, the amount of traverse communicated to the bars U,
as well as the direction of that traverse, will depend on which pin is
ncted upon. If, for instance, the longest pin of the left hand bar be
acted upon, that bar will be traversed inwards to the fullest extent of
which it is capable, the right hand bar being correspondingly traversed
outwards by the action of the racks and pinion. If, again, the next
card which comes into action is made with holes opposite all the pins,
except the shortest one of the right hand bar, that bar will be traversed
inwards the shortest distance of which it is capable, or in other words,
the left hand bar will be made to return a step outwards. Thus, if it
be supposed that by the first movement the drop box has been raised to
its highest point, so as to bring its lowest shuttle into action, it will
follow that the second movement has made the drop box re-descend,
but only so far as to bring that shuttle into action which is next above
the lowest one.
The motion of the left hand bar U is communicated
to the drop box in the following manner:-The under side of this bar
U, has formed upon it a rack, which is in gear with a toothed segment
Z, carried by a lever a, keyed on the horizontal shaft b, carried in

page_text: bearings fixed to the framing. This shaft projects outside the standard
on one side of the loom, and has keyed upon its overhanging end a
lever c, the free end of which has jointed to it the rod d, passing up to
the drop box e, carried in the usual manner in the extreme end of the
latho f. When a shift is not being made, tho drop box e is kept
accurately in position by a lever g, which oscillates on the projecting
end of the rocking shaft of the lathe. The upper end of this lever
carries an adjustable catch piece h, which enters a notch in a notched
plate i, fixed on the back of the drop box e, and it is kept well up
against the notched plate by a spring j, which acts upon a short pro-
longation of the lover below its centre of oscillation, the spring being
strong enough to make the catch lever follow the motion of the lathe. At
the time, however, that a shift of the drop box is or may be made, the
catch lever g is kept back from the catch plate i, by means of the scroll
k, carried by the large spur wheel 1, serving to communicate motion
between the tappet shaft D and crank shaft m above. This scroll k,
which in this instance takes the form of a concentric rim piece or
holding flange, enters behind a small roller n, carried by a bracket
fixed to the lever g, and so keeps back the lever whilst the lathe is
going forward, it being at this period and after each double pick that
a shift of the drop box is or may be effected. With the arrangements
herein-before described, so far the cards would change after each
double pick; generally, however, several shots have to be thrown
between each change of the cards; and I shall now proceed to describe
the contrivances for marking the periods at which each shift is to take
place, or the number of shots to be thrown between each shift. In my
Provisional Specification I briefly described an arrangement wherein a
disc or ring was to be employed, such disc or ring being perforated for
the adjustment of the pins which marked the periods of the shifts and
set in action the shifting mechanisın. This arrangement may still be
adopted, but I find I can render it capable of marking the shifts over
a much more extended number of picks; in other words, I can make it
take in a pattern extending over a much greater length of fabric by
repeating the ring, rendering it continuous by converting it into a helix
of very small pitch, and giving it as many convolutions or turns as may
be desired. The shaft K, already described as that which actuates the

page_text: near the lowest
jacquared barrel, has keyed upon it, towards its other extremity, a lever
o, in the end of which is fixed a catch pin p. The movement of the
shaft causes this pin to enter a catch q at the lower extremity of a
lever r, carried by a rod s above, and the shaft K is retained in this
position as long as the catch a remains under the pin p. When the shaft
K is in this position, the levers J and G are at or
point, so that the latter remains unacted upon by the cam E, and con-
sequently no movement of the jacquard barrel takes place. The tappet
shaft D has fast upon it a small bracket or disc, to which is screwed an
adjustable pin t, arranged to act upon the end of a cranked lever u, which
oscillates on a stud pin v, carried by one of the frame pieces L. At
the extremity of the other arm of the lever a, is a small pall w, which
acts upon a ratchet wheel a, carried loosely by the stud pin v, and so
arranged that each revolution of the tappet shaft turns the wheel x, to
the extent of one tooth. This wheel is in one piece with, or has fixed
to it, a cylinder y, upon the surface of which a helical thread of very
fine pitch is formed. This helical thread is pierced with holes arranged
at uniform distances apart, and corresponding in number to the teeth
of the ratchet wheel æ. These holes also correspond to the number of
double picks made by the loom, and are made to receive small pegs,
which are placed to correspond to the individual picks, at which the
shift of the drop box is to take place according to the pattern. When
a single ring or disc is employed, the pattern pegs as they come round
push the lever r outwards, thereby releasing the pin p of the lever o
from the catch g, when the lever is permitted to descend. This descent
of the lever o is caused by the action of a spring Z, on the lever G,
bringing the latter up, after which the cam E again depresses it; this
up and down movement causing a change of the jacquard cards, and a
consequent shift of the drop box. When the helical barrel y, as repre-
sented in the Drawings, is used, some additional details are necessary.
The lever r travels laterally along the barrel y, to the extent of the
pitch of the helix for every revolution, and the pin p of the lever o is
made of sufficient length to correspond to this traverse. The lever ris
loose upon
the rol &, being held between an adjustable collar 1, and a
short lever 2, fixed to the rod. The rods passes through plain eyes in
a bracket frame-piece 3, bolted to the frame-piece L. To one end of

page_text: the rod is fixed a cord 4, passing over a pulley to a weight 5, which
keeps the rod and its levers well up to that side of the framing, and
brings it back, after traversing in the opposite direction. A spring
is interposed between the weight and the cord to render the action easy.
On the other end of the rod s, is fixed a short weighted lever 6, which
keeps the fixed lever 2 well up against the helical barrel y. A spring
is interposed between the end of the rod s, and the bracket, to ease the
jerking action of the weight in pulling the rod to the other side.
The lower extremity of the lever 2 is formed with a projection 7, which
enters between the ridges of the helical barrel y, and the screw action
of the latter traverses the lever laterally, and with it the rod s, and
lever, thus causing the latter to follow the helical line of pattern
pins on the barrel y, so as to be acted upon by the pins of each convo-
lution in succession. In the Drawings, the barrel y is represented
with six convolutions, but there may be more or fewer, as is desirable;
and the pattern may be made to extend over the entire barrel, or
over only a portion thereof. The point where the pattern ends being
ascertained, a stop piece 8 is fixed to the helical ridgo at a constant
distance from such point. This stop picce projects from the surface
of the barrel slightly more than the regular pattern pins 9, and is
arranged to act upon a projection 10, formed upon the lever r near
its centre of oscillation. This projection extends laterall, as well as to-
wards the barrel, so as to lift the lever 2; there is, however. a little play
allowed, so that when the lever is only lifted by the pattern pins 9, the
lever is not affected, but the lever r being moved further by the stop
piece 8, it then raises the lever 2 as well. A little in front of the lever
r, is a slight horizontal rod 11, passed through cyes in the bracket
piece 3; on this rod are fixed a number of guide pieces 12, combining
to form a short slide. The lever r has a catch 13 formed upon it, in such
a position as to fall upon the guides 12, on being lifted outwards by the
stop 8. The guides 12 correspond in number to the convolutions of
the helical barrel y, over which the pattern extends, and they serve to
prevent the levers 2 and r from falling against the barrel until they
have reached the proper starting point close up against the ratchet
wheel x.
The guides 12 are set so that the stop piece 8 forces out the
lovers 2, 1, just outside the one furthest from the ratchet wheel end

page_text: of the barrel; the weight 5, then draws the rod s, with the levers
2,r, back over the guides 12, and on reaching the other end of these,
the counter weight 6 puts down the lever 2, into the starting point of
the helical groove of the barrel, and a fresh repeat of the pattern action
commences without interruption. If the pattern does not extend over
so many convolutions, one or more of the guides 12 are taken off the
rod 11, and the stop piece 8 is set on the barrel to correspond, and the
release movement consequently takes place after fewer revolutions of
the barrel. The pattern pins 9 are fixed in the holes formed for them
in the helical ridge of the barrel y, in positions corresponding to the
picks at which the change of shuttle must take place according to
the pattern. The pattern pins 9 act on a small projection 14, formed
on the inside of the lever r, and push the lever outwards just sufficiently
to release the pin p, of the lever o, whereupon the jacquard change
movement takes place as already described. I would here remark that
some of the parts do not correspond in position in the different views,
and in different parts of the apparatus, such positions being generally
chosen as facilitate the delineation and description of those parts of the
machinery to which my Invention more particularly refers.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hercin-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or
apparatus to be applied to looms for weaving checks and fancy pattern
fabrics, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of transmitting the power for shifting
the shuttle drop box of looms for weaving checks and similar patterns,
through the jacquard barrel and cards, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of producing the pattern in check and
fancy weaving by the action of a jacquard barrel and cards upon pins

page_text: of different lengths arranged to move the drop box shifter to different
extents, and in opposite directions, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use in looms for weaving checks and
similar patterns of an auxiliary pattern disc ring, or helical barrel, so
arranged in combination with the jacquard mechanism for shifting the
drop box, that whilst the jacquard mechanism produces the changes,
tho auxiliary pattern disc, ring, or barrel marks or defines the number
of shots to be thrown between each change of the shuttle drop box, as
herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of acting on the retaining lever or catch
of the jacquard or other change movement, by means of pins adjusted
according to a required pattern upon the periphery of a disc, ring, or
helical barrel, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the application and use in looms for weaving checks and fancy
pattern fabrics, of a barrel, or cylinder perforated helically, for the
adjustment of pegs at intervals, according to a required pattern, to act
upon the retaining lever of the drop box change movement, which lever
is made to follow the helical line of pins to the end of the pattern, and
on being released by a stop, returns to the starting point of the helix
and pattern, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the system or mode of locking or accurately determining the
position of the shifting drop box, by means of an adjustable or shifting
catch, as herein-before described.
Eighth, the application and use of a rotatory scroll or holding flange
for detaining the shuttle box holding catch at each revolution of the
tappet shaft.
In witness wherof, I, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR. (L.S.)