IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Heptonstall, of Kirkburton, near
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Corset Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 19th March 1869, and dated the 23rd September 1868.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Heptonstall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 23rd September 1868, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HEPTONSTALL, of Kirkburton, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Corset Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and
first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Heptonstall, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand
and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
making a part of this Specification (that is to say)
:-
This Invention relates partly to looms for weaving corsets or stays and
other uneven fabrics for improvements in which Letters Patent were
granted to me, dated respectively the Twenty-second day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, Number
One thousand five hundred and fifty-six, and the Sixth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, Number
One thousand seven hundred and ninety, and partly to ordinary looms
for weaving even fabrics. The present improvements have reference to
the "letting-off" and " taking-up" motions or self-acting means of
letting off or delivering the warp and of taking up or carrying forward
the fabric as woven.
Firstly, then, as applicable in the weaving of corsets or stays or
other uneven fabrics I employ a series of short beams or bobbins
for holding and supplying the warp in sections, which are mounted
in suitable framework placed to the back of the loom in the usual
manner as shewn in one of the Specifications of Patents above
referred to. On each of these beams or bobbins I either form or fix a
ratchet wheel and apply thereto a catch lever hinged to the framework
which takes into the teeth of one of the wheels respectively by gravi-
tation. The warp passes from these bobbins over one or more rails and
the back beam, thence through the healds and the reed to the taking-up
apparatus in the usual manner. To each section of warp threads I
suspend betwixt the rails a pendant tension weight of suitable size or
weight according to the amount of tension required to be put upon the
warp in the weaving thereof, or springs may be used for this purpose.
These weights I connect by cord or chain to the catch levers respectively
so that as any one of the weights is raised by the taking-up motion it
lifts the catch lever out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel it is in
connection with, and thereby leaves the said bobbin at liberty to turn
on its axis and let-off warp, and as the weight lowers by the letting off
the catch lever again takes into the ratchet and stops the rotation
thereof, and consequently the let-off. This part of the Invention is
also applicable to ordinary looms for weaving even fabrics wherein one
weight in form of a roller or rod of suitable weight or may be weighted
is applied to rest upon and press the warp betwixt the back beam and a
rail provided and fixed across the loom for the purpose, which roller on
being raised by the take-up motion operates in a similar manner to

page_text: remove a catch lever which takes into a ratchet wheel on the ordinary
warp beam, thereby letting off the warp until by the weight lowering the
catch again takes into the ratchet.
Secondly. This Invention relates to the taking-up motion in looms for
weaving corsets or other uneven fabrics, and consists, firstly, in the
application of worms and wheels with a new combination and arrange-
ment of levers and ratchets for driving the grooved or fluted taking-up
rollers instead of the levers and pawls shewn and described in the
Specification of the later Patent herein-before referred to; and, secondly,
in the application of a toothed lever to fit into and form a nip
on one of the said fluted rollers and thereby to employ only one series of
such rollers instead of two series, as shewn and described in the aforesaid
Specification of Patent.
or hold
In order that this Invention may be clearly understood I herein give
reference to two Sheets of Drawings annexed thereto illustrating my
improvements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of a loom with other necessary
appliances constructed and arranged according to this Invention for the
purposes set forth; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the said loom.
The parts marked A are a series of beams or bobbins to hold or
contain and supply the warp in the manner required for the weaving of
corsets or stays or other uneven fabrics, the warp being divided into
sections or a series of threads to each bobbin. These bobbins are
supported on suitable framework B, and each bobbin is provided with a
ratchet wheel C into which a catch lever D takes by gravitation when at
liberty to do so. The warp threads are conducted from the said bobbins
over rails E to and over the back beam of the loom G, thence passing
through the healds or heddles to the reed H and between the pairs of
fluted taking-up rollers I and J in the usual manner, and which has
been fully explained in the Specification of Patent referred to. K are a
series of weights, each one suspended by a loop or pulley L on one of the
sections of warp threads, that is, one weight to each bobbin. To each
weight is attached a cord or chain M, which is connected to the catch
lever D of the bobbin from which that section of the warp comes, so
that when the weight is raised by the taking up of the warp in weaving
the catch will be removed from the ratchet wheel and a quantity of warp
will be given off, and on the weight falling by the letting off it will

page_text: allow the catch lever to again take into the ratchet and prevent further
letting off. Springs may be used instead of weights for this purpose, but
I prefer weights as effecting greater uniformity of tension than springs.
It will now be readily seen by those practically conversant with
weaving that this part of my said Invention may be applied to any
ordinary loom for weaving even fabrics, in manner as shewn at Fig. 3,
where a roller or rod A is placed upon and supported by the warp
betwixt the back beam and a rail B fixed across the loom for that
purpose, a cord C being fixed to the said roller or rod and connected to
the catch lever D, which is in gear with the ratchet wheel E fixed on
the end of the ordinary warp beam F, and it will be observed that any
desirable amount of tension may be placed upon the warp by this
appliance of a roller or rod, as the same may have a portable weight or
weights G hooked thereon according to the tension required, or the said
roller may be supported on levers hinged to the frame and having
adjustable weights or springs applied thereto.
The first part of my improvements in the taking-up motions are
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, where a series of worms N equal to the number
of pairs of fluted rollers employed are fixed on short spindles which are
supported in a box or frame P hinged on a shaft Q, on which shaft
fitting loose are a series of bevil wheels R gearing with an equal number
of small bevil wheels S fixed on short spindles. On this shaft are also
hinged a series of levers T to which are attached catches or pawls (t)
which take into ratchet wheels fixed to the backs of the bevil wheels R.
These levers are operated by a rod U secured between two oscillatory
arms U¹ fixed on a rocking shaft U which recieves motion from an
adjustable crank V fixed on the end of the ordinary crank shaft by a
connecting rod V₁ attached to an arm V2 fixed on the said rocking shaft.
A corresponding number of catch bars W are also hinged to a rail placed
across the loom frame and connected by strings X to the jacquard
apparatus by which they are operated, so as to catch on and hold the
levers T out of contact with the rod U when it is not required to take
up, and which will be indicated by the jacquard apparatus.
Fig. 4 illustrates the second part of my improvements in means of
taking up the fabric when weaving corsets, stays, or other uneven
fabrics. In this case one series only of fluted rollers A are employed,
which are loose on a rod supported in arms B projecting from the breast
beam. A series of toothed catch levers C are hinged on levers D which

page_text: are operated by the rod E attached by arms F to the rocking shaft G,
the jacquard apparatus indicating and operating the catch bar H in a
similar manner to the former herein-before described taking-up
apparatus.
By means of this Invention the tension on the warp is rendered
uniform and the letting-off is also self-acting as required according to
the take-up, which may be regulated and adjusted to the greatest nicety
by altering the stroke or throw of the crank which works the oscillatory
arms and rod.
Having thus fully described the nature of this my said Invention, and
shewn by Drawings the manner in which the same is to be performed or
carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details of construction or
arrangement of the parts of the apparatus which I have illustrated and
referred to, as various modifications may be made without departing from
the main features thereof; but I claim as my Invention and which to
the best of my belief is new,-
Firstly. The method of producing tension on the warp by weights
or springs so arranged as to be self-acting in letting off the said warp as
required.
Secondly. The method of operating the fluted rollers employed for
effecting the take-up of the fabric when weaving corsets or other uneven
fabrics, substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Heptonstall, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
CHARLES HEPTONSTALL. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the within-named Charles
Heptonstall, in the presence of
WM. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Bradford.