IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEAVING AND FOLDING FABRICS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Roberts, of Heaton Norris, in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and Wright Shaw and Samuel Shaw,
both of Gee Cross, in the County of Chester, Weavers, for the Invention
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Roberts, Wright
Shaw, and Samuel Shaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 5th June 1857.
We, RICHARD ROBERTS, of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, and WRIGHT SHAW. and SAMUEL SHAW, both of Gee
Cross, in the County of Chester, Weavers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEAVING AND FOLDING
FABRICS," to be as follows:
Our Invention relates, first, to looms for weaving, and is applicable to those
looms in which two or more shuttles are employed. The drop box containing:
the shuttles is connected to a rack working in a pinion, which pinion is moved
round first in one direction and then in the other by a double rack suspended
to a lever actuated by tappets on the tappet shaft. The position of the double
rack is governed by a chain of links, similar to the cards of a jacquard machine,
which links move the double rack as required, and change the position of the
tappets, so as to make the shuttle box rise or fall one or more shuttles at a
time. The mechanism for working the jacquard apparatus is connected to the
weft stop motion, so as to stop the working of the chain of links when the weft;

page_text: fails. The links of the chains are united by split rings, thereby affording great
facility in changing the order of the links. This part of our Invention is
applicable to all looms where small jacquard links are used.
Another part of our Invention has reference to the picking motion, and
consists in dispensing with the shoulders on the shuttles, and in so shaping the
picking tappet that the shuttle is stopped when in the box and the picker
taken out of the way by a spring when the shuttle box is raised or lowered.
The drop box is prevented rising or falling when the shuttle fails to enter the
drop box by means of a. cross piece in the end of the lay, with a relieving
notch into which a spring catch on the back of the drop box enters.
Our Invention of improvements in machinery for folding fabrics consists in
the application of curved instead of straight surfaces for the carriage with the
folding instruments to run upon. By this means the various parts of the
machine are better balanced than hitherto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard. Roberts, Wright Shaw, and Samuel Shaw in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, RICHARD
ROBERTS, of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and
WRIGHT SHAW and SAMUEL SHAW, both of Gee Cross, in the County of
Chester, Weavers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant' unto us, the said
Richard Roberts, Wright Shaw, and Samuel Shaw, Her special licence that.
we, the said Richard Roberts, Wright Shaw, and Samuel Shaw, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Richard Roberts,
Wright Shaw, and Samuel Shaw, our executors, adminstrators, 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
'IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEAVING AND FOLDING FABRICS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Richard Roberts, Wright Shaw,
and Samuel Shaw, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under our, or their, or one of our or 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 we, the said Richard Roberts, Wright Shaw, and
Samuel Shaw, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 (that is to say):-
The nature of our Invention consists in an improved combination of
machinery for raising and lowering the drop box of a loom requiring two or
more shuttles to produce the pattern, by which the shuttles may be brought in
any required succession in a line with the shuttle race.
Secondly, in connecting the weft stop motion of the loom to the jacquard or
pattern chain, by which the changes in the position of the drop box are
governed so as to stop the chain when the weft fails.
Thirdly, in an improved mode of uniting the links of the jacquard or pattern
chain.
Fourthly, in an improved combination of machinery for throwing the shuttle,
commonly called the picking motion, by means whereof the shoulders usually
required on the shuttles used in drop boxes are dispensed with.
Fifthly, in the application of a retaining notch, to prevent the drop box
rising or falling when the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box.
And, lastly, our improvements in machinery for folding fabrics consist in the
application of curved instead of straight surfaces for the carriage with the
folding instruments to run upon.
In order that .our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, we will proceed to describe the means pursued by us, reference.
being had to the two accompanying Sheets of Drawings, and to the figures.
and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an end view of a three-shuttle drop box, loom to which our
improvements are applied; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, taken. from the
back; and Fig. 3 is a plan. In these Figures some of the parts are broken.
off and others omitted, to render the explanation of our improvements more
distinct. a is the crank shaft; b, the tappet shaft; c, the lay or batten; d..
the connecting links; e, the lay swords; f, the fulcrum shaft of the lay; and
g, the drop box, containing in this instance three compartments. The parts.
enumerated above, and the others not shewn or not particularly referred to
hereafter, but which are requisite to complete the loom, are made. in the usual

page_text: 23
-manner. The parts required for moving the drop box are as follows:-To the
tappet shaft bis fixed the tappet 61, and the tappet 62 is loose on the same
shaft, and connected to 6' by a stud, shewn in Fig. 2; these tappets act on the
bowl h, fitting on a stud in the lever h¹, to which is suspended the double
rack ; this double rack passes on each side of the pinion 2, see Fig. 3, fitting
loose on the stud f³. The fulcrum shaft of the lay, marked f, coincides with
the point of gearing of the pinions and with the racks i and j. To the
pinion is fixed the pinion 3 and the disc 23, which is made with six notches.
The spring pin fits in the upper notch of the disc 3, and serves to hold the
drop box steady when its position has been changed, as will be explained
hereafter. The pinion gears into the rack j, which is connected to the drop
box g by the rod j¹. The rack j is held in gear with the pinion by the
spring. The spring k, see Fig. 1, is connected below the rack j, and above
to the lay bottom; the object of this spring is to balance the drop box g.
To the tappet shaft b is fixed the tappet b for actuating the lever 1; this lever
is held in contact with the tappet by the spring 1', and it is fixed to the same
shaft as the swing frame l' supporting the jacquard barrel . The chain m,
shewn detached in Figs. 4 and 5, passes round this barrel and over the guide
barrels mand m³, which are connected by spur pinions, indicated by dotted
circles in Fig. 1; this chain acts on the three rods n, o, and p, seen best in
Fig. 3; these three rods are guided in the bracket n', which also supports the
stud of the click n², by which the jacquard barrel 13 is turned partly round at
every vibration of the swing frame 11, as in jacquard engines of the usual
construction. When the barrel 12 is turned, it brings forward a fresh link of the
chain m;
this motion of the chain causes the guide barrels m¹ and m² to move
in contrary directions, thereby bringing forward the fresh part of the chain and
taking up the slack. The rods n and p are jointed to the swivel piece q, which
is jointed to a stud q¹ fixed in the bracket q²; the rod n is prolonged beyond
this swivel piece, and takes on a rib projecting from the double rack i. The
rod o is supported in the bracket q, and has an inclined piece o² fixed to it;
this piece o', when the rod o is moved endwise, acts on the lever o², seen best in
Fig. 2, the upper end of which is forked and takes in a groove in the boss of
the tappet 62. The lever o³ is jointed on a stud projecting from the bracket q
On referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that some of the links of the chain
m have blank spaces, and others have no blank spaces. The mode in which
these links act on the rods n, o, and p, will be explained hereafter. The links
m are connected by the rings m³, taking into suitable grooves near the end of
each link. The rings are held in their places by loops m, made of vulcanized
india-rubber or other suitable material. These loops fit in recesses or holes

page_text: in the links, and are put on when the links of the chain are connected by
the rings m³. The holes m in the links take on studs projecting from the
barrels, m³, and m²; the object of these holes and studs is to carry the chain
forward.
links m.
Fig. 6 represents a modification of our improved mode of connecting the
links of the pattern chain. In this arrangement the loops m may be dispensed
with, as the rings m³ are flat and fit in recesses in the grooves of the links m.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent other modifications of our improvements in uniting
the links of the chain, in which split rings are employed for connecting the
The mode of operation of the parts above described is as follows:-
The Drawing represents the centre compartment of the drop box g in a line
with the shuttle race, and the double rack i is out of gear with the pinion i¹
as long as no change is required in the pattern of the fabric. The links of the
chain m are made with holes, corresponding to the ends of the rods n, o, and
p, so that as the swing frame.l' brings the barrel and chain m towards the
ends of the said rods they all enter the holes of the links without altering the
position of the parts. As soon as the lowest compartment of the drop box is
required in a line with the shuttle race, the rod p is acted on by a blank in the
link of the chain m, thereby moving the swivel piece 7 into the position
indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 3, and causing the rod n to draw the outer
side of the double rack i into gear with the pinion ; by this means, when
the lever h¹, actuated by the tappet U, rises, it elevates the rack j and lifts the
drop box g, as required; the swivel piece q, after being moved into a diagonal
position, is again brought back to the position in which it is shewn in Fig. 3,
by the spring bolt q³. If the top compartment of the shuttle box had been.
required in a line with the shuttle race, the rod n would have been acted upon
by a blank in the link m, thereby bringing the other side of the rack i into
gear with the pinion ; and when a change from the top to the bottom com-
partments of the shuttle box is required, or vice versa, the rod o must be
acted upon by a blank in the chain m, to press the inclined piece o' against
the incline on the lever o²; by this means the tappet b is brought under the
bowl h, and the tappet shaft 6 in revolving causes the lever to move the
double rack through sufficient space to raise or lower the drop box the
distance required. The weight o' is to draw the lever o and tappet b² back
to their original positions as soon as the change in the position of the drop box
has been effected, and the spring coiled round the rod o, shewn in Fig. 3, is
to bring this rod back after it has been acted upon by a blank in the link of
the chain m. When it is desirable to regulate the position of the drop box by
hand, the attendant raises the handle f, thereby causing the eccentric f³ to

page_text: press back the spring j, by which the rack j is held in gear with the pinion
thereby allowing the rack j to be drawn out of gear with the said pinion
and setting the drop box at liberty to be moved by hand; this spring f" also
allows the rack j to go out of gear with the pinion 2 when any irregularity
occurs in the working parts of the drop box, thereby preventing accidents.
The peculiar character of this part of our Invention is, that a positive motion
is imparted to the drop box for changing its position, whereby the breaks or
other agents usually required for checking the momemtum and for preventing
the rebounding of the drop box are dispensed with.
Our improved mode of connecting the weft stop motion with the jacquard
chain m is constructed in the following manner :-The lever has a projecting
stud on which the tappet b³ acts; this tappet has a groove into which the stud
of the lever enters as long as the swing frame is required to remain in
action, but when the action of the chain is required to be stopped, the end of
the bent rod r, seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, is brought forward, so as to hold
down the end of the lever 1, and thereby to prevent the tappet 3 acting
sufficiently on the swing frame l' to bring the chain m against the rods n, o,
and p; when the lever is thus held down, the stud projecting from it is held
beyond the groove in the tappet 3. The other end of the bent rod ris
furnished with a bracket 7, connected to the spring lever 1, which passes
through the plate 2, in which are retaining notches for the spring levers
and 3. The ordinary strap. guide passes through a slot in the spring lever
3, to which is fixed the bracket for acting on the spring lever ; this
bracket is so made, that when the lever is moved into its retaining notch
the lever is also moved into its retaining notch, but the lever ³ can be
liberated from its retaining notch without influencing the lever r, the object of
which is to allow the weaver to work the loom by hand when the driving
strap is on the loose pulley, and to effect any alterations that may be required
in the pattern chain. The weft fork r is connected to the lever
usual manner. These parts are shewn in the Drawing in the positions they
occupy when the loom is at work, and when the tappet is acting on the swing
frame to bring forward the chain m against the ends of the rods n, o, and
p as soon as the weft fails, the lever acting on the spring levers 71 and 7t
liberates them from their retaining notches, and the end of the bent rod r then
advances into the position shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby preventing
the lever rising and the chain m from acting on the rods n, o, or p.
in the
Our improvements in the picking motion are as follows:-The picking
tappet, marked b' in Fig. 1, acts in the usual manner on the bowls of the
picking shafts, to which is connected the picking stick s²; the strap s³ connects

page_text: the picking stick to the picker s', which is connected by a strap s to the lever
t, supported on a stud fixed to the lay c, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 9; the lever
t is acted upon by the spring t¹. The strap 5 passes around a roller in the
lever t, and is then made fast to a stud se projecting from the lay c. The
Drawing represents the parts in the positions they occupy when the shuttle
has entered the drop box. As soon as the tappet & has moved a little more in
the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the spring t¹ acting on the levert draws
the picker to the end of the shuttle box to allow the same to be raised or
lowered, the peculiar shape of the tappet & allowing the bowls to pass over
the projection X of the tappet b'. By this arrangement it will be seen that the
picker is held by the tappet in the proper position for arresting the shuttle
when it enters the box, and consequently the shoulders usually made on the
shuttles are dispensed with.
The retaining notch in the drop box is shewn in Fig. 2, on referring to
which it will be seen that the frame in which the drop box g moves up and
down is provided with a rib c', in which the retaining notch is made; the swell,
u of each compartment of the shuttle box (see the detached view, Fig. 9, on
Sheet 2,) is made with a projection u', against which the piece u fixed to the
stop rod acts in the usual manner. When the shuttle enters the shuttle box
the swell is pressed outwards, thereby moving the projection u¹ out of the notch
in the rib c', and allowing the drop box to be raised or lowered; but if the
shuttle fails to enter the drop box, the projection u¹ remains in the notch
of the rib c', and the drop box is prevented from being raised or lowered.
When the drop box has more than three compartments and the shuttles
are required in any succession, the sliding tappet le may be made with two or
more lifts, in which case the chain m is made with projections or recesses, by
which the traverse of the rod o may be varied; by this means the compound
tappet & is brought more or less under the bowl h, as required, to give the
proper motion to the rack j and drop box g.
The last part of our Invention is shewn in Fig. 10, which represents part of
a machine for folding fabrics, constructed in the manner described in the Spe-
cification of Letters Patent granted to John Wormald in One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six. Our improvements consist in making the rails * on
which the carriage y with the folding instruments run with two curved sur-
faces, instead of making the said rails with straight surfaces, as now customary;
by this means the various parts of the machine are more equally balanced, and
less power is required for working the machine.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the manner

page_text: of performing the same, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to the details set forth; but what we do claim is,-
First, the imparting a positive motion to the drop box of a loom, whereby
the breaks or other agents usually required for checking the momentum and
preventing the rebounding of the drop box are dispensed with.
Secondly, the improved combination of machinery, shewn and described, for
raising and lowering the drop box, by which the shuttles may be brought in
any required succession in a line with the shuttle race, and particularly the
double rack i, and parts acting in combination therewith.
Thirdly, the lever f2, and parts in combination therewith, for liberating the
rack j, by which the drop box is raised and lowered.
Fourthly, the guide barrels m' and m², and the connecting of them by
gearing so that the fresh portion of the chain of cards is taken forward and the
slack is taken up.
Fifthly, the improved mode of connecting the weft stop motion with the
jacquard chain, for the purposes described.
Sixthly, the improved mode of uniting or connecting the links of jacquard
or pattern chains.
Seventhly, the improvements in the picking motion, shewn and described,
by means of which the shoulders on the shuttle are dispensed with.
Eighthly, the application of a retaining notch to prevent the rising or falling
of the drop box when the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box..
And, lastly, the application of curved rails for the carriages of machines
for folding fabrics for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Richard Roberts, Wright Shaw, and
Samuel Shaw, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day
of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
RICHARD ROBERTS. (L.S.)
WRIGHT SHAW.
(L.S.)
SAMUEL SHAW.
(LS.)
RICHARD ROBERTS. (L.S.)
WRIGHT SHAW.
(L.S.)
SAMUEL SHAW.
(LS.)