IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LADDER TAPES FOR VENETIAN BLINDS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas French and John Monks both of Manchester in
the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LADDER TAPES FOR VENETIAN BLINDS"
:
PROVISIONAL' SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas French and John
Monks at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1882.
THOMAS FRENCH and JOHN MONKS both of Manchester in the County of
Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LADDER
TAPES FOR VENETIAN BLINDS."
This invention relates to improvements in that class of machine now employed
for weaving ladder tapes for venetian blinds all in one piece instead of sewing the
smaller tapes in position to support the laths as previously practised-and has for
its object the simplification of the machinery for operating the shafts which form
the cross tapes whereby friction upon the warps is considerably reduced and a
greater quantity of work is produced from a loom in a given time.
Instead of mounting four sets of Jacks consisting of four each at different levels
whereby of necessity the fulcrums are arranged one behind the other and which
consequently require greater power to operate them we arrange two sets of Jacks
of eight each at two different levels, whereby such Jacks are capable of being
balanced or nearly so, on their fulcrums and thus require the minimum of power to
work them.
We thus arrange that the warps for forming the tapes instead of dropping from
top to bottom and vice-versa shall be worked from the centre of the top and
bottom web whereby the distance traversed by such warps is reduced one half
and the shafts which carry the warps for forming the cross tapes come back to
the centre after each pick. In this manner we are also enabled to simplify the
Jacquard mechanism for operating the healds and instead of using at least ninety
six hooks as heretofore, we only employ sixteen hooks and we elongate such hooks
and thus we obtain the desired extra.lift.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas French and John Monks in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th January 1883.
THOMAS FRENCH and JOHN MONKS both of the City of Manchester in the
County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE 5
OF LADDER TAPES FOR VENETIAN BLINDS "
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of machine now employed
for weaving ladder tapes for venetian blinds all in one piece instead of sewing the
smaller tapes in position to support the laths as previously practised and has for
its object the simplification of the machinery for operating the shafts which form 1
the cross tapes whereby friction upon the warps is considerably reduced and a
greater quantity of work is produced from a loom in a given time.
Instead of mounting four sets of jacks consisting of four each at different levels
whereby of necessity the fulcrums are arranged one behind the other and which
consequently require greater power to operate them; in accordance with this 1
Invention which is illustrated in front view upon the accompanying drawing we
arrange two sets of jacks A and B of eight each at two different levels whereby
such jacks are capable of being balanced or nearly so on their respective
fulcrums C and D and thus require the minimum of power to work them.
The jacks A and B are connected by means of the elastic cord (a) and non
elastic cord (b) to a similar number and series of smaller jacks E which are used
for raising and lowering the heald shafts F four of the jacks E being connected tó
the tops of the said shafts F by the cords a and being designed to lift them whilst
the other four jacks E are connected by the cords e to one extremity of the lower
jacks G which are connected at their other extremities as illustrated by the cords f:
to the bottom of the said shafts F and are designed to lower them. The heald
shafts F are further connected by the cords (g) to the four balance jacks H which
are weighted by weights I at one extremity so as to lift the said shafts and to
balance them in the required position the cord c being arranged to prevent the
weights I lifting the said shafts too far.
We thus arrange that the shafts F which carry the warps for forming the cross
tapes instead of lifting from bottom to top and vice-versa shall be worked from
the centre of the top and bottom web whereby the distance traversed by such
warps is reduced by one half and the shafts F which carry the warps for forming
the cross tapes come back to the centre after each pick.
In this manner we are also enabled to simplify the jacquard mechanism for
operating the healds and instead of using ninety six hooks as heretofore in four
rows we only employ sixteen hooks J in one row and we elongate such hooks and
also the lift in the jacquard machine and thus we obtain the required deep lift
without having to get it from the jacks as heretofore
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention together with the best method with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect we wish it to be understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details relative proportions or dimensions of the
various parts of the improved apparatus herein before described and illustrated on
the accompanying drawing as the same may be considerably varied without
departing from the invention but what we claim as our improvements in machinerý
for weaving ladder tapes for venetian blinds is :-
1st Mounting and arranging the jacks and balancing and operating the shafts
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2nd The mode of arranging the hooks of the jacquard machine all in one row
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof we the said Thomas French and John Monks have
hereunto set our hands and seals this Third day of January in the year of
our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and eighty three.