Improvements in Machines for Making Wire Heddles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BENAZET, of Rheims, Marne, in the
Republic of France.]
Improvements in Machines for Making Wire Heddles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The invention consists of a machine for making wire heddles, the same embodying
means for forming the end loops and the central eye, and the proper twists aside of
said eye, said means being hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly broken away of a heddle machine
embodying my invention.
Figures 2 and 3 represent elevations of opposite ends of the machine.
Figure 4 represents an end view of a portion of the machine, partly sectional, on
line, Figure 1.
Figure 5 represents an end view of a portion of the machine, partly sectional, on
3,y, Figure 1.
line
Figure 6 represents a side elevation of one of the devices for twisting the wire,
on an enlarged scale.
Figure 7 represents a side elevation of one of the plates of the twisting device
shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 represents a vertical section on line z z Figure 6.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation of one of the devices for twisting the wire.
Figure 10 represents an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 represents a plan view of a detached portion of the machine.
Figure 12 represents a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 11, but in different
positions.
Figures 13 and 14 represent partial side elevations and partial vertical sections
of detached portions of the machine.
Figure 15 represents a plan view of the wire as bent previous to being twisted.
Figure 16 represents a view of the product.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawings:
A designates the frame of the machine on which is journalled the driving shaft B,
provided with a driving pulley C, and a clutch D. The driving shaft B has keyed
or otherwise secured to it a spur wheel E, which meshes with a gear wheel F on a
counter shaft G journalled on the frame A. The counter shaft G carries a
mutilated spur wheel H, whose periphery has teeth J, and untoothed part K, so as
to impart an intermittent rotary motion to a gear wheel L, which latter is secured
to the elongated hub M of a grooved feed pulley N, around which latter passes
the wire P, from which the heddles are formed, said hub being loosely mounted on
said shaft B.
The wire P may be drawn by the pulley N from a reel, or any source of supply.
It is evident that as the pulley N is secured to the gear wheel L, the intermittent
motions imparted to said gear wheel will be transmitted to said pulley N.
Qdesignates a cam which is secured to the shaft B, and operates a lever K,
secured to a rock shaft S, journalled in the frame A, see Figures 1 and 4. The

page_text: rock shaft S carries a lever T, formed with a cutting edge U, adapted to sever a
projecting end of the wire P, as will be hereinafter described.
V designates a spur wheel, which is secured to the shaft B, and carries the studs
or rollers W, and W', and meshes with a pinion X journalled in the frame A.
Connected with said pinion is a twisting device Y, for the wire from which the
heddles are formed, and which device will be hereinafter fully described.
The spur wheel meshes with a pinion Z, which latter meshes with an idler Z
secured to a shaft Z2, which carries a pinion Z³, the latter meshing with and
imparting motion to a gear wheel A', loosely mounted on the shaft B, it being
noticed that the gear wheel A' revolves in an opposite direction to that of the
gear wheel V, so that the pinion B' with which the wheel A' meshes, causes the
twisting device C' to rotate in the same direction as said pinion B', or in a reverse
direction to the twisting device Y.
The gear wheel A' is provided on one of its faces with rollers D' and D2 adapted
to operate a portion of the twisting device C. The opposite face of the gear
wheel A' is provided with rollers E¹ and E' adapted to impart rocking motions to
an elbow lever F1, which operates a portion of the twisting device C₁ notably the
plate Q which will be hereinafter again referred to.
G¹ designates a mutilated gear wheel secured to the shaft B, and rotating in the
same direction as the wheel V.
The object of said wheel G' is to impart an intermittent rotary motion to the
pinion H with which it meshes, so that said pinion may transmit a similar
intermittent motion to the twisting device J', with which said pinion is connected.
The wheel G is provided with rollers K' and K' to operate certain portions of
the twisting device J', as will be hereinafter described.
L' designates cams which are secured to the shaft B, and operate the spring-
actuated elbow levers M', adapted to bear against a portion of the wire from which
the heddles are formed, and hold the same firmly against the cross bars N' of the
frame A, while the wire is being twisted in order to form the eye thereof.
P¹ designates a cam secured to the shaft B, and adapted to operate a spring-
pressed sliding bar Q1 having its wedge-shaped end bearing against the lower
portions of the pivoted levers R' and S' and adapted when raised to pass between
the lower portions of said levers R' and S' and separate them, whereby the upper
portions of the same are brought together, and thereby act as jaws for clamping a
portion of the wire to be formed into a heddle.
T' designates a cam secured to the shaft B, and adapted to operate a spring-
actuated sliding rod U₁ formed with a finger V₁ around which latter is bent a
portion of the wire, in order to form one of the end loops of a heddle, see
Figures 11, 12 and 13.
The rod U carries a finger U* adapted to operate an elbow lever V* pivoted
to the frame A, so that the end W** of said lever may bear against the portion of
the wire P adjacent to the finger V', and firmly hold said portion against
the frame A, while the twisting of the other parts of the wire P is being
accomplished.
W designates a cam secured to the shaft, and adapted to operate a lever X¹, so
that the latter may impart a reciprocating motion to a sliding plate Y¹, formed
with a finger A³ and held in its normal position by a spring B³, as shown in
Figure 11.
C³ designates a head secured to the shaft B, and provided with a bevelled
toothed segment D³, serving as a mutilated pinion.
The teeth of said segment D³ mesh with a bevelled pinion E³ secured to a
shaft F³, so as to impart an intermittent rotary motion to said shaft, the latter
carrying with it the arm G³, which is secured thereon, said arm G³ being con-
nected by a pitman H³ with a cross head J³, the latter being guided on the frame A,
and receiving reciprocating motion from said pitman, it having the rod K³ secured
to it, the same following the motions of said head.
The forward end of the rod K³ is formed with a hook L³ adapted to take hold

page_text: of the wire P, and draw the same from the feed pulley N, and through the severa!
twisting devices herein before described.
M³ (Figures 1 and 3) designates a rock shaft journalled in the frame A, and
carrying a spring-actuated arm N*, and a locking arm P³. The arm N³ is operated
by a cam Q on the shaft B, and thereby imparts a rocking motion to the
shaft M³, which in turn operates the locking arm P³, so that the same may
hold, as well as release the arm G³ when so required, said arm P³ being formed
with a shoulder K³ to receive the arm G³ and lock the latter while the wire P is
being twisted.
As
The twisting device J', see more particularly Figure 9, consists of a head S³
formed with a circumferential flange T³, provided with the openings U³ and V³.
Guided in said head is a slide or plate W formed with cam faces X³ and Y.
will be seen the face X³ enters the opening U³, and the face Y³ enters the
opening V³, so as to cause the head S³ to rotate to the right and left as required, in
order to operate the sliding jaws A, which are guided in the head S³, and have
their inner ends adapted to hold a portion of the wire while the same is being
twisted.
The jaws A are provided with studs B' which enter oblique slots C₁ in the
head S, so that the motions imparted to the head S³ by the cam faces X³ and Ys
will cause the jaws A to either open or close as the case may be.
The bub D of the pinion Hi, Figures 9 and 10, has firmly secured to it the
central plate E' of the twisting device J', so as to cause said device to rotate with
the pinion H'. In said plate E is guided the slide W³.
The head S3 is fitted loosely on the hub D' so as to have a motion independent of
that of said hub, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
The hub D is journalled in a cross bar F of the frame A thus leaving the
bore G of said hub free for the passage therethrough of the rod K³ and wire P,
caught by said rod.
H (Figure 9) designates a spring-actuated tumbler which is pivoted to the
head S, and adapted to have one of its ends J* enter a depression K' in the
slide W³, and thereby retain said plate in the proper position.
The opposite end L of the tumbler H enters at a given time another
depression M in the slide W³, and retains said slide in the proper position for a
purpose hereinafter described.
N designates screws against which abut the outer ends of the jaws A', when the
same are closed, so that said jaws may firmly grasp the wire P, while the same is
being twisted.
The twisting device Y is similar in construction to the device J¹.
The twisting device C¹ Figures 67 and 8 consists of a plate Q to which is
secured a block R formed with a fingor S', said block being guided in a radial
slot S× in the pinion B' so as to be permitted to slide in said block, whereby the
finger S may be brought between the wires P, as shown in Figure 15, and removed
therefrom when required.
The hub T of the pinion B' is journalled in the cross bar N¹ of the frame A,
and formed with an opening U through which the block R* passes in order that
its finger S may reach the wire P, see Figure 8.
The pinion B is provided with a spring bolt V which engages with recesses W
in the plate Q, so as to retain said plate in its proper position, when the same is
raised and lowered.
It will be noticed that the plate Q' is formed with an opening X, and that
the bolt V+ moves within said opening and is flush with the outer face of the
plate Q, so that said bolt is held in position on the pinion B' by being in
contact with the inner face of the wall of the cross bar N', see Figure 8.
.
The twisting device C¹ consists also of a plate Y* formed with an opening Z
5 similar in shape to the opening X, but in an inverted position.
The plate Y has secured to it a block A, formed with a finger B, and is guided
in a radial slot D' in the hub T' of the pinion B¹, so that said block may travel in

page_text: the slot D in order that the finger B' after passing through said slot D° in the
hub T may enter the space between the wires P and abut against the finger S
preparatory to twisting the wire so as to form the eye of the heddle.
E designates a spring bolt adapted to slide on the pinion B', and engages with
either of the recesses or depressions F in the plate Y*, so as to hold said plate in
its raised or lowered position, as the case may require. The rod K³ moves
freely through the bore K* of the hub T, as will be seen in Figure 8.
The feed pulley N is provided with an automatic clamping or nipping device N*,
which may be of any suitable description, and is adapted to hold the wire P while
the pulley draws the same from a real or other source of supply.
The pulley N is also provided with automatic shears N** which may be of any
suitable description, and are adapted to cut the wire so that the same may be
removed from the pulley N, by the rod K³, and formed into heddles.
G³ designates clamping device of any suitable construction, to permit the
wire P to pass freely through the same in one direction, so that the wire may be
drawn through said device by the feed pulley N, but be prevented from yielding,
due to back action, caused by the tension of the wire from a reel or source of
supply.
The operation is as follows:-
The end of the wire P, which may be supplied from a reel, is passed through
the clamping device G³, and inserted by hand between the jaws of the clamping
device Nx. The machine is then started, and the feed pulley N in rotating
carries the wire P with it until the approximate length required to form a heddle
has been drawn from the reel.
The pulley N then ceases to rotate, due to the fact that the blank portion K of
the gear wheel H has reached the gear wheel I, and passes around the same
without coming in contact therewith.
The wire is then cut by the shears N**. The rod K³ then advances by the
mechanism herein before described, and its hook L³ takes hold of the wire P in its
path, and the return motion of the rod removes the wire from the feed pulley N,
and draws it doubled or with legs of unequal length through the several twisting
devices hereinbefore described, it being noticed that the wire from the reel projects
above the clamp G³, so as to be grasped by the clamp N* when the latter arrives
at the projecting portion.
The arm G now rests on the shoulder R³ of the arm P³ and is held by the
same in a locked position, as shown in Figure 3.
When the wire P has been removed from the feed pulley N, one of its ends
projects beyond the other, as clearly shown in Figure 11. As the longest leg is
somewhat longer than required, the proper amount is removed by the cutter U of
the lever T under which the leg has passed.
The sliding rod U is now raised by the cam T¹ so as to bring its finger V₁
between the ends of the wire P, see Figures 11, 12 and 13.
The lever. X is then operated, and coming in contact with the finger A³ causes
the sliding plate Y*, which carries said finger to advance.
The spring B³ is sufficiently strong to hold the plate Y¹ in proper position on the
frame A, while said plate is being carried forward by the lever X¹.
The end of a slot Y* of said plate Y' then abuts against the stud Y** on the
frame A, as a stop for the plate.
The lever X', has moved only a portion of its throw when the plate Y' has
travelled its full extent, so that the lever X' in completing its throw will overcome
the holding action of the spring B³, and cause the plate Y', and consequently the
finger As to rotate on the stud Y** as a centre, and thereby bend the projecting
end of the wire P around the finger V, as shown in Figure 12.
The sliding plate Y¹ and consequently the finger A³ thereon are returned to
their former positions by the lever X1, and spring B³, as shown in Figure 11.
After the projecting end of the wire P has been bent around the finger V
as shown in Figure 12, and the plate Y' has been returned to its normal position,

page_text: as shown in Figure 11, the end W** of the lever V× is brought into contact with
the bent portion of the wire P, as hereinbefore described, and firmly holds the
same in position on the frame A.
The elbow lever U¹ which remained stationary during this time, due to a dwell
in the cam T¹, now completes its downward movement and bears against the
wire P, bent around the finger V, thus holding the wire firmly on the frame A.
The jaws R and S₁ are now closed, as hereinbefore described, and bring
the portions a, b and c of the wire P close together, see Figures 12 and 15.
The roller K³ now comes in contact with the end w of the slide W³, and
causes the same to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 1, in Figure 9.
This causes the cam face X³ to work against the wall U of the opening Us, and
rotate the head S³ on the central portion E in the direction indicated by the
arrow 2, Figure 9.
The slots C' in connection with the studs B', will, owing to their oblique
directions, cause said studs, and consequently the jaws A to advance towards each
other and firmly grasp the contiguous part of the wire P between them.
The roller W operates a slide in the twisting device Y in precisely the same
manner as described in connection with the twisting device J', while the looped end
of the wire is held on the hook L³.
The levers M¹ now bear against the wire P, and firmly hold the same against the
frame A.
The lever P¹ in lowering, strikes the plate Q, and causes the same to slide on
the pinion B', so as to bring the finger S between the wires P, as shown in
Figure 15. The roller D' at the same time comes in contact with the plate Y4,
and causes the same to slide on the pinion B', so as to introduce the finger B'
between the legs of the wires, and to abut against the finger S.
The clamping of the wire by the twisting devices C¹, J₁ and Y takes place
simultaneously. The moment the devices C, J', and Y take hold of the wires P,
they twist the same, owing to their rotary motions, the twists being next to the
respective loops and the eye of the heddle, it being seen that the end loops of the
heddle are formed by the twisting devices Y and J', and that the central eye is
formed by the twisting devices C, which latter, as hereinbefore stated, revolves in
a reverse direction to the devices Y and J', the central eye being prevented from
being closed, owing to the fingers S and B³, while the adjacent parts of the wire
are held by the levers M' said fingers then revolving with their connected parts,
and thus producing the twists on opposite sides of said eye.
When the heddle has received the required number of twists, the devices C', J¹
and Y simultaneously release the same.
As the end wo of the slide W³ has been moved by the roller K in the direction
indicated by the arrow 1, Figure 9, and its opposite end w' advanced and occupies
a position some distance from the periphery of the head S³, the roller K₁ contacted
with said end w¹ (which is the case when the wire P has received the required
number of twists) and the slide W³ is moved in a direction opposite to that
indicated by the arrow 1, and causes the cam face Y* of said plate to work against
the wall V of the opening V³ so that the head S³ rotates on the central portion E
in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 2, and thus the slot C* in
connection with the studs B will cause the jaws A' to move away from each other,
and thus let go of the wire.
As the roller W performs the same function in connection with the twisting
device Y, that the roller K' performs in connection with the twisting device J', the
description of the operation of one of these twisting devices, will, it is thought, be
sufficient for the others.
The roller E comes in contact with the edge D* of the plate Y, when the
device C has iniparted the required number of twists to the heddle, so that said
plates Qand Y are moved in opposite directions from each other by said rollers,
thus causing the fingers S and B to separate, and withdraw from the eye of the
beddle.
t

page_text: The several levers, that hold the wire P while the same is being twisted, let go
said wire at or about the said time that the twisting devices release the same.
When a heddle is finished, the same is pushed back through the twisting devices,
and when the motion of the same is to the full extent, it drops from the hook L³ of
the rod K, said hook then being located for a fresh operation.
The arm P which held the arm G³, while the twisting of the wire was being
accomplished, is now operated by the rock shaft M³, and caused to move outwardly,
so that its shoulder R³ leaves the arms G, and thus permits the latter to be rotated
by the shaft F³, so that the same may take hold of a fresh piece of wire for the
formation of another heddle.
As it is essential that the jaws A', shown in Figure 9 and the end on the left
hand portion of Figure 15, should take hold of the wire P. when said jaws are in
the positions shown in said figures, the twisting device J after imparting the
required number of twists to a heddle, ceases to rotate, due to the fact that the
blank portion of the gear wheel G¹ has reached the pinion H', and imparts no
motion to the same, whereby the jaws A' of said device are in the positions shown,
in order to bring the portion c of the wire P against the parts a and b when
the jaws A take hold of the same to close the loop, especially at the cut end of
the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In a wire heddle machine, the cam Q, and shaft B carrying the same, in
combination with the lever R and lever T, and the rock shaft S carrying said
levers, said lever having a cutter thereon, substantially as described.
2nd. In a wire heddle machine, the spur wheel V, with the rollers W, W₁
thereon, and the pinion X with which said wheel meshes, in combination with a
wire twisting device, substantially as described.
3rd. In a wire heddle machine, the wire-twisting device Y, in combination with
the wire-twisting device C¹, gearing intermediate of said devices, and means for
operating said gearing, whereby said devices rotate in reverse direction, substantially
as described.
°
4th. In a wire heddle machine, the gear wheel A¹ having rollers D', D' and E¹ E
on opposite sides thereof, in combination with the elbow lever F and the plate Q
of the wire-twisting device, substantially as described.
5th. In a wire heddle machine, the cams L' and the holding elbow levers Min
combination with the cross bars N¹ of the frame and a wire-twisting device, sub-
stantially as described.
6th. In a wire heddle machine, the cam P₁, the bar Q' operated by the same,
the jaws R, S, and a wedge on the end of said bar adapted to enter between
the heels of said jaws, substantially as described.
7th. In a wire heddle machine, the cam T', and the rod U₁ with the finger V' in
combination with wire-holding and twisting devices, substantially as described.
8th. In a wire beddle machine, the cam W* the lever X operated by the same,
the sliding plate Y' and the finger A³ on said plate, said lever engaging said plate,
and the parts being combined substantially as described.
9th. The head with the mutilated pinion D³ thereon, the pinion E³, the arm Q³
secured to the shaft of said pinion E³, the cross head J', the pitman connecting said
arm and pinion, and the hook rod K³, L' attached to said cross head, said parts
being combined with the feed pulley N and wire-twisting device, substantially as
described.
10th. In a wire heddle machine, the rock shaft M³, with the arm N³, and the
locking arm Ps thereon, in combination with the radial arm G, said arm P³ being
formed with the shoulder R³ for locking said radial arm, substantially as described.
11th. In a wire heddle machine, a twisting device formed of a rotating head,
means for rotating said head in reverse directions, a bore in said head for the

page_text: passage of the wire, and jaws for holding said wire, the parts being combined
substantially as described.
°
12th. In a wire heddle machine, a twisting device having a rotary head, a
circumferential flange thereon with openings therein, and a central plate, and
a slide which is guided in said opening and formed with cam faces, substantially
as described.
13th. In a wire heddle machine, a twisting device having a rotary head with slots
therein, and clamping jaws which are provided with studs which enter said slots,
means for operating said head, substantially as described.
14th. In a wire heddle machine, a pinion on whose hub the head of a twisting
device is loosely fitted, and the central plate of said head connected with said
pinion, the latter having a bore entirely through the same, substantially as
described.
15th. In a wire heddle machine, a twisting device having the head S³ and
tumbler H mounted thereon, in combination with the slide W which is fitted to
said head and formed with depressions at opposite places to receive the ends of said
tumbler, substantially as described.
16th. In a wire heddle machine, a twisting device having a rotary head with
slots therein, clamping jaws with studs in said slots, and an operating cam-faced
slide for said head, in combination with screws on the head with which the outer
ends of the said jaws engage, substantially as described.
17th. In a wire heddle machine, the twisting device C₁, having the plate Q, the
block R on said plate, the finger S' on said block, the pinion B in which said
plate is movable, and the cross bar N', on which the hub of said pinion is mounted,
said hub having au opening U through which said block R is adapted to pass and
reach the wire, substantially as described.
18th. In a wire heddle machine, the twisting device C' having the pinion B' and
the spring bolt V therein in combination with the open plate Q having recesses
with which said bolt engages and the open plate Y', substantially as described.
19th. In a wire heddle machine, the twisting device C' having the plate Y
having the sliding block A°, with the finger B, the pinion B' in which said block
is fitted, said pinion having the slots C5 for said finger B opposite to the finger S*
and the spring bolt E on the pinion B', said plate Y having the recesses F* for
engagement of the bolt E, substantially as described.
20th. In a wire heddle machine, the rotatable wheel A¹, the rollers D' and D'
on one face, and E¹ and E2 on the opposite face, the pivoted lever F', a pinion
meshing with said gear wheel, and having a connected twisting device with parts
operated by contact with said rollers and lever, said parts being combined sub-
stantially as described.
21st. In a wire heddle machine, a frame, a driving shaft a wire feed pulley
having intermittent rotary motion, a rod with hook adapted to draw the wire from
said pulley, twisting devices through which said rod passes, and mechanisms connected
with the shaft for imparting motions in opposite directions to said twisting devices,
said parts being combined substantially as described.
22nd. In a wire heddle machine, a frame, a driving shaft a wire feed pulley
loosely mounted on said shaft and having intermittent rotary motion, a rod with
means for drawing the wire from said pulley, twisting devices, mechanisms con-
nected with the shaft for operating said devices, mechanism connected with said
shaft for reciprocating said rod, said rod passing through said twisting devices,
a clamping device for said wire, and a shearing device, said parts being combined
substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.