IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Buchanan, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING,
Sealed the 8th June 1860, and dated. the 29th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Buchanan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
March 1860.
JAMES BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows, that
is to say-
This Invention relates to various improvements in the mechanical details
connected with the manufacture of heddies or healds for weaving, which
"improvements have reference more or less to the improvements specified
under certain British Letters Patent granted to Messrs. Bertie and Anderson,
in the year 1835, No. 6950, and to me, their sole assignee, bearing date on
or about the 14th day of May 1855, No. 1087, and the 12th, day of June
1857, No. 1646.
In the present arrangement of the heddle-knitting machine, the mechanism
connected with the traversing movements of the needles is greatly simplified.

page_text: The improved needle box is, by preference, made of malleable cast iron, and
in the front end of the box there is an aperture to admit of the needle passing
through it. To the backward end of each holder or near thereto a link is
attached, which connects the holder to a vertical rod, to which a vertical
reciprocating movement is imparted by means of a cam or crank, or other
suitable and convenient movement fitted to a horizontal shaft, or by connecting
the two holders one link is sufficient. The upward movement of the vertical
rod causes the link which actuates the needle holder or holders to be run back,
whilst its downward action draws the needle or needles forward. To provide
for the shifting up or down of the lower needle an improved holder is or may
be used. In this holder a series of three or other number of holes are
arranged, and in one or the other of these holes a needle is fixed so as to be
worked according to the requirements of the manufacture. To provide for the
varying width of heddles required for different kinds of weaving, the upper
needle box is shifted from one to another of a series of holes made in the
standards, which support the upper needle box and its connected mechanism.
At the front end of the needle box there is a small incline, which comes in
contact with a lever, or lever and spring, arranged above it at the backward
movement of the box. The upward pressure of the incline upon the spring
causes its other end to depress the point of the needle, and close it at the
instant required, as delineated and described in the Specification of my Patent
of 1855, No. 1087, and the parts may be coupled and worked by oue incline
in the same manner as the needles.
An arrangement for driving the lap cord bobbins so as to admit of varying
their distance asunder according to the width of the heddles consists of a
rectangular plate, which is centred upon a stud carried by the framing of the
machine. This plate carries a wheel at its upper and lower ends, so that by
turning the plate upon its centre these wheels may be brought into gear with
the pinions on the lap cord holders at varying distances asunder of the
pinions.
Another necessary arrangement, which also provides for varying the depth
of the heddle, is obtained by raising the cylinder or drum, and lowering the
lower circle on which the rib cords are wound; or a pair of smaller cylinders
or rollers may take up and deliver each rib cord just as one cylinder would do
in the older plan, and thus diminish the space occupied by this part of the
machine. In either case the variation of depth may be provided for in a
similar manner.
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated June 12th
1857, No. 1646, is described and shown a mechanical arrangement, which by

page_text: self-acting means causes a coloured thread or marking to be worked into the
heddle each time that a predetermined number of "slits" have been made.
In the arrangement referred to, the marking is effected by means of a ratchet
wheel, the face of which has a circular series of holes made in it. As the
heddle-forming mechanism moves to and fro, the ratchet wheel is moved tooth
by tooth in unison therewith. This rotatory action would go on continuously,
but by means of a pin placed in one of the holes of the ratchet wheel, and a
moveable index, which has a pin on its under side, the wheel is caused to
reverse its motion. The face pin and that on the index are placed as many
holes asunder as it is desired to put in loops of the heddle between the
working in of the marking. When the wheel has moved round this pre-
arranged number of teeth, the connected mechanism reverses its motion, and
places the marking thread so that it is worked into the "backing." In order
to ensure close attention on the part of the worker, and to oblige her to keep
count with the movements of the machine in the present Invention, the
reversing of the ratchet wheel is effected by means of a hand lever arranged to
reverse the movement of the ratchet wheel upon being depressed by the land
of the worker, as the legs of the heddle are severally formed partly by the
heddle mechanism, and partly by the worker, she keeps count of the number,
and at the predetermined interval she strikes the projecting hand lever with the
knuckles of her right hand, which reverses the action of the ratchet wheel, and
causes the marking to be worked into the heddle. This ensures due atten-
tion on the part of the worker, as any omission is at once shown on the
indicator.
The next part of this Invention consists of improvements in coating or
covering the heddles with paste, varnish, or other composition. Under one
arrangement the heddles are distended horizontally by mechanical means,
the coating composition being spread over the heddles at one end by means of
suitable rollers, which are hollow, and heated by steam or other heating agent.
This coating composition is brushed into the heddles, and the fibres thereof
are laid smooth by means of rotatory brushes, which are caused to traverse to
and fro and endlong over the heddles. Or, in lieu of this arrangement, the
heddles may be caused to traverse to and fro, the smoothing and distributing
brushes having both a rotatory and a traversing motion imparted to them.
With these arrangements the sizing, varnishing, or finishing of the healds or
beddles can be effected in a manner more even than and superior to the mode
described in my Patent dated June 12th, 1857, and numbered 1646.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Buchanan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Ter Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Buchanan, Her special license that I, the said James Buchanan,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Buchanan, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE
MANUFACTURE AND FINISHING OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Buchanan, by an instrument in writing under
my hand 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 James Buchanan, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained 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 various improvements in the mechanical
details connected with the manufacture of heddles or healds for weaving,
which improvements bave reference more or less to the improvements specified
under certain British Letters Patent granted to Messieurs Berrie and
Anderson in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, and to me,
their sole assignee, bearing date on or about the Fourteenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, and the Twelfth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.

page_text: In the present arrangement of the heddle-knitting machine, the mechanism
connected with the traversing movements of the needles is greatly simplified.
The improved needle box is by preference made of malleable cast iron, and in the
front end of the box there is an aperture to admit of the needle passing through
it. To the backward end of each holder or near thereto a link is attached, which
connects the holder to a vertical rod, to which a vertical reciprocatory movement
is imparted by means of a cam or crank, or other suitable and convenient
movement fitted to a horizontal shaft, or by connecting the two holders, one link
is sufficient. The upward movement of the vertical rod causes the link which
actuates the needle holder or holders to be run back, whilst its downward
action draws the needle or needles forward. To provide for the shifting up or
down of the lower needle, an improved holder is or may be used. In this
holder a series of three or other number of holes are arranged, and in one or
the other of these holes a needle is fixed so as to be worked according to the
requirements of the manufacture. To provide for the varying with of
heddles required for different kinds of weaving, the upper needle box is shifted
from one to another of a series of holes made in the standards which support
the upper needle box and its connected mechanism. At the front end of the
needle box there is a small incline which comes in contact with a lever or
lever and spring arranged above it at the backward movement of the box.
The upward pressure of the incline upon the spring causes its other end to
depress the point of the needle, and close it at the instant required, as
delineated and described in the Specification of my Patent of One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five, and the parts may be coupled and worked by one
incline in the same manner as the needles.
.
An arrangement for driving the lap cord bobbins so as to admit of varying
their distance asunder according to the width of the heddles, consists of a
rectangular plate, which is centred upon a stud carried by the framing of the
machine. This plate carries a wheel at its upper and lower ends, so that by
turning the plate upon its centre, these wheels may be brought into gear with
the pinions on the lap cord holders at varying distances asunder of the pinions.
Another necessary arrangement, which also provides for varying the depth of
the heddle, is obtained by raising the cylinder or drum, and lowering the lower
circle on which the rib cords are wound; or a pair of smaller cylinders or
rollers may take up and deliver each rib cord just as one cylinder would do in
the older plan, and thus diminish the space occupied by this part of the
machine; in either case the variation of depth may be provided for in a
similar manner.
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated Twelfth

page_text: June, One thousand eight hundred and seven, No. 1646, is described and
shown a mechanical arrangement, which by self-acting means causes a coloured
thread or marking to be worked into the heddle each time that a pre-
determined number of "splits" have been made. In the arrangement
referred to, the marking is effected by means of a ratchet wheel, the face of
which has a circular series of holes made in it. As the heddle-forming
mechanism moves to and fro, the ratchet wheel is moved tooth by tooth in
unison therewith. This rotatory action would go on continuously, but by means
of a pin placed in one of the holes of the ratchet wheel, and a moveable index
which has a pin on its under side, the wheel is caused to reverse its motion.
The face pin, and that on the index, are placed as many holes asunder as it is
desired to put in loops of the heddle between the working in of the marking.
When the wheel has moved round this prearranged number of teeth, the
connected mechanism reverses its motion, and places the marking thread so that
it is worked into the "backing." In order to ensure close attention on the
part of the worker, and to oblige her to keep count with the movements of the
machine, in the present Invention the reversing of the ratchet wheel is
effected by means of a hand lever arranged to reverse the movement of the
ratchet wheel upon being depressed by the hand of the worker. As the legs
of the heddle are severally formed partly by the heddle mechanism and partly
by the worker, she keeps count of the number, and at the predetermined
interval she strikes the projecting hand lever with the knuckles of her right
hand, which reverses the action of the ratchet wheel, and causes the marking
to be worked into the heddle. This ensures due attention on the part of the
worker, as any omission is at once shown on the indicator.
The next part of this Invention consists of improvements in coating or
covering the heddles with paste, varnish, or other composition. Under one
arrangement, the heddles are distended horizontally by mechanical means, the
coating composition being spread over the heddles at one end by means of
suitable rollers, which are hollow, and heated by steam or other heating agent.
This coating composition is brushed into the heddles, and the fibres thereof
are laid smooth by means of rotatory brushes, which are caused to traverse to
and fro and endlong over the heddles. Or, in lieu of this arrangement, the
heddles may be caused to traverse to and fro, the smoothing and distributing
brushes having both a rotatory and a traversing motion imparted to them.
With these arrangements, the sizing, varnishing, or finishing of the healds or
heddles can be effected in a manner more even than and superior to the mode
described in my Patent dated Twelfth June, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven, and numbered 1646.

page_text: .
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in the manufacture
and finishing of heddles or healds for weaving, and in the machinery or
apparatus employed therein, may be properly understood, I shall now proceed
to explain the several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings, which
I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications
under which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that
is to say:
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, represents a back
elevation of a heddle machine, arranged according to my present Invention;
Figure 2 is a partially sectional end view; and Figure 3 is a plan corre-
sponding to Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the
mechanical details; Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 2, are sectional end and sido
elevations of a portion of the heddle machine, to show the arrangement of the
working parts of the machine, and particularly the movement for marking the
heddles with a coloured thread at predetermined intervals; Figure 7 is a plan
of a cam movement forming a part of the arrangement delineated in Figures 5
and 6. All these Figures are drawn to a larger scale than are delineated in
Sheet 1.
The general arrangement of the heddle machine, delineated in Sheet 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, is the same as that described in the
Specification of British Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date
on or about the Fifteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-four, and numbered 2423. This part of my present Invention consists of
several improvements in the mechanical details of the said heddle machine;
and as its arrangement and mode of action has been minutely described in the
Specification of the Letters Patent referred to, it will only be necessary for me
to describe the new parts, together with their arrangement and connection.
with the machine. On the cross rails of the upper part of the framing A are
arranged the bearings of the horizontal shaft B, from which the mechanically.
actuated details of the machine derive their motion. The shaft B has on its
outer extremity a fast and loose pulley C, which is driven in the ordinary.
manner. At the inner end of the shaft B is a bevil pinion D, which gives
motion to the wheel E on the shaft F; this is a short transverse shaft, the
inner extremity of which has keyed to it the crank G. A link connects.
the crank G to the vertical sliding bar I; the rotatory motion of the crank-
imparts to this bar a vertical reciprocatory movement. The sliding bar I is
connected by means of the two links J to the needle holders K, which slide to
and fro in the needle boxes L. There is a series of holes M. formed in the
bar I, so that the upper link L may be adjusted to suit different depths of

page_text: heddles. The needle holders K are arranged to slide to and fro in the boxes
J, which are by preference formed of malleable cast iron, and the lower holder
has in the front end a series of three or other number of holes, to admit of the
needles being shifted up or down. The needle boxes are secured by means of
bolts and nuts to the vertical standard N, which forms a portion of the main
framing of the machine. Holes are formed at O in the standard N, to admit
of the upper needle box L being shifted up and down to suit the formation of
heddles of various depths. The needles P, which are fixed in the sliding
holders K, alternately advance beyond the needle boxes, as shown in Figure 6,
on Sheet 2, of the accompanying Drawings, or they are drawn within the
boxes, as shown in Figure 1, on Sheet 1. The reciprocatory movements of the
needles P serve to form, with the aid of suitable binding or backing threads, a
series of intertwined loops, known as the "drummer's plait." These loops bind
the legs of the heddle to the upper and lower rib cords Q. The rib cords are
wound upon two drums R, which are carried on a laterally projecting bracket
and a stud fixed in one of the uprights of the framing; this portion of the
arrangement is delineated in Figure 2, on Sheet 1, of the accompanying
Drawings. On the ends of each of the drums R there is a grooved pulley,
over which a cord is passed, one end of the cord is fast to the cross rail of the
framing, and the other is attached to the cross head of the adjustable pace S.
The vertical stem of the pace S passes through a tubular holder which is fast
to the cross rail, and by means of the thumbscrew T, the tension on the lap
cords can be regulated at pleasure. The lap cords are carried upwards
over the pulleys U, and through the hollow studs or tubular guides V, which
carry the revolving spindles or bosses of the mechanical fingers X. These
revolving spindles carry the bobbins W, the threads from which form the
backing or binding threads, which are passed through a hole formed in the
extremity of each of the mechanical fingers X. The threads pass under a ten-
sional spring Y, arranged on the finger before reaching the aperture at the free
extremity of the finger. The rotatory motion imparted to the fingers X is
communicated from the shaft B, which carries a pinion X, that drives a
wheel, on the spindle of which is the bevel wheel Z. This wheel gives motion
to a corresponding wheel on the vertical spindle a, on which are two adjustable
pinions b, that gear with the wheels c on the tubular spindles X. A slot is
formed in the standard through which the end of the upper stud V passes,
and is fastened by means of a nut; this arrangement admits of the stud V
carrying the finger being shifted to suit the width of the heddles to be made.
The lap cords are carried along the face of the frame L past the needle
holders, and the ends are secured to the drum or cylinder d, on which the

page_text: beddles are wound as the series is manufactured. Rotatory motion is imparted
to the drum d from the shaft F, on which is a worm e in gear with a worn
wheel f; this wheel imparts motion by the intermediate wheels g, h, and pinion
i to the wheel j on the vertical shaft k, on which the drum d is fitted. The
shaft is carried in footstep and collar bearings formed in brackets, which
are bolted to the end standard of the framing. The top and bottom ends of the
drum & are fast to the shaft k, but the intermediate ring 1, to which the upper
rib cord is attached, is moveable up and down on the shaft k, so that it may be
adjusted thereon to the required depth of heddle. The upper and lower rib
cords being fastened to the drum d, the slow rotatory movement imparted to
it winds up the manufactured heddles at a speed corresponding to the rate at
which they are made. The eyes or central loops of the heddles are formed
partly by the automatic mechanism and partly by the machine attendant. This
part of the manufacture of heddles by machinery is particularly described in
the Specification of British Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date
on or about the Fifteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-four, and as it forms no part of my present Invention, it need not be
here described. The eyes of the heddles are formed on the mesh stud m,
which is fixed to the end standard of the framing; the twine for forming the
lower or "clasp" portion of the heddle is carried round the lower rib cord Q
and the mesh stud m by means of the annular or rim wheel n, which is driven
by a pinion o on the driving shaft B. The twine which forms the "clasp " por-
tion is carried on a bobbin p, which is attached to the rim wheel n; the twine is
passed through an eye at the end of the mechanical finger q, which carries the
twine round the rib cord Q and the mesh stud m by the rotatory motion of the
rim wheel n. As the eyes of the bedilles are successively formed on the mesh
stud, they are thrust off as they accumulate beyond a given number by the
movement of the ring 7, shown in Figure 6, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings. The ring is connected by a link to the lever s, which is arranged
in an angular position, and is centred on a stud fixed in the end standard. The
details for actuating the ring r are shown detached and drawn to an enlarged
scale in Figure 4 on Sheet 1. The shaft F has fast to it the cam t, which
imparts a reciprocatory movement to the knob u on the extremity of the rod v,
the end of the rod is screwed, and by means of the nut the position of the
knob may be accurately adjusted. The rod vis carried in the forked ends of
the upright w, and its inner extremity is kept up to the cam t by the helical
spring a. The outer extremity of the rod v is jointed to the lever s, the
link on the upper end of which actuates the ring r.
Thus when the cam t
comes in contact with the knob u, the ring r is pushed forward, and it thrusts

page_text: off a portion of the heddles. on the mesh stud m. This arrangement for
removing the heddle eyes from the mesh stud works smoothly and without
noise, and is preferable to the modification described in the Specification of
my Patent of One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
The last improvement connected with the heddle-making machine, which I
shall here have occasion to describe, is the arrangement for keeping the
"count" or working in of a coloured thread at predetermined intervals on the
rib cord of the heddles. The worm e on the shaft F gives motion to a wheel
keyed to the shaft y, on the upper extremity of which shaft is the cam z, a
plan of which is shown in Figure 7. The rotatory movement of the cam z
actuates the two levers 1, which are centred on studs fixed in the framing;
each lever has a pulley 2 fitted on its upper surface, against which the cam is
caused to press by the action of the helical spring 3. The ends of the levers 1.
pass under the horizontal rod 4, in which are two pins 5, on these pins the
levers 1 act alternately. As the cam z rotates and the point passes one of the
pulleys 2 on the levers 1, that lever being liberated, the spring 3 draws it
suddenly inwards, so that the rod 4 is moved to the right or left according to
the position of the cam z. One extremity of the rod 4 is jointed to the bell-
crank lever 6, and the other end passes through the studs 7, in which is
arranged a pin and helical spring 8, which exerts sufficient pressure on the
rod 4 to keep it steady when moved either to the right or left. The bell-
crank lever 6 has passing through its tubular extremity the vertical rod 9,
which is adjustable therein by a pinching screw. The upper end of the rod 9
is jointed to the bent lever 10, which swings freely on a stud projecting
laterally from the bracket 11; on this bracket is placed the bobbin 12, on
which is wound the coloured tbread for indicating the "count." The motion
of the rod 4 to the left draws down the backward end of the lever 10, and
raises its front extremity to the position shown in Figure 5 on Sheet 2. By
this means the thread from the bobbin 12, which is carried through an eye in
the end of the lever 10, is worked in by the action of the upper needle P in
front of the heddle. The opposite motion of the rod 4 to the right raises the
backward end of the lever 10, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5, and
the front end is depressed, so that the marking thread is worked in for a given
number of splits on the back of the rib cord. At the lower part of Figure 6
on Sheet 2 is shown an arrangement of bevel gearing, by means of which
either the ordinary English count of so many dents per inch, or any other
given space; or the Scotch count of so many splits to the "porter" can be
accomplished. By throwing the wheel on the shaft y out of gear with the
worm e on the shaft F, and putting the wheel 14 on the shaft 13 in gear with

page_text: the wheel 15 on the end of the spindle of the change pinion f, either of the
modes of indicating the "count" may be adopted in accordance with the
particular kind of heddles required.
The second part of my present Invention comprehends a mechanical
arrangement for effecting the finishing operation of, coating the heddles with
size or varnish, by means of which the loose filaments or fibres of the yarn are
pasted or cemented thereto, and the surface of the heddle rendered smooth and
glossy."
Figure 1, on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings, is an elevation of the
main portion of the varnishing machine, a part of the framing with the
arrangement for traversing the heddles being broken away; Figure 2 is an
end elevation of the machine looking upon the right-hand end, as represented
in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4
is an elevation partially in section, showing the arrangement for putting the
moving parts into and out of gear; and Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional
view taken through the rotatory brushes corresponding to Figure 2. The
framing A consists of cast-iron columns which support the rails for the
traverse of the heddle carriage. The frame A is crossed at right angles by
the standards of the frame B, which carries the mechanical arrangement
connected with the rotatory brushes and the traverse of the heddle frame.
Near the left hand or lower extremity of the standards B are arranged the
pedestal bearings of the main driving shaft C, which carries the fast and loose
pulley D, which is driven from the engine or other prime mover by means of
an endless belt, a portion of which is shown in Figure 2, and the direction of
its motion indicated by arrows. To one extremity of the shaft C is keyed the
crank E, which is connected by the rod F to the crank G on the shaft H,
arranged parallel with the shaft C. The crank G is of longer radius than the
crank E, in order that it may impart a reciprocatory movement to the rocking
lever I, which is keyed to the centre of the shaft H. To the extremities of the
lever I are jointed the forked rods J, the ends of which are made to encircle
the shafts K and L; these shafts are carried in bushes, which work to and fro
in the horizontal guides M that are formed in the standards B. Between the
guides M a third opening N is formed in the standards B, and through this
opening the carriage carrying the heddles is caused to pass to and fro. On
the shafts K and L cast-iron or other cylinders O are fitted, the peripheries of
which are grooved to receive the brushes P; these brushes are so arranged as
to just touch one another when passing along the guides M. Thus when the
shaft is put in motion the rocking movement of the lever I carries the
brushes P to and fro in the guides M, the extent of traverse thus imparted-

page_text: to the brushes being equal to the widest depth of heddle required. This
extent of traverse is regulated according to the depth of the heddle, by shifting
the pin of the crank E in the slot, which is formed in the crank to admit
of the radius being altered as required. In addition to the recipricatory
movement, the brushes have also imparted to them a rotatory motion,
which is obtained from the shaft C. On the left-hand extremity of this
shaft, as delineated in Figure 3, is keyed a pulley, which gives motion to
the belt Q; this belt passes under a pulley on the shaft K, as well as
a corresponding pulley on the shaft L, and is then carried round the
pulley R, which is carried on a stud fixed to the side standard of the
frame. The effect of this arrangement is to impart to the brushes a rapid
rotatory movement, combined with the reciprocatory horizontal motion; for
as the brush on the shaft K receeds from the fixed pulley R, and the belt Q is
consequently elongating in that direction, it is shortening in a corresponding
ratio by the approach of the brush on the shaft L towards the pulley R. The
varnish or coating composition is contained in a trough heated by steam, or
other convenient means. Two of these troughs are fitted up, one on each side
of the standards of the frame B. A roller is arranged within the varnish
trough, which is caused to rotate; the motion of the roller carries up a coating
of varnish, which is removed from the roller by means of the edge of a duct
or shoot, which is of a triangular figure, and serves to convey the varnish on
to the distributing roller S. This roller is carried on a short horizontal
shaft T, which is supported by the arms U, that are jointed to the upper part
of the frame B. The shaft T is connected by the toggle joint W to the shaft
of a second roller X, arranged below the heddle frame, and jointed in like
manner to the standards by the arms Y. The toggle joints W are caused to
have a tendency to collapse by means of the springs Z, when not otherwise
acted upon. These blade springs are bolted to the standards, and they are
formed with forked ends, which partly encircle the cross-stays a. There are
two pairs of these varnishing rollers, one pair on each side of the brushes P, the
office of which is to distribute the varnish laid on the heddles by the rollers S
and X. With a view of facilitating the distributing of the varnishing com-
position over the heddles, the rollers S and X may, if preferred, be formed hollow,
as indicated by the dotted lines shown in the upper left-hand roller, Figure 3.
Steam, or heated water, or air is conveyed by means of a flexible tube to the
hollow shaft T, and flows along it into the roller S; the lower roller X may also
be heated in like manner, if found necessary or advantageous. The varnish
rollers are caused alternately to spring together and move apart as the heddles
are brought within their range. This movement is effected by means of the

page_text: link or sliding bar b, which connects the toggle joints on one side of the
brushes P. The link has riveted to it a catch c, which is moved by the
stops d on the heddle frame as it traverses to and fro. These stops alternately
come in contact with the catch c, and the link is thus moved to the right or
left, which causes the toggle joints to open or collapse. The stops d are bolted
to the traversing frame carrying the heddles under operation; the bolts pass
through slots formed in the stops, so that they can be accurately adjusted to
shift the link at the proper moment. The link is formed of angle iron, and
it has a pin in it to admit of the lever e being connected to it. This lever is
centred upon a stud carried in a bracket, which is bolted to the framing B.
The outward extremity of the lever e is connected by a link to the tumbling
lever f; the lower extremity of this lever is centred upon a stud, which is
carried in a transverse rail of the framing B. The upper free end of the
leverf carries the weight g, which causes the lever to fall suddenly over to the
right or left when moved in either direction beyond the vertical line. The
leverf is connected by a strap to the coupling h, the motion of which in a
lateral direction on the shaft C causes the bevel wheels i orj to be put in
gear alternately. The wheels i and run loosely on the shaft C, but when
either of them is in gear with the coupling, the wheel then gives motion to
the horizontal wheel k on the vertical shaft ; and when the lever f is in the
vertical direction, the coupling his then out of gear with both the wheels i and
j. Although I have not shown such an arrangement, there may be fitted
either in front or behind the leverf a catch to retain the lever in the vertical
position as long as may be required. This catch may consist of a segmentally-
shaped plate of metal, having a recess formed in the central portion of the face
adapted to receive the lever f. The catch is arranged so that by the simple
motion of the hand lever it may readily be brought up to the lever f, and so
retain it in the vertical position, or be as quickly released therefrom. The
vertical shaft is carried in footstep and collar bearings, which are bolted to
the end transverse rails of the framing B. The lower part of the shaft
carries a differential pulley m, which by means of the belt n, gives motion to a
corresponding pulley o on the vertical shaft p. The footstep and collar bearings
of this shaft are carried in transverse rails extending between the standards
of the framing B. The shaft p carries on its upper part a pulley 9,
the periphery of which is concave, and round this pulley is passed the
roper, which is fastened by adjustable screwed bolts and nuts to the laterally
projecting sungs on the traversing frame s. This part of the apparatus consists
of a rectangular metal frame, one longitudinal rail of which is adjustable as
regards width by means of bolts, which pass through holes made in the trans-

page_text: verse rails, which bolts are fixed in the desired position by thumb nuts, so as to
make the entire frame rigid. On the opposite parallel rail of the frames are
two secondary rails t, which are secured to the cross rails of the frames by pins
passing through holes formed therein; so that these secondary rails t may be
moved inwards or outwards, in accordance with the position of the opposite
longitudinal rail, and in this manner the central portion of the heddles are
always in a line with the varnishing rollers S and X. Hooks u are fixed in
the rails t, and in the opposite longitudinal rail of the frames, the latter
being arranged with the helical springs v to admit of the hooks being drawn
inwards to some extent.
The heddles ware extended in the usual manner
over the wooden, bais x, which are first hooked on to the spring hooks u, and
then drawn over the hooks which project from the rails t by the machine
attendant. The springs draw the heddle bars asunder so as to tighten the
heddles, and they are ready to be passed under the varnishing rollers. In the
position in which the parts are delineated in Figure 3, on Sheet 3 of the
accompanying Drawings, the motion of the lever e has shifted the lever f
over to the left-hand side, so that the coupling his in gear with the wheel i,
which is driving the wheel k and the belt n in the direction indicated by the
arrows, which has the effect of drawing the frames beneath the varnishing
rollers and brushing apparatus. The frames is supported on wheels y, which
traverse to and fro on the rails 2; one pair of these wheels have plain peri-
pheries, and traverse on a corresponding level rail, and the other pair of wheels
are grooved to run on a wedge or V-shaped rail. At the part contiguous to the
brushing apparatus the frames is further supported and stiffened by means of
the two angularly arranged pulleys 1. The wedge-shaped peripheries of these
pulleys correspond to the angle of the under side of the frame s, so as to afford
it effectual support at the parts where the brushing pressure is exerted on the
heddles without interfering with its traverse. The rope is also guided in a
right line by the pulleys 2, which work on vertical studs carried in brackets
projecting laterally from the framing B. These pulleys not only serve to
guide the rope in the required course, but as the edges which project beyond
the grooved part of their peripheries press against the rim of the frame s, and
thus support it to some extent in a lateral direction. As the heddles pass
between the rollers S and X, the varnishing material or coating composition is
spread thereon, and is rubbed into and distributed over the heddles by the rapid
rotatory and reciprocatory movements of the brushes P; upon the frame s
having reached the limits of its traverse to the left; the right hand stop d
strikes the catch c, which moves the link over to the left, this causes the
right hand pair of varnishing rollers S and X to move asunder, and the

page_text: other pair to be brought together, in readiness for the frames making its
traverse to the right. The movement of the link b also moves the lever c, so
that the lever f, with its counterweight is thrown over to the right, which
brings the coupling h in gear with the wheel j, and the pulley 9 is caused to
wind the rope in the opposite direction. When the heddles have passed
through the machine a sufficient number of times, the motion of the frame s
is stopped, and new leaves of heddles are substituted for those which have
undergone the finishing operation. The mechanical details of this varnishing
machine may be modified in many ways and without departing from its essen-
tial and distinguishing features. Thus the brushes and their actuating mecha-
nism may be caused to traverse to and fro over the heddles, in lieu of the heddle
frame passing between the brushes. Or the heddle carriage, instead of
traversing to and fro on a stationary framing, may be arranged on wheels
running on rails laid on the floor, and so caused to pass to and fro beneath the
brushing mechanism. In lieu also of using a pulley and rope to actuate the
beddle carriage, the lateral reciprocatory movement may be effected by means
of a rack and pinion or other equivellent mechanical means.
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 would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for manufacturing and finishing heddles or healds for weaving, as herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
of the said mechanical arrangements.
Second, the system or mode of arranging and constructing the moveable
needle boxes and needle holders of heddle-making machines, in which the
needle boxes are adjustable as regards their distance asunder, so as to be
readily altered to suit different depths of beddles; also the mode of imparting
the required reciprocatory movement to the needle holders by means of a link
motion, or any mere equivalent therefor; also the mode of arranging and
constructing the needle box with holes at the front end, so that the needle may
be shifted up or down without altering the needle box, as herein-before
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, Sheets 1 and 2.
Third, the mechanical arrangement for actuating the ring on the mesh stud,
by means of which the heddles are removed from the stud, or any mere equi-
valent for the said mechanical arrangement, which is herein-before described
and delineated in the accompanying Drawings, Sheets 1 and 2.

page_text: Fourth, the mechanical arrangement for keeping the "count" of the heddle
during the manufacture thereof by means of a coloured thread, which is caused
to be worked into the heddle at predetermined intervals, this operation being
effected by means of the improved mechanical details, which are herein-before
described and more particularly delineated on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth, the system or mode of finishing or varnishing heddles by means of
the machinery or apparatus shown on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings,
in which the heddle frame traverses in a horizontal direction to and fro
beneath the brushes, as herein-before described and shown in the said Sheet
of Drawings.
Sixth, the system or mode of arranging and constructing machinery or
apparatus for finishing or varnishing heddles, in which the brushes for dis-
tributing the varnish and polishing the heddles are caused to move in hori-
zontal planes or nearly so over the surfaces of the heddles, and at the same
time having a rotatory motion imparted to them by means of the mechanical
arrangement herein-before described and shown on Sheet 3 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Seventh, the system or mode of finishing or varnishing heddles, in which
the leaf or leaves of heddles are disposed horizontally, and passed between
rollers or other varnish-distributing surfaces supplied with the coating
material, and heated or not, which arrangement of distributing surfaces
ensures a more even and uniform distribution of the coating material, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Druwings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Buchanan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
JAMES DUCHANAN. (L.S.)