IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Thomson, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WEAVING."
Sealed the 12th September 1856, and dated the 17th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Thomson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
March 1856.
I, ROBERT THOMSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WEAVING," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the application to power looms of self-acting ap-
paratus for acting on the shed movements of the loom in such a manner as to
produce plain weaving and twilling of various kinds alternately, according to
any predetermined pattern, the same apparatus being also susceptible of adap-
tation to certain kinds of ornamental weaving.
According to one modification of the improved apparatus, two wipers and
two treadles are used for acting on the heddles or shed movements, as in
ordinary plain weaving power looms. Each treaddle or lever is formed or
fitted with a knife edge, arranged to catch two or more hooked pieces, each.
jointed to a vertical sliding piece, or to a lever to which a heddle leaf is con-
nected, and by which it is worked. When. any hooked piece is in such a

page_text: position as to be caught by the knife edge on the treadle or lever, the descent
of this lever pulls down the corresponding heddle leaf. Each hooked piece
is arranged to be acted upon by a vertical lever or other detail, so as to be
pushed or thrown out of the range of the treadle knife edge when such
lever or detail is itself pushed forward.
The last-mentioned vertical levers or intermediate disengaging pieces are
themselves arranged to be acted upon by pins or projections on a barrel or
shaft. The pins or projections are set or formed upon this barrel or its
equivalent in such positions as to produce the kind of twill required by causing
the disengagement of the different heddle leaves at the proper periods, the
barrel or its equivalent being turned round or shifted forward a certain distance
to bring a new line of pins or projections into action at each pick, or at each
double pick of the loom, by means of a ratchet wheel or other convenient
movement. The simplest adaptation of this mechanism is that for producing
plain weaving and common, twill alternately, in which four heddle leaves are
used, each treadle being arranged, to act on two of the leaves through the
intervention of the hooked pieces and other details already described. When
plain weaving is being produced, both hooked pieces of each pair remain
engaged with the knife edge on their respective treadle, and each treadle
carries down its two heddle leaves each time it descends, thereby producing
plain weaving, half of the warp being acted upon by one pair of heddle leaves
and half by the, other, pair, just as if there were only two heddles. The por-
tion of the barrel or its equivalent which happens to be opposite to the inter-
mediate disengaging pieces whilst this plain weaving is going on is without
pins or projections; but when the twilling is to be produced, a portion of the
barrel with pins or projections on it comes round, and these projections act
through the intermediate pieces on the hooked pieces of each individual heddle
leaf, causing such hooked pieces 'to be 'disengaged in rotation, so that each
descent iof each treadle acts on only one of the four heddle leaves, and in this
manners. the shed action: for producing thentwill. is!.effected: When the
pins ofprojections ton thelbarrels pass onwards by the rotation or forward
movement of the barrel, the hooked pieces becomer again engaged with; the
knife edges on the treadles by the action of their own weight or by that of
springs. By slightly modifying the details an increased range of pattern may be
obtained without making the pattern barrel inconveniently large; thus, for
example; if the pattern consists of twilled stripes of different widths running.
across a plain ground, the barrel is-set with pins to suit the width of each
stripe; a single line or space only being left between the different sets of pins
or projections, notwithstanding that the space on the fabric between 'the stripes
I

page_text: and which is to be plain may be much wider than what corresponds to such
single line or space. When each twilled stripe is completed, the barrel with
the pins or projections is stopped for a period corresponding to the width
of plain fabric between, the last stripe and the next following one. This
is effected by means of a secondary ratchet wheel, set loosely on the barrel
shaft, or on a separate stud, and driven intermittently by any convenient reci-
procating lever and pall movement. This secondary ratchet wheel is formed
or fitted with cams or projections, contrived to act on a lever or other detail,
which. lifts up the driving pall of the ratchet wheel fast on the barrel shaft,
and so stops the motion of the barrel shaft and barrel as long as such pro-
jection or cam is in action, which of course corresponds to the width of plain
fabric to be woven. at that part. When the primary ratchet wheel, or that
fixed on the barrel shaft, comes into, action again, a cam or projection carried
round by it keeps the secondary ratchet wheel out of. gear. and motionless as
long as the twilled stripe is being woven; and by means of these contrivances
comparatively small.sized wheels may be made to answer the end that much
larger ones would otherwise be required for.
In arranging the apparatus to produce certain kinds of twilling, each heddle
leaf will have to be connected to two hooked pieces, one to be acted on by
each treadle, so that where four heddle leaves are used there will be, eight
hooked pieces, four for each treadle, and eight corresponding rows of pins or
projections on the barrel, or its equivalent. The number of heddle.leaves:and
also of treadles is not, however, limited to wliat has herein-before been inen-
tioned, as the arrangements described are susceptible of extension and of
It may
adaptation to the production of several varieties of twilling effects.
also be here remarked, that the sheds may be formed by means of one treadle
only, all the heddle leaves being connected by hooked pieces to a knife edge-
on such treadle; but this arrangement has practical disadvantages as compared
with that whereiti two or more treadles, are used, which latter arrangement is
preferable.
Modifications of the self-acting mechanism herein-before described are
likewise applicable to the production of ornamental or figured fabrics,:.such
as are produced by means of ordinary harness mounting. For this purpose
the pattern barrel is extended to receive an increased number of rows of pins
or projections to act on. a. corresponding number of hooked pieces acting
And in case
in conjunction with the treadles on the harness details.
the pattern barrel with the pins or projections on it, as herein-before
described, or its equivalent, cannot be made sufficiently, large to take in any
desired pattern without inconvenience, a small barrel may be used, arranged

page_text: to carry round a chain of cards of any length, such cards or their equivalents
carrying pins or projections to act in the same way as those on the barrel
would do. As in weaving twilled stripes across plain ground fabrics it is
usual to throw in more weft where the twilled stripe occurs, a contrivance
is used in connection with the mechanism for producing the twill for retarding
the take-up movement of the loom, by which the desired result is attained.
This retarding contrivance consists simply of a projection or cam piece on the
ratchet wheel, which drives the pattern barrel, or on any other equivalent part,
such projecting when it comes round acting on levers or other details arranged
to lift the reciprocating pall which works the take-up ratchet wheel off that
wheel. Whilst this contrivance is in action the take-up movement ceases
altogether; but when the twilled stripe is of a moderate width, it will be
necessary to take up the web whilst the twilling is going on, though not so
rapidly as when plain weaving is going on. For this purpose a secondary take-
up lever and pall is contrived to act on the take-up ratchet wheel, such lever
being actuated by pins on the pattern barrel ratchet wheel.
According to another modification of apparatus for producing twilling and
plain weaving, or two or more kinds of twilling alternately, the treadles for
acting on the heddles are removed, and replaced by a species of jacquard
barrel, to which a reciprocating motion is given in any convenient manner.
This jacquard barrel may be four-sided, or of any other suitable polygonal
form, and its faces have holes formed.upon them in different positions. When
the barrel is pushed forward, the face which is turned into action at the
time acts upon levers or slides connected with the heddle leaves, and actuates
such of them as are not opposite to holes in the barrel face. The lever
or slide connected with one leaf will be opposite to a hole at one time,
and that of another leaf at another time, and the heddles' will be actuated in-
proper rotation accordingly. The jacquard barrel is fitted upon long journals,
and is capable of sliding longitudinally in its bearings; it is made with two
or more sets of pattern holes, as taken longitudinally, one set being arranged
so as to produce one kind of shed action, and another set so as to obtain a
different kind of shed action, and by shifting the jacquard barrel longitudinally
any one of the sets of pattern holes is brought into action opposite to the heddle
levers or slides, as may be requisite. The jacquard barrel may be shifted
longitudinally by means of various kinds of self-acting contrivances, connected
with and actuated by a suitable pattern wheel. Thus, for example, a forked
lever, embracing a groove on the barrel spindle, may effect the required move-
ment, such lever being acted upon by projections or grooves upon a wheel
continuously or intermittently turning with the motion of the loom. By

page_text: adopting the contrivances herein-before described, or modifications of them,
great economy is obtained in the construction of looms for weaving the par-
ticular classes of goods to which this Invention refers, whilst the looms so
constructed are exceedingly simple, and may be driven at a comparatively high
speed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Thomson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
THOMSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Manager, send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Thomson, Her special license that I, the said Robert Thomson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Thomson, 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 WEAVING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Thomson, 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 Robert Thomson, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the application to power looms of self-acting
apparatus for acting on the shed movements of the loom, in such manner as to
produce plain weaving and twilling of various kinds alternately, according to

page_text: any predetermined pattern, the said apparatus being also susceptible of iadap
tation to certain kinds of ornamental weaving.'
According to one modification of the improved apparatus, two wipers' and
two treadles are used for acting on the heddles or shed movements, as, in
ordinary plain weaving power looms. Each treadle or lever is formed or fitted
with a knife edge, arranged to catch two or more hooked pieces, each jointed
to a vertical sliding piece, or to a lever to which a heddle leaf is connected,
and by which it is worked. When any hooked piece is in such a position as
to be caught by the knife edge on the treadle or lever, the descent of this lever
pulls down the corresponding heddle leaf. Each hooked piece is arranged to
be acted upon by a vertical lever or other detail, so as to be pushed or thrown
out of the range of the treadle knife edge, when such lever or detail is itself
pushed forward. The last-mentioned vertical levers or intermediate+diš
engaging pieces are themselves arranged to be acted upon by pins or projections
on a barrel or shaft. The pins or projections arò set or formed upon this, barrel,
or its equivalent, in such positions as to produce the kind of twill.required,.by
causing the disengagement of the different heddle leaves at the proper periods;
the barrel or its equivalent being turned round or shifted forward.a certain
distance to bring a new line of pins or projections into action at each pick or
at each double pick of the loom, or when a change in the' heddle action is
required by means of a ratchet wheel or other convenient movenient. The
simplest 'adaptation of this mechanism is that for producing plain weaving and
common-twilling altéruately, in which four 'heddle-leaves are used, each treadle
being arranged to act on two of the leaves through the. intervention of the
hooked pieces and other details already described. When plain weaving is
being produced' both hooked pieces of each páir remain engaged' with the knife
edge on their respective treadle, and each treadle carries down its two heddle
leaves each time it 'descends, thereby producing plain weaving, half of the
warp bing acted upon by one pair of heddle leaves 'and half by the other pair,
just as if there were only two heddles. The portion of the barrel or its
equivalent which happens to be opposite to the intermediate disengaging pieces,
whilst this plain weaving is going on, is without 'pins or projections; but when
the twilling is to be produced, 'a-portion of the barrel with pins or projections
on it coines round; and these projections act through the intermediate pieces
on-the.hooked pieces of each individual heddle leaf, causing such.hooked pieces
to be disengaged in rotation, so that each descent of each treadle acts on only
one of the four heddle leaves; and in this manner the shed action for producing
tlie twill is effected. When the pins or projections on the barrel pass onwards
by the rotation or forward movement of the barrel, the hooked pieces become

page_text: again.engaged with the knife edges on the treadles by. the. action of their own
weight, or by that of springs. By slightly modifying the details! an increased
range of pattern may be obtained without making. the pattern barrel incon
veniently large. Thus, for example, if the pattern consists. of twilled stripes of
different widths running across a plain ground, the barrel is set with pins to
suit the width of each stripe, a single line or space only.being left between the
different sets of pins or projections, notwithstanding that the space on the
fabric between the stripes, and which is to be 'plain, may be.much wider: than
what, corresponds to such single line or space. When each twilled stripe is.
completed, the barrel with the pins or projections is stopped for a period cor-
responding to the width of plain fabric between the last stripe and the next
following one; this is effected. by means of a secondary ratchet wheel set
loosely on the barrel.shaft, or on a separate stud, and driven intermittently by
any convenient reciprocating lever, and pall. movement: Thisisecondary ratchet
wheel is formed or fitted with cams or projections, contrived to action a, lever
or other detail, which lifts up the driving 'pall of the ratchet wheel fast on thọ
barrel shaft, and so stops the motion. of..the barrel shaft and barrel as long as
sucli projection or cam is in action, which of course, corresponds, to the width
of plain fabric to be woven at that part when..the primary ratchet wheel.fast
on the barrel shaft, and 'so stops the motion of the barrel shaft and barrel'as
long as such projection orscam is in action, which of course corresponds to the
with of plain fabric to be woven at that part, When the primary ratchet
wheel on that fixed on the barrel shaft comes into action again, a cam³ or
projection carried round by it keeps the secondary ratchet wheel out of gear
and motionless as long as the twilled stripe is being woven, and by means of
these contrivances comparatively. small sized wheels may be made to answer
the end that much larger ones would' otherwise be required for. In arranging
the apparatus to produce certain 'kinds of twilling, each heddle leaf will have
to be connected to two hooked pieces, one to be acted on by each treadle, so
that where four heddle leaves are used there will be eight, hooked pieces, four
for each treadle, and eight: 'corresponding rows of pins or. projections on the
barrel or its equivalent. The number of heddle leaves and also.of 'treadles is
not, however; limited to what has herein-before been mentioned, as the
arrangements described are susceptible of extension and of adaptation. to the
production of several varieties of twilling effects.
.
Pat
•
It may also be here remarked, that the sheds may be formed by means o.
one treadle only, all the beddle leaves being connected by hooked pieces to a
knife edge on such treadle, but this, arrangement has practical disadvantages
as compared with that wherein two or more treadles are used.,

page_text: Modifications of the self-acting mechanism hereinbefore described are like-
wise applicable to the production of ornamental or figured fabrics, such as are
produced by means of ordinary harness mounting. For this purpose the pattern
barrel is extended, to receive an increased number of rows of pins or projections
to act on a corresponding number of hooked pieces, acting in conjunction with
the treadles on the harness details. And in case the pattern barrel with the
pins or projections on it, as herein-before described, or its equivalent; cannot
be made sufficiently large to take in any desired pattern without inconvenience,
a small barrel may be used, arranged to carry round a chain of cards of any
length, such cards or their equivalents carrying pins or projections to act in.
the same way as those on the barrel would do. As in weaving twilled stripes
across plain ground fabrics it is usual to throw in more weft where the twilled
stripe occurs, a contrivance is used in connection with the mechanism for
producing the twill, for retarding the take-up movement of the loom, by which
the desired result is attained. This retarding contrivance consists simply of a
projection or cam piece on the ratchet wheel which drives the pattern barrel,
or on any other equivalent part, such projection, when it comes round,
acting on levers or other details arranged to lift off the ratchet wheel the
reciprocating pall which works the take-up. Whilst this contrivance is in
action the take-up movement ceases altogether, but when the twilled stripe is
of a moderate width it will be necessary to take up the web whilst the twilling
is going on, though not so rapidly as when plain weaving is going on. For
this purpose, a secondary take-up lever and pall is contrived to act on the take-
up ratchet wheel, such lever being actuated by pins on the pattern barrel
ratchet wheel.
. According to another modification of apparatus for producing twilling
and plain weaving, or two or more kinds of twilling alternately, the treadles
for acting on the heddles are removed, and replaced by a species of jacquard
barrel, to which a reciprocating motion is given in any convenient manner.
This jacquard barrel may be four-sided, or of any other suitable polygonal
form, and its faces have holes formed upon them in different positions.
When the barrel is pushed forward the face which is turned into action' at
the time acts upon levers or slides connected with the heddle leaves, and
ctuates such of theni as are not opposite to holes in the barrel face. The
lever or slide connected with one leaf will be opposite to a hole at one time,
and that of another leaf at another time, and the heddles will be actuated in
proper rotation accordingly. The jacquard barrel is fitted upon long journals,
and is capable of sliding longitudinally in its bearings. It is made with two
or more sets of pattern holes as taken longitudinally, one set being arranged

page_text: so as to produce one kind of. shed action, and another set so as to obtain a
different kind of shed action, and by shifting the jacquard barrel longitudinally
any one of the sets of pattern holes is brought into action opposite to the
heddle levers or slides, as may be requisite. The jacquard barrel may be
shifted longitudinally by means of various kinds of self-acting contrivances
connected with and actuated by a suitable pattern wheel. Thus, for example,
a forked lever embracing a groove on the barrel spindle may effect the required
movement, such lever being acted upon by projections or grooves upon a wheel
continuously or intermittently turning with the motion of the loom. By
adapting the contrivances herein-before described, or modifications of them,
great economy is obtained in the construction of looms for weaving the par-
ticular classes of goods to which this Invention refers, whilst the looms so con-
structed are exceedingly simple, and may be driven at a comparatively high
speed.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
have hereunto appended and shall now proceed to describe two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, shewing in what manner my Invention may be carried
into practical effect.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a sectional elevation as look-
ing across a loom; and Figure 2 is a sectional plan of a portion of the
details of a loom as constructed according to my Invention. In describing
these Figures I shall only particularise such parts of the loom as I
may have occasion to refer to in explaining my Invention, as the remaining
details of the loom may be constructed according to any of the systems
in use.
The cain shaft A is fitted with two cams B, which act upon their
respective treadles or levers C. Each treadle is fitted with an adjustable
knife edge or transverse projection D, which on the descent of the treadlo
pulls down any beddle leaf, the actuator of which, consisting of a hooked piece
E, happens to be in a position to be caught by the knife edge D. The heddles
are connected to sliding pieces F, to which the hooked actuaters E are
jointed. Each hooked actuator E, works freely through an aperture in an
arm g, standing out from a lever G, fitted with a spring H, which tends to
hold the lever, so that it keeps the hooked actuator E in such a position that
the knife edge D will catch it on its descent. When any one of the levers
G is pushed over towards the cam shaft A, it shifts the corresponding hooked
actuator E into such a position that the knife edge D will descend clear of
it, in which case the corresponding hedille will of course not be actuated. The
levers G do not push the hooked pieces E out of gear when the heddles are
down, as considerable pressure would be requisite, on account of the tension at

page_text: which the heddles are held; but when the levers G are thrown over, the hooked
pieces rise freely, until inclined projections' e upon them. come, against 'the
under side of the 'arms g'upon the levers G... When this point is reached
there is little or no- tension, upon the heddles, and they are easily thrown out
by the action of the projections e. From this it will be obvious, that in order
to work the heddles in any particular order or succession nothing more. is
necessary than to effect the engagement and disengagement of, the hooked
actuators E with the treadle knife, edges D, in a corresponding' manner. The
engagement is effected as already described by the reaction of the springs H,
so that it only remains to effect the disengagement of each hooked actuator, at
and during the proper periods. This is done by pushing over the respective
levers G, an Toperation-which may be performed by various arrangements of
self-acting mechanism set to a predetermined pattern; but according to the
modification represented in the Figures now being described, the contrivance
used is a barrel I-carried upon a horizontal shaft J. This barrel I is turned
at each double pick of the loom or otherwise by means of a ratchet wheel K,
fixed upon its spindle, and acted upon by a, bell-crank lever L' and pall, the
lever L being actuated by a cam or wiper M upon the shaft A. In the
Drawing four heddles and four heddle actuaters are shown, and there are
correspondingly four rows of holes round the barrel I, made to receive
pins which are arranged according to the predetermined pattern or kind
of weaving that is to be produced. As the barrel turns round, the pins
upon
it come
in contact with projections on the levers G and shift these
levers, so as to disengage the corresponding, heddle actuaters E. An
ornamental effect is sometimes produced in weaving by throwing in at
intervals a cord or weft of stouter material than the ordinary weft, and a
similar effect may be produced by throwing into one shed several weft shots
before the shed changes. Thus, to do this, the heddles must remain shed in
one way whilst two or more picks of the loom are made. This may be effected
in the loom represented in the Drawings by keeping one of the treadles down
during the time the cord effect is being produced. For this purpose, a hooked
lever N is placed outside each, treadle, C, the two levers N being drawn toge
ther by a spring O, so that when either is free to move, it is drawn in, so as
to catch the corresponding treadle on its descent, and thus prevent for the
time its reascent. The levers N are acted upon by levers P, which move hori
zontally, and are fitted with points Q, which enter notches formed in the edges
of the barrel I, at the points corresponding to the periods at which the treadles
are either of them-to be held down.... Thus, when the, rotation of the barrel I
brings a notch or cut-away portion into such a position that the action of the

page_text: spring O will cause the point Q of either of the levers P to fall into it, the
corresponding lever N will catch the corresponding treadle C and hold it down.
When a cord effect is being produced in this way, the weft requires to, be
caught at each selvedge,. to prevent its being drawn out of the shed again, and
this is effected by working one, or, more of the selvedge warp threads on each
side, by means of independent beddle threads and eyes, worked by a small cam
and treadle movement, the details of..which. are not shown in the Drawings.
The take-up movement of the loom is retarded or stopped when necessary by
means of a cam piece or projection fitted on the ratchet wheel, as indicated by
dotted lines at R, in Figure 1. This projection acts on the short, arm of a
bell-crank lever S, which, actuatés a lever T loose on, the, spindle of the take-up
ratchet wheel U. The lever T has attached to it an arm V, which lifts the
pall W of the ordinary take-up movement, and suspends its.action. When
the projection R passes the lever S, a spring X reacts upon the latter, which;
turning back the lever T, causes a pall carried by it to act upon the ratcliet
wheel U, so as to take up any slack of the cloth. When the ordinary take-up
movement is suspended, and it is necessary to take up the fabric to a certain
extent less than would be effected by that movement, the required result may
be obtained by fixing pins upon the ratchet wheel K, to act upon a lever, and
pall, arranged for the purpose, in connection with the take-up ratchet wheel U.
In producing alternately plain weaving and twilling, the portion of the barrel
corresponding to the plain weaving has no pins upon it, as the hooked actu-
aters E must all remain engaged with the treadle knife edges D, so that as
each treadle descends it may bring down the two heddles. it is arranged to act
upon. For the twilled portion, the pins on the barrel are set according to
the predetermined order of the sheds. Thus, if the barrel is made to stop as
long as plain weaving is required, a single line, only of spaces without pins will
be requisite, and a great space upon the barrel will be saved, or the barrel will
be enabled to take on a pattern extending over an increased extent. The
requisite action may be brought into play by means of a second ratchet wheel
placed loosely on the shaft J, but not shown in the Drawings. This second
ratchet wheel may be arranged to be turned by a lever and pall movement,
actuated by a cam or wiper on the shaft A. The second ratchet wheel and the
wheel K are each, fitted with a ring, having notches or recesses formed upon
them, in accordance with the pattern to be produced. The points of weighted
or spring pulled levers are pressed upon these rings, so as to enter the notches
when these come round, and these levers are respectively connected to the
actuating palls of each other's wheels, that when either lever is not in a
notch on its wheel it keeps the pall of the other wheel from acting, allowing it.

page_text: to act only when it is itself in a notch. Thus, as long as twilling is being pro-
duced the wheel K and the barrel I turn, the lever of the second wheel being
in a notch, that when a plain portion of the fabric is reached, the lever of the
wheel K enters a notch, and the pall of the second wheel immediately begins
to act, and bring its lever upon the raised surface, throws the pall of the
wheel K out of gear. The second ratchet wheel does not turn the barrel I, so
that no change takes place until another notch on this second wheel comes
round, when the wheel K will commence working again, whilst the second
wheel will be stopped. The arrangements represented in Figures 1 and 2 for
turning the barrel I cause it to be shifted only at every two picks of the
loom, but in working with certain kinds of shed action it is necessary to
shift the barrel at every pick. In this case it is necessary to employ two
ratchet wheels fast on the shaft of the barrel, and actuated by palls moved. by
separate wipers on opposite sides of the shaft A. The teeth of these two
ratchet wheels correspond to every two picks, but they are set one half a tooth
in advance of the other. If one ratchet wheel is used with teeth correspond-
ing to single picks, the barrel may get wrong when adjusted after the breaking
of a thread or other accident, as the wrong row of pins may come into action
with the respective treadles; but with the two ratchet wheels this cannot
occur, for each pall corresponds to a particular treadle, and must shift the barrel
so as to bring into action the particular set of pins belonging to that treadle.
Figure 3, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto attached, is a partial
sectional elevation,, similar to Figure 1, but showing a modification, in which
a segment a is used instead of the barrel I; this segment being carried by
bell-crank arm b, by means of which it is made to reciprocate. Such details
as are the same as in Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, are
indicated by the same letters of reference. The segment a acts in precisely
the same manner as the barrel I, by disengaging the hooked actuaters through
the intervention of the levers G. In Figure 3 it is supposed that there are
four heddle leaves, and that the apparatus is set for producing plain weaving
and twilling alternately. Two rows of pins are requisite for the twilling, and
correspond to four sheds, two by each treadle, whilst a single unpinned space
answers for the plain weaving. The twilling pins are set at the top and
bottom of the segment, and are brought. alternately into action, whilst the
segment rests midway, as shown in Figure 3, when plain weaving goes. on.
The segment is made to reciprocate by means of a cam on a shaft c, driven at
half the speed of the shaft A, the cam acting on a lever d, a link e from which
is connected by a gab and pin to the bell-crank lever b; this movement, when
in action, gives the full throw to the segment, so that the upper and lower

page_text: pins are alternately made to act on the levers G. When plain weaving is to
be produced the link e is thrown out of gear by a lever f, and a spring g
keeps the segment in mid-position. In the Figure the segment is shown in
mid-position with the link in gear, but it is supposed to be in the middle of
its movement from one end of its throw to the other. The lever f is actuated
by a ratchet wheel, moved step by step as the weaving goes on, or two ratchet:
wheels may be used, as described in connection with the barrel I, the ratchet
wheel which works whilst the plain weaving goes on being arranged to shift
the lefer f, so as to take the link e out of gear.
Figure 4, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto attached, is a partial side
elevation, and Figure 5 is a partial plan, showing a modification of apparatus
in which a species of jacquard barrel is made to actuate the heddles. The
heddles are pulled down by bell-crank levers A, the shorter arms of which are
fitted with pins contrived to enter holes in the facets of the jacquard barrel B.
This jacquard barrel is carried in the upper ends of two levers C, fast on a
shaft D, on which is also a lever E, actuated by cams on the shaft F, the
barrel being by this means made to reciprocate; the barrel is turned at each
movement by a stationary hook G, acting upon pins projecting from a disc upon
the barrel spindle. Levers A are shown for four heddle leaves, to which four
holes upon the barrel B correspond. Where a hole occurs the pin on the
lever A enters it, and the lever is not moved, but where a hole is covered the
barrel carries over the corresponding lever A. The holes on the barrel B are
perforated according to the succession of the heddle movements that are
required. The barrel is made with three sets of such holes as taken longi-
tudinally, each set corresponding to a different kind of weaving. Thus, the
middle set, represented as opposite to the levers A, may be for plain weaving,
whilst the two outer sets may be for different kinds of twilling. The barrel is
moved longitudinally, accordingly as either set of holes is to be brought
opposite to the levers A, to produce the kind of weaving required. For this
purpose the spindles of the barrel are made sufficiently long, and the space
between the levers C sufficiently great, to allow of the necessary longitudinal
movement, and a pair of collars are fitted upon the spindle at H for the detail,
which shifts the barrel to act upon. The barrel may be shifted by means of a
forked lever fitting between the collars H, and the other end of which works
in a groove upon a barrel turned by a ratchet movement. The groove is
straight for a distance, corresponding to the period during which no change
is made, being curved at the points corresponding to the changes, so as to
shift the lever to the corresponding position.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: Invention; and the 'manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion; that I do not confine or restrict
myself.to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasioni
to describe or refer to as many variations may be made 'therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim! as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part 'recited 'Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of arranging and constructing the actuating
details of heddles in looms, wherein the heddles are moved' by jointed hook's
which can be put into and out of gear with the treadles by suitable mechanism,
as herein before described!..
Second, the system for mode of putting the actuating details of heddles into
or out of gear with the treadles, by means of a barrel or its equivalent, fitted
with pins capable of being disposed according to various patterns, and arranged
to act on jointed portions of sucli details, as herein-before described, together
with. the various herein-before described contrivances for actuating such barrel
or its equivalent.
Third, the system or mode of 'keeping 'a shed open during two or more
picks, for the purpose of producing a "cord" effect, by means of hooks
actuated by a pattern barrel, so as to hold down the treadle, as herein-before
described:**
Fourth, 'the system or inode of working the heddles of looms by a jacquard
barrel, contrived so that by shifting it longitudinally it will act upon the heddle
levers according to various patterns, as herein before described! *
: In witness whereof, I, the "said 'Robert Thomson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
ROBERT THOMSON. (L.S.)