A NEW OR IMPROVED LOOM FOR WEAVING EMBROIDERED WORK OB TAPESTRY
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hunter Henry Murdoch, of No. 7, Staple Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED LOOM FOR WEAVING EMBROIDERED WORK OB
TAPESTRY," A communication from abroad by Ernest Nicolas
Baudot, of Lille, France, Civil Engineer.
Sealed the 21st March 1873, and dated the 25th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hunter Henry Murdoch
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th September 1872,
I, HUNTER HENRY MURDOCH, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of
3 Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED LOOM FOR WEAVING EMBROIDERED WORK
OR TAPESTRY," to be as follows;→
•
This Invention relates to a new or improved loom for weaving
tapestry, shawls, and other embroidered work, and it consists in the
arrangement and combination of parts herein-after described, whereby

page_text: the loom whilst weaving a groundwork or canvas at the same time
forms upon the said groundwork or canvas by over-casting the worsted
or other threads of the different colours required for the pattern or
design upon the warp and weft an embroidered surface of tapestry.
This machine may be considered as a kind of sewing machine, sewing
with coloured threads or worsted of different tints through a ground
work or cloth woven simultaneously with the sewing or over-casting of
the embroidering threads. The loom consists of a frame mounted on
wheels, supported on rails, and capable of motion in either direction.
The said frame is provided with a warp beam or roller near the top of
the frame, and a second or work beam upon which the finished work is
rolled, being directed thereto by two press rollers, between which the
said work is made to pass. The warp in its passage from the warp beam
is tightened by suitable springs mounted upon bars carried by the frame,
upon which bars the warp threads rest. The warp threads pass through
a rccd constructed of wires mounted in series, each scries being disposed
in a helicoidal shape. The motion of this recd is regulated by a notched
disc mounted on a horizontal shaft or spindle situated behind the warp,
and capable of rotatory and horizontal motion in either direction.
Weft Motion. In front of the moveable loom carrying the warp is a
stationary shuttle carrier, the shuttle of which carrier lays the weft
intermittently as in a sewing machine. In order to form a passage for
the said shuttle one of two warp threads is pushed aside by the action
of the notched disc herein-before mentioned. The said warp thread is
afterwards lifted by a fork and passed over to beyond a stop fixed upon
a rod capable of horizontal motion in the frame. The next thread is
taken by a second fork and carried by it just over the said stop, the
consequence of which is that there is formed between the two adjoining
threads a passage through which the shuttle is made to pass. It will be
observed that by the operation of the loom herein-before described only
a simple groundwork or canvas is produced. After the weft is laid in
one direction the motion of the forks, the warp, the rod carrying the
stop, and the notched disc is reversed, and the shuttle lays the weft in
the opposite direction, suitable rods and slides being used to give motion
to such parts.

page_text: embroidery is effected by one and the same coloured thread. For this
purpose worsted carriers or tubes are used which act like the needle of a
sewing machine, that is to say, when the notched disc herein-before
described separates two warp threads, a tube carrying the worsted
required for the embroidery herein-after called the worsted carrier passes
like a needle through the opening formed by the said notched disc. The
end of the worsted drawn forward by the said worsted carrier is then
gripped by a pincer and forms a loop. When the worsted carrier retires
the shuttle passes through the said loop and between two adjoining warp
threads. As the worsted carrier comes from the right side of the fabric
the loop is formed on the reverse or wrong side thereof, and by a repe-
tition of the said movement the warp thread will, as well as the weft
thread, be covered over with worsted on the right side of the stuff.
this means a canvas is produced, the right side of which has all the
appearance of worsted embroidery, the warp and the weft being both
covered over with worsted.
By
Change of Colours.-This loom being intended to produce an em-
broidered fabric of many colours it will be readily understood that one
worsted carrier operating with one coloured worsted will not be sufficient
O for the purpose. A great many different coloured threads of worsted
must therefore be used, and as many worsted carriers as there are
different shades of worsted. All these worsted carriers are arranged in
a box placed before the right side of the stuff, and the proper worsted
carrier is selected and placed in its proper place, and the worsted is cut
5 off after having executed the required stitch by means of the following
mechanism :—The wool carriers are arranged in horizontal layers in the
said box, the axis of each wool carrier being perpendicular to the plane
of the warp threads. To bring the wool carriers to their proper place
for working a double motion is given them in the direction of the warp
threads and in a transverse direction. These two motions are produced
by means of mechanism called the colour commutator, and they are
imparted to the worsted carrier box by connecting rods and slides. One
colour commutator may serve for any number of boxes and looms. The
colour commutator is worked by means of a card having upon it certain
peculiar signs or marks indicating the pattern to be embroidered on the
canvas. The said card (which is rolled upon a drum or cylinder, unrolls
itself before the superintendent of one or more looms, and at the same
-time has motion in the direction of its axis uniform with that of the
"

page_text: warp) represents an enlarged view of the design to be copied, on which
the variations of shades and colours in the design are all indicated by
means of numerals. Besides these figures or numbers there are holes
before each figure, there being as many holes in the card as there are
changes of colours or shades in the pattern. Each of the said holes
corresponds at certain times with the end of a lever, which lever actuates
the pincer which grips the pendant end of the worsted, and also at the
same time acts as a knife or cutter, severing the worsted after it has
completed its stitch or work. The indications marked in numerals
contain always two figures varying from number one to the number of
worsted carriers in one row. One of these figures expresses the number
of the wool carrier set in horizontal rows, and the other figure the
number of the wool carrier in the vertical rows. The operator who
during the work of the loom keeps his attention fixed upon the figures
which are coming before him at the moment the lever above mentioned
comes into gear catches-hold of a key or knob numbered as on the card,
and which is in a frame before him. Each of these keys or knobs
touches the crossing of two rods, there being as many of the said rods
in one direction as there are worsted carriers in one row, and as many in
a direction at right angles thereto. Supposing the frame to be vertical
the rod of the knob would be horizontal, and would touch upon the
crossing of a horizontal rod corresponding with a horizontal row of
worsted carriers, and of a vertical rod corresponding with a vertical row
of wool carriers, because there are as many rods as there are rows, and
consequently there are as many crossings as there are worsted carriers.
Each of the said horizontal and vertical rods joins a rod which actuates a
stop. The said stop acts upon a disc, upon which are formed or fixed as
many projections or cams as there are stops and rods, only all the hori-
zontal rods correspond with the stops on one disc, and all the vertical
rods correspond with the stops on the other disc.
It will be readily understood that by means of this arrangement the
first disc regulates the horizontal motion of the worsted carrier box and
the second disc regulates its vertical motion. The said dises are caused
to rotate by friction clutches, and their motion is arrested the moment
The said cams then
the proper stops come in contact with their cams.
move the levers carrying the stops; the levers release spring catches
which fall between teeth upon the outer periphery of the said discs.
The said mechanism is supported by a suitable frame, and is connected

page_text: with the box by rods and slides. The catches are drawn out from the
notches by the action of the worsted cutting machinery herein-before
referred to in connection with the holes in the card. During the interval
between the presentation of two fresh stops the pulleys give motion to
the box without any of the worsted carriers working, and it is only
when the operator acts upon it that a new worsted carrier can come into
action.
From the above description it will be seen that before finishing one
series of stitches one worsted carrier must make half a stitch on the
wrong side of the fabric, which half stitch is cut. The next worsted
carrier passes through the opening prepared for the preceding half stitch,
and by this means there is no interruption in the continuity of the stuff.
This apparatus, which may be termed the stitch counter, also serves to
reverse the motion of the parts herein-before described in respect of the
loom at the end of each weft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hunter Henry Murdoch in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HUNTER
HENRY MURDOCH, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, Her special
license that I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Hunter Henry
Murdoch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

page_text: Ireland, the Ohannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED LOOM FOR WEAVING EMBROIDERED WORK OR TAPESTRY," a
communication to me from abroad by Ernest Nicolas Baudot, of Lille,
France, Civil Engineer, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Hunter Henry Murdoch, my executors or administrators, by an 6
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent. 1
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
This Invention relates to a new or improved loom for weaving 1
tapestry, shawls, and other embroidered work, and it consists in the
arrangement and combination of parts herein-after described, whereby
the loom whilst weaving a groundwork or cavas at the same time
forms upon the said groundwork or canvas, by overcasting the worsted
or other threads of the different colours required for the pattern or
design upon the warp and weft, an embroidered surface of tapestry.
This machine may be considered as a kind of sewing machine, sewing
with coloured threads or worsted of different tints through a ground-
work or cloth woven simultaneously with the sewing or overcasting
of the embroidering threads. The loom consists of a frame mounted
on wheels supported on rails, and capable of motion in either direction.
The said frame is provided with a warp beam or roller near the top of
the frame, and a second or work beam upon which the finished work
is rolled, being directed thereto by two press rollers between which
the said work is made to pass. The warp in its passage from the
warp beam is tightened by suitable springs mounted upon bars carried
by the frame, upon which bars the warp threads rest. The warp
threads pass through a reed constructed of wires mounted in series,
cach series being disposed in a helicoidal shape. The motion of this
reed is regulated by a notched disc mounted on a horizontal shaft or
spindle situated behind the warp and capable of rotatory and horizontal
motion in either direction.

page_text: Weft Motion. In front of the moveable loom carrying the warp
is a stationary shuttle carrier, the shuttle of which carrier lays the
weft intermittently as in a sewing machine. In order to form a
passage for the said shuttle, one of two warp threads is pushed asido
by the action of the notched disc herein-before mentioned, the said
warp thread is afterwards lifted by a fork and passed over to beyond
a stop fixed upon a rod capable of horizontal motion in the frame;
the next thread is taken by a second fork and carried by it just over
the said stop, the consequence of which is that there is formed between
the two adjoining threads a passage, through which the shuttle is
made to pass. It will be observed that by the operation of the loom
herein-before described only a simple groundwork or canvas is produced.
After the weft is laid in one direction, the motion of the forks, the
warp, the rod carrying the stop, and the notched disc is reversed, and
the shuttle lays the weft in the opposite direction, suitable rods and
slides being used to give motion to such parts.
Overcasting the Threads to form the Embroidery. This part of the
Invention will be more readily understood if it be supposed that the
embroidery is effected by one and the same coloured thread. For this
purpose worsted carriers or tubes are used which act like the needle of
a sewing machine, that is to say, when the notched disc herein-before
described separates two warp threads, a tube carrying the worsted
required for the embroidery herein-after called the worsted carrier passes
like a needle through the opening formed by the said notched disc; the end
of the worsted drawn forward by the said worsted carrier is then gripped
by a pincer and forms a loop; when the worsted carrier retires the
shuttle passes through the said loop and between two adjoining warp
threads. As the worsted carrier comes from the right side of the fabric
the loop is formed on the reverse or wrong side thereof, and by a repe-
tition of the said movement the warp thread will, as well as the weft
thread, be covered over with worsted on the right side of the stuff. By
this means a canvas is produced, the right side of which has all the
appearance of worsted embroidery, the warp and the weft being both
covered over with worsted.
Change of Colours.-This loom being intended to produce an
embroiderd fabric of many colours it will be readily understood that
one worsted carrier operating with one coloured worsted will not be
sufficient for the purpose; a great many different coloured threads of

page_text: worsted must therefore be used, and as many worsted carriers as there
arc different shades of worsted. All these worsted carriers are arranged
in a box placed before the right side of the stuff, and the proper
worsted carrier is selected and placed in its proper place, and the worsted
is cut off after having executed the required stitch by means of the
following mechanism :-The wood carriers are arranged in horizontal
layers in the said box, the axis of each wool carrier being perpendicular
to the plane of the warp threads. To bring the wool carriers to their
proper place for working, a double motion is given them in the direction
of the warp threads, and in a transverse directions. These two motions
are produced by means of mechanism called the colour commutator,
and they are imparted to the worsted carrier box by connecting rods
and slides; one colour commutator may serve for any number of boxes
and looms. The colour commutator is worked by means of a card
having upon it certain peculiar signs or marks indicating the pattern to
be embroidered on the canvas. The said card (which is rolled upon a
drum or cylinder unrolls itself before the superintendent of one or more
looms, and at the same time has motion in the direction of its axis
uniform with that of the warp) represents an enlarged view of the
design to be copied, on which the variations of shades and colours in the
design are all indicated by means of numerals. Besides these figures
or numbers there are holes before each figure, there being as many holes
in the card as there are changes of colours or shades in the pattern; each
of the said holes corresponds at certain times with the end of a lever,
which lever actuates the pincer which grips the pendent end of the
worsted, and also at the same time acts as a knife or cutter severing the
worsted, after it has completed its stitch or work. The indications
marked in numerals contain always two figures, varying from number
one to the number of worsted carriers in one row. One of these figures
expresses the number of the wool carrier set in horizontal rows and the
other figure the number of the wool carrier in the vertical rows. The
operator who during the work of the loom keeps his attention fixed upon
the Figures which are coming before him at the moment the lever
above mentioned comes into gear, catches hold of a key or knob num-
bered as on the card and which is in a frame before him. Each of
these keys or knots touches the crossing of two rods, there being as many
of the said rods in one direction as there are worsted carriers in one
row, and as many in a direction at right angles thereto. Supposing the
frame to be vertical the rod of the knob would be horizontal and would

page_text: touch upon the crossing of a horizontal rod corresponding with a
horizontal row of worsted carriers, and of a vertical rod corresponding
with a vertical row of wool carriers, because there are as many rods are
there are rows, and consequently there are as many crossings as there
are worsted carriers. Each of the said horizontal and vertical rods joins
a rod which actuates a stop, the said stop acts upon a disc upon which
are formed or fixed as many projections or cams as there are stops and
rods, only all the horizontal rods correspond with the stops on one disc
and all the vertical rods correspond with the stops on the other disc.
It will be readily understood that by means of this arrangement the
first disc regulates the horizontal motion of the worsted carrier box,
and the second disc regulates its vertical motion. The said discs are
caused to rotate by friction clutches and their motion is arrested the
moment the proper stops come in contact with their cams; the said
cams then move the levers carrying the stops, the levers release spring
catches which fall between teeth upon the outer periphery of the said
discs. The said mechanism is supported by a suitable frame and is
connected with the box by rods and slides. The catches are drawn out
from the notches by the action of the worsted cutting machinery herein-
before referred to in connection with the holes in the card. During the
interval between the presentation of two fresh stops, the pulleys give
motion to the box without any of the worsted carriers working, and it is
only when the operator acts upon it that a new worsted carrier can
come into action.
From the above description it will be seen that before finishing one
series of stitches, one worsted carrier must make half a stitch on the
wrong side of the fabric, which half stitch is cut. The next worsted
carrier passes through the opening prepared for the preceding half stitch,
and by this means there is no interruption in the continuity of the stuff.
This apparatus, which may be termed the stitch counter, also serves to
reverse the motion of the parts herein-before described in respect of the
loom at the end of each weft.
Any suitable thread may be used for weaving and embroidering with
this loom.
It will be seen that the loom herein-before described consists essentially
of two distinct parts, viz., the loom properly so called for weaving the
embroidered work or tapestry and the colour commutator, which colour
commutator is also applicable to other looms.

page_text: carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a front view of a loom for weaving embroidered work or
tapestry constructed according to this Invention; Figure 2 is a side
view of the same; Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are separate views of parts of
the same, as herein-after explained. The same letters and figures of
reference are used to indicate like parts in Figures 1 and 2.
In order to facilitate the description of the construction of the said
loom, the parts of the same are hercin-after sub-divided under eight
heads, viz., the loom, the weft motion, the worsted box, the mechanism
for working the worsted carrier, and the forks separating the warp
threads, the head stock which gives motion to the above parts on one
or more looms of similar construction, the stitch counter, the colour
commutator, and the work tablo.
The Loom.—1, 1, 1, 1, is a vertical frame mounted on wheels at top
and bottom. The said wheels bear upon rails above and below the
frame 1, 1, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, and the said frame is capable
of motion on the said rails in either direction. a is a wooden warp beam,
carrying the warp threads; a¹, a', are boards fixed to the vertical
frame 1, and supporting the pairs of boards; a³, a³, are several layers of
boards arranged in pairs; a³ are springs made of metal wire; one end of
each of the said springs a³ is affixed to one end of one of the pairs of
boards a² respectively; and the other end of each of the said springs forms
a loop or hook. There are as many of the said springs a³ as there are
warp threads, and the warp threads from the warp beam a pass under the
boards a and along the springs a³, and through the loops or hooks of
the said springs down to against the bar or rest a', where they are spread
open to form a web, the said bar a' being fixed to the upright of the
frame 1. is the work beam upon which the finished work is rolled,
and a is a press roller by which the work is directed to the said work
beam; as is a bar or rest supported on brackets fixed to the upright 1, 1;
it
the said bar a just touches the warp threads behind, and has upon a
dividing projection about from two and three quarters to three and a
quarter inches long, which projects between the warp threads; a¹ are
boards fixed in front of the upright 1, 1, of the frame; the said boards a

page_text: are shaped to form the arc of a circle and are convex, and serve to
support the boards a³ which are arranged so as together to form a
portion or are of a circle, being placed about one-eighth of an inch apart;
a" are bars placed so as to describe an arc of a circle from the same
centre as the boards a; the said boards a³ and bars a support the
convergent series of wires a", the ends of which wires form loops on the
side of the boards a³; the said loops project beyond the boards a³, and
are taken into by other wires a" arranged in a helical form upon the
arc a'. The pitch of the helix is such that when at rest the horizontal
projections of the axes of the wires a" are equidistant. The said wires a"
project a little beyond the opposite side of the arc a", and the number -
of the wires a" is one more than the number of the warp threads; the
said wires a separate the warp threads one from the other and give
motion to each warp thread individually. A is a horizontal shaft on the
same centre from which are described the arcs aª and a". The said
shaft a is carried in bearings affixed to the uprights 1, 1, and upon the
said shaft A is a disc A' in which are formed radial notches, the width
of which notches is equal to the thickness of the wires a". In its
medium position when at rest the notched disc A' is in the vertical
plane passing through the middle of the projection on the bar aº. When
in motion the bar a' is moved about an inch and a quarter or an inch
and a half on one side, and the disc A' is moved about three inches on
the other side, so that between the said disc A' and the projection or
stop on a thero is a horizontal distance of about five and a half or six
inches. In this change of position the disc A' drives before it a certain
number of the wires a" and consequently a certain number of warp
threads, whilst the projection or stop on the bar a drives before it the
neighbouring threads. The result of this operation is that between the
threads there is formed an opening of the form of a long parallelogram.
When the return motion of the weft is about to commence a similar
opening is formed by the displacement of the disc A' and bar a in the
opposite direction. C is an endless screw giving motion to the frame or
frames on the rails.
The Weft Motion.-B, B, is the stationary shuttle carrier, on which
aro formed three shelves or tables, the shelf or table B¹ for the
binged cover of the shuttle box, the shelf or table B' for the
shuttle box, and the vertical shelf, or table B³, carrying the axis of
rotation of the cutting pincer. The shuttle works horizontally in the

page_text: shuttle box, which shuttle box merely touches the warp, and in the
middle is slit vertically to allow of the passage of the warped threads
which are raised. The cutting pincer is formed of two pieces joined
together and connected together by a spring. The said cutting pincer is
placed between the shuttle box and the warp, and is in contact both
with the shuttle box and warp. When it oscillates in one direction the
said cutting pincer cuts the worsted which has operated, and when it
oscillates in the other direction it grips the free end of the fresh worsted
which is about to be operated upon, and holds it tight against the shuttle
box.
The Worsted Box.-The worsted box consists of an iron frame 3, 3,
the vertical sides of which frame carry horizontal equidistant supporting
rods. Upon the said rods rest sheet-iron plates, one placed above the
other to form shelves, and in the said plates, on the sides, next the warp,
are formed grooves, in which grooves the worsted threads engage with
considerable friction, and on the opposite side of the said plates are the
reeds. The worsted threads from the lower shelf, where the different
colours are arranged on reels, rise along one of the sides of the box, and
are divided into layers upon the plates; they then pass into the grooves
of the plates and taking an oblique direction in vertical planes, engage
behind with the teeth of the plate immediately under the one upon
which they are for the time being. The frame of the said worsted box
is fixed to a horizontal rod capable of alternate motion on a wheel d,
carried by a cranked lever ď³, ď, ď, which lever d³, d³, d³, is supported
by a bracket on the frame of the worsted carrier; when the said lever is
raised or depressed the frame rises or falls with it. The said frame is
also capable of receiving motion horizontally from the rod d', which rod
as it moves to the right or left gives similar motion to the said frame.
The motion of the lever d', d', d³, and that of the rod d' allow of any one
of the worsted threads being brought to the front of the worsted carrier.
The Mechanism for Working the Worsted Carrier and the Forks.—The
forks are represented separately in plan and side elevation in Figure 6.
y is a frame upon which are several brackets y', y³, y³. The bracket y³
carries a vertical axis, receiving motion from toothed pinions; the
upper end of the said axis carries a crank e' to which is keyed a counter
crank e; these two cranks e¹ and e" give motion to two forked rods e"
and e', which slide in oscillating guides carried by the bar a", whilst the

page_text: ends of the said forked rods are caused to describe circles on one side
by the action of the cranks; their other ends describe on the other side
horizontal ovals, the small axis of which ovals is in the same plane as
the warp or a little in front of it. One of the forks e³ describes a com-
plete oval whilst the other fork e' which is provided with a deflecting
spring only describes the half of an oval in rear of the warp and the
small axis subtending the said half oval. When the notched disc A' in
revolving allows one of the wires a¹ to escape from one of its notches
the warp thread thus liberated recovers its vertical position and rests
against the stop on the bar a; it is there seized by the fork e" which
pushes it in front of the warp to the whole extent of the half of the
large axis of the oval, so that the shuttle passes between the wire and
the warp; the fork e then lays the warp thread on the other side of
the said stop. The next warp thread which has in its turn been liberated
now comes and rests against the stop and is seized by the fork e', but
as the fork e' only describes the small axis of the oval it only pushes
forward the thread sufficiently for it to be carried just over the stop.
The fork e' lays the thread on the other side without the shuttle having
passed between the said second thread and the warp. At the next throw
of the weft the thread which in the last instance was raised will not be
raised, and those threads that were not raised will be raised each in its
turn, so that the canvas will be perfect. Two brackets y³ support the
worsted carrier, and a horizontal lever causes the same to oscillate. The
said worsted carrier consists of a rod e perpendicular to the plane of
the warp and terminated on that side by a narrow fork, one prong of
which fork is curved in the inside so as to form a hook. The rod e
carries a slide e¹ terminating in a wider fork; the said slide e³ is drawn
on by the rod e, but stops when its forked prongs are about to touch
the warp. The object of the said fork e¹ is to seize the fresh worsted
and bring it into the narrow fork on the rod e, which rod e when it has
taken the worsted continues to advance, traverses the warp in the space
that is open, and carries the worsted in the direction of the shuttle, when
it is seized by the cutting pincer and returns, bringing with it the
worsted with its hook, and then the shuttle passes through the loop thus
formed. The fork e continues to oscillate until the worsted having done
its work is cut off by the cutting pincer in its reverse motion, the
worsted carrier then retires carrying with it the free worsted thread, and
a spring brings the same down into the teeth of the reed of the plate
immediately underneath.

page_text: The Head stock.—5, 5, 5, is the frame supporting the head stock; five
shafts are supported by the said frame and give motion to the head stock.
The shaft A traverses a hollow clutch carried by the screw wheel A*,
the said shaft A being capable of sliding horizontally without the
wheel A changing place. A key on the inside of the said clutch 5
engages in a slot formed in the shaft A and communicates to the said
shaft the rotatory motion of the screw wheel A³. The longitudinal motion
of the shaft A is given by means of a collar acted upon by the forked
lever f. Attached to the wheel A³ is a toothed wheel A³ which gives
motion to the wheel A', and endless screw C. The screw wheel A$ 1
gears with and receives rotatory motion from an endless screw A³
mounted on the shaft M. The worsted carrier is actuated by the
rods E, E, and by the lever E³ on the axis E. The axis E' is actuated
by the slide lever E³, in which lever E' moves the sliding piece E³, which
gives an oscillating motion to the rod E of the eccentric E. The 1
sliding piece E' is also displaced in the slide E³ by the action of the
lever E, mounted on the shaft P, which motion taxes place at the end
and at the beginning of the working of each of the worsted threads.
Whilst the worsted is working the position of the parts is that shewn in
Figure 1, and as soon as the worsted is to be cut the lever E' draws 2
back the sliding piece E and brings the connecting point of the eccen-
tric rod near the axis of rotation E, the effect of which is that the
oscillating motion becomes more ample and the worsted thread is
extended. The lever E' which is connected with the cutting pincer by
a rod then causes the said cutting pincer to oscillate and cut off the g
worsted. As soon as a fresh worsted thread is to be gripped the lever E
returns to its normal position, causing the cutting pincer to oscillate in
a contrary direction. The eccentric E³ on the shaft N has upon it two
protections to engage with and draw on the crank E. The said
crank E actuates the rod E", which gives the oscillating motion to the
shuttle. Upon the shaft M and behind the head stock is a pinion which
gives motion to the toothed pinion Aº, which pinion Aº gives rotatory
motion to the cranks of the forks e, e'. The fork f' is actuated by a
lever ff, one arm f2 of which lever displaces the bar a in an opposite
direction to the shaft A. The shafts Q and R move the worsted box {
in a horizontal and vertical direction, the said shafts being actuated
by the colour commutator. The shafts M, N, P, which give the
stitching motion are actuated from the stitch counter herein-after
described.

page_text: .
The Stitch Counter.-The stitch counter is represented in side
elevation in Figure 2, and in front elevation separately in Figure 5:
6, 6, 6, is the fore frame, and 7, 7, the rear frame, supporting the
mechanism called the stitch counter for determining the number of
the stitches. The shaft N rests upon the rear frame 7, 7. The shaft
M extends to behind the said rear frame by a clutch in which engages
a shaft carrying the pinion m³, which shaft receives longitudinal
motion from a fork m'. The shaft N has affixed upon its fore end a
wide pinion m³, one half of the width of which pinion gears with the
central wheel o. The pinion m³ is capable of gearing either with
the pinion n³ or with the wheel o to reverse the motion of the shaft M.
The shaft carrying the wheel o rests upon the frames 6 and 7; tho
said wheel o has upon it five arms, in which are semicircular notches,
and it carries five cylindrical projections o' projecting from the said
wheel. Upon the shaft carrying the wheel o is a cranked lever o', o³,
upon the end o' of which lever is a socket containing a moveable steel
cylinder o. Upon the end of the arm o is jointed one end of a
connecting rod, the other end of which connecting rod is connected
with the piston of a compressed air cylinder to deaden the shocks.
A powerful spring acts upon the lever o', o³, to keep the same in the
position shewn at Figure 5. In front of the fore frame 6 the shaft of
the wheel o carries a coupling and a driving pulley. The coupling
is actuated by a forked lever o mounted on a vertical axis, terminated
by a cranked lever o³, o'. The arm o³ of which lever o³, 0º, is parallel
with the frame and may be actuated by a rod from the work table
herein-after described. The arm oº of the said lever is perpendicular
to the plane of the frame, and is situated on the circle described by
the arm o' of the cranked lever o¹, o³. The shaft P is made to enter a
clutch p carrying the levers p³, p'; the said clutch is prolonged by a
shaft p' resting on the fore frame, and the said clutch is capable of
longitudinal sliding motion, but when it rotates it causes the shaft P
to rotate also. Upon the said clutch 'p³ are two arms or levers p², p³,
the arm p being shaped like a cam, and the end of the arm p³ carrics
a cranked lever p³, p², acted upon by a spring to maintain its proper
position. The arm p' is in the path of the cylindrical projections o'
on the wheel o. If during the rotation of the wheel o the steel
cylinder of were to be suddenly inserted between the two said arms,
the lever o¹, o³, would be moved on by the said wheel and would strike
against the lever o, o, and disconnect the coupling, at the same time

page_text: it would act upon the cam of the lever p², p³, and bring it into the
position shewn at Figure 5, causing the shaft P to turn, thus extending
the worsted thread and severing it. As the driving pulley after the
coupling is disconnected no longer acts upon the wheel o, the spring
acting on the lever o¹, o³, tends to bring it back into its first position,
the wheel o then turns half a stitch in the contrary direction, the
worsted is then changed, and afterwards the cylinder o' retires, causing
at the same time the arm o" to retire, the wheel a ceases to be
dependent upon the lever o', o³, which lever takes up its former
position and is actuated by the pulley just thrown into gear. The
first cylindrical projection o' passing before the arm p' of the lever
p, p, pushes back the said arm, and in so doing replaces the lover
p³, p', in its working position, causing the shaft P to rotate in a
contrary direction. The cutting pincer then seizes the fresh worsted
thread.
In the compressed air cylinder steam may be substituted for air by
putting the inside of the cylinder in constant communication with a
steam boiler, which will deaden the shocks and also allow of the
powerful spring, which by acting on the lever o¹, o², causes the wheel o
to turn in a contrary direction to be dispensed with; or the compressed!
air cylinder may be retained and the spring replaced by a second similar
cylinder in connection with the boiler. The fork m' which gives the
reverse motion to the shaft M acts by a connecting link on the fork f
of the headstock, thus reversing the respective positions of the shaft A
and bar aª; the connecting rod of m' acts also by a ratchet wheel on the
extension of the shaft of the work beam a³ to wind on the fabric and
lastly upon a reed, which after each shoot of the weft presses down the
weft thread upon the other weft threads.
The Colour Commutator.-The colour commutator is represented in
front elevation separately at Figure 4. 8, 8, 8, is the frame. The
shafts Q and R being actuated by similar mechanism a description of
the shaft R and parts connected therewith will apply equally to the
shaft Q. Upon the shaft R is keyed firmly a wheel or disc r', in which
are formed ratchet teeth divided according to a law similar to the law of
cosines, with the difference that the connecting rod upon which the
shaft R acts does not have motion parallel to itself; against the said
wheel or disc press on one side a driving pulley which has a tendency

page_text: to give motion to the said wheel ¹ by friction, and on the other side a
wheel or disc, similar to the wheel 7, mounted loosely upon the
shaft R and having on its periphery teeth very close one to the other;
upon the shaft R is also mounted a disc wheel ³, provided with little
cams arranged spirally upon its surface and distributed according to the
same law as the teeth of the disc ¹; and, lastly, a lever mounted
loose upon the said shaft and containing steel bars 7. The lever 7ª is.
acted upon by a spring r³, which tends to keep it in the position shown
in Figure 4. A projecting stop 7³, mounted on the shaft, is acted
upon by a spring 7" and by the rod 711, the lever and the pawl 2018,
connecting the same with the stitch counter; when the projecting stop „ª
engages in the teeth of the wheels or discs 71, 73, the shaft R is kept
stationary, when the wheel o of the stitch counter completes its reverse
rotation of half a stitch, the pawl 713 being repelled by one of the
cylindrical projections o' causes the projecting stop r³ to spring up and
liberate the disc wheels 1ª, 73, the said stop being kept in its elevated
position by the lever 7 in the same way as the cock of a gun is held in
position by the tumbler thereof. The worsted box is then set in motion.
By inserting a metal rod into a hole in the plate one of the bars 7ª of
the lever is also pushed in and the said bar 15 is soon come in contact
with by the cam on the disc, which cam is at the same distance from
the centro as the bar; the said disc draws on the lever and releases the
projecting stop, causing it to fall at once between two teeth of the
disc; the motion of the said disc is by that means arrested, and
the friction it produces upon the axis retards the motion of the latter
disc until the next tooth of the said disc r¹ comes in contact with the
* said projecting stop; the motion of the shaft Ris then arrested and stops
the vertical motion of the worsted box. The shaft Q being actuated in
a similar manner to the shaft R stops the horizontal motion of the
worsted box.
The Work Table.The work table is shewn separately in front eleva-
tion in Figure 3. The shaft carrying the wheel o gives motion to the
drum T by means of suitable toothed wheels and endless screws. The
said drum T unrolls a card pierced with holes, which holes are made at
a distance one from the other, measured by as many times three-eighths
of an inch as there are stitches to be made by the succeeding worsted
threads. The said card passes upon a metal bar acting as an electric
T

page_text: conductor; a metal projecting stop travels over the car during the action
of the loom, and when the said stop falls into a hole in the card the
electric current produced thereby acts upon the electro-magnet (, which
liberates the cylinder o' of the lever o³, o³, of the stitch counter. The
said cylinder o³ being then acted upon by a spring advances suddenly to
between two arms on the central wheel; the worsted is cut off and the
worsted carrier retires and the stitch counter stops, allowing during that
time motion to the worsted box. A box or frame S', S', S', S', placed
before the operator, contains as many keys or knobs as there are shades
and colours arranged in layers in the worsted box; thus if there were four
hundred different different shades there would be four hundred keys or
knobs arranged side by side and one above the other, forming 20 rows or
series composed each of 20 keys or knobs. The keys or knobs of each
horizontal row give motion to a rod engaged in one of the holes in the
plate of the colour commutator; the keys or knobs of each vertical row
actuate in the same way a rod engaged in one of the holes in the plate q®,
which is similar to the plate 7. By pressing upon one key of the
box S¹, S', S¹, S¹, the operator gives motion to two rods, one actuating the
shaft R the other actuating the shaft Q. The worsted carrier is moved
in two directions, one vertical the other horizontal, which motions bring
the required color or shade in front of the worsted carrier. The keys or
knobs in the frame or box S¹, S¹, S', S', have marked upon them two
numerals, indicating the rows in which they are placed; the operator
reads these numbers upon the card on one side of the hole which operates
to stop the stitch counter, a pawl causes the electric stop 8 to move
alternately to the right and to the left-hand side. When one weft
thread is laid a hole in the card stops the stitch counter; if then the
operator do not wish to cut the worsted he acts upon the clutch p' of
the shaft P, drawing the said clutch towards him and arresting the
motion of the shaft P. Before setting the stitch counter again in motion
the operator moves the fork m², thus reversing the motion of the parts,
as herein-before described. In order to set the stitch counter again in
motion after a stoppage the operator draws towards him the cylinder o“,
and the clutch lever o³, o', which two parts are connected together by
one rod under the hand of the operator.

page_text: required for the reproduction of the same pattern or design then being
produced may be prepared. For this purpose the design which is to be
copied on the cards is placed vertically on the prolongation of the looms,
and a horizontal ruler being placed before the design serves as a guide
for a metallic sliding piece forming an electric stop or point, which said
sliding piece moves along the said ruler during the formation of these
stitches. The motion of the said sliding piece corresponds in extent and
velocity with that of the looms upon their rails when a full sized repro-
duction of the design is required, but when the required copy is to be
made to a larger or smaller scale than the original design the motion of
the sliding piece is increased or diminished in like proportion.. The
operator holding in his hand a second metal stop or point places the same
upon the ruler on the spot where the colour about to work stops. When
the said sliding electric stop or point comes in contact with the stop or
3 point held by the operator the electric current stops the stitch counter;
the shade is then changed before setting the stitch counter again in
motion. In order to perforate the card which is to serve for the repro-
duction of the design the moveable slide piece or point travelling over
the card on the work table is replaced by a punch, and as soon as the
operator stops the stitch counter, as herein-before described, a hole is
punched in the card by striking a blow on the said punch.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of the Invention; but I claim,—
.
Firstly. The general combination and arrangement of parts con-
stituting the improved loom, herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawing, for the manufacture of tapestry and other
embroidered work of many colours, essentially as described.
Secondly. The stitch counter, constructed and combined essentially as
herein-before described, and for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. The colour commutator, constructed and combined essentially
as herein-before described, and for the purposes set forth.
Fourthly. The work table for regulating the action of the stitch
counter, and colour commutator, constructed and arranged essentially as
hercin-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Fifthly. The peculiar mode of interlacing the threads of embroidered
work and tapestry by means of the peculiar arrangements of parts,
herein-beforo described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
B. WILLCOX,
his Clerk.
H. H. MURDOCH. (L.B.)