PROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD MACHINES, AND IN THE CARDS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1857

page_text: PROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD MACHINES, AND IN THE CARDS EMPLOYED THEREIN."―
A communication from Lazare Tiphaine, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Mechanician, Jules Maurel, of Lyons, in the same Empire, and
Gaspard Gagnière, of the same Empire, Weaver.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th October 1857.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD MACHINES AND IN THE CARDS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a
communication from Lazare Tiphaine, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Mechanician, Jules Maurel, of Lyons, in the same Empire, and Gaspard
Gagnière, of the same Empire, Weaver, to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates, first, to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
jacquards, whereby very weak springs may be used for operating upon the
horizontal needles, so as to enable paper to be substituted for the materials
at present employed in the manufacture of the cards without incurring the

page_text: risk of perforating or otherwise injuring the cards by the resistance of the
needles when pushed back by the cylinder.
Second, to a peculiar mode of treating the paper employed in the manu-
facture of the cards, whereby its expansion and contraction are prevented.
Third, to a peculiar combination of materials to be employed in the manu-
facture of the cards of jacquard machines.
The needles, lifter hooks, and cylinder may be of the ordinary construction
and arrangement, the principal improvements under the first head of this
Invention having reference to the spiral springs in connection with the needles.
The back end of each needle is inserted into a short wooden rod, which works
freely longitudinally within a corresponding hole in the back board or frame
which hitherto contained the springs. Into the opposite end of this guide rod
is inserted a short wire spindle, which passes through suitable guides in an
adjustable frame placed a short distance behind the back-board, and connected
therewith by screws, so as to be capable of being adjusted nearer to or further
from the back-board. Between the back end of the guide rod (which is of
course considerable thicker than the needle) and the guides of the short wire
spindle is inserted a very weak spiral spring, such spring surrounding the
wire spindle above referred to. The spring is thus kept in its place, and is
free from any friction which it would be liable to were it contained as here-
tofore within a hole or cavity in the back board. The strength or resistance
of these springs may be easily regulated by properly adjusting the position of
the moveable frame herein-before referred to.
By another modification this adjustable frame may be dispensed with, the
back-board being made sufficiently deep to contain the springs, guide rods,
and guides.
In order to prevent any contraction or expansion of the paper employed as
a substitute for the materials at present used in the manufacture of cards for
jacquards, it is proposed to steep such paper in a solution composed of six
parts of glue, three parts of gum arabic, and one part of alum. These pro-
portions admit of variation however, according to the nature of the paper, and
the climate, and the seasons.
It is also proposed to employ a compound material in the manufacture of
cards for jacquards, such material consisting of paper, which is strengthened
by the addition during its manufacture of threads of fibrous materials embodied
in the paper itself.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN JACQUARD MACHINES, AND IN THE CARDS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a com-
munication from Lazare Tiphaine, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Mechanician, Jules Maurel, of Lyons, in the same Empire, and Gaspard
Gagnierè, of the same Empire, Weaver, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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:-
The said Invention relates, first, to a peculiar construction and arrangement
of jacquards, whereby very weak springs may be used for operating upon the
horizontal needles, so as to enable paper to be substituted for the materials at
present employed in the manufacture of the cards, without incurring the risk

page_text: of peforating or otherwise injuring the paper cards by the resistance of the
needles when pushed back by the cylinder.
Second, to a peculiar mode of treating the paper employed in the manu-
facture of cards, whereby its expansion and contraction are prevented.
Third, to a peculiar combination of materials to be employed in the manu-
facture of the cards of jacquard machines.
The needles, lifter hooks, and cylinder may be of the ordinary construction
and arrangement, the principal improvements under the first head of this
Invention having reference to the spiral springs in connexion with the needles.
The back end of each needle is inserted into a short wooden rod, which works
freely longitudinally within a corresponding hole in the spring box or frame
which hitherto contained the springs. Into the opposite end of this guide rod
is inserted a short wire spindle, which passes through suitable guides in an
adjustable frame placed a short distance behind the back board, and connected
therewith by screws, so as to be capable of being adjusted nearer to or further
from the back-board. Between the back end of the guide rod (which is of
course considerably thicker than the needle) and the guides of the short wire
spindle is inserted a very weak spiral spring, such spring surrounding the
wire spindle above referred to. The spring is thus kept in its place, and is
free from any friction which it would be liable to were it contained as here-
tofore within a chamber or cavity in the back board. The strength or
resistance of these springs may be easily regulated by properly adjusting the
position of the moveable frame herein-before referred to.
By another modification this adjustable frame may be dispensed with, the
spring box being made sufficiently deep to contain the springs, guide rods, and
guides.
In order to prevent any contraction or expansion of the paper employed as
a substitute for the materials at present used in the manufacture of cards for
jacquards, it is proposed to steep such paper in a solution compound of six
parts of glue or size, three parts of gum arabic, and one part of alum. These
proportions admit of variation however, according to the nature of the paper,
the climate, and the seasons.
It is also proposed to employ a compound material in the manufacture of
cards for jacquards, such materials consisting of paper, which is strengthened
by the addition during its manufacture of threads of fibrous materials embodied
in the paper itself.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to the

page_text: several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters
of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a longitudinal section of a portion of the
improved jacquard machine; Figure 2 is a back elevation of the new portion;
and Figure 3 is a plan thereof. The cylinder, lifter hooks, and needles A.do
not demand any particular mention, the improvements referring more espe-
cially to the arrangement of springs which bring forward the needles after
they have been pushed back by the cards on the cylinder.
In the ordinary jacquards these springs are placed in holes made in a board
known as the spring box, which box contains as many springs as there are
needles in the machine. The hinder end of these needles bears against the,
front extremity of the springs, whilst the other ends of the latter bear against.
tags of iron,wire placed behind the range of holes in the spring box. In
place of inserting the springs in the holes of the box C, I place therein small
rods of wood or metal (a). On the back ends is placed a finer spindle (6), which.
is then placed outside the holes of the spring box C. This small spindle 6 is
encircled by the slender helical spring (c), thereby serving as a guide to the.
spring, and preventing deflection in either direction. The. tags (d) against
which the end of the springs bear, and which serve to guide the ends of the
spindles (6) are mounted in a frame D. This frame is supported by two
screws E, the ends of the latter fitting in the spring box C. These screws pass
through the frame by medium of the nuts (f), and they control the strength
of the spring by causing the frame to advance or recede. Figure 4 shews a
modification of the arrangement. In this instance, the spring box C is of
increased dimensions, and the whole arrangement of rods (a) with their spindles
(b) and the springs c is contained within such box or case. The frame D is
dispensed with, and the resistance from the springs is unalterable.
In order to prevent the paper used in the manufacture of the cards from
expanding and contracting, it is immersed in a solution composed of six parts
of size, three parts of gum arabic, and one part of alum.
These proportions admit of variation according to the nature of the paper,
the climate, and the seasons. The experience of the practical weaver will
furnish the best guidance.
It is also proposed to use a paper strengthened during its fabrication by the
addition of other materials, either some light textile fabric, or silken threads,
cotton, wool, &c., or any other suitable material.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into

page_text: effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of the said 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 general constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts of
jacquard machines, as herein-before described.
Second, the peculiar arrangements and combinations of springs with the
rods (a), spindles (b), and tags or guides (d), whereby paper cards may be
employed without danger of their being injured by the resistance of the needles,
as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use to and in the manufacture of cards for
jacquard machines of paper, which is strengthened by having threads of fibrous
material woven therein during its manufacture.
Fourth, the process herein-before described for preventing the expansion
and contraction of the paper used in the manufacture of the cards for jacquard
machines.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hands and seal, this Twentieth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)