IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas and William Hemsley, of Melbourne, in the
County of Derby, Lace Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas and William
Hemsley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 6th February 1854.
We, THOMAS and WILLIAM HEMSLEY, of Melbourne, in the County of Derby,
Lace Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS" to be as follows:-
Our Invention is applicable to that class of warp machinery wherein the
warp threads are caused to traverse diagonally, for which class of warp
machinery Letters Patent were granted to the said William Hemsley, in One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, for improvements in such class of
machinery, having for their object so to construct and arrange such machinery
that the threads might be caused to travel correctly, and each to work with
all the needles in succession, and so as to produce good selvages. The warp
threads being constantly arranged in two rows, an upper and an under row, and
caused to work in such manner that each thread having arrived at the end of
the machine, and having worked with the last needle, was caused to pass into.

page_text: the other row of threads, and the two rows of threads into which the warp was
divided as above stated traversed in opposite directions, the one set or row of
threads constantly moving from right to left, and the other row of threads
constantly moving from left to right. And in order to keep up the complement
of threads in the two rows, there was a thread caused to pass from the upper
row of threads into the lower row of threads at one end of the machine, and
another thread was caused to pass from the lower row of threads into the
upper row of threads at the other end of the machine, and by means of point
bars the two rows of threads were kept constantly correctly spaced for lapping
with the needles. The warp threads were wound on several bobbins which
were placed in carriages which were connected together into an endless chain,
and the chain of carriages was put in motion by means of two square barrels,
on the axes of which there were ratchet wheels which received motion by
means of suitable drivers. The threads were caused to rise up from the
bobbins, and were divided into two rows; one being in front was the upper
row, and the other row was more backward, and was the lower row. The upper
row was supported on a bar running from end to end of the needles on the
needle bar, and the other row was on another bar which was lower down;
hence as the threads of the upper bar successively arrived at the end of their
course, and had worked with all the needles, they were by suitable apparatus
caused to descend into and work with the lower row, each thread working with
the outermost needle at that end, and then proceeded to work in succession as
one of the lower row of threads, and each thread as it came to the other end
was in succession caused by suitable apparatus, when it had worked with the
outermost needle at that end, to rise into the upper row, and to again work as
one of the upper row of threads. The threads were kept correctly spaced for
working with the needles by means of three point bars, the stems of the
points of which bars were grooved in such manner that the points in ascending
enter into the grooves, and were guided in their ascent amongst the threads,
and thus was insured the correct entry of the rising points, and consequently
the correct spacing of the two rows of threads.
in such machinery consist of giving movement to the needle bar in dispensing
with the depressing bar, also with the three point bars, and keeping the two
rows of threads equally spaced and moved in opposite directions from selvage
to selvage by means of two screws. By which improvements the machinery
is greatly simplified.
Now our present improvements

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas and William Hemsley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
and WILLIAM HEMSLEY, of Melbourne, in the County of Derby, Lace Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Thomas and William Hemsley, Her special licence that we, the said
Thomas and William Hemsley, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Thomas and William Hemsley, our executors, ad-
ministrators, 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 Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas and William
Hemsley, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us, 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 William Hemsley, on behalf of myself
and the said Thomas Hemsley, 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):-
Our Invention is applicable to that class of warp machinery wherein the
warp threads are caused to traverse diagonally, for which class of warp
machinery Letters Patent were granted to the said William Hemsley, in One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, for improvements in such class of
machinery, having for their object so to construct and arrange such machinery
that the threads might be caused to travel correctly, and each to work with
all the needles in succession, and so as to produce good selvages. The
warp threads being constantly arranged in two rows, an upper and an under

page_text: row, and caused to work in such manner that each thread having arrived
at the end of the machine, and having worked with the last needle, was caused
to pass into the other row of threads, and the two rows of threads into which
the warp was divided as above stated traversed in opposite directions, the one
set or row of threads constantly moving from right to left, and the other row
of threads constantly moving from left to right. And in order to keep up the
complement of threads in the two rows, there was a thread caused to pass
from the upper row of threads into the lower row of threads at one end of
the machine, and another thread was caused to pass from the lower row of
threads into the upper row of threads at the other end of the machine, and by
means of point bars the two rows of threads were kept constantly correctly
spaced for lapping with the needles. The warp threads were wound on several
bobbins which were placed in carriages which were connected together into
an endless chain, and the chain of carriages was put in motion by means of
two square barrels, on the axes of which there were ratchet wheels which
received motion by means of suitable drivers.
The threads were caused to rise up from the bobbins and were divided into
two rows; one being in front was the upper row, and the other row was more
backward, and was the lower row. The upper row was supported on a bar
running from end to end of the needles on the needle bar, and the other row
was on another bar which was lower down; hence as the threads of the upper
bar successively arrived at the end of their course, and had worked with all the
needles, they were by suitable apparatus caused to descend into and work with
the lower row, each thread working with the outermost needle at that end, and
then proceeded to work in succession as one of the lower row of threads,
and each thread as it came in the other end was in succession caused by
suitable apparatus, when it had worked with the outermost needle at that end,
to rise into the upper row, and to again work as one of the upper row of
threads. The threads were kept correctly spaced for working with the needles
by means of three point bars, the stems of the points of which bars were
grooved in such manner that the points in ascending entered into the grooves,
and were guided in their ascent amongst the threads, and thus was insured the
correct entry of the rising points, and consequently the correct spacing of the
two rows of threads. Now our present improvements in such machinery con-
sist of giving movement to the needle bar in dispensing with the depressing
bar, also with the three point bars, and keeping the two rows of threads
equally spaced and moved in opposite directions from selvage to selvage by
means of two screws. By which improvements the machinery is greatly
simplified.

page_text: Figure 1 shows a section of the principal working parts of a warp machine
suitably arranged for carrying out our present improvements; the other Draw-
ings show the arrangement of apparatus employed for transferring the warp
threads in succession from one screw to another, and as the nature of each of
the views is written thereon, it will not be necessary to repeat the same here;
and we would remark that we have not thought it necessary to show the
arrangement of bobbins and carriages for carrying the warp threads, as the
same was fully described in the Specification of the Patent before referred to.
The Drawing, Figure 1, shows the parts in the position they would assume
just after the screws A, B, have rotated, so as to cause the warp threads to be
crossed in opposite directions over each needle; and it should be understood that
the screws are arranged to revolve so as to move the threads correctly from
needle to needle, and then stop during the working of the course. The screws
shown are constructed and worked so as to make a revolution each time of
moving the threads from needle to needle, but the quantity of rotation may be
varied so long as the form of screw will move the threads correctly with the
guage of the needles, so as to be capable of moving each thread a space
equal to a space of the needles for each revolution of the screws, in order that
cach warp thread may be caused to travel correctly, and work in succession
with all the needles. The warp threads are thus arranged in two rows, by
passing over the screws A, B; the screw A constantly containing an upper
row, and the screw B constantly containing the lower row of warp threads.
The screw A is arranged and worked so as to move the warp threads from
right to left, and the screw B causes its threads to move from left to right in
constant succession; and it is preferred that the screws should be cut in
opposite directions, and revolve in the same direction, but this may be varied.
The screws A and B are supported in the hollow bearings A', B', screwed to
the fixed standards A2, B2, as shewn. The needle bar C is caused to move on
its axis, and to and fro, so as to cross or lap the warp threads over the needles
in the following manner:-a is a cam fixed on the cam shaft or axis b, which
receives motion from a crank axis in the ordinary manner. The cam a gives
motion to the lever a', moving on the stud a² fixed to the framing of the ma-
chine. The lever a' is connected by the link a³ to the arm a fixed on the back
of the needle bar, by which it is caused to move on pin joints a, which connect

page_text: the arms a to the spindle bar arms a² fixed on the spindle bar a³. The arms a
and a' are also connected by the pin joint a', to one end of the link a, which
at its other end is connected to the lever a", carrying a truck a¹¹, which is
acted upon by the cam a¹², so as to move the needle bar. To and fro motion is
communicated to the sinker bar D, by means of the cam c acting on the
truck c', carried by the lever c²; the arm c' on the lever c² being connected by
a pin joint to one end of the link c', which at its other end is connected by
a pin joint to the arm co fixed on the back of the sinker bar D, so as to give a
to and fro motion thereto. c' is an arm fixed to the under side of the sinker
bar D. The arm is connected to the spindle bar arm c8 fixed to the spindle
bar c, on which is fixed the arm clo, carrying a truck c", which is acted upon
by the cani c, to raise and lower the sinker bar D. E is the presser bar,
which is worked in the ordinary manner, and will be readily understood on
examining the Drawing,
We will now describe the arrangement of apparatus suitable for giving
motion to the screws A and B, and for transferring the warp threads in suc-
cession from the screw A to the screw B at the left hand end of the machine,
and from the screw B to the screw A at the right hand end of the machine.
Motion is communicated to the screw A, so as to make one revolution after
each course worked by the needles in the following manner-d is an axis
which is supported and slides in bearings d', d', fixed to the framing of the
machine. d is a square socket formed on the end of the axis d, which is
caused to slide and form a connection with the square end of the screw a, and
then retire, so as to leave a space or opening between the socket and the end
of the screw A from time to time, for the passage of the warp threads in suc-
cession from the screw B on to the screw A, by the aid of the instruments e, f, as
hereafter described; and during the time that the socket d² is in connection with
the screw A, to cause it to revolve, the other end of the screw A rests against
the moveable stop d³, carried by the cranked lever d', at the left hand end of
the machine, which lever is acted upon by the cranked lever d, which receives
motion by a cam or other suitable means, so as to remove the stop d³ from the
left hand end of the screw A from time to time, for the passage of the warp threads
in succession from the screw A to the screw B, by the aid of the instruments
g, h, as hereafter described. The axis d is caused to revolve after each course
worked the needles by a cam or other suitable means, and gives motion, by
means of the connecting rod de, to the crank d' fixed on the end of the axis d,
the crank pin sliding freely in the end of the connecting rod d. d³ is a collar
fixed on the axis d, against which the cranked lever d' acts from time to time
to cause the axis d to slide in its bearings, in order to remove the socket d'

page_text: from the end of the screw A, the axis & being at all times borne by a spring du
towards the left hand end of the machine. The lever d³ receives motion by
means of a cranked lever do, which is acted upon from time to time by a cam
or other suitable means. The screw B is supported and revolves in the fixed
bearings i, i, at each end of the machine, and motion is communicated to it
by a cam fixed on the cam shaft in connection with a crank i', fixed on the
end of the screw B. Each successive warp thread when it arrives at the end
of the screw A, is taken by the forked end of the lever or instrument 9, which
passes the thread towards the back of the machine, and places it in contact
with the screw B, the forked instrument being acted upon to conduct the
successive threads into the thread of the screw B. The forked lever or instru-
ment g is fixed on the axis g', by a set screw as shown; the axis g¹ is sup-
ported and slides in fixed bearings 9, and is caused to move on its axis by a
projecting arm g³, carried by the presser bar acting on the lever arm g', fixed
on the axis g', which by a weighted lever has at all times a tendency to move
the instrument g towards the front of the machine. g is a collar fixed on
the axis g, which collar is acted upon from time to time by the lever g³, to
move the axis g' endways, the spring g' at other times acting to move the
axis g¹, and instrument g, towards the right hand end of the machine, so as
to place the warp threads in succession behind the fixed inclined surface k, in
order to keep the warp threads in a state of tension, the warp threads having
been rendered slack by passing over the fixed inclined surface j, to enable
them to be moved by the instrument g towards the back of the machine.
The warp threads as they are transferred to the screw B, work, in succession
with the needles towards the right hand end of the machine, where they
are again lifted or transferred to the screw A, by the instruments e, f, in
the following manner:-The instrument e moves on the axis e, affixed to
the framing of the machine, and is constantly borne towards the front of the
machine by the weighted
arme, and is from time to time moved on its axis
into the position shewn by dotted lines, so as to separate the outermost warp
thread on the right hand end of the screw B, a sufficient distance for the
forked instrument f to take hold of it. The instrument f is carried by the
axis f', which is supported and slides to and fro in the fixed bearings f², when
acted upon by the cranked lever f³, from a cam or other convenient means,
so as to move the thread taken by the instrument f endways; and the instru-
ment is caused to make a partial revolution with its axis f', by a projection
f on the presser har acting on the lever arm f" fixed on the axis f'; and
thus will the successive threads as they arrive at the extremity of the screw B,
be moved to the right by the pointed instrument e, so as to be taken by the

page_text: forked instrument f, and moved endways opposite the space between the end
of the screw A and socket d', then raised by the partial rotation of the
instrument f, above and in front of the surface of the screw A, then moved
endways to the left so as to place the warp thread over and in front of the
screw A, when it will be conducted into the thread of that screw to again
work in succession with the needles. Towards the left hand end of the machine
we find it advantageous, in order to keep the warp threads in their proper
spaces, to cut an angular channel along each screw A, B, as shown, by which
the warp threads when twisted are separated, and prevented from riding or
twisting over each other, which is sometimes the case when means are not
employed to prevent it.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, we would have it understood that we make no claim
to any of the mechanical parts separately, nor do we confine ourselves to the
details, so long as the peculiar character of our Invention be retained; but
what we claim is, combining machinery for actuating and traversing the warp
threads of warp fabrics by screws.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hemsley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JNO. Cook,
12, Cursitor Street,
Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM HEMSLEY. (L.S.)