Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Hanging and Arranging the Leashes in Jacquard Machinery and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec. 1:91-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Hanging and
Arranging the Leashes in Jacquard Machinery and the like.
1, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of London, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a
communication to me from Pierre Marie Point, of Panissières, in the Department
of the Loire, in the Republic of France, Loom Mounter, to be as follows:-
The apparatuses which form the subject of the present invention, have for their
object the fixing of the leashes to the cords of Jacquard mechanism and the like
previously threaded through the comber board according to the arrangement to be
produced.
This operation is effected at present leash by leash. Each one of them requiring
in the first place a provisional knot to fix it to the corresponding cord, then a
definitive knot in order to place it at the height indicated by a levelling bar. This
process which is both very tedious and delicate, is considerably shortened and
facilitated by the new apparatuses which allow of a definitive knot being made to a
whole row of leashes at the same time, whilst producing an exact copy of the knot
made by hand.
These apparatuses consist
1. Of a preparing machine or "preparer" which arranges the leashes to the
required distance apart, on notched rods acting to carry them onto the following
machine.
2. Of a machine to hang and arrange, or an "arranger" placed underneath the
comber board of the jacquard, and which fixes to the cords passed through this
board, the leashes prepared by the first machine.
3. Of a certain number of combs or movable pieces, serving to give at one time
the necessary evolutions to a whole row of cords and of leashes in order to knot
them all together at a regular height.
These latter pieces are in a way the working agents, they are each composed of
as many similar organs as there may be of leashes to be suspended in a row of cords,
and these organs are distanced in the same way as the holes of the comber board,
in order to correspond exactly with the threads or cords which pass through it.
In the evolutions which these pieces make, each organ acts separately on a single
cord or on its leash, as is done by the fingers of the operator.
In order to avoid interrupting the description of the work of the apparatuses, I will
first describe the various arrangements of these movable pieces. The divisions of
the comber board being generally very near to each other, the working organs are
equally near. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of these pieces have
been exaggerated so that they may be the better understood.
1. The dividing bar A, Figure 1, is intended to receive the leashes in the notches
made on its two edges, and to give them the regular distance corresponding to that
of the cords, it has holes at its extremities to enable it to be fixed on the
preparer."
2. The dividing rod E, Figure 2, is a rod provided with notches, intended to
remove the leashes arranged on the foregoing bar and carry them to the "preparer
"

page_text: it is provided with a semi-cylindrical and smooth envelope b, which can be turned
so as to cover the notches and facilitate its removal when the leashes have been
taken by other pieces.
3. The fixed comb H, Figure 3, is intended to stretch equally, either the cords, or
the leashes, these latter being introduced into the teeth d. d rest on an elastic
surface provided on the bar H against which they are pressed by a second bar or
clamping rod H₁ also furnished with elastic material, this pressing is effected by
cams fixed on the shaft C. The comb thus mounted can slide along the cords which
it stretches regularly, remaining suspended from them when left free.
There are two similar combs differing only in the hardness of the elastic material
and acting the one for the cords and the other for the leashes.
4. The movable comb I, Figure 4, intended to take at the beginning the cords
under the comber board should correspond very exactly with the division of this
board. To be able to compensate the slight difference which might exist between
the two divisions, the teeth d are divided into groups of about 10 each, which are
capable of moving on their carrier.
The comb is regulated once for all by presenting it directly to the comber board
with which it should correspond.
5. Fork combs J, Figure 5.
Each tooth of this comb is composed of two hinged blades, the lower one is fixed
to the support of the comb, the upper is hinged to a little reglet which can operate
all the blades at the same time. The tooth when opened as shown at d, forms a
fork into which a cord may be introduced; when closed as at d', it imprisons this
cord and allows other cords to pass between the teeth, to the right and to
the left.
6. Crochet or hook combs L, Figure 6.
These combs are two in number, working one behind the other, in front of the
row being operated upon; they have for their object to take up the cords and cause
them to make evolutions as with the fingers, so as to form the knot; for this
purpose, each tooth is composed of a crochet or hook d sliding in a tube d', the
crochets being fixed on a barf, and the tubes belonging to a second bar, so that
by approaching or separating the two bars the crochets or hooks will be made to
enter or come out of the tubes. This is done by means of cams g g acting in
opposition to the springs g¹ g¹ which bear on the base of the tubes. These cams
give to the bars three different positions in which
1. The crochets or hooks are entirely disengaged from the tubes to seize the
cords.
2. The crochets or hooks are partly entered within the tubes to imprison the
threads which are engaged in them, leaving them always free to slide &c.
3. The crochets or hooks are completely entered within the tubes and nip the
cords so as to prevent their slipping.
7. Separator comb. This comb is a simple rake having conical teeth, intended
to open a passage between the cords. These different organs being thus described
I will show their application on the two apparatuses in which they are utilized.
PREPARING MACHINE, FIGURES 7 TO 10.
The preparing machine is composed of a slide frame see Figures 7 & 8 on which
roll two carriages B, B₁ carrying the dividing bar A, Figure 1. This bar is
moved horizontally by means of a pedal C, actuating a pawl C₁ which causes it to
advance a division each time. It passes under a piece C on which have been
previously threaded a sufficient number of leashes in.
At each movement of the
pedal, one of these leashes is made to slide into the notches of the bar.
A guide in the shape of a crochet prevents the leash from sliding into another
notch than the one for which it is intended.
As the holes in the comber board are not all furnished with cords, it is also necessary
that the leashes corresponding to these holes should be absent on the bar A. This

page_text: This machine, represented at Figs. 11 and 12, is placed below the comber board F,
either on the loom itself, or on a special framing carrying the jacquard; it is
supported on feet which allow of the exact adjustment of its height and level; it
may also advance or retire in a transverse direction in order to place it successively
beneath each row of cords.
On the side frames are different supports, some, R R', movable in a vertical
direction, he others fixed, such as S, which serve to place at convenient positions
the coms above described, and to conduct them in the motions which will be
hereafter explained.
For the transverse motions, guides fixed on these supports and engaging in the
notches made in the combs, limit their evolution and bring them exactly in front of
the cords on which they should act.
These guides and supports may be of variable form and the motions described
hereafter will allow of their arrangement being easily understood, which has
moreover no other effect than that of truly guiding the hand in these various
motions.
At J, fixed on two trunnions, is the fork comb represented at Figure 5; it is
held horizontal by a stop, which may be easily suppressed, and the comb itself may
be completely withdrawn.
The other movable pieces which act to form the knot are arranged in the front
on a support S', where the workman takes them as they are required, and at the
back on a platform which can easily be withdrawn by the sides after the arrangement
of each row.
The cords, on leaving the comber board, are knotted in bundles belonging to the
same row; the operation commences by the last row and is repeated by advancing
the machine each time a row. Supposing at Figure 12 the leashes m' have been
already placed, and that the row a of cords is operated upon, the rows not yet
touched being raised on to the board at a¹ to permit of the work. The knotted
bundles of the cords a belonging to the row being worked, are first of all stretched
by means of hooked elastics G fixed to a cross bar Gi; then they are seized in any
order by the fixed comb H, Figure 3, passed behind the cords and closed in front
by its movable counter part H, the cords which remain free at their ends can then

page_text: be detached and untied and the fixed comb and its counterpart are caused to
descend, the weight of which keeps them stretched see Figure 13.
The regular division of the cords is then proceeded with by means of the
movable comb I, Figure 4, which is introduced into the cords beneath and quite
near to the comber board and which is made to descend whilst drawing the threads
in front in order to place them in the open forks of the fork comb J, the forks are
then closed and imprison or hold the threads which have been placed therein.
The cords occupy at this moment the position shown in profile, Figure 14. The
dividing rod E is then brought, charged with leashes coming from the "preparer,"
and is presented below the fork comb Figure 14 so as to engage the first strand (1)
of each leash, at the left of the tooth which carries the corresponding cord, the
rod is then pushed towards the right so as to present the second strand (2) to the
right of the same tooth, and the rod is forced against the comb J. Figure 15; at
this moment the leash is across the cord and on the tooth of the comb Figures 15
and 16.
The movements of the movable comb in the perpendicular and transverse
directions are assured by guides as has already been said and its definite position
is fixed by supports which may be movable when the comb requires to be displaced,
it will be the same for the pieces which will be placed later on.
The formation of the knot begins at this moment, by means of the two crochet
combs L, similar to that shown at Figure 6, and which will be designated for the
sake of simplicity by crochets No. 1 or L' and crochets No. 2 or L².
By means of the crochet comb L', the cords at h Figure 17, are seized near the
forks, the crochets are half shut and lowered to ', sliding along the cords, the
crochets are then completely closed and the fixed comb H can be removed,
the ends of the cords being held by L'.
To facilitate the following operations, there is then introduced, between the
leashes, the separating comb K, which, in bringing together the two strands of each
leash face to face see Figure 18 opens the passage to the crochet combs which
continue their action in the following manner. The comb K is composed of a
simple rake having conical teeth, it remains in position as far as Figure 21, although
it is not shown on the drawings so as not to complicate the figures.
With the crochet comb L, placed behind the leashes, Fig. 19, at the right of
each leash, the corresponding cord near to the fork is seized, the crochets are
half closed and are lowered near to the crochets L', at ' where they are entirely
closed and fixed to the cords, the crochets L' are then inclined, to the dotted
position to stretch the cords and they are cut at i between the two crochets. The
crochet. L' is put aside during the following operation.
Behind the leashes there is introduced a smooth rod M, around which the cords
are made to pass by pulling them back and causing them to remount by means of
the crochets L2, which take the position Figure 20, where they stretch the cords
by means of springs N, which are relaxed at the moment when the crochets are
in position.
The crochet comb L' is then again taken, the teeth of which are caused to
penetrate to the right of the cord and to the left of the leash to seize and fix the
hinder part of the cord, Figure 21. The separating comb K, the crochet comb L
and the smooth rod M, which have performed their duties, and which bring the
whole apparatus to the arrangement shown at Figure 22, are then removed.
The leashes are them fixed in a fixed comb H2, similar to that represented at
Figure 3, and the vertical movement of which is controlled by two pedals P P
Figures 11, and 12, one for the ascent and one for the descent, and the dividing
rod E is withdrawn by turning its cover so as to cover up its notches, Figure 23.
Finally the crochet comb L' is drawn out in front by causing it to rise again to
the position shown at Figure 24, where the knot is completely finished without
being drawn tight. The forks J are then opened in order to liberate the cords.
At this moment the leashes, induced to descend by their own weight and that
of the fixed comb H2, are suspended on the teeth of the fork comb J; it is

page_text: sufficient then to allow this latter to swing by suppressing its stop, so that the knot
may be drawn tight at n, Figure 25. The tightening will be completed as needed
by pressing on the pedal P, and there will only be left to cut at p the excess of
the cords and to remove the fixed comb H2 and the fork comb J, so that the new
row of leashes hung and arranged shall fall in front of the others.
The apparatus will then be advanced the required distance in order to proceed
in the same manner with the hanging and arranging of the following row.
Dated this 6th day of March 1894.
B. J. B. MILLS,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Hanging and
Arranging the Leashes in Jacquard Machinery and the like.
1, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
(a communication to me from Pierre Marie Point, of Panissières in the Department
of the Loire, in the Republic of France, Loom Mounter,) and in what manner the
s'me is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The apparatuses which form the subject of the present invention have for
their object the fixing of the leashes to the cords of Jacquard mechanism and the
like, previously threaded through the combér board according to the arrangement
to be produced.
This operation is effected at present leash by leash, each of them requiring in the
first place
a provisional knot to fix it to the corresponding cord, then a definite
knot in order to place it at the height indicated by a levelling bar. This process,
which is both very tedious and delicate, is considerably shortened and facilitated
by the new apparatuses which allow of a definite knot being made to a whole row
of leashes at the same time, whilst producing an exact copy of the knot made by
hand.
These apparatuses consist :-
1. Of a preparing machine or "preparer" which arranges the leashes to the
required distance apart on notched rods acting to carry them on to the following
machine.
2. Of a machine to hang and arrange or an "arranger" placed underneath the
comber board of the jacquard, and which fixes to the cords passed through this
board, the leashes prepared by the first machine.
3. Of a certain number of combs or movable pieces serving to give at one time
the necessary evolutions to a whole row of cords and of leashes in order to knot
them all together at a regular height. These latter pieces are in a way. the
working agents; they are each composed of as many similar organs as there may
be of leashes to be suspended in a row of cords, and these organs are distanced in
the same way as the holes of the comber board in order to correspond exactly with
the threads or cords which pass through it. In the evolutions which these pieces
make, each organ acts separately on a single cord or on its leash, as is done by the
fingers of the operator.
In order to avoid interrupting the description of the work of the apparatuses
I will first describe the various arrangements of these movable pieces. The
divisions of the comber board being generally very near to each other, the
working organs are equally near. In the drawings accompanying my Provisional

page_text: Specification the dimensions of these pieces have been exaggerated so that they
may be the better understood.
1. The dividing bar A, Fig. 1, is intended to receive the leashes in the notches
made on its two edges and to give them the regular distance corresponding to that
of the cords; it has holes at its extremities to enable it to be fixed on the
<< preparer."
2. The dividing rod E, Fig. 2, is a rod provided with notches intended to remove
the leashes arranged on the foregoing bar and carry them to the "preparer"; it is
provided with a semi-cylindrical and smooth envelope which can be turned so as
to cover the notches and facilitate its removal when the leashes have been taken by
other pieces.
3. The fixed comb H, Fig. 3, is intended to stretch equally either the cords or
the leashes; these latter, being introduced into the teeth dd, rest on an elastic
surface provided on the bar H, against which they are pressed by a second bar or
clamping rod H₁ also furnished with elastic material; this pressing is effected by
cams fixed on the shaft C. The comb thus mounted can slide along the cords,
which it stretches regularly, remaining suspended from them when left free.
There are two similar combs, differing only in the hardness of the elastic material
and acting the one for the cords and the other for the leashes.
4. The movable comb I, Fig. 4, intended to take at the beginning the cords
under the comber board, should correspond very exactly with the division of this
board. To be able to compensate the slight differences which might exist
between the two divisions, the teeth d are divided into groups of about 10 each,
which are capable of moving on their carrier. The comb is regulated once for
all by presenting it directly to the comber board with which it should
correspond.
5. Fork combs J, Fig. 5. Each tooth of these combs is composed of two hinged
blades; the lower one is fixed to the support of the comb, the upper is hinged to a
little reglet which can operate all the blades at the same time. The tooth when
opened, as shown at d, forms a fork into which a cord may be introduced; when
closed, as at d, it imprisons this cord and allows other cords to pass between the
teeth to the right and to the left.
6. Crochet or hook combs L, Fig. 6. These combs are two in number, working
one behind, the other in front, of the row being operated upon; they have for their
object to take up the cords and cause them to make evolutions as with the fingers
so as to form the knot. For this purpose each tooth is composed of a crochet or
hook d sliding in a tube d', the crochets being fixed on a bar f and the tubes
belonging to a second bar f, so that by approaching or separating the two bars, the
crochets or hooks will be made to enter or come out of the tubes. This is done by
means of cams g g acting in opposition to the springs which bear on the base
of the tubes. These cams give to the bars three different positions, in which :-
1, the crochets or hooks are entirely disengaged from the tubes to seize the cords;
2, the crochets or hooks are partly entered within the tubes to imprison the threads
which are engaged in them, leaving them always free to slide &c.; 3, the crochets
or hooks are completely entered within the tubes and nip the cords so as to prevent
their slipping.
7. Separator comb. This comb is a simple rake having conical teeth intended
to open a passage between the cords.
These different organs being thus described, I will show their application on the
two apparatuses in which they are utilized.
PREPARING MACHINE. FIGS. 7 TO 10.
The preparing machine is composed of a slide frame, see Figs. 7 and 8, on which
roll two carriages B B', carrying the dividing bar A, Fig. This bar is moved
rizontally by means of a model C
1
L

page_text: threaded a sufficient number of leashes m. At each movement of the pedal one of
these leashes is made to slide into the notches of the bar. A guide in the shape of
a crochet or hook prevents the leash from sliding into another notch than the one
for which it is intended. As the holes in the comber board are not all furnished
with cords, it is also necessary that the leashes corresponding to these holes should
be absent on the bar A. This result is obtained by means of a bar A', which
accompanies the bar A and which is pierced with holes similarly divided; these
holes are plugged up excepting those which correspond to the leashes to be
suppressed. The pedal operates at each stroke a little lever D carrying a
needle D' which bears on the bar A¹. When this needle encounters an unstopped
hole, the lever D falls on the piece C and prevents the placing of the corre-
sponding leash. When the dividing bar A is passed to the right of the machine it
is then provided with leashes excepting at the places indicated by the unstopped
parts of the bar A¹ corresponding to the holes in the comber board which have no
cords. These leashes are then raised by the dividing bar E, Fig. 2, which is
introduced between the bar A and the leashes; then, by means of a bar E' having
smooth edges, see Fig. 9, or by any other means, the leashes are sufficiently
separated in order to enable the bar A to be withdrawn, which is drawn back by
the action of a counterweight Q, as soon as it has been disengaged from its pawls
and from the carriage B':
Finally, after having withdrawn the bar E', the leashes are arranged in the
notches of the dividing bar E, Fig. 10, and ready to be carried to the machine for
suspending and arranging them, the working of which is described hereafter. The
production of this machine can be increased by doubling the number of notches on
the dividing bar and in arranging them as represented at the right portion of
Fig. 1. It is possible then in a single operation to furnish two dividing bars in the
manner indicated at Fig. 9.
SUSPENDING AND ARRANGING MACHINE.
This machine, represented at Figs. 11 and 12, is placed below the comber
board Feither on the loom itself or on a special framing carrying the jacquard;"
it is supported on feet which allow of the exact adjustment of its height and level;
it may also advance or retire in a transverse direction in order to place it
successively beneath each row of cords. On the side frames are different supports,
some R R movable in a vertical direction, the others fixed such as S, which serve
to place at convenient positions the combs above described and to conduct them in
the motions which will be hereinafter explained. For the transverse motions,
guides fixed on these supports and engaging in the notches made in the combs,
limit their evolution and bring them exactly in front of the cords on which they
should act.
These guides and supports may be of variable form and the motions
described hereafter will allow of their arrangement being easily understood,
which has moreover no other effect than that of truly guiding the hand in these
various motions.
At J, fixed on two trunnions, is the fork comb represented at Fig. 5; it is held
horizontal by a stop which may be easily suppressed, and the comb itself may be
completely withdrawn.
The other movable pieces which act to form the knot are arranged in the front
on a support S', where the workman takes them as they are required, and at the
back, on a platform which can easily be withdrawn by the sides after the
arrangement of each row.
The cords on leaving the comber board are knotted in bundles belonging to the
same row; the operation commences by the last row and is repeated by advancing
the machine each time a row. It is supposed at Fig. 12 that the leashes m' have
been already placed and that the row a of cords is being operated upon, the rows
not yet touched being raised on to the board at a¹ to permit of the work. The
knotted bundles of the cords a belonging to the row being worked are first of all

page_text: stretched by means of hooked elastics G fixed to a cross bar G'; then they are
seized in any order by the fixed comb H, Fig. 3, passed behind the cords and closed
in front by its movable counter part H'; the cords which remain free at their ends
can then be detached and untied, and the fixed comb and its counter-part are
caused to descend, the weight of which keeps them stretched see Fig. 13. The
regular division of the cords is then proceeded with by means of the movable
comb I, Fig. 4, which is introduced into the cords beneath and quite near to the
comber board and which is made to descend whilst drawing the threads in front in
order to place them in the open forks of the fork comb J; the forks are then closed
and imprison or hold the threads which have been placed therein. The cords
occupy at this moment the position shown in profile, Fig. 14. The dividing rod E
is then brought charged with leashes coming from the "preparer" and is presented
below the fork comb Fig. 14 so as to engage the first strand (1) of each leash at the
left of the teeth which carries. the corresponding cord; the rod is then pushed
towards the right so as to present the second strand (2) to the right of the same
tooth and the rod is forced against the comb J, Fig. 15; at this moment the leash
is across the cord and on the tooth of the comb, Figs. 15 and 16. The movements
of the movable comb in the perpendicular and transverse directions are assured by
guides, as has already been said, and its definite position is fixed by supports which
may be moved when the comb requires to be displaced; it will be the same for the
pieces which will be placed later on. The formation of the knot begins at this
moment by means of the two crochet combs L similar to that shown at Fig. 6, and
which will be designated for the sake of simplicity by crochets No. 1 or L' and
crochets No. 2 or L2. By means of the crochet comb L' the cords at h, Fig. 17,
are seized near the forks; the crochets are half shut and lowered to h¹, sliding
along the cords; the crochets are then completely closed and the fixed comb H can
be removed, the ends of the cords being held by L'.
To facilitate the following operations there is then introduced between the
leashes the separating comb K, which in bringing together the two strands of each
leash, face to face, see Fig. 18, opens the passage to the crochet combs, which
continue their action in the following manner. The comb K is composed of a
simple rake having conical teeth; it remains in position as far as Fig. 21, although
it is not shown on the drawings so as not to complicate the figures. With the
crochet comb L2 placed behind the leashes, Fig. 19, at the right of each leash, the
corresponding cord near to the fork is seized, the crochets are half closed and are
lowered near to the crochets L' at h', where they are entirely closed and fixed to
the cords; the crochets L' are then inclined to the dotted position to stretch the
cords and they are cut at i between the two crochets. The crochet L¹ is put aside
during the following operation.
Behind the leashes there is introduced a smooth rod M, around which the cords
are made to pass by pulling them back and causing them to remount by means of
the crochets L2, which take the position Fig. 20, where they stretch the cords by
means of springs N which are relaxed at the moment when the crochets are in
position. The crochet comb L' is then again taken, the teeth of which are caused
to penetrate to the right of the cord and to the left of the leash to seize and fix the
hinder part of the cord, Fig. 21. The separating comb K, the crochet comb L²
and the smooth rod M, which have performed their duties and which bring the
whole apparatus to the arrangement shown at Fig. 22, are then removed. The
leashes are then fixed in a fixed comb H2 similar to that represented at Fig. 3 and
the vertical movement of which is controlled by two pedals P P, Figs. 11 and 12;
one for the ascent and one for the descent, and the dividing rod E is withdrawn by
turning its cover so as to cover up its notches, Fig. 23. Finally the crochet
comb Lis drawn out in front by causing it to rise again to the position shown at
Fig. 24, where the knot is completely finished without being drawn tight. The
forks Jare then opened in order to liberate the cords. At this moment the leashes,
induced to descend by their own weight and that of the fixed comb H2, are
suspended on the teeth of the fork comb J; it is sufficient then to allow this latter

page_text: to swing by suppressing its stop so that the knot may be drawn tight at n, Fig. 25.
The tightening will be completed as needed by pressing on the pedal P' and there
will only be left to cut away at p the excess of the cords and to remove the fixed
comb H2 and the fork comb J so that the new row of leashes hung and arranged
shall fall in front of the others. The apparatus will then be advanced the required
distance in order to proceed in the same manner with the hanging and arranging
of the following row.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is :-
1. The hanging and arranging of the leashes on the cords of Jacquard machines
and the like by means of a series of apparatuses operated by hand upon
conveniently arranged guides and supports, these said apparatuses acting at the
same time upon all the leashes of a row to knot them separately at a regular
height upon the corresponding row of cords, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. The improved method of and apparatus for hanging and arranging the
leashes in Jacquard machinery and the like substantially as herein shown and.
described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1894.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.