IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING WARP ENDS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard Worthington Biggs, of Manchester,
and Arthur Worthington Biggs, of Browns Buildings, Liverpool, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING WARP ENDS, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 8th May 1868, and dated the 9th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Howard Worthington
Biggs and Arthur Worthington Biggs at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 9th November 1867.
We, JOHN HOWARD WORTHINGTON BIGGS, of Manchester, and ARTHUR
WORTHINGTON BIGGS, of Browns Buildings, Liverpool, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING WARP ENDS, AND
IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows :—
This Invention has for its object improvements in joining warp ends and in
apparatus employed therein. The ends of the old warp threads and also of the
new having been separated the one from the other until sufficient space is
obtained are laid between two bars or surfaces which are faced with gutta
percha or other suitable material. These bars or surfaces are then rubbed
together, one or both bars or surfaces moving and so the ends are twisted
together: This being done the ends may be drawn out from between them,

page_text: the bars or surfaces still moving so as to cause each combined end to twist
around its own thread in such manner as to make a sufficiently secure joint ;
or the two sets of ends having been opened out as before may be brought
together, and a series of hooks, nippers, or instruments may then be caused
to come into action, each hook, nipper, or instrument catching two corre-
sponding ends, and by rotating at the same time that it recedes through a
guide twisting the ends together. The hooks, nippers, or instruments may
afterwards return so as to deliver the twisted ends again through the guides
and by their continued rotation and by a longitudinal motion given to them
and to the guides each combined end is caused to twist on its own thread so
as to make a secure joint as before. The way proposed to put the hooks or
instruments through these movements is by swinging the row of them in a
frame so as to let it move up and down evenly at both ends; this frame is
centered on an upper frame which moves laterally, being drawn backwards
and forwards by the lower frame; the two frames may be worked by two
cams, one raising the swing frame the other moving the two frames laterally.
The hooks are made to revolve by being placed between two bars or straps
rubbing in opposite directions, these bars or straps are driven by the pinion
wheels working into racks being themselves turned by the drum by a cord
from the small driving drum which is driven by a handle. Or in place of
simply twisting the threads together as before the apparatus may be so
arranged as to knot the ends. For this purpose the old and new ends are
caused to overlap each other, and then a series of instruments is brought into
action. Each instrument catches one pair of ends, and by making a complete
rotation laps the end around itself, so forming a loop, and through this loop
the ends are passed so as to form a knot; or the old and new ends having
been caused to overlap as before on a table or suitable surface gum or cement
may be applied to them, they may then be twisted or they may then be left
until the gum or cement is set when they will be securely connected. Heat
may be employed if desired to accelerate the drying, Or gummed or
cemented paper or material may be applied to the overlapping ends and
afterwards severed between each pair of ends. The ends thus joined may be
rolled between two surfaces to curl the pieces of paper or material that they
may pass more easily through the eyes of the heddles.
The method which we adopt for obtaining the necessary separation.between
the new ends before joining them to the old ones as above described is to brush
or comb them out with a rotary or other brush or comb, and then to insert a
comb through them, which comb is capable of elongating or expanding to the
extent required or after the ends have have been brushed or combed out

page_text: separate the one from the other a comb may be put through them obliquely,
and then by turning the comb dintil it is at right angles to the threads the
desired separation will be obtained. We also employ in connection with the
expanding combs a rising bow which deflects the central threads, so that
when the threads are again brought together after joining their ends, 'their
lengths may be uniform throughout the series. In selecting the ends of the
old threads for joining the heddles may be employed. In place of employing
a.series of instruments acting simultaneously to join a number of threads, a
single instrument may in a similar manner be repeatedly used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Howard Worthington Biggs and Arthur Worthington
Biggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HOWARD WORTHINGTON BIGGS, of Manchester, and ARTHUR WORTHINGTON
BIGGS, of Browns Buildings; Liverpool, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John Howard Worthington Biggs and Arthur Worthington Biggs, Her
special licence that we, the said John Howard Worthington Biggs and Arthur
Worthington Biggs, our executors; administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said John Howard Worthington Biggs and Arthur Worthington
Biggs, our 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 Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINING WARP
ENDS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said John Howard Worthington Biggs and Arthur
Worthington Biggs, our executors or administrators; by an instrument in
writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one
of us, or them, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arthur Worthington Biggs, on behalf
of myself and the said John Howard Worthington Biggs, 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 has for its object improvements in joining warp ends and in
apparatus employed therein. Heretofore when a warp has been woven up in the
loom it has been usual to twist or knot the ends of the old threads on to the ends
of a new warp. This operation has been up to the present time performed
thread by thread by hand. According to our Invention this operation is per-
formed by the aid of machinery, the ends of the two warps or of portions of
the warps are distended on a frame and the ends which are to be joined are
approximated each to each and twisting, knotting, or cementing instruments
spin, tie, or cement them together in pairs simultaneously or in succession.
Similar means and apparatus are applicable in joining warp ends in the
dressing operation when the warp threads are wound off beams or rollers,
dressed, and then wound on to the warp beam.; when the beams or rollers from
which the warp threads are drawn become empty the ends of threads on other
beams or rollers are joined up to them.
In order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect. we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto

page_text: kept in its place whilst being twisted by the rubber. On each side of the
rubber g is a guide or short comb g', g³, to-keep the threads from mixing, the
left guide g being close to the rubber g whilst the right 9 has a flat surface
half-inch wide between the rubber and the guide; this surface is also slightly
grooved at the end nearest to g to keep the threads parallel. The frame f
carries the rubber d and instead of a fixed table top plate like h it has a brass
flap k of equal width working up and down on centres turning in the
frame f. To this flap k are attached arms with adjusting screws carrying
; this flap is moved up and
bearing upon a pin d' on the
a compensating rod ³ working under the rod
down by a cam or inclined surface upon it
rubber d which lowers the flap when the threads are ready to lap as herein-
after described. The left edge of this flap is fitted with a knife race k* along
which a knife is drawn by a cord operated upon by the workman for cutting
the threads free from the waste ends when the laps are completed. When the
two frames e and ƒ are close together the two rubbers are kept closely pressing
together by spring wheels c, d, acting on their backs, set screws on the frames
and f regulating the amount of pressure.
When the rubbers c and d have to
be opened for the threads to go down between them the frame f is slid back
in slots on the frame 6 by the connecting rods f¹ and lever f" fixed on the
shaft f³ on which is an arm f' actuated by means of a connecting rod from
the handle f. When the handle is turned up the rubbers are open, when
turned down till the spring fo stops it the rubbers are nearly touching; when
the handle is pressed further down, overcoming the spring, the rubbers are
firmly pressed together by their spring wheels c and d³. For causing the
laps of the threads when cut from the rubbers to pass on to the finishing
rubbers as herein-after described, the frame 6 is moved to the right on
grooves a¹ by a rack upon it gearing with a pinion m which is rotated by
depressing the handle m². Motion is given to the rubbers c and d by the nut
wheels c³ and ds which are geared together and are rotated by means of the
handle c. The nut wheels act with screw stems fixed to the rubbers and they
move the rubbers in opposite directions. Whilst the rubbers c and d are in
contact the two wheels and d³ are in gear, but when the frame f is moved
back by raising the handle f³ the pinion d' slides in bearings along the
guides a. The finishing rubber g is moved by an arm d' at the end of the
rubber d; this arm at its end embraces the rod g³ fixed to the rubber g.
The rod g³ is of such a length that the rubbers c and d may separate without
tbrowing the rubbers d and g out of connection. The top finishing rubber n
serves a double purpose, it acts as a weight or bar to keep the threads down
in their grooves in the flap k when this flap falls; and secondly, when

page_text: moved by the workman from this position and placed in guides over the
rubber g it acts as a top rubber; in working in contact with g it puts the finishing
twist on the joints. When it is lifted from the flap on to the rubber 9 an
arm n' with a hole in its end fits into a pin in connection with rubber c, and
so the rubber receives motion, so that after the lap is made and the threads
are cut clear of the bottom rubber by turning the handle backwards, the
two top rubbers g and n are made to continue the same twist that the thread
received from the rubbers c and d.
The brush o, shown full size at Figure 4 in this Drawing, extends from side
to side of the machine, it is carried in a frame o' having on each side two
little flanged wheels o³, o³, drawn backwards and forwards by a cord operated
by the workman and passing round three pulleys o³, o, the middle one of
which is turned by a handle. The brush is centered in the wheel carriage and
kept upright by the tension of the cord acting against a moveable pin or peg o*.
When the pin is on the left, as in the Drawing, the brush is upright whilst
dragged by the cord to the left for brushing the beam threads and it lies down
when dragged backwards again so as to move under and clear of the threads.
For brushing the heald threads the peg is put in the other side.
Figure 5 is a transverse section, and Figure 6 is a portion of a plan of the
flap with the traversing knife which is marked k³.
In working the machine above described the warps for twisting are pre-
pared in the following manner:-The heald warp is either shedded in the
loom, each thread being clipped between two bars, or else in the twisting
frame by brushing the thread out with the brush o parallel towards the other
end of the table, putting a clip bar over them all at their end; then by means
of moving the healds p up and down space enough is obtained to insert clip
rods between the four different sheds; these rods are brought up to the first
rod and there left, the first rod on being removed leaves the four clip rods
ready to be put over the edge of the table a³ out of the way. The beam threads
are thus prepared-When the beam threads come from the old dressing
machine, they can be shedded before coming to the twisting frame, but should
they not be shedded ready for twisting they may be dealt with by a shedding
roller constructed in this way-q represents a roller composed of numerous
discs, each one forming a dent like a reed. Each disc has a small stop fixed
on it in the space between it and the next disc; this stop is arranged so that
only every fourth stop shall be up at one side of the roller, the next quarter
turn bringing up the next set of stops, and, so on; q³ is the slide bar at the
back of the roller for connecting the arrangement of the threads should any
be in their wrong places. It has an up-and-down and lateral motion, lateral

page_text: by sliding on the top of the rail g; it is worked by a screw turned by the
wheel; it is moved up and down by the rail 2", being connected with the
treadle q'; q'is divided into a series of flaps, which when turned up form' a
perfect straight edge, and when turned down' are kept in position by small
springs; is a bar race for placing the rods between the threads when thrown
into sheds by turning the roller q. The shedding roller is employed in the
following manner :-Clip all the ends of the beam top, draw the rod to the
opposite end of the table, brush the threads parallel, now pass. the reed
wound on to the beam over the shedding roller, allowing each thread to fall
into a corresponding space in the roller; then pass the reed to the further end
of the table, and there secure it. Now turn the shedding roller, and if the
threads are all in their places every fourth thread across the warp will be
raised one after the other forming four distinct sheds, through which rods' can'
be slid along the rod rest q¹ and passed up to the reed, where each shed is
clipped till the four different sheds are distinct and ready to be put over their
table a as were those of the heald: If the threads, however, should not be
every one in its correct space in the roller q, but some few overlap, that is,
supposing for want of lateral space 101 threads are put into 100 guides only,
then to afford sufficient space for the odd thread the end of the bar 9*. is'
brought under the crowded part of the roller, and is then raised and moved-
laterally by turning screw wheel' ' till sufficient space is acquired for all the
threads to fall in their correct places. When this is the case the bar is
lowered, and the sheds produced by turning the roller; as before' described!.
The warps being thus prepared, the rubbers c and d are opened for the two.
sheds from the heald and beam to be put down between them, care being.
taken that the corresponding thread's fall in their proper grooves, that is to
say, that the heald threads are properly spaced-in the guides or combs g³ and g³,
and also in two similar guides in the edge of the frame e immediately
under and over the rubber c, as is shown, and that the threads from the
beam being led, as the Drawing indicates, are properly spaced in the
grooves on the face of the flap k in the notches on its edge, and also in the
combs or guides at the edge of the frame f, and which are similar to those on
the edge of the frame e. The rubbers' c and d are now closed together. The
rubber n is moved on to the top of the threads on the flap k; the handle's is
pressed down by the left hand of the workman, thus closing 'the rubbers c and
Z on the threads. The right hand' now turns the handle wheel c; so causing
the two rubbers to move in contrary directions (the rubber moving towards
the workman) and twisting the two threads together to the top. The flap k
at this stage gradually descends by itself tracing down the threads that are.

page_text: twisting, so that the beam threads under the bar n are led around the already
twisted ends. When the flap k is at the bottom with the lap completed the
knife is drawn across the waste ends freeing the new joints from the
rubbers. When the workman takes the hand off the handle f³ the waste
ends drop in a basket below. The top rubber n is now raised from the flap k,
and the handle.m² is pressed by the right hand, thereby causing the finishing
rubber to pass under the head of the joints. As soon as the flap k is
relieved from the weight of the bar n it rises by the action of the bar ³ acting
as a counterbalance. The top rubber n is placed over the rubber g, whilst
a small metal bar faced with cloth, which is not shown in the Drawing, is
placed over the tail of the joint. This bar, which is moistened with gum
water, rests on the flat surface between the rubber g and the guide or comb g³,
it acts.simply as a weight, and remains stationary during the operation. The
top rubbers are then worked by the rubbers c and d being screwed back to
their original position by turning the wheel c backwards; the joints are now
completed. The bars n, with the cloth bar and the compensating bar k³, are
now removed, and the completed warp is hung up out of the way. The next
shed is put through the same process, and so the warp is all twisted in as
desired. This machine is best adapted for warps the threads of which are
not very close together.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section; Figure 8, a portion of a plan with parts
removed, and Figure 9 is a transverse section of a machine in which the
threads in place of being spun together by friction between rubbers, are spun
by revolving hooks or instruments. This machine is shown adapted to twist
in 500 or 600 threads at the same time. In the form in which it is drawn it
is adapted for twisting in the whole width of the warp in four sheds (that is),
every fourth thread through the warp at a time, but it can of course be
equally well employed in twisting in divisions of the warp fanned out so as
to allow sufficient room for the hooks to revolve without mixing the threads
one with another. (In this latter case a segment of a circle equal to the fan
is used as a bridge to bring the threads to the same length for twisting in,
compensating for the fan). Apart from placing the threads, the machine is
self-acting in all its important movements.
It is constructed as follows:-A is the main frame arranged for carrying
the beam B at one end of it, the healds C at the other end and the twisting
hooks D between them. The edges of the frame A serve as rails for the
brush E to run on; the healds C are supported on two bars so that each
heald can be moved up and down to produce a shed if desired. The beam B
is kept steady with the cord weight F wrapped round the axle so as to allow

page_text: the beam to slightly unwrap should there be (accidentally) too much strain
on the threads. The 500 needles (or revolving hooks) D are carried in the
hook case H, a transverse section of this hook case to a larger scale is shown
at Figure 10, and a front view of a portion of the hook case with some of
the parts removed. is shown at Figure 11; other parts are also shown in these
Figures. The hook case H is screwed on to the frame J and swung in
centres at K, so that the hooks can move up and down through small holes
in brass table L (which otherwise covers them) so that there is a division
between each needle. The table L'is screwed on to the frame M which
slides on the guides N carrying the frame J along with it backwards and
forwards. The tables L' and are moved forwards by cam O acting on
friction wheel S screwed on to arm Q fastened to M and backwards (following
the cam) by spring P fastened to arm Q on the framing M, at one end and
to the spring bracket R at the other. S is a friction wheel adjusted by a
slot in Q; the frame J carrying the hook D is moved up and down by cam T
acting on wheel U whose axle is screwed into J. The table is composed of
two parts, the fixed and the flap L. The fixed or left side consists of a
table the brass end of which contains (say 500) little holes or divisions for
the needles to rise up through. Also the finishing rubbers 31 and 32.
and thread guides or combs 38, 34, on either side of them.
50 is a pinion
wheel which is screwed on to M, it gears with racks on the two rubbers so
that when one is moved the other moves in the opposite direction. The
flap L is centered at 30 and opens and shuts by handle 52 to let the heald
threads pass down; it contains a knife race for short and long knives to pass
along by springs and on its top carries the pin bar 37 for charging the hooks
of the needles with threads (thus for every needle there is a pin which being
moved sideways as the threads lie between the needles forces, each thread
under the hook of the needle which as it descends takes the caught threads
down with it). Cams T and O are keyed on shaft V turned by cog wheel X
in gear with wheel Y keyed on axle Z and turned by handle Z, Z, from
which the whole machine derives its action. The hooks D in case H are
made to revolve by being placed between two rubbers or bars faced with
india-rubber, or leather, or similar material moving in opposite directions and
pressed into the needles by a series of spring wheels 3 (the pressure being
regulated by means of the adjusting screw 4). For driving the needles the
bars 1 and 2 have racks fitted on their backs driven by the pinions 5 and 6
which being in gear with the cog wheel 7 (by the lower pinions 8 and 9) are
turned by the pulley 10 keyed on the same axle as the cog wheel 7. 10 is
caused to revolve by the belt 11 passing round the compensating pulleys 12

page_text: and round the driving drum 13. The compensating pulleys 12 are pivotted
on the beam 27 swung on the axle K (part of the frame J); the lower end
of the beam 27 is slotted, working on the pin 28 carried by the bracket 29
screwed on to frame A, in such a manner that as J moves forward the strap
11 is always kept at an even tension. 13 is loose on the axle Z caused to
turn by stops 14 fixed on the axis and acting on the pin 15 screwed into the
drum 18 in such a manner that when the axle Z is turned backwards and
then forwards again the cams O and T are partially turned without the
needles D revolving at all. The rubbers 1 and 2 can be separated so that
the needles D are no longer in contact with them by means of pin arms 16
working in the slots 17 and 18 in the rubbers 1 and 2. When these pin
arms 16 are moved by the lever 19 by the rod 20 from the handle 21 the
pins describing the arc of a circle press the rubbers apart; when the
rubbers 1 and 2 are thus opened a small bar 22 is pressed forwards against
the cranks at the lower end of the spindle D by the springs 23, this turns all
the heads of the needles one way or is made to do so by moving the handle 24
at the end of the bar. On allowing the rubbers 1 and 2 to be closed again
by moving the handle 21 back again a small projection 25 on the pin cam 16
forces the bar 22 away from the cranks on the needle stems which thus freed
can revolve as before. The needles (in the Drawing) are kept in their
places. by small collars 26 on their upper parts running in grooves so as not
to be lifted by any tension of the threads. In case of the needles breaking
they may be readily replaced by unscrewing H", which removes one side of
the rubber and bearings. The thread guide or comb 84 is capable of a short
endway movement, and has a flat surface 35 grooved for the threads on which
a soft cloth bar 36 can be placed as is seen in Figure 10. When the threads
are laid through the needles and spikes by moving 34 and 37 laterally each
thread is brought under the hook of its own needle. (This is so that when
the needles descend each one may be charged with a thread). Below this
pin bar 87 is a groove or knife race 88 in which move two knives 39, -one is
a short knife cutting through all the waste ends from heald warp, the other
is a longer one projecting far enough to cut off the twisted ends from the
needle, these knives are drawn across by a cord.
To Work the Machine.-Having separated the warp and heald threads
into four sheds each and put the warp threads over the table A* and heald
threads over the table Ab the workman takes the first heald shed passing it
over rods 40 and 42, placing the rod 41 upon it so as to keep it down, then
the warp threads are passed between the needles D (which are by this time
projecting half an inch above the brass) and down under the flap L', which is

page_text: opened and closed for the purpose by the handle 52. The heald threads are
now passing in a direct line from the rod 42 through the guides 38, 34, and
between the needles. The workman now takes the corresponding beam shed,
passing it over 48, 45, placing 46 upon it in the same way as with 40, 41, 42;
this shed is now passed between the needles D and weighed down by top
rubber 32. The guides 34 and 37 are now moved slightly laterally by the
workman causing the threads that pass through them, and the needles to be
forced diagonally under their hooks sufficiently to ensure the needles taking
these threads down with them when they (the needles) descend. The handle
Z, Z, is now turned so that the hooks D drop below the level of the table L',
dragging the threads below the surface, at the same time turning. When
the four threads are sufficiently twisted together to prevent them coming
undone the bar 82 is lifted over from the. left to the right of the needles, and
it is laid upon its side upon the flap L' in the position shown in Figure 12,
and the waste ends of the beam threads are turned back over the top of it.
The knife 47, which is shown separately in plan and front view at Figures. 18,
and 14, is now run across by the workman, it traverses in a guide groove. in.
the bar or rubber 32 and it severs the waste ends, which are then removed;
the knife 39. in the flap L' is also drawn across the waste heald ends which
fall in a basket below. The handle Z, Z, is now turned again, which causes
the hooks D to descend further, spinning the warp and heald threads together;
the length of the threads required being given out by the bars 41 and, 46
being raised by the tension, of the threads. When the hooks have thus
twisted the two threads firmly together, they together with the table L
gradually. move to the right, by the action of the cam O (the hooks. rising to
allow for the threads receding),, which causes. the newly twisted ends to be
laid alongside of the main threads and to lap on the main threads. as the
twisted ends gradually rise through their holes and pass through the guides.34.
When the hooks have arisen till the lap is of a sufficient length, the machine is
stopped, and the long knife is, then passed by the workman down the knife
race in L, severing the newly twisted ends from the hooks, allowing the lap to
move forward till its nose; lies on, the rubber 31, and its tail on the. flat 85;
the rubber 82 is, now, put over; the rubber 31, whilst a bar covered with a
moist or gummed cloth is. laid on 85.;. the workman now draws 32. towards
him, which having a rack at its extremity passed over the pinion wheel 50
causes the bottom rubber which has a similar rack to. move in an opposite
direction; this has the effect of spinning the nose of the lap, while the tail
is partially held in its groove; thereby spinning the loose ends in grooves in
35. close to the main thread and making a very neat, firm joint; the threads

page_text: of this shed being now firmly united the compensating bars 41 and 46, the
rubber 32 with the cloth bar 36 are removed and the threads are hooked up
out of the way above the machine. To prepare the machine for the next
shed the workman pulls out the handle 21 separating the rubbers, as before
shown, and allowing handle Z, Z, to be turned back without moving any of
the needles; this handle is turned so as to bring the needles up through the
brass plate L' above the table to their former position; the loose ends are
now brushed out of their heads and the machine is ready to proceed with a
fresh shed as before. Should the needles at any time require raising above
the table; this can be done by raising the handle 51 attached to J, J. The
knife 47 is constructed of two cutting blades which catch and cut the
threads between them; the outer blade is also turned up at the end like a
skate to keep down the main threads when passing over them.
Figure 15 is a transverse section, and Figure 16 is a portion of a front view
representing another method of mounting the needles. As will be seen the
needles are arranged in two rows each of two stories; each needle is dropped
into a saw-cut notch or space in a comb plate, and the needles are kept at the
bottoms of the notches by the pressure of the rubbers on their small driving-
bosses, and they are further secured in their places by guard combs inter-
locking their teeth with those of the needle holders. The rubbers are pressed
up by springs. The stems of the needles are cranked above the top of the
guides, and here a flattened bar is mounted between them; in one position
this bar leaves the needles free to revolve, and in another it locks them with
their hooks aligned across the machine.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section, Figure 18 a portion of a plan, and
Figure 19 a transverse section of a machine for uniting the threads together
by knotting instead of twisting them together, the advantage being that ends
so attached become all the more firmly united the more they are strained in
case they are wanted to be woven close to the joint, whereas the ends only
twisted together are to some extent liable to come untwisted if subjected to
much strain.
The machine is constructed as follows:-The main frame and the brushing
and general arrangements are the same as in the rubber machine, Figures 1,
2, and 3. A is the curved brass table, across which the warp ends are laid
(as in the hook machine) and through which the needles project from below
when receiving the threads. It is fitted with a shifting pin bar B, as in the
hook machine for charging the needles. C, the needle bar carrying the
needles; latch needles are used in this case; this needle bar has a vertical
rocking and "shift" motion. The vertical motion is arranged by the bar C being

page_text: 1
supported by two T-heads D sliding in guides E (the axle Z passes through
a slot in the bar D to steady it at the bottom) and raised up and down by
cam G working on pulley wheel F attached to D. The slides are adjusted
by screws E. The height of the stroke is adjusted by raising the pulley F.
up and down in a slot in D. The rocking motion is, given by the bar being
supported in bearings in the T-heads D and moved by bars H hanging down,
worked by cam J fixed to the cam G, and acting on wheel I (which is also
adjustable in a slot in H); K is the pin bar (whose long pins or needles are
spaced exactly the same gauge as the needles); the pins and needles are cast in
leads as with hosiery needles. This bar K has also three motions, part round its
axis L which is carried by arms P on either side of the machine; these arms are
centered at X, and when they rock on these centres the pin bar K is moved to
and from the needles. The bar K is also capable of a "shift" or slight side-
ways motion to allow the needle to come up on either side of the pins. The
circular motion is thus given by the bar K being swung on cranks worked by
a lever M outside the framing by rod N on cam O. The axle L of the
cranks, as already mentioned, is supported in the upright P, which are them-
selves rocked by cam R acting on their lower ends. The shift is given
by a small projection on the side of the cam O, the shift is only about 1 of
an inch. The arms P besides supporting the pin bar K. carry a frame
with two pads or rubber clips S, S, extending from one side of the frame to
the other. The stroke of these arms P is regulated by the cam, but
stops are also put on the main framing to prevent them going too far;
opposite these pads are two other corresponding pad bars T and U;
U fixed on the bottom of pin bar so that when the pins are upwards
the two lower pads are close together, and the other bar T supported
by W swung on shaft X and moved to and fro by arm Y being pressed down
as the T-head D descends below the level of the pins. The main shaft Z
(of which one complete turn is sufficient to put the machine entirely through
its movements) is turned by wheel Z in gear with Zb. and Zo turned by the
handle Zª.
.
To work the machine the warps are shedded in corresponding sets, as in
the rubber machine, and the four clips are put down the gaps; the right shed
is then passed over table A allowing the threads to fall each one between
its own needles, which to commence with are half an inch above the table, as
in the hook machine. The threads are passed under the needle beards by
the cross action of the little bar (pin) B which is moved by hand. The
needles now descend below the pins K (which keep moving) so as to slant
the threads towards their leads as the needles move up and down. The pin

page_text: bar K. then shifts as to allow the needles to come up on the other side of the
pins as they rise nearly to touch the table A; this forms a loop round each
needle's stem held down by its pin. The needle now rocks over to the right
causing the thread to come across its front moving a little laterally with the
pin bar, so that when the needle descends, which it now does, it draws the
second thread, caught by the hook, down through the loop on its stem (forming
the first link of a chain stitch). The hook draws this loop down sufficiently
tight to allow the loop to slip over the needle's head as it passes again through
the pins and mounts for the hole it originally came through remaining half
an inch above the table ready to receive the warp ends to be united; the left
shed is now laid over the needles like the preceding right shed. The needles
having each its own thread as before descends through the table, and through
the pins and loops dragging the waste ends through the loops with them.
(The waste ends having been previously cut the right length by a knife in
top bar which is placed over the threads for this purpose). The two pairs of
clips come now into operation; the top ones closing on the threads above
the knot the bottom ones closing below it.
clips S moving forward to meet T which swings up and U which swings,
down, so that as the knots are simultaneously drawn up through the clips
to the level of the table top by the workman each knot is tightened by the
bottom clips, and turned over and made secure by the top ones. To detach
the loose or waste ends a bar with slide knife is laid on the threads close to
the holes, the waste threads-passing closely over it (as in the hook machine);
this throws the threads into a cross at the knot. The top and bottom knives,
the first working in the bar, the second in the knife race on the top of S, are
now drawn across the machine detaching the waste ends leaving the old and
new warps firmly knotted together. The process is repeated for each shed of
threads.
The close is effected] by the
The successive positions of the needle and pin in producing the knot are
shown by the diagrams, Figure 20.
Figure 21 is a longitudinal section, Figure 22 a plan, and Figure 28 a
transverse section of a portion of a machine in which the threads are spun
together one after another in place of simultaneously; this arrangement
admits of the same machine, without alteration, being used with warps of
various gauges, which when the threads are connected simultaneously is not
practicable. In these Figures portions of the frame of the machine are
omitted. This machine is self-acting both in selecting the ends to join, in
joining them, and in stopping itself if any of the threads are misplaced or
missing in the warp so as to avoid piecing wrong ends together or making

page_text: bad work. It commences at one side of the warp and works steadily across
it until all the threads are strongly united when it. throws itself out of gear
ready to commence another warp.
The machine as represented in the Drawing may be regarded as half size.
It is drawn with leas or rods at each end with the thread alternately passing
over and under them, so that each thread shall be separated from its neigh-
bour;
these leas or rods are inserted in the loom and in the dressing machine.
The separation of the threads may be facilitated by the brush as already described
being drawn under the threads so as to get them parallel. The healds and
beam are placed at a sufficient distance from the centre of the machine to
avoid any undue strain on the threads during the operation..
The machine is constructed as follows:-No. 1 is the main frame supporting
the healds 2 and the beam 8, the leas or rods 4 at each end, the centre fixed
rod 5, and one end of the sliding rod 6 (the other end being fastened on the
"boat" 11), the slides 7, the traversing screws 8 with gear, the driving
shaft 9 with its stopping bar 10. On the slides 7 is a carriage or boat 11 capable
of moving from one side of the machine to the other. Attached to 11 is the
casting 12, near the end of which are the screw clips 18 which close on the
screws. 8 by means of the little balance weights 14 in such a manner that as
the screws revolve they draw the boat 11 from one side of the machine to the
other. When, the screw clips 18 are open the boat 11 may be slid back
again to the side of the machine from whence it started. The screws 8 are
made to revolve together by chain wheels 15 by an endless chain passing
round them both (and serving as a means of moving the screws by hand if
desired). The right pulley is turned by a toothed wheel 16 on its axis turned
by a screw 17 keyed on a small cone shaft 18 driven from the main.
shaft 9 by another cone 19. The speed of the screws is determined by the
position of the strap on the cones, and as the little screw 17 is lifted in and
out of gear by handle 20 the traversing-screws 8 can be turned to any desired
position backwards or forwards by the chain round 15, above named, to better*
adjust the machine for starting, etc.
The construction of the boat 11 is as follows:-A is the driving pulley.
driven by cord from driving pulley 21 passing round it on to, 22, so that the
wheel A is, as it were, always in gear with the main driving shaft 9 which-
ever side of the frame the boat 11 is. B is the shaft on which it is keyed,
turning band, wheel C, brush pulley D, and screw N; F is the spindle on
which the bevilled wheel G carrying, the hooks revolves when driven by the
screw N gearing with a worm wheel, having on its axis a bevilled wheel H,
which is in gear with the wheel G. This wheel G again drives off on to a

page_text: spur wheel I on the cam shaft J. The hook wheel G carries three or more
revolving hooks K, and has inside it a band wheel L to support the band M,
The band M causes the hooks when they come against it to revolve with
great rapidity as they slowly rotate round spindle F driven by screw shaft X.
On the top of spindle F is fixed the snapping scissors 0 (closed by a little
circular spring in box below the joint of the scissors) and opened by cams on
tube P, which is screwed down and adjusted by little set screws on to the top
of hook wheel G.
In order that the hooks may tightly hold the ends of the yarn they have
little sliding clips or nippers which may be acted on by the thread itself, the
object being to nip or wedge the thread into the head of the hook whilst
twisting, but to let the ends slip out very easily when the needle is being
cleaned by brushing the little roughed bar is pulled up by the thread being
dragged upwards, wedging the thread in the slant of the hook and down as
the brush pulls the thread the opposite way unwedging the thread. As the
hooks K are turned to the rear they fall away from the driving band M and
cease to revolve. A slow backward twist may be put on them by india-
rubber band g stretched across the boat 11, which freeing the loose end of
thread wrapped round the stem of the needle catches it against the little
doffing wheel R (made of very short card points turned downwards), which
getting a right angle pull at the thread drags it out of the hook and passes it
on to the large doffer S. Both R. and S are driven by a cord passing round
D; S revolving at sufficient speed to clean R of all loose ends. . S. can either
be cleaned by being turned backwards against a wire brush, or else can be
replaced by a clean brush by unscrewing T, which allows the squared end of
its shaft U to escape from its driving pulley V. On the axle X are two cams
W working the thread arms Z and Z open and shut for bringing the threads
up to be twisted, moved by cranks Z and shaft Z, Z, which carry the arms
Z and Zb. X also drives two cams 28 for working the auxiliary thread arms
24 backwards and forwards between the rods 4 and the thread arms Z and Zb.
The cams 28 act upon friction pulleys carried by a long connecting rod 24*,
and which at its ends is jointed to short arms on the axes of the arms 24.
The action of Z and Zb as also that of 24 as they move towards the centre of
the machine is slightly inclined away from the centre line of the machine, so
that they carry the selected threads a short distance sideways and separate
them from the threads which are waiting to be joined. At the end of
the casting 12 are the thread selectors 25 and thread pickers 26, also bearing
wheels 27 (for holding the rods 4 up at the right level) and stopping catch 28.
The thread selectors 25 are fitted with springs, so that if one end of the

page_text: warp
is more forward than the other both pressers still work instead of the
forwardness of one presser preventing the other from getting to its threads;.
they are constructed therefore in two parts 25 and 82, 25 being hinged on 32:
which is fastened on the axle 29, the spring 38 keeping them close-together ;.
25 may thus vary in the forward stroke, but always comes back-to the same.
distance. These parts are better seen in the Figure 24.
The stopping gear consists of a catch hook 28 turning on a centre on the
frame, and raised by the pressure of thread brought up by the-picker 26,
when backed up against it, so that then the ledge 84 on the presser 25-passes
under the catch 28 and is not caught; but should the thread be missing,
through some fault in the warp, the eatch 28 is not raised but holds on
ledge $4, detaining pressure 25 from further work until the error is corrected.
As, however, the workman may not be immediately at hand to make quite
safe the machine also stops itself in the following manner :-On the axle J.is
a catch cam 85, under whose catches rod 86. is continually moved by the
lever 37 keyed on to the axle 29, and consequently working in unison with
the pressers 25. When all goes well 36 passes out of 85's way before the
catch cam comes.round, but should presser 25 be detained: by hook: 28 acting
on 34 (through an end being missing) 36 cannot retire, before the cam 35
strikes it down, forcing the lever 87" and catch lever 39 partly round by the
grooved axle 38 on which 87* slides. 37 is balanced up by a small round
weight 87 at the other end of it. When 39 is thus moved the lever 40 slips
from under the catch at the end of 89, and falling by the weight 41 presses
the stopping rod 10 to the right, running the strap on to the loose pulley 43.
Starting the machine by moving rod 10 to the left raises the lever 40 and
readjusts the self-acting stopping gear, 87* having resumed its place by the
balance weight 87. The slot 44 in the rod 10 allows the machine to be
started or stopped by moving the slide rod 10 quite independently of the
stopping gear.
The needle tops when broken unscrew from the top of the spindle K.
with a left hand screw to be replaced by new needles. The carrier
pulleys 48 between the doffer S and the driving wheel D are in adjusting
slots. The front knife 47 when dull is easily replaced by fitting another
in its place. The threads if damped before twisting make a far neater
joint.
To Work the Machine.-Have the bolt 11 backed to the left-hand side of
the machine, as seen in the plan, then place the ends of the two warps which
are held in clips 45 between the bars 5 and 6, brushing them parallel from
the bars 4 to the clips 45. The bar 5 can be lifted out so as to allow the
B

page_text: brushes to go down between 5 and 6, and thence between the slides 7, and to
the right of the stopping shaft 38. The boat 11 is now moved up to the
threads by the screws 8, and the machine is started in such a position that
the thread pressers 25 at their first forward movement shall come against the
second thread of either warp missing the first, in consequence of their passing
the bars 4, 4, in the reverse direction, and these second threads are thus
sprung back a short distance away from the first thread at either end, which
are to be first joined. The bars 4, 4, are always kept at the correct level by
the little bar pulleys 27 regulated by a slot and set screw in the casting.
When the machine is started by moving the rod 10 drawing the driving strap
on the fast pulley, the presser 25 by its weight is springing the threads away
from the outside thread, which is instantly picked off by picker 26, whose
point rises just at the back of the presser 25, against which it constantly rests
on a small adjusting screw working on the back plate of the presser, and
which regulates the distance required. The presser 25 now backs through
cam 80 pressing the rod 29 round, forcing the picker 26 with its newly
acquired thread back with it. At this time the auxiliary thread arm 24 having
completed its outward stroke is returning so as to interrupt the thread from
returning to the rest, when the picker 26 advances to find another thread.
The thread picker 26 now drops, and the presser 25 has moved over to the
other side of the cross threads ready when the cam 30 lets it fall on to the
theads again and spring off another thread as before, and thus it operates,
first on one side and then on the other of the cross made by the threads
between the bars 4, 4, until it has selected the whole warp through. It is
evident that as both the selectors 25 are screwed on to the same shaft and moved
by one cam, that they must select their corresponding threads at the same
time, and further, as the machine stops itself if a thread is wrong at either
end that there can be little fear of wrong ends being pieced by mistake, as is
sometimes the case at present by hand. At every stroke the thread arms
Z and Z each await the arrival of its auxiliary arm 24, which pass the
thread over its head, just as Z or Zb rises and takes the thread forward to be
twisted in. Thus far the operation is exactly the same on both sides of the
boat 11; as Z rises the thread is drawn over the end of-bar 6, which com-
pensates in length for the rise and slant of the thread brought from the
selector. The two thread arms Z and Zb are now closed together supporting
each its thread over the small pin in its head. The ends of these threads
between the heads of the arms Z" and Zb and the clips 45 are by the sideway
movement given to them by the action of the arms caused to drop into a
small notch or recess on the frame to hold them steady for them to be correctly

page_text: taken by the hooks, and in such a manner that as the hooks K come whirling
round one of them catches the two ends together in its hook, winds theni
round its stem, and in so doing strains the threads over the fixed knife 47
which cuts off the waste ends, and the elasticity of the thread jerks the spiral
of thread wound on the hook stem up into the head of the hook and there
jams it. The second thread sticking in the head of the needle revolves rapidly
twisting the two ends together nearly up to the pins on Z, Z, when Z falls
away from the thread, thereby allowing the thread it previously supported to
lap round the twist already made (the closeness of the twist and lap being
regulated by the speed at which the needles revolve and the times when the
arms fall away); if Z falls away slowly the head of the lap is very fine and
secure; the fall of the arm Z is immediately followed by that of Zb; the
lap is spun down to the scissors O, which open to receive the waste ends held by
the book, and just as the lap is spun down to them the scissors snap to on the
waste end, cutting the newly twisted lap free from the needle and allowing it
to spring up over the head of the machine out of the way. The needle having
done its work falls to the rear and ceases to turn, or turns backwards
untwisting its loose ends of thread, which are at once wisked off the needle
by the little wire doffer R which passes them on to S, allowing the needle to
pass on cleaned ready for another twist. The machine proceeds in this manner
across the entire warp until it is strongly and firmly united; when having no
more threads left to twist it stops itself ready for a new warp. By varying
the motions of the hooks or needles they may be made to knot the threads
together in a manner similar to that already described, and successively from
side to side of the warp. Other or additional threads may also be introduced
to tie or lash the warp ends together. We have not however thought it
desirable to describe in detail these and other variations of which the Inven-
tion is capable, the machines which we have shown in the Drawings being as
we believe of greater practical utility.
Figure 25 is a vertical section, Figure 26 a plau, and Figure 27 an end
view of the principal parts of a machine for connecting the warp ends mainly
by the use of gum or cement, but in which twisting, or spinning, may also
be used.
This machine is constructed as follows:-A is the main frame with
beam B at one end of it, and C the healds at the other; D, E, and F, G, are
the, four rubbers for twisting the threads together; H, H, H, H, are the
guides at the side of the rubbers grooved for the reception of every thread;
I is the middle guide to support the threads and prevent them mixing
or twisting up together, moved by the handle and balance weight ¸N;

page_text: J is the girder screwed to frame A, on which the bottom rubbers E and G
rest, and on which the hot-air case K is screwed; this case K is filled
'with steam pipes L (draining into one another and off at L, T), and at
the top the air case has a valve M which allows the hot air to escape when
the joined threads are ready to be dried (or gas may be used here instead
of steam pipes to dry the threads). O is a grooved flap table carrying
the heald guides P, and rests on the ledge Q. It is lifted by the balance
handle R to allow the beam shed to pass down, as is indicated by the dotted
line; O is a fixed table with guides Ob upon it on the opposite side of
the rubbers; S is the upper steam roller or chest against the heated surface
of which the joints of the threads rest when the shed is hung up. (This
is optional, as the threads can be left till they are securely dried by hot
air alone, but placing them on a hot surface as soon as there is no fear
of their sticking to it much quickens the process). S is supplied by steam
from pipe T through union joint T, S, and drains itself like a sizing drum
by being turned round; it also prevents the threads sticking. U is the
kuife for cutting off the beam waste ends (and runs in knife race on the
side of guide H); V the kuife for severing those of the healds (running
in the side of rubber F); X 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the rods for shortening the
sheds preparatory to their being twisted. Each thread is passed over the
rods W, and the rods X. are dropped between the rods W, taking down
the threads, as shown by dotted lines. This rod, when raised after the
threads are jointed gives out the length of thread required for, hanging the
shed up. (This system of shortening the threads by rods is the same as
used in the warping machines). The four rubbers are driven in couples by
screws and the rack wheels Y and Z turned by wheels Z, Z, as in the
machine first described. The top rubber F is driven by the opposite lower
rubber E by bracket F, E. D is similarly driven by resting in bracket
G, D, screwed to G. Both D and F can be lifted out of their brackets G, D,
aud F, E.
To work the machine, brush the warp, putting the sheds over the table as
in the machine first described, only shortening the beam sheds by putting
each one down its slide X, X, X³, or X*.
The corresponding sheds are brought together thus:-The beam shed is
passed over rubber G, E, and down gap as préviously described, O having
been opened for its reception, the threads falling into the grooves of the
guides P, H, I, and H. The heald shed is passed the reverse way over the
two rubbers E and G, and is passed to the right and held up by hand or
over a bar, as shown by the dotted line. Each groove in the guides bas

page_text: thus one beam and one heald thread ready to be united. The threads being
in their right places the two top rubbers D and F are placed over the
threads on to E and G, holding the threads down and tight between
them. The two knives U and V are drawn across the waste ends which are
removed. The wheel Z, Z, is turned and the threads twisted together if
twisting be resorted to, as is preferred. (The threads may be slightly
twisted before the knives are used so that the ends cannot draw out from
the rubbers after just being cut). The ends are now ready for gumming
or cementing firmly together. Handle N is moved to the left and sinks
guide I, which is thus clear from the threads. A cloth covered bar having
a strong and rapidly drying cement on its face is pressed down on to the
twisted threads over I, bandle Z, Z, is slightly turned, and the cementing
bar is removed. The points have merely to set now, and to quicken this
process valve M is turned which lets the hot air in K rise up through
and by the guide I on to the cemented part of the threads which it quickly
drys. The joints may be powdered to cause them to set more rapidly.
When the joint is secure D and F are removed, the shortened bar ✗* raised,
and the newly joined warp hung overhead, pressing the joints against the
hot surface of S which drys the joints and makes them very firm. The
wheel Z, Z, is backed, N is raised, M closed, and the machine is ready for
the next shed. In place of cutting off the waste edge by knives traversing
in guides in the machine the ends may be more simply removed after the
joints are made and raised out of the guides; this may be done by hand
sbears run from side to-side of the sheet of threads by the workman. In
place of dabbing the cement on to the threads in the manner described
ribbons of gummed paper may be laid on to the sheet of threads, one on
each side; these ribbons are held together whilst the cement is dried, and
then the ribbons are divided between the threads. The cutters to divide
the ribbons may be set in a bar which is pressed down on to the guides I
so as to enter the recesses between them, dividing the ribbons of paper which
rest on these guides. The arrangements shown in the Drawings last
described are however preferred, as the joints made with paper are not so
readily passed through the eyes of the healds as those where paper is
not used.
.
Having thus described the nature of our said and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that,-
First. We claim the joining warp ends by distending the ends of the
two warps, or of portions of the warps on a frame, approximating the ends
which are to be joined each to each, and then causing twisting or knotting

page_text: instruments to spin or tie them together in pairs either simultaneously or in
succession.
Second. We claim the arranging apparatus for joining warp ends with
rubbers which, when the ends are distended in a frame and approximated each
to each, seize them, and by rubbing together twist or spin the ends and so
unite them in pairs.
Third. We claim the arranging apparatus for joining warp ends with hooks
or revolving instruments which, when the ends are distended in a frame and
approximated each to each, seize them, and by revolving twist, or spin the ends
and so unite them in pairs.
Fourth. We claim the arranging apparatus for joining warp ends in such
manner that each pair of ends is first taken and spun together by rubbers or
revolving instruments and then caused to lap the main thread around it either
by leading the main thread down the twisted ends or by bringing the twisted
ends and the main thread the one alongside the other whilst the rotation
continues.
Fifth. We claim the arranging apparatus for joining warp ends with hooks
or instruments which, when the ends are distended in a frame, take them, and
by producing suitable loops in the threads and drawing the ends through knot
them the one to the other in pairs.
Sixth. We claim the arranging apparatus for joining warp ends with a
book or instrument which, when the ends are distended in a frame takes them
in pairs and twists or ties them together, and so works progressively across
the warp until all the threads are connected.
Seventh. We claim the joining warp ends by distending the ends of the
two warps or of portions of the warps on a frame approximating the ends
which are to be joined each to each, and then applying cement or cemented
material to the ends so approximated.
Eighth. We claim the arrangement of the several machines herein described,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Worthington Biggs, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.