Improvements in Lace Machines and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan.,
1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lace Machines and the like.
We, RICHARD GRANGER, of 210 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, Lacemaker,
and WILLIAM ERNEST DALBY, of 161 Edleston Road, Crewe, Cheshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to increase the usefulness of lace machines,
including Levers lace machines, curtain machines, net machines, or lace machines
of any other kind, or machines of a similar character, to which our said invention
may be applicable, and to render them more convenient in operation.
The inveution consists in certain devices or methods for producing that
independent movement of the warp, spool, or bearer threads, in relation to each
other, which is necessary or desirable, in forming either the pattern or the
groundwork of the lace or other similar material which is to be manufactured.
Considering a single pattern only, it is desirable to be able to move each of these
warp, spool, or bearer threads independently, and when this object is attained by
connecting each thread which it is desired to move, directly with a bar or strip
operated by a Jacquard, the capacity and scope of the machine are limited by the
fact that the space between, or in proximity to, the comb-bars, can only
accommodate a certain number of such bars or strips operated by the Jacquard.
By our invention we effect the necessary movement of each of such threads, by
passing it through a hook or hole in one end of a small and suitable rocking
lever, the other end of such rocking lever being connected to, and operated by, a
Jacquard or other equivalent device.
By this means, the bars or strips from the Jacquard may be arranged at a more
convenient distance from the comb-bars, and moreover in a position where more
space is available, and where they need not be placed so close to each other;
consequently we can conveniently operate a larger number of warp, spool, or
bearer threads independently of each other, and thereby produce lace or other
material of a like nature, and of close and complicated texture, of greater width
than that heretofore conveniently attained with such close or complicated textures
or patterns.
The above-mentioned rocking levers may be made of wire or thin bent rods, and
may be formed with such bends or angles as may be most convenient in each case.
They may, in some cases, consist of two or more pieces jointed together. A simple
form of such rocking lever consists of a steel wire bent twice at right angles, so
as to bring the two ends parallel and pointing in opposite directions. The middle
portion may then be supported in one or more simple bearings, while the ends
engage, in any suitable manner, the thread and the Jacquard attachment respectively.
Bearings for these rocking levers are conveniently formed by drilling holes or
cutting slots in two parallel bars of metal, or by drilling one such bar and slotting
another. It is not necessary that all these bearings should be in one horizontal
plane, and it will be found, that in order to get a large number of such levers in
a machine of given width, it is advantageous to arrange them in rows one above
the other, but nevertheless in such a way, that, measured horizontally, they are
equally spaced or pitched. We may make those portions of the rocking levers
which work in the bearings, of various lengths, in order to distribute or separate
the parts and attachments; and we do not necessarily support all the said rocking
levers by one pair of parallel bearing bars, and may provide more than one
bearing bar for supporting such levers, either at the ends nearer to the work, or at
the other ends.

page_text: .
We may cause each or any thread to move over any number of gaits or spaces,
and by varying the length of either end of a rocking lever we may vary the ratio
between the amount of movement of the Jacquard or equivalent device, and the
amount of movement of the thread. We can conveniently restrain any movement
of the levers in the direction of the axes of their bearings, by causing one or both
of the vibrating arms of each lever to work between two metal strips or
wires, stretched at right angles to said axes. Or, we may form suitable collars
or shoulders or their equivalents, on that part of each rocking lever which forms
the bearing. When there are two bearings consisting of a hole in one of the
parallel bearing bars, and an open slot in the other, the lever is conveniently
placed in position by passing the proper end through the hole, and dropping the
other end into the slot. In this case, the tension of the threads and the
weight of the attachments may be utilized to assist in retaining the lever in its
proper position.
We may, in some cases, use straight levers, which may be vertical, or inclined at
any angle, or at various angles, with a view to separate or distribute the parts and
attachments. The lengths of the vibrating arms of such levers may be varied,
and we do not necessarily confine ourselves to the use of levers of the first order.
If it should be desired to produce a double or treble width of lace, or a width
in which the pattern is repeated any number of times, we can connect together all
those levers whose movements are similar and simultaneous, and work each
group of such levers by one bar or attachment from the Jacquard or equivalent
device.
Dated this 20th day of December 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lace Machines and the like.
We, RICHARD GRANGER, of 210 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, Lacemaker,
and WILLIAM ERNEST DALBY, formerly of 161 Edleston Road, Crewe, Cheshire,
and now of the Engineering Department, Cambridge University, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of our invention is to increase the usefulness of lace machines,
including Leaver's lace machines, curtain machines, net machines, or lace machines
of any other kind; or machines of a similar character to which our said invention
may be applicable, and to render them more convenient in operation.
The invention consists in certain devices or methods for producing that
independent movement of the warp, spool, or bearer threads in relation to each
other which is necessary or desirable in forming either the pattern or the ground-
work of the lace or other similar material which is to be manufactured.
Considering a single pattern only, it is desirable to be able to move each of these
warp, spool, or bearer threads independently; and when this object is attained by
connecting each thread directly with a bar or strip operated by a Jacquard, the
capacity and scope of the machine are limited by the fact that the space between,
or in proximity to, the comb-bars, can only accommodate a certain number of such
bars or strips operated by the Jacquard. By our invention we effect the necessary
movement of each of the warp threads, by passing it through a hook or hole in
one end of a small and suitable rocking lever, the other end of such rocking lever
being connected to, and operated by, a Jacquard or other equivalent device. By
this ineans the bars or strips from the Jacquard may be arranged at a more con-
venient distance from the comb-bars, and morcover in a position where more space

page_text: is available, and where they need not be placed so close to each other: consequently,
we can conveniently operate a larger number of warp, spool, or bearer threads,
independently of each other, and thereby produce lace or other material of a like
nature, and of close and complicated texture, of greater width than that heretofore
conveniently attained with patterns of the closer and more complicated kind.
The above-mentioned rocking levers may be made of wire or thin bent rods, and
may be formed with such bends or angles as may be most convenient in each case.
They may, in some cases, consist of two or more pieces jointed together. A
simple form of such rocking lever consists of a steel wire bent twice at right angles
so as to bring the two ends parallel and pointing in opposite directions.
middle portion may then be supported in one or more simple bearings, while
the ends engage, in any suitable manner, the thread and the Jacquard bar
respectively.
The
The accompanying drawing shows in what manner we carry our invention into
practice.
Fig. 1 is aa end view of the comb-bars A, A¹, of a lace machine, showing such
parts as are necessary for the purposes of this description.
Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan of same arrangement, but also showing only such parts as are
necessary.
Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations of a form of rocking lever different to that shown
in the other views.
In Fig. 1 only two warp threads B, B₁ are shown. They pass up from the
spools, through the upper ends of the small rocking levers C, C, to the work at F.
The lower ends of the levers C, C₁ are attached respectively to the Jacquard
bars E, E', and the movement of the Jacquard bars is thereby transmitted to the
warp or spool threads B, B'.
The horizontal portion of each lever has two bearings in the bars D D₁ (see
Fig. 3), and in this particular instance the lower arm is a separate piece attached to
the middle portion by a joint at H with an eye and set screw or other suitable
device to enable the arm to be moved along the middle horizontal portion so as to
bring it into the most convenient position for engaging the particular Jacquard bar
from which it is to derive its motion.
Figs. 4 & 5 show a form of lever which can readily be made to engage any
Jacquard bar that comes within the scope of the width of its lower arm. In this
case the lower arm is permanently attached to the horizontal portion of the lever J.
At the lower extremity of the lever is a bar K, and a movable catch M which can
be readily moved along the cross bar K so as to enable the lever to engage any
one of the Jacquard bars N that come within the scope of the width of its arm.
Since there is one lever to each warp or spool thread, the number of levers will
generally be too great to permit of their being placed in one horizontal row;
they must therefore be arranged in several rows one above the other.
Neither can
the arms of the levers be arranged in one continuous vertical row, since they must
have sufficient space to rock through the desired angle. This will be understood
by reference to Fig. 1, where it will be seen that the levers C, C not only have
their bearings at different levels, but also their arms working in different vertical
planes. Further, we may employ levers of various lengths, or bent at various
angles, or otherwise fitted to the places they have to occupy; and, where so
desirable, we do not confine ourselves to the use of levers of the first order.
By varying the length of either end of one of our rocking levers, we may vary
the ratio between the amount of movement of the Jacquard bar, and the amount
of movement of the thread.
If it should be desired to produce a double or treble width of lace, or a width
in which the pattern is repeated any number of times, we can connect together all
those levers whose movements are similar and simultaneous, and work each group
of such levers by one bar from the Jacquard.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
In a machine for producing lace or other material of a like nature, the use of
levers, substantially as described, for transmitting the motion of the Jacquard
bars, or their equivalent, to the warp, spool, or bearer threads of the material
being produced.
Dat his 20th da
ober 1901
Dated this 30th day of October 1901
For the Applicants,
FRANK WM. DODD.