IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING PLAIDS, PLAIN WEAVING AND FLOUNCES, OR OTHER GROUNDWORK
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Davy, of Manningham, near Bradford, Machine
Maker, and John Milnes, of Clayton West, near Huddersfield, both in
the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
Sealed the 9th September 1856, and dated the 10th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Davy and John
Milnes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 10th March 1856.
We, JOSEPH DAVY, of Manningham, near Bradford, Machine Maker, and
JOHN MILNES, of Clayton West; near Huddersfield, both in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING PLAIDS, PLAIN WEAVING AND FLOUNCES, OR OTHER
GROUNDWORK," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in adapting to looms and combining therewith in
a novel manner certain mechanism for working the shuttle boxes, so as to
bring one or other of them into proper position for being operated upon
according to the desired variation in the color of the weft, said mechanism
being operated upon by the cylinder and noggin when in motion; and an
important feature in these improvements consists in stopping the cylinder from
working, when necessary, without stopping the loom, by which we are enabled
to weave plain flounces or any description of groundwork; for which purpose,
the catch levers are so connected, that as the cylinder works or revolves, the

page_text: pegs therein; legs, or cards, made of wood or other suitable material, act upon
the catch lever, and by so doing an eccentric tappet lever comes into contact
with the catch lever, and operating upon the shuttle box lever turns the shuttle
box upon its axis of motion. The noggin plates are placed on the tappet
shaft outside one end of the loom; one of such plates is attached by a set
screw, and the other plate works therewith and is connected thereto by a small
pin, which works loose in one plate, but is fast in that place, in which there is
a groove to enable such last-mentioned plate to be drawn away by the fork at
pleasure. There is a star wheel fixed on to the cylinder shaft, which wheel
works into the plate without a groove. The eccentric tappet is fastened on to
the shaft outside the loom end along with the before-mentioned noggin plates,
and is made with a groove for a pulley to run in, fastened to the eccentric
lever in order to lift the catch levers connected with the shuttle box, and in
this manner and by these means to turn round the box so as to present another
shuttle, and so on, according to the desired color which any particular shuttle
contains.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Davy and John Milnes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
DAVY, of Manningham, near Bradford, Machine Maker, and JOHN MILNES,
of Clayton West, near Huddersfield, both in the County of York, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of our, Lord
One thousand eight. hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,. give and grant unto us, the said
Joseph Davy and John Milnes, Her, special licence, that we, the said
Joseph Davy and John Milnes, our executors; administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Joseph Davy and John Milnes, our execu:
tors, 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 LOOMS FOR WEAVING PLAIDS, PLAIN
WEAVING AND. FLOUNCES, OR OTHER GROUNDWORK," upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that we, the said Joseph Davy and John Milnes, 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.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Davy and John Milnes,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our improvements consist in adapting to looms and combining therewith in
a novel manner certain improved mechanism for working the shuttle boxes, so
as to bring one or other of them into proper position for being operated upon,
according to the desired variation in the color of the weft, said mechanism
being operated upon by the cylinder and noggin wheel, when in motion, as
herein-after fully described; and an important feature in our said improve-
ments consists in stopping the aforesaid cylinder from working, when necessary.
without stopping the other working parts of the loom, by which we are enabled
to weave plain flounces or any description of groundwork; and to effect this
we employ catch levers, so connected that, as the aforesaid cylinder revolves, it
imparts motion to a system of endless cards of wood or other suitable material,
in which are placed legs or pins at certain distances asunder, according to the
required pattern; and such pegs, acting upon certain catch levers, cause one or
other of such said levers to be raised through the agency of certain other levers:
and rods connected therewith and with the shuttle box, and by these means.
imparts alternate circular motion to the shuttle box, so as to present one or
other of the shuttles contained therein to the action of the "pecker," which is.
worked in the usual way. There are noggin plates placed on a tappet shaft,
situate at the outside of the loom; one of such plates is attached to the afore-
said tappet shaft by a set screw, and the other plate, which is loose on the shaft,.
works therewith and is connected to the first-mentioned plate by a small pin
fixed in the loose plate, said pin simply taking into a corresponding hole
formed in the fast plate. There is a groove around the boss of the loose plate,
into which a fork works for drawing such plate back when necessary. There
is a star or noggin wheel fixed on to the cylinder shaft, which wheel works
into the fast plate. The before-mentioned tappet is fastened on to a shaft.
outside the loom, and upon this shaft a spur wheel is fixed, which takes or.
gears into a spur pinion fixed on the main driving shaft of the loom, and upon..

page_text: this same shaft are placed. the "noggin" plates. The aforesaid tappet, as it
revolves, comes into contact with an antifriction roller, connected by a pin to a
horizontal lever placed above the tappet. shaft; one end of said lever vibrates
upon a pin, fixed to the end framing of the loom, and the other and opposite
end of such said lever is bent, and such part takes hold of the hooked end 5
of the before-mentioned catch levers as they are brought over the same by the.
pius in the cards, as before stated.
In order to explain our said improvements, as completely as possible, we
now proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawings. 1
hereunto annexed, and to the nunieral. figures and letters of reference marked:
thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
At Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a power loom, shewing- our.
improvements adapted thereto; Figure 2, an elevation of a portion of the
front framing of the loom, shewing. certain parts of: said improvements;
Figure 3 is a section through the line A, B, at Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section:
through the line C, D, at Figure 1.; Figure 5. is a section through E, F, át
Figure 4. These two last-mentioned Figures are drawn to an enlarged scale.
to render the arrangement of the parts more intelligible.
At Sheet 2, Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15*, respectively exhibit.
detached portions of our improvements, also drawn to an enlarged scale.
At Sheet 3, Figures 16 to 21 inclusive exhibit several views illustrative of:
the means we employ for actuating a shuttle box containing four shuttles..
Figure 16 exhibits the driving end framing of the loom with our improve-:
ments adapted thereto inside the loom; Figure 17 is an elevation of a portion.
of the front framing of the loom showing the adaptation thereto of the mechan->
ism employed for imparting motion to the shuttle box; Figure 18 shows the
shuttle box in connection with certain mechanism hereafter referred to;
Figures 19, 20, 21 are detached portions, herein-after referred to, drawn to 'an.
enlarged scale. At each of the foregoing Figures we employ similar letters
of reference to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or
can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
At Figures 1, 2, 3, of Sheet 1, A is the end framing at the driving end of
the loom; B, the main driving crank shaft, working in suitable bearings at
each end of the loom; C.is a shaft, working in suitable bearings, fixed to the
end framings of the loom. The shaft C has a spur, wheel D fixed thereon,
at the outside of the framing A said wheel taking into a smaller-spur wheel E,}

page_text: fixed on the main.driving shaft B, as also the fast driving pulley F and the
pulley G, placed loosely thereon; II, an ordinary friction wheel. The shaft C
within the framing carries ordinary pecking tappets for imparting motion to
the peckers; and the outer part of said shaft carries the following parts, arranged
in the following order-First, a cam or tappet I is securely fixed on the shaft
C, and at a short distance therefrom is fixed a plate K, which we call a
"noggin plate" (shown also at Figure 9, Sheet 2); L is a loose "noggin
plate," connected by a pin 7 to a hole in the plate K; M is a clutch fork, taking
into a groove in the boss of the plate L; m is the axis of motion of said fork;
and N is a spring catch lever for actuating said fork, either for advancing or
drawing back the plate L as desired; O is a lever, one end whereof works on
a pin or stud, fixed to the framing at o; P is a roller, connected to said
lever. This lever is formed in two parts O and P' (see Figure 15, Sheet 2);
so as to allow the lever to bend or give way in the event of the "pecker"
getting into the shuttle box, or other obstruction during the turning of the
shuttle box (hereafter described) upon its axis of motion, and thus preventing
breakage of the mecbanism connected with the said shuttle box. The part O
is hinged or jointed as a rule joint to P¹ by a pin at p, and there is a bent
spring Q fixed to the part P of the lever O, which should be strong enough
to allow the part P' to operate upon the meclianism for effecting the turning.
of the shuttle box; but upon any obstruction of the said shuttle box the cam
I will then raise the end of the part O without raising the outer end of the
piece P¹, and thus prevent injury to the mechanism; and as the cam recedes,
the elastic force of the spring Q will bring the parts O and P¹ into their original
position. It will be seen, upon referring to Figure 15*, Sheet 2, that the
outer end P2 of the piece P' is bent, such bent part being employed for raising
the catch levers R, R', by the hooked ends thereof, as they are brought.into
position by the following mechanism:-S is a casting or bracket (shown
detached at Figure 16, of Sheet 2); the parts s of this bracket support the
axis t.of the cylinder T (also shown detached at Figure 10, of Sheet 2).
Around this cylinder, as also the roller T', are placed a system of endless cards
U of wood or other suitable material, connected together by links or other
convenient means, exhibited drawn enlarged at Figure 13, of Sheet 2: The
roller T and endless cards are maintained in proper position by a spring u
fixed to the lever N hereafter described. Each of the cards U have holes 2
(shown at Sheet 2) formed through them for the reception of legs or pins 3,
which are arranged and disposed in said cards according to the desired pattern
in a somewhat similar manner to the well-known jacquard apparatus employed
in looms for figure weaving. V is a notched wheel, shown full size at Figure 7, of

page_text: Sheet 2; the periphery of this wheel at v is formed of the same curvature aš
the part of "noggin" plate K, with which it is kept in close contact until the
projecting part of the pin 3 and the space at come opposite to one or other
of the notches 4 in the wheel V, which causes this wheel to be advanced
until the said pin escapes from the notch, thus imparting rotatory motion to
the cylinder T, and bringing the legs or pins 3 successively into contact with
one or other of the catch levers R, R', thereby disengaging the shoulder or
hooked part P thereof from contact with the under side of the plate z, which
previously held it, and at the same time overcoming the elastic force of the
check spring u, employed for bringing said shoulder into this locking position,
which is essentially, necessary for keeping the shuttle box steady during the
action of the pecker. By thus forming and operating upon the hooked parts
or shoulders P of the catch levers we make such levers perform a double
office, namely, first to turn over the shuttle box, and secondly, to hold it steady
in tliat position whilst taking the pick, that is to say, the raising of one of the
levers W causes the lowering of. the other lever, and the elastic force of the
spring pulls the swell P2 on this lever, shewn at Fig. 12 of Sheet 2; under-
neath thic plate, thereby locking this lever and preventing the shuttle box
from turning until the pegs 3 force this lever back, as before stated, and so on
at each revolution of the machine, the peg 3 holding the catch lever in that
position until the revolution of the cam or tappet I brings the part P2 of the
lever, into contact with the hooked part of the catch lever R; and as said cam
or tappet continues to revolve, the part P lifts one of such levers and following
parts connected therewith, and lowers and locks the other lever, as before stated.
In order to prevent the possibility of the star wheel V turning round (whilst
weaving. plain ground), I fix a piece of metal 3* on the end of pin, 3, that
when the said pin is drawn back the piece 3* shall fill up the space at *, a's
shewn by the blue lines at Figure 9 of Sheet 2. W, W, are levers, the fulcrum.
of which is a pin at w; these levers are connected by one end to the lower
ends. of the catch levers R, R and by their opposite ends to rods X, X. The
upper ends of these rods are respectively attached to a short vibrating lever Y
fixed oma rod y 12 is the axis of motion of the shuttle box 5, which box is
connected thereto by set screws. The rod 12.works. in bearings at 6, 6; fixed
to the casting Z. This casting is fixed to the ordinary lathe or slay.of.the
tooni, and has the lever Y connected thereto by a pin y, as at Figure 5; as also
the cams or táppets 7, 8, which are successively brought into contact with
'conical-shaped, rollers 9, 10, connected to a casting 11, securely fixed on the
rod 12. Thus it will be seen, that according as either one or other of the rods
X, X, are operated upon by the catch levers in like, manner one of the tappets

page_text: 7; 8, will be raised, and the other tappet lowered simultaneously, thus impart-
ing alternate reciprocating movement to the shuttle box, and presenting the
desired shuttle to the action of the pecker, the shuttle box being firmly held
in that position by the means before stated until the lever O descends and
again raises one or other of the catch levers R, R', by the action of the pins
thereon, as above described, thereby moving the shuttle box in an opposite
direction and presenting another shuttle to the action of the pecker. In
adapting our said improvements to jacquard machinery we employ the arrange-
ment exhibited at Figure 6 of Sheet 1, at which Figure it will be seen that
the position of the noggin plates K, L, is reversed, the fast plate being outer-
most. The fork lever M, instead of being constructed as before described, is
in this instance made in the form of a bell crank lever, the fulcrum thereof
being pin 13. The upright arın M carries a fork, which embraces the
groove in the loose plate, and the armi M' is connected at its end by a check
spring 14 and strap 15 to the jacquard apparatus, the spring 14 serving to
keep the strap tight and allowing the jacquard to move through more space
than the lever M. When it is desired to employ more than two shuttles in
the shuttle box, we then construct such said box in the manner exhibited at
Sheet 3, and we employ the following mechanism for presenting one or other
of the shuttles to the action of the pecker, and for holding the shuttle box
steady during such operation. At Sheet 3, A is the driving end framing of
the loom; B, a portion of one of the spur rails; C, castings, fixed thereto
and supporting the axis d of the cylinder wheel D; this cylinder is formed
with pins or studs e, e, which pins, as the said cylinder rotates by the action of
the noggin plates G, LI, on the star wheel I, forces down the rods K and L.
These rods are attached by their lower ends to vibrating levers M, N, the
fulerum of said levers being a pin at m. O, P, are rods also attached to the
vibrating levers M, N, as at Figure 17; the upper ends of the rods O, P, are
respectively connected to hooked levers Q, R, the fulcra of said levers being
upon pins or studs q, r, fixed in the lever S, which lever is suspended from a stud
s, fixed in the end framing of the loom, as at Figure 16. T is a check spring;
for keeping the lever S in proper position, and for performing the same office
as the spring Q, at Figure 15 of Sheet 2; U is a shuttle box, capable of con-
taining four shuttles at 1, 2, 3, 4; V is the axis of said shuttle box, upon which
is fixed a star wheel v (shewn detached at Figure 19); this star wheel has
three notches 5, 6, 7, formed therein, into which the pins 8 take as the noggin
plate W (in which said pins are fixed) is moved by the rocking of the swords
X, to one of which the noggin plate W is attached by a stud or pin at e, Figure
18, as also the lathe or slay of the loom and the casting, which carries the

page_text: shuttle box. The noggin plate W; it will be seen upon referring to Figures 16
and 20, has four pins.a, placed at equal distances asunder; fixed into the opposite
side of the said plate to that in which the pins 8 are fixed, the pins a being
employed for turning the shuttle box round by the said pins coming into contact
with and being arrested by the hooked ends of the levers Q; R, said levers and
parts in connection therewith being actuated as follows: Upon motion being
imparted to the pecking and crank shafts Y, Z, of the loom, through the agency
of the spur wheels X,X, the noggin plates G, H, will be brought into action,
and the cylinder D caused to rotate; in a similar manner to that before described
with reference to the arrangement exhibited at Sheet 1, thereby bringing tlic
pins e, e, in said cylinder. into contact with one or other of the rods K, L., For
example: suppose the shuttle box and sword X to be in the position exhibited
at Figure 16, as the sword moves forward for the reed to beat up the weft in
the operation of weaving, the pin 8, being held by the hooked end of the lever
Qor R, will cause the shuttle box to be turned, so as to present the next and
adjoining shuttle to the action of the "pecker." The pins e, e, in the cylinder
are so arranged therein as to cause one of the levers Q, R, to turn the shuttle
box four times in succession in one direction, and, the other lever to turn tlie
said box four times. in the opposite direction. As, however, it may in.some
instances be necessary to operate upon the shuttle box so as to present the
shuttles to the.action of the pecker in irregular order, that is to say, instead of
presenting first No. 1 shuttle, then No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, as before stated, it
may be required. to present first No:.1, then No. 2, then back to No. 1, and again
to No. 2, and so on. To effect this change in the movement of the shuttles it
is only necessary to arrange the pegs or pins in the cylinder D accordingly.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of our said
Invention of "Improvements in Looms for Weaving Plaids, Plain Weaving and
Flounces, or other Groundwork," together with the best moans we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into practical effect, we would remark, in conclusion,
that we claim, as of our Invention; intended to be secured to us by the above
in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the use and employment of the noggin plates K and L, at Sheet 1,
in combination with the star wheel V; for imparting motion to the cylinder T.
Secondly, we claim the system of endless cards, marked U at Sheet 2, and
moveable pegs in combination with said cylinder and noggin plates, for the
purpose of operating upon the levers R, R.
Thirdly, we claim the cam I in combination with the parts stated in the first
and 'second claims, and especially the jointed lever O for lifting the catch
levers.
..

page_text: Fourthly, we claim the tappets 7 and 8, and casting and rollers 9, 10, and
11, in combination with the levers W, rods X, X', and catch levers R, R¹, for
the purpose of turning the shuttle box on its axis of motion, and for holding
such said shuttle box steady when so turned, as above stated, and exhibited at
Sheets 1 and 2.
Fifthly, we claim the peculiar construction of the noggin plates K, L, and
mode of connecting them together, as also with the star wheel V, and with
the fork lever N, and starting lever N¹, at Sheet 1, by which we are enabled
to weave either plain groundwork for any number of picks, or to introduce
and weave plaids or flounces therewith, as desired, and to effect such variations
in the working of the shuttles without stopping the working of the loom for
that purpose.
Sixthly, we claim the mechanism exhibited at Figure 6 of Sheet 1, for
adapting our improvements to a jacquard engine.
Seventhly, we claim the mechanical arrangements exhibited at Sheet 3 of
the Drawings, for actuating a shuttle box containing four or more shuttles;
and more particularly we claim the noggin wheel W and star wheel v for
turning and locking the shuttle, as above stated.
Lastly, we claim the general combination and arrangement of the several
parts above claimed and mode of operating therewith for imparting alternate
circular motion to the shuttle box, and for otherwise effecting in a simple
and efficient manner the objects of our said improvements, as above stated.
In witness whereof we, the said Joseph Davy and John Milnes, havo
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of September, in
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
EDWARD ILKINGWORTH,
Manningham.
JOSEPH DAVI. (L.S.)
JOHN MILNES.
(L.S.)