IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MEANS FOR UTILISING PARTS OF HEALDS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN PROCESSES OF WEAVING
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Booth, of Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, and Robert Watson, of Manchester, in the same County,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MEANS
FOR UTILISING PARTS OF HEALDS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN PROCESSES OF
WEAVING."
Sealed the 5th November 1875, and dated the 8th May 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Booth and
Robert Watson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 8th May 1875.
We, HENRY BOOTH, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, and
ROBERT WATSON, of Manchester, in the same County, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF.
AND IN MEANS FOR UTILISING PARTS OF HEALDS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN
PROCESSES OF WEAVING," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the utilisation of parts of healds which have
been used in the weaving of fabrics, and have been discarded in con-
sequence of wear or for other reasons. Such healds are formed

page_text: principally from two yarns, one of which is knotted at intervals to form
the eyes, the other being in the form of loops linked into the said eyes,
and our Invention has for its object to recover the last-named yarn.
We in the first place sever the eyes of the healds so as to separate the
knotted yarn from the yarn which we wish to recover. If the healds
have been varnished, which is usually the case, the parts of healds
remaining after. the said separation from the knotted parts are beviled or
otherwise treated by ordinary or suitable means in order to effect the
solution and removal of the varnish. We insert a steel or metal spring
foamed of wire bent into an U form into the loops of yarn preparatory
to the boiling process, the said springs keeping the loops distended and
preventing matting and entanglement. The forms of the said springs
may be varied so long as the desired effect is obtained.
When the varnish has been removed, or if preferred before such
removal, we sever the yarn which connects the loops of heald yarn with
the foundation cord, in order that such cord may be disconnected from
the heald yarn.
To facilitate the said disconnection we employ a knife
or cutting instrument which is provided with a grooved wheel or roller,
which is formed to run upon the said cord. The said wheel or roller
guides the point of the cutting instrument, and determines the extent of
the penetration of the cutting edge into the said cord. The yarn is then
simply in a coiled form, and is placed upon a suitable reel from which
it can be reeled off on to suitable bobbins, or from which it can be
unwound to be formed into hanks.
The reel we prefer to employ consists of a bobbin or frame provided
with springs which can be made to yield to admit the coiled
which then expand so as to keep the coils of
so recovered may be manufactured into
utilised.
yarn, and
yarn distended. The yarn
banding or be otherwise
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said Henry Booth and Robert Watson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 8th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
BOOTH, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, and ROBERT WATSON, of
Manchester, in the same County, send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the fortieth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Henry Booth and Robert Watson, Her
special licence that we, the said Henry Booth and Robert Watson, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as wc, the said
Henry Booth and Robert Watson, 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 THE METHOD OF AND
IN MEANS FOR UTILISING PARTS OF HEALDS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN PROCESSES
OF WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Henry Booth and Robert Watson, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Booth, for myself and on
behalf of the said Robert Watson, 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 state-
ment and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates to the utilising of parts of healds which have
been used in the weaving of fabrics, and have been discarded in con-
sequence of wear or for other reasons. Such healds are formed
principally from two yarns, one of which is knotted at intervals to form
the eyes, the other being in the form of loops linked into the said eyes,
and our Invention has for its object to recover the last-named yarn.
We in the first place sever the eyes of the healds so as to separate the
knotted yarn from the yarn which we wish to recover. If the healds
have been varnished, which is usually the case, the parts of healds
remaining after the said separation from the knotted parts are boiled or

page_text: otherwise treated by ordinary or suitable means in order to effect the
solution and removal of the varnish, as for example, the said parts may
be boiled in an aqueous solution of commercial soda. We insert a steel
or metal spring formed of wire bent into an U form into the loops of
yarn preparatory to the boiling process, the said springs keeping the
loops distended and preventing matting and entanglement. The forms
of the said springs may be varied so long as the desired effect is
obtained.
I have appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the
appliances which we employ when carrying our Invention into effect. In
the said Drawings Fig. 1 represents one of the said springs, and a short
length of the looped portion of a heald in position as when the spring is
in use.
When the varnish has been removed, or if preferred before such
removal, we sever the binding yarn which connects the loops of heald
yarn with the foundation cord, in order that such cord may be dis-
connected from the heald yarn. To facilitate the said disconnection we
employ a novel form of knife or cutting instrument; Fig. 2 represents a
cutting instrument which we have devised for the purpose. In the said
Figure a is a handle which terminates at one end in a cutting edge b.
The said cutting instrument is fitted with two cheeks or side plates c, c,
which are secured by means of bolts or screws to the lower part of the
handle a, as represented in an end view in Fig. 3. The inner edges of
the said cheeks are hollowed out so as to form a groove into which the
edge of the cutting instrument projects. The other end of the handle is
provided with two wheels d, d, which run upon the work bench when
the instrument is used. When in use the groove between the cheeks
c, c, is placed upon the foundation cord, that is upon the part marked e
in Fig. 1, and the instrument is pressed down so as to cause the cutting
edge to penetrate into the foundation cord. The instrument is then
pushed forwards, the groove running on the said part e, and the cutting
edge severs the loops of binding yarn. The said groove guides the said
cutting edge and determines the penetration thereof.
It is important that the cutting edge be so adjusted as that it will not
penetrate entirely through the foundation cord. A grooved guiding;
wheel or roller may be substituted for the cheeks c, c, and the cutter
may be made adjustable as in Fig. 4, and other modifications may be
made in the form of the instrument, the important feature being the

page_text: arrangements for guiding the cutting edge and controlling its action.
The yarn is then simply in a coiled form, and is placed upon a suitable
reel from which it can be reeled off on to suitable bobbins, or from
which it can be unwound to be formed into hanks.
The reel we prefer to employ is represented by Fig. 5, and consists of
a bobbin or frame f provided with springs 9, 7, which can be made to
yield to admit the coiled yarn, and which then expand so as to keep the
coils of yarn distended. The yarn so recovered may be manufactured
into banding or be otherwise utilised.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our Invention
and the manner in which we carry the same into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that we claim,-
First. The process and appliances, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before set forth and indicated.
And, Lastly. The cutting instrument, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and indicated herein-before and in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Booth, for myself and on
behalf of the said Robert Watson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Signed and sealed by the said
Henry Booth in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
HENRY BOOTH. (L.S.)