CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE ADAPTED TO LACE-MAKING MACHINERY, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A NOVEL DESCRIPTION OF ELASTIC FABRIC FROM SILK, COTTON, WOOLLEN, LINEN, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of February, in the fifth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Newton, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said William Newton, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVED APPARATUS
TO BE ADAPTED TO LACE-MAKING MACHINERY, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A NOVEL
DESCRIPTION OF ELASTIC FABRIC FROM SILK, COTTON, WOOLLEN, LINEN, AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS," being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad;
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said
William Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, par-
ticularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months

page_text: next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in nud by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and,
the manner in which the same is to be performed, aro particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
This improved apparatus to be adapted to lace-making machinery, for the
production of a novel description of elastic fabric, consists in certain mechanism
appended to lace machinery, by means of which weft threads are introduced
into net lace, for the purpose of filling up the interior of the meshes and other
open parts formed by the ordinary manipulations of well-known lace-making
machines. This mechanism will admit of considerable modification, without
departing from its leading features, and which modification will be necessary
in adapting it to different forms and constructions of lace-making machines.
For instance, I have shown in the accompanying Drawings the mode in which
the Invention was first adapted to a warp lace machine in France, for the pro-
duction of the novel construction of elastic fabric, aud subsequently the manner
in which have adapted the same to a warp lace machine in England, for
effecting the same result.
Fig. 1 in the Drawings represents a front elevation of a warp lace machine,
with the improved parts adapted thereto; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the
same; and Fig. 3 represents a section of the machine, taken vertically through
it, near the middle of Fig. 1.
The following is the description of these Figures, as communicated to me:-
A is a cam or excentric, fixed on the cam shaft of tho machine; B, treadle or
lever, ou the right-hand side of the machine; C, lever, placed transversely and
acting vertically, which receives motion by means of a connecting rod from the
treadle B. A vertical rod D is connected by a joint to the transverse lever C,
the top of which rod is formed as a spade, or like the flook of an anchor, the
under part or back of the spade constituting catches, intended to take hold of
oue of the lovers F, F, every time that the rod D descends; and in order to
give reciprocating actions to the levers F, F, the rod D is shifted to and fro a
little out of the perpendicular at overy stroke, by means of a rotary barrel with
pits E, in connection with a click and spring, acted upon by a lever e, which
directs the rod and causes it in its descent to take hold first of one of the
levers F, and then of the other. The ends of the levers F, F, are connectod

page_text: together by a chain or band G, which chain or band embraces a small pulley H,
and hence by the vibrations of the levers F, F, reciprocating rotary motions
are given to the small pulley H. Upon the shaft of this pulley a large spur
wheel 1 is fixed, which, by means of an endless chain (or it might be a pulley
and band) communicates rotary motion to a small wheel or pulley J, fixed on
the axle of the large wheel K. There are two similar wheels K, K, one at
each end of the machine, carrying an endless chain or band, which is con-
nected to the shuttle L. This shuttles slides upon a horizontal bar, conducting
the weft thread across the machine, and from the difference of the diameters
of the pullies or wheels H, I, and J, it will be perceived that a very rapid
longitudinal movement will be given to the shuttle L every time that cither of
the levers F is depressed. There are two points M, M, placed one at each end
of the machine or at the breadth of the piece of fabric, for the purpose of
holding the weft thread tightly distended against the ordinary needles of the
warp frame, in order to keep the selvages even and regulate the tension of the
weft. These points are each fixed upon an adjustable guide, with a spring N.
The following describes the evolutions of this machine:-The cam A by each
revolution of its shaft (driven by rotary power), moves the treadle lever B,
which, by means of its connecting rod, actuates the lever C, carrying at its
extremity the vertical rod D with the spade-formed head. This rod D is
pressed by a spring against the pins of the rotary barrel E, which barrel as
it revolves moves the rod to and fro, causing it to take hold of one of the
reciprocating levers F at every descent, and through their connecting chain
communicates alternating rotary motions to the wheels II, I, J, and K, K, and
by the endless band or chain passed over the two last-mentioned wheels, gives
the to and fro movement to the shuttle or weft carrier L. The silk or other
material upon the quill or bobbin in the shuttle, intended to constitute the weft
of the fabric, unwinding itself during this traversing movement, is carried
across the machine, whilst the presser is up and being held in tension in the
proper situation to be acted upon by the ordinary evolutions of the lace-making
machinery, becomes woven into the fabric, closing the interstices of the meshes
and other open work, and forms a body resembling a satin ground to the lace.
In applying this Invention to English lace machinery of the ordinary con-
struction, some variations in the forms and dispositions of the parts will be
necessary.
In the Drawings, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a warp lace machine as
commonly constructed and worked by rotary power, the novel parts being
represented by color and shading in their working positions; Fig. 5 is a
horizontal view of the same, as seen from above; Fig. 6 is an elevation of

page_text: the left-hand end of the machine; Fig. 7, a transverse sectional elevation,
taken through near the middle of the machine at right angles to the front,
and in the same direction; and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, taken in tho
sanie direction near the right-hand end of the machine; the same parts being
indicated by similar letters throughout all these Figures.
For the purpose of showing the intention of this improved apparatus, I will
first point out the principal operative parts of the ordinary machine, and then
show the manner in which the improved mechanism is made to act in con-
junction with the old.
A is the crank-formed driving shaft in front, at the left end of which is a
bevel wheel B, taking into a similar bevel wheel on the transverse shaft C, the
reverse end of which shaft carries another level wheel, taking into the wheel
Don the main or cam shaft E, E; several cams fixed on this shaft (but not
shewn in the Figure), as is well understood, by their rotary motions actunte
all the parts by which the working operation of the machine are performed.
The beams which carry tho warp threads for producing the lace are shown nt
F, F, (see Fig. 7,) from whence the threads pass upwards and through the
guides G. The series of needles are shewn at II, fixed on a horizontal bar as
usual; and I are the series of sinkers; J being the presser bar.
The operations of all these parts in ordinary warp frames are well under-
stood, as also is the mode by which the meshes of the fabric are produced,
whether plain or ornamental, and to which I lay no claim of novelty. I
therefore now proceed to point out the new parts of the mechanism, by means
of which incorporate weft threads into the lace fabric, and fill up the
interstices or meshes produced by the old machinery.
In any convenient situation over the machine I place a spool or bobbin a,
(see Fig. 7,) containing the silk or other material for forming the weft or shoot
thread. This thread is conducted down to the needles II, through the eyes
of a sliding carrier b. This carrier is made to travel longitudinally from end
to end of the machine, by means of an endless band, chain, or cord c, c, c, c,
attached to it, (and seen best in Fig. 4) which band c, c, c, is passed over
carrier pullies d, d, mounted on studs or short axles in brackets in front of the
machine. To these brackets are affixed the ends of a longitudinal horizontal
bar e, e, the upper edge of which bar is dovetailed, for the purpose of guiding
tho reciprocating sliding movements of the carrier; but instead of this mode
of supplying the weft threads, I sometimes attach to the arm or carrier ba
shuttle containing the weft thread, which is carried to and fro by the same
menus. On the axle of one of the carrier pullies d, (viz') that at the left end
of the machine, a small pulley ƒ is fixed, (see Figures 4 and 5,) from whence

page_text: an endless band 9, 9, passes over a large pulley h in the middle of the machine.
This pulley h is fixed upon a transverse shaft i, mounted on a bracket connected
to the framework; and at the back end of this shaft i a small pulley k is fixed,
which carries a cord I, l, attached to the ends of the levers m, m, (see Figures 4
and 5). The fulcrums of these levers 1, 2, are respectively in the end standards
of the machine, as shewn in the Figures, and to each of these levers is attached
by a joint a vertical rod n. The upper ends of these rods n are connected also
by joints to horizontal levers p, p, (scen in Figures 5 and 7,) and upon theso
levers cams g. 9, on the main shaft E, reciprocally act as the shaft E revolves.
Hence it will be perceived, by the rotation of the shaft E, driven by the means
before described, that the cams q, q, will aternately depress one of the levers p,
and thereby also depress the rod and lever n, m, connected to it, which will
draw down the cord attached to its end, and consequently give rotary motion
to the pullies and shaft k, i, and h. The pulley h will by these means be made
to traverse the endless band g, and through the small pulley f, to give such
rotary motion to the pullies d, d, as shall cause the band c, c, to draw the
carrier with the weft thread to and fro over the guides G in front of the
needles II. The weft thread being thus thrown along the machine immedi-
ately after the laps have been put upon the needles H by the ordinary means,
the presser bar J comes down upon the beards of the needles, and the sinkers
I rise and come forward to force the work over the beards and over the heads
of the needles as usual. The sinkers then descend, and, falling back, the nibs
of the sinkers tako the work and the weft thread with it on to the shafts of the
needles, when the machine laps again, and thereby incorporates the weft thread
into the work; repetitions of which operation produce the required weft filling
up of the meshes or other interstices of the lace. It is necessary further to
state, that as soon as the weft thread has been thrown along the machino
cams r, r, upon the shaft E at each end of the machine, act upon levers & (sce
Fig. 8.) which depresses the points t for the purpose of confining the weft
thread and forming the selvage of the fabric. I would further observe that
several of these cams r, levers s, and points t, may be placed in various situa-
tions if the fabric is required to be made in narrow breadths with even selvages
at their edges, in which case also several thread carriers or shuttles may be
employed, having short races in the same horizontal range. As this Inven-
tion applies only to the production of a filling up by means of weft threads
resembling a groundwork of the lace, and which will have the appearance of a
satin foundation between the meshes or other interstices of the net, it is to bo
understood that I do not intend to limit myself to any particular pattern of
lace fabric, but apply my improvement to machinery making various patterns

page_text: of lace, whether by peculiar cuts of wheels, or by the aid of the jacquard, or
by any other means applicable to lace machinery as at present employed.
Having thus explained the manner in which I effect the object of intro-
ducing weft threads into the fabric of net lace, I do not consider it necessary
to give any further examples of the adaptation of the improved mechanisın by
which the peculiar fabric is produced, as every variation in the form and
arrangement of the lace-making machinery employed may require some slight
difference in the modification; I wish it therefore to be understood that I
clain, as the particular feature of novelty secured to me under the above
in part recited Letters Patent, the adaptation to lace-making machines of
carriers or shuttles actuated by bands, as shewn, or by other mechanical agents,
for the purpose of conducting across the machine longitudinally a weft thread
or threads, independently of the ordinary working parts of such machine, by
means of which such independant weft thread or threads may be so placed as
to become incorporated or worked into the meshes or interstices of the lace
during the ordinary evolutions of the machine by which the netted fabric is
produced.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
WILLIAM (L.B.) NEWTON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the samo Eighth day of August, in
the
year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Newton came before our Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged tho Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also the
Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute in
that caso made and provided.