IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE HEALDS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1885

page_text: We, RICHARD ECROYD, of Charlestown Mills, Charlestown, near Shipley in the
County of York, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH BENTLEY of the same place, Managing
Overlooker, do hereby declare, the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE HEALDS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for operating the
healds in loom for weaving; and has for its object, the arrangement of the apparatus
in such a manner, that when the healds are moved to the top and to the bottom to
form the "shed," they are locked in that position until again operated upon by the
apparatus; and consists in mounting on shafts between suitable framework, a series
of circular plates, to which are connected rods or draw knives that are operated by
needles and draw bars actuated in the usual manner.
The circular plates work in conjunction with another series of plates to which
the healds are attached by suitable levers and other connections, and when the last
named plates are moved, the healds are raised or lowered according to the direction
in which the plates move on the centre shaft or axle, and lock with the circular
plates on the healds reaching the extent of the traverse, whether they are at the
top or bottom of the "shed."
We will describe our invention more in detail by making reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1. represents a side sectional elevation
shewing the interior or working parts of our apparatus as arranged to work in a
horizontal position. Fig 2. shews the apparatus in a vertical position, and the
remaining figures are details of the plates we use to lock the healds. In all the
figures similar letters indicate like parts where they appear.
The apparatus may be fixed in the same position, and motion transmitted to the
oscillating lever A. and card cylinder lever B. by the rods C. and D. respectively,
as in ordinary machines. The card cylinder E. and cards E' are of the usual
construction, and when the latter allow any of the needles G or G' to lower by the
ends thereof passing through the card holes, the respective draw knives H or H¹
comes in contact with the reciprocating draw bars J. or J¹, and thereby cause the
circular plates K. connected to the draw knives that have been lowered, to turn on
the centre shaft and actuate the irregular plates L in connection therewith.

page_text: Each circular plate K. is prepared with a short circular boss K', which engages
in the slot formed in its respective irregular plate L. and when any circular plates K
are actuated in the manner described, the irregular plates L engaged therewith,
raise or lower the healds connected thereto by means of the rods and levers M.
The stroke of the draw bars J. and J' is regulated, so that the circular plates K
are moved a sufficient distance that when either of the curved parts of the irregular
plates at L' come in contact with one of the raised curved ribs K2 on plates K, the
healds are at the top or bottom, and the plates and healds connected therewith are
locked in that position, until the needles G, or G', again bring the hooked ends of
the draw knives into the position to be operated upon by the draw bars J or J¹.
The apparatus when arranged to be placed in a vertical position as shewn by
Fig 2, is operated upon substantially in the same manner as before described, but
in this case, the jointed projections L' on the irregular plates, are placed relatively
to the curved parts L', in a different position to those arranged for the horizontal
apparatus, in both cases the locking is effected by the curved parts L¹ coming in
contact with the raised curved ribs K₁; the respective irregular plates L being
actuated by the short circular boss K' working in the slot of the said plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is.
The apparatus for operating the healds and locking them at full "shed" by the
combination of the circular and irregular plates K and L arranged substantially in
the manner shewn and described.
Dated this 27th day or April 1885.
WAUGH & CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.