IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN Box LOOMS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Vickers, Charles Vickers, and John Vickers, of
the Firm of George Vickers and Sons, of Birstal, near Leeds, in the County
of York, Machine Makers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD
NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN Box LOOMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Vickers, Charles
Vickers, and John Vickers at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 2nd September 1880.
GEORGE VICKERS, CHARLES VICKERS, and JOHN VICKERS, of the Firm of
George Vickers and Sons, of Birstal, near Leeds, in the County of York, Machine
Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN BOX LOOMS."
Our Invention relates to constructing jacquard needles in two separate parts,
whereby a moveable action is given to the shank end to keep the shank block
always in contact with the jack blade or hook, thus keeping the needle always at
its work, preventing any play by wear and tear, by which means we produce better
woven pieces, as the needles heretofore in use when slightly worn produce jack
drops, and consequently bad work and unevenly woven fabrics.
For this purpose we construct our improved needles in two separate pieces, the
head of each needle having two cut away openings forming slides in which fit and
work two projecting pieces formed on the sides of the shank block; the top end of
this block presses on the side of the jack blade or hook, and is kept pressed thereto,
as wear and tear take place, by a spiral spring which is passed over the shank of
the shank block; the spring is kept in position by the inside of the grate of the
jacquard and by the shoulder of the shank block.
Our needles can be fitted to all box loom jacquard grates in present use, and can
be used with ordinary needles of the same number, and no alterations are required
in the present grates.
By these means we produce jacquard needles for box looms which provide against
wear and tear, producing a great economy in the working besides better woven
fabrics.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Vickers, Charles Vickers, and John Vickers in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th February 1881.
GEORGE VICKERS, CHARLES VICKERS, and JOHN VICKERS, of the Firm of
George Vickers and Sons, of Birstal, near Leeds, in the County of York, Machine
Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JACQUARD NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN Box LOOMS."
The said Invention relates to constructing jacquard needles in two separate parts,
whereby a moveable action is given to keep the shank block always in contact
with the jack blade or hook, thus keeping the needle always at its work, preventing
any play from the effect of wear and tear, by which means we produce better woven
pieces than hitherto, as the needles heretofore in use when slightly worn produce
jack drops," and consequently bad work and unevenly woven fabrics.
"
:
For this purpose we construct our improved needles in two separate pieces, the
head of each needle having two cut away openings forming slides in which fit and
work two projecting pieces formed on the sides of the shank block; the top end of
this block presses on the side of the jack blade or hook, and is kept pressed thereto,
as wear and tear takes place, by a spiral spring which is passed over the shank of
the shank block; the spring is kept in position by the inside of the grate of the
jacquard and by the shoulder of the shank block. Or we employ the ordinary
jacquard needles, and make the separate or second part of each needle with a block
made to slide over the face of the shoulder of the shank block; the end piece of the
block is made with a hole for the passage of the shank, and the block is kept
pressed against the the jack blade or hook by a spiral spring.
Or we employ a block fitted inside the slot hole of the needle through which
passes the jack blade or hook; 'the top part of the block is made with projections
which slide on the top of the shoulder of the needle; a washer is passed over the
shank which presses on the projections, and is kept pressed thereto by a spiral
spring fitted over the shank.
Our needles can be fitted to all box loom jacquard grates in present use, and can
be used with ordinary needles, and no alterations are required in the present
grates.
By these means we produce jacquard needles for box looms which automatically
adjust themselves to compensate for wear and tear, thereby effecting a great
economy in the working besides producing better woven fabrics.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood we will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents a plan of a jacquard grate, having fitted therein four different
modifications of our improved jacquard needles; Figure 2 represents a side view
of an improved jacquard needle made in two separate parts and shewn in position
in the giate, and also at Figure 5; Figure 3 is a side elevation, and Figure 4 a
plan of the saine; Figure 6 represents a side view of an ordinary jacquard needle,
having fitted thereto an inner block; Figure 7 is a plan of the same, and Figure 8
shews it in position in the grate; Figure 9 represents a side view of the inner
block, and Figure 10 a front view of the same; Figure 11, washer; Figure 12
represents a side view of an improved needle made in two separate pieces and
having an extra slide; Figure 13, plan of the same; Figure 14 shews the needle
in position in the grate; Figure 15 represents a side view of an ordinary needle
fitted with outside moveable block; Figure 16, plan of the same, and Figure 17
shews it in position in the grate; Figure 18 represents a side view of the block;
•

page_text: Figure 19, back view, and Figure 20, top view of the same. Similar letters of
reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
A is the jacquard grate, in which are fitted four modifications of our improved
jacquard needles, marked Figures 5, 8, 14, and 17.
The needle shewn in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 is constructed with two separate
parts made to slide one within the other and so form a whole needle. The bottom
part is made with a shank B and block C, having cut out parts D in which slide
the forked ends E of the head F of the needle; the block C is kept pressed on the
side of the jack blade G by means of a spiral spring H, which is passed over the
shank B and kept in position by the inside of the flange I of the jacquard grate A;
the spiral spring H. presses against the shoulder of the block C, keeping the block
pressed against the jack blade G as wear and tear take place, the block sliding
over the forked ends E, by which means any play or jack drops are prevented.
The needle shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8 is an ordinary needle and made in one
piece, but is provided with an inner block J which is passed through the slot hole
or opening K of the needle; the block J is made with a top flange L to keep the
block in position over the blade opening K; over the shank B is fitted a spiral
spring H which presses against a washer M. passed over the shank; the washer
being thus pressed against the ends N of the block keeps the inner end O always
pressed against the jack blade G as wear and tear take place.
The needle shewn in Figures 12, 13, and 14 is made with a separate shank end
and separate head piece made to slide ono within the other, thus forming a whole
needle; the shank B and block C have slide faces P and ribs Q, and the head part
of the needle is made with forked ends E having cut away openings R; the forked
ends work over the faces P and the openings R over the ribs Q; a spiral spring H
is fitted over the shank B and presses against the shoulder of the block C, keeping
the face S always pressed against the side of the jack blade G as wear and tear
take place, the block sliding on the forked ends E and in the openings R.
The needle shewn in Figures 15, 16, and 17 is an ordinary needle made in one
piece and with a blade opening K through which passes the jack blade G, and
this blade is kept in position as wear and tear take place to prevent play and jack
drops by means of a block T, which is made with a back piece U in which is cast
or drilled a hole V which is passed over the shank B of the needle; the block
faces W are pressed against the side of the jack blade G by means of a spiral
spring H, as herein before described; the projecting pieces X of the block T' slide
over the top and underside of the frame of the blade opening K; the said block
and the inner block can be fitted to any ordinary needles in use without any
alterations being made in the needles.
We may employ our improved needles in any kind of looms requiring jacquard
needles as well as for box looms.
Having thus described our improvements, and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what
we do claim is,―
Firstly. The construction and employment of jacquard needles made in two
separate parts, so constructed that when fitted together they form whole needles,
having moveable actions to keep the needle blocks always in contact with the jack
blades or hooks so as to prevent play by wear and tear, and thus avoid "jack
drops" and unevenly woven fabrics, substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 12, 13, and 14 of the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The construction and employment for ordinary needles of blocks so
made as to pass over the shank of the needles, or of blocks made to pass through
the opening of the jack blades, which are pressed against the jack blades by spiral
springs for the purpose of preventing play from wear and tear, substantially as

page_text: and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, and 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Vickers, for and on behalf of myself
and the said George Vickers and John Vickers, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One 5
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
CHARLES VICKERS. (L.S.)