IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JACQUARD MACHINE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leeming and John Leeming, Machine
Makers, and John Lister, Mechanic, all of Bradford, in the County of
York for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JACQUARD MACHINE."
Sealed the 23rd May 1865, and dated the 14th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SP
Tert
Le
Leeming, and John Lister at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 14th December 1864.
We, JAMES LEEMING and JOHN LEEMING, Machine Makers, and JOHN
LISTER, Mechanic, all of Bradford, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE JACQUARD MACHINE,"
to be as follows:-
Our improvements in the jacquard machine have for their object not only
to enable us to employ such machine in any or all of its well-known opera-
tions, but in addition to extend and greatly enlarge the field of its operations
in figure and fancy weaving.
By means of one part of our Invention (when used in combination with
certain other well-known apparatus termed "swivels," which is an arrange-
ment of shuttles working above the ordinary shuttle for producing figures upon
the piece in addition to what can be done by what we may term the ground
shuttle) we are enabled to form either one or two distinct and separate sheds
at any time, and pass the respective shuttles through simultaneously; secondly,

page_text: to command the use of any needlè at any required time for either the upper
or lower shed; thirdly, by a novel combination of parts to weave a design
where the swivel figures are in continuous or intermittent parallel lines to
each other and at right angles with the edge of the piece, or where they are
desired to form a continuous or intermittent diagonal line; and, fourthly, to
form the vertical wires of one uniform length, and having two hooked
projections.
By another part of our Invention we obtain similar results by distinct
means from those employed in the first part of our Invention, and although
the second part of our Invention is not capable of achieving all the advantage
obtained by the first part, yet it is a great improvement upon existing jacquard
machines.
The jacquard machine which constitutes the first part of our Invention we
will now proceed more fully to describe. We apply and make use of two sets
of "knives or griffs," having a separate motion imparted to each of them by
two levers having different fulcrums, yet connected to each other by a link or
swivel joint, and operated upon by any suitable means from the working parts
of the loom, the effect of which would be to cause one set of knives to traverse
higher than the other set of knives, and form the upper shed for the swivel
shuttles. The vertical wires we form with double heads or hooks, and on the
cards which press against the horizontal wire, encircling the vertical wire or
needle, we place projections, where required, formed of card or other material
of suitable thickness, so that when the cylinder over which the cards pass,
shall press a card against the horizontal wires, the effect will be, where a
projection exists, to cause the vertical wire thereby operated to be pressed so
far back as to enable the set of knives having the higher traverse to lift such
needle sufficiently high for the upper shed, and the vertical wire operated by
the blank in the card will be pressed back into the space between the two sets of
knives, and remain in its normal position, and again when the horizontal wire
shall have a hole presented, no action will be given to its vertical wire until
the knives ascend, when it will be lifted to form the first shed. The swivel
shuttles are arranged in a suitable position on a fixing, attached to the hand
tree of the loom, capable of being slided thereon, and motion may be given to
the said swivel shuttles by a rack and pinions, or by other means. To the
fixing which supports the swivel shuttles we connect gearing or an equivalent
which we cause to be operated, when required, by wires from the jacquard, so
that at each pick of the loom a certain amount of traverse may be given the
whole of the swivel shuttles in either direction, and enable us to produce the
continuous or intermittent diagonal figure. When the fixing of the swivel

page_text: shuttles is not operated, the continuous or intermittent figure in right lines
along the piece may then be woven.
We will now describe the jacquard machine which constitutes the second
part of our Invention. The usual knives or griff of existing jacquard machines
are connected, and have but one uniform motion. We, in our Invention, di-
vide or separate into two sets the existing knives or griff, and give to each set
an alternate higher traverse. The vertical wires are used of one uniform
The knives are operated by a com-
length with single heads or hooks.
bination of levers similar to those already described in the first part of our
Invention, with an additional motion operated by wires from the machine for
connecting and disconnecting the levers which give the alternate higher
traverse required for the forming the upper shed for the passage of the swivel
shuttles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Leeming, John Leeming, and John Lister in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
LEEMING and JOHN LEEMING, Machine Makers, and Joux LISTER, Mechanic,
all of Bradford, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said James Leeming, John Leeming, and John Lister,
Her special licence that we, the said James Leeming, John Leeming, and
John Lister, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said James Leeming, John Leeming, and John Lister, 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 JACQUARD MACHINE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Jan:es Leeming, John
Leeming, and John Lister, 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

page_text: 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 John Leening, on behalf of myself
and the said James Leeming and John Lister, 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 :-
This Invention has for its object, first, improvements in the jacquard
machine, which when used in combination with certain other well known
apparatus termed swivels, which is an arrangement of shuttles working above
the ordinary shuttle for producing figures upon the piece in addition to what
can be done by what we may term the ground shuttle, we are enabled to
form either one or two separate and distinct sheds at any time, and pass the
respective shuttles through simultaneously if desired.
Secondly, to command the use of any needle at any required time for either
the upper or lower shed.
Thirdly, by a novel combination of parts to weave a design where the swivel
figures are in continuous or intermittent parallel lines to each other and at
right angles with the edge of the piece, or where they are desired to form a
continuous or intermittent diagonal line.
Fourthly, the forming of the vertical wires of one uniform length and having
two hooked projections.
We will now proceed to describe the manner in which the same is to be
performed, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a jacquard machine; Figure 2 is an end
elevation; Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the line X, X, in
Figure 1. In Figure 1, A, A, A, is the framing of the machine, B is the
bottom board, F and G are the frames carrying the knives or griffs D and E,
F is a lever having its fulcrum at K, and connected by a link H to the
frame F carrying the knives or griffs E for imparting the higher traverse for
the upper shed; I is a lever having its fulcrum at J, and connected by a link
H' to the frame G carrying the knives or griffs D for imparting the lower
traverse to form the ground shed; L and L are guide rods for the frame G;
L' and L' are guides made fast to the frame G, and working in slotted guides
M, M, made fast to the frame F to preserve a steady action of the frame F
with the knives or griffs E; the vertical wires 1, 2, and 3 are shewn in
their relative positions when operated; M³ and M¹ are connecting rods for

page_text: operating the cylinder frame P¹; N is a grate for steadying the vertical wires ;
N' and N are guides for the grate N; Q is the cylinder for cards. Figure 2
is an end elevation with similar letters of reference to denote the same parts.
Figure 3 is a full size view of a vertical wire with double hooked projections.
Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the line X, X, in Figure 1,
shewing the bottom board B, the vertical wires 1, 2, and 3, the faceboard C, the
spring box P, with the horizontal wires 4, 5, and 6, and the knives or griff's D
and E. G is a plate pierced with slots for the passage of the knives or griffs
E, and made fast to the frame G; L' and L' are guides made fast to the
frame G, and working in slotted guides made fast to the frame F; S, S, S,
are springs for operating the horizontal wires 4, 5, and 6, encircling the
vertical wires 1, 2, and 3. The action of the machine is as follows, viz.,
motion being imparted from the loom or other suitable means to the lever I,
Figure 1, which is coupled by a regulating link Z to another link F¹, each
having a different fulcrum so arranged that the lever F is made to give a
higher traverse to the frame F through its link H to the knives or griffs E,
and so form the upper shed, while the lever I having a shorter leverage will
impart a less traverse through its links H' to the frame G carrying the knives
or griffs D, and so form the lower or ground shed. Our method of operating
the vertical wires 1, 2, and 3 will be easily understood on reference to
Figure 4, in which, firstly, the cylinder Q is supposed to have presented a
card with a projection of leather or other suitable material of proper thickness
to the horizontal wire 6 encircling the vertical wire 3, which will have the
effect as shewn of pressing such vertical wire so far back as to enable the
knives or griffs E having the higher traverse to lift such needle sufficiently
high for the upper shed; secondly, the cylinder Q is supposed to have pre-
sented a card having a hole opposed to the horizontal wire 5 encircling the
vertical wire 2 when no action will be given to such vertical wire until the
ascent of the knives or griffs D, when such vertical wire will be lifted to form
the lower or ground shed; and thirdly, the cylinder Q is supposed to have
presented a card having a blank opposed to the horizontal wire 4 encircling
the vertical wire 1, which will press such vertical wire into the space between
the knives or griffs, and remain in its normal position on the ascent of the
knives or griffs D and E.
Another method of obtaining the same results, dispensing with the projec-
tions on the cards, is as follows:-Figure 5 is an end view of the jacquard
machine with two cylinders for two sets of cards, one for the higher and the
other for the lower shed. P is the space for springs; P¹ and P2 are the
cylinder frames; Q and Q are the cylinders; L, L are links connected with

page_text: the cylinder frames P¹ and P2 attached to a rod R sliding in bracket M.
Figure 6 is a transverse section taken in the same line X, X as in Figure 1;
1, 2, and 3 are vertical wires; 4, 5, and 6 are horizontal wires encircling the
vertical wires; S, S, S are springs; T, T is a frame for the grate
U, U, U, U; V, V is another frame for the grate W, W, W, W; C and C₁
are the face boards; D and E are the knives or griffs, and are operated as
before described. Figure 61 is a full size vertical wire complete with spiral
springs S thereon. The mode of operation is as follows:-By operating the
rod R in Figure 5, sliding in bracket M from the loom or other suitable means
the cylinders are presented simultaneously to the faceboards C and C', suppos-
ing first the cylinder Q has presented a card with a hole opposed to the hori-
zontal wire 6, and the cylinder Q¹ having presented a card with a blank to
the same wire, it would, as shewn, press the vertical wire 3 so far back that
on the ascent of the knives or griffs E having the higher traverse, such vertical
wire would be lifted sufficiently high to form the higher shed; secondly, sup-
posing the cylinders Q and Q¹ have each presented a card having a hole
opposed to the horizontal wire 5 no action will take place, and the vertical
wire 2 would remain in its normal position on the ascent of the knives or
griff's D and E; and thirdly, supposing the cylinder Q to have presented a
card having a blank, and the cylinder Q¹ to have presented a card with a hole
to the horizontal wire 4, the vertical wire 1 will be pressed so far back that on
the ascent of the knives or griffs D having the lower traverse such vertical
wire will be lifted sufficiently high to form the lower or ground shed.
We will now proceed to describe the means we employ to enable us to
weave a design where the swivel figures are required to be in continuous or
intermittent parallel lines at right angles with the edge of the piece or in
continuous or intermittent diagonal lines.
;
Figure 6¹ is an end elevation of the jacquard machine and the end framing
of the loom Figure 62 is a front elevation; Figure 63 is a plan view; Figure
6 is a full size sectional view taken through the line Z, Z, as shown in Figure
62; Figure 63 is a full size plan view of shuttle; Figure 6 is a full size edge
view of the same. In these Figures we have only shewn those parts which we
deem necessary to illustrate this part of our Invention. In Figure 6 A, A,
is the framing of the jacquard machine; B and B is the gantry in section;
C is a support made fast to gantry on which the jacquard stands. D and D',
are two levers mounted on a stud, E; F and F¹, are two rods connected by a
pin joint to the levers D and D' passing downwards through the warp and
the sliding plate G, G', and G2, are connections made of gut or other suitable
.material and attached to the levers D. and D₁ for imparting the requisite

page_text: throw of the swivel shuttles; II is a handle for reversing the card cylinder
by the usual well known means, as shown; H' is a tappet made fast on the
crank shaft II; I is a lever mounted on a stud J, having a bowl J', working
in the groove tappet H', which will have the effect of imparting to the cylinder
through the connecting rods K and R a pause or dwell each time the cylinder
is presented to the faceb ard; L and L' are two tappets made fast on the
low shaft M; M and M' are two levers mounted on a stud N, having each
a bowl N¹ and N2, the rods F and F', having hooked projections at F3 and F³;
and when pushed so far back by the sliding plate G as to enable the levers M
and M', when operated by their respective tappets L and L', to depress them
so that an alternate action will be imparted to the cords G' and G³ for the
required throw of the swivel shuttles; O and O' are two levers mounted on a
shaft 0, better seen on plau view, Figure 63, connected by cords 03 and O* to
needles in the jacquard. On the same shaft is a finger P, with a pin projec-
tion for operating the sliding plate G. P2 is a star wheel made fast on
shaft 0; P is a hanımer with spring and sliding in bracket Q, for holding.
the shaft 0 in position. When it is desirable to impart motion to the swivel
shuttles the cord O' in Figure 6' is operated by the jacquard, and the lever O
will then cause the finger P to traverse the sliding plate G, with the rods F
and F, into contact with levers M and M', and be thereby operated; and
again, when it is desired the action of the shuttles shall cease, the cord 03
is operated, when the sliding plate G will push the rods F and F¹ out of
contact with the levers M and M' in Figure 62. S is a ratchet wheel mounted
on a stud S'; S is a change wheel. S is a stud wheel shewn in Figure 62,
on which is a stud plate S and geared into S, and attached by suitable fixings
to the sword T; T is a connecting rod from stud plate S³, to one arm of the
bell cranked lever T. Figure 6%, from the other arm of the bell-cranked
lever T is another connecting rod U to stud U'; V is a toothed lever in
Figure 6, mounted on a stud V, and attached to the loom frame for operating
the ratchet wheel S; V is a holding catch attached to sword T; V³ is a
cord from toothed lever V to a needle in jacquard; W is a slotted stud plate
in Figure 6, in which the lever V moves; W' is a retaining catch mounted
on a stud, to which is attached a spring W2, and also a cord W³, passing
partly round a pulley X and from thence to a needle in the jacquard; X' is
a box for springs or weights for harness; X3 is the slay board. When it is
desired to weave a design where the swivel figures are in continuous or inter-
mittent lines at right angles to the edge of the piece, the toothed lever V in
Figure 6 is raised by the needle operating the cord V out of contact with the
Tut.het wheel S, and held by the retaining catch W' in Figure 6'; so that no

page_text: motion will be imparted through the train of gearing and connecting rods to
the stud U¹ in Figure 6' which is made fast to the sliding frame Y, to which
is attached the shuttle holders Y' and the sliding bars Y and Ys, having
pegged projections for propelling the swivel shuttles. Motion is then imparted
to the swivel shuttles by the means as before described. When it is desired
to weave a design, when the swivel figures are in continuous or intermittent
diagonal lines, the cord W³, Figure 6%, is raised by the jacquard, and the
retaining catch W₁ will release the toothed lever V, Figure 6, which will
immediately fall into position to operate the ratchet wheel on the beat up of
the sword T, and so impart motion through the train of gearing and connect-
ing rods to stud U', Figure 6', made fast to the sliding frame Y carrying the
series of shuttles.
By another part of our Invention we obtain similar results by distinct
means from those employed in the first part of our Invention, and although
the second part is not capable of achieving all the advantages of the first part,
yet it is a great improvement on existing jacquard machines.
We will now proceed to describe the manner in which the same is to be
performed, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, similar letters
of reference being used to denote the same parts.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of a jacquard machine; Figure 8 is an end
elevation; Figure 9 the head and griff detached, and Figure 10 is a plan
view of the split head and griff. These Drawings have all reference to the
second part of our Invention.
We will now describe the jacquard machine which constitutes the second
part of our Invention. Figure 7 is a front elevation; A, A, A, is the framing
of the machine; B, the bottom board; C, the face board; D and E are the
knives or griffs; F and G are the two parts of the split head. F' is a lever
for operating the frame F, carrying the knives or griffs D; and G' is a lever
for operating the frame G, carrying the knives or griffs E when imparting the
higher traverse to form the upper shed. H and H'are links connected to the
frames F and G, carrying the knives or griffs D and E. I is a lever having
its fulcrum at 11 for operating the links H and H', together, with the knives
or griffs D and E, to form the lower or ground shed. The levers F¹ and G₁
are operated by the lever I through the links J and J', having their fulcrum
at K. L, L, are guide rods for the frame F, carrying the knives or griffs D.
Land L', are guide-rods for the frame G, carrying the knives or griff's E. M
is a rod moving in brackets M' and M³, and carrying a finger N made fast
thereon, and operated by a sliding rod N'. O is another finger made fast on
rod M, and connected to a sliding pin K, which forms, the fulcrum for the

page_text: levers F and G¹; the vertical wires 1, 2, and 3 are shewn in their relative
an endi elevation with the same letters
positions when operated. Figure 8
of reference to denote the same parts. P is the spring box; P; the cylinder
frame; Q, the cylinder'; R and R', are projections on the cylinder for operating
the sliding rod N¹. Figure 9 shews the guide rods L and L' with the two
parts of the split bead F and G, carrying the knives or griffs D and E, and
detached from the machine. Motion is imparted to the machine by a con-
nection with the loom or other suitable means. Figure 8 shews the position
of the varions parts when the cylinder Q has presented one of its sides with a
projection R or R' to the sliding rod N', which will cause the rod M,
Figure 7, with its fingers N and O to make a partial revolution, and traverse
the sliding pin K to form the fulcrum for the lever G', which, when operated
through its connecting link J' by the lever I, will have the effect of imparting
a higher traverse to frame G, carrying the knives or griffs E, and so form
the upper shed; again, should the cylinder Q, Figure 8, present one of its
sides without a projection, the sliding rod N will not be operated thereby,
but will have returned by the pressure of the spring S to its normal position,
and have brought with it the sliding pin K to form the fulcrum for the
lever F, which, when operated through its connecting link J, Figure 7, by
the lever J, will have the effect of imparting a higher traverse to the frame F,
carrying the knives or griffs D, and so form the upper shed; the head for
attaching the knives or griffs may be divided transversely as per dotted lines,
or lengthwise, as shewn in Figure 10, which latter method we prefer; all the
vertical wires are of one length with single hooked projections.
Although we have described and illustrated a means of propelling the
shuttles through the sheds opened in the warps, we wish it to be distinctly.
understood we do not make any claim to the mode or manner of such operation,
nor do we claim any of the mechanical parts separately. And we are aware
that it is not new in power looms working with jacquard machinery to employ
swivel shuttles to produce figures, together with shuttle, for wefting the ground
of the fabrics from selvage to selvage; what we claim is,―
Firstly, the combined arrangement of jacquard machinery herein described,
wherein are employed two sets of knives or griffs and wires, each having two
hooks or projections, and also the mode of acting on a series of swivel shuttles
in order tbat the figures woven thereby may be continuous in diagonal lines
or at intervals as described.
Secondly, we claim as of our Invention, when working with swivel and
ground shuttles, the combined arrangement of jacquard machinery herein

page_text: described, wherein a split or divided head is used with vertical wires of
uniform lengths, baving each a single hook or projection as herein
expiained.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Leeming, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
JOHN LEEMING. (L.S.)