IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR JOINING WARP ENDS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard Worthington Biggs, of Manchester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR JOINING WARP
ENDS."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Howard Worthington
Biggs at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 9th October 1869, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HOWARD WORTHINGTON BIGGS, of Manchester, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR JOINING
WARP ENDS," 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 :--
The ends of the old warp to which the ends of the new warp has
to be joined are held in a clip, and the ends of the new warp are similarly
held in a clip. The two sheets of warp are then placed in the machine,
the sheet of old warp being placed over the sheet of new warp; they are
then acted upon by the machine as follows:-1. The warp threads are

page_text: laid evenly by means of brushes. 2. A pair of clips or nippers takes
hold of both warps after they have been laid evenly by the brushes.
3. These nippers take the threads into a pair of rollers set at an angle
to tighten the warp threads. 4. The end thread of the old warp and the
end thread of the new warp are detached from the other threads of the
warps by a reciprocating pair of nippers. 5. The threads so taken by the
reciprocating nippers are laid by other nippers over the side of a tube,
and evenly by means
hold of both warps after they have been laid evenly by the brushes.
3. These nippers take the threads into a pair of rollers set at an angle
to tighten the warp threads. 4. The end thread of the old warp and the
end thread of the new warp are detached from the other threads of the
warps by a reciprocating pair of nippers. 5. The threads so taken by the
reciprocating nippers are laid by other nippers over the side of a tube,
by which the two threads are formed into a loop, thus
6. A hook passed through the tube takes hold of the ends of the two warp
threads and draws them into the tube, so forming a knot thus
the ends of the threads having been severed by a cutting blade or
scissors to allow of this. 7. The knot is tightened by the threads being
drawn through a narrow nick, which will not allow the knot to pass and
the threads are cut close to the knot.
At Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is shewn a
machine suitable for knotting together as above described silk and
other fine warp ends. Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is an elevation
partly in section of the machine.
1
A, A, is the main frame composed of two U-shaped ends connected
by two slides A' and A' and two bolt bars. The slides A¹ and .A³ have 2
racks cast on their sides. B¹ and B are the fast and loose pulleys which
drive the machine, they give motion, as shewn in the plan view
Figure 1, to a V pulley B³, which drives an endless cord B' which passes
around another V pulley B, turning on its way the pulley K, as here-
after described. The pulley B³ is so adjusted that the cord may be 2
tightened. B is the handle for moving the strap on to either of the
pulleys; it is connected by a crank B' to a stopping rod B8 (see Figure 2)
which runs the length of the machine. At one side of the machine is
the beam C carrying the new warp which is to be joined up to the old
warp. On the same side of the machine are pillars D' attached to the 3
framing A, A; these pillars carry a rod D₁ to support the healds D
through which the old warps pass. E¹ is a wooden trough for carrying
the reed E, and Es is the cloth rod held in place by small thumb nuts E³.
The ends of the old warp are held in clips C* and the ends of the new
warp
in a clip D*, and these clips are placed into a fixed trough G which 3

page_text: is on the opposite side of the machine, so that the two warps aro
stretched across the machine one over the other, as shewn by the red lines
in Figure 2. The trough G has along its edge a series of littlo points G³
about one inch apart and inclining inwards to keep the clips C* and D*
in their place. The new warp as it is led off from the beam C is led
over a roller F, which has along its side a series of little comb points F";
these points both serve as stops to retain the threads in their place when
the machine is at work, and also if the roller be turned by the handle
at its end serve to comb out the threads to bring them parallel to one
another. Extending across the framing of the machine is a moveable
carriage H which runs on the slides A', A; this carriage contains the
brushing, clipping, selecting, knotting, self-stopping, and counting
machinery. Two transverse sections of the machine are shown at
Figures 3 and 4.
The several parts of this machine are contained in a compact
framing I, I, which drops into the framing of the carriage H, to which it
is attached by screws. It may thus be readily removed in case of any
break down, and another machine put in its place into the carriage H
to go on with the work. The carriage H is made to traverse the length
of the frame A, A, by means of two toothed wheels J, J, which run in
the racks on the side of the slides A' and A. Theso wheels are keyed
on to a shaft J, and when it is desired to run the carriage along the
slides this shaft may be turned by hand by the handle J. When the
machine is in operation the carriage is progressively moved along the
slides A, A, from one end of the machine to the other by putting a
worm J³ into gear with a worm wheel J' on the shaft J'. The moving
of the worm J' into and out of gear with the worm wheel is effected by
means of the handle J. The worm J' is keyed on to a shaft Je on which is
a toothed wheel J' which receives motion through the intermediate wheel
Js from the toothed wheel J' (see Figures 1 and 3) The wheel J' is keyed
on to a shaft J at the extremity of which is a worm whicel J" turned by
a worm R on the main axle L of the machinery carried by the carriage H.
The axis of the intermediate wheel is carried by a lever J" swinging on
the shaft J, so that the intermediate wheel is always in gear with the
whcel Jo on this axis. On the lever J" is a balance weight J", which
acts to press the intermediate wheel into gear with the wheel J'.
When it is desired to make the machine move faster or slower to
suit the different sorts of warps the wheel J' is removed and a wheel of

page_text: larger or smaller diameter is put in its place. The main axle L receives
motion by a toothed wheel L' keyed upon it being driven by a pinion K
on the axis K', upon which is the grooved pulley K driven by the endless
band B' as before explained. The pulley K runs loose on the shaft or
axis K', but can be made fast upon it by the friction clutch K³ worked
by the handle K*. The clutch box K³ is kept in contact with the
driving pulley K in consequence of the handle K being locked in its
position by the stopping bar K. When the bar K³ is depressed the
clutch forces itself out of gear and stops the machine. The manner in
which the bar K' is depressed if the machine at any time fails properly
to unite two of the warp threads is afterwards explained. The main
axle L has keyed upon it the wheels M, N, O, P, and Q, the worm R,
and the loose wheel S, which is made to turn by the clutch box T, and
from these wheels and worm upon this shaft motion is given as herein-
after explained to the several parts of the mechanism carried by the
carriage H. As before stated the first operation is to act on the warp
threads by brushes to lay them evenly. The brushes marked U' and U'
are composed of two endless bands or chains passing round the wheels
1, 2, 3, & 4. The bands on their under side little bars 5, which
enter into recesses cast in the wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, in such manner that
when the wheels are turned a given number of times the brushes always
come back to the same place. The straps are always kept tight by the
wheels 2 and 4 being made so that they will move back along the
framing away from the wheels 1 and 3. The strap U' is supported on
its under side by the guide box 6 along which the little bars 5 slide.
The upper portion of the strap U is similarly supported, but is not
shewn in the Drawing. These two bands U and U* are studded with
bristles as shewn in the Drawing. With the exception of the last brush
carried by each of the endless bands the brushes of the two bands are
arranged to come intermediate of one another, so that they shall not nip
the threads between them. The last pair of brushes nip the threads and
hold them as herein-after explained. The wheels 1 and 3 which cause
the brushes to move are made to turn in the following manner:-The
wheel 1 is keyed on to the shaft 7 on which is a bevil wheel 8 into which
gears the wheel 9 keyed on to the upright shaft 10. The wheel 3 is
similarly keyed on to a shaft 11 and is caused to turn by a bevil wheel 12
upon it gearing with another bevil wheel 13 on the same upright shaft 10.
This shaft at its lower extremity has upon it a bevil wheel 14, which is
acted on by the teeth 15, 16, cast on the wheel X. The wheel X has an

page_text: intermittent motion given to it, being (in the machine as shown in the
Drawing) made to revolve one complete turn for, say, every hundred
threads that are united. The wheel X is retained from turning by a
spring catch us entering a notch X in the wheel. When the machine has
knotted together, say, one hundred warp throads this catch lever u³ is
forced outwards by a cam u' on the ratchet wheel u; this wheel u is
driven by a ratchet o swung on a lever wo which is continuously caused
to oscillate by a projection on the driving shaft L. The lever at the
same time moves a clutch T into gear with the toothed wheel S which
gears with the toothed wheel X. The toothed wheel S being thus set
fast on the driving shaft L causes the wheel X to revolve, and as soon as
it has made a complete revolution the catch us again enters the notch X*
and the wheel S is disengaged from the driving shaft. The brushing
machinery can also be brought into action when desired by shifting the
catch us by means of the lever handle u. As the wheel X makes this
one turn it causes the wheels 1 and 3 to make four slow turns, rest, tako
a quarter turn, and then be ready for repeating the operation. The
object of this is to cause the brushes first to straighten and lay evenly
the warp threads, then whilst the brushes are at rest in the position
shewn at Figure 2 to allow them to hold the threads until they are taken
hold of by nippers as herein-after explained, and then to allow the last
of the series of brushes to release its hold of the threads. To ensure the
teeth 15 and 16 coming correctly into gear with the pinion 14 pins
15 and 16 on the wheel X come in contact with pins projecting from
the lower side of the wheel 14. To retain the brushes from moving
when neither the teeth 15 or 16 are in gear with the pinion 14 notchics
are formed on the upper side of the bevil wheel 13 which correspond
with the distances the wheels 1 and 3 turn, and a small drop catch 13"
enters one or other of these notches and locks the brushes from
returning backwards.
The next part of the process is to convey the threads which have been
brushed by U and U' from their position between the brushes into the
WS
19

page_text: The slide bar Y' is like
Levers 18 and 19 are
the cam the clips are closed by the spring Y'.
the slide bar Y caused to move by a lever 18.
both worked by cams cast on the back of wheel X. They have balance
weights 18", 19°, which cause them to press forwards against the cam.
When the clip Y advances to take hold of the threads held by the
brushes the slide Y' moves forward with the slide Y, so that the clip is
held open to receive the threads. As soon as the clip has finished its
forward motion the slide Y moves back, and the clip is thus caused to
close upon the threads; the slide Y carrying the clip then moves back
and the clip delivers the threads held by it to the rollers Z', Z³. After
the rollers have closed on the threads the clip is opened before it again
moves forward. In order that the loose jaw of the clip may not strike
against the warp thread as it moves forwards the clip end of the slide Y
is supported by a small rod which slides in two grooved guides Y', one
on each side of the bar. When the slide Y is drawn backwards it runs
level till just at the end of its stroke, when it drops into the lower
groove of the guide, and when it is again pressed forward it moves along
this lower groove till near the end of its stroke, when it rises up and
passes the little hinged catch Y and regains its old level. When the
bar again moves back it rides over the little hinged catch Y', and is by
it prevented from dropping down into the lower groove of the guide.
The rollers Z' and Z' are composed of two rollers covered with rubber
(or other suitable material); they are placed one above the other and
across the machine at an angle. The roller Z³ is supported on either
side in the castings 17, I. It has a worm wheel on its left-hand side Z³,
which is turned by a worm J* on shaft J, as is best seen in Figure 3.
The axle of Z is placed in guides in the casting at Iº, I". It is pressed
down on to the other roller by a forked lever Z (seen in Figures 1 & 4)
coming in contact with the axle of the roller Z at Z and Z. This
lever's fulcrum is obtained from the pins at I", I", and is screwed down
at the other end at Z by a thumbscrew Z³ acting on a coiled spring
attached to the framing I. By turning the thumbscrew Z³ up or down
it is evident that any desired pressure may be obtained between the
rollers Zand Z. By removing the thumbscrew Z the lever Z may be
removed and the roller Z be taken out for fresh rubber covering if
required. The rollers Z' and Z' are caused to revolve in this machine at
the same speed as that at which the machine progresses. Whilst the
threads are thus held tight between the rollers they are subjected to the
next operation, which consists in selecting the end thread of each of

page_text: the warps and delivering them to the knotting mechanism
together. The threads to be selected are crossed alternately under and
over the lease rods, the position of which is shown in Figure 2, and these
rods are supported at the requisite clevation on small wheels not shown
in the Drawing.
which
In order that the warp threads may be detached one by one from the
rest of the warps I employ for each warp two retaining lover pressers,
one for each lease rod, and these pressers are alternately moved up to
and away from the threads passing over either the upper or under sides
of these rods. For the old warp the pressers act upon the threads
passing over the upper side of their lease rods, whilst for the new warp
they act against the threads passing under their lease rods. When one
of the pressers is thus moved against the warp threads it will restrain all
of the
warp threads from moving, except the last thread of the warp,
which passes over the opposite side of the lease rod to that upon
the presser acts; the last thread is thus left free to be drawn aside by a
pair of nippers, which are then caused to seize hold of it. The pressers
for the old warp are marked 20d and 20%, and those for the new warp
21 and 21°. The detaining pressers 20 and 20%, 21ª and 21°, arc
respectively keyed on to shafts 20 and 20°, 21" and 21°. The manner in.
which these shafts are caused to move is seen most clearly in Figure 4.
The shafts 20 and 20° have at their extremities two little crank arms
35 and 36, which are connected with levers 39 and 40 by connecting
rods 37 and 38. The levers 39 and 40 are attached to two axles 41, 42,
which have at their extremities two crank arms 43, 44, which by con-
necting rods 45, 46, are connected with crank arms 47, 48, on the
shafts 21°, 21, so that the presser 20d is moved at the same time as
presser 21°, and presser 20° is moved at the same time as pressor 21ª.
These levers are caused to move by the axles 41 and 42, having attached
to them two levers 49, 50, which have at their extremities two little
wheels tracing two cams 51, 52, (see Figure 2,) against which they are
pressed by springs acting on the backs of the levers. The cams 51 and
52 are cast on to a toothed wheel 53, and are supported by a stud I" cast
on to the main framing. The toothed wheel 53 is caused to turn by
the toothed wheel Q on the main axle L; the toothed wheel 53 makes
one revolution to every two revolutions of axle L. The alternating
motion of the pressers having thus, as before explained, caused to be
released in succession the last thread of each warp, and to restrain tho

page_text: other threads from moving the last thread of each warp as soon as it is
set free is seized by a nipper and drawn sidewise to separate it from the
other threads of the warp. The acting surfaces of the nipper are, by
preference, covered with vulcanized india-rubber, but they might be
otherwise covered, or brushes might be used to draw the threads
sideways.
The nippers and mechanism for acting on the old and new warp
respectively are carried in boxes marked 20 and 21. The box 21 is fixed
to a bar H cast on to and traversing the framing of the carriage H before
described. The box 20 is supported at the extremity of the arms V
and V, which arms are also bolted to the framing of the carriage H.
The nippers are marked 66; they are carried on a bar 64, which has a
sliding to-and-fro motion given to it, as will be herein-after explained.
One of the nippers and the mechanism connected with it is shown
separately on a larger scale at Figures 5, 6, and 7. The bar 64 has at its
ends pins 64*, which slide in grooves 61, 62, in the two sides 60 of the box
20 or 21. At its rear end the bar is by a connecting rod 34 connected
with a lever 33, and by this lever the to-and-fro motion is given to the
bar. The nipper is carried at the forward end of the bar, and is composed
of two springs fastened to the slide 64, as shewn in the Drawing, by a
screw and steady pin at 65, and the nipping surfaces are covered with
india-rubber or other suitable material. The nippers are made to open
and shut by a cam 68 on a small axis carried at its ends by the bar 64, and
passing across between the springs of the nipper. Near one end of this
axis is a lever arm 67. When this crank arm is in the position shewn
at Figure 7, then the springs are closed; but if it be moved a quarter
turn from left to right, then the cam on the axis will hold the spring
clip open, and it will hold it open until the lever arm be again moved
back to its former position; the lever arm is thus caused alternately to
move to the left and the right by the movement of the bar 64, which
brings it alternately in contact with the pin 69 and a pin on the end of
the bar 70. To the rear end of the bar 64 is pin-jointed a rod 71 (which
lies below the bar 64), and its forward extremity has pins projecting
from it, which run in the slides 63. To this end of the rod 71 is attached
a spike 72.
The action of the nippers 66 and spike 72 is as follows:-As the nippers
together with the spike 72 are traversed to and fro by the lever 33 the
pippers come forward wide open until they have passed over, say, a

page_text: dozen threads; the little lever 67 then comes in contact with the pin on
the bar 70, causing the nippers to close. The nippers now retreat, feeling
for the last thread as with the finger and thumb; and as all of tho
threads but the last are retained from being drawn back by one or other
of the pressers, as before explained, the nippers will only be able to drag
off the last thread. As the nippers and spike move back together the
spike when it has moved back a short distance is, by reason of the form
of the groove 63, caused to rise, so that if there be a thread held by the
nippers the thread will, as soon as the nippers are opened, come against
the spike 72. After the spike has thus risen and the nippers have moved
back a distance they are opened by a short crank 68 on the same axis
as 67 striking against the pin 69. When this short crank has passed
beyond the pin the nippers as they continue their backward motion
descend by reason of the form of the guide grooves 62, and leave the
thread on the spike 72, which spike then carries it over the catch 78.
As the thread passes over the catch 78 it presses back the upper end of
a weighted lever 77; on this lever is a projection which supports the
end of a lever arm 74, which is fixed on an axis 73, to which the bar 70
is also fixed, so that if the lever 77 is moved back the bar 70 is allowed
to fall, and the next time the nippers 66 come forward the crank 67 will
pass clear of the bar 70, and the nippers will not close on the thread.
Supposing there be no thread selected the first time then the lever 77
will not be moved to the left, and the nippers will close on the thread;
and this operation of coming forward and nipping is repeated several
times in succession until they do succeed in dragging off a thread. In
the machine shewn in the Drawings the nippers are thus caused to feel
for the threads six times if necessary. The pippers aro then, by reason
of the shape of the cam which actuates them, allowed to remain at rest
for a time, whilst the alternate motion is given to the pressers to releaso
another thread from each sheet of warp; the nippers then feel for these
threads, and so on. The bar 70 is again raised into position cach time
the pressers 21 and 21° change places. To effect this the pressors are
arranged in their backward motion to act on pins on one or other of
the arms on the axis by which the bar 70 is carried. The bar 70 may
be put in connection with the stopping mechanism of the machine, so
that if after the nippers have finished their courses they have failed to
seize a thread, and consequently have failed to cause the bar 70 to drop,
the machine may at once be stopped. This may be effected by causing
a fceler in connection with the stopping mechanism to feel immediately

page_text: after the nippers have completed their courses whether the bar 70 has
fallen or not. If the bar 70 has not dropped the feeler will be free to
turn, and will release a catch retaining the stopping gear and so stop the
machine. If the bar 70 has dropped the feeler is by it retained from
moving, and the machine will continue at work. When the feeler is not
required to be feeling for the bar 70 it is held up by a revolving cam,
and this cam is suitably formed to release it at the times required. The
lever arm 33, which gives motion to the nippers of the selecting
mechanism for the old warp, is carried by a shaft 20°, upon which is a
crank arm 25, which by a connecting rod 26 is connected to a lever
arm 27 on an axis 28; on this axis is another lever arm 29, which by a
connecting rod 31 is connected to a lever arm 32 on an axis 21°, upon
which is the lever arm which gives motion to the nippers of the selecting
mechanism for the new warp. The lever arm 29 carries' a roller 30
working in a cam on the side of the wheel L' by which the lever arm is
moved backwards and forwards. By this arrangement the nippers of
the selecting mechanism for the old and new warp is caused to move
backwards and forwards simultaneously with one another. When a
thread as been drawn away by the selecting mechanism above described
both from the old and new warps the two threads are seized by a pair of
hooks o¹, o, see Figure 1, which have a rising and falling and backward
and forward motion given to them, as afterwards described. Thesc
hooks carry the threads between a pair of nippers d, e, and are by them
held against the under side of a tubular knotting apparatus, which I
will presently describe. The clips d, e, are worked in the following
manner: The clip d is attached to a little shaft d¹ moved backwards
and forwards by a crank d3 by a connecting rod d³, and a little tracing
wheel d* tracing the cam N. The clip e is attached to a tube e' working
on the spindle d'; the clip e carries on its top the spike k, and also a
little bar placed just in front of the spike, as shewn in the Drawing
(Figure 2, and on a larger scale at Figure 7*). The clipps d, e, arc
kept open by a small spring placed between them near the axle d.
When, however, the cam N allows the clips d, e, to turn inwards the
A small set screw deter-
clip d is pressed up close against the clip e.
mines the amount of pressure between the clips d and e. On the bottom
of the axle d¹ is fastened the lower blade of the scissors g, h; these
scissors are also opened and shut by cam N. By this arrangement the
2 threads as they are seized by the nippers d, e, are at the same time
severed by the scissors g, h. As the threads are held by the nippers

page_text: against the under side of the knotting apparatus they are taken by it and
formed. into a knot in the following manner:-The knotting apparatus
is shewn separately on an enlarged scale at Figures 7* and 8; it is
composed of a tube a with a hook 6 on one side; on the opposite side of
the tube is a groove c.
The tube a is caused to revolve in such manner
that the base of the hook 6 is in the centre of the revolution, while the
groove c describes the largest circle, as shown in the diagram. The
threads about to be knotted are brought across the side of the tube.
The tube is caused to turn, as shewn in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the
threads are seized by the hook b, and are by it twisted around the tube a
in the manner shewn by the diagrams 1 to 8 of Figure 8. As the lower
threads are crossing the front of the tube a hook f is caused to protrude,
and as the tube turns brings the lower threads into the nose of the hook.
The hook fretires down the tube, drawing the thread from between the
clips d, e, which hold the threads as between the finger and thumb..
Before the severed ends of the threads have escaped from the detention
of the clips d, e, a second pair of clips i, j, behind the tube are closed
upon the threads, as shewn in some of the enlarged views in Figures 8,
in such a manner that as the hook fretreats it draws the severed ands
of the threads out of the clips d, e, only leaving the single pair of threads
in the clips i, j, as shewn. While the clips i, j, are still holding theso
threads a little spike k carried by the moveable jaw of the clips d, e, is
drawn along the groove c, and moving in a course parallel with the tube
moves the loop formed round the tube over its end. The threads above
the tube are now tightened by the tension placed upon them by the
hook o', and so the knot is drawn tight. This knot is further tightened
by being allowed to come up into a nick shewn at e* (Figure 7*). This
nick is just wide enough to allow the two threads to go by, but will not
allow a knot to go by. When the knot is drawn tight in this manner
a pair of scissors m, n, are closed below the knot, cutting off the ends
just below it; the moveable blade of these scissors is carried by the
shaft d', and is worked by it. The back of the hook o' now knocks the
knot out of the nick c*, and the united ends spring up on to a bar. The
nippers i, j, having been opened the waste end is brushed out of the
tube, and the operation is repeated.
I will now more minutely describe the way in which motion is
given to the tube a, clips i, j, and the hook f. The tube a is carried at
its aubuniter he
the and
hallow ank shaft aluliah

page_text: runs in bearings, as shewn at Figures 2 and 7*, and has near its extremity
a notched wheel q, into which a quadrant lever q³ (see Figure 4)-works.
The quadrant lever q³ is centred at one end at 9', and is kept in gear
with the wheel q³ by a little guide q..The quadrant lever q³ is caused to
move backwards and forwards by the lever q' connected with it by the
connecting rod q³. The lever q' has a tracing wheel q³, which works on
the left side of the wheel L' and gives the tube a the desired motion.
The clips i, j, are swung on two little levers and j¹ centered at
and j; they are pressed up together by two little springs at their backs,
and the amount of their pressure is regulated by a set screw j³; they arc
made to open and close by a little cam jattached to a rod j³, which is
caused to turn by a crank je coming in contact with a cam on the left
side of wheel N on the main shaft L. Both the clips d and e and i and j
are so arranged that the pads can be easily renewed when worn. The
needle or hook fis caused to move backwards and forwards through the
tube a by being placed in a slide carriage f¹, and the needle is adjusted
in its proper place by the set screw f'; the carriage f¹ moves in slides,
and has attached to it a small stud holding a pulley f, which moves in
the tracing cam M, and gives the hook f the desired motion. The
reciprocating brush for brushing out the loose ends from the tubular
knotting apparatus is centred at 1, and caused to vibrate by the lever 1.3
connected with it by the connecting rod 73. The lever 7-3 has a small
tracing pulley, which works in a groove cut on the left-hand side of
the large cam wheel L'. The action of the brush is from the left of the
tube a, across the face of tube a, and into the circular brush 8. The
brush 8 is fixed on a spindle s', which is caused to turn by a small wheel
fixed on its stem in gear with teeth on the cam wheel M. The brush &
is cleaned of loose ends by means of two small combs coming in
contact with it as it revolves. The nick e* and the lower blade of the
scissors m, n, are screwed on to the casting t; the casting t is screwed
on to the main casting 1". In order to stop the machine if the knotting
apparatus fails to properly knot together two of the warp threads, or if
the selectors have failed to supply threads to the knotting mechanism,
the hooks o¹ and o* are attached to levers o³, o, by a cross bar o³; these
hooks are moved backwards and forwards by a little wheel attached to
the end of lever o' which traces the cam P. The hooks o¹, o³, are moved
up and down by a small connecting rod of, which is attached to a
lever o³ tracing the cam O. Lever o* has at its extremity a curve, which
embraces. a small catch P¹ connected with the stopping gear. The

page_text: catch P¹ is connected with a crank Pª swung on a rod P³, and balanced
upwards by a weight P. The rod P³ is connected with the locking
catch K which locks the stopping handle K, as previously mentioned.
When the look o' is working in the usual way the knot in the groove e*
prevents the lever os from swinging too far backwards. When however
there is no thread the hook passes to the right of its ordinary place,
allowing the nose of the catch P¹ to be pressed forwards into a groove in
the cam P, which forces it downwards and unlocks the handle K*, and so
stops the machine.
I will now describe the arrangement of apparatus by which the
machine is caused to register the number of threads knotted together.
The box Z, Z, contains three dials; the first dial may be adjusted to
commence counting by turning the little knob at the top of the box,
it shows the number of threads united in any one warp; the second dial
shows the number of threads done in a week for paying the operative,
and the third dial the number for any long period. They are caused to
move by the small connecting rod ; the rod is connected with the
oscillating lever to herein-before mentioned by the lever y and the con-
necting rod x. To work the machine wind the carriage H to the back
of the machine by turning the handle J', place the new beam O in its
supports; the width of the warp on the beam C should be approximately
equal to the width of the warp in the healds about to be mounted;
extend the rod O*, clipping the ends of warp over the roller F, and
deposit the clipping rods in the trough G on the other side of the
frame; now wind the beam C tight, securing it in its position by the
little spring catch O³ coming in contact with the rack wheel at its end;
next mount the healds.D, as shown in the Drawing (Figure 2); extend
its clip rod D* also across the machine, and deposit it in the trough G,
wind the threads convenicutly tight round the cloth bar E, and button
it fast into its recess by the little button E. The lease rods of the upper
and lower warps are supported at either ends by projecting rods from
the sides of the slides A'. The lease rods are then in the position shown
in Figure 2, the two warps being in this position and being of about
the same width. Each pair of threads about to be united is approxi-
mately over one another. The machine is now wound up so that the
brushes U and Us are able to brush out, say, an inch wide of warp. Tho
handle is drawn out, and the brushes U' and U* are caused to revolve,
brushing the threads up to the position shown in the Drawing (Figure 2).

page_text: The little brushes straighten the threads, and the large brushes following
up at the rear draw them all evenly tight. The clips Y now move
forward open mouthed over the threads and close on them. The brushes
take a quarter of a turn, leaving the threads already brushed only in the
mouth of the clips Y, Y. The clips now retreat with the threads into
the grasp of the rollers Z¹ and Zs, and gradually recede as the rollers Z'
and Z draw the threads in between them. As the rollers Z' and Z³
gradually absorb these threads and carry them to the rear, the angle at
which the rollers are placed draws all the threads tight. The selectors
in the boxes 20 and 21 now commence selecting, and at each revolution
of the wheel L' spring off a pair of ends ready to be united. Whether
this is correctly performed or not is seen by the alternate threads crossing
the same space between the selecting boxes. The right upper thread
ought to be taken simultaneously with the left lower thread, and vice
versa. The pair of ends now being selected and drawn backwards, the
little hooks o' and o³ come forward and hook the threads in between the
scissors g, h, and the nippers d, e, which now close. The threads are
thus severed, and the nippers bring the threads into the position shown
in diagram 1, 2, Figures 8. The tube a now makes the desired revolu-
tion (see diagram 6), and the pair of ends are drawn from between the
nippers d, e, and down the tube a by the needle f, as previously
explained. The nippers i, j, close on the threads in the tube a, the
spike moves the loop off the end of the tube, the hook o' draws the
knot into the nick e*, and the little scissors m, n, are closed and cut off
the waste end. The waste end in the tube a is now brushed out of the
way by the brush r wiping it across into the circular brush 8, which
deposits it into the combs before mentioned. Whilst the knot remains
in the nick e✶ the hook o' is prevented from falling backwards by the
tension of the threads, but should there be no knot made the hook o¹
falls backwards and stops the machine, as before-mentioned. After the
knot has been thus tested and drawn tight by the weight of the hook
the hook returns, pushing the knot out of the nick e*, and allowing
the threads to spring out of the nick e* on to the bar p. The process
is repeated right across the warp knotting each pair of threads, the
brushes working at the required intervals. When the warp is thus
completely knotted from side to side the rod p is wound up close to
the healds D by turning round the beam C. The healds and the reed
are now taken out of their place and removed to a frame to the right of
the machine or other convenient place, where the warp is stretched tight

page_text: by means of a roller round which the cloth end of the warp is wound.
The heald and reed are now passed over the knots by passing the healds
and reed forward on to the beam. This is more easily effected by
shedding the warp for the different healds. The reed is passed over the
knots obliquely. In cases where the knots are difficult to pass through
a very fine reed they may be compressed between leather or suitable
rollers. In place of uniting the two warp threads after they have been
selected by knotting them together as above described, they may be
united by twisting them together in the manner described in the Speci-
fication of a Patent granted to myself and Arthur Worthington Biggs
on the Ninth day of November 1867 (No. 3177).
A combined arrangement of machinery for joining warp ends by
twisting and in which the warp ends are to be selected and fed to the
twisting mechanism by a child is shown at Figures 9, 10, and 11.
Figure 9 is an end view, Figure 10 a plan, and Figure 11 a side view
of the machine.
A is the main frame fitted up with two slides B, B, on which
traverses a carriage C supporting the machinery for joining together
the warp ends, as in the machine above described. The carriage C is
made to traverse the length of the frame backwards and forwards by the
screws E, E. F is a beam of new warp threads; this beam is supported
on its stand. G, H, are the healds through which the old warp threads
are passed; these healds are suspended from the carrying rod I supported
by pillars J, J, cast and bolted on to the main frame A. Land M are
the fast and loose pulleys on the driving axle V of the machine; N is
the strap guard moved by handle O, and also by means of the rod P
and lever Q; T is a grooved pulley on the driving axle which drives an
endless cord which also passes over the pulley U; the cord also passes
round the driving wheel R of the twisting machinery of the carriage C.
The screws E are geared together by cog wheels W, W, and may
both be simultaneously turned backwards or forwards by turning the
handle X at the entrance of the machine; they may also be caused to
revolve at various speeds to suit the work by a worm wheel Z³ on one
of the screws being driven by a worm Z', which receives motion through
pulleys Y, Z; Y being attached to the driving shaft V, whilst Z is fixed
on the axis Z³ of the worm Z¹; the axis Z³ is supported at one end in a
bearing Z, and at the other end where it carries the worm it is sup-
ported in a moveable arm Z' centred at Z°, so that the worm can be

page_text: lifted out of gear with the worm wheel. The raising of the worm out
of gear with the worm wheel is effected by a handle 1 on lever 2,
centred on shaft 3. At the upper end of the lever is a pin 5 working in
a slot in moveable arm Z, in such a manner that when the handle 1
is in the position shewn in the Drawing the worm Z' is in gear with
worm wheel Z³, but when the handle is turned upright the worm Z' is
out of gear. At the end of shaft 3 is a crank 6 (see Figure 10)
connected with rod 7, so that the shaft 3 may be turned either by
moving handle 1 or rod 7. When the handle 1 is forward the worm Z'
being in connection with Z the two screws E, E, are turned slowly
round, causing the twisting carriage C to traverse the length of the
frame A. When it is required to cause the carriage C to return to its
starting place for a fresh warp rod, 7 is pushed forward, and the
carriage C is either wound back by the handle X, or it may be wound
back quickly by causing a pulley 4 at the lower end of the lever 2 to
press against a loose band which passes around a band pulley V' on the
driving shaft V and also around a pulley W¹ on a shaft W'. When the
band is tightened by causing the pulley 4 to press against it the
shaft W is caused to revolve, and a bevel wheel fast upon this shaft
then transmits its motion to a bevil wheel cast with the worm Z³ on the
screw. The screws E are thus caused quickly to revolve and bring the
carriage C back until it comes in contact with the stop 8 (see Figure 10)
fixed on to the shaft 3, the shaft 3 is then turned and the pulley 4 is
moved away from the band, which is thus left loose, and the carriage C
is stopped.
The twisting machinery for joining together the warp threads is shewn
separately on an enlarged scale at Figures 12, 13, and 14. Figure 12 is
a front view, Figure 13 is a plan, and Figure 14 is a sectional end view
of the twisting machinery. This machinery is contained in the box D
which drops into the carriage' C, as in the machine first described.
a is the needle for twisting; b is the lever that supports the threads
whilst being twisted; c, d, are two brass tubes, over which the threads
are placed, as shewn in the Drawing, ready for twisting; e, e, are two
india-rubber pads which hold the warp threads passing over c, d. The
pads e, e, are made to open and shut by a thumb nut e'; they are
mounted upon a swing lever f centered at f in the carriage C, and it is
caused to move by a tracing wheel f³ supported by the arm f³. f³ traces
a cum on the under side of a toothed wheel : f is a small set nut which

page_text: when screwed fully up prevents the wheelf from touching this cam;
g, h, are two levers moving in front of the machine from the position
they are now in up to the bar c, d; i is a lever working between the
rods c and the pads e; j,j, are two pairs of pads; k and k¹ are littlo
hooks for hooking a pair of threads along the bars c, d; lis a pair of
scissors, the moveable blade of which is carried by the moveable jaw
of the lower pad j; m is a little curved piece of brass also moving with
the pad j; n is another pair of scissors having on their top a pin n¹;
o is a brush, and o¹ a comb. These various parts are caused to move in
the following manner:-p is the main shaft of the machine, on which are
keyed cams q, r, s, an eccentric t, cams u, v, and w, and a cog wheel y.
The cog wheel y gears with a bevil wheel z keyed on shaft z' which is
driven by a friction pulley upon it having a friction pulley R' brought
into contact with it, which is fast on the axis of the pulley R. which is
driven by the endless cord, as hercin-before explained; on the shaft z'
is also a wheel for driving the brush o by a cord passing round
the wheel of which is fast on the axis of the brush. The shaft p
with its cams is centered at one end into carriage C and supported at
the other end by the triangular framing D'. The cam q is for moving
the hooks and ¹ backwards and forwards. To effect this the cam
operates upon lever (see Figure 13) which is connected with tho
hooks and k¹ by rods k³, k; k has also a lateral motion given to it by
a crank in the rod working in a guide; k, k, also guides the course of
the double hook k. The exact motion of k is hereafter described. Tho
lever is pressed forward on the cam g by the spring . The tracing
levers g and receive motion from the cam wheel w; they are mounted
on two axles g' and ' traversing the machine, and connected together by
means of toothed wheels g³ and h³, as shown in the Drawing. The levers
are caused to vibrate by the cam wheel forcing the pulley w' fixed on the
slide w' backwards and forwards; the slide to is connected with the rod h¹
by a small projection ³; the wheel w' is kept close to the cam by a spring
not shewn in the Drawing. The cam " gives motion to the lever i ;
this lever is keyed on to shaft and carries a truck which is acted on
by the cam. Lever b is keyed on to axle b', and is caused to vibrate by
the little truck 6 acted upon by the cam V depressing it and a spring,
not shown, raising it. The little pads j,j, are each composed of one
fixed part attached to part of the frame casting and one moveablo
part jattached to an axle j³, see Figure 13, and are caused to open and
R

page_text: shut by lever j' acted on by cam 8. The small curved piece of brass m
before mentioned is also attached by a spring to the axle 3. The
needle a is made to move backwards and forwards by a train of
wheels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 operated upon by a rack 17* which
is worked backwards and forwards by a lever 16* in connection with the
excentrict by the connecting rod 17. These wheels and rack 17* are
swung in a vibrating carriage a' centered at its rear end in the carriage
casting C and the triangle D'. The rack 17* is kept in gear with rack
wheel 16 by a little pulley 15* running in a groove at its back. The
train of wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are kept in their position by
the bearings 19 and 20. The needle a is kept in position by bearings 21
and 22. The carriage a' is caused to vibrate by a grooved cam out in
the face of cam wheel u, into which the little pulley a³ attached to
lever a' fastened to a' traces its way. The jamming or nipping gear of the
needle a (hereafter described) is worked by the lever 23 (see Figure 14),
which is pivotted at 24 on the swing carriage a¹; it is operated upon by
the spring 25 and the lever 26. The lever 26 is pivotted on framing C
and is made to trace a face cam on the wheel w, against which it is
pressed by a spring, not shown. The slide scissors n are caused to open
and shut by the crank lever n³ actuated by the cam r, against which it
is forced by a spring. The brush o runs loose on the spindle attached
to a bracket C. The brush o is made to turn by the pulley o³ by means
of a cord passing round. Working in the bristles of the brushes is a
comb of which clears the threads off the brush as it revolves. The
comb o² is attached to a swing lever o* centred at o* on the framing C.
The lever can be pressed backwards by the handle o°; when it is so
pressed it causes the dents of the comb o' to move through the trans-
verse comb o' in such a manner as to discharge the threads it has
collected off the brush o into the trough o³. R³ (see Figure 10) is a
lever connected with RP and lever R*; the lever R is shewn in Figures 9,
10, and 11 connected with treadle R by rod R. The treadle R' is
centered in a supporting rod 30 screwed on to the carriage C; the
treadle R is balanced up by a weight R'. When R is depressed by
the foot it causes friction wheel R¹ to come in contact with 2³ and puts
the twisting machinery in motion. When the foot is removed the
twisting machinery at once stops. The two bars c, d, are composed
of two brass tubes, into the side of which runs a small carding comb
with teeth about an eighth of an inch high, so that when the threads

page_text: are placed over them, as shewn in Figures 12 and 14, if the threads are
brushed parallel to the bars they may be made to continue parallel
round the bars by these little combs being turned a few times through
the threads. The bars c and d are supported by two arms c¹ and di
which are bolted on to the casting O by four set screws working in slots,
so that the bars c and d may be raised or lowered to suit the tension of
the threads. 31 is a tension spring screwed on to the casting D'; 32 is
a small sponge basin for keeping the damping pads moist. The twisting
machine is compact in itself and can be unscrewed from the traversing
carriage C, so that in case of any break down a new twisting box can be
fitted on the traversing carriage C in its place, and the work proceeded
with without loss of time.
I will now proceed to describe the working of the machine. Before
putting the warps into the machine the carriage C is wound back to
its starting point. The beam F is then placed in its supports G, placing
the beam reed in the two slide arms 33, and the threads are brushed
into parallel bands about 3 or 4 inches wide ready for twisting. The
healds H are placed in the position shewn in Figure 9, the machine like
the machine first described being fitted with a bar for holding the
reed and cloth rod. The lease rods 37, 38, are placed on the brackets
39, which brackets like 33 are made to hang on the main frame A and
slide to any width required. The heald pulleys 41 can also be moved
on the rod I as required. The ends of the old warp are then brushed
in a similar way to the beam threads, and the clips e, e, are opened by
unscrewing the thumb nut e¹. A band of threads is now brought from
either side and is passed over the rod c or d, turning the same so that the
comb ends brush the threads parallel round it. The ends are then drawn.
down tight with the finger and thumb between the pads e, e, and the
pads are closed so that the threads are held tight. The same operation
is repeated with a band of threads from the other side. The threads
should now be damped for a couple of inches below the bars so
as to make them twist the more readily. I prefer to use gum water,
as the joints are then made far neater. The machine may then be
started by drawing backwards the handle P, which causes the carriage
3 to traverse slowly across the machine, whilst the twisting mechanism
is put into operation by placing the foot on the treadle R. The
operator then with his right hand close to the beam reed and the left

page_text: hand to the lease rods of the healds selects the pair of threads about
to be joined from the lease, and the reed pushes them forwards so that
as the levers g, h, rise they come between the threads and the rest
of the warps, and as they move towards the bars c, d, they completely
separate them from the mass of threads. When the levers g, h, are
close up to the bars the hooks & come forward and are allowed to drop
over and hook the threads away from the levers and the bars up to which
the levers have moved. The pads e, e, are now caused to rise (say about
10 inch) so as to slacken all the ends. The hooks / having caught the
two ends readily draw them clear from the mass of threads, which
although they have been set slack are restrained from following by the
levers g, h. The hooks k draw these ends down the inclined end of the
rods c and d; the hook then moves sidewise and hooks the threads
below the bars; the hooks k then rise to free themselves from the
threads, and the hook k¹ moves back and draws the two threads off the
bars c, d, and between the guide pins at the end of the lever b, which at
this moment is waiting at the end of the bars for the reception of the
threads. The lever i now sweeps downwards between these threads,
which have been placed between the pins of the lever b and the rest
of the warp, and so completes the separation of the threads about to be
joined from the bands of thread from which they have just been selected.
The employment of the levers g, h, and i to separate the threads from
the mass is rendered necessary by reason of the threads sticking one to
another. The movement of the lever i passes the pair of threads
between the two clips 1,, and between the open scissors and into
the mouth of the little brass arm m. The needle a is at this moment
waiting close up to the upper clip for the reception of its pair of
threads and is turning very slowly. The clips and scissors / now shut
to on the pair of threads, severing them from the band of ends held
between the lower clips e and holding them as if between the finger
and thumb. The little brass arm m now carries the pair of ends close
up to the head of the needle a, which is at this time rotating slowly;
the threads being thus by the arm m laid across the needle they pass
into its mouth and are wound up by it; the threads slipping through
the pads allow of their being so wound up. Should there be any
inequality of tension in the threads the needle rotating winds up any
slack round its stem before it moves the thread through the pads j", j.
Before the severed ends are allowed to be drawn out from the upper

page_text: pair of clips
the lever 26 causes the jammer of the twister to close up
on to the threads which it has caught, and firmly retains them in their
place in the head of the needle. The needle now begins to revolve
rapidly until the two threads are sufficiently twisted together; the
lever 6 now moves downwards and the needle a moves to the right,
the needle still rotating. As lever b sinks the warp thread is wound
round the two other threads forming the lap. This is best seen in the
diagram views Figures 12*. The needle as it approaches the end of the
lap diminishes the speed of its rotation. As 6 sinks below the ridgo 45
it causes the warp thread to form a very close lap (which avoids the
formation of long loose ends). At this instant the scissors n snap to,
freeing the twisted end, which is pushed clear of the guide pins of the
lever 6 by the little pin n², and the end springs up on to the top of
covering D out of the way. If it be desired to test whether or not the
threads be properly joined they may after they have been sprung on to
the covering D be tested by a finger caused to press against them. If the
threads be not properly joined the finger will be free to move and will
set in action the stopping mechanism of the machine, whereas if the
threads be properly joined the finger will be held up by the threads
and the machine will continue to work. The needle now begins to
revolve in the opposite direction, unwinding from its stem the loose ends
that it has drawn out of the clips j',. The jammer inside the needle
a is depressed by the lever 26 and frees the ends from the clip of the
needle head. The needle comes in contact with brush o which is
revolving rapidly, and the ends are cleared out of the needle and
deposited in the combs o'. This operation is greatly facilitated by the
conical shape of the needle and by the needle being made to revolve
backwards. The needle moves back to the clips,, again and the
process is repeated. Should any error occur in matching the ends in
consequence of the too rapid speed at which the operator may choose
to drive it the machine can be instantly stopped by raising the foot
from the treadle R. The operation is repeated until the machine has
traversed the whole of the warp twisting successively each pair of
threads. The operator then moves screw rod 7 so as to cause the carriage
to return to its starting point ready for a new warp. The healds and
reed are passed over the twistings and wound on to the
warp. in the
usual way, and the machine is then ready for fresh work.
In place of arranging the machine in such manner that the threads

page_text: are selected one by one from both warps by hand as above described,
the threads may be separated from one of the warps by self-acting
mechanism whilst the threads of the other warp are selected by hand.
An elevation showing parts of a machine arranged to work in this
manner is shown at Figure 15; the threads of the old warp are arranged
to hang down vertically, the healds and reed being supported as shown.
The self-acting selecting mechanism is applied to this warp, and it acts
between the lease rods as in the machine first described, so that it is
unnecessary to give here any description of it. The end of the new
warp is led over a roller d as in the machine just described, and the
threads are selected from it by hand. In other respects also the machine
is arranged like that just described, the only variations required being.
those shown at Figure 15, and the nature of these alterations is clearly
indicated by the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim
as my improvements in machinery for joining warp ends are,―
1st. The general combinations or arrangements of machinery herein
described and shown by the Drawings annexed.
2nd. The employment of brushes acting on the upper and under sides
of the warps as herein described to prepare the threads for selection.
3rd. The tightening the threads by rollers placed at an angle to them,
as herein described.
4th. The arrangement of nippers or brush acting in combination with
pressers as herein described to select the threads to be united together.
5th. The combining with the selecting nippers or selecting brush
mechanism for stopping the machine if the nippers or brush fail to
detach a thread.
6th. The placing the selected threads into a pair of nippers, and
causing them whilst so held to be taken by a revolving instrument,
which twists or knots them together.
7th. The knotting together the threads by lapping them around a
tube and then drawing their ends in to the tube, as herein described.
8th. The tightening the knot by laying the threads into a narrow
nick and putting tension on the thread to draw the knot tight against
the sides of the nick.

page_text: 9th. The testing the threads to see whether they have been properly
united together either by knotting or twisting by a fecler or hook in
connection with the stopping gear being caused to press or bear against
them,
10th. The uniting together the ends of warp threads by twisting
mechanism, the twister of which is caused to revolve at varying speeds,
as herein described.
11th. The employment of wiping bars i to sweep along between the
selected threads and the remainder of the warps and place the selected
threads into nippers preparatory to their being united,
12th. The forming the twister of a hollow conical corkscrew form, as
herein described and shewn by the Drawings.
18th. The employing in combination with the hollow conical cork-
screw twister an internal jammer or nipper as herein described.
14th. The employment of a guide 6 working as herein described in
combination with the revolving twister.
15th. The clearing the twister of loose threads by causing it to revolve
backwards at the same time that a brush moves upwards along it.
16th. The combination of a feeder m with revolving twisting mecha
nism to feed to the twisting mechanism the threads that are to be twisted
together.
17th. When uniting the ends of the threads by twisting I claim the
mode herein described of forming the end of the lap by causing the ivarp
thread to wind closely around the end of the lap and thus obviate looso
ends.
18th. When the warps are passed over bars c, d, as in Figures 9 and
10, I claim the arrangement of mechanism herein described for drawing
the selected threads over the ends of the bars,
1
19th. The alternately tightening up and slackening the warp threads
by the action of the clips e or their equivalent to assist in selecting
or to loosen the threads or to enable them to be drawn over the ends
of the bars.

page_text: 20th. The arranging machinery for joining warp ends in such manner
that one set of warps is selected by self-acting mechanism whilst the
other set is selected by hand.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Howard Worthington Biggs,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
JOHN HOWARD WORTHINGTON BIGGS. (L.S.)