IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Crosland, of Crosland Moor, Huddersfield,
in the County of York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 16th August 1859, and dated the 24th February 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Crosland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th February 1859.
I, JOSEPH CROSLAND, of Crosland Moor, Huddersfield, in the County of
York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the production of fancy goods, and consists in
working two or more shuttle boxes by means of the engine or jacquard
machine, which also serves to regulate the picking motion. By this means
any number of picks can be woven from each shuttle consecutively, and the
proper colored weft is always ready to be picked into the shed required.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Crosland, Her special license that I, the said Joseph
Crosland, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Joseph Crosland, my executors, administrators, or 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 Ire-
land, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Joseph Crosland, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature 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 Joseph Crosland, do hereby. declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the production of fancy goods, and consists in
working two or more shuttle boxes, and regulating the picking motion by the
same jacquard machine which forms the shed in the warp. By this means
of regulating the above motions any change of shuttle may be effected, and two
or more shuttles may be consecutively picked from one drop box, the opposite
picking motion being for the time thrown out of action by. the jacquard and
suitable mechanism in connection therewith.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure, 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, represents a side
elevation of one of the end standards or frames of a cloth loom, with the
driving pullies removed, and fitted with my improvements; and Figure 2 is a
corresponding back view of the same. Figure 1, on Sheet 2, represents a

page_text: detail side elevation of a portion of the drop box mechanism detached, drawn
to a scale of one-third the full size; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the
same; Figs. 3 and 4 represent respectively a side elevation and edge view of
he cams or tappets which actuate the drop box and picking motions; Figure 5
sa plan of one of the picking levers detached; and Figure 6 is an elevation
of the bell crank which adjusts the position of the picking lever. As both
ends of the loom are provided with precisely similar drop box and picking
mechanism, leave therefore only illustrated and referred to one end of the
same. A is one of the maitemings or end standards of the loom, and B is
the driving or crank shaft actuating the slay swords C, through connecting
rods D, in the usual manner.
The crank shaft B carries at each end a set of cams-er tappets E, shewn in
enlarged detail at Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2. These cans or appets are
composed of three discs 1, 2, 3, placed side by side upon the shaft, and the
contact surfaces or sides of these discs are toothed or serrated so as to fit
into each other. Two bolts e, e, passing transversely though curved slots in
the sides of the decs serve to hold then
hiy together in any desired position
relatively to each other, the toothed surfaces, by interlocking with each other,
effectual preventing all chance of derangement of position. The centre
isc 2 is keyed firmly on to the driving shaft, and the other two outer dişes
1 and 3 are placed loosely thereon, and bolted on to each side of the fixed
disc, as shewn. P is a projection formed on the outer or adjustable disc 1,
and serving as the picking tappet herein after referred to, whilst the disc 3
actuates the drop box mechanism through the tappets or projections a and b
The central disc is formed without any projection on its periphery, being her-
fectly circular. These cams are arranged for working three shuttles, but by
increasing the number of the tappets accordingly any number of shuttles from
two upwards may be worked. The tappets a and b are made of different
heights, and the highest one braising the drop box to its highest position, so
as to bring the bottom shuttle into action; the second-sized tappet a, being a
step lower, brings up the second or middle shuttle in the box; and the third
or top shuttle is brought into action by the centre disc 2, which is another
step lower than the cam or tappet a.
Above these several cams, and working
freely on a stud centre F, bolted to the framing of the loom, is fitted a lifting
lever G, which is connected by the adjustable vertical rod H to the counter-
weighted drop box lever I, working on a stud centre J, also bolted to the side
of the loom. The vertical rod H works loose in a slot. at the end of the
lifting lever G, and is adjusted by two set nuts, as shewn at Figure 1, Sheets 1
and 2. A rod K connects the front end of lever I to. the drop box I. by a

page_text: pin joint at l. It thus follows that any rising motion imparted to the lifting
lever G will be transmitted to the drop box, whilst the lever itself is free to
fall again after each upward stroke. A rectangular opening is formed in the
lifting lever, and within this opening works an antifriction pulley M, carrie
loosely upon a transverse spindle N, which is capable of sliding longitudinally
to and fro in boles or bearings in the sides of the lever G. The roller M,
although free to revolve round its spindle or axis, is so fitted as not to be
capable of sliding laterally, except when the spindle itself is pushed to and fro:
This sliding of the spindle is effected by means two fingers 0, 0, the one
being longer than the other, and both jointed or working on a centre at P
in the forked end of the sliding spindle. Each of these fingers carries at its
outer extreminity an astriction roller, as shewn in the Drawings, and these
rollers are operated upon when their respective fingers' are in a horizontal
✓ Position by an incline Q, fitted on to the side of a reciprocating rod R, jointed
at S to each of the slay swords, and consequently receiving a to-and-fro
motion therefrom. The opposite end of this rod R is supported by and slides
the inner side of the loom framing, as
freely through a bracket r,-bolten to
shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 2, of the Drawings. Each finger is connected by
a cord, chain, or other suitable connection O, O', to the respective hell-crank
levers T, carried on a stud centre bolted to the back transverse bar A-of
the loom framing. Other cords or chains t, t¹; connect these bell cranks with
any suitable jacquard machine placed in the centre of the loom, or in any
other convenient situation. Altho' I do not confine or restrict myself to any
particular construction or arrangement of jacquard apparatus, I prefer, never-
thes, to use the lags for which Letters Patent were granted to William
Whitehead, on or about the Nineteenth day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven, No. 1407.
On the outer extremity of the sliding spindle N'are fitted two collars n, n',
of different dianieters, and upon one or other of these collars, or upon the
surface of the spindle itself, according to the position of such spindle, rests
the catch.lever U, working freely on a stud centre u in the side of the lifting
lever G. The free end of this catch lever is bent at a right angle, as seen in
the plan Figure 2, Sheet 2, so as to project over the two drop box tappets a
and b. V is a bell-crank lever, also working loose upon a stud centre v in
the side of the lifting lever. In one arm of this lever there is a laterally
projecting pin, which rests always on the surface of the catch lever U, as
shewn in Figure 1, Sheets I and 2, whilst the other arm of the bell crank is
connected by a short length of chain v¹ to the vertical notched lever W, which
supports the drop box in any desired position. This lever works on a centre

page_text: at W, and is held towards the back of the drop box by a blade spring X,
secured to the framing Y, carrying the drop box, and bolted to the side of
each slay sword.
:
The operation of the drop box motion is as follows:-In the position of
the mechanism represented by the Drawings the top shuttle is in action, both
the fingers O and O' having been previously raised out of the way of the
incline by the jacquard through the connecting cords and bell cranks,
which allows of the spindle N, with the pulley M in the lifting lever G, being.
pushed by the blade spring g over the central or circular part 2 of the cams.
This allows the lever to assume the lowest position, and therefore brings the
top shuttle into action. When, however, the shorter finger is lowered by the
jacquard, as shewn in Figure 2, Sheet 1, the next back stroke of the slay.
sword will cause the incline Q to push against the end of the finger, and
force the spindle N and pulley M. one step back, thereby bringing the pulley.
over the smaller tappet a. As this tappet comes round it acts upon the pulley
M, and elevates the lifting lever G, drop box lever I, and drop box L, the
extent of one shuttle, the drop box being retained in such position by the
notched lever W until again elevated, or until it is released and allowed to
fall into its original position by the catch lever U, as herein-after explained.
Should the bottom shuttle be required to be picked, the jacquard allows the
longer finger O¹ to descend, and consequently when the incline Q again comes
forward, it pushes the finger and spindle N, with its pulley M, another step
further back, so as to bring the pulley over the highest tappet b. This tappet
as it comes round in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, raises the lifting
lever G to the highest position, and with it the drop box, which is again held
up in its place by the small stud w' attached to the back of the drop box, and
taking into the top notch of the lever W. The release of the drop box, so
as to allow of its descending to any of the lower notches in the lever W, is
effected by the position of the catch lever U, as follows:-Suppose the drop
box to be on the top notch of the lever W, and the catch lever U resting on
the spindle, the bell crank and chain would not act upon the notched lever W,
thereby keeping the bottom shuttle in action; but when the lever U rests
upon the collar n, it draws up, through the bell crank V, a certain amount
equal to one notch of the slack of the chain v', the slay sword at that time
being at its back stroke, and the chain slack. Now, on the slay making its
forward stroke or "beat up," it will tighten the chain, and thereby cause it
to pull back the lever W the extent of one notch. This movement allows
the drop box to fall to the second or middle catch on the lever W. Again,
when the catch lever U rests upon the larger collar n', the slack of the

page_text: chain v' will be still further taken up to the extent of an additional notch, in
which case, when the slay again "beats up," it will pull back the lever W
another notch, and allow the drop box to descend to the bottom catch of the
lever W, as shewn in my Drawings, the top shuttle being then in action. It
will thus be seen that the positions of the notched lever W depend entirely
upon the different elevations of the catch lever U, which are effected in the
following manner :-In the position illustrated in Figure 1, Sheet 1 of my
Drawings, both the fingers are supposed to be drawn up out of action by the
jacquard, which causes the top shuttle to be in action. When the second
shuttle is required to be in action, the shorter finger O is allowed by the
jacquard to drop, as shewn in Figure 2, Sheet 1, and the next back stroke
of the incline Qwill push back that finger, with the spindle N and pully M,
to such an extent as will allow the lever U to drop from the collar n¹ on to
the smaller collar n, which, as herein-before explained, brings the middle
shuttle into action, the same motion bringing the pulley M over the smaller
tappet a, as hercin-before described with reference to the lifting of the boxes.
When the bottom shuttle is required to be in action, the longer finger O¹is
allowed to drop by the jacquard, and the incline Q will then push back the
spindle N.and pulley M to such an additional extent as will allow the lever U
to fall on to the spindle N, which, as previously explained, brings the bottom
shuttle into action.
It will be clearly understood from the above description that by suitably
adapting the cards or lágs of the jacquard, the various colours of the series of
shuttles may be woven in any desired order or combination, whilst the number
of consecutive picks of any color is also regulated from the jacquard, as I
shall herein-after explain. The cards or lags are perforated with four rows of
holes, but only two rows are in action at one time, say, the first and third;
this system consequently affords great facility for working extensive patterns
with a comparatively small number of lags, since by simply raising or lowering
the needle board by a lever handle conveniently placed near the hand of the
attendant, the other rows of holes may be brought into action, and a further
change of pattern effected.
By increasing the number of the fingers O, O¹, tappets a, b, and collars
n, n, any larger number of boxes may be worked. One finger will work two
boxes and three shuttles; two fingers, three boxes and five shuttles; three
fingers, four boxes and seven shuttles, and so on to any extent required.
The self-acting picking mechanism consists of a lever X', (Figure 5, Sheet 2,)
working on the stud centre a, and provided with an antifriction roller Y'.
The free end of this lever is connected by the leather strap Z to the lever

page_text: arm C on the spindle d, carrying the picking stick f. Another arm hon
this spindle is connected by a helical spring i to the main framing, this spring
bringing back the picking stick each time it has been operated upon by the
picking tappet p. This picking tappet is formed on the cam or disc 1, and
acts upon the roller in the picking lever X', so as to depress the same and
throw the shuttle. This lever X' is free to slide laterally upon its stud centre,
so that the roller Y' may be either brought immediately under the tappet p,
or removed sideways under the centre or plain disc 2, and so long as it is
maintained in this last-mentioned position the picking motion of that side of
the loom will be out of action, whilst the opposite picker will pick two or
more of the shuttles consecutively from its drop box accordingly. These
shuttles may then, if required, be all picked back again by simply throwing
the first-mentioned picking lever into action, by bringing it under its picking
tappet, and simultaneously throwing the opposite lever out of action. This
lateral adjustment of the picking lever is effected by the bell crank k,
Figure 6, Sheet 2, which works on a stud centre l', and embraces by means
of a fork, the picking lever X'. The horizontal arm of the bell crank is
connected by the rod m to an arm 9 on the rocking shaft s, which works in
bracket bearings bolted to the inner side of the loom framing. This shaft s
carries a vertical slotted lever arm y, connected by a cord with the before-
mentioned jacquard mechanism. It thus follows, that on the cord z being
pulled, the rocking shaft s will turn partly in its bearings, and elevate the
lever arm 9 and horizontal arm of the bell crank k, through the connecting
rod m; this will have the effect of pushing the picking lever X sideways on
its stud pin a, and bringing its roller out of the action of the picking tappet p,
and under the central disc 2, in which position the picking motion of course
ceases.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of mechanism
for weaving fancy goods as herein-before described and illustrated by my
Drawings.
Second, the application and use of the same jacquard machine for working
both the picking motion and drop box motion, and forming the shed in the
warp, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of a finger or fingers actuated by a jacquard

page_text: and reciprocating inclined surface for changing the position of the drop boxes
of looms, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the peculiar combination of catch lever, collars, and bell crank for
řeleasing the drop boxes of looms, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of throwing the picking lever in and out of
action at either end of the loom by means of jacquard' mechanism, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Crosland, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
JOSEPH CROSLAND. (L.S.)