IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Watson, of Galashiels, in the County of
Selkirk, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 10th November 1857, and dated the 18th September 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Watson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th September 1857.
I, RICHARD WATSON, of Galashiels, in the County of Selkirk, North
Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING," to
be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates to a simple and efficient mode of manufacturing or
producing heddles or healds for weaving of wire.
In making wire heddles, according to this plan, an open barred frame with
end pivots or centres is used. This frame is of a width equal to the intended
length of the heddles, and it has set up alongside and parallel with it, a screw
spindle of the same length as the frame. This screw spindle carries at one end
a pinion in gear with a spur wheel on one end of the frame spindle, so that as
the frame revolves the screw turns also at a rate predetermined by the gearing
train. The screw has upon a traversing nut carrying a guide, for the wire of
which the heddles are to be made. When the manufacture of a heddle is
commenced, one end of a continuous length of wire is first of all passed through

page_text: the guide and then attached to one end of the revolving frame; the frame is
then set in motion, so as to take up the wire from its reel and wind it upon
the frame, the traversing guide nut laying each fold upon the frame at a
proper and uniform distance from its neighbour. When as much of the wire
has been wound on as is necessary, the revolution of the frame is stopped, and
the attendant, using a small twisting instrument, inserts it between each con-
tiguous fold or double length of wire on the frame, and twists the two lengths
together, thus at once forming the central eye for the passage through of the
warp when placed in the loom for weaving. When all the lengths have been
so twisted, one of the external frame bars is slackened off to allow of the wire
heddle being slipped off longitudinally in its completed state. Heddles made
in this way are continuous or in one solid length from end to end, the central
eye for the warp thread being completely formed by the twisting action herein-
before described, whilst the two end loops for attachment in the loom are
produced by the turns over the two external bars of the frame. The actual
shafts for carrying the heddles in the loom may be conveniently used for the
external bars of the revolving frame, so that when a heddle is completed, it
may be removed with the shafts already in it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
WATSON, of Galashiels, in the County of Selkirk, North Britain, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Watson, Her special license, that I, the said Richard
Watson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Richard Watson, 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 Ireland, the. Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that I, the said Richard Watson, 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 Richard Watson, 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 following
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 a simple and efficient mode of manufacturing
or producing heddles or healds for weaving of wire.
In making wire heddles, according to this plan, an open barred frame with
end pivots or centres is used. This frame is of a width equal to the intended
length of the beddles, and it has set up alongside and parallel with it a screw
spindle of the same length as the frame. This screw spindle carries at one
end a pinion in gear with a spur wheel on one end of the frame spindle, so
that as the frame revolves the screw turns also at a rate predetermined by the
gearing train. The screw has upon it a traversing nut, carrying a guide for
the wire of which the heddles are to be made. When the manufacture of a
heddle is commenced, one end of a continuous length of wire is first of all
passed through the guide, and then attached to one end of the revolving frame;
the frame is then set in motion, so as to take up the wire from its reel and wind
it upon the frame, the traversing guide nut laying each fold upon the frame
at a proper and uniform distance from its neighbour. When as much of the
wire has been wound on as is necessary, the revolution of the frame is stopped,
and the attendant, using a small twisting instrument, inserts it between each
contiguous fold or double length of wire on the frame, and twists the two
lengths together, thus at once forming the central eye for the passage through
of the warp when placed in the loom for weaving. When all the lengths have
been so twisted, one of the external frame bars is slackened off to allow of tho
wire heddle being slipped off longitudinally in its completed state. Heddles
made in this way are continuous or in one solid length from end to end, the
central eye for the warp thread being completely formed by the twisting action
herein-before described, whilst the two end loops for attachment in the loom
are produced by the turns over the two external bars of the frame. The
actual shafts for carrying the heddles in the loom may be conveniently used
for the external bars of the revolving frame, so that when a heddle is
completed it may be removed with the shafts already in it.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings, which I bave hereunto appended for the purpose of show-
ing certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously
carried out in practice.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a side view or elevation of one modi-
fication of my improved machinery or apparatus for manufacturing heddles of
wire in a continuous length; Figure 2 is an end view of the machine, and
Figure 3, a.plan, corresponding to Figures 1 and 2; Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
are detail views, illustrative of the manner of forming the "eye" in each
heddle; Figure 9 is a side view or longitudinal elevation of another modi-
fication or arrangement of machinery for making heddles from a continuous
length of wire; Figure 10 is an end view of the machine; and Figure 11, a
plan of the same; Figures 12, 13, and 14 show the mode of forming the
* eye "and end loops in this arrangement of my heddle-making machinery.
In the modification shown in Figures 1 to 3 the mechanism is supported
upon a pair of cast-iron end standards A, these are connected to each other by
malleable iron tie rods B, which are secured to the standards by nuts fitted to
the screwed ends of the rods. Each of the standards A is made with a broad
spreading base, which sweeps upwards and forms a single pillar; near to the
upper extremity of the standard an arm C diverges laterally; this arm serves
to carry the mechanical details, by means of which the wire for forming the
heddles is guided and laid upon the heddle frame. The upper extremities of
the main or vertical portions of the standards A are fitted to receive the
journals of the rotatory heddle frame. One of these standards A is fitted with
a moveable bearing piece, as shown in Figure 2 of my Drawings. The upright
piece of metal D, which carries the journal bearing, is centred upon a stud
fitted in the U shaped supporting piece E, which is fastened by a bolt and nut
to the standard A. The metal upright D is kept in a vertical position by the
pin F, which is passed through holes made in the cheeks of the bracket E;
when this pin is withdrawn the bearing piece D may be moved laterally upon
its axis, so as to release the journal of the heddle frame. The heddles are
formed upon an open frame, which is constructed of two end pieces G, in
which are fitted the journals and of two central bars H, disposed parallel to
each other, and with a longitudinal space J intervening. The sides of the
frame are formed of two moveable bars K; these bars are attached to the end
pieces G by means of pins L, which pass through the end pieces and the bars
K. A series of holes M is made at each extremity of the end pieces G, so as
to admit of the bars K being adjusted in regard to their distance apart,

page_text: according to the depth of the required heddles.
Near the outer end of one of
pinion N, and to the squared
the journals of the rotatory frame is keyed a
extremity of the journal is fitted a handle O, by means of which a rotatory.
motion is communicated to the heddle frame. The rotatory movement of the
pinion N gives motion to the intermediate wheel P by which the larger wheel
Qis driven; this wheel is fast to the screw shaft R, which is carried by the
lateral arms C of the standards A. This screw shaft extends from end to end,
of the machine parallel with the side bars K, its rate of rotatory motion being
regulated by the size of the wheel Q, by which it is driven. The screw shaft
R has fitted upon it a traversing nut S, from which a short bent arm T pro-
jects inwards and parallel to the bars K. Near the end of the arm T is a hole
through which the wire U is passed; the gradual traverse of the nut from one
end of the screw shaft to the other serves to lay the wire in a uniform coil or
helix upon the bars K. The supply of wire for forming the continuous length
or lengths of heddles is wound upon a reel V, the spindle of which is a bent
arm attached to its contiguous arm C. The end of the reel spindle has a
thread cut upon it to which a nut is fitted, so that the cheek plate of the reel
may be paced or adjusted to give friction to the plate as the wire is wound off
the reel. In making wire heddles with this modification of my improvements,
the free end of the wire is attached to one of the side bars K, close up to the
end bar G, which is nearest to the actuating handle; the nut S being also
at the commencement of its traverse. The operator turns the handle of
the machine, so as to turn the heddle frame one revolution, and thereby lay
the wire U once round the side bars K. The machine is now stopped for an
instant while the attendant inserts the hook W, Figure 4, between the upper
and lower wire which forms the coil on the bars K. The hooked tool W is
in the shape of a letter S, and it is inserted between the wire in the space J,
which is made wide enough to admit of the operation being effected with
facility. The curved ends of the tool being passed round the upper and
lower wire, the operator twists the tool W, so as to bring the lower wire
over the uppermost, and the eye of the heddle is finished by completing
the turn or twist given to the hooked tool. The central part of the S shaped
tool is made to correspond in breadth to the size of the eye of the intended
heddle, and the rigid nature of the wire preserves the twist and form of the
eye without further manipulation. The details of forming the eye of the heddle
are clearly shown in the enlarged views, Figures 4 to 8. Figure 4 is a
vertical section taken through the side bars K, showing the wire U, passed
round them; the hooked tool W, is inserted between the upper and lower
wire, as shown in the sectional view, Figure 5, and in the plan, Figure 6.

page_text: In Figure 7, which is a plan showing a portion of the heddles completed, and
one in which the hook W is inserted between the wire ready for twisting the
wire, and thereby forming the eye; Figure 8 shows several of the heddles
completed. In these finished heddles the shafts upon which they are hung in
the loom pass through the loops at X, which are formed in the ordinary
manner, but at the other end, marked Y, the shaft passes through the loops
formed by the bending of the wire where it passes as it were from one heddle
into the next; the course of the wire and the manner in which it is continued'
from one heddle into the next is clearly shown in Figure 8. The eye of the
heddle being thus formed, the operator again turns the handle O, and forms
the eye in the next heddle, and so on until the side bars K, are filled with a
continuous series of perfect heddles. During the formation of the heddles the
guide S traverses along the screw shaft R, laying the wire upon the heddle
frame, the spiral line of which, as it passes round the bars K, is laid at a
regular distance asunder. This regulated distance of the coil may be varied
by altering the sizes of the wheels N and Q; thus by using a smaller sized
wheel for the screw shaft and a proportionate pinion N; the speed of the
screw shaft will be accelerated and cause the guide S to travel faster, thereby
increasing the distance between the several spirals of the coil. When the
side bars have been filled with the heddles, the pin F is withdrawn, and the
bearing piece E is thrown back; the heddle frame is removed from the
machine, the end piece G is taken off, and the heddles are slipped away from
the side bars. The length of the side bars K is regulated by the width of the
leaves of heddles usually required in weaving, and if preferred the wire heddles
may be formed at once upon the heddle shafts; in this manner they are at
once ready to be transferred to the loom. After one set of heddles has been
removed from the machine, the heddle frame is replaced, the wire is then
fastened to the other end of the heddle frame, and the nut S is traversed back
by turning the handle O in the opposite direction, thus forming another leaf
of heddles from the opposite end of the machine which is then removed as
before described. In the arrangement of the heddle making machinery shown
in Figures 9 to 13 of my Drawings, the mechanical details are somewhat
modified, and the moving parts are actuated by the foot of the operator instead
of being worked by the rotatory motion of a handle. The framing of the
machine consists of two end standards a, connected by tie rods; near the upper
part of each standard an arm 6 projects outwards at right angles to the
standard. At the extremities of the arms b, are fitted the bearings of the
shaft c, which carries the ratchet wheel d, and at its other end the wheel e.
The ratchet wheel d is fitted near the standard a, in front of which the

page_text: operator stands when superintending the formation of the heddles. A rotatory.
movement is communicated to the ratchet wheel d, and through it to the
shaft c and wheel e, by means of the foot lever or treadle f. One end of the
foot lever turns upon a stud carried by the short standard g, while the free.
end projects through the triangularly shaped opening in the front standard a,:
this end being furnished with a footboard h. The lever or treadle f has
attached it just inside the standard a, a rod i, the upper end of this rod is.
jointed to an arm j, which turns loose upon the shaft c, as a fulcrum. A stud
is fixed to the arm j, and on this arm is centred a pawl k, the free end of:
which falls into the teeth of the ratchet wheel d. The wheel e which receives:
its rotatory movement from the shaft c, is in gear with the pinion 1, on the.
upper shaft m;
this shaft m is hollow throughout its length, and it is carried.
upon a rod n, which is fixed by a nut to the back standard a. One end of the.
hollow shaft m, passes through the standard a, and to this free extremity is
fitted a bent arm o, which forms a carrier for laying the wire upon the heddle
frame. The reel p, upon which the supply of wire is wound, is similar in its
arrangement to the reel herein before described and shown in the first modi-
fication of my improvements, excepting that is fitted upon the end of the.
horizontal rod n; the wire g as it is wound off is passed through a hole in the
end of the carrier o. On the extremity of the rod n is fitted a flat bar of
metal or wood r, this bar is arranged in a horizontal plane and at right angles,
to the rod n; in front of the bar r a curved metal guide s is slipped on to the
rod n, and both are secured to the rod by a nut. The bar r, has near each of
its extremities a slot, and in these slots are fitted a pair of slide bars t, the
shape of which is made to correspond to the ordinary heddle shaft. The side
bars t are secured to the bar by nuts, so that they can be shifted to and fro
along the slots according to the depth of the heddles required.. The wire q is
at the commencement of the heddle-making fastened to one of the side bars t,
the operator then depresses the foot lever f, and this action draws down the
arm j, and gives motion to the shaft c and wheel e, in the direction of the
arrows Figure 10. The amount of motion thus given to the wheel e is suf
ficient to cause the pinion and shaft m, to make a complete revolution; the
rotatory movement of the shaft m, causes the carrier o, to wind the wire round
the side bars t, which have been previously arranged to correspond to the
depth of the heddles to be made. The curved guide s is made to project a
little above the plane of the side bars t, as is shown in Figure 9 of my Draw-
ings; as the carrier o passes over the side bars t, the wire is laid, inside
this projecting part; but in passing under the side bars t, the wire 7,
comes in contact with the curved part of the guide s, this curved part

page_text: causes the wire to glide off outside the guide. Thus that portion of the
wire which is above or lying upon the side bars t, is inside the upper
extremity of the guide s, and the portion below the side bars is outside the
guide. The operator now forms the eye and end loops of the heddle by insert-
ing a "hand twist" u between the wire, as shown in the sectional view,
Figure 12, and plan, Figure 13. The wire is twisted by means of the tool u,
first upon one side of the guides, and then upon the other, or simultaneously
with a pair of handtwists u in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows
in Figure 13. The operation of twisting serves to complete the heddle, as
shown in Figure 18, in which it will be observed that the twisting of the wire
close up to the side bars t, has the effect of forming a loop at either end
suitable for the reception of the ordinary heddle shafts. The eye of the heddle
is also shaped to the desired form by the configuration of the extremity of the
guides, the finished heddle is then lifted over the point of the guide s, and
pushed away preparatory to forming another heddle. When the foot lever f
is released from the pressure of the operator's foot, it springs up to its normal
position by the action of the spring v, one end of which is fast to the lever f
and the other to a hook projecting from the standard a. When one heddle
has been formed in the manner herein-before described, the foot lever is
again depressed and the twisting operation repeated, and so on throughout the
series. When the portions of the side bars t, that extend beyond the guide s
becomes filled or nearly so with the finished heddles, they are pushed off or
allowed to fall therefrom and be deposited upon a shelf or other receptacle
fitted beneath; or, what is preferred, is to fasten a wire to each of the said
bars t; each of the wires has its lower extremity a disc or stop. As the
heddles are successively formed they fall down the wires, as shown in Figure 9,
and in this manner the complete leaves of beddles are strung together so as to
be readily transferred to the heddle shafts. In Figure 13 of my Drawing, the
beddle wire passes round the side bar t to the right of the Figure, and then
diverges into the next heddle, thus forming a continuous set; but this
arrangement may be modified, and the heddles formed singly, as shown in
Figure 14. In this modification the end loop w has been divided from the
adjoining heddles, and the two ends are twisted together so as to form an eye
at each end of the heddle. In making heddles, according to this mode, the
side bar where the heddles are to be divided from each other must be wide
enough to provide sufficient wire to allow of the ends being twisted together.
After the heddles are made in the continuous length they are cut at the bends
between each heddle, as shown at x, Figure 14, and the ends twisted together,
the shape of the loops being made to correspond to the heddle shaft inserted

page_text: therein for that purpose. By means of these several modifications wire heddles
may be manufactured with great ease and rapidity.
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 may observe in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention. But 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 arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for manufacturing heddles or healds for weaving, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of making heddles or healds suitable for
weaving from a continuous or unbroken length of wire by means of machinery,
as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of forming the eyes or loops of wire heddles by
means of a curved or hooked twisting tool, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of making heddles or healds from a continuous
length of wire by means of machinery, in which the central eye of the heddle
and the end loops are formed by twisting the wire in opposite directions by
means of suitable twisting tools, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of giving the desired shape to the end loops, and
eyes of heddles by means of suitably shaped bars or frames, and a central
guide or pattern which serves to give the proper elliptical figure to the eye of
the heddle, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of manufacturing separate or single heddles from
a continuous length of wire, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Watson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight.
RICHARD WATSON. (L.s.)