AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WEAVERS' HARNESS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING WEAVERS' HARNESS."-A communication
from abroad by Joseph Sprague Winsor and William Walton Fletcher,
both of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
Sealed the 4th October 1867, and dated the 31st July 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declara-
tion, on the 31st July 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
FOR MANUFACTURING WEAVERS' HARNESS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that it has been
communicated to me from abroad by Joseph Sprague Winsor and William
Walton Fletcher, both of Providence, Rhode Islands, United States of
America.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings forming a part of this
Specification:-
The said Invention relates to a machine for making that variety of weavers'
harness known as the "loop harness"; it accomplishes the entire operation
of forming the several heddles which make up a harness automatically.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine; Figure 2 is a top view
of the said machine; Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent detached portions
of the same; Figure 9 represents a heddle made by the said machine.
By observing Figure 9, which represents a single heddle of the many which
make up a harness, it will be seen that it consists of two loops linked into an
intermediate connecting eye; this eye is formed from the same continuous
twine as that which composed the right-band loop, by the knotting of the one
strand around the other, while the left hand loop is made of an independent
twine and is linked with the eye.
It will become necessary in order to understand the operation of the machine
to trace the course of two bobbins which supply the twine to form the harness
throughout the motions which must be made to construct these two loops and
connecting eye. Referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that there are represented
five toothed wheels, numbered from 1 to 5, the teeth of three of which, namely
3, 4, and 5, are engaged with each other forming a continuous train, while
Nos. 1 and 2 are connected but are independent of their fellows. Motion
from the main shaft A, Figure 1, is communicated through the. bevelled gear
wheels B, B¹, to the entire set. The office of the train of wheels is that of
conveyors for the bobbins Nos. 1 and 2, each of which bobbins carries a
spool of twine shown more clearly at C, C, Figure 1; the bobbins are
supported by stands E (Figure 1), which rest upon the top faces of the wheels
and are put into motion by means of radial wings or drivers a (Figures 1
and 2) projecting from the side of collars D which stand around the central
axis of each of the toothed wheels 1, 2, 8, 4, and 5; these wings a as the
collars revolve with the toothed wheels to which they belong engage with slots
or mortises cut in the side of the bobbin stands E.
We will suppose the machine to be ready for operation. The bobbin No. 1
which forms the eye side of the heddle, and the bobbin No. 2 which forms

page_text: the "easy" side, are in the positions respectively shown in Figure 2. The
end of the twine which runs from the spools carried by the bobbins is
made fast on each side of the machine to the studs 1 and 5 respectively.
Motion being given to the driving shaft A, No. 1 bobbin moves from its
position in the Drawing on the front side of.No. 1 stud into the space
between studs 1 and 2, it being guided during this as well as during its
subsequent movement in part by the top plate F, which as seen in Figure 2
is cut away on both sides opposite each stud so as to present au edge conforming
to the outline of one side of the bobbin. In the position last mentioned the
bobbin stauds with its longer axis at right angles or nearly so with the line
of the studs from 1 to 5. While this movement is being made by No. 1
bobbin No. 2 bobbin moves around the front side of No. 5 stud, and takes
position between studs 5 and 4, its longer axis being nearly at right angles
with the line of studs. No. 1 bobbin now reverses the direction of its
movement and passing around the front side of No. 2 stud takes position in
the space between studs 2 and 3. At this moment the finger No. 2 which
is furnished with hooked end has a lateral movement given to it in the
direction toward No. 5 stud, and catching with its hooked end the twine
which is being run off by the spool carries it to a point over the axis of stud
No. 3, and allows the same to be slipped into a notch for holding the twine
in the top of such stud. There is as the result of this operation a thread of
twine stretched between studs 1 and 3; at this moment a bar G (which is
capable of two motions, one around the axis of the upright shaft to which it
at one end is affixed, and the other in a downward direction) first swings into
line with the length of twine mentioned and directly over the same; and,
secondly, descending bodily carries with it the length of twine which a inoment
before stretched between studs 2 and 3, except that the end of such stretch of
twine which was deposited upon the hook in the top of stud No. 3 is still
held there. The continued movenient of bobbin No. 1 into the space between
studs 1 and 2, and with the purpose of making a complete circuit around
No. 2 stud as will presently be described, causes a length of twine to be given
off the spool, which will stretch from No. 3 stud around No. 2 stud. There
will then be such stretch of twine in the position mentioned, and underneath
the same, but kept down by the depressing bar G will be another stretch of twine
from the same spool. From the time that No. 1 bobbin stranding between
studs 1 and 2 reversed its path of movement, and while it has been accom-
plishing the circuit of No. 2 stud, and coming back to position between studs
1 and 2 as last above described, bobbin No. 2 has moved through an equal
distance;
it has moved around the back of No. 4 stud, passed between

page_text: studs 4 and 3 and partially around the front side of stud No. 3; it now
proceeds to pass between studs 3 and 2 and must necessarily carry its twine
through the loop which has been already referred to as produced by the
combined action of the depressor bar G and the travelling bobbin No. 1 at
this point; bobbin No. 1 following bobbin No. 2 passes through the eye of
the twine, entering from the front side, and takes position between studs 1
and 2; the depressing bar G now commences to rise, and the length of
twine which it held down will be released; bobbin No. I proceeds to travel
toward the front side of No. 1 stud, and is about to make the complete circuit
around that stud; when it has reached a point in the circuit upon its
larger axis and is nearly at right angles with the line of studs a shaft H
(whose position is parallel with the plane of the floor on which the machine
stands, and which is capable of being moved laterally and has also a rocking
motion on its own axis) now rocks far enough to allow a hook 6 projecting
from its side to lay hold of the running twine, and at the same moment the
shaft moves farther away from stud No. 1, and takes up the slack twine
which is occasioned by the rise of the depressor G; bobbin No. 1 continues
to travel in a direction around stud No. 1, when it reaches a point between
studs 1 and 2 a depressing bar I similar to G in the functions it has
to perform descends and carries down the length of twine which just before
was stretched out, the bobbin proceeds to make the circuit of the stud No. 1,
going around the front side thereof, and returning (heading front) to the
position between the studs 1 and 2.
We have traced the course of bobbin No. 1 from the time that it was about
to pass through the eye to the point last mentioned. During the same
period of time bobbin No. 2 has accomplished the following movements:-
Starting from the position that it was in when it passed through the eye
between studs 2 and 3 heading toward the back of the machine it goes
around the back of stud 8, then passes between studs 3 and 4, around the
front side of 4, then goes between studs 4 and 5 then makes the circuit of
stud 5. While it is making the circuit of No. 5 and as it reaches a point
where the larger axis of the bobbin is at right angles or nearly so with the
line of the studs a transverse shaft H¹ similar in all respects to shaft H
upon the other end of the machine already described goes through the
movement of a partial rotation on its axis, and is also carried laterally further
from stud 5; whereby the hook which projects from its side lays hold of
the twine and draws out a length, as in the other case. A depressing bar I¹
similar to I already described now descends and carries down the length of
twine which has been so stretched, and bobbin No. 2 as it passes this point

page_text: again in making the circuit travels over the length of twine so depressed.
Returning now to bobbin No. 1 it will be found that from the position at
which it was left between studs 1 and 2 it from thence proceeds around
the front side of No. 2 stud, and gives an opportunity for finger No. 2
to catch the twine as before and draw it back preparatory to forming
an eye; the central depressing bar acts again to carry down such length
of twine, wben bobbin No. 1 makes the circuit of No. 2 stud passing
necessarily through the eye formed by the length of standing twine, which is
depressed, and the length of running twine which is given off from the bobbin
and which spans the distance between studs 2 and 3, it being preceded in
passing through the eye by bobbin No. 2 as herein-after stated; bobbin
No. 2 which meanwhile has passed around the back of No. 4 stud goes
thence to the space between 4 and 3, thence around the front side of No. 3,
reaching that position at about the time the bobbin No. 1 has passed between
the studs 2 and 3 and over the depressor G. It from this point proceeds
through the eye of the twine, thence around the back of No. 3 stud, thence
around the front of No. 4 stud, thence to between No. 4 and No. 5, thence
completely around No. 5 to the place of beginning; after bobbin No. 2 has
passed through the eye it is followed up by bobbin No. 1 for the purpose of
completing the tie, which passing around the back of No. 2 takes position
between studs 1 and 2, then reversing its direction of travel it proceeds to
make the complete circuit of stud No. 1 to the point of beginning. Although
in tracing the path which the bobbins take it has been said that they take
certain positions between certain of the studs referred to, it is not meant to
be implied that such bobbins actually come to a state of rest, except in these
instances, when bobbin No. 1 is made to reverse the direction of its movement,
but on the contrary their motion is a continuous one throughout the different
studs, and the expression is used merely to mark points in their movement
for the purpose of convenience of description. The office of finger No. 1 is
to hold the clasp end of the eye; when bobbin No. 1 is about to pass between
studs 2 and 3 preparatory to the swinging of the depressing bar G into line
with the length of standing twine, as described, both fingers 1 and 2 move
together toward stud No. 2. Finger No. 2 lays hold of the running twine
and carries it to the hook in the top of stud No. 3, leaving finger No. 1 close
up to stud No. 2. After the depressing bar G has risen and released the
length of twine depressed finger No. 1 moves. up to the side of finger No. 2.
It is necessary to hold the twine fast at the times when in the action of
the machine the side depressors I and 1' are lifting. For this purpose a
pair of pincers is employed, the details of which are shown in Figures 3 and 6,

page_text: and at J, J, Figure 2. These pincers are made to take hold of the twine, and
hold it fast to prevent the loops from kinking until by the movement of the
bobbins and of the depressing bar G, the twine can be drawn taut. The
various movements of the fingers 1 and 2, the depressing bars G and I, I,
the transverse shafts H and H¹, the pincers J, J, and the switch levers for
directing the course of the bobbins are all derived from appropriate cams
mounted upon the cam shaft k; the depressor G obtains its movement upon
its axis so as to swing into line with studs 2 and 3 by means of the yoke 1
pivoted at d near its foot to the cross tie of the frame. The arm 1' of this
yoke is as the cam wheel 2 revolves moved toward the left by the projecting
face 3 of wheel 2, the longer arm 4 of this yoke entering a slot in a crank
arm 5 keyed to the foot of the depressor shaft 6 gives to such shaft a movement
on its axis, the same being supported by suitable journals. A spring 7 bearing
against the extreme foot of the yoke below the fulcrum pivot d acts upon the
release of the arm 1' from the cam face 3 to produce a reverse movement.
The same depressing bar G after it has been brought into line with studs 2
and 3 is pulled downward, and again at the proper time is carried upward
by the action of a grooved cam with two acting faces placed upon the face of
cam wheel 2, into which groove the friction roller 8 fits, such roller being
mounted upon an axle which projects at right angles with a long upright
rod 9 attached to the shaft 6 of the depressor. The fingers 1 and 2 are
operated by the cam wheel 10; two long levers 11 and 12 are pivoted to a
cross bar of the frame of the machine at e; upon the upper ends of these
levers respectively are the fingers 1 and 2. Over against the face of the
cam 10 are seen in the Drawing two arms 13 and 14, the one being attached
to lever 11, and the other to lever 12. These arms have their ends bent at
right angles with their length, and these portions so bent enter scores cut in
the face of cam wheels 10, whereby a lateral movement is given to each of
said levers and consequently to their finger ends, the extent of which movement
and the length of its duration is controlled by the shaft of the scores. The
side depressing bars I and I are lowered and raised respectively by grooved
double faced cams 15 and 16 set upon the faces of the cam wheels 17 and 18
respectively, friction rollers f, f, on axles projecting from the rods I and I,
to which the depressors are attached being made to work in the groove
between the cam faces; the transverse shafts H and H' are worked respectively
by means of the cam wheels 17 and 18. The shafts themselves are hung in
bearings made in the upper ends of the long levers 19 and 20, such ends
being made forked so as to contain the journal bearings for such shafts. The
shafts are prevented from rotating in their bearings unless force is applied to

page_text: effect such rotation by means of coiled springs 9, 9, Figure 2, operating in a
well understood way. There is however projecting from each shaft a short
radial arm h; the side of which when the shafts H and H¹ are in the
position of nearest approach to each other will bear in each case against the
end of a horizontal plate 21 and 22, Figure 1. So soon, however, as a
lateral movement is given to the shafts H and H' such radial arms bringing
up against the end of the plates referred to will cause the shafts to be rocked
in their bearings, and they will remain in the position to which they are turned
so long as the short radial arms h are under the influence of the plates 21 and
22, which will depend upon the length of the plates and the time that is
required for the transverse shafts H and H¹ to travel to and fro underneath
the same. The lateral movement referred to as given to the shafts H and H¹
is obtained for one direction from the cam wheels 17 and 18, projections from
the levers 19 and 20 engaging with properly shaped scores cut in the faces
of such wheels, and a spring 23 uniting the two levers gives the movement in
the reverse direction.
The various changes of direction of movement given to the bobbins requires
the introduction of a system of self-operating switches. A top view of these
switches is shown at 24, Figure 2; a lateral movement is required to be
given to these switches at the proper times so as to insure the
proper direction
to the movement of the bobbins; these switches are all operated by appropriate
cams upon the cam shaft.
Long levers 25, 26, and 27, and a similar lever upon the back showed
only in dotted lines, are severally pivoted to a cross tie of the frame near
the foot; from these levers projecting arms at any convenient point extend
so as to be within the influence of the cams which operate them in one
direction, the movement in the other direction being effected by springs..
Thus switch lever 25 is operated by cam 28 upon the side of cam wheel 10;
lever 26 by cam 29 upon the side of cam wheel 30, and lever 27 by cam 31
upon the side of cam wheel 10.
It has already been stated that at certain times the bobbin No. 1 reverses
its direction of movement; this is effected by placing upon the upright shaft
which derives its motion from the main shaft two loose gears which are alternately
locked fast with the shaft upon which they are placed, and will when so
locked induce by appropriate trains of gears motion in opposite directions to
the bobbin No. 1; when one of these wheels is locked the other is loose, and
vice versa. The lock is shown at 32, Figure 1, and it is raised or loosened so
as to engage with one or the other of the loose wheels mentioned by means of a
cam upon the face of the cam wheel 30, which alternately raises and allows

page_text: to fall the bent rod 33 whose longer arm passes through the hollow axis of
the shaft, and to whose shorter arm the locking bar 32 is attached.
In addition to the device employed in the machine described, there is also an
apparatus for making the number of "biers" upon the harness as it is formed,
and which is familiar in its construction and operation to those employed in
making this class of machinery, and contains no features of novelty. There is
also a supporter for the harness 34 whereto the cords j, j, around which the
heddles are formed are attached. This supporter is carried upward as the.
harness is knit by means of the screw rod 35, which passes through a nut 36
projecting from the side of the supporter. This screw rod is made to turn
around its axis a prescribed distance as each heddle is completed by any
convenient pivot and ratchet mechanism.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I claim, the machinery consisting of
bobbins 1 and 2, conveying wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, depressing bars G, I,
and I, fingers 1 and 2, and shafts H and H', when the same or the equivalents
thereof are combined together for the production of a loop harness, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
GEORGE HASELTINE.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (LS.)