CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Pollock, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 30th May 1865, and dated the 2nd December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Pollock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
December 1864.
I, WILLIAM POLLOCK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,.
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention essentially relates to certain improvements in the arrange-
ment of machinery or apparatus attached to the lay of power looms, and has
for its object the production of ornamental sprigs upon the groundwork of the
cloth, the production of which is carried out in a more simple and effectual
manner than hitherto, and it may be effected in various ways.
According to one modification of this Invention there is fixed to the front
of the lay a bar or strip of wood, metal, or other suitable material, the ends of

page_text: which are fitted so as to move in a pair of vertical guides; to each extremity
of this bar there are also attached light metallic bars connected by cords to the
lifting frame of the jacquard mechanism. Upon a shaft driven off the first
motion shaft of the loom there are fixed a pair of cams or wipers for actuating
a pair of "pick sticks," as the wipers strike a short lever which is arranged
upon the shaft carrying the arm for moving the "pick sticks" in such manner
that when the bar herein-before referred to is situated in its lower position in
the vertical guides, the action of the jacquard machine which causes the
lowering of the bar in these guides also lowers a pair of short levers upon the
vertical shaft until they pass over a key or feather which thus prevents them
from turning upon the shaft; thus when the wipers come into contact with
these levers in the last named position, the shafts upon which the levers are
situated are carried round with the arms during their contact with the wipers.
The lifting and lowering of the short levers is actuated by means of a cord or
wire connected to a lever on the jacquard machine, so that as the cards of the
jacquard machine are pierced to bring a needle or certain set of needles in
position to be lifted or not, the string communicating a similar motion or rest
to the short levers brings them in and out of gear with the shafts upon which
they are situated and effecting the motion of the "pick sticks;" accordingly,
thus the entire motion of the "pick sticks" is regulated from certain holes or
blanks made in the cards of the jacquard apparatus. To the end of the bar
fixed to the lay herein-before referred to there are fixed guides in which a
horizontal bar is capable of sliding; on that portion of the horizontal bar
situated between the guides, hangers are fixed with parallel openings in them
arranged longitudinally, through which pass a pair of sliding bars in which at
those parts that pass between the hangers slots are formed running partly in
a horizontal and partly in an inclined direction, guide pins are fixed into the
hangers and pass through these slotted holes in the guides, so that when the
guides are moved backwards and forwards they also move partly in a
horizontal and partly in a vertical direction owing to the peculiar formation of
the holes. The holes in the two guide bars are also formed in reverse
positions in the alternate bars, that is to say, the horizontal portion of the hole
being situated in the top part of the outer guide, the corresponding part of the
hole in the inner guide is situated at its lower part, the inclined parts of the
holes accordingly having their angles reversed. Another somewhat similar
set of holes are formed in these bars nearer to its central part through which
guide pins pass and are fixed into the bar first referred to. In the lower part
of the bar first referred to a series of rectangular opeuings are formed through
which those portions of the warp upon which the ornamental sprigs are to be

page_text: worked pass, as the bar by which they are formed is lowered. In the front
part of that portion of the bar left between these openings, horizontal guides
are formed in which are carried, so as to slide horizontally, small blocks
carrying bobbins, upon which is wound the weft for producing the ornamental
sprigs upon the cloth. The two sliding bars herein-before referred to have
fixed at their lower edge a series of forked catch bars, and these as the bars
are moved backwards and forwards as well as up and down catch upon
tappets fixed into the blocks carrying the bobbins moving them backwards and
forwards. The horizontal motion of the slide bar is produced by means of
the "pick sticks" actuated as herein-before described. When the ornamental
sprig is to be produced upon the ground work, the bar first referred to is
lowered and the portion of the warp upon which it is worked is shedded
in the rectangular divisions of the bar, the motion of the sliding bar then
passes the little blocks carrying the "sprig weft" through the shedded
portion of the warp, in which operation these blocks are moved by the forked
catches from one guide through the shedded part of the warp to the opposite
guide, when the sprig weft is run through as the bar first referred to is
lifted, the entire warp is shed, and the shuttle carrying the ground weft is shot
through. Thus it is evident that the pick of the sprig weft is run through
alternately with the ground weft, but it may be arranged to run through in
various successions as may at any time be required.
A second modification of that part of this Invention which relates to the
mechanism attached to the lay for producing the sprigs consists in substituting
for the slide bar mentioned in, the former modification a series of circular
frames for carrying the bobbins which hold the sprig weft. To the front part
of a bar fixed to the lay is attached a plate capable of being moved horizon-
tally, the lower edge of which has large serrations formed in it. Behind this
moveable plate there is fixed to the lower edge of the bar another plate in
which openings are formed to allow those portions of the warp in which the
sprigs are to be worked to be passed into when shedded for that purpose. In
this fixed plate the circular frames for carrying the bobbins are situated,
striking bars are formed on the circular frames, and as the outer plate is
moved backwards and forwards, its serrated portions coming into contact with
these bars cause the frame to revolve so that the bobbin being situated on a
spindle on one side of the frame when the latter is moved round, the frame is
passed through the shedded part of the weft to the other side in position to be
moved back for the return pick. There is a separate circular frame for each
bobbin and a separate bobbin for each sprig worked in the width of the cloth.
The arrangement of the loom and the jacquard machine, and the other parts

page_text: of the loom for actuating this sprig working mechanism are similar in this to
that described in reference to the former modification. Instead, however, of
áctuating this mechanism by means of the jacquard machine it may be effected
by means of a double shuttle box, the ends of the sliding bar being situated in
the top shuttle box it can be lowered to work the sprigs when required by
means of the mechanism usually employed for producing the alternating
motion of a double shuttle box, in which case the pick sticks" which drive
the shuttle would also actuate the frame carrying the sprig weft bobbins. In
addition to using the apparatus herein-before described for working ornamental
sprigs, it may also be used for producing colonnades and various other patterns
upon the ground either in combination with a jacquard loom or an ordinary
"heddle loom," and when with the latter, its vertical motion for bringing the
bobbins into position for passing through the shedding of the weft is effected
by an ordinary star wheel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Pollock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
POLLOCK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Pollock, Her special license that I, the said William Pullock, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Pollock, 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 TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Pollock, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should

page_text: 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 William Pollock, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, 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 essentially to certain improvements in the arrange-
ment of machinery or apparatus attached to the lay of power looms, and has
for its object the production of ornamental sprigs upon the groundwork of the
cloth, the production of which is carried out in a more simple and effectual
manner than hitherto, and it may be effected in various ways.
According to one modification of this Invention there is fixed to the front of
the lay a bar or strip of wood, metal, or other suitable substance, the ends of
which are fitted so as to move in a pair of vertical guides, to each extremity
of this bar there are also attached light metallic bars connected by cords to
the lifting frame of the jacquard machine. Upon a shaft driven off the first
motion shaft of the loom, there are fixed a pair of cams or wipers for actuating
a pair of "pick sticks," as the wipers strike a short lever which is arranged
upon the shaft, carrying the arm for moving the "pick sticks," in such manner
that when the bar herein-before referred to is situated in its lower position in
the vertical guides, the action of the jacquard machine, which causes the
lowering of the bar in these guides, also lowers a pair of short levers upon the
vertical shaft, until they pass over a key or feather which then prevents them
from turning upon the shaft, thus when the wipers come into contact with
these levers in the last-named position, the shafts upon which the levers are
situated are carried round with the arms during their contact with the
wipers. The lifting and lowering of the short levers is actuated by means of
a cord or wire connected to the jacquard machine, so that as the cards of the
jacquard machine are pierced to bring a needle or certain set of needles in
position to be lifted or not, the string communicating a similar motion or rest
to the short levers, brings them in and out of gear with the shafts upon which
they are situated, and effecting the motion of the. "pick sticks" accordingly,
thus the entire motion of the "pick sticks". is regulated from certain holes or
blanks made in the cards of the jacquard apparatus. To the end of the bar,
fixed to the lay, herein-before referred to, there are fixe: guides in which a
horizontal bar is capable of sliding; on that portion of the horizontal bar,

page_text: situated between the guides, hangers are fixed, with parallel openings in them
arranged longitudinally, through which pass a pair of sliding bars, in which
at those parts that pass between the hangers, slots are formed running partly
in a horizontal and partly in an inclined direction, guide pins are fixed into
the hangers and pass through these slotted holes in the guides, so that when
the guides are moved backwards and forwards, they also move partly in a
horizontal and partly in a vertical direction owing to the peculiar formation of
the holes. The holes in the two guide bars are also formed in reverse
positions in the alternate bars, that is to say, the horizontal portion of the
bole being situated in the top part of the outer guide, the corresponding part
of the hole in the inner guide is situated at its lower part, the inclined parts
of the holes accordingly having their angles reversed. Another somewhat
similar set of holes are formed in these bars nearer to its central part, through
which guide pins pass, and are fixed into the bar first referred to.
In the
lower part of the bar first referred to a series of rectangular openings are
formed, through which those portions of the warp upon which the ornamental
sprigs are to be worked pass, as the bar by which they are formed is lowered.
In the front part of that portion of the bar left between these openings,
horizontal guides are formed, in which are carried so as to slide horizontally,
small blocks carrying bobbins, upon which is wound the weft for producing
the ornamental sprigs upon the cloth. The two sliding bars herein-before
referred to, have fixed at their lower edge a series of forked catch bars, and
these as the bars are moved backwards and forwards, as well as up and down,
catch upon tappets fixed into the blocks carrying the bobbins, moving them
backwards and forward. The horizontal motion of the slide bar is produced
by means of the "pick sticks" actuated as herein-before described. When the
ornamental sprig is to be produced upon the groundwork, the bar first referred
to is lowered and the portion of the warp upon which it is worked is shedded
in the rectangular divisions of the bar. The motion of the sliding bars then
pass the little blocks, carrying the "sprig weft" through the shedded portion
of the warp, in which operation these blocks are moved by the forked catches
from one guide through the shedded part of the warp to the opposite guide;
when the "sprig weft" is run through, as the bar first referred to is lifted, the
entire warp is shed; and the shuttle carrying the ground weft is shot through,
thus it is evident that the pick of the sprig weft is run through alternately
with the ground weft, but it may be arranged to run through in various
successions as may at any time be required.
A second modification of that part of this Invention which relates to the
mechanism attached to the lay for producing the sprigs, consist in substituting

page_text: for the slide bar, mentioned in the former modification, a series of circular
frames for carrying the bobbins, which hold the "sprig weft;" to the front part
of a bar fixed to the lay is attached a plate capable of being moved horizontally,
the lower edge of which has larger serrations formed in it. Behind this
moveable plate, there is fixed to the lower edge of the bar another plate, in
which openings are formed to allow those portions of the warp in which the
sprigs are to be worked to be passed into when shedded for that purpose. In
this fixed plate the circular frames for carrying the bobbins are situated,
striking bars are formed on the circular frames, and as the outer plate is moved
backwards and forwards, its serrated portions coming into contact with these
bars cause the frames to revolve, so that the bobbin being situated on a spindle
on one side of the frame, when the latter is moved round, the former is passed
through the shedded part of the weft to the other side in position to be moved
back for the return pick. There is a separate circular frame for each bobbin,
and a separate bobbin for each sprig worked in the width of the cloth. The
arrangement of the loom and jacquard machine and the other parts of the
loom for actuating the sprig working mechanism are similar in this to that
described in reference to the former modification. Instead, however, of
actuating this mechanism by means of the jacquard machine it may be effected
by means of a double shuttle box, the ends of the sliding bar being situated in
the top shuttle box, it can be lowered to work the sprigs when required, by
means of the mechanism usually employed for producing the alternating motion
of a double shuttle box, in which case the "pick sticks" which drive the
shuttle would also actuate the frame carrying the "sprig weft" bobbins. In
addition to using the apparatus herein-before described, for working ornamental
sprigs, it may also be used for producing colonnades and various other patterns
upon the ground, either in combination with a jacquard loom, or an ordinary
"heddle loom," and when with the latter its vertical motion for bringing the
bobbins into position for passing through, the shedding of the weft is effected
by an ordinary star wheel.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
reference being had to the several Figures upon the two explanatory Sheets of
Drawings which I have hereunto appended, and in which similar parts are
indicated by corresponding letters of reference, that is to say--
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a front elevation of a power loom for weaving " sprig
muslins" with my improvements attached thereto. Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the same showing more particularly the system or arrangement of

page_text: mechanism by which one modification of my said Invention is actuated. On
Sheet 2, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional elevation and front eleva-
tion drawn on a large scale of those parts of the herein-before mentioned figures
which constitute the chief features of my improvements, and which parts are
herein-after more fully referred to. In Figures 1 and 2 the framing of the
loom marked A is of the ordinary rectangular kind, in its upper part is carried
the prime motion shaft B, actuated by means of the belt C passing over the
pulleys C'. Off this shaft B the second shaft D is driven by means of the
spur wheels E more particularly seen in Figure 2. This second shaft D
actuates the vertical shaft F, from which the jacquard machine is driven, as
will be seen on referring to Figure 1, the jacquard machine itself being one of
the double lift order. As the general arrangement and construction of the
loom itself shown on the accompanying Sheet 1 of my Drawings is similar to
many in ordinary use, I shall only herein-after, refer to such parts of it as may
be necessary. to render intelligible the advantages and method of working my
present Invention which is attached thereto, as all other parts will be easily
understood in reference to the Drawings.
. The cards of the jacquard machine are as usual cut in accordance with the
pattern to be produced on the cloth, and when the sprigs which are worked or
put in by means of my present. Invention are to appear, the card then on the
barrel has a hole or holes cut in it to allow the needle or needles to which the
cords or wires G, Figures 1 and 2 on both Sheets of Drawings are attached,
to be put on the "branders" H, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, so as to be lifted
by them as they rise. The lower ends of the cords or wires G are attached
to the levers I (shown in all the Figures on both Sheets of Drawings) keyed
on the shafts I', so that as the wires are lifted. the movement brings the
shorter levers on the same shafts I. in contact with the boss of the antifriction
roller I, and lifts it out of gear with the picking shaft K, which is thus left
stationary. At the same time that, the levers I are lifted by the jacquard
machine, other wires or cords L (shown in all the Figures) attached to levers
on the shaft L'are lifted, this motion in turn depresses corresponding levers
L² on the opposite side of the same shaft L', more particularly seen in
Figure 2, on Sheet 1, and on. a larger and more distinct scale in Figure 2,
Sheet 2. The levers L' are connected by the strings L³ to other levers M on
the shaft M', placed above the jacquard machine, so that when the levers L'
are depressed a similar effect is communicated to the higher levers. M, from
which set of levers. the" sprig frame" N is suspended by the strings or wires
N. The frame: N, by means of which the sprigs. are worked on the cloth
consists mainly of two bars or plates a¸ and a¹, Figure 2, Sheet 2, the outer

page_text: of
one of which, a', is moveable relatively to the other a, that is to say, it is
moved horizontally upon a, suitable slots being formed in a', and through these
pins on which it slides and connecting it to a pass. Between the two plates
a and a small frames 6 of a circular form are held, and these (when the outer
plate a¹ is moved) rotate in the openings left for that purpose. The parts
the warp on which the sprigs are to be worked are shed by the jacquard
machine in places in immediate proximity to these frames b, so that as the
frames are revolved backwards and forwards by the sliding of the outer plate
the yarn which is carried on the small bobbin c fixed thereon is passed through
the warp and thus the sprig is worked.
Having now described those parts of the loom which are essential to the
rendering of my present Invention intelligble, I shall now proceed
point
out the manner of operating with the same to be as follows:-When the
loom is in motion, and the ground only of the cloth is being worked; the sprig:
forming apparatus is held up by means of the weight O, which raises the
opposite side of the lever during the period the sprig working mechanism
remains inactive, but when the sprigs are to be formed on the cloth the
jacquard cards being arranged (as will be understood by the practical weaver).
so that the cords or wires G and L are lifted, the sprig working frame is.
lowered, one of its ends being struck by one of the "pick sticks," the small
bobbins are shot through those portions of the warp on which the sprig is to
my
formed. It must be remembered that for every one or more picks of the
sprig frame making the sprig shot, the shuttle must be shot across one or
more times to form the ground. The number of movements of the sprig:
frame will depend very much upon the size of the yarn with which the sprigs.
are being worked. Upon the movements of the shuttle and sprig frame:
relatively with one another depends to a great extent the value of Iuven->
tion, and as it is very important that these relative motions should be carefully
observed when my Invention is carried into practice, I shall now explain at:
more length one method of working the shuttle and sprig frame in the: same:
loom. As herein-before described when it is desired to form the sprigs on the
cloth, the sprig frame is lowered means of the jacquard apparatus, and
when lowered one of the "pick sticks" strikes one end of the moveable plate
or bar of the sprig frame, this causes one shot of the sprigs to be worked
(and in the present instance, considering only one shot of the sprigs to be
put in,) the shuttle is immediately afterwards run across for the ground shot,'
the sprig frame being lifted to clear the race for the shuttle to pass along;
after the ground shot has been made the sprig frame is again dropped by
means of the jacquard machine. as herein-before explained, and another

page_text: "sprig shot" is made, the frame is again lifted and a ground shot run through,
and so on in succession for alternate sprig shots and ground shots. But when
two or more sprig shots are put in for every two or more ground shots,
the moveable bar of the sprig frame is struck at alternate ends for any number
of throws for the sprig yarn, and is only lifted when the succession of throws
is completed, after which the ground shot is run through as many times as
may be desired. A double shuttle box being now used at one or both ends
of the loom so that the shuttle may be removed from the action of the "pick
sticks" during the time that the sprig frame is being struck, as it is of course
necessary that the sprig frame and shuttle should not be struck by the "pick
stick" simultaneously, the mechanism is arranged (when the sprig shot and
ground shot are being worked alternately) so that the shuttle shall be in that
box opposite to the side on which the sprig frame is struck by the "pick stick,"
and the pick stick on that opposite side stands still during the time that the
"
and shuttle are
sprig frame" is struck, the jacquard machine having lifted the "striker"
on the picking shaft K out of gear in the manner herein-before described,
so that the latter remains stationary; as soon however as the sprig frame is
lifted, the pick stick on the side where the shuttle is placed is moved, and the
shuttle shot across to the opposite side, and if the sprig frame
being worked alternately, the sprig frame is now lowered and struck by the
same stick as that by which the shuttle was last shot across. It is obvious
that the working of the sprig frame with the shuttle is susceptible of many
variations, and which I need not herein explain as they will at once be
apparent to the practical weaver. It is necessary that the cloth should not
be wound on to the beam during the time that the sprigs are being worked,
as they fill only small portions of the entire width of the cloth, and if the
cloth were wound on the beam during the time that the sprig shots are being
made, intervals or spaces would be left which would be injurious to the
appearance of the cloth, the cloth then is only. wound on to the beam whilst
the ground shots are being run through, the winding mechanism being
thrown out of gear during the time the sprigs are being worked by means
of the lever acting upon the cord or wire e, which in turn pulls the pall fout
of gear.
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 practically
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, the application of the sprig
frame to work relatively with the shuttle in power looms, and the method of

page_text: raising and lowering the sprig frame by means of the jacquard machine as
herein-before described, or any mere modification of the said arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Pollock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
WILLIAM POLLOCK. (L.S.)