IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Collier, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 3rd September 1878, and dated the 6th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Collier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1878.
JOHN COLLIER, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gentleman.
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention relates to improved apparatus for operating the shuttle boxes of
looms where two or more shuttles are usod. These boxes are supported by a lever
provided with the usual counterbalance weight or spring. Motion is given to this
lever by a connecting rod fixed at its upper end to a vertical sliding plate. To this
vertical plate is applied a second plate carrying projecting stepped surface, thus,
the upper and lower surfaces of each step representing one shuttle box.
The stepped plate is arranged to slide endwise or transversely across the vertical
plate attached to the connecting rod, and the extent of this horizontal side move-
ment is at each pick controlled by jacquard or other pattern surface, so as to prevent
any step required in position to be acted on above and below by two reciprocating
clamps or feelers in such manner as to bring the corresponding shuttle box level
with the shuttle race for each pick of weft, as desired.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Collier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th September
1878.
JOHN COLLIER, of Halifax, in the County of York, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My Invention relates to improved apparatus for operating the shuttle boxes of
looms, when two or more shuttles are used. These boxes are supported by a lever
provided with the usual counterbalance weight or spring. Motion is given to this
lever by a connecting rod fixed at its upper end to a vertical sliding plate. To this
vertical plate is applied a second plate carrying projecting stepped surfaces, the
upper and lower surfaces of each step representing one shuttle box.
The stepped plate is arranged to slide endwise or transversely across the vertical
plate (attached to the connecting rod), and the extent of this horizontal slide move-
ment is at each pick controlled by jacquard or other pattern surface so as to present
any step required in position to be acted on above and below by two reciprocating
clamps or feelers in such manner as to bring the corresponding shuttle box level
with the shuttle race for each pick of weft, as desired.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, in order that the
same may be fully understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illus-
trative thereof.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of part of a loom with my apparatus attached.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the apparatus detached.
Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shews the method of working the feelers or clamps.
A is the vertical plate; B, the transverse sliding plate having projecting steps
1, 2, 3, 4, 5; the upper and lower surfaces of each step represent one shuttle box.
At each revolution of the crank shaft, when rising and falling boxes are employed
on both sides of the loom, the stepped plate B has a sliding motion imparted to it
in one direction by tappet and lever or other like contrivance operated from the
crank or tappet shaft in any convenient manner, and is controlled in the other
direction by the spring C. D and E are reciprocating clamps or feelers closed by
tappets F and opened by spring G (see Fig. 4).
The clamps or feelers D and E closing upon one or other of the steps 1, 2, 3, 4,
or 5 will by depressing or raising (as the case may be) the plates A, B, and con-
necting rod H move the balance lever J and bring the required shuttle box in line
with the shuttle race, as required. The order in which the boxes are placed in
position is determined by the jacquard.
When five shuttle boxes are used, I employ four fingers a of various lengths. These
fingers are held by retaining catches b connected by harness cords c with the jacquard,
so that as one of the catches b is selected and lifted by the jacquard, a' longer or
shorter finger a is liberated and interposed against the shoulder e so as to arrest the
return spring movement of the plate B, and so bring the corresponding step between
the operating clamps D, E. A reciprocating stud g brings back the fingers a into
connection again with the retaining catches b.
When no finger a is interposed, the shoulder e comes against the fixed stop d
which represents the fifth step and shuttle box. The sliding shoulder or projection
e is connected to the plate B by pin f, capable of rising and falling through an eye
in the end of the projection e.
In place of the jacquard (with fingers a and retaining catches b) other pattern
surfaces may be employed, if desired, to regulate the sliding movement and position
of plate B and its projecting steps, as, for instance, the shoulder or projection e may

page_text: be provided with pins of various lengths operated on direct by a succession of
suitably perforated cards or plates.
Having thus fully described and illustrated the nature of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is the raising
and lowering of shuttle boxes in looms by means of connecting rod H carrying
sliding stepped plate B, governed by jacquard or other pattern surface, and operated
by clamps D, E, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, the said John Collier hath hereunto set his hand and
seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
J. E. WALSH,
Mechanical Draughtsman to
Walter Brierley,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
JNO. COLLIER. (L.S.)