IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WEAVING FIGURED FABRICS, WHICH MACHINERY OR APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES, FOR WHICH JACQUARD APPARATUS IS OR MAY BE EMPLOYED
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CORRY, of Belfast, in the Kingdom of Ireland, Damask Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Second day of January, in the fourteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Corry, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said John Corry, my exors, admors, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said John Corry, my exors, admors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
WEAVING FIGURED FABRICS, WHICH MACHINERY OR APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES, FOR WHICH JACQUARD APPARATUS IS OR MAY BE EMPLOYED;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
John Corry, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in
Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and
by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
annear

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said John Corry, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Weaving
Figured Fabrics, which Machinery or Apparatus is also applicable to other
Purposes for which Jacquard Apparatus is or may be employed,. relates to a
novel or improved construction and mode of working the Jacquard apparatus.
By my improvements this apparatus, whereby the pattern or design is produced
on the fabric, is very much simplified in construction, and consequently is not
only less costly, but works much more easily than the ordinary kind of Jacquard
apparatus.
The general objects of my improvements are, to dispense with the necessity
of painting or drawing the pattern or design on ruled pattern paper, then read-
ing the pattern therefrom and cutting it on cards, and afterwards attaching the
said cards together in the form of an endless chain, as is now generally the
case. In fact, the cards, the reading and cutting machines, and consequently
the operation of lacing the cards together, are all dispensed with, and in place
of perforated cards I employ perforated metallic sheets, on which is pasted the
design or pattern intended to be produced on the fabric. The pattern is drawn
or sketched upon a piece of ordinary paper, and pasted on the perforated
metallic sheet; or a piece of plain paper or parchment may be pasted on the
metallic sheet, and the pattern or design afterwards traced thereon; then all
those parts of the design which require to be perforated are punched out by
the hand with punches of various kinds. By this means the pattern is as dis-
tinctly represented on the perforated metallic sheets as it was formerly on the
ordinary ruled pattern paper, and the perforated metallic sheet can be at once
placed in the machine, and used to produce the pattern on the fabric. The
construction, arrangement, and mode of working the horizontal and vertical
wires or needles which are acted upon by the perforated metallic pattern, are
considerably modified, so as to render the Jacquard apparatus much simpler
than heretofore.
Having thus given a brief account of the general objects of my Invention, I
will now proceed to describe more in detail the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect.
The perforated metallic sheet which I employ, in place of the ordinary chain
of perforated cards, is prepared in the following manner :-A sheet of thin

page_text: zinc or other metallic substance is perforated by mechanical means with
regular lines of holes, in somewhat the same manner as common perforated
zinc used for window blinds is made. The holes must of course be of such
dimensions and width apart as to suit the width of machines to which the
sheet is to be adapted. The sheet of zinc or other metal is to be perforated
in straight parallel rows, and the holes to be made therein for the arrangement
shewn and hereafter described, I prefer to be about one sixteenth of an inch
apart from centre to centre, and the rows of holes the same distance apart, so
that the sheet will be perfectly covered with holes equidistant from each other,
and one sixteenth of an inch apart, both horizontally and vertically; these
distances may however be altered, if required, to suit other machines. Along
each side of the sheet is perforated a row of larger holes, about one eighth of
an inch distant from each other; these holes are intended for the pins or points
of ยู roller, whereby the sheet of zinc (when adapted to the Jacquard appa-
ratus) may be guided and moved forward in a regular and accurate manner;
and by the rotation of this roller a row of holes in the perforated pattern is
brought immediately before the ends of the horizontal needles hereafter
described. On a sheet of perforated zinc, or other metal thus prepared, a
sheet of paper, parchment, or other similar substance, is pasted, and on this
paper or parchment is sketched, traced, or drawn the design or pattern
intended to be produced on the fabric. This being done, the paper or parch-
ment is rubbed over with a burnisher or similar instrument, in order that the
marks of the holes in the metal sheets may be shewn on the surface of the
paper; this being done, the outline of the pattern or design is punched out,
that is, the holes of the metal sheet covered with the pattern or design are
perforated by means of punches, and the perforated sheet is then ready for use
in the machine. In order to facilitate the punching operation it will be found
convenient to combine several punches together, so that from one to twenty or
more holes inay be made at one blow, when the nature of the work will admit
of it. This is a matter of convenience, which may, however, be left to the
operator, as the same effect may be produced by the use of a single punch, tho
only object of employing several in combination being to save time in the
punching operation.
My improvements in the construction and arrangement of the Jacquard
apparatus, which is intended to be operated upon by the perforated metallic
pattern above described, are shewn in the accompaning Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of a Jacquard apparatus constructed
according to my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, as seen
from above. Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation, some of the parts being shewn

page_text: in section; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the principal working
parts.
The same letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the Figures.
The stationary framework which supports the principal working parts is
shewn at a, a, a, a, a, a.
At each end of the shaft c, which is mounted in
bearings at the back of the machine, there is a lever or arm b, whereby
the brander, and other parts of the machine connected therewith, are lifted,
when required, by means of the tail lever f, which is mounted on the shaft c;
when this lever f is depressed the outer end of the lever b is brought against
tho under side of the bowl or antifriction roller d, at the end of the comb or
guide reed e, e, through which the vertical wires a¹ are passed. The brander
or griff, whereby the vertical wires a¹ are lifted when required, is shewn at 9g, g,
and is connected with the comb or rod e, e, by tubes p, p, which run on fixed
vertical rods o, o, at each end of the machine. The perforated metallic
pattern is shewn at h, h, Figs. 1 & 2. It passes over (breast rollers or
shafts i, i, at the back of the machine, and is moved forward by the roller k,
which is furnished with teeth or points (as shewn in the Drawing). These
teeth enter the large holes made along the sides of the metallic sheet, and the
pattern is kept in its place on the roller k by means of the pressing roller /,
and by the rotation of the roller & the perforated pattern is carried into and
through the machine. In Fig. 4, e, e¹, are the horizontal needles, which are
acted on by the perforated metallic sheet h. These needles e, e, are mounted
in a frame composed of two brass guide plates c and d, in which are made
holes to receive the horizontal needles e¹, and are secured in any convenient
manner to the bar i¹. In constructing this part of the apparatus care must be
taken that the holes for the horizontal needles should be accurately drilled
in the guide plates at equal distances, so that each horizontal needle should be
exactly opposite to one of the perforations in the metallic sheet, and also to its
corresponding upright hooked wire a'. The holes in the back guide plate d'
are countersunk, in order to receive the heads of the needles. The vertical
wires a', a¹, are hooked at one of their upper ends, and being bent round some-
what in the form of the letter U they have a certain amount of elasticity, and
therefore act as springs, so that their booked ends are always kept against the
surface of the guide plate d', except when any of them are pushed back by the
needles e¹, as shewn in Fig. 4. The wires a¹, a', are further held in their
relative position by means of the guide pins a, which are passed through holes
made in the plates d¹ and 1, and are drawn into a strip or block of wood h',
immediately behind the latter. The parts t¹ and h¹ are secured to the bar y',
and this bar is connected with the bar 7 by means of bolts, nuts, or screws f¹, f.

page_text: The lower ends of the bent wires a¹ rest upon and are supported by a pair
of bars w, w, between which the springs k¹ of the harness pass, as shewn in
Fig. 4.
In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shewn a modification of the arrangement shewn
in Fig. 4, the principal difference being that the bent wires a¹ are arranged in
two rows, one behind the other, the needles e' still remaining in a single row.
The needles for operating on the back row of wires are of course of greater
length than the others, but act against the wires precisely in the same way as
is shewn in Fig. 4. The advantage of this arrangement is, that I am enabled
to employ stronger bent wires a¹ than if they are all arranged in one row.
The pressing roller 1, and also the roller k, which carries forward the perforated
metallic pattern, are mounted in bearings in a sliding frame j, j, and are
furnished with adjusting screws 1, 2, for the purpose of bringing the rollers k
and 7 together, and adjusting the metallic pattern. A reciprocating or back-
ward and forward motion is communicated to the sliding frame j, j, in its
bearings 4, 7, by a bowl n, which is connected with the brander or griff, as
seen best in the plan view, Fig. 2. A socket m is secured on the sliding
frame j, j, by screws or otherwise, and this socket m carries a slotted frame m¹
in which the bowl 22 works as the brander or griff is moved up and down.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Upon depressing the lever fat
the front of the machine the levers 6 will act against the bowl d, and raise
it, and the comb or reed e, together with the hollow rods p, and brander or
griff g, in a vertical direction on the fixed rods o, o. By this motion the
bowl n (which is connected to the brander or griff) will be raised in the slot
of the frame m', and by the peculiar form of the slot the frame m¹ and
the socket m, and consequently the sliding frame j, j, will be pushed
back, and the bent wires a¹ which have been selected will be carried
up by the griff. When the latter descends the bowl n will pull for-
ward the sliding frame and its appendages, and by that means bring the
surface of the perforated metallic pattern on the roller k against the ends
of the needles e', which project through the guide plate c', Fig. 4. It will now
be understood that when the perforated pattern is brought against the ends of
the needles e', such of the latter as happen to be opposite to holes in the
metallic sheet will pass through and remain stationary, while those needles
which are opposite to unperforated parts of the sheets will be pushed back, as
shewn in Fig. 4. Upon the brander or griff again rising, the griff g will come
against the hooks of those wires a' which have not been pushed back by the
needles e', and will carry them up, as shewn at A, Fig. 3, while the other
wires remain down, as seen at B in the same Figure. When the brander

page_text: descends again the bowl n pushes back the slotted frame m', the socket m, and
sliding frame j, with the roller k, and the metallic pattern, as before men-
tioned, and by this backward motion the ratchet wheel G on the axle of the
roller will be brought against the fixed pall s, and thereby pushed round one
tooth, and thus bring another line of holes in the metallic pattern opposite
the ends of the needles c¹, and then the same operations are repeated, and so
on until the whole pattern is completed.
Having now described my several improvements, I would here observe that
the apparatus may be adapted, not only to any loom for figured weaving to
which the ordinary Jacquard apparatus is applicable, but it may be applied in
place of the ordinary Jacquard to lace machinery which is employed for
making figured lace. The mode of applying the ordinary Jacquard apparatus
to lace machinery for figuring lace being well known, and as my improved
Jacquard apparatus is applied in precisely the same manner, it is unnecessary
to give any detailed explanation of the mode of application.
I would also observe that an apparatus to be worked by means of perfo-
rated cards, in the same manner as the Jacquard apparatus, has been some-
times employed in connection with machinery for printing yarns or warps for
the manufacture of carpets and other figured fabrics, the use of such appa-
ratus being to select the stamps whereby the warp or yarn is printed with
divers colors according to the pattern. My improvements are equally appli-
cable to this purpose, and in fact to any purpose where the ordinary Jacquard
apparatus can be employed.
In conclusion, I would observe that although I have described the best
means with which I am acquainted for carrying my several improvements into
effect, I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly to the precise arrange-
ment or construction of parts herein shewn and described, as they may doubt-
less be varied without departing from the nature and object of my Invention;
but that which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,
is,―
First, the use and application (as a substitute for the cards of an ordinary
Jacquard apparatus) of a perforated metallic sheet covered with paper, parch-
ment, or other similar material, on which is printed, drawn, or traced the
pattern or design intended to be produced on the figured fabric, and which
pattern or design, so painted, drawn, or traced on the paper, parchment, or
other similar material, is afterwards punched out by means of suitable punches,
and thereby holes or perforations are produced, which auswer the sanc
purpose as the holes punched in the ordinary cards.

page_text: Second, I claim the general arrangement of the Jacquard apparatus shewn
and described, whereby I am enabled to arrange in a single row, or not more
than two rows, the bent wires to which the harness is attached, in place of
such wires being arranged in several rows, as has hitherto been the case.
I also claim the combination of the needles e with tho bent wires a', or any
modification thereof in which the heads or ends of the needles are made to
bear against the bent wires, such bent wires being at all times kept in contact
with the heads or ends of the needles by the bent portion thereof acting as a
spring.
I further claim the exclusive use of needles which act by their heads
or ends against the hooked wires from which the harness of a Jacquard loom
is suspended, instead of employing needles with a loop or eye thereon, or
attached thereto, to receive the stems of the hooked wires, as is usually the
case.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Corry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One