IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOBBIN NET LACE
Year: 1832

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LANGHAM, of Leicester, Bobbin Net Lace Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,..
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Seventeenth day of December, in the third year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Langham, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority that I, the said John Langham, my exors, admors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Langham, 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 FOR
MANUFACTURING BOBBIN NET LACE;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso that I, the said John Langham, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be inrolled in His said 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 bad, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Langham, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to the

page_text: Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that
is to say):-
My Invention relates to that description of machinery known by the name
of Lever's hand machine; and it is well known that, according to the usual
construction of machines made on this principle, the lace is made by a suc-
cession of five motions, that is, by actuating the handles on the front landing
bar by the hands four times, the necessary movements are given to various
parts for producing the twisting of the threads round the series of points, as is
well understood, and by means of a fifth motion given to certain parts of the
machinery, by the workman pressing down a treadle with his foot, the motions
called the taking up and dividing are performed. Now by my Invention it
will not be necessary to stop the other parts of the machine for the purpose of
using the treadle to produce the taking up of the lace by the points, and the
dividing off the carriages at each half of the meshes, such taking up and
dividing being effected simultaneously with other of the movements of the
machines, my Invention consisting in certain improvements added to an
ordinary Lever's hand machine, as will be hereafter described.
'
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a section taken through the middle of an ordinary
Lever's hand machine. And what I would be understood to mean by "hand
machine" is a machine worked by the ordinary handles affixed to the front
landing bar, in contradistinction to a machine worked by a rotatory motion,
whether by the hand or mechanical power.
Figure 2 shows a back view of some of the parts also at the middle of the
machine.
In neither of the Figures have I thought it necessary to show more of the
parts than are necessary to represent my improvements, and the manner of
applying.
The construction of the Lever's hand machine is so well understood, and as
I do not alter the machine, or its various parts, except so far as relates to the
means of working the same, it will neither be necessary to show the machine
more fully by Drawings, nor to go into any description thereof further than to
show how my improvements are connected. In each of the Figures the same
letters refer to similar parts. a is an ordinary treadle, and is the only one
used in a machine having my improvements applied thereto. This treadle
only acts as an assistance to the handles on the landing bar, the foot relieving
the handles of part of the weight. 6 is a connecting rod to a lever c. This
lever c has its fulcrum at d on a perpendicular standard e affixed to the main

page_text: framing of the machine. f is what I call a lifter; it is attached to one end
of the lever c, as shown in the Drawing, and the object of this lifter f is to
lift out the parts which work the points, as will be fully described hereafter.
g is an axle, having bearings in the standard h, h. On to this axle are
affixed the wheels i; j (one of which (i) is shown separately in Figure 3), in
which Figure, as well as at Figure 1, it will be seen there is a fall k, the use
of which will be hereafter described, though it should be observed that the
falls k of the two wheels are set opposite to each other, so that as the shaft or
Z.is a
axle g is caused to revolve, the falls come alternately into action.
driving wheel affixed on the shaft or axle g. This driving wheel is equally
divided into eight teeth, and one of which teeth is forced forward each motion
of the handles by means of the driver m, which is worked by the lever c and
the treadle a, as will be hereafter described; and this driver m is at all times
kept up to the driving wheel 7 by means of the spring n, which is affixed to
the driver m and to the standard e, as seen in the Drawing. o is a connecting
rod or bar which connects the lever c to the cranked lever p. This cranked
lever p has its fulcrum at q on the standard e. These parts, it will be seen,
are connected by screws and nuts, but allowed to turn, and are capable of
adjustinent, in consequence of the slits cut in the various parts; and such is the
case throughout the machine where requisite, and are clearly shewn in the
Drawing, and will not, therefore, require to be again mentioned. The other
end of the cranked lever p is connected by means of a rod or bar r to the
lever s, which forms part of the ordinary driving tackle, such driving tackle
being connected in the ordinary manner with the front and back landing bars.
The lever s has its fulcrum at't in the bearing v, which is affixed to the back
rafter or tie u of the machine, and to the other end of the lever is affixed the
half jack, or the drawing tackle link w, which is also connected to the back
landing bar; in like manner as is usual in this description of machine. x, y,
These levers x, y, are
are two levers, having each of them a fulcrum at z.
connected to the spindle bars (which work the point bars) by means of
the connecting bars or rods A, A, and the back arms B, B. The, levers x, y,
being supported by the brackets c which descend from and are affixed to the
back rafter or tie u, and the levers x, y, are constantly pressed on by the
weights D, which act as counter-balance to the point bars. E, E, are two
friction wheels or trucks, one on each of the levers x, y.
having their axes fixed on the levers x, y, respectively, and the friction rollers
or trucks E, E, rest on the circumference of the two wheels i, j, and thus are
the levers x, y, kept to the positions shown in the Drawing till every fourth
movement of the handles (affixed to the front landing bar), when one or other
of the wheels E will be lowered down by the lifter f into its respetive fall k
These wheels,

page_text: on the wheels i or j; and by this alternate coming into position of the falls k,
one or other of the levers x, y, is permitted to be lowered by the lifter f, and
by this means one or other of the point bars is brought down at the proper
time to take up the twist which has been made, and the point bar, which is
done by the descent of either of the wheels E into its fall k, will be raised up
by means of the lifter f coming under the other friction wheel or truck, or on
the end of the lever x or y (whichever may be the one down at the time), and
thus take up the half mesh which has been formed. In the meantime, and
whilst the point bar is descending, the divide is accomplished by the following
means: On to the wheel i are affixed two inclined planes G, which alter-
nately come in contact with the tail of a bent lever H, which turns on a
fulcrum I on the standard J affixed to the main framing of the machine.
This lever H is actuated twice every complete revolution of the wheel i, and
the object thereof is to move a sliding bar on the back pusher bar (this
sliding bar is shown in Fig. 4), or to one end of the sliding bar is placed a
screw R, which forms a stop, and which is slided in the way of the half jack
w (which attaches the drawing tackle to the back landing bar, as before
described), the screw R on the sliding bar being pressed against by the half
jack w every fourth movement at the going down of the handles, and this
causes the back pusher bar to be forced inwards every fourth movement, and
at the same time the wheels E on one of the levers x, y, is being lowered into
its fall k for the purpose of bringing down one of the point bars. It should
be observed that the divide in the machine, when worked by my improve-
ments, is accomplished alternately by the back and front pusher bars; but
this does not form any part of my Invention. And in order to cause the front
pusher bar to push in at every fourth movement of the handles, I apply a
small wheel on the axle of the catch bar wheels. On this wheel is cut two
falls L (see Fig. 5). This wheel is caused to turn one eighth every motion of
the machine by the driver which works the catch bar wheels, consequently
one of the falls L receives a small truck or friction wheel M, which I attach
to the end of the front pusher bar, there being a small guide or shield N in
front of each fall L, which guides the truck or friction wheel M into the fall L,
and thus this pusher bar falls inwards every fourth movement, at the same time
the back pusher bar is forced in by the half jack w coming in contact with
the stop or screw R on the sliding bar, as above described, and according as
the carriages are situated they will be divided by the front or back pusher bar.
In dividing the carriages whilst they are in the front or back combs, there is a
hazard of the carriages (whilst in rapid motion) springing, and being passed
by the pushers. To prevent this effect I apply what I call safety bars in
connection with the pusher or dividing bars, whereby the whole of the carriages

page_text: are forced inwards till they are wholly or sufficiently within the combs, at
which period the pushers commence dividing the carriages by pushing every
alternate carriage.
.
Fig. 6 shows one of the carriages in one of the combs, and also one of the
pusher bars in section, they being full size. X is what I call the safety bar,
which runs from end to end of the pusher bar, and is supported just under the
pushers, as shewn in this Figure, by rods Y, which pass through the pusher
bar; and these rods have projecting heads, and are pressed at all times inwards
by the springs Z, Figs. 4 and 6, which are affixed on the backs of the pusher
bars. The bars X are also supported on the under side by projecting pieces W
affixed at proper intervals to the pusher bars. It should be observed that there
are stops at each end of the machine, that is, at the ends of each row of combs
against which the bar X comes at the time of making the divide, or otherwise
the bar X would rest against the tails of the combs, and might, by the constant
action against their tails, produce an injury to them. It will be evident
from this arrangement, that as the pusher bars fall in to make the divide, the
bar X will first come against the carriages and push the whole row till they
are wholly or sufficiently within the combs, at which time the bar X will
either rest against the tails of the combs or the stops before mentioned, which
will prevent the bar X proceeding further, whilst the pusher bar will be enable
to continue its motion by the springs Z permitting the rods affixed to the bar X
to protrude through the pusher bar, as will be evident on inspecting the
arrangement of parts; and, on the pusher bars receding from each other, the
springs Z will force the bars X again into the position shown in Figure 6, that
is, projecting slightly in front of the pushers, so that at all times, when the
divide is to take place, the whole of the carriages will be first driven into
the combs before the divide commences. I would observe that the number
of the rods Y and the springs Z will depend on the width of the machine, three
or four on each pusher bar I have found sufficient. In producing the divide at
each fourth motion of the machine, when worked by my improvements, it is
necessary that such fourth movements should be shorter than the other three
(that is to say,) that the landing bars should not descend to their old stops;
and in order to effect this I affix a small tail piece or stop on the back landing
bar, which is stopped at every fourth movement by coming in contact with
apparatus similar in construction to the half-stop tackle used in hand circular
.machines. O being a lever, having its fulcrum at P on the standard J. Q is
a stop hinged to the lever O, and rests against the middle tie bar, as shown in
Figure 1. This lever O is depressed each time that either of the wheels
is lowered into its fall k, on the wheel i or j, in the following manner :-K is

page_text: a piece of strong wire passing through the axle or shaft g in such manner as to
project on each side of that axle or shaft; therefore, as that axle or shaft turns
round, the projections K come successively in contact with and force down that
end of the lever O at each time that the divide is taking place; by thus depres-
sing the lever O the stop Q is raised, and comes under the tail piece or stop
affixed on the back landing bar, and thus prevents its falling to its regular
stops; but in the three first movements, the stop Q not being acted on, the
stop or tail piece affixed to the back landing bar passes over the stops Q, and
the landing bars are received on the old stops. It will be desirable here to
remark, that the front fetcher bars (when worked in the ordinary machine
without my improvements) rests on the top of the cogs of the catch bar wheels
at the time of making the divide from the back, and the front fetcher bar is
permitted to fall by the foot depressing the treadle, and thus causing the driver
to move the catch bar wheel sufficiently forward to allow of the fall of this
fetcher bar; but when worked according to my improvements, I make the back
wheel the same as the front one, so that the motion of depressing the treadle is
rendered unnecessary, as the wheels will be forced sufficiently forward by the
drivers as to admit of the falling in of the fetcher bars immediately after the
divide has been effected, and at the moment the tail piece or stop affixed on
the back landing bar comes in contact with the stop Q.
Having now described the nature of, my improvements, and the manner in
which they are applied to and connected with the ordinary parts of a Lever's
hand machine, I will now describe the action which will take place in producing
the various movements:-Supposing the workman to be sitting on his seat in
front of the machine, he will place a foot on the treadle for the purpose of
relieving the hands of part of the weight, permitting the foot to rise and
fall with the motion of the handles.
In Figure 1 the machine is represented in the position the parts would be
in at the time that one motion of the handles has been made (up and down)
after a divide has taken place, and this first motion has formed the cross or
traverse of the bobbin threads, the driver m. has forced the driver wheel / one
tooth, and the lifter f will have raised the wheel E on the lever x out of the
fall k in the wheel i, and thus have taken up the back point bar. The
next or second movement of the handles (up and down) will cause the
bobbins to twist round the warp threads as usual, and the driver m
drives the driving wheel another tooth. The next or third motion gives
another lap or turn of the bobbins round the warp threads, and the
driving wheel is driven another tooth by the driver m..
The next or
fourth motion of the handles completes the twist as usual, whilst at the

page_text: same time by the upward movement of the handles one of the inclined planes
on the wheel i comes in contact with the lever H which slides the sliding
bar (which, as aforesaid, is on the back pusher bar), and thus brings the screw
or stop R thereon opposite the half jack w. The wheel E on the lever y is
lowered down by the lifter f, and also at the same time one of the projec-
tions K on the shaft or axle g comes in contact with the lever O and depresses
it, and thus raises the stop Q to prevent the landing bars going down to their
original stops, as before described. By the bringing down of the handles to
complete the fourth motion the half jack w pushes against the stop R on the
sliding bar and forces the back pusher bar inwards, whilst the front pusher bar
is put in by a truck or friction wheel affixed at the end thereof, being guided
into one or other of the falls L in the wheel, Fig. 5, as before described, and
thus produces the divide on whichever side the carriages are placed," the
carriages being first driven sufficiently far enough into the combs by the bar X;.
and in lowering the handles the lifter m descends and lowers the lever y till its
wheel E is received by the fall k in the wheel j, and thus brings down the
front point bar. It will be perceived that the lifter, although it is worked up
and down at each motion of the handles, yet it only comes into action at proper
times for lowering and raising the point bars. At the fourth motion, as:
above described, the lifter f lowers the end of the lever y, and thus brings
down the front point bar, and by the next and first motion of the handles the
lever y will be raised, and this will put up the front point bars; and by this first
movement the wheel j will be placed in a similar position as the wheel i is
shewn to be in at Fig. 1, that is, the wheel E on the lever y will be just
raised out of the fall k of the wheel j, and consequently the wheels i, by, the
four next motions of the handles, will be brought to the position it is shewn
to be in at Fig. 1 of the Drawing, that is, one motion after a divide has been
effected and the back point bar put up.
It will be seen that the sinking levers for the point bars and their upright
support or tree, the treadle rods, and one of the treadles, heretofore used in
Lever's hand machine, are dispensed with when my improvements are applied.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of constructing and
applying the improvements, I would have it understood that I lay no claim
to the parts separately of which such combination is composed, some of the
parts being well known and in use, my Invention relating only to the particular
combination and application to the working of a "Lever's hand machine;"
and by this definition I mean a machine worked by hand and by the ordinary
handles affixed to the front landing bar, in contradistinction to
"Lever's
machine," which are worked by means of a rotatory motion communicated by

page_text: hand labour or other power; and I hereby confine my claim of Invention
of improvements in machinery for manufacturing bobbin net lace,-
First, to the combining and applying the lever c with the bent or cranked
lever p, and connecting them with a single treadle and with the ordinary
drawing tackle, as above described; and also in connecting and applying the
lifter and the driver m with the lever c, and also in the application of the
lever O and the stop Q, actuated by the rotation of the shaft or axle g, as
above described; and by such application and combination of these various
parts with an ordinary "Lever's hand machine" I am enabled to produce the
necessary movement to the machinery for effecting the last or finishing of the
twisting of the carriage or bobbin threads around the warp threads, the bring-
ing down one of the point bars for taking up the work, the producing a
dividing of the carriages, as before described; all such movements being
obtained to the machine by one (up and down) motion of the handles on the
front landing bar, the taking-up of the point bar being effected by the
lifter f, ou again raising the handles of the landing bar for commencing
the next or first movement of the machine, as above described. And,
Secondly, I claim the application of the safety bar X on the pusher bars, as
above described, whether in a Lever's hand machine, or in a Lever's rotatory
machine, where the carriages have to be divided by the common pushers at the
going down of the machine whilst the carriages are in the front or back combs.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Langham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the third year of the
reign of our Sovereign Lord William the Fourth, and in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.