IMPROVEMENTS TA BAD WEAKING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Buchanan, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
TA BAD WEAKING"
Sealed' the 18th March 1855, and dated the 15th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Buchanan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th November 1854.
I, JAMES BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING" to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to some extent to certain arrangements of machinery
for which Letters Patent for England were granted to David Anderson and
James Berrie, both of the City of Glasgow, in Scotland, Manufacturers, for
"certain machinery for making a new or improved of heddles or healds,"
on or about the Twenty-fifth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-five, and consists of various modifications whereby the original machi-
nery is rendered more fully available for the manufacture of heddles or healds,
as well as of other improved-details, wholly new. The machinery employed for

page_text: the manufacture of heddles or healds, according to this process, consists of a
light frame, on which is fitted up a rotatory apparatus, carrying bobbins of
thread or yarn, for the purpose of forming the heddles or healds, in conjunction
with other threads or yarns, manipulated by the attendant for aiding in the
tycing or knotting up of the threads. In the original form of machine the
rotatory shaft carrying the yarn bobbins or holders was actuated by a treadle
and fly wheel movement; but in the new arrangement, this shaft, together
with the whole of the mechanically actuated details, is driven by power from a
continuous mover, à belt and pulley or other convenient 'movement being
adopted for the necessary engagement and disengagement of the driving and
driven parts. Hence a rapid and steady action is secured, rendering the
machine very far superior to the original arrangement as regards accuracy and
speed of production. A continuous and simultaneously progressive movement
is also given to the backing or rib cords by the agency of toothed gearing,
instead of the uncertain contrivance of ratchet gear, in which the missing of
teeth frequently occurred. In the new plan the use of worm wheel gearing
renders the action certain, whilst the dividing off is always perfectly regular.
A change wheel contrivance is also adopted for regulating the number of loops
or splits in a given length of heald, so that the fineness or coarseness of the
porter and likewise of the count may be varied by the mere substitution of
a wheel.
The sliding frame for securing the attachment of the heald yarn at the place
of contact with the rib cord, either by a series of stitches or other contrivance,
is actuated intermittently by a rotating cam shaft. The tensional action on
the backing or rib cord may be kept up by the adoption of an india-rubber or
other elastic medium, between which and a flat surface the cord passes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters. Patent, filed
by the said James Buchanan in the Great-Seal-Patent Office on the
15th-May-1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman,.
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her 3

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Buchanan, Her special license that I, the said James Buchanan,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Buchanan, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
5.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, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF HEDDLES OR HEALDS FOR WEAVING," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Buchanan, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should 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 James Buchanan, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to some extent to certain arrangements of machi-
nery for which Letters Patent for England were granted to David Anderson
and James Berrie, both of the City of Glasgow, in Scotland, Manufacturers, for
"certain machinery for making a new or improved description of heddles
or healds," on or about the Twenty-fifth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-five, and consists of various modifications whereby the
original machinery is rendered more fully available for the manufacture'
heddles or healds, as well as of other improved details, wholly new. The
machinery. employed for the manufacture of heddles or healds, according to this
process, consists of a light frame, on which is fitted up a rotatory apparatus
carrying bobbins of thread or yarn, for the purpose of forming the heddles or
healds, in conjunction with other threads or yarns, manipulated by the atten-
dant for aiding in the tyeing or knotting up of the threads. In the original
form of machine the rotatory shaft carrying the yarn bobbins or holders was
actuated by a treadle and fly wheel movement; but in the new arrangement,
his shaft; together with the whole of the mechanically actuated details, is driven
by power from a continuous mover, a belt and pulley or other convenient move-
nent being adopted for the necessary engagement and disengagement of the
Iriving and driven parts. Hence a rapid and steady action is secured, rendering

page_text: the machine very far superior to the original arrangement as regards accuracy
and speed of production. A continuous and simultaneously progressive move-
ment is also given to the backing or rib cords by the agency of toothed gearing,
instead of the uncertain contrivance of ratchet gear, in which the missing of
teeth frequently occurred. In the new plan the use of worm wheel gearing
renders the action certain, whilst the dividing off is always perfectly regular.
A change wheel contrivance is also adopted for regulating the number of loops.
or splits in a given length of heald, so that the fineness or coarseness of the
porter and likewise of the count may be varied by the mere substitution of a
wheel. The sliding frame for securing the attachment of the heald yarn at
the place of contact with the rib cord, either by a series of stitches other
contrivance, is actuated intermittently by a rotating cam shaft. The tensional
action on the backing or rib cord may be kept up by the adoption of an india-
rubber or other clastic medium, between which and a flat surface the cord
passes.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now procced to describe the several explanatory Figures on the two Sheets of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a back elevation of a heddle-
making machine, as fitted with my improvements; Figure 2, on the same
Sheet, is an end elevation; Figure 3, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, is a front
elevation; and Figure 4, also on the latter Sheet, is a plan, all corresponding
to Figure 1. Figures 5 and 6 are edge and side views of small portions
of a completed heddle; Figure 7 is an enlarged view, explanatory of the
forming of the knot and binding stitch; Figures 8 and 9 are back and end
views of the depresser plate, for acting on the hook of the braiding needle;
and Figure 10 is an elevation of the marker movement.
The framing of the machine consists of two open cast-iron end standards A
connected together by longitudinal cast-iron bars B. The power driven, o
mechanically actuated. details of the mechanism, are actuated by means of the
main shaft C, carried in bearings in one of the end standards A, and running
parallel to the upper side bars B_to_about_the_longitudinal-centre-of-th
machine, its inner end being supported in bearings on a transverse fram
piece D. This shaft C carries fast and loose pulleys E, and the driving bel
from an over-head or other shaft can be shifted from one to the other b
means of the fork F, which is carried on the end of a lever G, jointed to
rod H, passing along the front of the machine, and having a stop I fixed to i
by means of which the worker or attendant can shift the belt by a movemer
of the right knee. A hand wheel J is. fixed on the shaft C, by which th

page_text: machine can be worked slowly by hand when required, as; for example, for
The backing or
the purpose of adjusting any part of the mechanism.
rib cords K, upon which the loop ends of the threads composing the body
portion of the heddle are fixed, are unwound from a pair of large pulleys L,
which are each in one picce with a pulley, round which a weighted cord M is
passed, to restrain the unwinding action, and impart the necessary tension to
the cords K. These cords pass up over pulleys N, carried by small brackets
bolted to the end standard, and thence, passing through moveable tubes O
and P, pursue horizontal courses, parallel to each other, and a certain distance
apart vertically, to a drum Q, mounted upon a vertical spindle R, carried in
foot-step and upper bearings, in brackets bolted to the opposite end standard.
The ends of the cords are fixed to the drum, which draws them through the
machine at a slow rate, to suit the progress of the making of the heddle, being
actuated from the main shaft by a train of wheels, which I shall herein-after
describe. The moveable tubes O, P, through which the rib cords K pass, have
carriers fixed to them for bobbins S, filled with twine for binding the loop
ends on the rib cords K, such twine being passed from the bobbins S through
guides T, also fixed to the tubes O, P, and beneath springs U, for giving it
the requisite tension to the part of the rib cords K, where the manufacturing
processes is going on, being attached to these cords at starting. The binding
cords from the bobbins S are made to lap round the rib cords at certain
intervals, each of the tubes O, P, and carriers being for this purpose made to
perform a revolution by means of a toothed collar, fast on the tube, and in
gear with an endless pitch chain V, to which the necessary movement is given
at the proper time. The lower portion of what is technically termed the
"clasp" W (Figures 5, 6, and 7,) of the heddle cord is formed by a thread,
which is lapped round the lower rib cord K, and round a fixed mesh stud X.
This clasp W is supplied by a bobbin Y, carried on a stud fixed to an
annular toothed plate or rim wheel Z, which encompasses or is external to the
mesh stud X and the lower rib cord tube P. This rim wheel Z is fitted with
V grooves on arms a, bolted to the end standard, and it revolves round these
arms, being driven by an intermediate pinion b, carried by a stud pin, bolted to
the framing, and in gear with a pinion c, fast on the driving shaft C. The
thread W passes from the bobbin Y through guides d, fixed to the rim Z, to
the lower rib cord K, to which it is attached at starting. Sufficient tension is
put upon the thread W by means of a blade spring h, fixed to the rim Z, and
pressing upon a small friction pulley i, loose on the stud carrier of the
bobbin Y, but connected to the bobbin by a pin. A toothed segment e is fixed
upon the rim wheel Z in such a position as when it comes round to gear with
66

page_text: a pinion f, carried on a stud, bolted to the end standard, and in one piece with
a small toothed wheel g, which is in gear with and drives the pitch chain V
This toothed segment is of such a length as to cause the pitch chain V to
communicate a single complete revolution to each of the tubes O, P, as it
comes round with each revolution of the rim wheel Z. On the inner end of
the shaft C is keyed a pinion j, in gear with a spur wheel k, fast on a short
horizontal shaft, indicated by dotted lines at 1, in Figure 1, and carried in
bearings in a double bracket m, bolted to the back frame piece n, which
last is itself bolted to the top frame bar B. The shaft 1 has also fast upon it
an oblique toothed or worm wheel, indicated by dotted lines at o, in Figure 1,
and this wheel o is in gear with a larger oblique toothed or worm wheel p, on
a shaft 9, at right angles to the shaft 1. The shaft q has fixed upon it a duplex
wiper or cam r, arranged to give a reciprocating motion to a frame s, which
slides between V guides t, the cam being so arranged that the frame pauses
for an instant when at the end of its traverse nearest the driving end of the
machine, but on beginning to move back it is more quickly shifted than on
the return traverse. The cam causes the reciprocating motion of the frame's,
by acting alternately on the insides of the two vertical side bars of the frame.
The braiding needles u for forming the stitch, which is that technically known
as the "drummer's plait," and which binds the heddle threads upon the rib
cords K, are carried in small brackets v, bolted to the frames.
The upper
braiding needle u works between two guides w upon a plate a, bolted to the
stationary framing, and on the needle being drawn just within these guides,
the completed loop falls off the end of it, the bent back hook of the needle
drawing the succeeding loop through the one which is thrown off the needle.
The bent back point of the needle u is depressed into a groove in the body
of the needle when the latter is traversing inwards, or away from the driving
end of the machine, by means of a depresser y, adjusted on a blade spring,
fixed to the plate a. The blade spring z tends to depress the piece y, and
when the needle is traversing outwards, or towards the driving end of the
machine, the depresser is lifted by a wedge piece 1, formed on the end of an
arm 2, carried in a bracket 3, bolted to the traversing frames. When the
wedge i is traversed outwards, by the movement of the frames, its front point
is caught by and enters above a wedge piece 4, fast upon the plate a. The
wedge 1 passes over the fixed piece 4, and in so doing lifts the depresser y. 3
On the return traverse, however, the wedge 1 passes below the fixed piece 4,
and allows the spring blade z to depress the piece y. The braiding needle
for the lower rib cord K is arranged to act in the same way as the upper one,
ust described, except that its point is bent back on one side instead of being

page_text: pent or turned over upwards, the depresser and its actuating and guiding
details being arranged to suit this disposition. In the process of forming the
ower rib or backing on the cord K, the tube P makes a revolution, lapping
the thead from the lower bobbin S once round the cord K, and at the same
time the rim wheel G makes a revolution, and laps the clasp thread W round
the mesh stud X and round the lower rib cord K. These two loops or turns
of thread are caught in the hook of the lower needle u, and are drawn
by it through the preceding loop. The two threads are then again lapped
round the rib cord, and, being again caught in the hook of the needle, are
drawn through the last loop, which falls off the end of the needle, and so the
operation proceeds, the loops formed by the revolutions of the bobbin Y and
the lower bobbin S being drawn through each other in succession, thus forming
the "drummer's plait" stitch, which binds the "clasp " W firmly to the lower
rib cord K. The upper portion 5 of the heddle threads is thrown by hand,
but is bound upon the upper rib cord K in precisely the same manner as the
lower or "clasp" portion W is bound upon its rib cord. At starting, one end
of the cord 5 is attached, along with the upper binding cord, to the upper
rib cord K, the other end of the cord 5 being wound upon a small pirn 6,
which is carried in the hand of the worker. The thread 5 is passed through
the loop formed by the clasp thread W, and under the mesh stud X. The
eye of the heddle is formed on this stud by knotting the thread 5 above
the stud. One of these knots is shewn in the act of being formed at 7, in
Figure 7. The knot may be tied or formed in any convenient way, or any
convenient kind of knot may be used; but I prefer that represented in
the Figure, as offering little obstruction to the warps during the weaving
action. This knot 7 is run down to the stud X, and then the thread 5 is
passed over the upper rib cord K and braiding needle u; and the binding
cord from the upper bobbin S is at the same time lapped round the needle and
rib cord, and the binding stich is made in the manner already herein-before
0 described in reference to the binding of the clasp on the lower rib cord. The
"count" or degree of fineness of the heddle is regulated by the rate at which
the rib cords K are wound upon the take-up barrel Q, and the motion for
actuating this take-up barrel consists of a train of wheels, the first of which is
9. The worm
a worm wheel 8, driven by a worm 9, fast on the wiper shaft
5 wheel 8 is fast on a vertical spindle 10, carried in bracket bearings, bolted to
the back frame piece n, and to the top frame bar B, and this spindle has fast
on its lower end a pinion 11, in gear with an intermediate spur wheel 12, carried
on a stud pin. The spur wheel 12 drives a spur wheel 18, also on a stud pin
and in one piece with a pinion 14, which drives a spur wheel 15, fast on the

page_text: spindle R of the take-up barrel. The "count" or number of splits in th
heddle may be varied by changing the worm wheel 8, whilst the length
number of inches over which any "count" is distributed may be varied b
changing the spur wheel 13, this wheel being called the "standard" wheel, a
indicating the length or standard to which the "count," shewn by the worn
wheel 8, is to be referred. The worm wheel 9 on the wiper shaft q also drive
a worm wheel 16, fast on a vertical spindle 17, carried in bearings in the
bracket m, and having a cam 18 fixed upon its lower end, shaped to move
a lever 19 out and in a short distance alternately at each half revolution. The
lever 19 is jointed to a rod 20, which is drawn to a larger scale in Figure 10
The rod 20 is jointed to a three-armed lever 21, one arm of which is formed
with an eye 22 at its extremity, for guiding a coloured thread 23, which is
unwound from a bobbin 24, and serves to mark the number of splits or threads
of the heddle. This marking is effected by causing the coloured thread to be
worked into the backing, so as to appear alternately on opposite sides of the
heddle, twenty or any other convenient regular number of splits being formed
or contained between each change of the coloured thread. The requisite
change of the thread is effected by the oscillation of the lever 21, as caused by
the cam 18, this movement causing the coloured thread to be guided alter-
nately on opposite sides of the backing, being caught in the braiding stitch at
each change. The third arm 25 of the lever 21 is jointed to a rod 26, which
passes up to a sliding piece 27, to which it is jointed. The sliding piece 27
slides on a short bracket 28, fixed to the stationary framing in an inclined
position, and it has fixed to it an arm 29, with a guide eye in the end of it.
This guide is for the application of a coloured thread, for marking the number
of splits on the upper backing of the heddle, in the same manner as the
marking is effected at the lower backing, as herein-before described, but the
upper marking mechanism is not represented in the Drawings as in use.
With the arrangements described, the heddle may be marked either at the
top or bottom, or at both sides. As the eyes 30 of the heddle are formed upon
the mesh stud X, they are gradually thrust off this stud by a reciprocating
ring 31, actuated by a rod 32, jointed to a lever 33, which oscillates on a
centre at the driving end of the machine. The lever 33 is jointed at its
lower end to a rod 34, which runs in guides and is acted upon at its inner end
by a lever 35, oscillating on a centre in the frame piece 36. To the upper 3
end of the lever 35 is jointed a rod 37, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3,
na slot in the other end of which works a pin on a tumbler lever 38. This
umbler lever is acted upon by a spring catch at 39 upon the frames, when
his frame is traversing away from the driving end of the machine, which

page_text: The ring 31 is traversed back
catch and tumbler are so arranged as not to act on the return traverse; the
action on the rod 37 being transmitted through the lever 35, the rod 34, the
ever 33, and the rod 32, to the ring 31, makes this last traverse towards
the action of
the point of the mesh stud X.
a spring upon the rod 34, this spring being indicated by dotted lines at 40, in
Figure 3. As the heddle is being formed, the number of splits are indicated
as they are completed upon a pair of dials 41 and 42, placed at one corner at
the driving end of the machine. The pointer of the dial 41 is fixed on a
spindle 43, upon which is a worm wheel 44, driven by a worm on a spindle
45, upon which is also fixed a toothed wheel 46, round which wheel the pitch
chain V is passed; and as the movements of this chain correspond to the work
performed, it will obviously transmit a correctly indicating motion to the
pointer of the dial 41. The spindle 43 has a worm upon it, which drives a
small worm wheel on a cross spindle 47, and on this last is fixed the pointer
of the dial 42. The indicating gear is so arranged that the dial 41 indicates
tens up to one hundred, and the dial 42 indicates hundreds, as far as is
necessary; or the indicating gear may be arranged to indicate any other con-
venient numbers.
my
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principles or main features of my Invention; but 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,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, apparatus,
or means to be used in the manufacture of heddles or healds for weaving, as
herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of driving the herein-before described machinery
or apparatus for manufacturing heddles or healds from a steam engine or
other continuous mover by means of a strap and pulleys, or other suitable
connection.
.
Third, the system or mode of driving the take-up movement of the herein-
before described machinery or apparatus for manufacturing heddles or healds
by means of a train of screw or worm wheels and spur gearing.
Fourth, the system or mode of mounting the take-up barrel or drum of
heddle or heald making machines upon the free end of its supporting spindle,

page_text: so that the heddle or heald when completed may be drawn off the clear free
end of the drum, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of varying the "count" of the heddle, by changing
the worm wheel or other wheel in the train of wheels, composing the take-up
motion, and of varying the length of heddle. over which the count is distri-
buted by changing another of the wheels of the said train, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the system or mode of. actuating the traversing frame, carrying the
braiding needles in heddles or heald making machines, by means of a duplex
cam on a continuously revolving shaft, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the system or mode of imparting tension to the rib cord in heddle
or heald making machines, by passing it between a fixed surface and a spring
of india-rubber, or other suitable material, as herein-before described.
Eighth, the system or mode of driving the marker movement, for working
the marking thread into the heddle, by means of a worm and worm wheel, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Buchanan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
JAMES BUCHANAN. (L.S.)