(see Encycl.) is an operation, which, by means of a well-known instrument called the weaving-loom, has hitherto been performed by bodily labour. That labour is pretty severe; and Mr Robert Millar, an ingenious calico-printer in the county of Dumfriarton, Scotland, wishing to lessen it, invented, some years ago, a weaving-loom, which may be wrought by water, steam, horses, or any other power. For his invention he received a patent, dated June 26th 1796; and though truth compels us to say, that we do not think it likely to emulate the spinning machine of Arkwright, it is sufficiently ingenious to deserve notice in a Work of this kind. The following is his own description of his patent weaving-loom:

Fig. 1. (Plate I.) represents a side view of the loom, AA, BB, CC, DD, being the frame. \( \alpha \) is an axis (which we shall call the spindle) across the frame. On this axis is a sheave \( \beta \), two inches thick, having a groove round it, two inches deep, and half an inch wide. The bottom of this groove is circular, except in one part \( \epsilon \), where it is filled up to the top; a lever \( J \) rests on the bottom of this groove, and is lifted up by it when the elevation \( \epsilon \) comes round to the situation represented in the figure. By this motion, the lever \( J \) acts on the ratchet-wheel \( e \) by the catch \( f \), and draws it forward one tooth, each revolution of the sheave. This ratchet wheel is in an iron frame \( g \), which also properly carries the two catches \( t \) and \( u \), which are connected with it at \( v \). The catch \( u \) holds the ratchet-wheel in its position, while the lever \( J \) and the catch \( f \) are moved by the groove \( \epsilon \) in the sheave. On the arbor of WEA

Waving of the ratchet is a small pinion \( k \), working in the wheel \( f \); this wheel is fixed on the end of the roller \( e \) of fig. 4. On the side of the sleeve \( b \) is fixed a wiper \( l \), which fits the treadle \( l \). This treadle turns on its joints in the sleeve \( E \), which is fixed to the side of the frame \( A \) and \( D \); it is kept pressing on the bottom of the groove in the sleeve by a spring \( m \), fixed to the frame side \( A \), and having a slender rod \( n \) from its extremity, joining it with the treadle at \( l \). From the point of the treadle there goes a belt \( o \), which passes over the pulley \( p \), which is seen edgewise in this figure, and is joined to the top of the fly pin \( q \), of fig. 2. At the end of the frame \( A \) is the short post \( F \); on this rests the yarn beam \( j \), having a sleeve \( r \), over which passes a cord, having a weight \( s \) suspended to it. The other end of this cord is fastened to the spring \( u \); the weight causes the yarn beam to stretch the web from the ratchet wheel \( e \), with its catch \( v \); and the spring \( u \) allows the rope to slide on the sleeve as the ratchet is drawn round during the working.

Fig. 2. is a front view of the loom. \( a \) is the spindle which carries the sleeve \( b \), and the wipers \( d \) and \( d' \), which move the treadles \( w \), \( w' \), of fig. 1. These use the treadles of the header, with which they are connected by cords from the shafts of the headers \( i \), \( i' \). From the upper shaft there go two leather belts \( f \), \( f' \), to the roller \( y \), furnished each with a buckle, for tightening them at pleasure. The two wipers \( c \), \( c' \), on the shaft \( a \), which serve for taking back the lay, have the two treadles \( x \), \( x' \), in fig. 3., with a belt from each passing over the roller \( z \) of fig. 1., and fixed to the sword of the lay. From the swords of the lay forward is fixed a belt to each end of the roller \( t \); from this roller there goes a cord to the spring \( j \), which serves for taking forward the lay which is hinged on the rocking tree \( t \). The flat-wheel \( b \) of fig. 3., and the sleeve \( b \) of fig. 1., are fixed to the opposite ends of the spindle \( a \) without the frame; and both the wheel and sleeve have a wiper \( k \) fixed to them for moving the treadles. In order to drive the shuttle, the belts \( o \), \( o' \), go from the points of the treadles, over the pulleys \( p \), \( p' \), to the top of the fly pin \( q \): This turns on a pin-joint in a rail \( r \), which goes across the loom. From its lower end there go two small cords to the shuttle guides \( g \), which slide on the iron rods \( n \), \( n' \). A long iron rod \( u \) goes across the lay, and is hung on two centres at the ends. In this rod \( u \) are fixed two small crooked wires \( w \), \( w' \), which are more distinctly marked in the little figure \( w \) above, which represents a section of the lay. The dot at the lower end of the wire \( w \), in this figure, is the section of the rod \( u \). The shuttle passes between these wires and the lay every shot, and lifts them up, causing the rod \( u \) to turn round a little. But if the shuttle should not pass these wires, nor lift them, it would be drawn home by the lay, and destroy the web. To prevent this, there is fixed on one end of the rod \( u \) a stout crooked wire \( x \), having a broad or flat head, which naturally rests on a plate of iron, marked and fixed to the back of the lay. This plate has a slit in its middle about an inch deep. In this slit rests the rod \( a \) of fig. 3., on which is a short fluid, which is caught by the wire \( x \) when the wire \( u \) is not lifted back by the passing shuttle. This will stop the lay from coming home, and will set off the loom.

Fig. 3. is another side-view of the loom oppo-

site to fig. 1. On the spindle \( a \) is the star wheel \( b \), on the outside of the loom-frame, on the arms of which wheel is fixed the wiper \( k \), as the similar wiper is fixed to the sleeves on the other end of the spindle. The wipers which drive the shuttles are fixed on opposite squares of the spindle, and work alternately. Below the flat-wheel is a pinion \( c \), which is on a round spindle, turned by the water-wheel, by means of a wheel on this spindle. In a wheel on this spindle are two fluids, on which the pinion \( c \) slides off and on as the loom is set off and on by the lever \( d \). At the farther end of this lever is the weight \( s \), hanging by a cord which passes over a pulley \( t \), fixed at the outer end of the spring-catch on which the lever \( d \) rests; and thus the loom is drawn in at the upper end of the lever \( d \). But when the shuttle does not lift the wire \( x \), it catches on the fluid on the rod \( a \), which is connected with the spring-catch, and the lever \( d \) flies off with the weight \( s \), and the loom stops working. On the head of the pole \( F \) is the yarn-beam. The rollers \( e \) and \( f \) are cylinders, pressed together by a screw-lever, and take away the cloth between them at a proper rate. In the roller \( f \) is a groove for a band for driving the roller \( g \), on which the cloth winds itself as it is wrought. Wherever springs are mentioned to be used in the above description, weights may be used in their stead, and to the same effect, and more especially upon the treadle of fig. 1., for driving the shuttle.