Cloth-shearing machine with concealed drive
Descending cap and fixed shears, hidden pulleys, greased balls in a channel, and a straightedge detail
The sheet is dominated by a large machine drawn in ink and red chalk, a cloth-shearing (cropping) machine whose working parts are meant to be hidden from view. Notes specify that the cap descends while the shears stay fixed in place, turning only on their transverse pivots, and that the pulleys, pulling cords and the greased balls running without axles in their channel are all to be concealed. Further notes give gear and cylinder numbers (5-10, 200) and describe a detail covered by a straightedge a b c d resting on the pivot n m. The design is one of Leonardo's textile machines.
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Shearing action: descending cap, fixed shears
A note at the upper left describes the cloth-shearing machine: the cap should descend while the shears stay fixed in their place, turning only on their transverse pivots so the blades crop the cloth without shifting.
Hidden pulleys and greased balls
The pulleys and the pulling mechanism are to be concealed, and the little wheels, or balls, are to run in their channel without axles, greased and hidden, reducing friction while keeping the drive out of sight.
Concealed cord pulling the cloth
Two details show a way of concealing the cord that pulls the cloth through the machine, keeping the traction line invisible.
Straightedge detail a b c d on pivot n m
A detail in the lower margin, labelled b a – m n – d c, is covered by a rule (straightedge) a b c d that rests on the pivot n m.