IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE- DADING AND FINISHING THREADS OR YARNS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Adam, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE-
DADING AND FINISHING THREADS OR YARNS."
Sealed the 23rd September 1857, and dated the 1st April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Adam at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st April 1857.
I, ROBERT ADAM, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PREPARING AND FINISHING THREADS OR YARNS," to be as follows, that is
to say :-
This Invention relates to machinery or apparatus to be used for preparing,
polishing, and finishing threads or yarns, particularly sewing cotton; the
object of the improvements being the obtainment of a superior polishing or
finishing action upon the threads by the agency of very simple and compact
parts or details of apparatus.
According to this Invention the threads to be finished are disposed upon a
series of vertical bobbins, or in any other convenient manner, at one side of
the machine or apparatus, and next to the starch trough used in the process.
As the threads are wound off their carrying bobbins they are passed by suitable
guide rollers down through the starch or other matter contained in the trough,
and on emerging from the trough they are passed through a reed, which sepa-
rates the threads and lays them even. After leaving the reed the starched

page_text: threads are passed over a pair of large horizontal rollers, and it is here where
the actual polishing or finishing action occurs. These large drums or rollers
are of considerable length, and they are disposed parallel to each other, but at
a considerable distance apart. Each roller is fitted with a large number of
parallel annular projections, set at regular distances apart, and these projec-
tions or collars are so disposed that in each case the projecting ring on one
roller is directly opposite to the centre of a space or surface comprehended
between a pair of the projecting rings upon the other roller. These annular
projections retain each of the lines of combined threads distinct and separate.
As the line of combined threads passes from the guide reed, it first of all goes
over one end of the large roller nearest to the reed, and it then passes away
horizontally to the other or further-off roller, returning back round this latter
roller from beneath, and turning up round the first or nearest roller again.
This passing and repassing of the line of combined threads is continued
throughout the entire length of the pair of large rollers, thus forming an
upper and a lower spread of threads, each line in which is kept distinct by
itself by being retained between the annular projections upon the rollers.
The threads finally pass off from the opposite end of the further-off roller,
passing thence through a reed, and being finally wound upon bobbins or taken
up in any convenient way. The actual polishing action is given by a pair of
revolving dashers, barrels, or cylinders, with rubbing or polishing arms. These
are disposed horizontally, one above the upper line or spread of the threads,
and the other above the lower spread or between the two spreads. These
polishers are driven at a high velocity, with their rubbing edges, vanes, or
arms in contact with the passing and repassing lines or spreads of threads, the
direction of their revolution being opposed to that of the traverse of the
threads. In this way, as each polisher extends across the entire width of both
spreads or series of threads which thus pass and repass beneath the polishing
surfaces, the threads receive a very high and effective finish within a very
small space, and with the agency of but very few parts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Adam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT.
ADAM, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Manager, send 35
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Adam, Her special license that I, the said Robert Adam,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Robert Adam, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PREPARING AND FINISHING THREADS OR YARNS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Adam, 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 Oflice within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Adam, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, 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 machinery or apparatus to be used for pre-
paring, polishing, and finishing threads or yarns, particularly sewing cotton;
the object of the improvements being the obtainment of a superior polishing
or finishing action upon the threads by the agency of very simple and compact
parts or details of apparatus.
According to this Invention the threads to be finished are disposed upon a
series of vertical bobbins, or in any other convenient manner, at one side of
the machine or apparatus, and next to the starch trough used in the process.
As the threads are wound off their carrying bobbins they are passed by suit-
able guide rollers down through the starch or other matter contained in the
trough, and on emerging from the trough they are passed through a reed,
which separates the threads and lays them even. After leaving the reed the
starched threads are passed over a pair of large horizontal rollers, and it is
here where the actual polishing or finishing action occurs. These large drums
or rollers are of considerable length, and they are disposed parallel to each
other, but at a considerable distance apart. Each roller is fitted with a large

page_text: number of parallel annular projections, set at regular distances apart, and these
projections or collars are so disposed that in each case the projecting ring on
one roller is directly opposite to the centre of a space or surface comprehended
between a pair of the projecting rings upon the other roller. These annular
projections retain each of the lines of combined threads distinct and separate.
As the line of combined threads passes from the guide reed, it first of all goes
over one end of the large roller nearest to the reed, and it then passes away
horizontally to the other or further-off roller, returning back round this latter
roller from beneath, and turning up round the first or nearest roller again.
This passing and repassing of the line of combined threads is continued
throughout the entire length of the pair of large rollers, thus forming an upper
and a lower spread of threads, each line in which is kept distinct by itself by
being retained between the annular projections upon the rollers. The threads
finally pass off from the opposite end of the further-off roller, passing thence
through a reed, and being finally wound upon bobbins or taken up in any
convenient way. The actual polishing action is given by a pair of revolving
dashers, barrels, or cylinders, with rubbing or polishing arms. These are dis-
posed horizontally, one above the upper line or spread of the threads, and the
other above the lower spread or between the two spreads. These polishers
are driven at a high velocity, with their rubbing edges, vanes, or arms in
contact with the passing and repassing lines or spreads of threads, the direc-
tion of their revolution being opposed to that of the traverse of the threads.
In this way, as each polisher extends across the entire width of both spreads
or series of threads which thus pass and repass beneath the polishing surfaces,
the threads receive a very high and effective finish within a very small space,
and with the agency of but very few parts.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of
showing certain modifications under which my improvements may be judi-
ciously carried out in practice.
Figure 1 of my Sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal view or side elevation
of one modification of my improved machinery for preparing or finishing
threads or yarns; Figure 2 is a plan corresponding. The working parts of the
machine are supported upon an open cast-iron frame A, consisting of a pair of
side standards united by transverse tie rods. The threads or yarns which are
to be prepared or finished are in the first instance passed through a prepara-
tion of starch or other stiffening material. The threads or yarns B are passed
from their carrying bobbins, which may be arranged in any convenient manner,

page_text: over the edge of the starch trough C down into the dressing or stiffening
material contained therein. The threads are carried under the roller D, which
is partially immersed in the starch or dressing material; this roller is, by
preference, made of wood, being carried in end bearings in the trough, and
rotatory motion is communicated to it by the frictional contact of the threads.
From the starch trough the threads or yarns are carried over a small guide roller
E, and separately through the teeth of the stationary reed F, which serve to
keep the threads distinct and lay them parallel to each other. The wood or
other material in which the dents of the reed are fixed may, if necessary, be
covered with flannel or woollen cloth, in order to distribute the dressing
material more evenly over the surface of the threads or yarns. From the
reed F the threads are carried over the metal drum G, the spindle of which is
supported in pedestal bearings bolted to the upper ledge of the side standards
A. Motion is communicated to the drum G from a steam engine or other
prime mover by means of an endless belt passed round the pulley H. After
passing round or over the drum G, the threads are subjected to the action of
a brush roller I, the spindle of which is carried in bearings fitted in the
standards J, which are bolted to the framing A. The brushing roller I is put
in motion by means of an endless belt, which passes over the pulley K on its
spindle. The brushing action of the roller I, as it rotates in contact with the
series of threads, clears them of any superfluous starch or dressing material
that may be adhering to them, and it also serves to lay the fibres of the threads
or yarns perfectly level and even. The yarns are next carried through the
stationary reed L; this reed is made sufficiently wide to extend across the
machine, and its teeth are arranged in series corresponding to the number of
yarns or threads passed through the machine at one time. The reed Lis
carried in brackets M, which are bolted to the curved standards N, which
carry the bearings of the first polishing roller O. The threads or yarns pass
beneath, but in contact with the polishing roller O; this roller is driven at a
high velocity in the same direction as that of the passage of the threads or
yarns. It is preferred to make the polishing rollers of tin, covered with sail
cloth or other suitable textile fabric. The polishing roller is driven by means
of an endless belt, which passes round the pulley P on the spindle of the
roller. The threads or yarns are again passed through another reed Q, which
is similar to the reed L, before described. From the reed Q the threads or
yarns are carried round the drum R, and is in all respects similar to the drum
G at the other end of the machine. The polishing roller S is driven by means
of a crossed belt pulley arrangement passing round its pulley T and the pulley
P¹ on the spindle of the polishing roller O, the direction of motion being in

page_text: accordance with that of the threads. The series of threads or yarns are now
carried round the roller G, under the brushing roller I, through the second
series of teeth in the reed L, and under the polishing roller Q, through the
second series of teeth in the reed Q, and again round the roller R. From
this point the threads or yarns diverge slightly in an angular direction, pass
again under the roller S, and upwards over the metal drum G. By causing
the threads or yarns to diverge a little when brought up over the drum G,
they are in a line with the second and third sets of teeth in the reeds L and Q.
The threads or yarns are thus passed over and under the different rollers until
the machine is fitted with separate series of threads, arranged side by side as
shown in the plan, Figure 2 of my illustrative Drawings. Finally, the threads
or yarns pass off from the roller R under and between the guide rollers U to
the bobbins on which they are to be wound.
Instead of guiding the separate series of threads or yarns by means of teeth
or dents in the reeds or combs L and Q, as shown in my illustrative Draw-
ings, the arrangement may be modified by making the rollers G and R with
a series of annular projections or collars or grooves upon their peripheries.
Preference is, however, given to the arrangement shown in the Drawing,
as the threads or yarns are better kept apart than by means of the collars
or projections on the drums G and R; instead also of making the polishing
rollers plain cylinders, they may be made with projecting arms, which exert
a rubbing or polishing action upon the threads or yarns passing through the
machine.
In this manner and by means of the machinery herein-before described, or
a modification thereof, large quantities of threads or yarns may be prepared
and finished with great rapidity and ease, and with a very superior finished
effect.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 for preparing
and finishing threads or yarns, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of giving a smooth glossy surface to threads
or yarns by passing them to and fro over carrying rollers, and in contact

page_text: with rotating polishing rollers or frictional workers, in a suitable machine.
arranged for the purpose, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of finishing or polishing threads or yarns by
causing them to travel through the finishing machine in contact with polishing
rollers, having arms or beaters projecting from their peripheries, as herein-
before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of preparing finishing threads or yarns by
means of rotatory workers or rollers operating in contact with the threads
or yarns, as the latter pass and repass over carrying rollers, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Adam, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
ROBERT ADAM. (L.S.)