AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR WINDING UP THREADS OF FLAX, COTTON, WOOL, AND SILK
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roméo Villain, of Lille (Nord), France, Manufacturer,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR WINDING UP THREADS
OF FLAX, COTTON, WOOL, AND SILK."
Sealed the 2nd August 1878, and dated the 7th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roméo Villain at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1878.
ROMÉO VILLAIN, of Lille (Nord), France, Manufacturer.
FOR WINDING UP THREADS OF FLAX, COTTON, WOOL, AND SILK."
55
AN IMPROVED MACHINE
The machine which forms the object of the present application for Patent is
destined to do the balling of threads of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other textile
material. It is so arranged that it stops automatically when it has wound up on
each ball in formation a determined length of thread. This result is attained by
the arrangement of a counter or regulator, which is set in motion by the threads
which wind up themselves during the passage from the creel (set of bobbin
carriers) to the balls.
A second essential particularity of my winding-up or balling machine is that the
flyers which serve to ball or wind up the threads are alone moveable. The spindle
or ball carriers vary in speed according to the increase of size or advancement of
the ball of thread; that is to say, according as the thread forms the crown or the
cover of the ball. Profiting by the relative immoveability of the pin spindle or
pins, which only turn on themselves, I have arranged them in two rows on a single
support, capable of pivoting on gudgeons arranged at its extremities. Whilst one
set or series of these spindles is at work and the balls are formed with thread the
workman can arrange to remove the made-up balls from another series of spindles
which have previously been filled; he thus works alternately the two sets or series
of spindles, and for this he has only to cause their common support to swing; there
Duis a77

page_text: is then a continuity in the operation, and consequently larger production. Besides
this my machine permits of balls of any kind to be made up, and suffices for this to
modify the mechanism of the regulator or counter by replacing driving gear.
The movements of the flyers and the mechanism which produce the changes of
speed of the shuttle during the different phases of the forination of the balls are
rendered independent.
The machine can serve for the reeling of conical bobbins or of cylindrical bobbins
for slubbing and roving, and in one case as in the other the tension of the thread
may be regulated at will during the making up of the ball.
The construction of the machine is as follows:-A shaft carries 2 pulleys, one fast
the other loose, and a gear wheel. This wheel is in gear with an intermediate
wheel, which is in gear with another wheel on a separate shaft; on this last shaft
is keyed a pinion, which is in gear with a wheel on a third shaft; on this third
shaft are fixed two driving cones or graduated pulleys, arranged with regard to the
driving cones, which are mounted loose on a shaft which drives the spindles.
Between the cones is disposed a friction clutch, and according as the clutch is in
gear with one or other of the cones the shaft is moved with different speeds; it
therefore follows that the spindles will vary in speed according to the state of
advance of the formation of the ball. Between the two sides or cheeks of the
framework is arranged another frame with the spindles. This frame is pivoted at
its extremities on supports, fixed to the framework in such manner that the axis is
sufficiently out of the centre that its bevel wheels take into gear with one pinion
but not with another, which is also fixed in it. If the frame carrying the spindles
is made to rock one pinion takes into gear with another pinion. When one row of
balls is made, the workman causes its frame to rock and the filled spindles to lower
themselves, immediately new balls are made on other spindles.
The flyers, the axes of which carry pulleys connected by straps to a lower drum,
turn in supports. These supports are placed on squares which can pivot around
the axes, one of which is joined to a bar. On this bar is articulated a lever which
the workman operates by hand to vary the position of the flyers in reference to the
spindles while the balls are forming. Under the bar is a second bar, which carries
at one of its extremities a fork of a clutch, and at the other extremity a draw spring;
this bar also has a slot in which is engaged a lever for preventing the action of the
draw spring on the bar. This lower bar serves to effect the throwing in and out of
gear of the clutch to produce the changes of speed of the spindles. The upper bar
serves to determine the different positions of the flyers in reference to the spindles
during the making of the ball, and according to the kind of ball to be made. This
arrangement of two superposed bars renders independent the movements of the
flyers, and the changes of speed of the spindles. The threads on the spool pass
over a bar, then over a brush, and between the jaws of a moderation (regulating
guide), which regulates the tension of the threads; from there each thread winds
itself on a roller, which causes the thread to adhere more or less on a cylinder,
which measures the thread wound up. The cylinder is set in movement by the
threads themselves. This movement is transmitted to the shaft of the counter or
regulator by means of two helicoidal gear wheels and endless screw, which is in
gear with the wheel, on the shaft of which is a screw in gear with a wheel fixed on
the shaft, carrying the cams for working the levers.
When the drum has unwrapped enough thread a cam raises a lever and causes it
to leave the notch of the bar, when the spring re-acts, so that the clutch which was
in gear with the cone takes into gear with the other cone, the speed of the shaft
being changed thereby. The cam pressing on the lever raises a plate, which is on
the support of the disengaging gear bar. This plate raises slightly, and the bar
which is kept in a support by a notch is then under the action of a spring, which
causes the disengaging gear to pivot and shift the strap from the fast to the loose
pulley.
The supports, wheels, and screw of this improved counter (or regulator) are

page_text: fixed by bolts passing through vertical openings, so that they can be easily removed
to be replaced by wheels and screws according to the size to be given to the ball.
I have described the arrangement of carrier for the conical bobbins.
For the cylindrical bobbins or spools which suit better certain threads, notably
waxed or glazed threads, I modify the arrangement of bobbin or spool. This creel
is composed of moveable spindles on which are fixed discs; on these lie the cylindrical
spools. To regulate the tension of the threads according to the size of bobbin
or spool I arrange a break, which is no other than the break already employed in
twisting machines. It is formed by a cord which is fixed to the bar passing around
in part and more or less the little pulley of the spindle, and is engaged in one of
the notches of the bar; a weight suspended to this cord gives it the tension.
second cord winds around the half of the circumference of all the pulleys of the
spindles and meets a lever joined to the disengaging gear bar.
A
When the machine stops itself when the balls are finished the disengaging gear
bar draws by its lever the cord, and it therefore results that all the bobbius or
spools stop instantaneously. This creel permits of the balling or winding up of
threads waxed, glazed, or otherwise without fear of the falling of the threads, and
consequently the stopping of the machine.
I claim as my Invention the machine for winding up or balling threads of
all kinds, which I have arranged and which is characterized by the following
points:―
1. Automatic stoppage of the machine when a series of balls are finished, also the
combined mechanisin for this purpose, as described.
'
2. The mechanism or means by which the automatic changing of speed of the
spindles is obtained during the making of the balls.
3. The combination of organs (parts) by which I realize the relative immoveability
of the spindles and variation of the inclination of the flyers according to the
advance of the balls.
;
4. The arrangement of the spindles in two rows on a frame having excentric
gudgeons or pivots.
5. The employment of superposed bars to render independent the movement of
the flyers and the changes of speed of the spindles.
6. The arrangement of creels with conical and cylindrical spools or bobbins.
7. The combination described of the regulator permitting the size of the balls to
be varied at will.

page_text: 1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Roméo Villain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1878.
ROMÉO VILLAIN, of Lille (Nord), France, Manufacturer.
"
AN IMPROVED MACHINE
'FOR WINDING UP THREADS OF FLAX, COTTON, WOOL, AND SILK."
The machine, which forms the object of this Invention, is destined to do the
balling of threads of flax, wool, cotton, silk, or other textile material. It is so
'arranged that it stops automatically when it has wound up on each ball in for-
mation a determined length of thread. This result is attained by the arrangement
of a counter or regulator, which is set in motion by the threads which wind up
themselves during their passage from the creel (set of bobbin carriers) to the balls.
A second essential particularity of my winding-up or balling machine is that the
flyers which serve to ball or wind up the threads are alone moveable. The spindles
or ball carriers vary in speed, according to the increase of size or advancement of
the ball of thread; that is to say, according as the thread forms the crown or the
cover of the ball. Profiting by this relative immoveability of the pin spindle or
pins, which only turn on themselves, I have arranged them in two rows on a. single
support capable of pivotting on gudgeons arranged at its extremities, whilst one
set or series of these spindles or pins are at work, and the balls are formed with
thread, the workman can arrange to remove made-up balls from another series
of pin spindles which have previously been filled and emptied; he thus works
alternatively the two sets or series of spindles, and for this he has only to cause
their common support to swing; there is then a continuity in the operation, and
consequently a larger production. Besides this my machine permits of balls of
any kind to be made up, and suffices for this to modify the mechanism of the
regulator or counter by replacing driving gear.
The movements of the Hyers and the mechanism which produce the changes of
speed of the spindles during the different phases of the formation of the balls are
rendered independent.
The machine can serve for the reeling of conical bobbins or of cylindrical
bobbins for slubbing and roving, and in one case, as in the other, the tension of
the thread may be regulated at will during the making up of the ball.
Figure 1 is a plan of my machine for making up balls in accordance with the
foregoing description; Figure 2, a side view; and Figures 3, 4, and 5 represents
details of construction of the machine.
A shaft M carries two pulleys P and P¹, one fast, the other loose, and a gear
wheel N. This wheel is in gear with intermediate wheel Q, which is in gear
with another wheel R on a separate shaft B. On this last shaft is keyed a pinion U,
which is in gear with a wheel T on a third shaft A. On this third shaft A are
fixed two driving cones on graduated pulleys arranged with regard to the driving
cones C2, C3, which are mounted loose on a shaft D. It is this shaft which drives
the spindles a. Between the cones C2 and C³ is disposed a friction clutch G, and
according as the clutch is in gear with one or other of the cones C2, C3, the shaft D
is moved with different speeds. It therefore follows that the spindles a will vary
in speed, according to the state of advances of the formation of the ball. Between
the two sides or cheeks of the framework X is arranged another frame E with the
spindles a. This frame is pivotted at its extremities in supports H fixed to the
framework in such manner that the axes D is sufficiently out of the centre that its
bevil wheels e takes into gear with the pinion e', but not with another pinion e²,
which is also fixed in it. If the frame carrying the spindles is made to rock the
pinion e takes into gear with the pinion e². When one row of balls is made, the
workman causes its frame to rock, and the filled spindles to lower themselves
immediately new balls are made on other spindles.
n
The flyers b, the axes of which carries pulleys c connected by straps to a lower
drum, turn in supports S. These supports S are placed on squares V, which cau

page_text: pivot around the axes Y, one of which is joined to a bar K. On this bar Kis
articulated a lever L2, which the workman operates by hand to vary the position of
the flyers to the spindles b while the balls are forming. Under the bar K (Figure 2)
is a second bar 0, which carries at one of its extremities a fork f of a clutch, and
at the other extremities a draw spring d. This bar also has a slot, in which is:
engaged a lever L₁ for preventing the action of the draw spring on the bar. This
lower bar serves to effect the throwing in and out of gear of the clutch G to;
produce the changes of speed of the spindles. The upper bar serves to determine
the different positions of the flyers in reference to the spindles during the making
of the ball, and according to the kind of ball to be made. This arrangement of
two superposed bars renders independent the movements of the flyers and the
changes of speed of the spindles a. The threads on the spools B₁ pass over
a bar g, then over a brush h and between the jaws of a moderator (regulating:
guide) i, which regulates the tension of the threads. From there each thread winds
itself on a roller k, which causes the thread to adhere more or less on the cylinder t,
which measures the thread wound up. The cylinder t is set in movement by the
threads themselves... This movement is transmitted to the shaft o of the counter
or regulator by means of two helicoidal gear wheels and endless screw, which is in
gear with the wheel r, on the shaft of which is a screw in gear with a wheel
fixed on the shaft o carrying the cams for working the levers L, L. The counter
or regulator is shown in side view, Figure 3.
When the drum t has unwrapped enough thread a cam of the lever L' raises a
lever, and causes it to leave the notch of the bar when the spring d¹ reacts, so that
the clutch G, which was in gear with one cone c³, takes into gear with the other
cone c², the speed of the shaft D being changed thereby. The cam of the lever L
pressing on the lever raises a plate n, which is on the support of the disengaging
gear bar m.
This plate n rises slightly, aud the bar m, which is kept in a support
by a notch, is then under the action of a spring, which causes the disengaging gear
to pivot and shifts the strap from the fast to the loose pulley.
The supports, wheels, and screws of this improved counter (or regulator) are
fixed by bolts passing through vertical openings, so that they can be easily removed
to be replaced by wheels and screws, according to the size to be given to the
ball.
I lave described the arrangement of carrier for the conical bobbins.
For the cylindrical bobbins or spools, which suit better certain threads, notably
waxed or glazed threads, I modify the arrangement of bobbin or spool, as shown in
Figures 4 & 5. This creel is composed of moveable spindles B, on which are
fixed discs. On these lie the cylindrical spools B to regulate the tension of the
threads according to the size of bobbin or spool. I arrange a break, which is no
other than the break already employed in twisting machines. It is formed by a
cord d, which is fixed to the bar e passing around in part, and more or less, the
little pulley of the spindle, and is engaged in one of the notches of the bar e¹. A
weight suspended to this cord gives it the tension. A second cord g winds around
the half of the circumference of all the pulleys f of the spindles, and meets a lever
joined to the disengaging gear bar,
When the machine stops itself, when the balls are finished, the disengaging gear
bar draws by its lever a cord g, and it therefore results that all the bobbins, or
spools stop instantaneously. This creel permits of the balling, a winding up of
threads, waxed, glazed, or otherwise, without fear of the falling of the threads, and
consequently the stopping of the machine.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the machine for winding up or
balling threads of all kinds, which I have arranged and (combined), and which is
characterized by the following points :-
1. Automatic stoppage of the machine when a series of balls are finished. Also
in the combined mechanism for this purpose, as described.

page_text: 2. The mechanism or means by which the automatic changing of speed of the
spindles is obtained during the making of the balls, as set forth.
3. The combination of organs (parts), by which I realise the relative immove-
ability of the spindles and variation of the inclination of the flyers, according to the
advance of the balls, as described.
4. The arrangement of the spindles in two rows on a frame having excentric
gudgeons or pivots, as set forth.
5. The employment of superposed bars to render independent the movement of
the flyers and the changes of speed of the spindles, as described.
6. The arrangement of creels with conical and cylindrical spools or bobbins, as
set forth.
7. The combination described of the regulator permitting the size and measure-
ment of the balls to be varied at will, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Roméo Villain, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
CHARLES MARDELET,
Civil Engineer,
Paris.
ROMEO VILLAIN. (L.S.)