IMPROVEMENTS IN RAW SILK WINDING MACHINERY
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister, of Lyons,
in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAW
SILK WINDING MACHINERY."
Sealed the 6th June 1856, and dated the 7th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Joseph Emilien
François Kuister at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 7th December 1855.
I, JEAN JOSEPH EMILIEN FRANÇOIS KUISTER, of Lyons, in the Empire of
France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAW SILK WINDING MACHINERY" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, in rendering the attendant's labour less diffi-
cult, by allowing her to remain seated, and causing the movable reel to
advance at her will, bringing forwards the skeins to be fed.
Second, in increasing the speed, by using. whisks instead of battens, thus
facilitating the traction of the bobbins and preserving the silk thread.
Thirdly, in performing the same work in a more limited space.
Fourth, in preventing the waste, by facilitating the finding out of broken
thread ends.

page_text: This result is obtained by the use of a circular winding reel, similar to those
used in winding wrought silk; the only difference consists in the system of
whisks. At the centre of the reel is a vertical shaft carrying a horizontal
pulley, which, by means of strings, transmits the motion to friction rollers,
that cause several bobbins of various sizes to turn, according to the desired
speed. One of the spindles is intended for an operation called "détrancanage."
The skein to be unspooled is placed on whisks, which are supported by a rod
fixed on a bearing; the lower part of the whisk is movable, and its weight,
which keeps the skein tight, is reduced towards the end of the winding pro-
cess by means of a peg and a gutta percha string, which maintain the said
lower part when there remain but a few revolutions of the bobbins to be
effected. The runner or silk-distributing apparatus is guided on the bobbins
by a ruler and a glass thread guide, and is besides provided with woollen or
cork brushers. The upright framing of the whisks is divided longitudinally by
notches, for the purpose of adapting skeins of different sizes, and even when
the shortening of the skein causes the upper whisk to descend too much; this
descent is effected by the frame folding up round a hinge. The same system
of whisks may be applied to an oblong machine like those used until this day
for reeling faw silk.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
JOSEPH EMILIEN FRANÇOIS KUISTER, of Lyons, in the Empire of France; send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister, Her special licence that
I, the said Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Joseph Emilien Fran-
çois Kuister,.my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
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,

page_text: ""
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 RAW SILK WINDING MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister, by an instru-
ment 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 Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister,
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:-
The winding off of raw silk is usually effected by means of apparatus so
combined as to form an oblong machine, having on its lower part a certain
number of hoops on which the skeins to be wound off are placed, and the silk.
of which comes to be rolled up on the winding bobbins that are on the upper:
part of the machine, drawing thus the hoops it causes to rotate. Such a method
is very slow, whatever may be the lightness of the hoop; the resistance made
to the thread that causes it to rotate will hinder a great speed of the bobbins,
for a further increase of friction caused by a greater speed would make the
threads break. The finding of the broken end is not easy, and ever causes a
great waste, besides the surveying of the attendant, who must be ever. standing
by at the other end, is tiresome and insufficient.
My Invention consists, first, in rendering the attendant's work far easier, by.
allowing her to be seated, and causing the moveable apparatus to come up to
her at her own will, and bring the skeins forwards.
Secondly, in speeding the work, by making use of light circular frames
(guindres) instead of the mentioned hoops, in order to lessen the resistance to
the traction of the bobbin and to spare the silk thread.
Thirdly, in effecting the same work within a narrower space.
And, finally, in preventing much waste, by rendering it easier to find out the
broken ends.
This purpose is attained by applying the circular machinery to winding off
raw silk, with some necessary modifications to such an application, which both
means constitute my Invention.
The circular machinery I use is in its lower part, as regards the transmission
of motion to the bobbins, constructed similar to such as are made use of for

page_text: winding off wrought silk, and may be actuated by means of a treadle, or set in
motion by any suitable power. The modifications alluded to chiefly relate to
the use of light circular frames, which, with the application of the usual oblong
machinery, prove both economical and speedy; this application constitutes.
part of my Invention.
In the annexed Drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical projection of a circular
machinery, as applied to the winding off of raw silk; Fig. 2. is the horizontal-
projection of the same; Figs. 4, 5, 6, & 7, the circular frames; Figs. 8 & 9
detail the transmission of motion to the bobbins; and Fig. 10 shows the head;
stock, carrying the thread guide and the brusher; Fig. 3, detail of the piece N
on a larger scale.
A is the foundation plate; motion is imparted to the elbowed vertical shaft.
B carrying the pulley C, which, by endless strings, set in motion the friction:
rollers D that actuate the bobbin spindles; each of these rollers is drawing
three spindles 1, 2, 3, of different diameters, according to the speed intended
to be given; the fourth spindle is intended for an extra additional bobbin
(détrancanage); the thread carrier E is led by the regulator F, and carries the,
headstocks G, glass thread guides, and woollen or cork brushers. The skein-
to be wound off is rolled up on the guindres or circular light frames, the
number of which may be undeterminate, which are supported by a vertical rod
I, that may be displaced and be made to rest on a stand J by the attendant,
who can thus feed the circular frames; the part K of the said frames is made
to slide, and by its own weight holds the skein tight; however, as this weight
might become too great as the skein grows thinner, this is obviated by means
of a peg, so contrived as to support, in connection with an elastic string L, the
part K.
The uprights of the circular frames are made with holes cut out at different
heights for allowing the setting of skeins of different sizes, and they are even
provided with an additional frame M, when the shortening of the skein causes
the upper frame to come too low; this side on which the frame is supported is
turned up towards N, for allowing the setting of the skein. On the fore part
of the skein there is a stop, to prevent the thread end from being carried
away under the circular frame, and from being broken by being too. briskly
let out..
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of the said improve-
ments in raw silk winding machinery, I desire it to be distinctly understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described, as such
may be varied or modified without departing from the nature of action

page_text: thereof; but what I claim as novel, and therefore as being secured to me by
the herein-before in parts recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the application of the circular machine to the winding off of raw silks,
such an application being productive of such results as I have described.
Second, such improvements and modifications in the said machine, which
are conducible to the same results as I have specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Joseph Emilien François Kuister,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 3rd day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. J. E. F. KUISTER. (L.S.)