IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WINDING YARNS ON SPOOLS OR BOBBINS
Year: 1884

page_text: I THOMAS THORPE of Now Basford, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Manufacturer and Machine Builder do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WINDING YARNS ON
SPOOLS OR BOBBINS" to be as follows that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the improvement of the construction and action
of machinery for winding yarns on spools or bobbins whereby such winding
operation may be more expeditiously and satisfactorily performed than has been
hitherto possible with the machinery at present in use.
This Invention comprises improvements in the method of carrying the skeins of
yarn to be wound, so that the machinery may be easily and quickly adapted for
winding skeins of larger or smaller length as required. In frames as at present
cominonly constructed it is necessary to alter the reels carrying the skeins for each
spindle separately and individually along the whole length of the frame and
considerable time is thereby lost. By the present Invention the reels for carrying
the skeins are arranged on short arms fixed on a rocking shaft running the whole
length of the winding frame. This rocking shaft is carried in bearings on the
framing and has a hand lever fixed at right angles to it at one end. The rocking
shaft may be formed in short lengths and in that case will have a handle at one
end of each length. By moving this handle the row of reels connected with that
length of the rocking-shaft to which the handle is attached may be raised or
lowered simultaneously to suit the length of the skeins of yarn which are passed
round the reels and also round reels carried on fixed arins on a stationary bar
below the rocking-shaft.
Another important improvement consists in arranging a bar to move to and fro
longitudinally alongside the rocking-shaft carrying the upper row of reels, this bar
having fixed on it a series of blade springs which are arranged to bear intermittently
on the reels. This bar is pushed forward longitudinally by a bell-crank lever
acting on its end actuated by a suitable can worked from tho first motion shaft ;
the return of the bar being effected by springs. The cam is arranged to push the
bar forward and press the blade springs against the reels only at the time when the
yarn is being wound round the upper or narrower part of the yarn wound on the
spool the springs being moved out of contact whilst the yarn is being wound on

page_text: the lower and thicker part and by this action the too rapid revolution of the skein
of yarn on the reels is checked and so by putting a tension on the yarn at a proper
time causes the yarn to be wound on the spool in a firmer and more satisfactory
manner than has been possible hitherto.
A further improvement consists in arranging the parts for carrying or bearing
the spool or bobbin on the spindle so that when commencing to wind the action is
at first gentle and less likely to break fine or tender yarn by the too sudden
application of the winding force. In carrying out this part of the Invention the
"braid" usually formed with a feather or tenor-like piece for catching into a groove
on the spool or bobbin is formed perfectly smooth and a small disc of leather or
other suitable material is placed on the spindle over the "braid" pieco and over
this is placed a second "braid" piece made like an inverted cup so that when placed
in position on the spindle it encircles and covers the first "braid" piece and the
frictional part provents any waste getting between them. This cup-like "braid "
piece has a feather on it for engaging with the spool or bobbin.

page_text: I THOMAS THORPE of New Basford in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham Manufacturer and Machine Builder do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WINDING YARNS ON
SPOOLS OR BOBBINS," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My said Invention has for its object the improvement of the construction and
action of machinery for winding yarns on spools or bobbins whereby such winding
operation may be more expeditiously and satisfactorily performed than has been
hitherto possible with the machinery at present in use.
My Invention comprises improvements in the method of carrying the skeins of
yarn to be wound so that the machinery may be easily and quickly adapted for
winding skeins of longer or shorter length as required. In frames as at present
commonly constructed it is necessary to alter the reels carrying the skeins for each
spindle separately and individually along the whole length of the frame and
considerable time is thereby lost. By the present Invention the reels (or runners)
for carrying the skeins are arranged on short arms fixed on a rocking shaft running
the whole length of the winding frame. This rocking shaft is carried in bearings
on the framing and has a handlever fixed at right angles to it at one end. The
rocking shaft may be formed in short lengths and in that case will have a handle at
one end of each length. By moving this handle the row of reels connected with
that length of the rocking shaft to which the handle is attached may be raised or
lowered simultaneously to suit the length of the skeins of yarns which are passed
round the reels and also round reels carried on fixed arins on a stationary bar or on
the framing below the rocking shaft.
Another important improvement consists in arranging a bar to move to and fro
longitudinally alongside the rocking shaft carrying the upper row of reels this bar
having fixed on it a series of blade springs which are arranged to bear
intermittently on the reels. This bar is pushed inwards or forward longitudinally
by a bell crank lever acting on its end actuated by a suitable cam worked from the
first motion shaft the return of the bar being effected by springs. The cam is
arranged to push the bar forward and press the blade springs against the reels only
at the time when the yarn is being wound round the upper or narrower part of
the yarn wound on the spool the springs being moved out of contact whilst the
yarn is being wound on the lower and thicker part and by this action the too
rapid revolution of the skein of yarn on the recls is checked and so by putting a
tension on the yarn at a proper time cause the yarn to be wound on the spools in a
firmer and more satisfactory manner than has been possiblo hitherto.
A further improvement consists in arranging the parts for carrying or bearing
the spool or bobbin on the spindle so that when commencing to wind the action is
at first gentle and less likely to break fine or tender yarn by the too sudden
application of the winding force. In carrying out this part of the Invention the
"braid" usually formed with a feather or tenon-like piece for catching into a
groove on the spool or bobbin is formed smooth and a small disc of leather or other
suitable material is placed on the spindle over the "braid" piece and over this is
placed a second "braid" piece made like an inverted cup so that when placed in
position on the spindle it encircles and covers the first "braid" piece and the
Trictional piece and prevents any waste getting between them. This cup like
"braid” piece has a feather on it for engaging with the spool or bobbin,

page_text: And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
to be liereinafter referred to and representing my improvements. In these
Drawings the same or like parts are marked by the same reference numerals
wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an end elevation showing
my improvements as applied to a winding machine, whilst Figure 2 is a front
'elevation of part of such machine. Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a plan and
section of a "braid " piece to be hereinafter described. In the improved winding
machine the upper row of reels 1 for carrying the skeins of yarn are carried on
horizontal spindles at the ends of short arms 2 projecting from a rocking shaft 3.
This rocking shaft 3 is carried in bearings on a bracket 4 fixed to the framing 5 of
the machine. Fixed at one end of this rocking shaft 3 at an angle less than a
right angle preferably there is a land lever or handle 6 having on its outer end a
pawl 7 for engaging with teeth in a carved rack 8. This curved rack 8 is fixed on
the framing 5 conveniently for the pawl 7 to engage with its teeth and when the
handle 6 is moved forward tho row of reels 1 on the arms 2 on that rocking shaft
are simultaneously raised thus increasing the distance between the roels 1 thereon
and reols 9 carried on fixed arms 10 below. When the handle 6 is moved
backwards the reels 1 are consequently lowered and brought nearer to the lower
recls 9 below thus without loss of time and very conveniently the machino may be
a lapted to receive and wind skeins of greater or less length as may be required.
For carrying into effect the second improvement the rocking shaft 3 is formed with
& groove or recess along its length and into this groove there is fitted so as to be
capable of sliding a rod 11 the end of which will be seen projecting beyond the end
of the shaft 3 on referring to Figure 2. This sliding rod 11 has fixed on it a series
of blade springs 12 there being a spring 12 for each reel 1 and these blada
springs 12 are pressed away from the reels by suitable springs (not shown in the
Drawings.) These blade springs 12 are arranged to act at proper intervals as
brakes on the reels 1 by means of a bell crank lover 13 carried on a bracket 14.
attached to the framing 5. This bell crank lever 13 is caused by a cam 15 (shown
full size in Figure 5 of tho accompanying Drawings) through the connecting rod 16
to press the sliding rod 11 inwards and so press the blade springs 12 against the
reels 1 only at the time when the yarn is being wound round the upper or
narrower part of the yarn wound on the sp. ol. The cam 15 is keyed on a shaft 17
to which motion is imparted by a worm and worm wheel 18 from the first motion
shaft 19 on which is the usual winding drum for giving motion to the spindles 20.
A further improvement consists in arranging the parts for carrying or bearing
the spool or bobbin on the spindle so that when commencing to wind the action is
at first gentle and less likely to break fine or tender yarn by the too sudden-
application of the winding force. The arrangements for carrying out this part of
the Invention will be best seen by referring to Figures 3 and 4 on the accompanying
Drawings. The "braid " piece 21 which has hitherto been made with a feather
for engaging in a groove on the spool or bobbin is according to my Invention
formed amooth and without a feather and a small disc of leather or other suitable
frictional substance is placed on the spindle over the smooth "braid" piece. Over
this is placed a second movable piece 22 which is like an inverted cup and when in
position its side quite encircle and cover the suroth braid "piece and frictional
disc and so prevent any chance of any waste material becoming wound on the
spindle. This movable piece 22 has formed on it a feather or tenon like part for
engaging with the groove in the spool or tobbin. One great advantago gained by
this movable "braid" piece is that in the event of any part of the yarn being
tangled or twisted the yarn is not broken by the continued revolution of the spool
or bobbin as is the case with the fixed ones at present in uso the obstruction
causing the spool or bobbin to overcome the friction and thus stops the further
movement of the "braid " piece although the spindle will continue to rotate.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved machinery for winding yarns on spools or bobbins substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
2. The improved method of arranging the reels of winding machines on a rocking
shaft so that the whole series of reels may be raised or lowered simultaneously at
one operation substantially as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
3. The improved method of intermittently applying a brake to the reels of
winding machines substantially as and for the purpose herein before described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
4. The improved movable cup like "braid" piece for carrying or bearing the
spools or bobbins on the spindles of winding machinery substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1884.
Witness,
LOCK MOORE,
Patent Agent,
Nottingham.
THOMAS THORPE.