IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING WEFT, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO SPINNING MACHINERY
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 77, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING
WEFT, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO SPINNING MACHINERY."-A communication from Muloteaux
⚫ & Co.
Sealed the 20th October 1857, and dated the 13th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th May 1857.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 77, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WINDING WEFT, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS
APPLICABLE TO SPINNING MACHINERY," (communicated to me by Muloteaux & Co.,
foreigners residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
The yarn or thread is so wound on the bobbin or cone that each layer of
yarn, &c. may lay over the preceding layer, but come a little (say, one or
more turns,) more forward than it; the layers being thus made to hold firmly
together in such manner that the weft bobbins may be of any desired form,
may be carried about without danger of being unravelled or coming undone in
the shuttle.
A helix, spiral, coil, screw or plate, or band curved into the form of a screw,
or other suitable curvilinear form, and acting as a pusher, is used for imparting

page_text: a continuous forward motion, and is itself actuated by a toothed wheel, which
regulates its speed in such manner that, by employing wheels of different
diameters and number of teeth, the apparatus may be adapted for various
degrees of fineness of yarn; or instead of a wheel, any equivalent regulating
contrivance may be employed. The spiral, helix, or curved piece may be
vertical, horizontal, or oblique, and solid or not; it may be a fixture, or made
moveable in part, so that its shape, and hence that of the bobbin, may be
slightly altered by adjusting screws. The bobbin or cone spindles are driven
by an endless band, composed of india-rubber, leather, gutta percha,
caoutchoucized cloth, or other similar material, smooth or corrugated, which is
brought under the rollers or pulleys of the bobbin or cone spindles, (so that they
bear against it,) and is stretched over two drums (one of which is made capable
to move to and fro), and travels over other rollers below it for diminishing
friction. This arrangement is also applicable to spinning machines generally.
Motion is imparted to the machinery constructed according to this Invention,
and is communicated through a train of wheels to the drums, over which the
driving band or bands is or are stretched. A train of wheels also actuates,
through an endless screw or otherwise, the regulating wheel, or equivalent,
which work the spiral or curved strip or pushers. Motion may be communi-
cated through the wheels to two sets of helices, one on each side of the
machine. The wheels which work them are mounted on a shaft extending
along the machine, having at each end a toothed wheel, which imparts motion
to a cam shaft and cam. The train of wheelwork is so contrived, that by
throwing the first toothed wheel out of gear the whole apparatus may be
stopped.
The helical pushers in revolving impel forward a plate or carriage free to
move in the framework. The cam lifts at intervals a lever connected with a
bar, which carries guides for the yarn to pass through (and which I call a
guide carrier bar), also a spindle or rod, placed below it and connected to it
by cross pieces, the cam giving an alternating to-and-fro motion or rocking
action to the guide carrier bar, while the helical or spiral pusher imparts a
continuous forward action to it. The rod is connected to a travelling bed, on
which are set the cops carrying the yarn or thread to be wound off, whence it
is delivered through hollow guide reels mounted on the guide carrier bar, and
steadied by weights, and thence through guide eyes also on the bar, from which
it is led to wooden, paper, or other cones, slipped over the spindles or bobbins.
Thus the guide carrier bar partakes of a twofold motion, viz., a vibrating and
a continuous forward action, which double motion is communicated to the
yarn while being wound on the bobbin.

page_text: The drums, rollers, pulleys, or whorls of the bobbins or cones are kept against
the driving band by a hooked rod, which also serves when required to stop any
one of the bobbins when desired without disturbing the action of the rest, by
turning it and hooking the end into a groove in the bobbin roller, in which
there is a stop, and which, being kept by the band against the hooked rod, is
thereby arrested. The rollers may be brought against the driving band by an
arrangement of screw studs working in a groove in a sliding plate. When
the fibrous substance to be wound is in skeins, skeleton rollers or frames are
used, which are mounted on the general framework, and the fibre is carried
over a guide bobbin through the guide rod to the weft bobbin.
To stop the work when the bobbin is full the following contrivance may be
used: A rod, locked into the back of the machine when it is at work, is
lifted free by another rod, on which it rests, and is drawn forward by a spring
throwing the driving strap drum out of gear, and also the first of a train of
wheels in connection with cam spiral pusher and thread carrier, thereby
stopping the whole machinery. The second rod itself is raised by an arm,
which comes in contact with a projection on the moveable plate, pushed
forward by the helical or other like pusher, against which it is kept by a
spring, and when it gets to the end and meets no further resistance from it, it
is brought back by the spring to the beginning of the helix ready to move
forward again. The parts of the machine are so adjusted as to travel up and
down readily.
The shaft of the driving band drum may be made in two parts, coupled
together, so that they may be easily connected and disconnected by the forked
lever, actuated by the disengaging contrivance just referred to. The position
of the moveable drum may be regulated by a screw, so as to stretch the band
more or less.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL.
HENRY, of 77, Fleet Stret, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send'
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,

page_text: did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Henry, 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, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING WEFT,
AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO
SPINNING MACHINERY," communicated to me by Messrs. Muloteaux & Co.,
foreigners residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Michael Henry, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Michael Henry, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say:--
According to these improvements, yarn or thread is wound into a bobbin or
cop of weft, on a receiving cone being laid on for the purpose in successive
layers, each of which, as wound on, lays over the preceding one, but comes a
little, say, one or more turns more forward than it, whereby the layers are
made to hold firmly together; and the wound weft thus formed into a cop
may be carried about from place to place without danger of its becoming
undone or misshapen, or giving way in the shuttle, .while at the same time
having any desired form or configuration imparted to it. The yarn or thread
while being wound on has both an oscillating or rocking and a continuous
progressive motion communicated to it. The progressive or forward motion
is imparted by a propeller or pusher, consisting of a helix, spiral, screw, or coil,
or plate or band curved into the form of a screw, or other suitable curvilinear
form, employed in combination with a toothed wheel, which regulates its
speed in such manner, that by employing wheels of different diameters and
number of teeth the apparatus may be adapted for various degrees of fineness
of yarn or thread'; or instead of a wheel, any equivalent regulating contrivance
may be employed. The spiral, helix, or curved piece may be, if desired, made

page_text: adjustable or so contrived that its shape, and hence that of the boDDIN, may
be altered to a certain extent.
The spindles of the bobbins or cones on to which the weft is wound are
driven by an endless strap or band of india-rubber, gutta percha, leather,
caoutchoucized cloth, or other similar suitable material (smooth or corrugated),
which is brought under the wharves, rollers, or pulleys of such bobbin or cone
spindles, so that they may bear against it, and is stretched over two drums,
one of which is made to move to and fro (or over other equivalent adjustable
stretching contrivance or frame), so that the degree of tension of the band
may be varied.
The band also travels over other rollers below it for
diminishing friction. This arrangement is applicable to spinning machinery
generally.
A contrivance is employed for stopping any one of the bobbins or cone
spindles separately and independently of the others, whereby, in case of a
thread breaking, the mischief may be remedied without necessitating the
stoppage of the whole machinery.
In machinery constructed according to this Invention, motion is com-
municated through a train of wheels to the drums over which the driving band
or bands is or are stretched. A train of wheels also actuates, through an
endless screw or otherwise, the regulating wheel, or its equivalent, which works
the "propeller;" motion is also communicated through this train of wheels to
a shaft extending along the machine, having at each end a toothed wheel,
which imparts motion to a cam shaft and cam. The cam lifts at intervals a
lever connected with a bar, which carries guides for the yarn to pass through,
and which I call a "guide carrier ;" and also a spindle or rod placed below such
bar, and which is connected to it, and also to a travelling bed, on which are
set pins carrying the yarn or thread to be wound off, and whence it is delivered
over guide reels and through guide eyes in the carrier bar to cones placed on
the spindles. The cam imparts a rocking motion to the guide carrier; while
at the same time the propeller in revolving impels forward a plate or carriage
free to move in the framework, and thence imparts a continuous forward
motion to the guide carrier bar, which thus receives a rocking motion from the
cam and a forward-motion from the propeller, which twofold motion is also
communicated to the thread or yarn while being wound on the cone or bobbin
spindles.
I now proceed, with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed, to explain
more particularly the construction and mode of action of the machine, without
confining myself to the mere details or accessory parts referred to..
Figure 1 is an end view of a portion of this improved machinery; Figure 2,

page_text: a section; Figure 3, a; plan; Figure 4, a detailed view of a propeller with
regulating wheel; Figure 5 is a plan; and Figure 6, side view, in section, of a
spindle axis, with its pulley; Figure 7, a section of one of the thread guides.
Motion may be imparted to the machinery by a crank handle, toothed
gearing, or otherwise. The mode represented in the Drawings is by means of
a handle A, which actuates a toothed wheel B and pinion C. The wheel B
itself imparts motion to two toothed bevil wheels D, D³, which actuate shafts
E, E, carrying drums F, F', over which the endless driving bands G, G³, are
stretched. The drum F is adjustable, being mounted in a frame 11*, Figure 3,
which is caused to advance or recede by an adjusting screw 10, and thereby
vary as desired the tension of the strap G¹. H1, H2, is a toothed clutch
for throwing the drum F into and out of gear, the drum being stopped by
disconnecting the teeth of H, which are engaged and disengaged by means of
a forked lever, worked by a rod, herein-after to be referred to.
The wheel C drives two toothed wheels I, I', each of which actuates two
wheels J, K, and J', K. Both sides of the machine being alike, it will be
sufficient to explain the mechanical parts of the one side, as they are repeated
at the other side of the machine, such other like parts being occasionally
referred to by a corresponding letter; having one or more accents to dis-
tinguish it.
The wheel K actuates an endless screw L on a shaft M, which screw Lis
in gear with and drives a regulating toothed wheel N, which imparts motion
through a shaft O to a helix, or propeller, or pusher P. Figure 4 shews this
portion of the machinery detached. There is a like helical propeller P, P¹, &c.
at each end of the machine, so as to render the action as regular or uniform as
may be; that is to say, the machine is provided with four such apparatus, two
at each front, and all acting similarly, being driven by the wheels J, J", and
J, J The wheels J, J", are mounted on the same shaft Q, which extends
.the entire length of the apparatus, and carries at each end a bevil wheel R,
which, through bevil wheels S, T, (on a shaft U,) drives a conical pinion V on a
shaft carrying a cam a. The wheel J receives, as before stated, the motion
which the wheel J" on the same shaft Q imparts to the propeller P by the
intervention of the toothed wheels I", K"; the latter has on the same shaft
with it the endless screw. L", which drives the propeller P through the
regulating wheel N"; thus, to stop all these propellers (and the thread carriers
which they actuate), it is only needful to throw the wheel C out of gear with
the wheel I. Y is a carriage, free to move in the framework X, and having
attached to it a projecting piece Z. When the machinery is in motion, the
propellers P, P, in revolving impel or push before them the projections

page_text: Z, Z", &c., with which they come in contact, and consequently propel forward
the carriage Y, Y", &c. X is the framework in which the carriage Y travels,
by screws 12 sliding in guide grooves; d is the guide carrier or bar, which
carries the guides for the yarn.
".
As the cam à revolvės, it throws up and down a lever b, connected to a bar,
which unites the guide carrier d to a rod c (which is also attached to d at
intervals by cross pieces e, and thus partakes of the same action); the cam a
and lever 6 thus impart to the guide carrier an alternating to-and-fro or
rocking action while it is being continuously advanced or impelled forward by
the propeller P, P", driving the carriages Y, Y", through the intervention of
the part 11, the velocity of such movement being regulated by the diameter
and number of teeth of the wheels N, N". f is a carriage or travelling bed,
on which are set the pins or reels k holding the fibrous matter to be wound off.
The piece 11 carries a lever connected to the rod c, which is also connected to
the carriage f and to the guide carrier d, as before explained. The carriage f is
supported on friction rollers i, ¹¹, and travels on a platform or way h, h", being
drawn forward with the pieces c and d, to which it is attached by spiral springs
9, 9", and links 13. On the guide carrier d are a set of guide reels ; (steadied
by weights 1, Figure 7), over which the thread passes as delivered from the
reels k, and thence through the eye of a bent rod m, also on the guide carrier
d, whence it passes on to the cones on the spindle p; these cones may be
made of wood or paper. Thus the guide carrier d partakes of a twofold
action, viz, a rocking or vibrating motion and a continuously advancing action,
which is imparted to the thread while being wound round the cone as it turns
with the spindle.
The spindles p are kept constantly revolving, being caused to rotate by the
driving bands G, carried over friction rollers o, which serve to ease their action
and diminish friction; these friction rollers are mounted on a frame q, set
under the pulleys.or rollers r of the cone spindles p. The rollers or pullies'r
O are kept up against the band by a hooked rod s, which serves when required to
stop any one of the spindles without disturbing the action of the others. This is
effected by turning the rod s into the position indicated in red lines, Figure 5,
and hooking one end into a slot in the roller, in which there is a stop, and thus,
the roller being kept by the band against the rod s; is arrested without inter-
fering with or stopping the other rollers or parts of the machinery. The roller
or pulley may be caused to bear against the driving band and to commence
revolving by screws t, which allows the frame u to be raised or lowered at
pleasure. When the fibrous matters to be wound off are in skeins instead of

page_text: reels, frames or skeleton rollers V are used, which are set on the platform W,
and the thread is delivered over a guide reel on a guide carrier (not seen in
the Drawings) and let through the eye of the guide rod m on to the receiving
cone.
To stop the work when the bobbins are full, and the guide carrier at the
end of its course, the following contrivance is used:- is a rod, formed with a
bolt piece which is locked on to a stop y at the back of the machine when
at work; one end of the piece rests on a transverse rod w, which when raised
lifts the end of z and disengages the bolt piece, when the rod z will be drawn
forward by a spring near the front of the frame, thereby disconnecting the
drum G, and stopping the driving strap, cone pulleys, and. spindles, while it
also draws back the toothed wheel I, thereby arresting the cams a, a¹, &c.,
propellers P, P¹, &c., guide carriers, and delivery of thread or yarn.
I now proceed to describe how the rod is lifted, and also how the carriages
Y, Y", return to their previous working positions, so that the machine may be
again set to work. When the projection Z with its carriage Y arrives at the
end of the propeller P, there being no further portion of the helix in contact
with it, and consequently no further resistance offered to it, it returns and bears
again against the beginning of the propeller,. being kept up to or in contact
with it in its forward movement by a spring a, (Figures 3 and 4.) At the side
of the carriage Y is a projection 1, which, coming in contact with the swinging
end of an arm 2, swings it round forward, thus lifting up the other end 3 of
this arm 2, which, being set under the transverse rod w, raises this rod, which
in its turn lifts the rod or bolt z, and thereby sets it free and allows it to
yield to the action of the spring, which draws the rod in a contrary
direction..
The parts of the machine are so contrived as to travel up and down readily
when required for purposes of adjustment, for which purpose they may be
formed with feathers or sliding pieces fitting in grooves. Thus, the shaft
of the propeller P is mounted on a frame 4, attached to the framework X by a
screw 5 sliding in a guide groove 6, and thus adapts itself to different
depths as required on changing the regulating wheels.
In Figure 4 the propeller P is shewn as consisting of a thin metal plate 7,
curved into a spiral form, and connected at one end to a plate 8 by screws 9,
by which its configuration, and hence that of the cop or bobbin of weft, may be
altered or modified to a certain extent; but I declare that I do not restrict
myself to the precise form or arrangement of "propeller" shewn, and this
pusher or propeller may be vertical, horizontal, or oblique, and solid or not,

page_text: and made adjustable by screws or not. And further, I do not confine myself
to the precise form, position, or arrangement of regulating wheel represented,
as the same may be varied so as to produce the same effect, or other
equivalent regulating contrivance may be substituted for the toothed wheel.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that, except as herein-after
particularly claimed, I do not claim as of the said Invention any of the parts
above described separately or apart from their application and combination in
the manner and for the purposes herein stated; and I. declare that I do not
confine myself to the exact details or accessory parts herein-before referred to,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of the present
improvements as herein set forth; but that I claim,-
First, the general combination and arrangement of machinery for winding
weft, herein-before described with reference to the Drawings annexed.
Second, the combination, in manner and for the purpose herein-before
explained, of the propeller or pusher, with a regulating wheel or other
equivalent regulating contrivance, whereby the velocity and action of such pro-
peller are determined.
Third, the application and employment for driving the cone or bobbin
spindles of an endless strap or band extended over two drums (or a frame
or stretching apparatus), one (or a part of which) is made adjustable, so as to
vary the degree of tension of the band), and which band passes under and
drives the pulleys of the spindles, all as herein-before described; and I also
claim the employment and application of this aforesaid combination and arrange-
ment of driving band and adjustable drums, or stretching apparatus and friction
rollers, for the transmission of motion in and to parts of spinning machinery
generally.
Fourth, the arrangement, herein-before described, and represented in the
Drawings annexed, for stopping any one of the spindle pulleys or rollers
separately without interfering with the action of the others.
Fifth, the method of action and arrangement of parts for imparting to the
yarn or thread the particular combined rocking and progressive action while
being wound on to the receiving cone, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the mode of winding weft, herein-before described, in so far as
regards the forming of the cops or bobbins of weft of successive layers of yarn
or thread wound round cones, and proceeding alternately from end to end, and
back again of such cones, and having at each oscillation a progressive motion,
determined by the propellers or pushers, and their regulating wheels or

page_text: contrivances, in such manner, that the layers may hold firmly together and the
cop or bobbin of wound weft so formed may be carried about without danger
of becoming undone.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
G. C. ANDERSON,
77, Fleet St.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)