Improved Method of and Apparatus for Tying, Knotting, Looping, or Twisting Together Two Threads, specially applicable for Binding or Securing Hanks of Yarn.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1899-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Tying, Knotting, Looping, or
Twisting Together Two Threads, specially applicable for Binding
or Securing Hanks of Yarn.
I, MAX JULIUS NORDMANN, of Schillerstrasse, Dresden, Saxony, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:—
This invention consists in a process and apparatus for entwining two threads for
the purpose of forming durable firmly drawn knots and also loops by means of
crossing nooses or loops or bends.
In carrying out the invention a loop is formed in one of the two threads by
doubling it over at one end, the other end of the same being held fixed, through
which loop the second thread is inserted from the side which shews the over-
lying thread at the crossing place, then in the first thread a second and similar
loop or noose is made but with the thread turned in the contrary direction.
Through this latter loop is inserted the second thread and again in a contrary
direction and the knot is made by drawing together or pulling the second loop.
If the apparatus for performing this process is employed for making up skeins
or hanks either a knotting, or a looping, that is half knotting, or a twisting of the
threads can be carried out so that in the case of looping or twisting the firm knot
is only made at the beginning and end of the skein or hank, but of course knots
may also be made at the different loopings of the threads, further in making the
knots the skein or hank threads may also be knotted in therewith.
In making the firm knot, a tool substantially in the form of a shears is used,
the blades of which seize one (the first) of the two threads which comes from a
spool and draw it to a bow which then by the tool turning round through half
a circle is formed into a loop through which passes a shuttle carrying the second
thread, then by turning the tool back again a loop with a left hand turn is formed,
that is if the first loop has had a right hand turn, and similarly the shuttle with
the second thread passes through the loop in a direction opposite to its previous
passage.
If, as above referred to a thread end of a skein is to be knotted into the knots
said thread end comes between the two loops.
Whilst the first loop is closed by the backward movement, effected by spring
force, of the spool, the shears like tool releasing the loop, the second loop and
therefore the whole knot is drawn together in the manner that again with the
release of this loop the backward movement of the bobbin brings on the knotting,
the completion of which is effected by two special organs, a knot puller and a tying
frame for instance.
The knot puller consists of a lever carrying the spool thread, which lever finishes
the knot by holding its thread a short distance from the place of the knot pulls

page_text: in the direction of the first loop whilst the thread at the place of the knot is
securely held by the tying frame, or this latter can be movable and the knot
puller stationary, when the tying frame would pull on the upper thread.
The knot puller holds only the under thread and the location of the knot is on
the point of junction.
The knot is characterised by such a cross loop formation that it can be drawn
firmly together upon the slightest pull and without danger of fracturing the fine
threads which may be used, an advantage hitherto unattainable and only practic-
able in hand tying.
If twisting only is desired, the shears like tool (loop former) is so actuated that
the second thread (shuttle thread) is not inserted from the same side as the first
thread is crossed but always from the other side.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 17 to 27 shew the production of the knot
for binding hanks and skeins.
Upon commencing to tie up into hanks an end of each binding thread I, II, is
attached to a hook on the yarn reel (Fig. 17) and, a left hand twisting being
presupposed the two threads, under equal tension, are brought to the position
shewn in Fig. 18ª.
Thence the thread I is carried through the eye of a swinging thread guide
lever C, which may be termed a knot puller, said thread being taken as hereinafter
described from the loose spool I located on a stationary frame whilst the thread II
is guided past a frame Z of a tying arrangement located parallel to said reel from
a spool placed in a shuttle B which is moved to and fro in the direction of the
yarn threads stretched upon the reel frame.
For seizing, drawing forward, and giving a turn to the thread I so that it
may present a loop for the insertion of the thread II a loop former is provided
composed of two hooks, movably mounted on a pin which loop former I will
term a double hook needle.
The double hook needle A formed as a shears, is first carried in the closed state
between the first bend of the hank yarn III and the body of said bank in a
direction towards the reel axis it there seizes the stretched binding thread I
between its point of attachment to the hook on the yarn reel and the knot
puller C (Figs. 18ª, 18, 19) draws it out stretched to a loop at the same time
giving it a turn to the right (Fig. 20). Through this loop and from the same side
the second binding thread II drawn over the frame Z is now carried by the
shuttle B (Fig. 20) and whilst this is taking place the loop formed by the double
hook needle A is released (Figs. 21ª, 21b).
The released loop is now by back winding of the thread I on the backwardly
springing spool 1) first moved to the right and onwards with the knot puller C
(Figs. 21, 22) which is moved to the first loop. Further on, said released loop
is drawn under the frame Z and pulled upon to form with the previous left
handed loop a knot into which the commencing end of the first fold III (Fig. 24,
Sheet 6) of the hank can be firmly bound or knotted (Fig. 24). This completes
the knot.
During this operation shewn in Figs. 17 to 24 the tying device, with the double
hook needle A and shuttle B outside the yarn reel and the spool D) with the knot
puller C returned to its commencing position inside the reel, is displaced the
distance of a thread group of the hank as indicated by the frame Z, spool 1),
and knot puller C in Fig. 25.
The formation of a fresh knot now takes place in the above described manner
(Fig. 30) or a half knot (Fig. 31) or a twisting (Fig. 32).
In the second case (Fig. 31) the double hook needle A is again carried through
between the two thread groups towards the reel axis (Fig. 26) seizes as above
described the binding thread I between this first and second layer of yarn III
within the reel, draws it outwards and then by turning in an opposite direction
that is to the left, forms a left handed binding thread loop through which the

page_text: shuttle B carries the thread II back again in a direction opposite to its previous
passage.
During this time the newly formed loop is again released by the double hook
needle and likewise pulled upon by the backwardly springing spool D winding
up the binding thread I as described with reference to Fig. 17.
The second loop drawn in the contrary direction is then formed, not straight
off but first passes behind a fresh fold of the hank and the knot puller goes out
of operation.
In the case of only a twisting (Fig. 32) of the binding threads being required
the double hook needle A is displaced as previously described. It seizes the
thread I between the thread or yarn groups and draws it forward in the form of
a loop, which if the last loop has been left handed, will also be turned to the
left and the shuttle thread I carried through as above described.
After the
next fold a right hand turn follows whereupon the knot puller C is not moved
and merely serves as a thread guide lever for the loose binding in or tying up
places (Fig. 29).
The equable turning of both binding threads I, II, shewn in Fig. 32, at the loose
binding places takes place as a consequence of the method of binding shewn in
Fig. 29 with the two binding threads of equal length.
The described process may be performed with different kinds of apparatus,
only one and the preferred form of the same being here described and shewn in
its more important parts.
Amongst other variations the thread looper may be so provided that it either
spreads out the loop of the thread I formed by it and holds it open for the
passage of the second thread II in the shuttle B so that this can have stumpy ends
(Figs. 18, 21, 26, 37) or that it leaves the loop unopened in which case, a
shuttle is required that is pointed at both ends (Fig. 16) to enable it to pass
through such a loop.
In the drawings the thread looper is shewn, for these two cases, in two forms,
the one in Figs. 1, 8, 12, 18, 20, 20, 28, 33, which itself opens the loop for the
passage of the shuttle and the other in Figs. 15, 15d, which leaves the loop to
be drawn open by the shuttle in its passage through the same.
The remaining parts of the tying device are shewn in Fig. 2 in elevation, in
Figs. 3, 4, in plan, and the reel in Fig. 13 in elevation.
The preferred form of construction of the double hook needle consists of two
forked blades A1, A2, mounted on a pin and displaceable in the direction of its
axis and adapted to turn and open out. In conjunction with these forks are
hook needles a, a, which can move beyond the fork openings.
The double hook needle is moved at right angles to the axis of the tying device
and so far that in its forward position it takes the thread I into its forked ends
(Figs. 1, 12, 19) and turned to its drawn back position leaves the shuttle way
free (Figs. 2, 10, 20).
The seizing of the thread I inside the reel as well as the release of the same after
the turning and opening of the drawn loop for the passage of the shuttle B is
accomplished by the hook needles moving into and again out of the fork opening
of the blades A¹, A².
For this purpose the two hook needles a¹, a², are mounted to turn on a bolt A
(Fig. 11) which is guided in a sleeve A" guiding the forked blades A1, A2, and
which has a key or wedge a projecting out through a slot in said sleeve
(Figs. 9, 10, 11).
The sleeve or forked blade holder A³ is provided at its end with a guide piston a³
having guide ribs by which it is guided in slots k¹, 2, of a cylinder K
(Figs. 9, 10) upon the turning of which it is also turned and can at the same time
also be displaced longitudinally.
Upon the sleeve A" between a collar on the same and the key a' is arranged
a spiral spring X which tends to keep held back the hook needles a¹, a², guided by

page_text: studs a on the inner surface of the blades A1, A2, so that these appear closed
(Figs. 10, 20), and the thread to be taken up must, upon the forward movement
of the entire double hook needle, glide between the inner surface of the forked
blades A1, A2, opposite the hooks, and the hooks themselves and over these in
their backward movement in order to be carried by and with the same.
In addition to the guide piston a3 in the cylinder K the sleeve A³ receives
guidance from a block G adapted to slide on ways formed on the edges of an
opening in the wall P (Fig. 1) the sleeve being fitted to turn but not to slide in
said block which carries the sleeve with it through the attachment M³
(Figs. 8, 9, 10).
The guide block G has firmly attached to it a screwed extension (Figs. 11, 118)
on which is a nut H having two arms h for connecting by means of pins with the
short arms of and operating the forked blades A', A²
So soon as the guide cylinder K and with it the sleeve A³ is turned in the
reciprocating block G, the nut H turning with the forked blades travels on the
screwed extension and according to the direction of turning, spreads out the
forked blades A, A, thereby opening the right or left handed loop formed with
the binding thread I (Figs. 9, 10, 20, 26ª 28).
When, after the loop opening operation, the needle bolt or rod A* has reached
the end of its stroke in the guide cylinder K by reason of the longitudinal dis-
placement of the sleeve A³, said bolt A striking against the end of the cylinder
will, under compression of the spiral spring X by its key a, be driven forward in
the direction of the forked blades, thereby forcing the hook needles a¹, a², out
of the fork openings of said blades (Fig. 9), whereby the turned loop is released
and after the passage through it of the shuttle with the binding thread II, can
be pulled together.
The necessary turning of the double hook needle to the left, and after the
release of the loop, back again into the position shewn in Figs. 18", 18b, and upon
the next movement to the right and after the release of the loop likewise back
again, is accomplished by a spur pinion K¹, fixed on the guide cylinder K, being
set in motion from a toothed rack 03 which engages therewith (Fig. 11°) and
receives its motion from a slotted link 02 (Fig. 5) mounted on a pivot of said
link being driven from a shaft nº, excentric () and rod 0¹, so as to cause it to
oscillate.
The excentric rod O' is connected by a rod g (Figs. 1, 5) with a lever Q2 which,
through the action of a spring, contacts with a shaft Q' provided with tappets or
collar like enlargements Q (Figs. 1, 14) so that upon the turning of this shaft,
the lever Q, when in the displacement of the tying device it comes within the
reach of the tappets Q3, displaces through the rod q the point of engagement g¹
of the excentric rod in the link 02 to q2 (Fig. 5, dotted lines) and thus gives
a contrary direction to the double hook needle during the undisturbed collective
working.
The double hook needle A is continuously turned alternately to the right and
left thereby always producing twists, or loops (half knots) or knots, according
to the side from which the binding thread II is carried through the formed
loop.
As however it is required to make either knots successively or loops or twists
between the knots for which purpose upon a previous right turn another right
turn of the double hook needle A or upon a previous left turn another left turn
is required there are arranged on the shaft Q the aforesaid tappets Q3 which
at the proper time displace the lever Q and therewith also the excentric rod O
in order to change the point of engagement in the link 0 so that the toothed
rack 03 may again give the same direction of movement to the pinion K' and
double book needle A, the number of right turns to take place after a number of
left turns and rice versa being regulated by the length of the tappets Q3 on the
shaft Q and according as it may be desired to produce loose (twisted) hanking,
looped (half knotted) hanking, or knotted hanking.

page_text: These different kinds of hanking are illustrated in detail in Sheet 7 of the
drawings. In the loose hank the binding thread I (Fig. 41) is so looped or
twisted that when the binding thread II is passed through the same (Fig. 42)
and the loop then released, the loop thread I can be drawn longitudinally so that
the two threads are twisted (Fig 43). This loose hanking is more especially suit-
able for cotton because the yarn lying between the several twists may be easily
slid about laterally, which is an advantage in the dyeing process and in other
cases. In the looped (half knotted) hank (Figs. 44 to 46) the loop of the thread I
cannot draw open as in the preceding example but rather draws together and
binds itself firmly around the thread II. This form of hanking is more especially
suitable for wool. In the knotted hank (Figs. 47 to 49) the half knot is made
by twisting the two threads crossways from the position of Fig. 48 and the com-
plete knot made by means of a second half knot produced upon the first but in,
the opposite direction (Fig. 24 Sheet 6).
When the before described reversal of the link motion takes place there results,
not the left hand looping shewn in Fig. 26 but instead thereof, another right hand
looping (Fig. 28) which the shuttle passes through as in Fig. 26b.
By this
reversal of the turning direction of the double hook needle when working together.
with the shuttle a loose binding or twisting, that is, a right and left handed turning
of the binding threads is made between the firm fastening knots (Figs. 29, 32)
until the lever has come out of contact with the studs and bears upon the smooth
part of the shaft Q when a fresh reversal of motion permits the formation of
double or of half knots.
The to and fro guidance of the double hook needle A diametrically to the reel,
for the purpose of drawing out the binding thread I located within the reel on
the spool D (Fig. 8), making a loop in said thread (Fig. 10), and letting this
loop fall again (Fig. 9), takes place in an opening of the plate P (Fig. 1) from the
crank M of a shaft mo through a connecting rod M' and lever M2 which is movably
jointed to the link M and to the guide block G, whilst the shuttle B with its
spool B carrying the binding thread II is likewise moved in a slot opening of the
plate P (Figs. 1, 2, 5) parallel to the reeled yarn III (Fig. 18b) through the loop
from above downwards (Fig. 21b) or inversely (Fig. 26b) from a crank disc N
through a connecting rod N¹, a lever N2 jointed thereto and a connecting link N³
(Figs. 2, 5).
The shuttle B is moved in a controlled manner from the pivots e, e¹, of an
oscillating bow shaped double lever E which is moved to and fro by the link N³,
through a guide block F sliding on the plate P, the pivots e, e, of the double
lever engaging loosely in open slots or grooves formed in the shuttle B
(Figs. 2, 6a) out of which the pivots are adapted to alternately disengage.
So soon as the double lever E leaves the middle position shewn in Fig. 6ª, or
before it reaches this position, in which both pivots e, e¹ are simul-
taneously engaged, it has given to it a position inclined (Fig. 2) to the
right or left by means of a stud e² in the same moving in a guide groove f so
that the one or the other end of the shuttle is free from the respective disengaged
end of the double lever E and can glide into the loop of thread I, whilst the
shuttle is carried further or brought back by only one of the pivots c, el.
If in this way the shuttle, with one end arrived in the loop, is carried further,
the lever E, whilst the shuttle passes beyond its middle position (Fig. 6) and also
the loop is held in the middle of the shuttle, becomes inversely engaged by the
stud running in the other part 1 of the guide groove, so that said lever then
releases that end of the shuttle which must pass through the loop of thread I:
on the other hand it engages with the previously disengaged end of the shuttle
after the same has passed through the loop and in order to carry the shuttle
further and later on to make this movement inversely.
The action is further illustrated in Figs. 50, 51, Sheet 8.
Here the cam
groove is somewhat incorrectly shewn in order to make it clear how the double

page_text: lever E guided by its stud e² in the groove f is with its pivot e or el released from
the shuttle to set now the left end and then the right end of said shuttle free so
that is may pass unhindered by the one end into the openly held loop and then
after passing its middle position (Fig. 6ª Sheet 2) pass out of the loop again.
The plate P in or on which the shuttle and the double hook needle is recipro-
cated and on which the whole of the tying device, with the exception of the
binding thread spool 1) and the knot puller C, is mounted, is located, in front
of the reel carrying the yarn thread III, on a slide bed Q (Fig. 2) so as to be
displaceable to the right or left by means of a screw spindle as the yarn
thread is wound upon the reel and bound up, whilst the shafts mo, no, are driven
through a toothed wheel from a shaft / loose in the wheel but holding it by a
feather fixed in a groove in the shaft (Fig. 1).
Z is a rack or comb attached to the reel (Fig. 14) for the purpose of holding
the yarn thread separated into bundles to give the double hook needle working
room.
The knot puller C, through an eye in which the thread I is carried, is mounted
upon a slide with and underneath the spool D of this thread, said slide being
movable in dovetail grooves provided in an angle piece R forming part of the
reel frame. The knot puller C is adapted to turn on a pivot fixed in the slide r¹
but is also acted upon, at one side, by a spring c (Fig. 7 Sheet 1).
At the tying or binding places where the double or crossing knots are to be
pulled together, there is provided in the angle piece R a stud 2 (Figs. 7ª, 7d)
against which a lug or beak c¹ on the moving knot puller strikes, so that this
latter is pressed to one side (Figs. 74, 24) in order to pull the second loop tight
upon the firstly formed loop and thereby pull the knot tight, whilst later on it is
released from the stud 2 by the action of the spring and returns quickly back
to the position of Fig. 25, for a fresh placing of, and formation of a loop in, the
thread I in which position it holds the thread stretched in the direction that the
next yarn tying is to be done which then if no stud moves the knot puller to one
side results in only a half or single knot.
In this way, by means of the stud (Fig. 7) and with the aid of the tying
device and corresponding combined working of the main parts of the same, the
binding or knotting shewn in Fig. 30 or 31 is made according as studs are pro-
vided at every second binding place or only at some (fewer) places on the angle
piece R.
The binding thread spool D, which is moved within the reel together with the
knot puller, correspondingly to the movement of the tying device in front of the
reel, is held by pins to a spring housing provided inside with teeth d (7b) in
which engages one end of a spiral spring y whose other end is fixed to a boss on
which the housing turns, said boss being fastened on the spool spindle fixed in the
slide whereby the spool D is held yieldingly. This has for object that
when the binding thread I has been drawn from the spool D for loop forming and
thereupon again released, the excess of thread I is rewound upon the spool by the
backwardly springing bobbin.
The yielding hold of the end of the spring in the internal teeth of the housing
here serves that the latter, sprung outwardly with the continued unwinding of
thread from the spool I) whereby the spring would in time be quite wound up
and no longer yield, can always yield by the snapping back of the spring out of
the teeth and thus allow play for the further springing and turning of the spool.
Similarly to only one, two double hook needles at an acute angle may be
applied and actuated for alternate loop forming to make net knots as indicated in
Figs. 33, 34, in which case the shuttle first passes through a left hand loop formed
by the double hook needle UI by drawing forward the binding thread I and
finger lever B draws this thread (Fig. 35) somewhat more parallel to the axis
of the reel so that the second double hook needle 2 now actuated can seize the
binding thread at this part and form a second loop (Fig. 36).

page_text: The shuttle, after being conducted upwards through the first loop, then return-
ing carries the binding thread II through both loops still firmly held by both of
their hook needles (Fig. 37) which loops then after being released present when
drawn together (Figs. 38, 39) the peculiar cross looping of the binding threads
and form the net knot (Fig. 40).
With the second method of construction of the hook needle (Figs. 15ª to 15d
Sheet 5) the characteristic seizure and cross looping of the binding thread I is
performed without forked blades. In this case the two crossed lever books v
operated upon the needle holder V from the needle spindle V, seize the thread
upon their advance and pressure against the same (Fig. 15), and after drawing
back, likewise form a loop in turning (Fig. 15) through which the pointed
shuttle W (Fig. 16) passes whilst the loop is set free (Fig. 15).
The shafts p,, Q, T, (Fig. 14) for actuating the double hook needle and the
shuttle and for the displacement of the tying device of the spool D before and
behind the reeled yarn groups are driven from a spur wheel attached to or in
one piece with the belt pulley S3, loose upon the reel shaft, through other spur
wheels to u and t1, t2, which two latter can be disconnected when before
commencing or after completing the yarn binding, the reel is to be turned to
provide it with fresh yarn or thread material, to which end the tying device can
also be moved to one side (Fig. 14 dotted lines) whilst a belt pulley S fixed on
its shaft (Figs. 13, 14) serves for driving the reel and a loose pulley S2 for
stopping the same.
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. Process for making crossed knots and loops or nooses with two binding
threads one of which, the under thread, is utilised exclusively for loop forming
and the other, the upper thread is carried through the same stretched out, in which
process a loop is made in the under thread by doubling it over at its free end
whilst from the other end it is held stretched, through which loop the upper
thread is inserted from the side which shews the overlying thread at the crossing
place, the loop drawn upon and thereby made fast, then a second loop is made
in the under thread but with an opposite turn, through which second loop the
upper thread is again carried, whereupon by pulling together the desired knot
is made at a predetermined place, substantially as described and shewn.
2. A method of performing the process above referred to, in which after knotting
together the two threads the after following alternating right and left hand loops
are left as half knotting and not drawn together to form knots, or by varying
the form of the loops or bends and the direction of movement of the upper thread
to make twistings, substantially as described and shewn.
3. For the performance of the process above referred to, a mechanism consisting
of a turnable shears like loop drawer which forms alternating right and left
hand turned loops in an under thread; of a shuttle which carries the extended or
stretched out upper thread in a reciprocating direction through the loops after
each pulling together of the previously formed loops; and of a thread guide
serving as such upon the formation of the loops and afterwards when the loops are
formed, as a driven knot puller in order to unite two loops, following one upon
another, in a cross knot at a predetermined place in the thread, substantially as
described and shewn.
4. A construction of the mechanism referred to in Claim 3 in which a fixed
knot support determines the position of a looping between two thread groups,
or instead of the knot puller C makes fast the knots or loops on the threads or
yarns to be bound up, substantially as described and shewn."
5. A construction of the mechanism referred to in Claim 3 in which the
shears like loop former consists of two forked blades with hook needles arranged
thereon which forked blades, after seizing the under thread coming from the

page_text: under thread spool, are extended out by the hook needles and thereby carrying
in their forked ends the binding thread loop open out this latter for the passage
of the shuttle, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 31st day of July 1899.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
15, Tooks Court, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.