IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SEWING THREAD PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONOTHER CORDS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Keats, of Newcastle, in the County of
Stafford, Boot Manufacturer, Arthur Greenwood, of Leeds, in the
County of York, Mechanical Engineer, and Smith Wainwright,
also of Leeds, in the County of York, Draughtsman, for the
Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SEWING THREAD
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Keats, Arthur
Greenwood, and Smith Wainwright at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 6th September
1875.
We, JOHN KEATS, of Newcastle, in the County of Stafford, Boot
Manufacturer, ARTHUR GREENWOOD, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, and SMITH WAINWRIGHT, also of Leeds, in the
County of York, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manufacture of Sewing Thread
AND OTHER CORDS, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
Our Invention principally has reference to cable laid cords composed
เ

page_text: continue to pass. To this end each separate. thread is passed through an
eye connected to a tumbling lever which is held up so long as the thread
is whole, but when one of these threads breaks the lever will drop and
its reverse end will come opposite to a rotating stop, the effect of which
will be that the shaft on which the rotating stop is mounted will be
moved endway against a lever which liberates a catch and throws the
driving belt on to the loose pulley, thereby stopping the machine.
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Keats, Arthur Greenwood, and Smith
Wainwright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th March
1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
KEATS, of Newcastle, in the County of Stafford, Boot Manufacturer,
ARTHUR GREENWOOD, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanical
Engineer, and SMITH WAINWRIGHT, also of Leeds, in the County of
York, Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said John Keats, Arthur Green-
wood, and Smith Wainwright, Her special licence that we, the said
John Keats, Arthur Greenwood, and Smith Wainwright, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Keats,
Arthur Greenwood, and Smith Wainwright, our executors, admini-
strators, 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 THE
MANUFACTURE OF SEWING THREAD AND OTHER Cords, and in MACHINERY THERE-
FOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John
Keats, Arthur Greenwood, and Smith Wainwright, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our; or their; or one of
their hands and seals; should particularly describe and ascertain the

page_text: 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, we, the said John Keats, Arthur Greenwood,
and Smith Wainwright, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what..manner_the_same_is_to_be_performed,_to_be.
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :—
Our Invention has reference to cable laid cords composed of silk
filaments, and such as have heretofore been made by hand.
N
The object of this Invention is to further improve the machinery and
system of manufacture described in Letters Patent granted to John
Keats on the Tenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one, and numbered 1542.
The first part of our Invention relates to improvements in the
mechanism employed in distributing the inequalities of the filaments or
strands preparatory to the spinning and twisting operation so as to
ensure the manufacture of a thread or cord of uniform thickness. For
this purpose the thread as it is drawn from the supply bobbin and taken
up by the group of equalizing or distributing bobbins is measured
automatically, and when a given length of thread is delivered to one
bobbin of the group the action of the mechanism is arrested. The
attendant then leads the thread to a second equalizing bobbin, joining
the-thread-with-that-on-the-bobbin-if-it-contains any, and-restarts-the-
mechanism. This operation he repeats after every automatic stoppage
of the mechanism until the supply bobbin is exhausted or the group of
equalizing bobbins is filled.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings we have shewn at Fig. 1
an end elevation of our improved mechanism for distributing thread in
given lengths to groups of bobbins for the purpose of compensating for
or neutralizing the inequalities which such thread may possess, and at
Fig. 2 we have shewn in side elevation partly in section the mechanism
for traversing the thread over the equalizing bobbins.
In Sheet II. Fig. 3 represents on an enlarged scale and in plan view
a group of equalizing bobbins and the measuring apparatus and stop

page_text: action in connection therewith, and Fig. 4 is a corresponding side
elevation of the same.
in
Referring to Fig. 1 A, A, are the 'supply bobbins, from which threads
are drawn by the equalizing bobbins B, B, which bobbins are arranged
groups of three, more or less, and fitted to a mandril C, and rotate
with it. The mandril of each group of bobbins has a squared end,
which fits into the slotted end of a short axle D, which turns in fixed
bearings, and has a driving pulley E attached thereto. An endless
band E' from this pulley passes round a drum F on the main driving
shaft of the machine, and from this drum the several groups of bobbins B
on both sides of the machine are independently driven. On the boss of
each pulley E (see Fig. 4) is a pair of projecting stops e, and situate in
the plane of these stops is a rocking arm G having its fulcrum at g, the
use of which is to arrest the rotation of the pulley when either bobbin of
the group has taken up a certain length of thread. The end of the
rocking arm farthest from the pulley takes the form of a claw or hook,
and it rests upon the cylindrical flange of a worm wheel H, so long as
the arm is out of action. In this flange a notch is cut to allow of the
hooked end of the rocking arm (when the two are brought into coinci-
dence) to drop, and thereby.to elevate the opposite end of the arm, and
bring it into contact with one of the stops e. Gearing into the wormi
wheel H is a worm' H', on the axle of which is keyed a worm wheel H³.
This worm wheel gears into a worm H³ keyed on the axle I¹ of the
measuring wheel I. This measuring wheel I is situated immediately
above the supply bobbin, the thread being led off from the bobbin by a
swivel guide wire. The periphery of the wheel I is turned smooth, and
it is flanged to prevent the thread from slipping off the wheel. This
wheel and the gearing above mentioned, also the fulcrum for the rocking
arm G, and also the mandril C and axle D are carried by brackets
attached to the main framing, as will be clearly understood on an
inspection of the Drawings. Projecting from the bracket which carries
the shaft of the measuring wheel I is a guide pin i, over which the
thread passes on its way from the measuring wheel to the equalizing
bobbins. The thread on leaving the supply bobbin A is laid once or
twice round the measuring wheel I, and it is then led to one or other of
the equalizing bobbins of the group. Before reaching these bobbins it
passes over a traversing guide bar K, the guides of which serve to dis-
tribute the thread over the bobbin.
'

page_text: From the foregoing it will be understood that the draft on the thread
is obtained from the rotation of the bobbins B through the action of the
pulley E. This draft by reason of the lap of the thread around the
measuring wheel causes that wheel to rotate, and with it the gearing H,
H¹, H², H³, until the notch in the flange of the wheel H is presented to
the hook or finger of the rocking arm G. The lever will then drop into
the drawn position of Fig. 4, and will arrest the rotation of the driving
pulley E, and thereby stop the rotation of the bobbins B.
The operation of cutting the thread and connecting it with another
bobbin of the group is then to be effected by the attendant, who at the
same time releases the pulley E from the rocking arm-G, and thus restarts-
this portion of the machine.
It will be understood that the lengths of thread delivered will be
determined by the cut of the gearing or diameter of the measuring
wheel, which may be varied at pleasure.
The action of the traversing guide bar is so arranged that the thread
will be allowed to accumulate slightly in excess at the middle of the
bobbin, and thus prevent it from binding against the flanges. This is
effected in the following manner :-The machine, Fig. 1, being double,
two traversing bars are required. These bars are connected together by
a transverse bar Ki which carries a pair of lugs for receiving a joint pin
that connects the transverse bar with one end of a link K². The
opposite end of this link carries a pin which couples it to a vertical rock
lever L by passing through a slot in the upper end thereof. This rock.
lever has its fulcrum at l, and it carries at its lower end a bowle which
is caused to bear against the face of a rotating cam M carried by a spur
wheel M¹. This spur wheel is mounted loosely on the boss of a spur
wheel M³ which turns freely on a stud axle. These wheels M³ and M*
-both gear-into--the-same-pinion M₁and receive motion therefrom, the
wheel M² having however one tooth less than the wheel M' for the
purpose of producing-a-differential motion. The pinion M³ is cast on
the boss of the wheel M* which receives its motion from the pinion M
on the main driving shaft F. As therefore rotary motion is imparted
to this gearing the cam M will be caused to rock the lever L, which
through the link K and the transverse bar K will give an endway
motion to the traversing guide bar K, which will thus spread the thread
as it is taken up over the surface of the bobbin. The variable character

page_text: of this traverse is obtained by providing the spur wheel M³ with a face
cam, and the wheel M' with a projecting piece that rides upon the cam.
These wheels being held together by any convenient elastic pressure and
rotating at slightly different speeds, the wheel M¹ carrying the cam M
will receive a slow lateral traverse, and thus the position of the rocking
lever L will be constantly shifted, while at the same time its rocking
motion is maintained without variation of length.
Our Invention relates, secondly, to the conversion of the threads or
strands obtained in the manner above described into sewing thread or
cords, and consists of improvements in the machinery for the like
purpose Patented by the said John Keats in June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-one; in that machine the threads were led off-
from the cqualizing bobbins and twisted and laid together to form a
cord before reaching the guide roller which passed them on to the
winding-on reel.
By our improved mechanism we give the twist for the formation of a
cord after the spun or twisted threads have passed the guide roller, and
we thereby ensure a more perfect distribution of the twist. laid into the
individual strands or threads, and consequently obtain a better quality
of cord.
•
In Sheet III. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 5 is a front
elevation of a portion of our spinning and twisting machine; Fig. 6 is
a transverse sectional clevation of the same. A is a fixed rail extending
from end to end of the machine and supporting the groups of spindles B
from which the carriers of the equalizing bobbins C depend. These
spindles B are supported in tubes B¹ which are made fast to the rail A.
The spindles are grouped as usual in twisting machines around a central
stud axle spindle B*, as shown best in the partial plan view, Fig. 7.
Fitted loosely on the stud axles B* are band pulleys 1 which are driven
by bands 2 passing around a drum 3 which extends from end to end of
the machine and receives motion through a band 4 from tho main
driving shaft 5. The pulleys 1 are severally.cast with a spur pinion 6
which engages with spur pinions 7 keyed on the spindles B. This
arrangement serves to give rotary motion to the carriers and thereby
to impart the requisite twist to the thread as it is drawn off the bobbins.
c are friction breaks of the ordinary construction which press upon the
bobbins and put the requisite tension on the threads.

page_text: The bobbins are represented as arranged in groups of three, but the
groups may be formed of any desired number of bobbins. The threads
from each bobbin of the group are led through guides d down to pins e,
between which they pass, and they are then led severally through a
guide wire f, which is free to slide endwise in its support on a bracket
on the main framing of the machine. From these wires the threads
pass to a roller D, around which they are laid and passed over a pin c²,
thence to an eye g, as a combined strand, and so to the flyer E, the
rotation of which causes the threads to be laid together and form a cord
in the usual manner, giving the same the requisite-reversed twist and
_laying-it-on-the bobbin F. To this roller D a traverse motion is given
to equalize the wear over its surface. A convenient arrangement for
effecting this will be a worm and worm wheel and excentric gearing,
any well-known contrivance will answer the purpose. The spindle Fi
of this bobbin is fitted with a pulley 8, which receives motion through
a band 9 from a drum 10 on the driving shaft 5, which drum like the
drum 3 extends from end to end of the machine. G is the copping rail,
which supports the bobbin F, and gives it the requisite vertical traverse
in the usual manner.
but
'
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the twist
put into the threads by the rotation of the bobbin carriers b will be free
to distribute itself along the length of the thread comprised between
the bobbin C and the roller D, and the laying twist will extend from
the flyer E to the fixed pin or a runner e¹, thereby ensuring an equable
distribution of the reserved or laying twist. The threads are laid round
the roller D in order to obtain a bite of that roller, and the roller is
driven at any desired speed to suit the amount of twist required to be
put into the individual threads and into the cord.
-This-roller receives motion through a train of gearing, shown by dots
in Fig. 6 from. the main driving shaft 5; and from a spur pinion on
the axle of the roller D motion is communicated to a tappet shaft H,
which is provided to actuate the stop motion.
We have said-that-the threads from the bobbin C on their way to the
roller D are led through guides f; these guides are severally connected
to a counterweighted bell-crank lever / fulcrumed at h³, as shown in ;

page_text: Fig. 5 by
the partial plan view at Fig. 8, and capable of rocking, so as to enter the
path of one of the tappets h³ of the tappet shaft H. This rocking
motion occurs whenever a thread is broken, and the rotation of the
tappet shaft is consequently arrested. To permit of this the pinion that
gives motion to the tappet shaft is carried by a sliding spring clutch.
When therefore the rotation of the shaft is arrested the clutch will be
forced out of action by the inclined faces of the quiescent half of the
clutch, and pressed back upon a locking rod I, which is mounted in
rear of the clutch, and is supported at the level shown in
means of a fixed catch i taking into a notch in the rod I. This rod is
pivotted at its lower end to one end of a crank lever K, the other end of
which carries a belt fork for shifting the driving belt from the fast to the
loose pulleys on the driving shaft 5. This bell-crank leyer and its rod
are retained in their normal position (at which time the belt is on the
driving pulley) by the interlocking of the rod I with the catch i, and
the tendency for the rod I to bear against the catch i is given to it by
the pressure of a spring I*. When however the sliding clutch before
mentioned is by reason of the stoppage of the tappet shaft thrust
backwards it will push the rod I off its catch. A spring L pendent from
a fixed pin of the framing and connected to the crank lever K will then
come into action, and pulling upon the end of the crank lever to which
the rod I is connected will rock the crank lever to the dotted position of
Fig. 5, and shift the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, thereby
stopping the action of the machine.
'
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements
in the Manufacture of Sewing Thread and other Cords, and Machinery
therefor," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
we wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent we claim,—

page_text: Thirdly. The stop motion constructed and operating as described with
reference to Sheet III. of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Keats, Arthur Greenwood,
and Smith Wainwright, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
the Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand 5
eight hundred and seventy-six.