IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING OR SPOOLING THREADS OR YARNS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREPOR.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Shanks, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDING OR SPOOLING THREADS OR YARNS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED
THEREPOR.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Shanks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th February 1875.
I, HENRY SHANKS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WINDING OR SPOOLING THREADS OR YARNS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say :-
-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in winding or spooling
threads or yarns, refers more especially to the winding or spooling
thereof into the finished state for the market, and particularly that class
of threads or yarns which are used in sewing machines.

page_text: The Invention has also as part of its object to avoid the flattening and
injury done to threads or yarns by the drag and friction due to the
existing modes of winding.
The mechanism employed for effecting the foregoing objects consists
of spindles, which carry the tubes upon which the yarn or thread is
wound. Parallel with the axis of the spindle is a guide, in which the
building rod reciprocates, and by which the yarn is received and built on
the tube. The building rod is connected by a link to a lever, which is
reciprocated or vibrated by a revolving cam, and the length of travel of
the building rod is so adjusted that when beginning to lay the yarn or
thread upon the tube it travels to the full extent, the length of travel
being gradually shortened as the building proceeds, the result being that
the yarn or thread is wound or spooled into a form which is cylindrical
at the central part and conical at either end.
The varying motion of the building rod is effected by shifting the
point of connection with the lever actuated by the cam, that is to say,
towards or from the fulcrum of that lever, this having the effect of
varying the extent of throw or movement of the building rod.

page_text: administrators, or 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WINDING OR SPOOLING THREADS OR YARNS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Shanks, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Henry Shanks, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in winding or
spooling threads or yarns, refers more especially to the winding or
spooling thereof into the finished state for the market; and whilst the
Invention is applicable to the winding or spooling of threads or yarns
generally it is particularly applicable to the winding or spooling of that
class of threads or yarns composed either wholly or of a combination of
cotton, silk, or linen fibres, and which are used in sewing machines.
In winding or spooling threads or yarns on to bobbins according to
the modes hitherto practised the thread or yarn on account of the drag or
friction produced upon it has a tendency to become flattened, which
flattening weakens or injures the thread, both as regards its strength and
quality.
My said Invention has also as part of its object to avoid such
flattening or injury and to preserve the original strength and elasticity
of the thread, and in winding according to my said Invention the bobbins
hitherto used (which being heavy are a source of extra expense for
carriage or freight) are dispensed with, the thread being either wound

page_text: on a light tube or pirn composed of paper, wood, metal, or other suitable
material; or the winding may be effected without such tube or pirn.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the thread or yarn is wound or spooled, and the
arrangement or construction of the mechanism employed in effecting the
said operation, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side
elevation of a length of thread or yarn in the form which it assumes
when wound or spooled in accordance with my said Invention; Figure 2
is a vertical section, and Figure 3 a plan of Figure 1.
In winding or spooling the thread into the form shewn the building
rod of the machine herein-after described is so adjusted that when
beginning to lay the thread or yarn upon the tube or pirn a the rod
travels to the full extent, laying the thread in parallel layers from end
to end of the said tube or pirn. The length of travel of the building rod
is gradually shortened as the building proceeds and the spool increases
in diameter, the result being that the yarn or thread is wound or spooled
into a form which has a cylindrical portion 6¹ at the central part, and a
conical portion cat either end, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings.
It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to wind or spool
the thread or yarn in the form shewn at Figures 1 and 2, as other forms
may be adopted without departing from the essential features of my
said Invention, as for example the thread or yarn may be wound into
the form illustrated at Figure 4, or the form shewn at Figure 5 of the
Drawings may be adopted, it being explained that into whatsoever shape
or form the length of thread is wound the winding thereof is performed
in the manner herein-before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2,
that is to say, in parallel layers from end to end of the tube or pirn.
In using thread wound in accordance with my said Invention in
sewing machines the advantage pertains that no addition to or alteration

page_text: unwound in manner similar to the unwinding of the thread from the
wooden bobbins hitherto employed.
Another advantage which accrues from my said Invention is that
the thread whilst being unwound reels off easily, but still with sufficient
drag to prevent curling.
The machinery or apparatus constructed in accordance with my said
Invention for winding or spooling threads or yarns as herein-before set
forth is illustrated in front elevation at Figure 6, and in end elevation at
Figure 7 of the appended Drawings. As shewn by these Figures the
mechanism consists of a framing A, on which a number of spindles B
are supported, which spindles carry the tubes or pirns a on which the
thread or yarn is wound, or the thread or yarn may be wound on the
spindles themselves. In front of the spindles B the building rod b
(which receives the thread and builds it on the tubes or pirns) is placed,
the said rod being supported at each end of the machine on brackets or
guides C which are centred upon a shaft E supported in the upper part
of the framing A. At one end of the machine the bracket or guide O is
connected by a link E to a lever F, which is reciprocated or vibrated by
a cam G which bears upon a pin d fixed in the lever F.
The length of
travel of the building rod is regulated by attaching a screw I to the
lever F and passing the said screw through an eye or head H formed on
the lower end of the link E, and which is constructed with a thread
corresponding to that of the screw I. By this means when the screw is
rotated the rod or link Ę is caused to move nearer to the fulcrum x of
the lever F, and a lesser travel of the building rod is thereby produced.
The moving parts of the mechanism are actuated from the shaft K, on
one end of which (the end not shewn on the Drawings) a driving pulley
is fixed. On the end of the shaft opposite to the pulley a spur wheel Ĺ
is placed which gears with a corresponding wheel M fixed on a stud N
supported in a bracket O. On the stud N a spur pinion P is also fixed,
which gears into a spur wheel Q fixed on the same shaft or stud with
the cam G, and by this means the cam G and through it the lever Fand
building rod 6 are actuated so as to build the thread in parallel rows or
layers from top to bottom, and vice versa, of the tubes or pirns a, which
are caused to rotate by cords or bands e passed round pulleys f fixed on

page_text: the spindles B, and also round a drum S secured on the driving
shaft K.
The travel of the building rod 6 upwards and downwards is regulated
and adjusted as the building proceeds by the mechanism herein-before
described, the actuating of which is effected by placing a pinion on the
screw I and gearing it with a worm screw k placed on the stud or shaft x
whereon tho lever F is centred loosely. A spur pinion m is also fixed
on the said shaft or stud x and geared with a corresponding spur
wheel T, which also gearing with the spur wheel Q on the axis of the
cam G rotates the screw I through the intervention of the gearing set 1
forth. As the screw rotates whilst the building of the thread is pro-
ceeding the travel of the building rod is decreased, and a spool of thread
of the form herein-before set forth is produced.
It is to be here understood that although the machine described and
shewn on the appended Sheet of Drawings is that which I prefer to
employ in winding or spooling threads or yarns into the finished state.
for the market, and in the manner herein-before described, yet I do not
confine myself to the employment of such machine as any other arrange-
ment of mechanism applicable for the purpose may be used.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. Winding or spooling cotton, silk, linen, or other sewing threads
or yarns into the finished state for the market, in the manner herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the
Drawings hereunto appended.
Second. The general arrangement and construction of the machine or
apparatus illustrated at Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof, and the employment of the same, as and for the
purpose herein-before set forth.
Third. The mechanism consisting of the screw I, wheel and worm h, k,
and spur gearing m, T, for producing the varying motion of the building

page_text: rod 6, substantially as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 6
and 7 on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Shanks, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five.