IMPROVEMENTS IN REELING, SPINNING, DOUBLING, AND TWISTING SILK, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SPINNING, Doubling, and TWISTING OF OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1881

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REELING, SPINNING, DOUBLING, AND TWISTING SILK, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO THE SPINNING, Doubling, and TWISTING OF OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
A communication from abroad by Edouard Weber, of Milan, in the Kingdom
of Italy.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1881.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN REELING, SPINNING, DOUBLING, AND
TWISTING SILK, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SPINNING, DOUBLING, AND TWISTING
OF OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by Edouard
Weber, of Milan, in the Kingdom of Italy.
This Invention relates to improvements in reeling silk whereby the operation is
rendered more automatic, and a considerable economy is effected in time and
labor, whilst at the same time the apparatus employed is under the control of
the attendant in the case of the breakage of a thread; and the Invention also
relates to improvements in the spinning, doubling, and twisting of silk, whereby
these operations are greatly expedited and facilitated, this part of the Invention
being also applicable to cotton, wool, linen, spun silk, or other fibrous materials.
In carrying out the operation of reeling according to this Invention, it is
proposed to employ a compound reel consisting of a series of reels mounted side
by side on one and the same spindle, and engaged or driven by friction or otherwise,
so that the motion of any one of the reels can be arrested 'without interfering with
1

page_text: the motion of the other. reels. Each of these reels receives a thread (known as
raw silk) from one of a series of threading apparatus which are situate above a
basin or receptacle common to the whole, and containing hot water, the function
of each of such apparatus being to receive the series of silk filaments from any
required number of cocoons, and arrange them parallel so as to form the -said
thread of raw silk which is wound onto the reel.
Each threading apparatus consists of a wheel revolving in a horizontal plane,
and which is formed with a hole through its centre through which the filaments
. pass, and is provided with an annular groove in its periphery partially encircled by
a stationary knife, the flanges at opposite sides of the annular groove having
angular notches or slits for a purpose hereinafter explained. During the normal
operation of the apparatus the fine filaments from the required number of cocoons
are drawn through the hole in the revolving wheel, the several filaments being
arranged side by side with a partial twist, and being caused to adhere together by
the gummy matter which they contain, assisted by the heat and moisture and the
pressure to which they are subjected. The thread thus formed from the series of
filaments is wound onto one of the series of reels constituting the compound reel,
and similarly with the threads from the other threading apparatus of the series
which are also wound on to their respective reels, whilst the whole of such reels
forming parts of the compound reel revolve together as a single reel. When
however a rupture or failure of one of the threads takes place, the attendant arrests
the motion of or throws out of action the corresponding reel without interfering
with the other reels of the compound reel which continue to revolve as before. In
the case however of a rupture or failure of one of the filaments from any cocoon,
the attendant simply brings the filament from the same or a fresh cocoon (as the
case may be) to meet the other filaments from the other cocoons opposite the hole
of the revolving wheel of the corresponding threading apparatus, and causes the
end of such filament to engage with one of the notches or slits of the wheel
without arresting the motion of any part of the apparatus; the filament is thus
by the continued revolution of the wheel wound partially round the periphery
thereof until such filament is fully engaged with the other filaments, so as to be
conducted with them through the hole in the wheel when the surplus end is cut
by means of the encircling knife, and'the operation proceeds in its normal manner,
as herein before described. In addition to the advantages, herein before enumerated,
by cutting off the superfluous filament, the quality of the thread is greatly improved
as it becomes less fibrous and what is known as classical silk.
In carrying out the operation of spinning according to this Invention, it is
proposed to employ two spindles carrying bobbins, with the interposition between
them of a reel or other revolving body, one of these bobbins being full and the
other empty. In commencing the operation the thread is taken from the full
bobbin and passed round the reel or revolving body, and thence to the empty
bobbin, receiving one portion of its twist as it leaves the first bobbin, and the
remaining portion of its twist as it is wound on to the second bobbin, the two
spindles having the same number of revolutions per minute. It follows therefore
that the speed of the reel or revolving body regulates the degree of twist which is
imparted. The bobbins are each mounted upon a hollow revolving spindle through
which passes a stationary spindle or bearing whereby greater steadiness is obtained
and a higher rate of speed can be imparted to the spindle. The second spindle is
provided with suitable devices for ensuring that the coils of the thread are placed
in regular and uniform layers around the bobbin. For this purpose it is proposed
to make the stationary spindle or bearing hollow for the passage of a wire or rod
which carries at its upper end a hollow cylinder partially enclosing the bobbin, and
is secured at its lower end to a bar or other. suitable contrivance capable of being
operated by cams or otherwise, so that a rising and falling motion shall be imparted
to the wire or rod, and thence to the cylinder in proportion as the thread is wound
on the bobbin. Or in lieu of a cylinder a ring may be used, or other equivalent

page_text: devices, such, for example, as those used in throstle frames, may be employed for a
like purpose.
When the thread is to be used for what is known as "organzine," the three
processes of spinning, doubling, and twisting may be performed in one operation
by the aid of the spinning apparatus, as herein before described, in the following
manner, viz. Two threads are unwound from separate spindles, and are spun by
or in the act of unwinding; they are then conducted to and passed through
separate guides, and afterwards through an eyelet or aperture common to the two,.
and are there united; the thread thus doubled is then passed over or around the
reel or revolving body, whence it is subsequently paid off and wound on to the
second spindle, where it receives the necessary "twist."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1881..
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REELING, SPINNING, DOUBLING, AND
TWISTING SILK, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SPINNING, DOUBLING, AND TWISTING
OF OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by Edouard
Weber, of Milan, in the Kingdom of Italy.
The said Invention relates to improvements in reeling silk whereby the
operation is rendered more automatic, and a considerable economy is effected in
time and labour, whilst at the same time the apparatus employed is under the
control of the attendant in the case of the breakage of a thread; and the Invention
also relates to improvements in the spinning, doubling, and twisting of silk, whereby
these operations are greatly expedited and facilitated, this part of the Invention
being also applicable to cotton, wool, flax, spun silk, or other fibrous materials.
In carrying out the operation of reeling according to this Invention; a compound
reel is employed consisting of a series of reels mounted side by side and engaged
or driven by friction or otherwise, so that the motion of any one of the reels can
be arrested without interfering with the motion of the other reels. Each of these
reels receives a thread (known as raw silk, from one of a series of threading
apparatus) of the peculiar construction hereinafter described) which are situate
above a basin or receptacle common to the whole, and containing hot water, the
function of each such apparatus being to receive the series of silk filaments from
any required number of cocoons, and arrange them parallel so as to form the said
thread of raw silk, which is wound on to the reel. Each threading apparatus is
so constructed that in the event of the rupture or failure of a filament the latter
may be reconnected, or its place supplied from another eccoon with facility whilst
in the case of the rupture or failure of one of the threads the corresponding reel may
be readily thrown out of action without interfering with the other reels of the
compound reel which continue to revolve as before.
The said Invention also embraces a peculiar construction of spindle (hereinafter
described) to be used in the spinning or twisting of silk or other fibrous materials.
It further relates to the performance of the three processes of spinning, doubling,
and twisting silk or other fibrous materials in one operation.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer
to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts all the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a transverse section
of an apparatus for reeling silk constructed according to the said Invention;
Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a longitudinal section of a portion of the said apparatus; and
Figure 3 is a sectional plan corresponding to Figure 2.; Figures 4 to 7 (Sheet 1)
represent details of one of the threading apparatus hereinafter described, Figure 4
being a vertical section, Figure 5 an elevation, and Figure 6 a plan of the same,
and Figure 7 a view of the knife hereinafter referred to detached'; Figure 8
represents a vertical section of the improved spindle to be used in the spinning or
twisting of silk or other fibrous material.
Figure 9 represents an elevation of an apparatus for performing the several
processes of spinning, doubling, and twisting silk or other fibrous materials in one
operation.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the Drawings, which illustrate the improvements
(forming the subject of the said Invention) in the reeling of silk a compound reel A
is employed, consisting of a series of simple reels a arranged side by side and

page_text: engaged or driven by friction, so that the motion of any one of the reels
of the series may be arrested without interfering with the motion of the other
reels.
The reels a may either be mounted on one and the same spindle, in which case
each reel separately may be retained in gear and thrown out of gear by a clutch
action, or as an equivalent and preferable arrangement the reels a are each secured
on a separate spindle with a friction pinion, and any reel is thrown out of gear by
the act of raising the spindle so as to remove the pinion from contact with its
driving friction wheel, the whole of such friction wheels being mounted fast on a
common shaft. This arrangement is illustrated in the Drawings; b are the spindles
on which the reels a, forming the compound, reel A, are respectively secured the
said spindle being carried in open bearings in brackets c projecting from the side of
the frame B, which. encloses the compound reel A and its accessories. On each
spindle is also secured a friction pinion C, which is driven by a friction
wheel D, the whole of the friction wheels being mounted fast on one and the same
shaft d, which is carried in bearings e, in the frame B, and driven by a belt and
pulley f from any suitable prime mover. In connection with each friction pinion C
is arranged a set of gear for raising the pinions when required out of contact with
their respective friction wheels D. In the example illustrated in the Drawings
this disengaging gear consists of a lever g centred at h to the frame E of a portion
of the apparatus hereinafter described, and connected by a rod i to the lower end
of a lever k, centred at to the frame B; to the upper end of this lever is attached
an inclined sliding bar m, so that by the act of pulling a rod n, secured to the
upper end of the lever g, the gear is operated, and the friction wheel in connection
with the particular set of gear is lifted, and the corresponding reel a is thrown out.
of action, the reel being again brought into action when required by a reverse
movement of the said gear.
This compound reel is employed in combination with a series of threading
apparatus F of the peculiar construction hereinafter described with reference to
Figure 4 to 7, which apparatus are arranged (in numbers corresponding to the
reels a) over a basin or receptacle G common to the whole and containing hot
water, this basin or receptacle, and a basin or receptacle G¹ from which the cocoons
are transferred to G being carried by the frame E. The function of each of these
threading apparatus is to receive the series of silk filaments from any required
number of cocoons and arrange them parallel so as to form a thread of raw silk
which is wound on to one of the reels a.
Referring to the details, Figures 4 to 7, each threading apparatus F consists of a
wheel 1 revolving in a horizontal plane, and which is formed with a hole 2 through
its centre through which the filaments 3 pass, and is provided with an annular
groove 4 in its periphery partially encircled by a stationary knife 5 (Figure 7), the
flanges at opposite sides of the annular groove 4 having angular notches or
slits 7 for a purpose hereinafter explained. During the norinal operation of the
apparatus the fine filaments 3 from the required number of cocoons are drawn
through the hole 2 in the revolving wheel 1, the several filaments being arranged
side by side with a partial twist and being caused to adhere together by the
gummy matter which they contain, assisted by the heat and moisture and the
pressure to which they are subjected. The thread 8 thus formed from the series of
filaments 3 is suitably guided and coiled upon itself in the usual manner, and then
wound on to one of the series of reels a constituting the compound reel A, and
similarly with the threads from the other threading apparatus of the series,
which are also wound on to their respective reels, the threads being evenly laid
upon the reels by passing them through hooks 9 carried by a bar L, to which
a longitudinal or end motion is imparted by a crank disc 10 or similar device
operated from the driving shaft d through the the intervention of bevel gearing 11
and shafts 12, or by any other equivalent means.
When the combined apparatus is in operation the reeler sits in front of the
basin G¹ facing the compound reel A. Between the basin G and the compound

page_text: reel A walks an attendant whose duty it is to serve a number of reelers by tying
any of the threads which may be broken.
On a rupture or failure of one of the threads taking place the attendant arrests
the motion of or throws out of action the corresponding reel in the manner herein-
before described without interfering with the other reels of the compound reel
which continue to revolve as before. In the case however of a rupture or failure
of one of the filaments from any cocoon the reeler simply brings the filament from
the same or a fresh cocoon (as the case may be) to meet the other filaments 3 from
the other cocoons opposite the hole 2 of the revolving wheel 1 of the corresponding
threading apparatus F and causes the end of such filament to engage with one of
the notches or slits 7 of the wheel without arresting the motion of any part of the
apparatus, the filament is thus by the continued revolution of the wheel wound
partially round the periphery thereof until such filament is fully engaged with the
other filaments so as to be conducted with them through the hole 2 in the wheel
when the surplus end is cut by means of the encircling knife 5, and the operation
proceeds in its normal manner, as herein before described. In addition to the
advantages herein before enumerated by cutting off the superfluous filament the
quality of the thread is greatly improved as it becomes less fibrous, and what is
known as classical silk.
The threading apparatus may receive their rotary motion in any convenient
manner. According to the arrangement illustrated in the Drawing they are
driven by means of endless cords o passing round a driving pulley p, carrier
pulleys q, q, and along grooves 7, r, (Figures 4 and 5) in the threading apparatus
the cords being maintained taut by any suitable contrivance, such, for example, as
a lever and weight s. The driving pulley p is mounted fast on a shaft t supported
in a bearing u and footstep v, and receives rotary motion by means of bevel
gearing w from a shaft x, to which motion is communicated by means of a pulley y,
belt y, pulley y², shaft z, bevel gearing ¹, shaft z², pulley H, belt I, and pulley K
from the driving shaft d of the machine.
It will be understood that in the accompanying Drawings various parts, such, for
example, as certain of the bearings or supports, the pipes for conveying hot water
to the basons, and other accessories are omitted for the sake of simplicity.
The advantages of using the compound reel are that by having an attendant to
every five or six reelers to tie any broken threads without stopping the whole of
the apparatus, each reeler is able to work a greater number of threads at a full
speed of the reel, thereby producing a much greater quantity of silk, and all the
ends being tied it follows that each hank is composed of one continuous thread of
silk technically known as "raws à bouts noués," which are more valuable than
ordinary raw silk. On the other hand, when the thread joiners are used without
the compound reel the reeler is either obliged to work a smaller quantity of ends,
or the reel is driven much more slowly, otherwise the breakages of the thread are
so frequent as to necessitate continuous stoppages of the whole machine. In the
latter case from the reel revolving so much more slowly through the air the silk
does not dry so quickly, and the small fibres rise upon the surface, thus producing
an inferior quality of silk. In making ordinary raw silk whenever a thread breaks
it is thrown loosely upon the reel without being tied in order to produce "raws à
bouts noués," by the ordinary arrangements the whole apparatus bas to be stopped
every time a thread breaks.
Another part of the said Invention relates to the spinning or twisting of reeled
silk or other fibrous materials, and consists in the combination with the spindle
upon which the silk or material is to be wound of peculiar devices for insuring that
the coils of the thread are placed in regular and uniform layers around the bobbin.
This part of the said Invention is illustrated in Figure 8 of the Drawings; M is
the revolving spindle of the bobbin driven by a pulley 13 and cord 14 in the usual
manner, and N is a stationary bearing upon which the said spindle revolves. This
bearing is made hollow for the passage of a wire or rod 15, which carries at its
upper end a hollow cylinder O partially inclosing the bobbin O¹, and is secured at

page_text: its lower end a¹ to a bar or other suitable contrivance capable of being operated by
cams or otherwise, so that a rising and falling motion shall be imparted to the wire
or rod 15, and thence to the cylinder O in proportion as the thread is wound on the
bobbin, the cylinder O thus gradually rises so that its lower end 16 gives place to
the thread as the latter is wound in the upward direction, and then gradually
descends again as the thread is wound in the downwards direction, the lower end 16
of the cylinder O in both cases guiding the thread, so that its coils are placed in
regular and uniform layers round the bobbin.
of the
In lieu of a cylinder a ring may be used or other equivalent devices, such, for
example, as those used in throstle frames may be employed for a like purpose.
Another part of the said Invention, which is illustrated in Figure
Drawings, relates to the production of thread to be used for what is known as
"organzine," and consists in performing the three processes of spinning, doubling,
and twisting in one operation; P, Q, are two spindles working in bearings 18, 19,
in a frame 20, and receiving rotary motion by means of pulleys 21, 22, and a
cord 23 in the usual manner; R is another spindle, by preference constructed and
arranged in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 8, and
receiving rotary motion by means of a pulley p' and cord p² in the ordinary
manner; S is a reel fast on a horizontal axis 24 which is supported in suitable
bearings, and receives rotary motion by means of a pulley and cord 25, shaft 26,
and bevel gearing 27. The spindles P, Q, R, all revolve at the same speed; the
reel S revolves at a different speed, which if necessary may be varied by any
convenient means.
The spindles P, Q, being full of thread and the spindle R empty, the apparatus.
is put in motion. The two threads 28, 29, are unwound from the respective
spindles P, Q, and are spun by or in the act of unwinding; they are then conducted
to and passed through separate guides 30, 31, and afterwards through an eyelet
or aperture 32 common to the two, and are then united. The thread thus
doubled is then passed over or around the reel S, whence it is paid off and wound
onto the spindle R, where it receives the necessary twist, the speed of the reel
regulating the degree of twist which is imparted.
If desired two rollers may be substituted for the reel S, the thread being caused
to pass between them, whereby a similar result is obtained.
This part of the said Invention is also applicable to other fibrous materials. .
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. In the reeling of silk, the employment in combination with a series of
threading apparatus constructed as herein set forth of a compound reel, consisting
of a series of reels operating in unison, but each capable of being separately
thrown out of action, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Second. The peculiar construction of spindle to be used in the spinning or
twisting of silk or other fibrous materials, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. Performing the several processes of spinning, twisting, and doubling silk
or other fibrous materials in one operation, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Third day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)