IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WINDING THREAD
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WINDING THREAD."-A
communication from abroad by Jean Alfred Desbois, of 13, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 4th December 1868, and dated the 22nd June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd June 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WINDING
THREAD," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in winding machines more
especially applicable for winding thread on the bobbins and spools of
sewing machines. These bobbins and spools require to have the thread

page_text: wound as regularly as possible to ensure the proper action of the sewing
machine. Hitherto these bobbins have been filled in an ordinary
winding machine, the attendant turning a handle with the one hand
and conducting the thread with the other.
These improvements relate to the application of a guide or conductor
for guiding the thread in an even and regular manner throughout the
length of the bobbin or spool, so as to cause it to be wound evenly
thereon in successive layers. This thread guide has a to-and-fro
oscillating motion imparted by means of a cam, eccentric, or other
mechanical equivalent, also forming part of the Invention.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1
of which shows a plan of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a longitudinal
elevation of same. The same letters apply to both Figures.
a, base plate of the winder; b, framing in which are mounted the
several parts; c, driving shaft, on one end of which is keyed a grooved
pulley d provided with a crank handle f for turning by hand; said pulley d
transmits rotary motion by means of an endless cord g to a small
pulley h keyed on the axis or pivot i, on which is mounted the bobbin or
spool receiving the thread; k, adjustable stem for supporting the end
of the bobbin or spool. Motion is imparted to the thread conductor in
the following manner:-The horizontal driving axis c is screw threaded
for a portion of its length which gears with a toothed wheel and
imparts rotary motion to a vertical shaft m and cam n keyed on its lower
énd. This cam in rotating acts on the conductor o oscillating on a
*centre P, and causes it to describe an arc of a circle; a spiral spring q is
also provided so as to keep the thread guide in contact with cam n.
The opposite end of the thread guide is bent up at a right angle and
has a hole through which the thread passes before being wound on the
spool. 7, pins on which are placed the thread ball or bobbin 8 to be
wound.
I may modify the arrangement of the winder as follows:-
1st. Instead of using a spiral spring 9 for keeping the thread guide o
in contact with the cam n I may make the latter with a grooved rim
in which the end of the thread guide would be received and guided.
2ndly. In order to vary the extent of motion of the guide I may also
alter the centre of oscillation as desired according to the length of the
spool or bobbin.

page_text: 3rdly. The motion of the thread conductor may also be varied by
making cam n of a conical or other form and placing the friction roller
of the conductor in a higher or lower position with regard to said cam.
4thly. The opposite end of the conductor may also be regulated in
length so as to obtain greater or less motion as desired.
5thly. The respective oscillating and rotary motion of the thread
conductor and spool may also be varied by means of cone pullics of
different diameter to be used in lieu of d and h.
6thly. Two or more bobbins or spools may also be filled at a time by.
mounting them on the axis i and lengthening the thread conductor
accordingly.
The improvements thus consist in the improved thread winding gear
herein-before described, operated by means of a cam for winding on the
thread in a regular manner in the manner described; as also in the
various modifications of the same above enumerated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, 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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WINDING

page_text: THREAD," a communication to me from abroad by Jean Alfred Desbois, of
13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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 Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in winding machines more
especially applicable for winding thread on the bobbins and spools of
sewing machines. These bobbins and spools require to have the thread
wound as regularly as possible to ensure the proper action of the sewing
machine. Hitherto these bobbins have been filled in an ordinary
winding machine, the attendant turning a handle with the one hand
and conducting the thread with the other.
These improvements relate to the application of a guide or conductor
for guiding the thread in an even and regular manner throughout the
length of the bobbin or spool, so as to cause it to be wound evenly
thereon in successive layers. This thread guide has to-and-fro motion
imparted by means of a cam, eccentric, or other mechanical equivalent,
also forming part of the Invention.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1
of which shows a plan of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a longitudinal
elevation of same. The same letters apply to both Figures.
a, base plate of the winder; b, framing in which are mounted the
several parts; c, driving shaft on one end of which is keyed a grooved
pulley d provided with a crank handle f for turning by hand; said
pulley d transmits rotary motion by means of an endless cord g to
a small pulley h keyed on the axis or pivot i on which is mounted the
bobbin or spool j receiving the thread; k, adjustable stem for supporting

page_text: one end of the bobbin or spool. Motion is imparted to the thread
conductor in the following manner:-The horizontal driving axis c is
screw threaded for a portion of its length which gears with a toothed
wheel. and imparts rotary motion to a vertical shaft m and cam n
keyed on its lower end. This cam in rotating acts on the conductor o
oscillating on a centre p and causes it to describe an arc of a circle;
a spiral spring q is also provided to keep the thread guide in contact
with cam 22. The opposite end of the thread guide is bent up at a
right angle, and has a hole through which the thread passes before
being wound on the spool. r, pins on which are placed the reels or
bobbins 8.
I may modify the arrangement of the winder as follows:-
1st. Instead of using a spiral spring 9 for keeping the thread
guide o in contact with cam n I may make the latter with a groove
in which the end of the thread guide would be received and guided.
2ndly. In order to vary the extent of motion of the guide 'I may
also alter the centre of oscillation as desired according to the length of
the spool or bobbin.
3rdly. The motion of the thread conductor may also be varied by
making cam n of conical or other form, and placing the friction
roller of the conductor in a higher or lower position with regard to
said cam.
4thly. The opposite end of the conductor may also be regulated in
length so as to obtain greater or less motion as desired.
5thly. The respective oscillation and rotary motion of the thread
conductor and spool may also be varied by means of cone pullies of
different diameter to be used in lieu of d and h.
6thly. Two or more bobbins or spools may also be filled at a time
by mounting them on the axis i and lengthening the thread con-
ductor accordingly.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The improved thread winding gear described provided with a guide
or conductor o operated by means of a cam n or other mechanical
equivalent for laying the thread in a regular manner, substantially in
the manner shown and described.

page_text: I also claim the various modifications of the apparatus herein-before
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of Decem-
ber, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)