IMPROVEMENTS IN THREAD WINDERS OR IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING SPOOLS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Carter, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
and James Bradley, of Lees, in the same County, Dealers in Sewing
Machines, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THREAD WINDERS OR IN
APPARATUS FOR FILLING SPOOLS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1878, and dated the 5th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Carter and James
Bradley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January
1878.
SAMUEL CARTER, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, and JAMES BRADLEY,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of Lees, in the same County, Dealers in Sewing Machines.
THREAD WINDERS OR IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING SPOOLS."
Our Invention relates principally to the winders which are adapted to be
attached to sewing machines, and are employed in the filling of the shuttle spools
with thread as is well understood.
In winders which have been constructed previously to our said Invention the
thread has been guided to and fro upon the spool by means of a vibrating arm, and
has been laid in even coils by the action of the said arm, assisted by a presser
plate which has been pressed against the layers of thread.
According to our Invention we employ a curved guide, either with or without a
presser plate or equivalent appliance.
The thread on its way to the spool passes through a guiding eye, which, by
preference, is provided with a spring presser or other suitable appliance to impart
a suitable degree of tension to the thread.
The curve of the guide plate is, by preference, struck with a radius equal to the
distance between the curved edge and the said eye, there or thereabouts.
For convenience we form the curved guide and the part in which is formed the
said eye in one piece, the curved guide having an arm, the outer end of which is
formed as or provided with the said eye. The said curved guide is fixed at a con,

page_text: venient distance from the axis of the spool in such a position as that the thread
passing from the said eye to the spool shall bend over the curved edge of the guide
at a considerable angle, say, for example, at a right angle or thereabouts.
When the spool is caused to revolve the thread traverses to and fro along the
curved guide as required to form the coils.
The curved guide arranged in the manner indicated may be employed in
apparatus for winding thread otherwise actuated than by parts of sewing machines.
We prefer to employ an arrangement for severing the thread when the spool is
filled.
The outer layers of thread press against a lever or trigger, which is thereby
caused to release a spring-hammer or severing appliance which strikes the thread
and severs it, acting in conjunction with a knife edge or fixed part.
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Carter and James Bradley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th July 1878.
SAMUEL CARTER, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, and JAMES BRADLEY,
of Lees, in the same County, Dealers in Sewing Machines. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THREAD WINDERS OR IN APPARATUS FOR FILLING SPOOLS."
Our Invention relates principally to the winders which are adapted to be
attached to sewing machines, and are employed in the filling of the shuttle spools
with thread as is well understood.
In winders which have been constructed previously to our said Invention the
thread has been guided to and fro upon the spool by means of a vibrating arm, and
has been laid in even coils by the action of the said arm, assisted by a presser
plate which has been pressed against the layers of thread.
According to our Invention we employ a curved guide, either with or without a
presser plate or equivalent appliance.
The said curved guide is fixed at a convenient distance from the axis of the
spool in such a position as that the thread passing from the said eye to the spool
shall bend over the curved edge of the guide at a considerable angle, say, for
example, at a right angle or thereabouts.
When the spool is caused to revolve the thread traverses to and fro along the
curved guide as required to form the coils.
We prefer to employ an arrangement for severing the thread when the spool is
filled.
The outer layers of thread press against a lever or trigger, which is thereby
caused to release a spring hammer or severing appliance which strikes the thread
and holds or severs it.
And in order that our Invention may be readily described and understood we
have appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference,
corresponding marks indicating the same parts in the various Figures.
In the said Drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevation; Fig. 2, a vertical section

page_text: on the line *; and Fig. 3, a plan of a winder suitable for attachment to a sewing
machine, the Drawings being made about one-half larger than the example selected
for illustration.
In the said Figs. A is a headstock, which is adapted to be secured to the sewing
machine framing or table in the ordinary or in any suitable manner.
In the example the headstock is arranged to swivel upon a screw passing through
a foot a.
In one end of the headstock a spindle b is fitted to revolve, and is provided with
a driving wheel c, which can be brought into contact with the fly wheel of the
sewing machine. In the other end of the headstock a sliding spring spindle d is
mounted.
The spool e is held between the two spindles as is usual.
To the bottom of the headstock frame a presser plate f is jointed, and is acted
upon by a spring g, which, when the plate is raised, tends to force the plate
towards the spool, as seen in Fig. 2. When the said plate is pressed downwards by
the finger into the position seen in Fig. 1 the spring retains the plate in such a
position so that the filled spool can be readily withdrawn..
The headstock and parts as so far described may be of ordinary or suitable
construction.
To the back of the headstock is secured the curved guide B, seen clearly in Fig. 4,
which is a back view of the headstock. The said guide consists of a plate B,
which is formed or provided with an arm or extension h. The upper end of this
arm is broken off in Fig. 4, but is seen in Figs. 1 and 2. In the example it is
perforated with two eyes, into which nicks or saw-gates are cut from the sides. The
thread to be wound is passed through these eyes so as to come out at the back
through the lower eye k. A spring presses upon the length of thread extending
between the two holes, and imparts the requisite tension. The correct curve for
the edge of the plate is a portion of a circle described with the eye k as a centre,
the radius being equal to the distance from the said eye to the said edge. The
thread passes from k over or under the curved edge to the spool, as indicated by the
dotted line m. As the thread is coiled upon the spool the thread travels along the
curved edge l, and as in all provisions the thread represents the radius of the curve
it has no tendency to slide upon the edge, either in one direction or the other, the
result being that the thread follows the coil upon the spool to and fro without the
necessity for the eye k to be traversed to and fro at the same time.
Although in the example the eye k is in an arm which is formed in one piece
with the plate B this is not essential, as it may be in a separate piece, or be any
suitable guide or eye so long as it is fixed in such a position as to represent the
centre of generation of the curve of the edge l or thereabouts.
To the front of the plate B is hinged a lever n, which is formed or provided with
an arm which rests upon the coils of thread upon the spool. The free end of this
lever is cranked so as to pass over to the back of the plate B. A nipper o is fixed
on the end of a spring which is attached to the headstock, the said spring tending
to force the said nipper against the said plate. When the spool is empty the said
nipper bears against the end of the lever n, which keeps the nipper from contact
with the plate B.
The parts are so adjusted as that when the spool is full the said lever is raised
by the accumulation of thread sufficiently to release the nipper, which is then
forced against the plate B and nips and holds the thread, thereby arresting the
winding, or the nipper may be arranged to sever the thread as preferred.
We may employ the guide B without the presser plate for without the nipping
arrangement.
The nipper o and the lever n may be employed in connection with other forms of
spool winders for sewing machines, and also the curved guide with the thread
guided to represent the radius of the curve may be employed in spool winders not
applied to or not employed in connection with sewing machines.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which we carry the same into practical effect, we would have it to be
understood that we claim,-
First. The apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated
herein-before, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The thread guide formed with a curved edge employed in connection
with a fixed guide or eye, representing the centre of generation of the curve,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The arrangement for arresting the winding, substantially as set forth
and indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Carter and James Bradley, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed by the
said Samuel Carter and
James Bradley in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
(LS.)
SAMUEL CARTER.
JAMES BRADLEY. (LS.)