IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINERY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPINNING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Louis Eugène
Plantrou, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINERY." A communication from
abroad by Louis Eugène Plantrou, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to spinning machines with continuous take up, and it
consists, firstly, in the combination of a flyer or ring revolving with a presser
which is balanced upon its axis, and is not subjected to the influence of
centrifugal force, so that it is always in contact with the cop or bobbin irrespective
of the diameter of the latter, a result which it has not heretofore been possible
to obtain; secondly, in a peculiar arrangement of the winding or taking up
apparatus which is composed of the spindle itself provided with a cone by which
it is driven, and devices for guiding and regulating the tension of the driving
cord; thirdly in the application of a differential motion for actuating the spindle,
and which is composed of two cones for obtaining different speeds at the same
time as another motion actuates the regulators or guides for the cords.
In carrying out this Invention the ring or flyer constructed of brass or other
suitable metal is cast in one with a pulley, around which is passed a cord for the
purpose of imparting rotatory motion to the flyer. This flyer turns upon a hollow
axis or flyer holder cast with an oil reservoir and secured to a cross bar or bearer.
A screw thread is formed on the interior of the flyer so as to distribute the
lubricating fluid in the most advantageous manner, and a moveable guide or loop
acting as a presser for the yarn or thread is carried on the upper part of the ring
or flyer, being mounted in bearings in order to enable it to accommodate itself to
the varying diameter of the cop or bobbin, & thus remain constantly in contact
with the latter.

page_text: The thread or yarn on leaving the rollers or cylinders passes to the flyer, which
twists it and winds it on to a cop spindle by means of the moveable guide or
presser, hereinbefore described. The centrifugal force has no effect upon the
presser, and the latter remains constantly in contact with the cop irrespective of
the diameter of the said cop, the same constituting two advantages which it has
not hitherto been possible to obtain in a practical manner.
The taking up or copping is effected in the manner next hereinafter described,
vist. :-
The spindle is driven by friction by means of an endless cord passing round a
driving drum or cylinder and making a half turn round a guide pulley of a
regulator, thence round a cone in one with the spindle, and then over a tension
pulley, and so back to the driving cylinder or drum; the cord thus makes a half
turn on the cone. The guide pulley of the regulator is carried on the extremity
of an arm or lever fast upon a longitudinal horizontal axis. The tension pulley is
carried by the upper extremity of a lever supported by and oscillating on a knife
edge formed on longitudina horizontal bar. This lever is also provided with a
horizontal arm having notches to which a weight is suspended, and a pendent
vertical arm carrying a weight which counterbalances the pulley.
The object of the guide pulley and regulator, herein before referred to, is to
cause the cord driving the spindle to run in succession over the different diameters
of the cone on the spindle.
The object of the tension pulley is to maintain the cord constantly at the same
tension, notwithstanding that the cord driving the spindle runs on to different
diameters of the cone on the spindle; the latter is always driven at the same
speed in consequence of the driving drum or cylinder from which it derives its
motion being caused to partake of a differential motion, whereby the speed of the
cord is proportioned to the diameter of the one upon which it runs.
When the flyer is winding yarn near the centre of the cop the spindle which
always turns the fastest does not pull on the yarn more than when the flyer is
winding upon the largest diameter of the cop, because the cord driving the spindle
by its friction on the cone is then caused to run on to the small end of the cone,
which presents a smaller surface of friction, and consequently has a slower rate of
speed, so that the yarn is wound or taken up at the centre of the cop without
being unduly strained.
By causing the speed of the cylinder driving the spindles to vary at the same
time as the guide pulley ascends or descends, and timing or combining this motion
relatively to the ascent of the spindles a constant and uniform degree of tension
is obtained.
In fine spinning the differential motion of the cylinder driving the spindles may
be dispensed with, and consequently also the cones on the spindles and the guide
pulleys of the regulators.
The excess of the speed of the travel of the driving cord over the speed of the
spindles creates the friction in this case, the said cord being simply passed round a
cylindrical pulley.
The differential action of this friction is produced by a movement which, by means
of a suitable lever, causes the weight on the horizontal arm of the lever carrying
the tension pulley, as hereinbefore described, to slide along the said arm for the
purpose of regulating the tension of the cord so as to increase or diminish its
adhesion to the pulley on the spindle according to the diameter of the cop.
According to this arrangement in lieu of employing a driving cord of uniform
tension running over different diameters of a cone, as in the arrangement first
herein before described, a driving cord of variable tension is employed running over
a pulley of uniform diameter.
According to another modification a spring adjusted by means of screws is
applied to the horizontal arm of the tension lever in lieu of the weight, hereinbefore
described.
The ascent and descent of the bar supporting the spindles is effected by the aid

page_text: of a toothed segment, having a reciprocating motion imparted to it by a cam, and
connected with a gauge worked by a screw and ratchet, which causes it to impart
to the said bar the requisite motion for forming the cops.
The toothed part of the segment is in gear with a pinion fast upon a shaft which
controls the motion of the bar by means of racks or chains.
The flyers are driven by a cylinder or drum by means of cords, and the spindles
are driven by another drum and cords. A driving cone is mounted on the main
shaft and motion is imparted to it by suitable pulleys. This cone drives a second
cone at varying speed by means of a shifting belt, and this motion is transmitted
to the cylinder through the intervention of toothed gearing. The belt is controlled
by a guide which is caused to slide upon a bar by means of a lever oscillating on
an axis. The lever is connected by a link to a horizontal bar provided at its
extremity with a friction roller, and which has a reciprocating motion imparted to
it by means of any suitable arrangement of cams and levers acting upon the said
friction roller.
A variable motion similar to that of the belt is transmitted to the guide pulleys
of the regulators by means of any suitable mechanical arrangement.

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 9th
February 1881.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINERY." A communication from
abroad by Louis Eugène Plantrou, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to spinuing machines or throstle frames with
continuous take up for spinning and retwisting every description of fibre, and it
consists:Firstly. In the combination of a flyer or ring revolving with a presser
which is balanced upon its axis and is not subjected to the influence of centrifugal
force, so that it is always in contact with the cop or bobbin irrespective of the
diameter of the latter, a result which it has not heretofore been possible to obtain.
Secondly. Of a peculiar arrangement of the winding or taking up apparatus,
which is composed of the spindle, itself provided with a cone by which it is driven,
and devices for guiding and regulating the tension of the driving cord.
Thirdly. In the application of a proportional motion for actuating the spindle,
and which is obtained by a combination of two differential movements which
neutalise one another with respect to the speed of the spindle.
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 Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a transverse sectional
elevation of the head of the improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation shewing the mechanism for imparting
differential motion to the spindles. Figure 3 is a full sized vertical section of the
flyer detached, and Figure 4 is a corresponding plan of the same.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are other details hereinafter referred to.
In constructing the apparatus according to the said Invention, a ring or flyer A
composed of brass or other suitable metal is cast in one with a pulley a, around
which is passed a cord b for the purpose of imparting rotary motion to the flyer A.
This flyer turns upon a hollow axis or flyer holder B, Figures 3 and 4, cast with an
oil reservoir or cup C and secured to a a cross bar or bearer T. A screw thread is
formed on the interior of the flyer A, so as to distribute the lubricating fluid in the
most advantageous manner, and a moveable flyer or presser a¹ is carried on the
upper part of the ring or flyer, being mounted in bearings in order to enable it to
accommodate itself to the varying diameter of the cop or bobbin, and thus remain
constantly in contact with the latter.
The thread or yarn on leaving the rollers or cylinders passes to the flyer A,
which twists it and winds it on to a cop spindle N by means of the moveable guide
or presser a'. The centrifugal force has no effect upon the presser, and the latter
remains constantly in contact with the cop irrespective of the diameter of the latter,
the same constituting two advantages which it has not hitherto been possible to
obtain in a practical manner.
The taking up or copping is effected in the manner next hereinafter described.
Let it be assumed that the flyer A is driven so as to make five thousand
revolutions, for example, whilst the spindle N is driven so as to make nominally six
thousand revolutions, more or less according to the resistance of the yarn.
Notwithstanding this, the actual speed of the spindle N is only equal to the speed
of the flyer A, plus the quantity of yarn delivered by the rollers and wound upon
the cop in a given unit of time. Assuming the quantity of yarn taken up in one
minute to be equivalent to two hundred revolutions, for example (as this number
varies, according to the degree of torsion or number of the yarn or thread), the
actual speed of the spindle will then be five thousand revolutions, plus two
hundred or five thousand two hundred revolutions in one minute, but as it is

page_text: Iriven by its driving cord at the nominal rate of six thousand revolutions it must
ave lost eight hundred revolutions, which number represents the friction or
slipping of the driving cord and consequent tension of the thread or yarn.
In order to maintain the spindle N perfectly concentric with the flyers the
lower extremity of the spindle may be supported in a footstep bearing m, provided
with a support m¹ connected to the upper bearing n as shewn in the detail, Figure 5.
The spindle N is driven by friction by means of an endless cord b¹ passing round a
driving drum or cylinder z, and making a half turn round a guide pulley d of a
regulator D, thence round a cone F in one with the spindle, and then over a tension
pulley E, and so back to the driving cylinder or druin Z. The cord thus makes a
half turn on the cone F. The guide pulley d of the regulator is carried on the
extremity of an arm or lever di fast upon a longitudinal axis H, Figure 1.
The tension pulley E is carried by the upper extremity of a lever e supported by
and oscillating on a knife edge formed on a longitudinal bar h. This lever e is also
provided with a horizontal arm e', having notches from which a weight is suspended,
and with a pendent vertical arm carrying a weight which counterbalances the
pulley.
The object of the guide pulley d and regulator D is to cause the cord b¹
driving the spindle to run in succession over the different diameters of the
cone F.
The object of the tension pulley E is to maintain the cord constantly at the same
tension. Notwithstanding that the cord driving the spindle N runs on to different
diameters of the cone F on the spindle, the latter is always driven at the same
speed, in consequence of the driving drum or cylinder from which it derives its
motion being caused to partake of a differential motion, whereby the speed of the
cord is proportioned to the diameter of the cone upon which it runs.
When the flyer A is winding yarn near the centre of the cop the spindle N,
which always turns the fastest, does not pull on the yarn more than when the flyer
is winding upon the largest diameter of the cop, because the cord b², driving the
spindle by its friction on the cone F, is then caused to run on to the small end of
the cone, which presents a smaller surface of friction, and consequently has a slower
rate of speed, so that the yarn is wound or taken up at the centre of the cop
without being unduly strained.
This operation is facilitated for two reasons, as it should be understood that just
at this moment the actual or relative speed of the spindle N is most increased, and
in proportion as the number of revolutions is increased the friction is diminished
for the same number of revolutions.
Morcover, when the winding or taking up is proceeding near the centre of the
cop the yarn is not subjected to the effects of centrifugal force and the resistance
of the air, it being taken up at the point at which it is delivered to the presser a',
as the latter is always in contact with the cop and advances or recedes according to
the diameter of the latter.
On the other hand, when the flyer A is winding yarn on the larger diameter of
the cop the cord which drives the spindle N runs on to the large end of the
5 cone F on the spindle, and is thus brought in contact with about double the amount
of frictional surface than before, whilst the speed of the cord is likewise increased
in proportion to the diameter of the cone.
By causing the speed of the cylinder driving the spindles to vary at the same
time as the guide pulley ascends or descends, and properly timing or combining this
0 motion relatively to the ascent of the spindles, a constant and uniform degree of
tension is obtained.
In spinning fine yarn or thread the differential motion of the cylinder Z driving
the spindles may be dispensed with, and consequently also the cones F on tho
spindles and the guide pulleys of the regulators D.
5 The excess of the speed of the travel of the driving cord b over the speed of the
spindles N creates the friction, in this case the said cord being simply passed round
a cylindrical pulley.

page_text: The differential action of this friction is produced by a movement which, by
means of a suitable lever x, Figure 6, causes the weight on the horizontal arm el
of the lever carrying the tension pulley E to slide along the said arm from z to z¹,
for the purpose of regulating the tension of the cord, so as to increase or diminish
its adhesion to the pulley on the spindle according to the diameter of the cop..
According to this arrangement, in lieu of employing a driving cord of uniform
tension running over different diameters of a cone, as in the arrangement first
herein before described, a driving cord of variable tension is employed running over
a pulley of uniform diameter.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 7 a spring a, adjusted by means of a
screw, is applied to the horizontal arm e¹ of the tension lever in lieu of the weight
hereinbefore described.
The ascent and descent of the bar supporting the spindles is effected by the aid
of a toothed segment (not shewn in the Drawing) having a reciprocating motion
imparted to it by a cam and connected with a guage worked by a screw and
ratchet, which causes it to impart to the said bar the requisite motion for forming
the cops.
The toothed part of the segment is in gear with a pinion fast upon a shaft
which controls the motion of the bar by means of racks or chains.
The flyers A are driven by a cylinder or drum Y by means of cords b, and the
spindles N are driven by the drum and cords b¹; a driving cone M is mounted
on the main shaft and motion is imparted to it by suitable pulleys P, P¹. This
cone drives a second cone M¹ at varying speed by means of a shifting belt 8, and
this motion is transmitted to the cylinder Z through the intervention of toothed
gearing 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; the belt is controlled by a guide H, which is caused to
slide upon a bar I by means of a lever J oscillating on an axis J¹. The lever J is
connected by a link K to a horizontal bar L provided at its extremity with a
friction roller l, and which has a reciprocating motion imparted to it by means of
any suitable arrangement of cams and levers, not shewn in the Drawing, acting
upon the said friction roller.
A variable motion corresponding to that of the belt is transmitted to the guide
pulleys of the regulators by means of any suitable mechanical arrangement.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the 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,-
1. The combination of the revolving ring or flyer A with the balanced presser a³,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2ndly. The winding or taking up apparatus composed of the spindle N provided
with a cone F, a tension pulley E, and regulator D, maintaining a uniform degree of
tension of the driving cord b¹, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3rdly. The application and use to and in the actuating of the spindles of a
proportional motion which results from the combination of a differential motion
actuating the cylinder Z, and of another differential motion produced by the
displacement of the cord on the cone F, the two differential motions neutralizing
each other or becoming neutralized with respect to the speed of the spindle,
which is thus rendered uniform, all substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand, this Eighth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one.