IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING AND SPINNING MACHINERY, AND IN ARRANGING AND SECURING A UNIFORM DELIVERY FROM COPS TO BE USED AS WEFT OR WARP, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Combe; of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, and Robert Smalpage, of the same Place, Woollen Draper,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING AND SPINNING MACHINERY,
AND IN ARRANGING AND SECURING A UNIFORM DELIVERY FROM COPS TO BE USED
AS WEFT OR WARP, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES,"
Sealed the 18th December 1859, and dated the 17th June 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Combe and Robert
Sialpage at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 17th June 1859.
We, JOHN COMBE, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, and ROBERT
SM ALPAGE, of the same Place, Woollen Draper, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING AND SPINNING MACHINERY,
AND IN ARRANGING AND SECURING A UNIFORM DELIVERY FROM COPS TO BE USED AS
WEFT OR WARP, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Firstly, in making the spindles of winding machines of a lower part, sliding
up and down freely, and with the top part of the spindle and wharve revolving
freely on the lower part. In making the revolving part of the spindle, a tube
with the wharve upon it, revolving on a fixed pin or stud; in making the
winding spindle slide in the wharve, and causing it to return or react in the
slide by means of a spring; in applying a friction strap acted on by a spring
[Price 8d.]

page_text: catch or lever, which in tightening the friction strap is made to release the
driving band by raising a tightening roller; in the application of a spring lever
and self-acting dragging apparatus to the bobbins or swifts from which the
yarn or thread may be wound; and in the arrangement of the traverse motion
of winding machines.
Secondly, in the application of a quick traverse motion and compensating
spring lever, or other reacting movement to mules and other spinning or roving
machines, in order to produce a cop which may be packed into a shuttle or
other receptable and drawer from the internal surface without ravelling.
Thirdly, in the arrangement of cops in balanced, sliding, swinging, or fixed
frames, as a substitute for the bobbins and creels of warping machines, or for
the warp beams of dressing machines or looms.
Fourthly, in securing cops in shuttles or other receptacles by having one
side of the shuttle or cop holder.to.close in on the cop by means of a spring
so as to retain the last coils of the end of the cop, and deliver them without
ravelling, and in the application of a pair of jaws or levers of porcelain or other
material, closed by means of a ring of india-rubber or other adjustable spring,
in order to give a uniform friction to the yarn or thread as it is drawn from
the cop.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Combe and Robert Smalpage in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
COMBE, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, and ROBERT SMALPAGE, of
the same Place, Woollen Draper, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John Combe and Robert Smalpage, Her special license that we, the
said John Combe and Robert Smalpage, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Combe and Robert. Smalpage, our
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 WINDING AND

page_text: SPINNING MACHINERY, AND IN ARRANGING AND SECURING A UNIFORM DELIVERY FROM
COPS TO BE USED AS WARP OR WEFT. OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said John Combe and Robert Smalpage, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal
of one of us, 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 we, the said John Combe and Robert Smalpage,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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 Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and Figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention consists, firstly, in making the spindles of winding machines
of two parts, the lower part of which is free to slide up and down, while the
top part of the spindle and wharve revolve freely upon it; also in making the
revolving part of the spindle a tube, and causing the wharve which it carries
to revolve on a hollow fixed stud; in making the winding spindle slide in the
wharve, and causing it to return or react in the slide by means of a spring;
in certain improved apparatus for regulating the operation of winding
machines.
Secondly, in the application of a quick traverse motion and compensating
spring lever or other reacting movement to mules and other spinning or roving
machines, in order to produce a cop which may be packed into a shuttle or
other receptacle, and drawn from the internal surface without ravelling.
Thirdly, in the arrangement of cops in balanced sliding, swinging, or fixed
frames as a substitute for the bobbins and creels of warping machines, or for
the warp beams of dressing machines or looms; and in the application thereto
of guides so formed as to give a uniform friction to the yarn or thread as it is
drawn from the cop.
Fourthly, in securing cops in shuttles or other receptacles, by having one
side of the shuttle or cop holder to close in on the cop by means of a spring,
so as to retain the last coils of the end of the cop, and deliver them without
ravelling.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet II., represent, in
elevation and plan (drawn at one-fourth the real size), a spindle, in which the
lower part. a, a, a, slides freely up and down in the rails b, b, with the wharve.
e, e, carrying the top part of the spindle ff, revolving freely on the top
part of a, a, the lower part a, a, and the wharve e, e, and spindle ff being

page_text: partially counterbalanced by a weight suspended to a strap or band which
works over a pulley c, and is attached to the lower part a of the spindle. The
pulley c also auswers the purpose of an antifriction roller, by taking the force
of the pull of the driving band, which passes round the wharve e, e, and so
allows the combined arrangement of parts a, a, e, e, and, f, to slide up or
down more freely when in operation.
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet II., are an elevation and plan (one-half size)
representing a spindle with a tubular wharve a, a, revolving on a hollow stud
b, b, which is fixed in the rail c, c. d, d, d, the winding part of the spindle,
slides in the top part of the wharve u, a, and is prevented from turning in the
wharve by a small feather or key e, which is let into the top of the wharve a, a,
and which feather or key fits into and slides freely in a groove cut in the
middle portion of the spindle d, d. The lower part of the spindle d, d, 'is
reduced in diameter, and revolves freely in a bush or socket, which forms
the lower part of the hollow stud b, b.
Figures1, and 2, Sheet I., shew in elevation and plan view (at one-fourth
the real size), a portion of a winding machine carrying spindles similar to the
one represented in Figures 3 and 4, Sheet II. a is the cylinder which is
made about double the diameter of the wharves of the spindles, or in any other
porportion which may suit the nature of the material to be wound. On the
end of the cylinder shaft an excentric is made fast, the strap of which is
connected with the lever c, which is keyed fast on a rocking bar d, d. This
rocking bar d extends the whole length of the machine, but it may be made
in two half lengths worked by an excentric at each end of the machine.
Opposite to each spindle the rocking bar d, d, carries guide wires f,, which
are turned round in front of the spindle as shewn in Fig. 2, with the front
part closed on itself so as to form a narrow space for the yarn to be wound to
pass through, as represented in Fig. 6. 9, 9, are inverted hollow cones or
cups which respectively surround the spindles, and are made fast in the top
rail of the machine, and these cups have a portion of their circumference cut
away as represented in Figures 1 and 2, so as to allow the yarn under the
winding operation to pass directly through the narrow space of the guide
wires f, f, as represented by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, and lap round
the spindles. h, h, are small levers of wood or other material, the lower ends
of which are severally let into a cylindrical rock bar h*,fitted with pivots at
their extremities, the same being so carried as to allow the top ends of the
levers h,h, to vibrate freely through a space of six inches or more to and from
the spindles; 9, 9, are elastic bands or other springs, from each of which a
small strap or band passes round to one of the rock bars h*,and is attached to

page_text: the lower end of one of the levers h. The contraction of these bands pulls the
top end of the levers away from the spindles, opposite which they are
respectively placed, and causes the levers to rest against the stop bar, as
represented in Figures 1 and 2.
m, m, are drag weights suspended at one
end on small round bars extending the length of the machine, the other end of
the drag weights is free to rest on the bobbins from which yarn is to be wound
as represented in Fig. 1. A plan view of the drag weights m, m, is given at
Fig. 3.
These drag weights are severally connected by means of a strap or
band with a rock bar * of the levers h, so that when the top end of the
lever is about the middle of the arc through which it traverses, the tension
of the connecting band will raise the drag weight clear off the bobbin from
which the yarn is to be wound. From this description it will appear that
when the yarn to be wound is passed inside of the guide bar, Fig. 1, round
the top end of the levers h, and thence through the narrow space of the guide
wires f, and lapped round the top part of the respective spindles with every
revolution of the cylinder a, the wharves will make two revolutions, carrying
their spindles round with them, and the guide wires ff, moved by the action
of the excentric b, will make one traverse up and down, and so coil the yarn
on to the top of the spindles in the form of balls, while the top end of the
levers h, retained in the position shewn in Fig. 1 by the tension of the elastic
band
% , will vibrate to and fro, and accommodate the tension of the yarn which
is being wound to the irregularity of pull occasioned by the quick traverse of
the guide wires f, f, the drag weights m, m, at the same time by the friction
they occasion on the bobbins s, s, Fig. 1, will prevent the bobbins overrunning
and causing any slackness in the yarn being wound, while so soon as the
tension on the yarn pulls the levers / towards the middle of their traverse, the
drag weights m, m, will be raised, and the bobbins s, s, will be released, and
will deliver their yarn as fast as it is required by the continued revolution of
the spindle. When tender yarns are to be wound, a certain degree of delicacy
will be necessary in adjusting the tension of the elastic bands and the drag
weights, but with yarn of a medium quality and strength, the chief require-
ment is, that sufficient drag be put on the bobbins, and sufficient tension on
the compensating levers to cause the balls wound on the spindle tops to be
firm and solid. As soon as the ball which is first formed on the spindle top
gets to be so large as to touch the internal surface of the hollow cone or cup g,
the pressure of the continual laying on of yarn will cause the spindle to rise
in the socket of the wharve, and the yarn wound on being laid only on the
lower end of the ball, the ball will be gradually elongated by the continual
revolution of the spindle into the form of a cop. When the cop has attained

page_text: the required length, the collar t of the spindle (Fig. 1) will raise a stop wire i,
attached to the end of a catch lever h, k, which catch lever is jointed to the
top end of the stop lever 1, 1, 1, Figures 1 and 3. The raising of the stop
wire i, will release the catch lever k, k, and allow the lower arm of the stop
lever l,,, which is faced with leather on its lower surface, to drop on the
top of the wharve by the action of a coiled spring, which connects the lower
arm of the lever 1, 1, 1, with the ledge p, projecting from the spindle rail, and
the pressure of the leather surface on the wharve will cause the wharve and
spindle to stop. In some cases the lower arm of the stop lever may be made
to carry a small pulley, over which the driving band may be passed on its
return from the wharve to the cylinder, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so
that when the stop lever drops on the top of the wharve, the driving band
would be slackened by the descent of the tightening pulley, but for general
purposes we do not consider such an arrangement for tightening and slackening
the driving band of much practical utility. In winding delicate yarns, the
upper part of the spindle may be inade tubular, so as to be lighter and capable
of rising more easily, but for strong yarns, where a heavy, drag is necessary to
insure firmness and solidity in the cop, the spindle may be elongated so as to
allow of a weight being placed on the top of the spindle, which may be removed
when the cop is required to be taken off, and to allow of the cop being easily
got off, that part of the spindle on which the cop is wound ought to be slightly
tapered towards the top end as represented in Fig. 3, Sheet II. Figures 4
and 5, Sheet 1., represent the catches n, n, for retaining the bobbins from
which the yarn is wound in their places, the catches n, n, being made open at
the end where they drop on the bobbin spindles, so that they can be raised
when it is required to remove an empty bobbin, and replace it with a full one.
Fig. 3, Sheet I., gives a plan view of the lever 1, 1, 1, as connected with the
catch lever, k, and shews also how the drag weight m, m, is made to clear
the lever 1, 1, 1, and this Figure also shews the stop wire i, of which a side
view is given in Fig. 7. In winding from the hank when the yarn is liable
to be broken by the continued pull of the spindle on an entanglement occurring,
we connect the catch lever k with a band to the rock bar of the compensating
lever h, so that when the lever is near the inner end of the arc through
which it traverses, the band will pull down the lever k, and by liberating the
stop lever, will cause the spindle to be stopped, and so prevent the breakage
of the yarn.
In winding from the hank, ordinary swifts may be used, or a
series of small wooden rollers, such as are represented in Figures 4 and 5*,
Sheet II., round which the hank is placed, all of which rollers are made to
run very lightly on pins or pivots, which are fixed, excepting that which

page_text: carries the roller, at the top or bottom of the series, either of which may be
made to swing on a lever loaded with a moveable weight, by which the tension
on the hank may be adjusted, while at the same time the hank will be free to
slacken to a certain extent to the pull of the spindle.
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet II., represent an arrangement of spindle and traverse
motion, suitable for winding cops for sewing machines, a, «, being a driving
wheel turned either by the hand or by power, from which a band passes round
the wharve b. On the inner face of the wheel a, a, a circular ring f,f,, is
made fast, the surface of which is formed in waves, as shewn in the diagram
Fig. 8, which represents the ring as opened out; e, e, is a lever carrying a
roller which is pulled against the waved surface off, f, f, by a spring, so that
the rotation of the driving wheel causes the lever e, e, to traverse to and fro as
each wave off, passes under the roller of the lever e, e; g is the guide wire
projecting from the top end of the lever e, e, and turned round under the
spindle in a manner similar to the guide wire fin Figures 2 and 6, Sheet I.;
c, c, is tlie spindle sliding in the wharve b, and prevented from turning therein
by means of a pin projecting from the wharve taking into a groove made in
the spindle in a similar manner to that represented in Fig. 3, Sheet II.; dis
a hollow fixing attached to the framing of the machine, and terminating at the
outer end in a hollow cone or cup similar to y in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I.
The relative diameters of the driving wheel a, a, and the wharve b, and the
number of waves in the surface of the circular ring fff, are made so to
correspond that the guide wire g will traverse once to and fro in about two
revolutions of the spindle c, c, or such other proportion as may suit the nature
of the material to be wound; h is the bobbin from which the cop is wound,
which for general purposes will not require any compensating lever arrange-
ment. The spindle c, c, has a small coiled spring put over it, one end of
which spring presses against the side of the wharve, while the other end presses
against a pin at the end of the spindle, so as to pull the spindle till it is stopped
by another pin which acts against the other end of the socket of the wharve.
From this, it will appear, that as soon as the ball formed on the spindle end
begins to press on the internal surface of the cone, the continued winding on
of thread will cause the spindle to compress the coiled spring, and to slide in
the socket of the wharve until the cop attains the required length, when it is
pulled off, and the same process recommenced.
Figures 9 and 10, Sheet II., are a side view and plan view, one-fourth the
real size, of portions of the carriage and framing of a mule, shewing the
application of the quick traverse motion and compensating spring lever to such
machines. Iu these Figures b, b, is a round bar extending the length of and

page_text: forming a part of the carriage, and on which is keyed fast the lever c, c, c.
One end of this lever carries the faller wire m, m, which is below the ends of
yarn or thread, while the other end carries a roller which rides in the groove
of a guide plate d, d, d, d, fixed to the framing of the mule, and extending the
length of the traverse of the carriage. The upper groove of the guide plate d,d,
is formed in waves of such a pitch as to give about one movement of the faller
wire up and down for two revolutions of the spindle, or such other rate of
traverse in proportion to the revolutions of the spindles as the nature of the
material may require; e, e, e, is a catch hung on a hinge to the top. part
of the guide plate d, d, so arranged, that when the roller at the end of the
lever arm c, c, gets to the end of the groove in the guide plate d, d, the
catch e, e, drops in over the roller and prevents it from rising again into that
portion of the groove through which it has just passed on the return of the
carriage. The roller at the end of the lever arm c, c, will therefore pass along
the lower and straight portion of the groove in the guide plate d, d, on the
return of the carriage, the height of that portion of the groove being so
arranged that the faller wire is maintained in the proper position for twisting
and drawing, and as the carriage approaches the termination of the outward
traverse, the portion of the groove in the guide plate d, d, now brought into
action, is made to descend so as to raise the faller wire, and cause it to strip or
draw off the spiral coils, which action is usually performed by a separate and
independent arrangement for the purpose; h, h, shews one side of the spring
lever, which is formed of wire coiled round the rod a, a, which extends the
length of the carriage, the wire of which h, h, is formed, being then brought
forward and over the faller wire, so as to carry down with it the slack of the
yarn or thread, from which the quick traverse of the faller wire gives and takes
in its downward and upward motion, the inward traverse of the carriage being
so adjusted as not to give out more slack than the descent of the wire h, h,
over the faller wire m, mn, is capable of taking up. The wire lever h, 'h, may
be extended to any number of spindles desired, which the strength of the wire
will allow, the other end being returned and coiled round the rod a, a, in a
similar manner to the.end represented in Figures 9 and 10, and the two ends
of the wire h, h, pass under the rod b, b, against which they rest, and so form
the stop to the descent of the fore part of the wire h, h, over the faller
wire m, m, and an elastic band is passed round the rod b, b, and over the end
of the wire h, h, of such a strength as to give the requisite tension to the yarn
or thread as it is wound on the spindle; k, l, is a cam keyed fast on a shaft
extending under the spindle rail, and carrying other similar cams which receive
the weight of the spindle rails. As these rails are made to slide up and down

page_text: in bearings, the cams in their revolution will cause the spindle rail and spindles
gradually to descend. On the end of the shaft which carries these cams, a
worm wheel l, l, is keyed fast, which is actuated by a worm n, n, keyed fast to
a shaft which carries a ratchet wheel o, o. This wheel is moved by a lever
and catch, partly shewn at p, p, the end of which lever is caught by a pin q,
which is adjustable on a rod 1, 7, fixed to the framing of the mule. On the
inward traverse, therefore, of the carriage to which the ratchet wheel is
attached, the lever p, p, will be caused to move the ratchet wheel one or more
teeth, as may be required. At the other end of the rod r, r, another pin,
similar to q, is so adjusted that the outward traverse of the carriage will cause
the lever p, p, to return to its position so as to be ready to move the ratchet
wheel another tooth or more on the return of the carriage in its inward traverse.
By this means the spindles will be gradually lowered as the yarn or thread is
wound on till the required length of cop is formed. At the commencement of
the winding on a ball formed on the spindle causes the yarn or thread to be of
a uniform tension, without any variation in the speed of the spindles or the
traverse of the carriage.
Fig. 1, Sheet I. is a section, drawn at one-fourth the real size, of a portion
of a fixed or sliding frame, shewing our improved manner of arranging the
cops for warping or dressing machines, or for looms; and Fig. 2* is a back
view of the same. a, a, are the top and bottom of a box, which is divided by
vertical and horizontal partitions b and c, into longitudinal cells d; e, e, are
guides through which the yarn from the cops is led to the back of the warping
or dressing machines or looms. These boxes are made of any required breadth
and may be placed one above another in a fixed position, or they may be made
to slide backwards and forwards on ledges supporting the two ends; Fig. 3* is
a plan view, and Fig. 4* an elevation (one-eighth the real size) of a portion
of a cop frame, which is placed in a vertical position and made to swing on
horizontal arms b, b, b, b; these arms are jointed to the top and bottom of the
frame a, a, and are keyed fast on the upright rods c, c, on the pivot ends of
which the two sets of arms b, b, swing freely from side to side carrying the cop
frame as described. These frames are to be placed side by side in any required
number, according to the breadth of the warp, and they will thus allow of a
space being opened between any two frames, for the purpose of admitting of
the hand of the attendant being passed round in front, so as to get at the
guides, through one of which each end of yarn is passed.
Figures 5* and 6* represent an arrangement in which the cop frames a, a₁
are placed in a horizontal position, and are balanced by means of the weight c,c,
suspended by straps over the rollers b, b, which revolve freely on pivots supported

page_text: in a suitable framing. By this means, when a number of such cop frames are
placed horizontally one over another, a space may be opened between any two
of the frames, to allow access to the guides.
At Figures 7, 8, and 9*, the construction of the guides e, e, will be best
-seen; Fig. 7 being a longitudinal section of a guide drawn to the full size;
Fig. 8 an end view, and Fig. 9 a plan view of the same.
The guides e are
made, by preference, of glazed delf ware, are placed one in the front of each
cell of the cop frames for the warping and dressing machines and looms, and
are intended to act as a kind of drag to the yarn. The guide is composed of
a fixed part 1, which is made cylindrical, with a hole through it for the yarn
from the cop to pass through. Hinged to this part 1 by a wire link is a
moveable jaw 2, and round the front ends of the fixed and hinged parts a band
of india-rubber or other elastic material is passed (a groove being formed to
receive it) for the purpose of keeping the rounded edges of the guide close
together. Between these two rounded edges the yarn is nipped as it passes
through the guide; and according to the tension of the elastic band, any
required degree of friction can be given to the passing yarn.
Figures 11, 12, and 13, Sheet II. are three views, one half the full size of
a shuttle, shewing the manner of securing the cop therein. For this purpose a
spring top a, a, which is jointed at one end to a wire pin that passes through the
shuttle, and the other end of the spring top hooks into a moveable catch. In
Fig. 11, the spring top is shewn in the position which it takes when the cop is
placed in the shuttle, the narrow ends of the top being straight; in their
liberated state they cause the top to close firmly on the cop at both ends, so as
to retain the last part of the cop when it gives way to the pressure by the
internal portion being drawn away.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in
Winding and Spinning Machinery, and in Arranging and Securing a Uniform
Delivery from Cops to be used as Warp or Weft, or for other Purposes," and
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be under-
stood, that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, we claim,-
Firstly, the arrangement of parts as described, for producing spindles capable
of rising and falling or sliding horizontally, while revolving with a steady
motion, without the lubricated bearings of the driving parts being required to
change their relative positions.
Secondly, the arrangements of traverse motion compensating lever action,
and self-acting dragging apparatus, as described, or any mere modification
thereof, as applied to cop winding machines, and also the application of the
compensating lever action to spinning mules, as described.

page_text: Thirdly, the arrangements for stopping spindles on the completion of the
cop, or on the entanglement of the yarn that is being wound, as above
described, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourthly, the arrangements of cop frames, and the application thereto of
dragging apparatusas described, orany mere modification thereof as substitutes
for the beams of warping or dressing machines or looms.
Fifthly, the arrangement of shuttle, as described, or any mere modification
thereof, for the purpose of accommodating the retaining pressure to variations
of diameter or resistance in the cop.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Combe and Robert Smalpage,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Sixteenth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-nine.
Witness to both signatures,
J. B. WILKINSON,
No. 17, Albion Street,
Leeds.
JOHN COMBE.
(L.S.)
ROBERT SMALPAGE. (L.S.)