Improvements in the Method of Forming Hanks of Yarn and in Machinery for the same.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Forming Hanks of Yarn and in
Machinery for the same.
I GERHARD OSWALD HOFFMANN of Neugersdorf Saxony in the German
Empire Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what.
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
My present invention relates to means for forming hanks of yarn.
Hitherto it has not been possible when using ordinary reels to produce hanks of
yarn of sufficient thickness to be practicably suitable for the subsequent process of
dyeing inasmuch as the variations arising in the length of the individual windings
prevented the hank taking the dye uniformly throughout and also caused threads
to break in the process of winding on the reel.
The object therefore of my present improved method is to obviate the said
disadvantages which I attain by making every winding of a hank of the same
length consequently it is possible by this method to produce hanks of yarn of any
desired thickness, which can be employed for all practical purposes and which
compared with those hitherto produced permit of increased production in the winding
as well as in the subsequent spooling or balling and further greatly facilitates the
process of dyeing since my improved hank constantly preserves its uniform shape
and because the windings being all of the same length they are subjected to uniform
tension on the reel and therefore in winding breakages of thread and waste are
avoided.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood and so that it may be
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same by the aid of the accom-
panying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of the reel the said part section being taken
on line A, B of Fig. 2 which latter is a cross sectional elevation taken on
line C, D¹ of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of my improved hank when the hanks are wound imme-
diately next each other and Fig. 4 is a transverse elevation of same shown on
the reel.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the said hank drawn out to ring like shape and Fig. 7 is a
perspective view of same.
Figs. 8 to 18 are detailed cross sectional elevations of the hanks showing various
forms of reelings.
Fig. 19 represents two elevations of needle employed for carrying the end of "
thread through the hank.
Fig. 20 is an elevation and Fig. 21 a transverse elevation of my improved
reeling machine for forming hanks of yarn by the improved method before
described.
Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation taken on line A. B of Fig. 23 which latter is a cross
sectional elevation taken on line C. D of Fig. 22. of my improved reel and Fig. 24
is a sectional elevation taken on line C³, Ď' of Fig. 25 which latter is a cross
sectional elevation taken on line A* B' of Fig. 24 of another part of said reel,
showing means for preventing irregularity in the movement of the reel laths.
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each figure.
My improved reel is constructed in such a manner that its circumference
diminishes in proportion as the winding of the hank increases and during the
operation of winding the thread the guides have a continual see-saw motion so that
the exterior circumference of the hank already on the reel is always of the same

page_text: length as the winding which is reeled by one reciprocating movement of the thread
guides.
The inner layers of thread become loosened by the contraction of the reel latks
as shown at Fig. 4 so that a hank taken off the reel has its outer layers of thread
taut while the inner layers on the contrary appear loose and undulating.
This inequality however disappears as soon as the hank is drawn out when the
layers of thread then turn round 90 degrees (see Fig. 3) and the layers previously
cylindrical receive a ring like shape Figs. 5 and 6.
In this way the crossing of the threads likewise vary while at first the thread is
carried backwards and forwards over the whole width of the hank.
After the twisting of the hank the lay of the threads on the ring-like surface is
such that the thread alternately touches the inner and outer circumference of the
hank see Figs. 6 and 7.
The necessary contraction of the reel laths for the production of said hank of
yarn is brought about by the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which the worm
wheel d on cross pin e rotates with the reel shaft a by engaging with the worm c
which latter fits loosely on the said reel shaft a and is fastened to the frame b, this
sets in motion the worm wheel d and pine on which is secured a worm f which turns
the worm wheel 9 likewise the shaft and consequently worm i and worm wheel!
which latter is made with the bevel wheel k.
The bevel wheels m and k turn on screw spindles n situated radially with the reel
shaft a and they engage with each other, and their bosses are arranged with screw
threads to receive the ends of the screw spindles n which support the reel laths o
the said screw spindles n screw in and out in accordance with the turning one way
or the other of the shaft h which latter is made with its end to receive a suitable
key or crank for facilitating the turning of the said shaft after loosening the
adjusting screw g' on the worm wheel g.
Before beginning to reel the laths o require to be placed in the proper position.
The uniform radial displacement of the reel laths can also be obtained in the
manner illustrated at Figs. 22 and 23 where a guide ring & fixed on the shaft a
receives two running rings c¹ and d' which turn in opposite directions and each of
which has on its outer circumference six eyes e¹ situated at equal distances apart
and which receive one end of the rods f' and g¹.
The opposite ends of said rods are fitted in eyes h¹ of the socket or shoes ♬¹ and k¹
to which the reel laths o are secured.
By means of the worm i on the shaft h motion is transmitted to the worm wheel
through which latter a screw bolt passes having a threaded end in one direction
screwing into a boss or socket i¹ and an opposite threaded end screwing into the
boss on the opposite socket k¹ by which means it will be obvious that the two
opposite sockets and will approach towards or recede from each other in
accordance with the direction of the turning of the shaft h.
This radial displacement of the sockets and is transmitted by the levers fl
and which are coupled up to the rings c and d and this causes an uniform radial
displacement of the whole of the sockets and and reel laths o.
In preventing any possibility of irregularity in the movement of the reel laths o
radial guides are arranged as shown at Figs. 24 and 25.
(I) Fig. 1 shows the position of the laths o and the formation of the hank
at the beginning of the reeling (II and III) of the same figure show the position
as the reeling advances.
The radial displacement of the laths o can be regulated by the worm wheels d or g
to the dimensions desired.
The winding of my mproved hanks may take place in various ways for
instance:
1. The hanks may be wound immediately next each other as shown at III Figs. 1
and 8 whereby the interstices arising between the laths o and the hanks (see III
Fig. 1) permit of the easy seperation and subsequent tying up of the bank.
2. The hanks can be reeled seperately from each other as shown at Fig. 9.

page_text: 3. To avoid occasional lappings over of the edges of the hanks and for the
seperation of the same suitably formed pegs may be used between which the hanks
lie (see Fig. 10) these pegs can be so arranged that they can be easily removed
when taking off the hanks.
4. If the layers are not to be laid over each other at right angles as in Figs. 8,
9 and 10 but are to have an irregular shape, rhomboidal sections may be obtained
by resting the layers against noses or supports (see Fig. 12) or against each other
(see Fig. 11).
5. If the supports as shown at Figs. 11 and 12 are omitted then there is obtained
the trapezium shaped section shown at Fig. 13 in the formation of which the
contraction of the reels diminish equally as the breadth of the hank increases.
6. If the extension of the section shown at Fig. 13 is continued so that the thread
layers lie conically on each other then for the purpose of obtaining the windings of
uniform length the contraction of the reel ceases and the section shown at Fig. 14
is obtained.
7. If the arc of oscillation of the thread guide rod diminishes with the increasing
thickness of the hank there arises a section of hank in the form of a trapezium as
shown at Fig. 15.
'
With an uniform arc of oscillation the hank will assume a sectional form as shown
at Figs. 16, 17 or 18 according to the shape of the cam employed for creating the
reciprocating motion.
The tying of the hanks of yarn can take place in various ways; for instance it
can be done during the reeling, in such a way that after a certain quantity of yarn
is reeled the thread end is wound round and this is repeated until the hank is
complete so that the hank (a section of which is shown tied in this fashion at a¹
Fig. 3) is thus divided into several sections corresponding to the leas or numbers of
the current market reelings; or the tying of the hank into sections of uniform size
as shown at a Fig. 3 can take place after the reeling of the complete hank, the
individual sections of the hank having been previously seperated from each other
during the reeling by bands stretched over the whole length of the hank.
The ties in this case for holding the hank of yarn intact are not put on until
after the hank has been successfully reeled and thick hank or hanks of valuable
yarn are then provided with several ties round them at various parts see Fig. 3
and 6' Fig. 4.
In said Figs. 3 and 4 the position of the thread end is shown before the hank is
stretched while Figs. 5 and 6 show the same after the hank has been stretched.
In order to carry the thread end easily through the hank the needle shown
in Fig. 19 is used. The said needle being formed with two hook shaped notches
one of which serves for carrying the thread end through the hank the other for
pulling it out.
My latest improved yarn reeling machine is shown complete at Figs. 20 and 21.
By means of the cone y which is keyed to the shaft p which receives motion from
the driving pulley r the upper cones with shaft t and friction wheel u is caused to
rotate the motion being transmitted from cone a to cones by a suitable belt.
If now the lever v with the nose w is held fast by the double armed lever the
contact of the friction wheel y on the reel shaft a with the wheel u will set the yarn
reel in motion.
The bevel wheel z on reel shaft a meshes with the bevel wheel p' on the shaft m²
by means of which lever n¹ sets the thread guide rod q' in motion through the
medium of connecting rod o'.
9
The worm wheel d on the pin e with the worm f as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 rotate round the worm c which fits loosely on the shaft a
but is fixed to the frame b and the said worm wheel d causes the worm wheel to
rotate by means of the worm fand the worm wheel g rotates the shaft h which has
the worm i secured thereto and which latter rotates the worm wheel / which is
made with or secured to the bevel wheel k.
The wheels'm and k are arranged radially to the reel-shaft u and are situated at

page_text: a radius of 60 degrees from each other and are supported by the ring r². Motion
in one direction of the screw spindles n causes contraction and motion in the opposite
direction causes expansion of the reels or laths o.
The required velocity of radial displacement of the reel laths o.according to the
number of yarn to be recled is maintained by the adjustment of the corresponding
worm wheels d cr g.
In order to secure hanks of uniform size with equal leas or numbers the following
arrangement is employed.
On the reel shaft a there is a worm.s¹ which gears with a worm wheel to secured
to shaft u', the latter has secured to it also a worm v' which gears with a wheel w
the said wheel w¹ being secured to a shaft z'.
The rim of the worm wheel w is arranged with a number of lateral holes
which are at equal distances apart and which receive the threaded ends of a number
of pins y, the said pins are arranged so that the number of reeled yarn
corresponds to the movement of the worm wheel w' over the space of two of the
lateral holes.
If the hank is required to be in section of the thickness of one or several
numbers the pins y' are screwed into the corresponding holes in the rim of worm
wheel w¹.
By the movement of the worm wheel w¹ the pin y¹ presses on the shoulder
of the latch 2 which is pivotted at p* and held up to position by a spring 2¹.
As a part of the bolt or pivot p² and the adjacent side of the boss of the latch q²
form an inclined or screwed surface the latch q' previously lying upon the rest r³ is
moved sideways by the rotation and carried off the rest ³.
As soon as one end of the latch 9 can glide over the pin y¹ the other end of said
latch is pressed by the spring 2 into the reach of the star wheel t' which is
supported on the shaft and by the interruption of the rotation of the said shaft
the serrated coupling box v³ driven by the wheel is shifted sideways and then the
double-armed lever z releases nose w, the lever with friction wheel u falls down and
the reel is thereby brought to a standstill.
If the yarn-reel is again to be set in motion the latch q³ one of whose arms had
fallen on the star wheel t* must be again lifted and supported on the rest r³.
In order to prevent any unintended reelings of a large quantity of yarn the last
of the pins y' is constructed in such a way that it is impossible for the latch q³
to be laid on the rest and therefore the latch remains in the reach of the star
wheel t³.
After the tying of the hank the reel laths o are slackened or released by means
of a winch or crank handle being fitted onto the square end of the shaft / (made
to receive same) and brought sufficiently close together to permit of the removal of
the hank.
Before beginning the reeling of a fresh hank the laths o must be replaced in
their original positions, said positions being readily ascertained by noting the
original positions of wheels m or k and of the lath arms a belonging thereto.
The apparatus for regulating the number of leas in the hauk requires to be
brought into its original position by pushing sideways and turning back the screw
wheel w'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The process o' producing hanks of yarn whose individual windings are of equal
length (independent of the thickness of the hank) and are subjected to some
degree of tension upon stretching the banks in such a way that on a reciprocating
motion of the thread guide the thread being reeled, is reeled continually of an equal
length and so that with the increasing thickness of the hank the outer circumference
of the same is uniformally maintained by a suitable contraction of the reel laths.or
diminution of the circumference of the reel substantially as described,

page_text: 2. The improved yarn reel which with the increasing thickness of the hank
permits of the diminution of the circumference of the reel in such a way that the
external circumference of the reeled hank remains always uniform substantially as
described.
3. A hank of yarn produced by the application of the process described which is
arranged with windings of equal lengths crossing each other, the inner turned layers
of which are loose while the outer are taut but which latter can be easily twisted so
that the individual windings undergo an alteration in their position of such a nature
that they alternately come into contact with the inner and outer circumference of
the bank substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of September 1891.
Agent for the Applicant.
For and on behalf of H. F. BOUGHTON, M.I.M.E.,
W. Greenwood,
London, Sheffield, and Barnsley.