IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLING AND WINDING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Smith, of 24, Higher Chatham Street, in
the City of Manchester, County of Lancaster, Machinist, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLING AND WINDING MACHINES."
Sealed the 22nd April 1864, and dated the 27th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
October 1863.
I, ROBERT SMITH, of 24, Higher Chatham Street, in the City of Manchester,
County of Lancaster, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLING AND WINDING MACHINES,
follows:-
My Invention relates to that kind of doubling machine in which two or
more threads are wound on a bobbin or spool without being twisted or spun
together, and having detective apparatus to arrest each bobbin should either
of the threads break, or when the cops or bobbins supplying the thread run
empty.
My Invention consists in placing the ordinary bowl on the spindle upon a
separate shaft, running in a swing bearing with a recess at one side to receive
one end of the spindle, the other end being supported by an arm projecting
from the said swing bearing, suitable provision being made to keep the bobbin
spindle in its place. When the taking-in bobbin is in motion, the friction
roller in the swing bearing is held in contact with the roller underneath on a

page_text: constantly revolving shaft by the weight of the swing bearing. To stop the
motion of the said bobbin I employ a spring or weight, which is brought in to
action by raising any one of the levers corresponding in number with the
threads to be wound upon the taking-up bobbin. These levers vibrate upon
fixed centres, and carry at their lightest end detective wires, which also vibrate
Under these levers is a constantly revolving or oscillating
upon centres.
shaft with a projection thereon. When the threads are passing over the
detective wires their lower ends clear the projection on the revolving shaft,
but should any thread break, or be absent from any other cause, the detective
wire vibrates or turns upon its point or centre, and comes in contact with the
projection on the revolving shaft, which draws it down, and so depresses one
end of the lever to which it is attached, the other end of the said lever raises
a latch, and so allows the spring or weight to raise the swing bearing carrying
the friction roller, and thus arrests the motion of the taking-up bobbin. By
this mode of construction it will be seen that the power of the revolving shaft
is used to arrest the motion of the taking-up bobbin, the employment of this
power enables me to throw the friction rollers out of contact with a very delicate
detective wire, and so reduce the strain upon the thread to a minimum. Also,
when the bobbin is stationary the friction rollers are not in contact, and there-
fore the wearing of flat surfaces upon the upper roller usual in ordinary
doubling frames is avoided.
When applying this Invention to doubling silk, the ordinary traverse of
uniform length may be used, but for the kinds of yarn which are not injured
by pressure I use a traverse that shortens at each successive layer of thread.
This is constructed as follows:-A lever turning upon a stud or pivot has
one arm resting against the bobbin and the other arm against the thread or
guide, which works upon a hinge at its lower extremity, and is attached to a
radial arm receiving an alternate motion from a rack upon the traverse rod.
As the bobbin fills, its increasing diameter pushes back the end of the lever
resting upon it, and thrusts the thread conductor or guide nearer to the centre
upon which the radial arm works, and so shortens the traverse.
In doubling frames having upright spindles driven by friction wheels, the
detective motion lifts the spindle and friction disc when a thread breaks or.is
absent, in a similar manner to that herein-before described in reference to the
swing bearings.
My improvement in winding machines consists in the application of a
detective apparatus for arresting the threads in their course to the taking-up
bobbin whenever a knot comes up; this I effect by letting the thread pass
easily through a groove made in a lever sufficiently small to prevent the

page_text: passage of a knot or other protuberance. The groove or slit is fastened to
a vibrating lever, which moves by the pull of the thread when a knot
arrives at the groove, and is made to stop the taking-up bobbin in a similar
manner to that described for doubling machines.
The object of this part of my Invention is to make clean thread of even and
uniform thickness for use in sewing machines where the existence of a knot
or protuberance is objectionable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SMITH, of 24, Higher Chatham Street, in the City of Manchester, County of
Lancaster, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Robert Smith, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Robert Smith, 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 DOUBLING AND WINDING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Smith, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under his, 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 Robert Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say:

page_text: My Invention relates to that kind of doubling machine in which two or
more threads are wound on a bobbin or spool without being twisted or spun
together, and having detective apparatus to arrest each bobbin should either
of the threads break, or when the cops or bobbins supplying the thread run
empty.
My Invention consists in placing the ordinary friction bowl on the spindle
upon a separate shaft running in a swing bearing, with a recess at one side to
receive one end of the spindle, the other end being supported by an arm pro-
jecting from the said swing bearing, suitable provision being made to keep the
bobbin spindle in its place. When the taking-up bobbin is in motion, the
friction roller in the swing bearing is held in contact with the roller underneath
on a constantly revolving shaft by the weight of the swing bearing. To stop
the motion of the said bobbin I employ a spring or weight, which is brought
into action by raising any one of the levers corresponding in number with the
threads to be wound upon the taking-up bobbin. The levers vibrate upon fixed
centres, and carry at the lightest end detective wires, which also vibrate upon
centres. Under these levers is a constantly revolving or oscillating shaft with
a projection thereon. When the threads are passing over the detective wires,
their lower ends clear the projection on revolving shaft, but should any thread
break, or be absent from any other cause, the detective wire vibrates or turns
upon its pivot or centre, and comes in contact with the projection on the
revolving shaft, which draws it down, and so depresses one end of the lever to
which it is attached; the other end of the said lever raises a latch, and allows
the spring or weight to raise the swing bearing carrying the friction roller,
and thus arrests the motion of the taking-up bobbin. By this mode of con-
struction it will be seen that the power of the revolving shaft is used to arrest
the motion of the taking-up bobbin. The employment of this power enables
me to throw the friction rollers out of contact with a very delicate detective
wire, and so reduce the strain upon the thread to a minimum. Also, when
the bobbin is stationary, the friction rollers are not in contact, and therefore
the wearing of flat places upon the upper roller usual in ordinary doubling
frames is avoided.
When applying this Invention to doubling silk, the ordinary traverse of
uniform length may be used, but for the kinds of yarn which are not injured
by pressure I use a traverse that shortens at each successive layer of thread.
This is constructed as follows:-A lever turning upon a stud or pivot, has one
arm resting against the bobbin, and the other arm against the thread
conductor or guide which works upon a hinge; at its lower extremety is attached
a radial arm, receiving an alternate motion from a rack upon the traverse rod.

page_text: As the bobbin fills, its increasing diameter pushes back the end of the lever
resting upon it, and thrusts the thread conductor or guide nearer to the centre
upon which the radial arm works, and so shortens the traverse.
In doubling frames having upright spindles driven by friction wheels, the
detective motion lifts the spindle and friction disc when a thread breaks or is
absent, in a similar manner to that herein-before described in reference to the
swing bearings.
My improvements in winding machines consist in the application of a
detective apparatus for arresting the threads in their course to the taking-up
bobbin whenever a large knot comes up; this I effect by letting the thread.
pass easily through a groove made in a lever and sufficiently small to prevent
the passage of a knot or other protuberance. The groove or slit is fastened
to a vibrating lever, which moves by pull of the thread when the knot arrives
at the groove, and is made to stop the taking-up bobbin in a similar manner
to that herein described for doubling machines.
The object of this part of my Invention is to make clean thread of even and
uniform thickness for use in sewing machines where the existence of a knot or
protuberance is objectionable.
I will now proceed by the aid of Drawings and letters of reference thereon
to shew my improvements, the method of working, and the way of arresting
the motion of the taking-up bobbin on any breakage taking place in any one
of the strands, or in case of any of them being absent from the creel bobbin
running empty. These machines may be made any number of spindles long.
Fig. 1 is a side view of one spindle; Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
A is a revolving shaft carrying a friction roller B, similar to that used in
the ordinary doubling frames; this friction roller drives a similar one C on
the spindle of taking-up bobbin b. The swing bearing D hinges upon the
centre E, and carrys the bobbin spindle. The lever F oscillates upon the
centre G, the long end being slightly the heaviest rests upon the four balance
levers H, H, H, H. The constantly revolving shaft J is driven in any suitable
manner, and upon it is a small cam or projection J', formed as shewn in the
Drawings; K, K, are detective wires, which swing freely upon pivots at the
end of balance levers H, H, H. A lever L turns upon the centre M, which
is constantly pressed forward by the spring N. On same lever is a projection O,
shewn in dotted lines. The lever F has also projecting point P, which
latches itself over the projection at O, when the lever L is pressed backward
by the attendant against the spring N. On the swing bearing D at Q is a
projection with an incline, on the lever L is also another projection R, which
comes immediately under the incline Q. It will be readily understood that

page_text: when the attendant presses back the lever L, its projection R will move out
of contact with projection on swing bearing, and so allow it to come to position
shewn in Drawing; this brings the upper friction roller in contact with the
lower, and so sets the taking bobbin in motion. The same movement of
lever L has allowed the lever F to latch itself at the place marked O. So
long as the friction or drag of the thread remains on the detective wires K, K, K,
their lower arms are kept clear of the projection or cam on revolving shaft,
but the moment the pressure of the passing thread is removed, the lower end
of detective wires comes in contact with cam J; this at once depresses them,
and raises the other end of balance lever, which coming in contact with lever F
raises it, and by so doing releases the lever L, and allows the pressure of
spring N to act against it, forced forward, its projection comes against the
incline at Q, this elevates the swing bearing until there is no contact between
the friction rollers, and the motion of taking-up bobbin ceases. By this mode
of construction it will be seen that the force that causes the stoppage of the
taking-up bobbin comes from the revolving shaft, whilst in the ordinary
doubling frame it depends upon the weight of the detective wire itself to move
the balance lever to stop it. The same effect may be produced by an oscil-
lating shaft, with a cam of a similar shape upon it, but I prefer the rotatory
principle as it is quicker in its action. When the taking-up bobbin is
stationary, the friction rollers are out of contact, and therefore the wearing of
flat places upon the upper roller is avoided.
On applying this Invention to doubling silk in such cases where the bobbins
have heads upon them, I use the ordinary straight traverse of uniform length
from the first to the last layer, but for the kind of yarn that pressure will not
injure, and where I use taking-up bobbins without end, I use the kind of
traverse shewn in the Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, that shortens as each succes-
sive layer is wound on to the bobbin. This is constructed as follows:-a is a
lever swinging loosely on the centre pivot m, with one arm resting upon the
taking-up bobbin and the other against the thread conductor or guide c which
moves upon a pivot d. At its lower extremity is attached a radial arm e,
receiving an alternate motion from a rack 9 on traverse rod k; it will be seen
that as the bobbin fills, its increasing diameter pushes back the end of lever
resting against it, until its lower arm forces the thread conductor or guide
nearer to the centre upon which the radial arm works, and so shortens the
traverse. The thread conductor is kept against the lever a by means of the
cord and weight p. In frames having upright spindles driven by friction
wheels, the detective lifts the spindle and its friction disc when a thread
breaks or is absent, in a similar manner to that herein-before described.

page_text: groove
My improvement in winding machines consists in the application of a
detective apparatus for arresting large knots or other protuberance; this is
shewn in Fig. 3. To effect this I pass the thread through a groove or slit in
lever 9. which acts as conductor, and is attached to traverse rod; this slit or
I make of such a size that the thread will pass easily through it, but
in case of a knot or other protuberance coming up, the slit will prevent its
passing through, and the pull of the thread acting upon the lever 9, draws
that end forward, and raises the lower end until it comes in contact with long
arm of lever F, this releases the lever L, and stops the taking-up bobbin as
before described. The attendant may then remove the knot, and splice or
otherwise neatly rejoin the ends.
The object of this part of my Invention is to make a thread that will pass
through the eyes of needles used in sewing machines without breaking through
obstructions.
I claim as my improvements in doubling frames where silk or other kind
of thread is wound on to bobbins without being twisted.
Firstly, the employment of the force given by a revolving or oscillating
shaft in such a way as to cause the taking-up bobbin to cease rotation when
a breakage occurs, using the detective wire only as an agent to bring such
force into action.
Secondly, in winding frames, the application of a detective lever and its
mode of action as shewn in the Drawing, for stopping the rotation of taking-
up bobbin when a protuberance or knot is passing on to it.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
(L.s.) ROBERT SMITH.
Witness,
JOSEPH WILLCOCK,
Firm of Willcock & Brewer,
24, Market Place,
Manchester, and,
Chancery Lane, London.