IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHI- NERY FOR WINDING YARN OR THREAD ON TO BOBBING OR SPOOLS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Gerrard Fitton, of Ardwick, in the County
of Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHI-
NERY FOR WINDING YARN OR THREAD ON TO BOBBING OR SPOOLS."
Sealed the 24th February 1863, and dated the 1st September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Gerrard Fitton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st September 1862.
I, EDWARD GERRARD FITTON, of Ardwick, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR WINDING YARN OR THREAD ON TO BOBBINS OR SPOOLS," to be
as follows:-
My said Invention relates to machines for the before mentioned purpose,
known as hand spooling machines, and in which, as hitherto constructed, each
machine has one spindle only, carrying the bobbin or spool, on which the yarn
or thread is wound, the thread during the winding on being guided and
traversed alternately from one end to the other of the bobbin as it revolves
with the spindle, so as to be wound on in regular adjacent coils, and at the same
time pressed closely down, so as to present a smooth and even surface.
My Invention consists, first, in a novel combination and arrangement of

page_text: mechanism, whereby the mechanical movement or action, which in the
ordinary machine drives the single spindle, and regulates the winding on and
pressing down as above of the thread on a single spool or bobbin, is applied
simultaneously to two or more spindles and the spools or bobbins thereon in
the same machine, by which means the operative is enabled to attend simul-
taneously to the winding on of as many spools or bobbins as there are spindles
in the machine, instead of to one only.
Secondly, in the application and adaptation of toothed gearing to hand
spooling machines, for connecting two or more spindles when several are
employed in the same machine, in order to secure greater regularity in winding
than when such spindles are driven by bands or cords.
Thirdly, in the application of a spring to each guide or presser, used
for guiding and pressing down the yarn or thread, whereby the necessity of
pressing the guide by hand is obviated.
Fourthly, in a novel arrangement of mechanism, whereby the several guides
or pressers used for guiding and pressing down the yarns or threads on the
several bobbins in the same machine, can be simultaneously operated upon,
and which I effect by the following means:-A cord or chain attached to a
lever passes partially round antifriction bowls or pulleys placed upon the
fixings, on which the guides or pressers are supported, so that by pressing down
the lever, either by springs, weights, or the band of the attendant, a suitable
degree of pressure is given to as many pressers as may be arranged in one
machine.
Fifthly, in an arrangement of mechanism, wherein a series of pins, on one
or more vertical bar or bars, raised and lowerd by levers or other convenient
means, act simultaneously on the guides or pressers, so as to lift and hold them
up, or allow them to be depressed as required.
Sixthly, in the application and arrangement of mechanisın, wherein a lever
brought into action by the hand or foot of the attendant, moves one or more
sliding bar or bars, to which a doffer plate is attached, so as to push the
bobbins off the spindles.
Seventhly, in an arrangement of parts applied to such inachine as afore-
said, to polish or size at the same time as many bobbins or spools, as there
are spindles in the machine, by means of a socket or slide, attached to the
traversing bar, or to each of the presser fixings or other convenient part
or parts of the machine, in or on which socket or slide, a piece of wood
or other substance is placed covered with a suitable material for polishing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Gerrard Fitton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
GERRARD FITTON, of Ardwick, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Gerrard Fitton, Her special license that I, the said Edward
Gerrard Fitton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward Gerrard Fitton, 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 MACHINERY FOR WINDING YARN OR THREAD ON TO BOBBINS OR
SPOOLS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward
Gerrard Fitton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, 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 Edward Gerrard Fitton, 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 follow-
ing statement (that is to say):-
My said Invention relates to hand spooling machines, in which as hitherto
constructed each machine has one spindle only carrying the bobbin or spool on
which the yarn or thread is wound, the thread during the winding on being
guided and traversed alternately from one end to the other of the bobbin as it
revolves with the spindle, so as to be wound on in regular adjacent coils, and
at the same time pressed closely down, so as to present a smooth and even
surface.
My Invention consists, first, in a novel combination and arrangement of
mechanism whereby the mechanical movement or action, which in the ordinary

page_text: machine drives the single spindle, and regulates the winding on and pressing
down of the thread on a single spool or bobbin is applied simultaneously to
two or more spindles, and the spools or bobbins thereon in the same machine,
by which means the operative is enabled to attend simultaneously to as many
spools or bobbins as there are spindles in the machiuc, instead of to
one only.
Secondly, in the application and adaptation of toothed geering to hand
spooling machines for connecting two or more spindles (when several are
employed in the same machine), in order to secure greater regularity in
winding than when such spindles are driven by bands or cords.
Thirdly, in the application of a spring made of india-rubber or any suitable
compound thereof to each guide or presser used for guiding and pressing
down the yarn or thread, whereby the necessity of pressing the guide by hand
is obviated.
Fourthly, in a novel arrangement of mechanism, whereby the several guides
or pressers used for guiding and pressing the yarns or threads on the several
bobbins in the same machine, can be simultaneously operated upon, and which
I effect by the following means:-A cord or chain attached to a lever passes
partially round antifriction bowls or pulleys, placed upon the fixings on which
the guides or pressers are supported, so that by pressing down the lever, either
by springs, weights, or the hand of the attendant, a suitable degree of pressure
is given to as many pressers as may be arranged in one machine.
Fifthly, in an arrangement of mechanism wherein a series of pins on one or
more vertical bar or bars raised and lowered by levers or other convenient
means, act simultaneously on the guides or pressers, so as to lift and hold
them up or allow them to be depressed, as required.
Sixthly, in the application and arrangement of mechanism wherein a lever,
brought into action by the hand or foot of the attendant, moves one or more
sliding bar or bars, to which a doffer plate is attached, so as to push or liberate
the bobbins from the spindles.
And, seventhly, in an arrangement of parts applied to such machine, as
aforesaid, to polish or size at the same time the yarn or thread on as many
bobbins or spools as there are spindles in the machine, by means of a socket
or slide attached to the traversing bar, or to each of the presser fixings, or to
other convenient part or parts of the machine, in or on which socket or slide
a piece of wood or other substance is placed, covered with a suitable material
for polishing.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the same as shewn in the two accompanying Sheets of Drawings,

page_text: which are made half size, and similar letters of reference are marked upon
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2 is a back elevation; Figure 8, &
side elevation; and Figure 4, a plan of my improved machinery for winding
yarn or thread on to bobbins or spools.
A is a pulley with a conical rim, which receives its motion by a strap from
a pulley on an ordinary counter shaft; the pulley A runs loose upon the
shaft A 1. The pulley A 2 has a conical rim, which fits into the rim of the
pulley A, and as the pulley A 2 is covered with leather to give adhesion when
the pulley A is pressed against it, the pulley A 2 receives motion. On the
boss of the pulley A a groove is formed, into which a swivel clip A 3 is placed.
The swivel clip A 8 is supported in a bearing at the upper end of the bell-
crank lever A 4, jointed to the stud A 5. To the horizontal arm of the
bell-crank lever a connecting rod A 6 is attached, which is connected at the
other end to a treadle lever not shewn in the Drawings, arranged so that
with the foot the attendant may stop and start the machine at pleasure. The
pulley A 2 has a flat surface turned upon its largest periphery, against which
a break A 8 is pressed when required. On the bell-crank lever A 4 a stud A 9
is fastened, an eye at the lower end of the rod A: 10 fits upon this stud; the
upper end of this rod bears against the under surface of the break A 8; when
the spindles are set in motion, the break is removed from contact with the
pulley A 2, but when it is necessary to stop the machine suddenly the break is
pressed against the pulley by a weight on the treadle lever above referred to:
On the boss of the pulley A 2, are fastened the two spur wheels B and B 1.
The wheel B geers into and drives the four pinions 6', b³, b³, and b, and the
wheel B 1 drives the pinions 6%, and 6. By this arrangement of gearing all
the spindles C are driven simultaneously without intermediate or carrier
wheels. Either of the wheels B or B1 may be so arranged as to drive all
the spindles in one machine, by placing the spindles in a circle, or by the use
of carrier wheels, but I prefer the arrangement described. On the other end
of the spindles C, which are supported in the bearings D, on the framing F;
the bobbins or spools G are placed to be filled with yarn or thread. The
spindles are bored hollow at the end to receive the small mandrils c', the collars
of which are fixed at equal distances from the pressers t³, by the adjustable
bearings D, so that the threads may be equally distributed on to the spools
during the winding on. The ends of the mandrils c', are turned taper so as
to fit the holes of the bobbins, which often vary a little in size, two pins are
placed therein with sharp edges to penetrate the ends of the bobbins or spools
G, and carry them round with the spindles C, as now customary. The

page_text: bobbins or spools G are supported at the outer end as follows:-E, E¹, E³,
and E³, are four sliding bars, supported in the bearings e, and in the framing
F. These bars fit into holes in four arms on the cross head H. On each
side of the four arms of the cross head H, a hoop h with a set screw in it is
fixed, so that when the cross head H receives motion the slide bars E are
forced backwards and forwards. In the centre of the cross head H is a
slot h', into which the end of a lever I fits; the cross head H is drawn back by
a spring H1, or by a weight suspended to the rod H 2. The lever I is fixed
to the shaft J, supported in a bearing i, bolted to the under side of the bench
K; on the other end of the shaft J, a double lever L is fastened, when the
lever L is moved, it will be readily seen that the slide bars E, E', E³, and E³,
receive a to-and-fro or lateral motion. On the ends of these slide bars the steel
plates M placed vertically are fastened, on the steel plates M the bearings m
are mounted opposite to the spindles C. In these bearings m the spindles
or centres m 1, are fitted, so as to revolve when the bobbins or spools rotate.
In order that the spindles m 1 may be constantly pressed against the spools G
to keep them against the collars of the mandrils c 1, spiral springs m 2 are
fitted in the buffer boxes m 3, the buffer boxes m 3 are screwed to the ends
of the bearings m, and in them steel buffers m 4, with collars on one end are
placed. On these steel buffers the spiral springs m 2 are coiled, one end of the
springs presses against the collar on the steel buffers, and the other end against
the inside of the box m 3. It will thus be seen that a lateral motion is allowed
to the spindles m 1, when pressure is brought to bear against them, so that in
case any of the spools are shorter than others, or any of the holes in the spools
smaller than others, the spiral springs m 2, will allow the spindles or centres
m1, to adjust themselves to the irregularities in the bobbins or spools. When
the bobbins or spool G are filled, the attendant, by depressing the handle
on the lever L, causes the lever I to push forward the cross head H and steel
plates M, thus liberating the full bobbins or spools.
I have now described the manner of communicating simultaneous motion
to the spindles, and supporting the spools thereon, also of connecting the
spindles by toothed gearing, and of doffing or liberating the full bobbins or
spools.
And I will proceed to describe my arrangements of machinery for
regulating the winding on the yarn or thread to the bobbins or spools. On
the end of one of the spindles C a pinion N is fastened; this pinion N works
into and drives a wheel O, which is fastened on the end of the guide screw P
which is mounted in bearings p, on the frame F, and when the spindles C
revolve motion is communicated through the pinion N and the wheel O to the

page_text: guide screw P; the guide screw P has a right and left hand screw cut upon its
periphery, into which screw right and left hand segmental nuts p2 and p 3
alternately take as now customary. The segmental nuts p2 and p 3 are con-
nected by set screws or other convenient means to a traversing bar Q; this
traversing bar Q has a rocking or vibratory motion imparted to it by the
attendant acting on the handle and lever q, in addition to its traversing or
lateral motion in contrary directions imparted to it by the screw nuts p 2 and
p 3 and the screw P. On the traversing bar Q a cross head R is fitted in such
manner that the traversing bar Q can vibrate through the hole in the cross head
R, without communicating motion to it. The lock nuts q2 on the traversing
bar Q are fitted on each side of the cross head R for communicating the
lateral motion of the bar Q to the cross head R, which is connected by pins,
set screws, or other convenient means to four sliding or traversing bars S,
mounted in bearings 8, and in the framing F. On the front end of these
slide bars S, a frame T is fastened. On this frame the studs t are fixed, on
the studs t are fitted presser fixing t 1, to which the presses or guides t 2 are
fixed. The pressers 2 are made in the manner usually adopted for hand
spooling machines. A glass curl or eye t 3 is fixed in each presser fixing to
conduct the thread from the large bobbins t 4 to the presser or guide: To
cach presser fixing t1 is fixed a stud t 5 covered with flannel or other suitable
material, partially around which the thread or yarn passes, the object of these
studs t5 is to give the requisite tension or drag to the thread or yarn. It will
thus be seen that the above arrangement of machinery winds the yarn or
thread in regular adjacent coils on as many bobbins or spools as there are
spindles in the machine.
.
I will now proceed to describe the means adopted by me for pressing the
yarn or thread on to the bobbins or spools, during the process of winding on.
On one of the slide bars Sa lever U is fitted; this lever U has a ratchet or
tension wheel u, fixed upon a stud u 1, with a catch and spring, to keep the
same at any degree of tension required. The two ends of a cord or chain u2,
are fixed to the boss or barrel of the tension wheel u; the cord u2 passes
partially around antifriction bowls or pulleys u 3 fixed on the frame T, and
antifriction bowls or studs u4, fixed on the presser fixings t 1, and also on the
collar of the studs t; a weight u 5, is hung on the pin u 6, of the lever U,
which presses the pressers against all the bobbins in the machine, which pressure
is nearly uniform notwithstanding the diameter of the bobbins may vary.
When the bobbins are filled and the pressure is not required, the attendant
raises the lever U, which by means of the lever u7, catch lever u8, and one
of the slide bars S holds up the lever U, and takes the pressure off the bobbins

page_text: during the operations of doffing, and placing empty bobbins on the spindles,
or for other purposes. Instead of giving pressure to the pressers simultaneously
by the cord 2, and parts acting in combination therewith each presser may
be acted upon separately by a spring V, made of a loop of india-rubber, or of
a suitable compound of indin-rubber, as shewn detached in Fig. 5. This sort
of spring affords great facility in varying the pressure, as an additional loop or
one of greater strength may be readily applied.
I will now describe the manner in which the pressers are lifted off the
bobbins during the said operations of doffing, and placing empty bobbins on
the spindles. On the frame T, bearing 4 are made, in which bearings a
cross shaft 5 is fitted, so as to rotate or turn partially round. On the end
of the cross shaft t5 a handle 16 is fastened, on the cross shaft t5 two
cccentrics 7 and 8 are fastened. On each of the eccentrics t7 and 18 a
clip 9 is fitted. The clip 19 is connected by a swivel joint 10 to vertical
bars 11, on the vertical bars 11 studs or pins 12 are placed, made adjustable
by set screws or other convenient means. The studs 12 are placed under
the pressers or guides t2, when the pressers or guides t2 are required to
be lifted and beld up, the handle t6 is turned partially round, which gives
motion to the eccentrics t 7 and 8, thus raising the vertical bars 11, by this
means the pressers or guides are raised and held up, while doffing or other-
wise; a spring 18 is fixed to the frame T, which presses against the flat
side on the collar 14, when the pressers have been lifted to the proper
height.
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the polishing or sizing
is performed. In the presser fixings 1, a socket or box is formed (or a slide
may be attached thereto,) in which a piece of wood t 15, covered with cloth
or other material, is placed. When the bobbins are filled, and ready for
polishing, by turning partially round the handle t 6, on the cross shaft € 5, the
eccentrics 7 and 8 raise the vertical bars t11, which lift up the presser
fixings t1, and the pieces of wood t 15 are thus pressed against, and polish the
yarn or thread on the bobbins or spools G. If sizing is required the size may
be applied to the pieces of wood by a brush or other convenient means. Or
the polishing and sizing of the yarn or thread on the spools or bobbins may
be effected by an arrangement of the same nature as the one shown for
acting on the pressers by means of the cord u2, lever U, and antifriction
bowls 4 as above described.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that yarn or thread can
be wound by a hand spooling machine, on six or other convenient number
of bobbins or spools simultaneously, and with very little more labour to the

page_text: attendant than is now required in working the usual hand spooling machine
with a single bobbin, thus effecting a considerable saving in time and labor,
and economising space.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Gerrard Fitton, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
EDWARD GERRARD FITTON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named Edward Gerrard
Fitton, in the presence of
HY. MORRIS,
Clerk to Mess". J. P. Aston & Son,
Sol". Manchester.