IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AND FINISHING OF THREADS OR YARNS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Calder, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
Sealed, the 27th January 1854, and dated the 25th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Calder at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th November 1853.
I, WILLIAM CALDER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AND FINISHING OF THREADS OR
YARNS to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to various arrangements of machinery, appa-
ratus, or means for the treatment and finishing or polishing of thread
whereby economy in cost and superiority of finish are secured. The yarn
or thread to be finished is wound upon a beam disposed at one end of
the frame of the machine. From this beam the line of threads passes
between the supplying and pressing or squeezing rollers of a trough or
reservoir charged with the usual gummy and metallic composition.
The threads thus receive a coating of the composition, and imme-
diately after leaving the rollers the threads pass over a revolving brush,

page_text: which acts upon the threads in such manner as to smooth down and
work the composition' evenly over the threads. The threads then pass
between a pair of revolving beaters or frictional dasher scrapers, one
above and one below the line of threads, arranged to work up the
threads to the intended finished polish. A steam pipe or heater is also
placed here to dry the threads as the polishing process is going on;
after this the line of threads passes beneath a guide roller, and it is
then separated into the required number of divisions, and wound upon
a corresponding number of bobbins, rollers, or beams at the further
end of the machine.. The rate of revolution of these taking up bobbins
or rollers is regulated by means of a pair of reversed strap cones, the
strap action of which is adjusted either by hand or by the machine
itself to suit the varying diameters of the empty and full bobbins. In
the subsequent winding of cach thread from the large reeling bobbin or
roller on to a separate individual bobbin the large containing bobbin or
roller is placed in front of a winding frame containing a row or rows of
long vertical spindles, each of which has upon it several bobbins strung
on one above the other; all these spindles are driven from one bottom
shaft, and a cross guide worked by the usual "heart" movement
regulates the winding on of the threads upon each horizontal line or
row of bobbins; the series of beamed threads; being radiated off the
containing beam taking a single thread to each bobbin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Calder in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM CALDER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors. give and grant unto me,, the said William Calder, Her
-

page_text: special license that I, the said William Calder,, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Calder,
my executors, administrators, or 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 THE TREATMENT AND FINISHING OF THREADS OR
YARNS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Williain
Calder, by an instrument in writing under hand and seal, 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 William Calder, 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 'following statement," reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures 'marked thereon, that
is to say: 8
My said Invention relates to various arrangements of machinery,
apparatus, or means for the treatment and finishing or polishing of
thread whereby economy in cost and superiority of finish are secured.
The yarn or thread to be finished is wound upon a beam disposed at
one end of the frame of the machine. From-this-beam the line of
threads passes between the supplying and pressing or squeezing.rollers
of a trough or reservoir charged with the usual gunimy and metallic
composition. The threads tlius receive a coating of the composition,
and immediately after leaving the rollers the threads pass over or under
the revolving brush, which acts upon the threads in such manner as
to smooth down and work the composition evenly over the threads.
The threads then pass between a pair of revolving beaters or frictional
dasher scrapers, one above and one below the line of threads arranged
to work up the threads to the intended finished polish, or two beaters
may be placed on one side of the line of threads, and one on the other,

page_text: so that they may reciprocally keep the threads up against each other.
A steam pipe or heater may also
the polishing process is going on.
beneath a guide roller, and it is then separated into the required
number of divisions, and wound upon a corresponding number of
bobbins, rollers, or beams at the further end of the machine. The rate
of revolution of these taking up bobbins or rollers is regluated by means
of a pair of reversed strap cones, the strap action of which is adjusted
either by hand or by the machine itself to suit the varying diameters of
the empty and full bobbins. In the subsequent winding of each thread
from the large receiving bobbin or roller on to a separate individual
bobbin, the large containing. bobbin or roller is placed in front of a
winding frame containing a row or rows of long vertical spindles, each
of which has upon it several bobbins strung on one above the other.
All these spindles are driven from one bottom shaft, and a cross guide
worked by the usual "heart" movement regulates the winding on of
the threads upon each horizontal line or row of bobbins, the series of
beamed threads being radiated off the containing beam, taking a single
thread to each bobbin.
be placed here to dry the thread as
After this the line of threads passes
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood
I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the two
Sheets of Dawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my
Drawings, is a side, and Figure 2, is an end elevation of a machine
constructed according to my Invention for treating or finishing
threads or yarns, and Figure 3, is a plan of the same. Figure 4, is
a vertical section of the trough and rollers for imparting the gluti-
nuous or starchy matter to the threads. Figure 5, on Sheet 2 of
my Drawings, is a side elevation; Figure 6, is an end elevation; and
Figure 7, is a plan of the winding frame for winding the threads
on separate individual bobbins after they have been taken from the
finishing. The finishing machine consists of a frame formed by two
parallel cast iron side standards A, connected together by transverse tie
rods B, and fitted with suitable brackets and bearings for the details of
the mechanism. The threads to be finished are wound upon a beam C,
which is carried in bracket bearings D, bolted to the side standards at

page_text: one end of the machine. The threads are drawn off the beam C, and
through the machine, by mechanism at the other extremity of the
machine, to be herein-after described. They first pass through a reed
E, fixed across the machine, separate them and spread them out
uniformly. They next pass between the starching rollers F, G. The
lower roller G, is of considerable diameter, and revolves partly immersed
in starchy or glutinuous matter contained in a trough H, fixed to the
side standards A, by pendant bracket pieces I, and carrying bearings J,
for the spindles of the large roller F. The smaller roller G, rests upon
the top of the roller F, its spindles being retained in vertically slotted
brackets K, bolted to the side standards. The brackets K, are formed
with arms, to which are jointed the weighted levers L, arranged to
depress the spindles of the roller G. The tractive friction of the passing
threads M, causes the rollers F, G, to revolve, and the lower one in this
manner takes up a continuous supply of the starchy matter, and imparts
it to the threads, the amount remaining in the threads on issuing from
between the rollers being dependant on and regulated by the pressure
put upon the upper roller G, by means of the weighted lever L. The
threads then pass on towards the other end of the machine, being
submitted during their traverse, in the first place, to the revolving
brushes N, and, secondly, to the three polishing beaters or reels O, P, Q,
all driven at a considerable velocity. The main driving shaft R, of the
machine is carried transversely in bracket bearings at the end of the
machine at which the starching apparatus is placed. This shaft R,
has upon it the fast and loose pulleys S, round which is passed the belt
T, from an overhead revolving pulley. A belt U, communicates motion
from the shaft R, to a transverse shaft B, carried in bracket bearings
towards the other end of the machine. A cord W, passed round a pulley
on the shaft V, and round a pulley on the spindle X, of the rotatory brush
N, drives this brush, causing it to revolve in a direction opposed to the
traverse of the newly starched threads, upon which it exerts an efficient
spreading and equalising effect, causing the starch to be uniformly incor-
porated with the fibres of the threads. The spindles of the polishing
reels O, P, Q, which are carried in bracket bearings Y, bolted to the
side standards A, have small pulleys fixed upon them, and are driven

page_text: by belts Z, from.corresponding pulleys a, carried by the main driving
shaft, R...
The polishing reels are driven at: various velocities, as is
found most efficient in practice. They are each formed by four bars
of wood fixed to: radial arms, the acting surfaces of; the bars being
slightly rounded, and those of the reel Q, more so than the others;
The reel Ois above the line of threads M, whilst the other two P, Q;
are beneath it, the upper one lying midway between the two, lower
ones. All the three polishing reels revolve in a direction; opposed to
the traverse of the threads; to which in passing them they impartea
high degree of polish.. At. a short distance from the polishing reels
the threads pass under a guide roller b, placed transversely, in bracket
bearings bolted to the side standards... Immediately beyond this guide
roller the threads are divided both vertically and laterally into parcels,
and they then pass on to two rows of large bobbins c, at the end of the
machine. Before reaching the bobbins, however, the threads? pass
through the reeds 'd, so as to be equally spaced and spread. The
bobbins c, are carried in a species of frame fixed at the extreme end
of the main frame of the machine, and consisting of the. side. pieces. e;
and transverse top piece f; a pair of bent brackets g, are bolted to the
side standards A, and to the upper ends of the side piéces e, these
brackets serving to stiffen the frame e, f, and as supports for the reeds
d, which are bolted to them. The bobbins c, are passed upon spindles
h, which are carried in bracket bearings i, bolted to the side pieces e:
Motion is communicated to this part of the mechanism.by the shaft. V,
which has a cone drum j, fixed upon it for the purpose. Round this
cone drum is passed a belt k, which also passes round a reversed cone
drum 1, on a transverse shaft m, carried in bracket bearings n, at the
extremity of the main frame. The shaft m, has keyed upon it a small
pinion in gear with a spur wheel o, carried loose on a stud pin.p, bolted
to the side standard. The spur wheel o, is in one piece with a pinion
which is in
a'spur
also carried loosely on a stud
pin fixed to a brackets, upon the side standard. The spur wheel 7; is
in gear with a spur wheelt, of the same diameter as itself upon the
spindle h, of the lower row of bobbins c, and this spur wheel t, again
gears with a spur-wheel, of-equal size, upon the spindle. h.. of the
2.
gear
with
wheel ',

page_text: row of bobbins above. In this manner the two rows of bobbins are
driven. at the same rate. The wheels o and q can be changed so as to
alter the proportion of gearing, and the consequent rate of rotation of
the bobbins, the wheel. being shifted upon its bracket to accommodate
itself to different sizes of wheels. A differential movement is provided
for varying the rate at which the bobbins are driven according to the
quantity of thread upon them, and their, consequent 'greater or less
diameter. This movement causes the belt to traverse from end to
end of the cones j.and.l, as the bobbins, become filled, and it consists
of a worm v, upon the shaft m, which actuates a worm wheel upon an
inclined shaft w, placed longitudinally, and having at its other extremity
a worm a, in gear with a worm wheel upon a screw. spindle y, carried
transversely in bracket .bearings bolted to the side standards. This
screw spindle y, causes a fork z, to traverse the belt along the cones.
This fork is slotted for the passage through it of the bar; (along
which it travels, the bar being bolted to the side standards.. The fork
has jointed to it a heavy lever or arın 2, formed, with a half nut on its
under side. This half nut corresponds to the threaded portion of the
screw spindle y, upon which it lies, and by the rotation of which it is
made to traverse across the machine, thereby shifting the belt k, and
causing the bobbins c, to be driven: at a gradually slower rate as they
become filled. On fresh empty bobbins being placed in the frame the
attendant lifts up the "arm 2, of the fork off the screw spindle; and
by hand causes the fork and belt to retraverse to the other ends of the
cones in readiness for repeating the action which I have described.
The winding apparatus represented in Figures 5, 6, and 7, on Slicet 2
of my Drawings, consists of a frame formed by the two parallel cast
iron side standards A, connected together by the top piece B, and
transverse tie rods C. At some distance in front of the frame is
placed a stand D, consisting of-a pair of standards cast in one piece
with a sole plate. This stand is for the reception of one of the large
bobbins c, upon.
which the thread is taken up in the machine already
described. This bobbin is placed on a spindle which is entered into
slots in the standards D, and the threads are wound off.it by fand upon
a set of smaller bobbins carried by the frame A, B, C. The. spindle

page_text: of the bobbin c, has a pulley E, fixed upon it, over which is passed a
weighted friction strap or cord F, to prevent the too rapid and easy
drawing off of the threads and to give them the tension necessary for
their being accurately and uniformly wound upon the small bobbins G.
These bobbins G, are carried by a series of vertical spindles H, revolv-
ing in footstep and intermediate bearings in cross bars I, bolted to the
side standards A. The lower ends of the spindles H, have fast upon
them bevil wheels J, in gear with a series of bevil wheels K, carried
by a transverse shaft L, revolving in bracket bearings bolted to the side
standards. The shaft L, has upon it at one end a pulley M, round
which is passed a belt L, from an overhead pulley for driving the
machine, and a clutch box O, is provided for putting the shaft in or
out of gear with the pulley M, the clutch box being moved by a rod P,
passed across the machine to the other side. Each spindle H, has
strung upon it four bobbins G, resting upon each other, the lowest of
the series being sustained by collars or tablets Q, upon the spindles.
The upper ends of the spindles H, are steadied by being made to work
in eyes in a crossbar R, which is hinged to the top piece B, of the
frame, so that it can be lifted off the ends of the spindles when it is
necessary to substitute empty bobbins for the filled ones. The threads
are guided to the bobbins by four transverse wires S, fixed to a pair of
vertical rods T, which have a short vertical traverse in bracket eyes U,
bolted to the side standards A. This vertical traverse is given to the
guide wires S, to cause them to lay the thread evenly upon the bobbins.
The requisite motion is produced. by a pair of heart-shaped cams V,
keyed upon a transverse shaft W, carried in bracket bearings fixed
to the side standards. These cams V, act upon levers X, jointed at
one end to the vertical rods T, and at the other to the side standards A.
The shaft W, has keyed upon it a spur wheel Y, driven by a small
pinion Z, upon the end of the shaft L. In this manner the cams V,
constantly revolve whilst the winding action goes on, and they cause
the levers X, to rise and fall slowly, and the levers impart this motion
to the guide wires S, so that each thread is directed evenly and in
succession to all parts of the bobbin, and is built up thereon in a
compact cylindrical form. After being wound upon these bobbins the

page_text: thread is by a subsequent operation rewound upon smaller bobbins for
the market.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made there-
from without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention. But what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, appa-
ratus, or means to be employed in the treatment and finishing or
polishing of threads or yarns, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of treating, finishing, and polishing
threads or yarns wherein such threads or yarns are primarily beamed
or wound upon a a roller, and then submitted to the action of the appa-
ratus in the form of a warp, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in thread finishing and polishing
machinery of beaters or reels made to revolve against the threads dis-
posed in the form of a warp, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of first winding off a warp of threads
as finished by my machine, for example, upon large bobbins or beams,
a convenient number of ends being wound upon each bobbin, and then
rewinding the threads off the large bobbins upon smaller bobbins, a
single end being taken up by each of the latter, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Calder, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
W CALDER. (L.S.)