IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING AND MAKING UP SEWING THREAD FOR SALE OR USE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clark, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Thread Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDING AND MAKING UP SEWING THREAD FOR SALE OR USE, AND IN THE
MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR,'
"
Sealed the 27th April 1877, and dated the 1st November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1876.
JOHN CLARK, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Thread.
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING AND MAKING UP SEWING THREAD
FOR SALE OR USE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention has reference to new or improved modes of winding thread, to
the machinery employed therefor, and to the modes and means of preparing the
thread for sale and use on large bobbins of papier mache or wood in much greater
lengths without knots or broken. ends than has been done or practiced heretofore,
making such thread so produced and finished more suitable for sewing and
embroidering machines, especially where these are used in great numbers for manu-
facturing purposes, effecting great saving in the first cost of production by not
requiring to manufacture the usual small wood bobbins or spools, or to rewind the
thread thereon; and, further, by obviating the constant waste of time and thread
at the ends in joining the short threads heretofore used, and in freight for for-
warding the same for use.
And the nature and novelty of this Invention consists, first, in making certain
improvements in thread-winding machines to effect the said new or improved
finished winding of the thread ready for use as stated. These improvements as
applied to the vertical spindles of thread winding machines, with angled or
V shaped frames or bank of spindles and thread guide bars, receding in horizontal
sets or steps as they ascend to the top of the frame and machine, consist in forming
the new bobbins (whether made of papier mache or wood, or of compressed layers
of paper or thin wood) very strong, light, and cheap, of about the same diameter
and half the length of the long heavy bobbins at present used for the first rough
or preparatory winding of thread, that is, from 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and from

page_text: 2 to 4 inches in length, to contain preferably about ten times, or as many thou-
band yards of the finished thread ready for use as the present wooden spools or
bobbins contain hundreds of yards, thus a greater number of spindles will be got in
the present height of the machine.
And further, in making each spindle with a driving disc or ring, preferably with
cloth or a layer of vulcanized india-rubber, leather, or other frictional substance,
and mounting each of the light bobbins on the said spindles and discs, so as to be
driven by friction, loaded on top by a light weight (spring, or other equivalent) to
give the maximum winding tension required to properly wind the particular thread
being treated, and yet not strain it, at whatever rate the spindles may be driven in
excess of the supply of thread, or however irregular the feeding in of the threads
individually or collectively may be, thus compensating for slack threads and
enabling all the spindles to wind the thread regularly on their bobbins by slightly
retarding the tight threads in passing the feeding roller until the slack ones are
taken up without excess of strain on any.
The increased weight of the bobbins as they are filled in winding adds to the
winding friction as their diameter increases and the power required to maintain the
regular tension and compactness of the built or wound thread. And when desired
self-acting weighted or spring feeding-on arms may be employed carried on the
traversing bars worked by the heart motion, as used in the single spindle hand
winding machines, or the continuous self-feeding and winding machines with
numerous spindles.
And further, in actuating the spindles of the driving drums of the spindle bands
by bevel wheels and pinions from the first motion shaft (instead of by skew bevel
wheels as usual), and in making the whole vertical reciprocating frame (with the guide
bars and eyes for regularly laying on and building the thread on the bobbins) so
rigid as to be moved up and down direct by the heart motion, or through a rocking
spindle and one or more oscillating levers and short connecting rods, and in making
the heart cam with a small extreme throw equivalent to that required for the new
short bobbins, and driving its shaft at a much less speed than usual through a
larger screw wheel on it and suitable fine pitched screw on the counter or first
motion shaft actuating it (or other equivalent reducing gear), in either case change-
able to suit the fineness or particular number of threads being wound, all so as to
cause the guide rods and eyes to rise and fall with the thread in front of the bobbins,
to build the thread close and regular, much as is done on the small finished spools,
thus making winding machines of the preparatory kind wind these large bobbins,
in this finished manner ready for sale and use, either direct as taken from the
ordinary prepared chain (or web) of thread made in great lengths to suit the
filling of one, two, or three sets of the said new large thread bobbins without
waste, direct as it comes from the bleaching or dyeing, with the "lees" cords at the
ends to enable the ends to be led and attached quickly and in succession to the
spindles and bobbins of the machine direct from a simple feeding drum or roller
carried in standards at some considerable distance in front of the said improved
winding machine. The chain or web of thread is turned once round the feeding
roller from the loose heap, and the roller paced by a strap or cord with lever and
shifting weight to regulate the frictional pacing or tension on the delivered or
feeding-in mass of threads.
When polished thread is to be so wound in the said improved manner and
winding machine the beams of polished thread are taken from the polishing machine
direct to the said feeding-in frame and pacing weighted lever, with portable spindle
for receiving them and pulley for the friction band or other equivalent; and to
save all the time of picking or forming a lees at the end of the web a str p of
gummed paper is attached to the under side and doubled over at each edge, and
slightly gummed down on the upper side also, so as to retain the whole set of
threads in their regular order as they come through or over their separating roller
or other dividing reed or comb, all before cutting the ends or removing the beams
ready for being taken to the winding machine, when the ends will be as easily led

page_text: on to the bobbins in sequence as if a lees cord had been inserted, the gummed
strip of paper being removed before starting the machine, set off and on by a spring
treadle lever connected to the driving belt forked lever and fitted at the feeding-in
frame and mechanism, where the attendant stands watching the threads and pacing
lever.
Although the threads have only been mentioned as conducted direct to the
winding machine or bobbins froin the chain or beam of the pacing delivery standard
and axis, it is to be understood that they might be passed over or through a
dividing comb, or other equivalent, as the fine grooved separating or dividing
roller used in the polishing or other thread preparing machines.
In some cases the threads may be led direct from the polishing machine to the
winding machine, fitted some considerable distance in front of the delivery ends
thereof to give room for the threads to be led off to the several banks of bobbins
and spindles, or to one large winding machine with sufficient spindles to wind all
the threads or ends delivered from a polishing machine, which might be made to
suit a maximum size of winding machine, thus, by these improvements, saving all
the time and labour of beaming the thread before winding, whether it is plain or
polished, as well as a double or second winding, both as heretofore practised, or
reeling it into hanks, as is frequently done, causing considerable loss of time, labour,
and material, while at the same time winding the thread in a manner more suitable
for the said sewing and embroidering purposes than that prepared on the usual
wooden spools, and highly pressed or compactly wound, whether these were done
on the single spindle hand winding machines or the continuous self-feeding and
winding machines. Each spindle of the winding machine may be fitted with a light
forked lever and spring for lifting the bobbin off its driving collar and releasing it
when desired to stop its winding, when the thread breaks, or other obstruction to
the winding of the. thread occurs, until the attendant is enabled to repair the defect
without stopping the winding of all the other spindles and bobbins.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st May
1877.
JOHN CLARK, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Thread
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING AND MAKING UP SEWING THREAD FOR
SALE OR USE, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
My said Invention has reference to new or improved modes of winding thread,
to the construction or arrangement of machinery employed therefor, and to the
modes and means of preparing the thread for sale and use on large bobbins of papier
mache or wood, in much greater lengths without knots or broken ends than has
been done or practised heretofore, making such thread so produced and finished
more suitable for sewing and embroidering machines, especially where these are used
in great numbers for manufacturing purposes, effecting great saving in the first
cost of production by not requiring to manufacture the usual small wood bobbins or
spools, or to re-wind the thread thereon, and further by obviating the constant
waste of time and thread at the ends in fixing the short threads as heretofore used,
and economising freight for forwarding the same for use.
And in order that the nature and novelty of my said Invention, and mode and
means of performing the same may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to
describe the several Figures on the two Sheets of Drawings which I have hereunto
appended for the purpose of showing the best means I am at present aware of for
putting the Invention into effect or practice; the same reference letters and
numerals indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation; and Figure 2 on Sheet 2, a corresponding

page_text: back elevation, both of a thread winding machine of the general type and character
of that heretofore used only for the first rough or preparatory winding of thread on
to the usual long heavy bobbins, for the purpose of being subsequently removed to
other machines for further treatment, as for being polished or wound in hanks
or chains for dyeing, beaming, or polishing, or for being wound on to the small
wooden spools for sewing or embroidering purposes, but as here shown fitted with
one arrangement of my improvements connected therewith for winding the thread
therein at once in the said improved manner, all ready for sending out for use in
sewing and embroidering machines.
Referring to these Figures 1 and 2, the general construction of the machine
consists of two open cast-iron nearly right angled triangular side frames A, A, and a
central one A¹ set much in advance of the former, with their right angles towards
the back and floor, and the front angled sides receding towards the back as they
ascend to the top, and all secured together by broad horizontal rails B, B¹, in front,
bolted on the upper outer ends of the brackets A" cast on and projecting out in
front as steps from the receding angled edges of the frames A, A¹, A¹¹. The side
frames A, A, are strongly bound together, as seen in Figure 2, by the open angled
cruciform stay frame A1 at the back, and by an upper and lower transverse
rail A2, A3, secured in the centre to the back of the central frame A¹ by the short
longitudinal rails A4, A5, to which are secured the upper journal bearing
brackets B', B, and foot step pillar blocks B, B, of the shafts of the two vertical
drums B, B, for driving the bands or cords as of the bank of vertical winding
spindles a, which are ranged in angled rows of seven, in footstep bushes a¹ and
journal bearings a", secured along the two horizontal angled rails B, B', over each
other on each front angled side of the V shaped frame, each set or row of seven
spindles a rising in steps quite behind the row below them, the foot step carrying
rails B of the second set being in the same level A" as the higher journal bearing
of the first row, and so on for seven rows of spindles on each side, all as seen in
Figure 1, where the two first rows are indicated, giving forty-nine spindles on each
side; but there might be many more ranged in the height, as the spindles are much
longer than necessary for the size of bobbin shown, the machine being, as before
stated, originally designed for the preparatory winding of the thread on to the usual'
long bobbins. The driving drums B, B, are ranged on each side of the centre within
the back part of the frame, each drum driving all the spindles on its side of the
central frame A¹ by cords a³ passed round it and the small grooved pulley a fixed
on each spindle a, these pulleys of each row rising in different vertical planes on the
spindles as they recede back towards the drum, between the rails B, B¹, carrying
the spindles, as shown particularly in the lower front row of spindles in Figure 1.
The bobbius b under these improvements are preferred to be made of papier mache,
or wood, or of compressed layers of paper or thin wood, for strength, lightness, and
cheapness, and about the same diameter and half the length of the long heavy
bobbins heretofore used in these machines for the first rough or preparatory winding
of the thread; that is, from 2 to 3 inches in diameter and from 2 to 4 inches in
length, so as to contain preferably about ten times, or as many thousand yards of
the finished thread ready for use as the present ordinary wooden spools or bobbins
contain hundreds of yards; thus admitting of the improvement of getting a greater
number of spindles a in the present or ordinary height of the machine, as shown in
these Figures 1 and 2.
Another improvement consists in fitting each spindle a with a driving disc or
ring a, with a thin disc or layer preferably of cloth, or of vulcanized india-rubber,
leather, or other such soft or elastic frictional substance fixed on its upper surface,
for mounting one of the said improved bobbins b on each of the spindles a, with its
one flange resting on the friction and driving dises a² so as to be driven by friction,
and regulated by a light weight at on top (or it might be by a spring or other
equivalent) in either case regulated to give the maximum winding tension required
to properly wind the particular thread being treated and yet not stran it, at what-
ever rate the spindles may be driven in excess of the supply of thread, or however

page_text: irregular the feeding in of the threads individually or collectively may be, thus,
while winding all the threads or ends, only stopping the bobbins of the tight threads
to compensate for the slack threads, and enabling all the spindles to wind the thread
nearly regular to the tightness or tension due to the weight a' on their bobbins b,
by slightly retarding the tight threads in passing the feeding roller or bar E until
the slack ones are taken up without excess of strain on any. The increased weight
of the bobbins b as they are filled with the thread z in winding, adds to the friction
and power gained as required by the increased diameter, and so maintains the
regular tension and compactness of the built or wound thread.
A further improvement consists in actuating the spindles or shafts B' of the
driving drum B, B, for actuating the bands a³ of the spindles a of the bobbins b, by
the changable speed bevel wheel and pinions C¹, C", gearing into each other, the
former on the spindle B¹ of the near drum, and the latter on the first motion
shaft C (instead of by skew bevel wheels as heretofore used) driven by a belt passed
over the fast and loose pulleys D from any adjacent prime noving shaft, and carried
on journal bearing blocks within the back part of the frame A, A¹.
spindle B of the first drum B gives motion to the spindle B¹ of the second drum B
by the spur wheels B keyed on them at top through the intermediate transinitting
wheel B3 gearing into them, and carried on the adjustable stud B secured to the
top rail A, all as seen particularly in Figure 2.
The
A further improvement consists in mounting. the front angled thread laying on
rails E, on the two vertical side frames E¹, and central frame E, all angled and bound
together as a portable frame corresponding to and outside of the main frames A, A¹,
and with the rails E in steps receding upwards in front of the rows of spindles a
and bobbins b, and carried by the strong arms Ell, fixed by eyes and pinching
screws to the vertical reciprocating bars E2, sliding in guide brackets E³, secured to
the main frames A, A, and actuated by the adjustable connecting rods F, attached
to pins F¹, at the free ends of the levers F1, of the rocking shaft F11, carried in
brackets F, at the back of the main side frames A, and actuated through the central
lever F³, and antifriction pulley F, resting on the heart cam G, which carries and
moves the whole as a rocking frame, counterbalanced by the weight W, and chain w,
carried over the pulley W, and attached to the free end of the central lever F³, the
pulley W¹ being carried in a strong stud W, in the centre frame A¹, thus enabling
the heart motion to reciprocate the whole frame up and down for the regular build-
ing of the thread on the bobbins b, as usual, through guide eyes or laying on rollers
or finger levers. The heart cam G, with a shorter lift than usual to suit the new
short bobbins and its spindle G', is carried on the bracket G¹¹; secured to the rail
A, at the lower back part of the main frame, and is actuated at a slow speed by
the large screw wheel G³, gearing into and actuated by the screw G³, on the lower end
of the spindle B¹ of the second drum B; the wheel and screw being changeable, and
the speed regulated or reduced to suit the fineness or particular No. of thread being
wound at the time, all so as to cause the guide bars E, and their laying on eyes or
fingers to rise and fall with the thread passing in over or through them from the
beam or other equivalent in front to the bobbins b, to build the thread close and
regular, much as is done on the small finished spools, thus making winding machines
of the preparatory kind, so, fitted with these improvements, as shown in Figures 1
and 2, wind these large bobbins b. in this finished manner ready for sale and use.
When the thread is first prepared on the beam I for being led on or supplied
to these winding machines, they are carried to and inserted into bearings in a new
or improved portable frame formed of two standards H, bolted together by trans-
verse stays H, and set or secured to the floor of the winding room as shown in
Figure 1, but at a considerably greater distance out in front of the winding frame
A, A¹, fitted with a portable spindle H", and a pacing weighted lever H², and pacing
band H³, passed round a suitably turned or grooved part of the beam I, so as to
pace it and the thread to any tension it is desired to lead off the thread from the
beam,

page_text: The thread z, when taken from the ordinary prepared chain (or web) of thread'
made in great lengths to suit the filling of one, two, or three sets of the said new
large thread bobbins b, without waste, direct as it comes from the bleaching or
dyeing, with the usual lees cords at the ends to enable the ends to be, led and
attached quickly and in succession to the spindles and bobbins b of the machine,
direct from a simple feeding drum or bam J, carried in the standard frame H. The
chain or web of thread z is turned once round the body I of the feeding beam or
roller from the loose heap below, the roller being paced by a strap or cord H³, the
lever and shifting weight H¹ regulating the frictional pacing or tension on the de-
livered or feeding-in mass or chain of threads.
"
When polished thread is to be wound in this improved manner and winding
machine, the beams I of polished thread are taken from the ordinary polishing
machine direct to the said feeding-in frame H, with its portable spindle H", for
receiving them, and a pulley I¹ on it or the beam I for the friction band or other
equivalent of the weighted pacing lever H2, being passed over or round, as shown in
Figure 1. And for the purpose of saving much time in picking or forming a "lees"
at the end of the web of thread on the beam I, to lead the threads regularly on
to the bobbins of the winding machine in front, an improved mode of forming the
"lees consists in attaching one or two narrow strips of gummed paper to the
under side of the whole set of threads, and doubling them over at each or either
edge, and then damping or slightly gumming them down on the upper side of the
threads and lower slip also, so as to retain the whole set of threads in their regular.
order when each beam is filled, and as they come through or over their separating
roller, or dividing reed or comb, all just before cutting the ends or removing the
beams from the polishing or other beaming machine, ready for being taken to the
winding machine, as shown in Figure 1, when the ends will be as easily led on to
the bobbins b in sequence, as if a "lees cord" had been inserted, the gummed
strip of paper being removed before starting the winding machine, which is set off
and on by a spring treadle lever, connected by a rod to the shifting fork lever of the
belt passed over the fast and loose pulleys D; this lever, which is not shown in the
Drawings, is fitted at the feeding-in frame and pacing mechanism H, where the
attendant stands watching and controlling the threads and pacing lever, and serving
off the thread to the winding machine.
Z
Although the threads z have only been mentioned as conducted direct to the
winding machine or bobbins b from the chain or beam of the pacing delivery
standard H and axis I, it is to be understood that they might be passed over or
through a dividing comb or other equivalent, as the fine grooved separating or
dividing roller used in the polishing or other thread preparing machines from the
chain or beam, and in some case the thread may be led direct from the polishing
machine to the winding machine, fitted some considerable distance in front of the
delivery end thereof to give room for the threads to be led off to the several banks
of bobbins and spindles, or to one large winding machine with sufficient spindles to
wind all the threads or ends delivered from a single polishing machine, which
might in some cases be made to suit a maximum size of winding machine; thus by
these improvements saving all the time and labour of beaming the thread before
winding, whether it is plain or polished, as well as the double or second winding,
both as heretofore practised, or the reeling of it into hanks as is frequently done,
which causes considerable loss of time, labour, and material, while at the same
time winding the thread in a manner more suitable for the said sewing and
embroidering machines and purposes than that heretofore prepared on the usual
wooden spools (and highly pressed or compactly wound), whether done on the single
spindle hand winding machines, or in the continuous self-feeding and winding
machines.
These improved large, strong, and light bobbins b made as described for
winding and supplying thread in a finished manner ready for use for manufacturing
purposes
in sewing and embroidering machines can all be preserved and returned

page_text: for refilling or, winding, and so serve for a great number of times, thus reducing the
expense of bobbins to a minimum or very small per-centage on the amount of
thread supplied on them.
By a further improvement when desired self-acting weighted or spring feeding-on
arins or fingers c may be used, carried on the traversing bars, worked by the heart
motion for the more regular laying-on of the thread on the bobbins, as used in the
ordinary single spindle hand winding machines, or the continuous self-feeding and
winding machines with numerous spindles for winding on to the ordinary small
spools or bobbins.
Each spindle of the winding machine may be fitted with a light forked lever and
spring for lifting the bobbin off its driving collar, and releasing it when desired
to stop its winding when the thread breaks, or other obstruction to the winding of
the thread occurs until the attendant is enabled to repair the defect without
stopping the winding of all the other spindles and bobbins.
Figures 1 and 24 on Sheet 2 are a side elevation and plan of one spindle a and
bobbin b, with a part of the thread building rail E of the reciprocating frame worked
by the heart motion, as detached from Figures 1 and 2, showing the application of
the said thread laying-on finger lever c to each spindle oscillating on a centre
stud c at its back end, and fitted with a light steel wire spring c¹¹, both fixed on
the top of the rail E, so that the spring presses the front end of the finger c against
the body of the bobbin b and thread z, as it is wound on to it, by being led
through the two small guide rollers d, d, or eye to the front laying-on finger
which thus builds the thread on these large vertical bobbins as close, regular, and
compact, as these fingers do in hand machines on to the usual small bobbins.
Figure 3 on Sheet 2 shows a side elevation of one spindle a and bobbin b with
one arrangement of the mechanism or details as applied thereto for stopping the
winding of the thread on to any bobbin when its thread breaks without stopping
the other bobbins. For this purpose each spindle is fitted with a small single ended
forked lever e, e¹, fulcrumed on a bracket e¹ projecting from the rail B¹ with the
forked end outside the driving disc a², so as to be capable of lifting the bobbin b
there off by its lower disc b' and the power of the spring e² secured below it; the
outer free end e¹ of the lever resting on the retaining catch f, f', fulcrumed on the
rod f with a light disengaging needle or plate g, gl, sliding by a slot on the rod gl
and hanging by an eye g to the thread z being fed from the supply beam, chain,
hank, bobbins, or cops, to the bobbin b over the guide bar h between the bar h, and
the two feeding-on rollers i, i¹, carried by a light bracket or other equivalent to the
reciprocating building rail E, ali so that when the thread' breaks, or its proper
tension is not maintained, the plate g falls down and its lower end takes into a
long notch or recess in the constantly reciprocating roller j, so as to press forward
the lower end f of the lever f and disengage the spring lever e¹, which immediately
lifts the bobbins b off its driving disc a² and stops the further winding of the thread.
The notched or recessed roller j is oscillated in its bearings below the row of
disengaging needles g, g', by the lever 11 on it, and pendent link or connecting
rod actuated by the two-armed lever lc, lc¹, so as to give two reciprocations of the
former for one of the latter which is fulcrumed at k¹, and actuated through its short
arm k and connecting rod by an eccentric or crank pin on one of the first motion
shafts of the winding machine or other shaft not shown in the Drawings. This
arrangement is also applicable for stopping the bobbin winding-in thread doubling.
or twisting frames when any one of the threads or cords breaks, having a hanging
disengaging needle g¹ to each of the set, being doubled to form the finished
thread.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider 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, construction, and combination of the parts of a

page_text: winding machine for winding thread in long lengths on to large bobbins in a
finished manner ready for use in sewing and embroidering machines and such like
purposes, for the purpose of saving the intermediate winding and treatment, and
the use of the large number of small wooden bobbins heretofore employed, all
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The driving of the bobbins b in thread winding machines, each
individually by the friction of its resting collar on that of its driving spindle,
whether the thread is wound from the beam, chain, or bank, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
Third. The winding or building of finished thread on large bobbins b in
vertical spindle thread winding machines by small oscillating laying-on fingers c,
for each bobbin 6 mounted on the guide bars E of a portable reciprocating
frame E¹, E, actuated by the heart and variable screw and screw wheel gear, all
substantially in the new or improved manner herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The driving of the drum spindles B₁ of vertical spindle thread winding
machines by ordinary changeable speed bevel wheels direct from the first motion
shaft, to effect the winding of finished thread in these machines, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
Fifth. The construction and arrangement of disengaging spring lever e, e¹, and
its.connections for stopping the winding of the bobbins in vertical winding machines
when the thread breaks or the tension relaxes, all substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 3. Sheet 2, or any
mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clark, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN CLARK. (L.S.)