Improvements in the Manufacture of Chenille and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL DELVICICATION,
Improvements in the Manufacture of Chenille and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, JOSEPH HOOD, of the firm of Hood Morton & Co. Manufacturers, Newmilns,
in the county of Ayr, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHENILLE AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,", to be
as follows:-
In manufacturing chenille for use as warp or weft in weaving chenille fabrics,
the twisting or spinning of the strands of thread which hold the short cut chenille
yarn; is effected by a series of rotating spindles on a travelling frame, the strands
of thread being attached at their ends to the spindles, and extending to and round
the feeding rollers on the stationary framing of the machine which feeds in the cut
yarn between the strands being twisted. The chenille is produced in lengths not
usually exceeding 50 or 60 feet the length being limited by the extent of traverse
of the spindle frame, and by the difficulty of imparting the twisting action through
long strands. To obtain the requisite lengths for warps, the twisted or spun
chenille has to be pieced or knotted, the result being that the knots show badly in
the woven or finished fabric. Moreover a certain extent of waste occurs at each
end of the lengths of yarn, which it is advantageous to avoid by producing the
yarn continuously or of greatly increased length. The series of comparatively
short lengths of yarn produced at each traverse of the spindle frame are, after
renoval, tied up to bars overhead and subsequently wound on to spools or bobbins
by hand.
The objects of my invention are are to effect a saving of time and labour by
dispensing with the operations of tieing up and subsequent winding on spools or
bobbins, to avoid waste of end pieces, and to overcome the objection of knotting or
piecing, which objects I attain by twisting or spinning the chenille continuously
or in much greater lengths than usual, and winding it directly on spools, cops, or
bobbins on or behind the rotating spindles or winding it in the form of hanks or
reels on the spindle frame.
In carrying out my invention according to one modification I fix upon each of
the rotating spindles, a cop or bobbin which rotates with the spindle, and I fix the
ends of the strands either in the usual way, or as I prefer, by means of a spring
clip to the point of the spindle. I then rotate the spindle, which is driven in the
usual. way, and twist or spin a length of the chenille equal to the extent of traverse
of the spindle frame. When such length has been twisted or formed, I turn it on
the cop or bobbin and rotate the spindles, while traversing forward the spindle
.

page_text: frame, so that the chenille is wound on to the cop or bobbin. After winding the
finished length I disengage the clip and refix the chenille in the clip or in the usual
notch at the point of the spindle, and start the twisting or spinning operation
afresh, and produce on each spindle another length of the chenille and then wind
the finished length, the operations of twisting and winding being repeated until
the cops or bobbins are filled with continuous lengths of the chenille. I also fit
upon the spindle frame a traversing or oscillating guide over which I pass the
chenille while it is being wound; and to this guide I impart, either by hand or by
the operating mechanism of the frame, a to-and-fro motion, so that the chenille is
evenly laid or "built" on the rotating cop or bobbin.
In a modified arrangement of the improved apparatus I make the rotating
spindles of tubular form and carry the chenille through the spindles to a second
series of spindles fitted behind and rotating in unison with the first series. On
the hollow spindles I fit the holding clip by which the strands are held during the
twisting operation, and on the rear spindles I fix the cops, spools, or bobbins on
which the finished chenille is wound. Such an arrangement may be conveniently
adopted in connection with the machines in present use in which the spindles are
too closely grouped together to leave space for the introduction of cops or bobbins
'upon them.
In lieu of winding upon cops or bobbins, I in some cases wind the chenille upon
reels or carry it round pins in the form of hanks.
The improved apparatus described is also applicable for twisting or spinning the
chenille produced by weaving in the loom and ripping into strips or lengths, the
ripped lengths or strips being twisted in portions which are wound on to the cops or
bobbins on the rotating spindles. of the frame in the manner hereinbefore described.
"
Dated this Sixteenth day of December 1884.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. .
Improvements in the Manufacture of Chenille and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, JOSEPH HOOD, of the firm of Hood Morton and Company, manufacturers,
Newmilns in the County of Ayr, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHENILLE AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
.
.
In manufacturing chenille for use in weaving chenille fabrics, the twisting or
spinning of the strands of thread which hold the short cut chenille yarn, is
effected by a series of rotating spindles on a travelling frame, the strands of
thread being attached at their ends to the spindles, and extending to and round 4

page_text: the feeding rollers on the stationary framing of the machine which feeds in the cut
yarn between the strands being twisted. The chenille is produced in lengths not
usually exceeding 50 or 60 feet the length being limited by the extent of traverse
of the spindle frame, and by the difficulty of imparting the twisting action through
long strands. To obtain the requisite lengths for warps the twisted or spun
chenille has to be pieced or knotted, the result being. that the knots show badly
in the woven or finished fabric. Moreover a certain extent of waste occurs at each
end of the lengths of yarn, which it is advantageous to avoid by producing the
yarn continuously or of greatly increased length. The series of comparatively short
lengths of yarn produced at each traverse of the spindle frame are, after removal,
tied up to bars overhead and subsequently wound on to spools or bobbins by
hand.
The objects of my invention are to effect a saving of time and labour by
dispensing with the operations of tying up and subsequent winding on spools
or bobbins, to avoid waste of end pieces, and to overcome the objection of knotting
or piecing which objects I attain by twisting or spinning the chenille continuously
or in much greater lengths than usual, and winding it directly on spools, cops, or
bobbins on or behind the rotating spindles or winding it in the form of hanks or
reels on the spindle frame.
In carrying out my invention according to one modification I fix upon each of
the rotating spindles a cop or bobbin which rotates with the spindle and I fix the
ends of the strands either in the usual way or as I prefer by means of a spring clip
to the point of the spindle. I then rotate the spindle which is driven in the usual
way, and twist or spin a length of the chenille equal to the extent of traverse of
the spindle frame. When such length has been twisted or formed, I turn it on to
the cop or bobbin and rotate the spindles while traversing forward the spindle
frame, so that the chenille is wound on to the cop or bobbin. After winding the
finished length I disengage the clip and refix the chenille in the clip or in the usual
notch at the point of the spindle and start the twisting or spinning operation
afresh, and produce in each spindle another length of the chenille and then wind
the finished length, the operations of twisting and winding being repeated until
the cops or bobbins are filled with continuous lengths of the chenille. I also fit
upon the spindle frame a traversing or oscillating guide over which I pass the
chenille while it is being wound and to this guide I impart, either by hand or the
operating mechanism of the frame, a to-and-fro motion, so that the chenille is
evenly laid or "built" in the rotating cop or bobbin.
In a modified arrangement of the improved apparatus I make the rotating
spindles of tubular form and carry the chenille through the spindles to a second
series of spindles fitted behind and rotating in unison with the first series. On the
hollow spindles I fit the holding clip by which the strands are held during the
twisting operation, and on the rear spindles 1 fix the cops, spools, or bobbins, on
which the finished chenille is wound. Such, an arrangement may be conveniently
adopted in connection with the machines in present use in which the spindles are
too closely grouped together to leave space for the introduction of cops or bobbins.
In some cases I wind the chenille upon reels or carry it round pins in the form
of hanks.
The improved apparatus described is also applicable for twisting or spinning
the chenille produced by weaving in the loom and ripping into strips or lengths,
the ripped lengths or strips being twisted in portions which are wound on to the
cops or bobbins on the rotating spindles of the frame in the manner herein before
described.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention Figure 1 is
sectional side elevation and Figure 2 is an end elevation of a modification of my
improved apparatus for twisting or spinning chenille yarn continuously or in long
lengths. Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of a slightly modified form of the
improved apparatus and figure 4 shows in side elevation a modification of the'
improved apparatus I employ for twisting strands of woven chenille.
1

page_text: '
Referring to figures 1 and 2 the chenille yarn Y is represented as being delivered
from the rolls R of the machine M which is ordinarily employed for winding the
coloured weft yarn round the warp threads and for cutting the weft as it enters
between the warps. The yarn is led to and is caught by a spring clip a on a
rotating spindle A of the twisting machine one strand being carried to each spindle
as is usual in the ordinary chenille twisting or spinning mule or machine. This
machine is in many respects similar to the chenille twisting or spinning mules in
common use, the framing B being carried as usual upon wheels which are operated
to carry the mule backwards on rails during the twisting and spinning operation.
The moving parts of the mule are also driven in the usual way by an endless
band or cord C passing round guide pulleys c and driving a central pulley c¹ on a
spindle D which through the pulleys E and bands Fimparts rotatory motion to a
longitudinal spindle G on which is a spur wheel H acting through gearing H¹ on
each of the spindles A of the machine and by rotating them imparting the
necessary degree of twist to the strands of yarn as they come from the cutting
rolls R. This rotation of the spindles A. is continued until the mule has been
traversed backwards to a considerable length e.g. 50 or 60 feet after which the
driving band is thrown out of gear. A guide rail I is then fitted across a movable
rail J fitted to slide in guides in the machine frame; to raise the yarn to the
position indicated by dotted lines in figure 1. A sliding pinion K on the spindle G
is then moved into gear with a pinion K¹ operated by a hand crank k, and each of
the series of spindles A upon which is fitted a bobbin, cop or pirn is caused to
rotate and wind on the spun or twisted chenille yarn, the mule being pushed
forward as the yarn is wound on while the machine M is thrown out of gear. The
bobbin being partially filled by the time the length of spun chenille is wound on
and the mule is in close proximity to the machine M, the rail J is withdrawn the
yarn is slipped into the clip a on the end of each spindle A and the band thrown
into gear to repeat the twisting or spinning operation, and after a second length of
chenille yarn is spun, it is wound on to the bobbin, these operations being repeated
until the bobbin is filled.
In order to guide the yarn properly in filling the bobbin a long lever arm L
jointed to the framing and acted on by a cam is fitted to traverse the guide rail J
back and forth over the length of the bobbin. This cam is rotated by a belt and
pulleys N from a spindle operated by gearing N' from a spindle N' which receives
motion by gearing N³ from the wheel axle N'.
The backward traversing of the machine during the spinning operation is effected
in the usual way by gearing from the spindle D which operates the front wheel
axle. A clutch or similar device is provided for throwing out this gearing in the
forward traverse of the machine when in like manner a clutch O is employed to
bring into gear the cam which operates the lever arm L.
The apparatus represented in figure 3 is very similar in construction to that
illustrated in figures 1 and 2 and differs mainly in the arrangement for traversing
the rail J which guides the spun chenille on to the cop or pirn with which in this
case the spindles A are fitted instead of with bobbins. The yarn is in this case
built up conically on the pirns or cops and the rail J has imparted to it not only a
to-and-fro movement over a shorter part of the length of the cop or pirn but it is
moved along so that the length over which the traverse takes place is gradually
shifted from the bottom to the front of the pirn. The lever arm L is acted on
through levers J' by a heart shaped cam l, but it is centered on a sliding piece P
which is slowly moved in guides by means of a screw spindle p driven by a pulley p¹
and band p² from a pulley p³ on the wheel axle so that the forward movement
of the mule for winding on the yarn on the cops or pirns serves to actuate the
rail J.
In this example also the spindle G which actuates the pirn spindles A is driven
direct by a band g and pulleys g¹, g² from the wheel axle. In each case instead of
driving the spindles A by gearing from each other they may be separately or in.

page_text: pairs driven by bands and pulleys from a rotating drum fitted on the machine
frame.
Figure 4 shows an adaptation of my invention to the apparatus commonly
employed for imparting the necessary twist to chenille yarn obtained by cutting or
ripping up woven chenille. The yarn y is attached by suitable clips to the rotating
spindles of the usual fixed framing M₁ and is led to the spindles A¹ of the traversing
frame B' which differs from the ordinary arrangement of apparatus in having
superadded the devices for winding the twisted yarn on to bobbins and permitting
of great lengths of chenille being formed continuously.
The necessary twist is imparted to the yarn, which stretches some 50 or 60 feet
from the clips of the spindles A¹ to the spindles on the frame M³, by driving the
spindles on both frames in the usual way.
The twist being finished a sliding pinion on a spindle provided with a hand
crank is put in gear with the driving pinions on the spindles A¹ and the guide
rail J is raised to the position indicated and is actuated by the cam 7 to guide the
yarn on to the cops or pirns while the framing B¹ is pushed forward and the
spindles A' are driven by the hand crank to wind on the yarn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The manufacture of continuous chenille yarn in the manner and by means of
apparatus substantially such as herein described.
2. The combinations of parts forming the improved chenille yarn twisting or
spinning frames or mules illustrated in figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The arrangement in combination with the ordinary construction of chenille
yarn twisting or spinning frames or mules of devices for winding the twisted
chenille direct on to bobbins, cops spools or pirns substantially as herein described.
Dated this 15th days of Santombar 100%