IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF WINDING THREAD ON COP- TUBES OR SPOOLS, AND IN MECHANISM THEREFOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rudolph Spöndlin, of Zürich, Switzerland; for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF WINDING THREAD ON COP-
TUBES OR SPOOLS, AND IN MECHANISM THEREFOR." A communication from
the Baumwollspinnerei and Zwirnerei, Niederuster, of Zürich, Switzerland.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rudolph Spöndlin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd September 1881.
RUDOLPH SPÖNDLIN, of Zürich, Switzerland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF WINDING THREAD ON COP-TUBES OR SPOOLS, AND IN MECHANISM THEREFOR."
A communication from the Baumwollspinnerei and Zwirnerei, Niederuster, of
Zürich, Switzerland.
My method of winding thread on sleeves or tubes is different from the methods
hitherto in use, as regards the mode of winding, and the security against the
slipping of the thread from the inclined ends. This tight winding also admits of
using very large and very small tubes. Figs. 1, 2, 3, Sheet 1, represent the method
of winding, Fig. 1 being a section, Fig. 2 a side view, and Fig. 3 (on a larger
scale) the manner in which the threads are lying when wound upon the tube or
sleeve.
On the circumference of the sleeve a, a, is situated the shortest cylindrical layer
of thread, represented by b, c, the thread-cylinder corresponding with the first
simple oscillation of the thread-guide; d, e, is a second layer of thread, longer than
the first, and corresponding with the second (greater) oscillation of the thread-
guide; fg, the third; h, i, the fourth layer, etc., which successively increase in
length, and completely cover the preceding layers also on the ends.
No threads are uncovered but those of the last and of the last layer but one,
each layer protecting and covering the preceding layers.
The thread-winder or guide is therefore bound to successively run through
greater distances, which is obtained by an alternating and increasing mechanism.
The mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 to 9, Sheet 2, serve to perform the improved
winding (as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, Sheet 1).

page_text: Figs. I. to IV. show the above mentioned combination of mechanisms which
produces an increasing travel of the thread guide; Figs. V. to X. represent other
arrangements for obtaining an increasing travel of the thread-guide.
A driving shaft serves to revolve the winding-spindles, and rotates simul-
taneously a screw-spindle with left hand and right hand thread (m, m³).
Beneath this screw-spindle is an axle n with a loose sleeve o, having two arms
or extensions provided with left and right hand thread m, m².
A pointer q is rigidly connected with the sleeve o, and guided around the
tapering plater (the width of the plate increasing backward). The sudden shifting
from one side to the other is effected by springs 8, 8¹.
The screw serves to produce the alternating motion of the thread-guide, while
the above mentioned plate produces the progressive increase of the travel.
The springs 8, 8, serve to keep the pointer q tight to the progression-plater (by
means of tongues t, t, and the inclined surface u), and cause the pointer to readily
slide from one side of the plate r to the other, thereby putting the other nut into
gear and reversing the motion.
The axle n does not turn, but can be shifted, and has a sleeve o capable of being
turned within the limits required for engaging and disengaging the jaw with the
screw. Said sleeve communicates to the shaft n the shifting motion by means of
loose collars.
The shaft n is connected with lever v, which latter moves the thread-guide w² by
means of a curved lever. The oscillations of the thread-guides correspond with the
alternating motions of the screws m, m². Therefore the shortest way of the
thread-guide corresponds with the shortest way of the sleeve o (guided by
screw m, m¹), and shaft n.
In this case the pointer travels round the smallest side 70, 70, of the bevelled
plate r, while in the case of the greatest oscillation the pointor travels round rl, r².
At the beginning of the winding operation the position of the pointer q with
regard to the plater corresponds with the length b, c, of the first thread cylinder
(Fig. 3, Sheet 1), or with the first oscillation of the thread-guide.
Proportionately to the shifting of the progression plate r the oscillations will
increase. For this purpose a lever with plate x is rigidly secured to the sleeve o.
This plate x is raised or lowered every time the nuts are set in or out of gear, and
always admits of a ratchet lever y, y¹, gearing into a ratchet wheel z, thereby
turning the wheel one tooth. By means of tooth gearing and weights the
intermittent motion of the ratchet wheel z causes an advance of the plate r, and
consequently an increase of the oscillation of the thread-guide w.
The teeth of the ratchet wheel determine the quicker or slower increase of the
oscillations, and consequently the more or less pointed shape of the bobbins.
A friction gear or equivalent may be used for regulating the speed of the
oscillations, and thereby the number of revolutions of the spindle corresponding to
a given travel of the thread-guide may be suitably arranged.
Figs. V. to VII. show how an alternating motion may be produced by means
of a double rack p, p', either of which gears alternately into a continuously
revolving pinion q.
This rack and pinion mechanism replaces the scrow mechanism m, m', p, p¹.
The inclined surface u, tongues t, t¹, pointer q, and plater have the same purpose
in this system as in the above.
Fig. VIII. shows a thread-guido w guided on vertical rods r and receiving its
alternating motion from a lever w° or double rack. The journals of the vertically
guided thread-guide block s¹ slide in a slit of lever w°.
Figs. IX. & X. show a thread-guide which is pressed by a spring against the
circumference of the bobbin.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Rudolph Spöndlin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th March 1882.
RUDOLPH SPÖNDLIN, of Zürich, Switzerland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF WINDING THREAD ON COP-TUBES OR SPOOLS, AND IN MECHANISM THEREFOR."
A communication from the Baumwollspinnerei and Zwirnerei, Niederuster, of
Zürich, Switzerland.
This Invention has for its object to render the manufacture and the transport of
bobbins cheaper than with the usual method of winding thread on wooden spools,
which advantage is of particular importance to the trades in which sewing thread
is used. Attempts have already been made to wind thread on paper-spools in
cylindrical layers in such a manner that the first or innermost layer is the longest,
the second a little shorter, and the last or uppermost layer the shortest of all, but
only a small number of layers has been arranged in this manner in a given length
of spool.
This method of winding is entirely different from the methods hitherto used, and
is applicable both for large and for small bobbins, as will be seen from the
accompanying Drawings, Figs. L, II, and III., Fig. I. showing a bobbin partly in
section and partly in elevation, and Fig. II. a plan with pentagonal section of
spindle, while Fig. III. shows the different layers of thread on a larger scale. The
remaining Figures illustrate some means of winding the thread in the described
manner.
The shortest layer of thread b, c, is situated next to the circumference of the
spool a, a, and produced by a simple oscillation of the thread-guide.
The second layer d, e, corresponds to a longer travel of the thread-guide, the
third layer f, g, is longer than the second, and the fourth layer h, i, still longer
than the third, and so on; each succeeding layer covers completely the preceding
layer and overlaps the ends of the latter, so that all threads which are visible on
the surface of the finished bobbin belong to the last, eventually to the last but one
layer, which protect all preceding layers.
In order to wind the thread in the manner described, the oscillation of the
thread-guide must gradually increase, which may be accomplished by the
mechanism illustrated in Figs. IV. to VII.
The driving axle from which the rotary motion of the winding spindles A is
derived serves also to rotate the right and left hand screw spindle m, m'. Under
this screw spindle a shaft n is located on which is mounted the loose sleeve o,
shown separately in Fig. IV.bis, provided with two arms, which carry the right
and left hand nuts p and pl, the latter gearing alternately into the right and hand
threads m and m'. With the sleeve is rigidly connected the pointer q, which is
carried across the tapered plater by the reciprocating motion of the sleeve o, which
latter is obtained by the nuts p and pl gearing into the right or left-hand screws m
and m¹ in the following manner:- While the pointer q is conducted over the top
of the plate 7 (Fig. VI) the right hand (right-threaded) screw m gears into the
right hand nut p, thereby carrying the pointer in one direction, which in Fig. IV.
is from left to right. As soon as the pointer 9 has passed over the plate so as to
arrive at its opposite edge rl, the spring a¹ acting on the tongue t¹, and thereby on
the oblique surface u at the base of the pointer q (Fig. VII.), draws the pointer
under the plate T. At the same time the nut p₁ commences to gear into the

page_text: screw m¹, in consequence of which the motion of the pointer is reversed, and the
latter returns under the plate r to its original position, being during its travel
pressed against the plate by the spring 8.
Thus as long as the pointer q travels over the plate the nut p gears into the
screw m, and the nut p³ gears into the screw m' when the pointer is carried under
the plate r.
The shaft n can be shifted along its axis, but not turned, while the sleeve o
mounted loose on the shaft communicates to the shaft n the rectilinear motion
obtained from the screw spindle by means of two collars z¹, 2. The shaft n carries
a ring having a projecting pin which moves the lever V, and thereby the thread-
guide w, so that the oscillations of the latter correspond to the alternating motion
of the sleeve o. The shortest travel of the thread-guide corresponds to the shortest
travel of the sleeve o (guided by the screws m and m³), which takes place when
the pointer q moves along the shortest side 70, 70, of the regulating plate r.
When the pointer passes along the longest side r², r, of the regulating plate r,
the oscillation of the thread-guide is at its maximum.
At the commencement of the operation the travel of the pointer is a minimum,
which corresponds to the shortest and innermost layer of thread, namely,
b, c, Fig. III.
The gradual increase of the oscillations of the thread-guide is produced by
shifting the regulating plate r forward, for which purpose a plate is rigidly
secured to an arm of the sleeve o. This plate is raised or lowered whenever the
nuts are set in or out of gear with the spindle m, m³, thereby causing the
clicks y, y¹, to fall into the ratchet wheel z, and to turn the latter every time one
tooth. By means of tooth gear and a rack attached to the plate r, see Fig. VI.,
the latter is shifted forward whenever the ratchet-wheel z is turned. By changing
the wheel the motion of r may be made quicker or slower, and consequently the
bobbins more or less pointed.
It is evident that the number of revolutions of the spindle for a given way of
the thread-guide may be varied by altering the speed of the screw spindle m, m'.
Figs. VIII. to X. show how the alternating motion of the pointer may be
obtained by means of two racks p', p', which gear alternately into the constantly
revolving pinion q¹. This rack and pinion replace the screw mechanism m, m³,
P, P', o, while the oblique surface u, tongues t and t¹, pointer q, and regulating
plater have the same purpose as above.
Figure XI. shows a thread-guide which is rigidly secured to the rail S', and
thereby guided in a vertical line along the guide post r₁, r₁. The rail S' situated
behind the row of spools carries as many threadguides as there are spools, as shown
in plan Fig. XII., and has at each end a bracket with a pin which projects into a
slot y, of the lever w°. During the oscillation of the levers w° the pins sliding in
the slots y, and consequently also the rail S¹, travel up and down, being guided
rectilinearly by the posts 7₁, 7.
Figures XIII. and XIV. show a thread-guide which touches the circumference of
the bobbin, the plates w which guide the thread being pressed against the bobbin
by springs.
In Figs. IV. and IV bis the pointer q is cut through the front end or head,
while in Figs. VII. and VIII. it is cut through the oblique part u.
I do not limit myself to the particular means of producing the oscillation of the
thread-guide which are shown in the Drawings, as there may be other methods of
attaining the same object.
The apparatus for producing the rotary motion of the spindles may be as usual,
and need not therefore be described.
Having now described the new method of winding thread on spools, and some
means for carrying it into effect, I claim,-
The new method of winding thread on cores or tubes of paper or other suitable

page_text: material by covering the inner layers of thread by the outer layers, so that every
successive layer is longer than the preceding one, and completely covers the latter,
substantially as described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rudolph Spöndlin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, A.D. 1882.