IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING MACHINES SUITABLE FOR MAKING CANDLE WICKS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES נו
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis James Pirie Manager of Bromborough Pool Works
Birkenhead in the County of Chester and Hugh Findlay Engineer of the
Belmont Works Battersea in the County of Surrey for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING MACHINES SUITABLE FOR MAKING CANDLE
WICKS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
נו
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis James Pirie and Hugh
Findlay at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August
1883.
LEWIS JAMES PIRIE Manager of Bromborough Pool Works, Birkenhead in tho
County of Chester and HUGH FINDLAY Engineer of the Belmont Works Battersea
in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING MACHINES SUITABLE FOR
MAKING CANDLE WICKS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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This Invention has for its object improvements in plaiting machines suitable for
making candle wicks and for other purposes.
The machine at present usually employed for plaiting candle wicks consists of a
pair of upright spindles carrying discs and rotating at the same speed in opposito
directions. The discs servo as carriers for bobbins from which the tlireads to be
plaited are drawn. The bobbin spindles are held in notches in the periphorics of
the discs.
"
There are three bobbins and they are carried continuously by the machine in a
path resembling a figure of 8. Each bobbin as it passes between the axes of the
discs is transferred from the discs upon one axis to those upon the other.
This transfer is controlled by a switch which crosses from side to side in the
intervals between the passages of the bobbins so as to pass the bobbins to the right
and left alternately. The bobbin spindles themselves are at present caused to give
the necessary movements to the switch. Each bobbin spindle immediately after
the transfer from disc to disc has taken place comes against and displaces a wing
upon the switch and so turns the axis which carries the switch through a small
angle.

page_text: The switch is thus moved over up to a stop and there it is held until the spindle
of the next bobbin has passed the nose of the switch. This method of actuating
the switches by the impact of the bobbin spindles is objectionable, it causes much
noise, and wear and tear, and prevents the use of large bobbins running at high
speeds. Now we dispense with the wings and actuate the switches quite
independently of the bobbin spindles.
We provide an additional spindle making three revolutions in the time occupied
by the disc spindles in making two revolutions.
On this additional spindle a crank pin is carried and the pin is received into a
slot in an arın upon the axis of the switch. With this arrangement no other
contact takes place between the bobbin spindles and the switch or parts connected
therewith than that by which the bobbins are guided in their course.
A similar arrangement is applicable were more then three bobbins are used-
in this case, the carrying discs are provided with additional notches and the crank
is driven at such a speed as to reverse the position of the switch in each interval
as already described. The crank may operate the switch by means of a connecting
link in lieu of a slot and other like changes may be made without departing from
our invention.
Our invention is not confined to the manufacture of candle wicks but may be
employed in the manufacture of like plaits for other uses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Lewis James Pirie and Hugh Findlay in the Patent Office on the
2nd February 1884.
LEWIS JAMES PIRIE Manager of Bromborough Pool Works Birkenhead in the
County of Chester and HUGH FINDLAY Engineer of the Belmont Works Battersea
in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING MACHINES SUITABLE FOR
MAKING CANDLE WICKS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
This Invention has for its object improvements in plaiting machines suitable for
making candle wicks and for other purposes
The machine at present usually employed for plaiting candle wicks consists of a
pair of upright spindles carrying discs and rotating at the same speed in opposite
directions. The discs serve as carriers for bobbins from which the threads to he
plaited are drawn. The bobbin spindles are held in notches in the peripheries of
the discs.
There are three bobbins and they are carried continuously by the machine in a
path resembling a figure of 8. Each bobbin as it passes between the axes of the
discs is transferred from the discs upon one axis to those upon the other.
This transfer is controlled by a switch which crosses from side to side in the
intervals between tho passages of the bobbins so as to pass the bobbins to the
right and left alternately. The bobbin spindles themselves are at present caused
to give the necessary movements to the switch. Each bobbin spindlo immediately
after the transfer from disc to disc has taken place comes against and displaces a
wing upon the switch and so turns the axis which carries the switch through a
small angle.
The switch is thus moved over up to a stop and there it is held until the spindlo
of the next bobbin has passed the nose of the switch. This method of actuating
the switches by the impact of the bobbin spindles is objectionable, it causes
much noise, and wear and tear, and prevents the use of large bobbins running at
high speeds. Now we dispense with the wings and actuate the switches quite
independently of the bobbin spindles.
We provide an additional spindle making three revolutions in the time occupied
by the disc spindles in making two revolutions.
On this additional spindle a crank pin is carried and the pin is received into a
slot in an arm upon the axis of the switch. With this arrangement no other contact
takes place between the bobbin spindles and the switch or parts connected
therewith than that by which the bobbins are guided in their course.
A similar arrangement is applicable where more than three bobbins are used-in
this case the carrying discs are provided with additional notches and the crank is
driven at such a speed as to reverse the position of the switch in each interval as
already described.
The crank may operate the switch by means of a connecting link in lieu of a
slot and other like changes may be made without departing from our invention.
Our invention is not confined to the manufacture of candle wicks but may bo
employed in the manufacture of like plaits for other uses.
In order that our said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the drawings horeunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

page_text: Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the mechanism.
The arrangement shown is for a three bobbin plait.
A and B are the two main spindles. The spindle A is driven by a band passing
around the pulley A¹, and the spindle B is geared with the spindle A by toothed
wheels A B of equal size.
C is the additional spindle, it has a toothed wheel C¹ upon it engaging with the
wheel A² of which it is two-thirds the size; Tho spindle C consequently rotates
three times whilst the spindles A and B rotate twice.
D¹ D³ D³ are the three bobbins from which the material to be plaited is drawn
and unwound.
D* D* D* are the bobbin spindles or bobbin holders on which these bobbins are
mounted they are received into notches in the discs E E which serve as carriers.
The stationary guard plate F which forms part of the frame confines the bobbin
holders in the notches in the discs E except at the points where the two discs
forming a pair come together; it is at this point that the transfer of the bobbin
spindles or bobbin holders from the discs on one main spindle to those on the other
main spindle takes place.
The switch by which this transfer is effected is able to turn upon the pivots G¹;
it has a slotted arm G2 which receives the crank pin C upon the upper end of the
additional spindle C.
G G³ are the arms or tongues of the switch which by acting against tho bobbin
spindles or bobbin holders effect the transfer from one set of discs to the other as
required.
In this arrangement it will be seen that the bobbins and bobbin spindles or
bobbin holders have no part in the movement of the switch from one position to
another. The switch is placed by other and independent incans; hence the wear
and tear resulting from the impact of parts connected with the bobbins upon the
parts connected with the switch is wholly avoided. The only contact between the
bobbin spindles or holders and the switch is that by which a transfer from one set
of carrying discs to the other is effected:
Having thus described the nature of our said invention and the manner of
performing the same we would have it understood that we claim. Actuating the
switches of plaiting machines independently of the bobbins and bobbin spindles or
holders by means of a crank or an equivalent appliance, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof I tho said Hugh Findlay havo hereunto set my hand and
seal this Second day of February' in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
HIGH HINDE
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