Improvements in Machinery for Winding Yarn, Twist, Thread, or Cord, to be Used for Warps and otherwise.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888
Improvements in Machinery for Winding Yarn, Twist, Thread, or
Cord, to be Used for Warps and otherwise.
I, WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, of Gray House, near Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention, to be
as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to construct an improved, simple, compact,
and efficient machine for winding yarn, twist, thread, or cord, to be used for warps
and otherwise.
In carrying out my Invention the yarn is wound in the form of what is called a
cylindrical ball, or ball," either on a tube of wood or other material on which it is
carried, and which is without end disks, or on an arbor which is removed when the
yarn has been wound and which is by preference made slightly taper to facilitate its
removal. My improved machine is designed so as to wind the yarn densely or
firmly, in order to get as large a quantity wound within a given size, and also to
render the yarn less liable to displacement or breaking-down at the corners or ends
of the ball.
The machine is arranged in a very compact form, and to wind on both sides of
it, the winding being effected by the contact action on the yarn as it is being wound,
of rotating horizontal cylinders of which there are two placed near together on each
side of the vertical centre plane of the machine, and extending from end to end of
the frame or machine. When the yarn is wound on tubes these tubes have spindles
or arbors passed through them; and these arbors or arbors on which the yarn is
wound without tubes are held, each in the upper forked ends of the arms of a holder
which forms part of a bellcrank lever. The other arm of the bellcrank lever extends
inwards and horizontally or nearly so, and is weighted so as to cause the holder to
hold the ball that is being wound with considerable pressure against the driving
cylinder. The horizontal arm of each bellcrank lever is connected by a link to a
foot lever or treadle, the front end of which the worker depresses when wishing to

page_text: move the ball outwards from the driving cylinders. The weight is by preference in
a long vertical form and is made to serve as the link connecting the bellcrank lever
and treadle.
The forked arms of the holders are fitted with springs which have renewable
hearing pieces fixed upon them, to press on one side of each end of the arbor and
thereby hold the arbor steady, which conduces considerably to the perfection of the
work and to the durability of the parts whilst permitting of the attainment of a
good speed. The yarn to be wound is drawn off bobbins placed on pins upon a
bank or inclined board at the upper middle part of the machine, and these bobbins
are placed so as to impart a suitable tension to the yarn by lever weights pivoted on
the bank. If preferred or more convenient in any case the yarn may be drawn off
reels or swifts. The yarn passes downwards to guides of a kind known as conductors
which lay the yarn very closely into the bight where the ball is in contact with the
driving cylinder.
In order that the ball may be well built especially at the ends it is necessary for the
traverse movement to be very quick relatively to the winding speed. This involves
a rapid reciprocation of the conductors; and to avoid rapid wear and vibration
make the conductors as light as possible and fix those for each side of the machine,
with rams-horn wire guards to each, on a very light steel tube, which is guided in
the ends of light brackets of which there is, by preference, one between every two
holders. The conductors which are in the form of small funnels directed downwards
and open in front are indented into the tube to which they are fixed with nothing
projecting but the wire guards and the points. The traverse movement is imparted
to the middle of each conductor carrying tube, by a lever the lower acting end of
which is passed through a swivelling pin in a small bearing bit fixed to the tube.
The traverse lever is centered at its upper end and is moved by means of a stud fixed
to it and engaging in a groove in a cylindrical cam which is on a longitudinal shaft
near the top of the machine and which drives the traverse levers at both sides
of the machine. These traverse levers are made as light as possible, and their
connections with the conductor carrying tubes are made with the least possible
play consistent with easy movement, so as to have quick and steady motions without
shake or jar.
In describing the inachinery yarn only has been mentioned but the same
machinery may also be used for winding twist, thread, or cord.
Some of the improved details herein before described are advantageously applicable
to various kinds of winding machines.
Dated this Thirtieth day of January 1888.

page_text: 234
S Iain, Wist, read, or
Cord, to be Used for Warps and otherwise.
I, WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, of Gray House, near Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to construct an improved, simple, compact, and
efficient machine for winding yarn, twist, thread, or cord, to be used for warps and
otherwise.
In carrying out my Invention the yarn is wound in the form of what is called a
cylindrical ball, or "ball," either on a tube of wood or other material on which it is
carried, and which is without end disks, or on an arbor, which is removed when the
yarn has been wound, and which is by preference made slightly taper to facilitate
its removal. My improved machine is designed so as to wind "the yarn with
considerable and uniform density or firmness, in order to get a large quantity wound
within a given size, and also to render the yarn less liable to displacement or breaking-
down at the corners or ends of the ball.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append three sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing a machine as made with my
improvements.
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the drawings is a side elevation of the machine. Figure, 2,
on sheet, 2, is an end elevation corresponding to figure, 1. Figures, 3, and 4, are
enlarged front and sectional side elevations of one of the holders which carry the
balls whilst being wound. Figure, 5, on sheet, 3, is an enlarged transverse vertical
section of some parts at the upper part of the machine, figure, 6, being a sectional
front elevation of some parts shown in figure, 5, whilst figures, 7, to 10, are different.
views of minor details. Figures, 11, 12, 13, are a sectional side elevation, a front
elevation, and a sectional plan showing the appliance for imparting tension to the
yarn whilst being wound. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used
to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The framing of the machine consists of end gables or frames, 20, connected by a
longitudinal ridge-shaped girder, 21, at the top, by a middle longitudinal girder, 22,
lower down, and by two longitudinal girders, 23, still lower at the sides, whilst
intermediate transverse frames, 24, 25, serve to support various parts and to
strengthen the whole. The machine is arranged in a very compact form, and to
wind on both sides of it, the winding being effected by the contact action on the
yarn as it is being wound, of rotating horizontal cylinders, 26, of which there are
two placed near together on each side of the vertical centre plane of the machine, and
extending from end to end of the frame or machine. Instead of continuous cylinders
which may or may not be reduced in diameter at intervals as shown there may be a
number of winding drums or pulleys keyed separately on the shafts. When the
yarn is wound on tubes, 27, these tubes have spindles or arbors passed through them,
and these arbors, or arbors on which the yarn is wound without tubes, are held,
each in the upper forked ends of the armis, 28, of a holder, 29, which forms part of

page_text: a bellcrank lever, 30. The other arm, 30, of the bellcrank lever extends inwards and
horizontally or nearly so, and is weighted so as to cause the holder, 29, to hold the
ball, 31, that is being wound with considerable pressure against the driving
cylinder, 26. The horizontal arm, 30, of each bellcrank lever is connected by a
link, 32, to a foot lever or treadlo, 33, the front end of which the worker depresses
when wishing to move the ball outwards from the driving cylinder. The weight is
of a long vertical form and is made to serve as the link, 32, connecting the bellcrank
lever, 30, and treadle, 33.
The forked arms, 28, of the holders, 29, are fitted with springs, 34, which have
.renewable bearing pieces, 35, fixed upon them, to press on one side of each end of
the arbor and thereby hold the arbor steady, which conduces considerably to the
perfection of the work and to the durability of the parts whilst permitting of the
attainment of a good speed. The play or extent of movement of the springs, 34, is
controlled by stops, 36, formed on the holder arms, 28.
.
The yarn to be wound is drawn off bobbins, 37, placed on pins, 38, upon a bank or
inclined board, or as shown in the drawings on the outer inclined sides of the central
longitudinal girder, 21, at the top of the machine, and these bobbins, 37, are paced so
as to impart a suitable tension to the yarn by lever weights, 39, pivoted on the
bank, 21. Each lever weight, 39, made with a conical or wedge-like projecting
part which renders it unnecessary to lift the weight by hand when putting on a
bobbin, as when the bobbin is entered on its pin, 38, the bobbin end acts on the
inclined surface of the projection of the weight and thereby lifts the weight. A stop
pin, 40, prevents the weight, 39, from descending too far when a bobbin is
withdrawn. If preferred or more convenient in any case the yarn may be drawn
off reels or swifts. The yarn passes downwards to guides, 41, of the kind known as
conductors which lay the yarn very closely into the bight where the ball, 31, is in
contact with the driving cylinder, 26.
In order that the ball, 31, may be well and uniformly built it is necessary for the
traverse movement to be very quick relatively to the winding speed, and that the
reversals should be about as quick as the other parts of the movements. This
involves a rapid reciprocation of the conductors, 41; and to avoid rapid wear and
vibration I make the conductors as light as possible, and fix those for each side of
the machine, with rams-horn wire guards, 42, to each on a very light steel tube, 43,
which is guided in the ends of light brackets, 44. These guide brackets, 44, are fixed
to flanges at the top of the middle longitudinal girder, 22, and there is, by preference,
a bracket between every two holders, 29. The conductors, 41, which are in the
form of small funnels, directed downwards and open in front, are indented into
the tube, 43, to which they are fixed with nothing projecting but their points and the
wire guards, 42. The traverse movement is imparted to the middle of each conductor
carrying tube, 43, by a lever arm, 45, the lower acting end of which is passed
through a swivelling pin, 46, in a small bearing bit, 47, fixed to the tube,. 43.
The forms and arrangements of these parts will be best understood from figures, 5, to 10,
on sheet, 3, of the drawings, the conductor tubes, 43, being shown in cross section
in figure, 5, in vertical and horizontal longitudinal section in figures, 6, and 7,
,whilst figures, 8, to 10, show a conductor, 41, with its guards, 42, in different
views.
The two traverse lever arms, 45, are fixed to a lever frame, 48, centered on a long
pin, 49, fixed across the top longitudinal girder, 21; and a pin, 50, fixed to one
side of this lever frame, 48, is acted on by a cylindrical grooved cam, 51, on a
shaft, 52, carried by a bracket, 53, and by the end gable, 20, and driven by
gearing, 54, in connection with the shaft of one of the winding cylinders, 26. The
shaft, 52, is encased in a stationary tube to prevent yarn ends from getting wound
upon it. The cam, 51, is by preference arranged to move downwards at the side
where it acts on the lever pin, 50.. The traverse lever frame, 48, with its arms, 45,
are made as light as possible, and their connections with the conductor carrying
tubes, 43, are made with the least possible play consistent with easy movement, so
as to have quick and steady motions without shake or jar. The traverse cam, 51,
I

page_text: and the gearing for driving it may be changed when for any purpose it is desired
to vary the traverse motion, as for example for making balls different in radial
length or otherwise. In the case of long machines, or in any case, if preferred,
there may be two or more lengths of conductor tube, 43, each worked by a
separate cam.
Each ball holder, 29, has jointed to it an indicator in the form of a bellcrank, 55,
of a shape and so weighted at different parts such as to remain in the position in
which it is shown in figures, 3, and 4, whilst a large portion of a ball is being wound.
As the ball increases in size it at length comes in contact with the top of the
bellerank, 55, and turns it over forwards so that its other arm encounters the lower
part of the holder. A piece of rubber, 56, is fixed in the top of the bellcrank, 55,
to receive the impact of the ball, this rubber piece being easily renewed and saving
the metal from becoming polished. The turned over position of any bellcrank, 55,
indicates to the attendant worker when any ball has reached its full intended size;
and to make the indication more conspicuous a piece of earthenware
or other
material of a white or bright color is fixed, as indicated by dotted lines, 57, to
the face of the bellcrank which is inwards when the bellcrank is turned up, and
which face becomes turned outwards when the ball is completed.
In hereinbefore describing my improved machinery yarn only has been mentioned
but the same machinery may also be used for winding twist, thread, or cord.
Some of the improved details hereinbefore described are advantageously applicable
to various kinds of winding machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. The improved combination of machinery for winding yarn, twist, thread, or
cord, to be used for warps and otherwise substantially as hereinbefore described and
as shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved combination of parts forming each ball holder, with the link
weight to press the ball against the winding cylinder and to connect the holder with
the treadle, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The improved construction of the parts of the ball holder whereby the arbor
carrying the ball is held firmly and steadily substantially as herein before described.
4. The combination of the bellcrank indicator with the other parts of the holder
such indicator being constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described.
5. The construction of the lever drag weights which are applied to the supply
bobbins to regulate the tension of the yarn drawn off the substantially as
hereinbefore described.
6. The fixing of guides for giving traverse motion to the yarn upon light tubes
guided and actuated substantially in the improved manner herein before described...
7. The fixing or combining of the conductors or traverse yarn guides with their
rams-horn guards to the light reciprocating tubes substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
8. The combination of parts for actuating the light traverse tubes, and comprising
the cam, the lever frame and arms, moved by the cam, and the pins swivelling in
pieces fixed to the tubes and having the lever arms working through them substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-second day of October 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.