IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING FLAT CORDS, ROPES; AND BANDS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Florimond Ardache, Printer, of Saint Vaast, in
the Province of Hainaut, Kingdom of Belgium, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING FLAT CORDS, ROPES; AND
BANDS."
Sealed the 21st July 1868, and dated the 5th February 1868:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Florimond Ardache ab
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th February 1868:
I, FLORIMOND ARDACHE, Printer, of Saint Vaast, in the Province of
Hainaut, Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING FLAT CORDS,
ROPES, AND BANDS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to obviate the defects which attach
to the existing methods of winding flat cords, ropes, and bands. This
is effected by employing fixed parts fitted with rollers by which the
cords, ropes, or bands are guided and kept upon the winding drum or

page_text: wheel instead of being supported by arms revolving therewith. The
winding drum or wheel is mounted in suitable bearings, fixed supports
attached to the requisite framework being placed on each side and
independent thereof, and to which supports rollers are attached for the
purpose of guiding the cords, ropes, or bands. By this arrangement
the bands are subjected to less wear and tear, and a greater regularity
in the working of the wheel is ensured, than by the methods of
winding previously in use, whilst an efficient resistance to the lateral
strain of the cord, rope, or band upon the wheel is provided. An
additional advantage is that the cord, rope, or band is placed regularly
upon the drum or wheel when being wound up so as to allow a
greater length of cord, rope, or band of a diminishing width to be used
without danger.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Florimond Ardache in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 5th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FLORIMOND
ARDACHE, Printer, of Saint Vaast, in the Province of Hainaut,
Kingdom of Belgium, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Florimond Ardache, Her special
licence that I, the said Florimond Ardache, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Florimond Ardache, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING FLAT CORDS, ROPES, AND BANDS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Florimond Ardache, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Florimond Ardache, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:-
The object of my said Invention is to obviate the defects and incon-
veniences which attach to the methods of winding flat cords, ropes,
and bands previously in use. In these methods the rope as it is taken
up does not, by reason of the undulating motion which it has whilst
being wound up, reel or place itself evenly, in addition to which there
is nothing to prevent its continual friction against the sides of the
wheel, which fiction is the cause of a rapid deterioration of the rope.
As usually constructed the wheel when in motion acquires a considerable
momentum from the weight of the arms and fellies, which give rise to
difficulties in working, particularly when it is required to stop the
winding suddenly.
Another disadvantage attaching to the winding apparatus or wheel
as hitherto constructed is that being rotary it is impossible to strengthen
it sufficiently to enable it to resist the lateral strain of the rope by
supports at fixed points, whilst ropes tapering or of decreasing width
and exceeding five to six hundred yards in length cannot be used
without risk of serious accident from the rope being thrown out or off
the wheel.
By means of my said Invention the wear and tear of the rope is
diminished, a greater controul is obtained over the working of the
winding machinery, and the requisite strength imparted thereto to
enable it to resist the lateral pressure of the rope, whilst the rope
is taken up more evenly and a greater length allowed to be employed.
These results are obtained by employing fixed parts fitted (if desired)
with rollers by which the cords, ropes, or bands are guided and kept
upon the winding drum or wheel instead of being supported by arms
revolving therewith. The winding drum or wheel is mounted in suitable

page_text: bearings, fixed supports attached to the requisite framework being placed
on each side and independent thereof, and to which supports rollers
may be attached for the purpose of guiding the cords, ropes, or
bands.
By this method of construction and arrangement the before-mentioned
advantages are obtained.
The nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood by
reference to the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation
and Figure 2 a vertical section of the winding machinery. C is the
drum or wheel, on which the rope, cord, or band is wound; D are the
rollers which guide the rope, and E is the framework supporting and
consolidating the whole.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the method of
constructing machinery for winding flat cords, ropes, and bands with
fixed pieces attached to the framework, and with or without rollers,
substantially as herein-before described and set forth, or any mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Florimond Ardache, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
FLORIMOND ARDACHE. (L.S.)
Witness,
CHARLES NIRVIRSE.