IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINES FOR SPINNING AND WINDING OR REELING TOBACCO."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Macdonald and John Macdonald both of Glasgow
in the County of Lanark North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR SPINNING AND WINDING OR REELING TOBACCO."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Macdonald and John
Macdonald at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August
1882.
DAVID MACDONALD and JOHN MACDONALD, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS
WINDING OR REELING TOBACCO.
IN MACHINES FOR SPINNING
AND
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of machines or
apparatus for spinning or manufacturing tobacco, and for winding or reeling it in
the form of rolls.
The improved machine comprises a light vertical framing, carrying a series of
three or more endless coils disposed radially and longitudinally round a common
centre, and also carrying guide brackets and the necessary gearing for operating
such coils. These endless coils are by preference made of steel wire like spiral
springs whose convolutions are as close together as possible, but may be made in
the form of endless cords of any suitable elastic material, and they have imparted
to them a continuous longitudinal traversing motion combined with a motion of
rotation round the axes of the convolutions, so that they have a screwing and
rolling action on the tobacco leaf, which is fed in to the central space between the
coils where they meet or approach each other.
The endless coils or elastic cords are fitted within guiding cases which are open
towards the centre to allow the surfaces of the coils or cords to bear for some
length on the strand of tobacco being screwed through and spun by their screwing
action, and at the ends of the guide cases, the coils or cords may be passed over
pulleys to lessen friction. The endless coils or cords have their compound motion
of translation and rotation imparted to them by means of an arrangement of

page_text: gearing provided for each coil or cord, and acting on each coil or cord by preference
at the position furthest removed from the centre. This gearing comprises a pair
of grooved drawing pulleys for each coil between which the coil or cord is gripped,
and which are carried on studs on crank brackets revolving on longitudinal axes
coinciding with the centres of the coils where they pass between the grooved
pulleys. Each coil or cord is traversed longitudinally by the grooved pulleys which
are rotated together by means of toothed pinions fixed to or cast on them, and
driven by worm gearing from a loose spindle, on the end of which a pinion is
fitted to gear with a toothed wheel fixed, so that it cannot rotate, on a bracket
attached to the main frame, and carrying the outer end of the crank or crank
bracket. This stationary wheel is fixed with its centre coinciding with the axis
of rotation of the cranked bracket, and the grooved pulleys carried by it derive
their motion from the rotation round this fixed wheel of the pinion which
gears with it. While the grooved pulleys draw or traverse the coils or cords
longitudinally, they also, by their revolution with the cranked bracket carrying
them, cause the coils to rotate round the axis of their convolutions, or in the case
of cords round the centres of their cross sections, the motion of rotation where the
coils or cords are gripped between the pulleys, being, on account of the elastic
nature of the material, readily conveyed or continued round the entire length of
the coils or cords. The shafts of the revolving cranks are made hollow, to allow
the endless coils or cords to pass through them, and at the outer ends these shafts
are fitted with pinions, in gear with a central toothed wheel, which is made of an
annular form to allow the coils or cords and their guide cases, to pass through and
converge towards the centre.
The tobacco to be spun is fed into the space formed between the external
surfaces of the endless coils or cords, either direct, or through a hopper, the leaf
being partly coiled by hand as usual round the smaller and loose tobacco. The
action of the coils or cords is such as to spin and form the tobacco into a strand or
cord, which may then be wound into coils or rolls by the usual "take-up"
apparatus, or by means of the improved apparatus hereinafter described. One or
more of the guide cases round which the coils or cords are carried may be made
adjustable radially, so that different thicknesses of strand of tobacco may be spun
in one machine by shifting the guide case or cases closer to or further from the
centre, and one of the revolving cranks may be carried on hinged brackets, or
similarly fitted, so that one of the guide cases may be readily drawn out from the
centre.
A new or improved construction or arrangement of take up apparatus for coiling
or winding the spun tobacco on to reels, is fitted in combination with the improved
tobacco spinning machine. This apparatus comprises a light open framing carried
in journal bearings in standards or a fixed frame, and driven by means of a fast
and loose pulley, or by other gearing at one end of the revolving framing, the
driving motion being by preference obtained from the shaft from which the motion
of the spinning machine is derived. With its axis at right angles to the axis of
the revolving frame, a large reel or bobbin is fitted to revolve on a spindle carried
by the frame; and this reel is driven by the friction on the outside of one of its
flanges, of a small wheel or pulley on a spindle carried in bearings in the revolving
frame, and fitted parallel to the axis of that frame. On the outer end of this
spindle is fitted a toothed wheel or pinion gearing into a long stationary pinion
fixed to the outer end standard of the apparatus and the spindle with its friction
wheel or pulley, derive their revolving motion by the rotation round the fixed
pinion, of the pinion on the end of the spindle.
The strand of spun tobacco is led from the spinning machine through the inner
journal of the revolving frame, which is made hollow for this purpose, and is
carried round the revolving reel or bobbin, and wound thereon by the rotation of
the reel, while the framing carrying the reel revolves at right angles to it, and by
its rotation maintains or slightly increases the twist of the-spun tobacco. In order

page_text: that the speed of winding or reeling the tobacco may be uniformly maintained
while the diameter of the roll of tobacco being wound increases, a roller carried on
a sliding bar fitted in the longitudinal axis of the revolving frame, is made to bear
on the periphery of the roll of tobacco, and as the diameter of the roll increases,
this roller and its carrying bar moves outwards. This carrying bar is formed or
fitted with a bracket through which is carried the spindle of the friction wheel
which drives the reel, and as the roller and carrying bar move outwards, the spindle
with the friction wheel is thereby moved outwards also. The friction wheel, is
thus caused to drive the reel by bearing on the flange of the reel at a radial
distance from the axis of the reel which increases as the diameter of the roll of
tobacco increases, and uniformity of speed of the "take up" is thus maintained.
As a means of insuring the winding or reeling of the tobacco in even layers or
convolutions on the reel, the strand of tobacco being wound, is passed through a
guiding eye in a frame fitted to move transversely across the machine, and which
is reciprocated by means of a cam or heart motion. This cam is driven by gearing
from the reel spindle, so that the motion of the cam, and traversing motion of the
guiding eye may correspond to the varying velocity of rotation of the reel, and
regularity of winding be maintained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Macdonald and John Macdonald' in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th February 1883.
DAVID MACDONALD, and JOHN MACDONALD, both of Glasgow, in the County of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
Lanark, North Britain
WINDING OR REELING TOBACCO
"
FOR SPINNING AND
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the construction of machines or
apparatus for spinning or manufacturing tobacco, and for winding or reeling it in
the form of rolls.
Our Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings in which Figure 11
is an end elevation, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the improved
tobacco spinning machine. Figure 3 is a plan of the same, and Figure 4 is a plan
of the reeling or winding apparatus by which the spun tobacco is taken up from
the spinning machine.
The improved machine comprises a light vertical framing A, A, carrying a series
of three or more endless coils C. C. C. disposed radially and longitudinally round a
common centre, and also carrying guide brackets B and the necessary gearing for
operating such coils. These endless coils C are by preference made of steel wire
like spiral springs whose convolutions are as close together as possible, but they
may be made in the form of endless cords of any suitable elastic material; and
they have imparted to them a continuous longitudinal traversing motion combined
with a motion of rotation round the axis of the convolutions, so that they have a
screwing and rolling action on the tobacco leaf, which is fed into the central space c
between the coils where they meet or approach each other.
The endless coils or elastic cords are fitted within guiding cases D which are
open towards the centre to allow the surfaces of the coils or cords C to bear for
some length on the strand of tobacco being screwed through and spun by their
screwing action. At the ends of the guide cases, the coils or cords may be passed
over pulleys to lessen friction. The endless coils or cords C have their compound
motion of translation and rotation imparted to them by means of an arrangement
of gearing provided for each coil or cord and acting on each coil or cord by
preference at the position furthest removed from the centre, as is shown by the
drawings. This gearing comprises a pair of grooved drawing pulleys E, E, for
each coil C, between which the coil or cord C is gripped, and which are carried on
studs e, on crank-like brackets F revolving on longitudinal axes coinciding with
the centres of the coils C at the points where they pass between the grooved
pulleys E, E. Each coil or cord C is traversed longitudinally by the grooved
pulleys E, E, which are rotated together by means of toothed pinions E', E', fixed
to or cast on them, and driven by bevil gearing E2. E³. from a loose spindle, on the
end of which a pinion E³ is fitted to gear with a toothed wheel E* fixed on a loose
sleeve E³ at the outer end of which is a pinion E driven by a large annular
toothed wheel E7 revolving in V grooved guides A¹ formed on the machine
framing A.
The toothed wheel E7 is driven by means of a counter shaft E and pinions E⁹,
E10, E, E from a similar annular toothed wheel E¹s carried in V guides G¹ at
the other end of the framing A. This annular wheel E's gives a rapid rotatory
motion to a pinion E" fixed on the outer end of the cranked bracket F, one of
which is provided to carry each pair of grooved pulleys E, E which traverse the
coils C. While the grooved pulleys E, E draw or traverse the coils or cords C
longitudinally, they also by their revolution with the cranked bracket F carrying

page_text: them, cause the coils C to rotate round the axes of their convolutions, or in the
case of cords round the centres of their cross sections, the motion of rotation where
the coils or cords C are gripped between the pulleys E, E, being on account of the
elastic nature of the material readily conveyed or continued round the entire length
of the coils or cords. The shafts F¹, of the revolving cranks F are made hollow to
allow the endless coils or cords C to pass through them, and they have a bearing
at in the main framing A at one side, and revolve freely within the pinion
sleeves E at the other. The central toothed wheels E7, E13, are made of an annular
form to allow the coils or cords C and their guide cases D to pass through and
converge towards the centre.
The tobacco to be spun is fed into the space c formed between the external
surfaces of the endless coils or cords C, either direct or through a hopper, the leaf
being partly coiled by hand as usual round the smaller and loose tobacco. The
action of the coils or cords C is such as to spin and form the tobacco into a strand
or cord, which may then be wound into coils or rolls by the usual take up
apparatus, which is shown in figure 4.
One or more of the guide cases D round which the coils or cords are carried,
may be made adjustable radially, so that different thicknesses of strand of tobacco
may be spun in one machine by shifting the guide case or cases closer to or further
from the centre.
The coils C are guided at the central parts by means of long rollers H, H, fitted
to bear on the back of each coil, and carried by centre pins h from movable
brackets H' fitted adjustably to brackets H³ which are fixed to the main framing A.
The movable brackets H¹ are connected to the fixed brackets H2 by screw bolts h¹
fitted with springs 2 which press the brackets Hand the rollers H against the
coils C., The degree of pressure may be adjusted by means of small screws h³
bearing against the springs h².
One of the brackets H2 is fitted to slide in the frame A, and is connected to a
sliding bar H³ which may be raised and lowered by a hand lever H and the
rollers H bearing on the back of the upper coil C may thus be adjusted towards
or away from the centre to suit different thicknesses of tobacco being spun.
The arrangement of "take up" apparatus for coiling or winding the spun
tobacco on to reels, shown in figure 4, is fitted in combination with the improved
tobacco spinning machine. This apparatus comprises a lic open framing I,
carried in journal bearings in standards or a fixed frame J, and uriven by means of
a fast and loose pulley, or by other gearing at one end of the revolving
framing I. With its axis at right angles to the axis of the revolving frame I, a
large reel or bobbin K is fitted to revolve on a spindle K' carried by the frame I;
and this reel is driven by bevil wheels L, L', from the shaft L on the end of which
is a pinion L³ driven through an intermediate pinion L from a toothed wheel L³
fitted on a hollow shaft on the axis of the revolving frame I. The shaft is driven
by frictional gearing which by slipping slightly when there is undue strain on the
spun tobacco, prevents the bobbin reeling the tobacco faster than the spinning
machine can deliver it.
The strand of spun tobacco is led from the spinning machine through the inner
journal 12 of the revolving frame I, which is inade hollow for this purpose, and is
carried round the revolving reel or bobbin K, and wound thereon by the rotation
of the reel, while the framing carrying the reel revolves at right angles to it, and
by its rotation maintains or slightly increases the twist of the spun tobacco.
The
As a means of ensuring the winding or reeling of the tobacco in even layers or
convolutions on the reel K, the strand of tobacco being wound is passed through
a guiding eye M in a frame fitted to move transversely across the machine.
guide M is reciprocated by means of a reversing screw shaft N working in a fixed
rack N and driven by a belt o and pulley P, P₁, from the reel spindle K¹, so that
the traversing motion of the guiding eye may correspond to the varying velocity
of rotation of the reel, and regularity of winding be maintained.
In order to maintain relative uniformity of speed between the "take-up" and

page_text: the spinning machine, the latter is driven by a pinion E15 gearing into the annular
toothed wheel Els and fitted on a shaft E10 on the other end of which is a pinion E¹
driven through an intermediate pinion E18 from a toothed wheel E19 fixed on and
revolving with the "take-up" frame I. To vary the velocity of the one machine
in relation to the other pinions, different sizes may be fitted on the driving shafts.
In our Provisional Specification we described a new or improved construction of
take-up" apparatus which we have not shown in our Drawings, and which we do
not now propose to claim.
"
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we have to state that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated, but what we consider novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First. The construction and combination of parts forming a tobacco spinning
machine, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The combination in a tobacco spinning machine of three or more spring
coils or endless elastic cords operated so as to screw through or spin the tobacco
passed between them, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. The combination in a tobacco spinning machine of three or more spring
coils or endless elastic cords with operating gearing arranged to impart to the coils
a combined traversing and rotating motion, substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In a tobacco spinning machine, the combination with the spring coils C
of the rotating cranked bracket (F) carrying the grooved gripping pulleys E, E, and
actuating gearing, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth, and as
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In Witness Whereof, I the said John Macdonald, have on behalf of the said
David Macdonald and myself, hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E.
Of the firm of
W. R. M. Thomson & Co
Patent Agents
Glasgow.
JOHN MACDONALD (L.s.)