Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Stringing Pearls and Beads.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Stringing Pearls and
Beads.
I, LOUIS Dosc, Manufacturer, of Angers, in the Republic of France, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to a machine for stringing pearls or beads of any kind
on threads of silk, hemp, linen or other material or on wires of iron or other
metal.
The machine does away with stringing by hand and is a great improvement on
the mechanical stringing which has been hitherto effected on more or less
primitive machines which chiefly consisted of a flat pan and flexible threads.
The output of these machines was very small and a great loss was occasioned
owing to the great quantity of pearls, etc., escaping from the pan and to the loss
of time required to replace the needle at each change of thread. With the new
machine all these various drawbacks are avoided. Although it has a variable
speed, its production is constant and owing to the shape of the receptacle for the
pearls or beads, and the special manner of stringing, none of the pearls can escape,
as was the case in the devices used hitherto.
Owing to the arrangement of a rigid needle and of a device for supporting the
latter, the machine enables any pearl or bead which might stop on the needle
owing to a defective perforation to be withdrawn without stopping the machine.
The different parts of the machine are supported by a table similar to that of a
sewing machine, as shown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating, by way of
example, a machine according to this invention, and described as employed for
stringing pearls, although, of course, other perforated beads may also be used.
In these drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine with three stringing devices and recep-
tacles for pearls, together with their pincers or clamps and balance weights, as
well as the pulleys destined to replace said pincers, the whole being arranged
according to the improved system.
Figure 2 is a front view of a series of toothed wheel for imparting motion
automatically to the pincers destined to hold the threads.
Figure 3 is a plan of two receptacles A for pearls on the table, with their
guides B¹ and their pulleys. Part of the table is supposed to be broken off, so as
to show the pulleys of the toothed wheels for imparting motion to the receptacle
and to the bobbins placed on the table. C, in the same figure, indicates in plan
a series of toothed wheels for imparting motion to the clamps. D are stops with
which the clamp engage. E are pulleys destined to replace the pincers for strings
of small length. F is the driving shaft for driving the guides.
Figure 4 is a rear view of the machine in which G is a movable stretching or
tension device, serving to give the necessary tension to the belt for the purpose
of regulating the needle by means of the guide.
Figure 5 is a cross-section of the machine with its clamps P and cams K which
operate them. These clamps may be adjusted as desired, by means of a series of

page_text: toothed wheels, and they may be caused to move with a greater or lesser speed
by changing the intermediate wheels which actuate them. The clamps are
returned to their stops D by balance weights M, which may be increased or
diminished according to the pressure to be obtained. H is the rigid needle of a
special shape secured to its bobbins and inserted in the pearl receptacle A.
Figure 6, shows at X, a rigid needle H in plan and at Y and Z is illustrated
on a larger scale a longitudinal and cross section of a tube I, replacing the usual
eye, of the needle, said tube I being also shown longitudinally in plan in the
same figure the thread being held between the reduced end of the needle H and
the split tube I.
Figures 7 to 13 are modifications of certain of the devices.
By examining Figures 1 to 6 it will be seen that the new machine consists of a
pearl receptacle A, of flattened spherical shape as shown in Figure 5, and having
a central inner projecting portion A', and provided if desired with holes of different
size on its circular and lower portion, said holes being adapted for sorting the
pearls. This receptacle A is destined to receive the pearls to be strung. It is
rotated by a horizontal shaft a, which transmits its motion by means of bevel
wheels a¹ a² to a vertical spindle b to which said receptacle is secured. The driving
motion may be produced either by means of a pedal or by any other suitable
mechanism. This vertical spindle 6 is provided with a pulley 61 transmitting its
motion by a belt to a pulley 63 and two toothed wheels ce¹ and through the latter
to bobbins arranged horizontally on a carrier or frame supported by the table.
A rigid needle or threading wire H having somewhat the shape of an 8
(Figure 6) is passed round the bobbins (Figure 5) and terminates at its end in a
double curve H', the point of which turns to the left in Figure 6, and dips into the
receptacle A in the centre of the layer of pearls, which, owing to the rotary
motion of said receptacle A and to its inner projection and to the shape of the
needle H, all become strung on said needle one after another with great quickness,
and from the needle pass on to the thread H2 (Figure 5) which is connected to
said needle. The connection of the needle and thread is effected by means of
a tube I (Figure 6), forming the end of the needle, on which it is fixed by pressure,
the end of the thread being clamped between them.
In order to keep the end of the needle H in the position which it has constantly
to occupy in the receptacle A, in order to obtain the greatest output, a milled
guide B is used, which is arranged above said receptacle and is supported by a
movable bracket R, which may be adjusted as to height on a small column, J,
Figure 5, placed at the back of the apparatus and serving for adjusting the position
of said milled guide B¹.
The milled guide B₁ rests on a curvature of the needle and enables such an
inflection to be given to said needle as to give it the most suitable shape and
rigidity. The milled guide B' may itself rotate said movement being transmitted
to it from the spindle F (Figure 3).
When the apparatus is thus started, the pearls become threaded on the needle H,
and then move towards the thread H2, which is stretched and held by clamps P,
arranged at the lower part of the machine, when threads of great length are used;
or when short threads are used, by rotatable bobbins E (Figure 2), with one or
more recesses, arranged in front of the table, and on which the thread is wound
a few times in the shape of an 8, the rotary motion imparted to the bobbins tending
to keep the thread taut and the beads in place.
The clamps only serve to hold the thread and to enable the threading to be
effected in great lengths. Without the use of these clamps the threading is
effected by means of the bobbins E hereinbefore described, or even without them,
by placing the machine in a high position, the threads remaining stretched in an
inclined direction to enable the pearls to slide down.
The working of the clamps is as follows:
It will be seen from Figure 2 that on the driving shaft a operating the

page_text: receptacle A, at the right hand side, is keyed a toothed wheel N which by means of
intermediate wheels N¹ N° operates a wheel O keyed to the shaft K₁ supporting
the cams K operating the upper clamp, P. The toothed wheel O operates an
intermediate wheel O, which is loose and transmits movement to a toothed
wheel 02, keyed on the shaft K2 supporting the cams K operating the lower
clamps P. These cams are caused by the intermediate wheel Of to rotate all in the
same direction and, owing to the reduced speed, they open the clamps P, only
after the receptacle A has made say seven revolutions, so that a thread of the
length of at least 10 centimetres may have time to be strung. The clamps Pas
well as their balance weights M, Figure 1, are keyed to a spindle S which is
completely independent of the other clamps so that the tightening of the thread
can be effected in a much more secure fashion than if all the three clamps acted
at the same time.
The stops D of the clamps P, Figure 3, are secured to a steel tube or to an iron
spindle running the whole length of the machine. Rollers D¹, Figure 3, are
arranged on a spindle arranged also throughout the whole length of the machine
and are keyed by means of a screw whereby it becomes possible to regulate their
position as desired. The spindle to which said rollers D₁ are keyed continuously
rotates, said movement being imparted to it by means of a grooved pulley
arranged on the driving shaft of the machine, movement being transmitted by
means of a belt.
The thread H2 being placed to form a continuation of the needle H, as may be
seen in Figure 5, the cam K of the upper clamp P' being started, pushes away
said clamp P which holds the thread H2 against its stop D). Said thread being
no longer supported, falls against the curve of the roller D' owing to the weight of
the pearls and to the inclination of the clamps P, said roller D' being placed
directly under the end of the clamp P, and rotating quickly, so that it forces the
pearls along the thread H2, during the time that the cam K effects its half
revolution. When the cam K becomes disengaged from the clamp P, said clamp
is brought back to its stop D by the balance weight M, and in returning brings
back the thread H2, which was in contact with the roller D¹, to said stop D and
holds it, the wearing out of the thread being thus prevented. The rollers D¹ are
milled or grooved in order to afford a better engagement between the clamps P
and the rollers 11 and cams K, Figure 1. The pearls being passed into the
portion comprised between the upper clamps and lower clamps 1 on the upper
clamp P, being closed, the lower clamp P opens in its turn and the same work
is effected as before.
Owing to the clamps P, if the attendant pulls the thread at its lower end, it not
only does not break, but, on the contrary, it becomes tightened all the more
strongly. This tightening may be always increased by increasing the balance
weight M at the end of the lever. Owing to the clamps P being independent of
one another it is always easy even during working, by raising a corresponding
lever, to take off or to replace a thread, which would not be possible if the
clamps were all keyed to the same spindle.
The accompanying drawings clearly show how all the parts of the machine are
combined and arranged, and how a larger or smaller number of apparatus may be
used on the same table. The machine shown by way of example in these drawings
has 3 apparatus, but it is evident that a larger number may be arranged according
to the skill or number of the attendants.
The modifications of the arrangement just described which are represented in
Figures 7 to 13 relate in particular to the pearl reservoir, milled guide, and to the
bobbins replacing the clamps and to the needle or threader.
By the application of some of these modifications, the threading of the pearls
may be considerably improved, and as regards more particularly the bobbins
destined to replace the clamps, their modified shape with multiple grooves
enables great lengths of thread to be provided with pearls without having to
suspend the threads and therefore without necessitating a great height of fall.

page_text: The modified needle is chiefly destined for threading very fine pearls, and is
characterised by the shape of the threading hooks, and rings arranged about the
threading portion which engages with the guide thus giving to the needle a great
rigidity, and conséquently increasing the output.
The needle at its junction with the ordinary thread, or with a wire, may be
terminated by an ordinary eye or by a point and be connected with a thread or
wire destined to receive the pearls by means of a ring clamp hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 7 shows the needle H in side elevation
with its double turn in the shape of a spiral which is placed on the milled or
grooved guide B¹ which it completely surrounds thus preventing the needle from
advancing or retreating or from moving sideways, the two surfaces of the guide
preventing it from coming off. This shape prevents the complete, displacement
of the needle when the wire is changed and when it is subjected to a pull. The
needle retains the "8" shape, hereinbefore described, and is placed on the bobbin
guides arranged on the table in front of the receptacle. The milled or grooved
guide B, Figure 10, of cylindrical shape at the portion which is to be occupied
by the needle is provided on all its surfaces between the cheeks with small notches
or grooves destined to cause the pearls to move onwards quickly. This guide
replaces, when a needle of the shape shown in Figure 7 is used, the guide pre-
viously described, and is placed on the spindle destined to operate the guide placed
above the receptacle, where it is maintained by means of a set screw.
The needle may end in a point as shown in Figure 8,-which is similar to
Figure except that the parts cross each other at different relative positions―
or in an eye as shown in Figure 7, and be connected to the thread, destined to
receive the pearls, by means of a small ring, f, Figure 9, similar to that shown
in Figure 6, but of tempered steel and magnetised, (in order to ensure a better
engagement between the needle and tube) and from say, 8 to 10 mm. long and of
the thickness of the needle used, said ring being slit throughout the whole of its
length in order to enable the thread to be easily secured between the reduced end
of the needle and the tube, and to be easily removed, in case of its breaking.
In case, when a receptacle with a mandrel is used, as in Figure 11, the needle
may be formed with spirals d arranged horizontally and surrounding the grooved
mandrel arranged in the middle of the receptacle, and having the same "8" shape
as the needles described before, in order to be placed on the bobbins c2, Figure 11.
The pearl receptacle A, Figures 11 and 12, is of the same shape as before
described and when it is desired to do away with the grooved guide and to use a
needle with horizontal spirals d, as just described, and which is especially suitable
for threading large pearls, in the centre of the receptacle is arranged a fluted
mandrel k, Figures 11 and 12, provided with a movable cap or part 1, destined to
retain the needle in place and to regulate the threading. This part is itself
grooved and is maintained at the desired height either by means of a screw,
or a spring which is adapted to press against the mandrel and hold it securely.
The mandrel is held in the centre of the receptacle by means of a screw or may
even be in one piece with the latter as both participate in the same rotary move-
ment. The threading is produced as in the other receptacles and with the other
needles.
With this mandrel and this needle may be used any of the receptacles shown
in the drawings, that is to say, either a spherical or cylindrical receptacle as
desired. The pearl receptacles may vary in size and contain one or more needles,
arranged in a similar manner to the needle shown in Fig. 11, each needle having
its own thread and bobbins, as shown in Figure 11. The threading may be
effected and the needle maintained whatever be its form, by a single bobbin
placed in front of the receptacle instead of two. In this case it is sufficient to
make a double spiral all round the bobbin, but then the rigidity is less and this
manner of working is generally suitable only for very large pearls.
The bobbins, Fig. 13, destined to support the thread filled with pearls and
placed at the front of the table, are, as may be seen, very light; and enable, in

page_text: case it is desired to have a larger number of grooves, their height and size not to
be increased to an undesirable extent. In fact they are constructed, as shown in
Figure 13, from metal discs j corrugated and pierced in the centre so as to enable
them to be soldered at equal or unequal intervals to a fluted tube i, said corruga-
tions and grooves serving to cause the pearls to move onwards. The bobbins
may have one or more grooves and be mounted in pairs, the thread destined to
receive the pearls being wound in the shape of an "8" and by this means when
it is desired to have a great length of thread, either bobbins with a large number
of grooves or several sets of bobbins with a smaller number of grooves may be
used. When these bobbins are employed, they are arranged instead of and in
the place of the bobbin E and on the axles of the latter.
In cases where it is desired to do away with the clamps I and bobbins which
replace them, an inclined plane either of wood or canvas or other material
and having a continuous reciprocating or trembling or vibratory motion may be
arranged in front of the table of the machine, the thread destined to receive the
pearls being retained on said inclined plane. This inclined plane can be used
as a rule only for stringing on a thread of small length.
The machine for stringing pearls and generally any perforated beads has a
great advantage over other machines hitherto used in avoiding the loss of pearls
etc. and of accomplishing a great amount of work and more uniform work whether
the required motions be produced by pedal or by other driving gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. Apparatus for stringing pearls or beads comprising a pearl receptacle of
spherical shape with a central inner projection, a needle with a double curved
end and of the shape of an "8" arranged round feeding bobbins and under a
grooved guide and thread clamps or bobbins according as the stringing is to be
effected with long or short threads substantially as described.
2. In apparatus of the kind described a receptacle with a central guide
mandrel provided with an adjustable cap piece substantially as described.
3. In apparatus of the kind described a needle substantially as described or
illustrated in Figure 6 or in Figure 7 or in Figure 8, of the accompanying
drawings.
4. In apparatus of the kind described a grooved guide for supporting the needle
substantially as described.
5. In apparatus of the kind described means for connecting the needle and
thread substantially as described.
6. In apparatus of the kind described a receptacle A, grooved spindle k, cap
and grooved bobbins substantially as described or illustrated in Figure 11
of the accompanying drawings.
7. In apparatus of the kind described thread clamping devices substantially as
described or illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for stringing pearls or beads substantially as described or illustrated
in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of December 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.