Patent GB-190406287-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Ruffling Mechanism for Sewing Machines.
Inventor: LAUBSCHER ALEXANDER
Filed: 1904-03-15
Granted: 1904-04-21
Abstract: 6287. Laubscher, A. March 15. Sewing - machine folding- attachments; attachments, securing. - Relates to a sewing - ma - chine ruffling-mechanism, which can be run at a high speed, and can be thrown into and out of operation while the machine is running. One end of a lever 6 is secured to the end of a horizontal rocking-shaft 4, which is mounted in a bearing at the rear side of a bracket 3 bolted to the overhanging arm 2 of the machine, and to a stud 10 at the other end of the lever 6 is pivoted the lower end of a link 9, the upper end of which is strapped round an eccentric 7 on the driving- shaft 8 of the machine. Extending alongside of, and coupled with the lever 6, is a second lever 15, which is carried at one end of a horizontal rocking-shaft 11, mounted in a bearing at the front side of the bracket 3, the other end of the shaft 11 being provided with a lever 13 carrying a ruffling-blade 14. Preferably, the levers 6, 15 are coupled adjustably, by a shouldered pivot block 16, movably secured in a longitudinal slot 17 in the lever 15, and having projecting from it a stud to which is pivoted a sliding block working in a groove 20 in the lever 6. By slackening a thumb-nut 22, the block 16 may be shifted in the slot 17 when it is desired to vary the length of stroke of the ruffling-blade 14, the ruffling action being discontinued when the block 16 is moved into a position concentric with the axis of the rocking-shaft. The effective position of the block 16 is limited by an adjustable stop block fitting loosely in the slot 17, and tapped to receive a screw 26, between the head of which, and the lever 15, is interposed a washer 27. The block can be adjusted in the slot 17 when it is desired to obtain ruffles of any predetermined size, or series of ruffles of uniform creases, alternating with spaces of plain stitching. The ruffling-blade 14, which is pressed against the material by an adjustable spring 30, is secured to a bell-crank lever, pivoted to the lower end of the lever 13, the upper arm 31 of the lever being bent over and engaged by a finger 32 projecting from the presserbar 33, when the latter is raised for the purpose of introducing or removing the work. The finger 32 is secured by a set-screw 36, in a socket 34 of a clip 35, which is secured to the presser-bar 33, so that the amount by which the ruffling-blade 14 is lifted may be varied to a slight extent. When several thicknesses of material are being used, and only the lower layer is to be ruffled, while the remaining layers are to be stitched thereto simultaneously, the position of the finger 32 is adjusted so that when the presser is raised, the ruffling- blade is lifted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The bracket 3 may be provided with a perforated extension 41 so that a hemmer or binder, capable of being swung into or out of operation, may be used if desired. The link 9 and eccentric 7 may be replaced by other means for vibrating the levers 6, 15, while the lever 13 may either be made in one piece or in two parts connected together by slots in the one part and binding-screws tapped into the other, so that the attachment may be applied to machines having arms of various heights above the work support.