Patent GB-590761-A (GB)
Title: Improved electronic sewing machine
IPC: B29C65/04
Filed: 1945-04-18
Abstract: 590,761. Seaming. UNION SPECIAL MACHINE Co. April 18, 1945, No. 9650. Convention date, Sept. 15, 1944. [Class 42 (i)] An electronic sewing machine is provided with two wheels, constituting the electrodes, and carried respectively by an arm projecting laterally from a lower member and by an upper member disposed above and spaced from said arm, the wheels being arranged for rotation about substantially parallel axes to feed material placed between them. The frame of the machine consists of a base, 26, Fig. 1, an upwardly extending bracket 27 terminating in a hollow horizontal upper member 28, from one end of which a tubular member 35 depends and terminates in a horizontal work-supporting arm 36. The vertical planes through the longitudinal axes of the upper member 28 and arm 36 intersect at an acute angle C, Fig. 2. A main shaft 45 is supported in bearings in the member 28 and carries a bevel gear 59 in mesh with a similar gear 70 fixed to a vertical shaft 69. At the lower end of shaft 69, a further bevel gear 74, Fig. 6, meshes with gear 84 carried by a shaft 82 extending along the work-supporting arm 36, further bevel gears 87, 95 at the remote end driving the pin 91 on which the lower roller 96 (preferably constructed of material having good electrical conducting properties) is mounted The roller 96 is earthed, and protrudes slightly through a slot in the upper surface of work-supporting arm 36. A housing 44, secured to the upper member 28 extends over the outer end of the arm 36, and carries the mounting for the upper roller 136. A shaft 103 driven from the main shaft 45 through gears 57, 104, carries at its other end a bevel gear 106 which meshes with the bevel gear 110. The latter is located with respect to gear 106 by a forked bracket which engages a groove formed around its neck; it drives the shaft 108 through a key, engaging a keyway 109 cut in the shaft, which is free to move in an axial direction. At its lower end the shaft 108 carries a bevel gear which meshes with a similar gear mounted on a pin forming the axle of the upper roller 136. The latter consists of an electrically-conducting rim 138 mounted on an insulating centre-portion 137. The axle of wheel 136 is journalled in a bracket carried by a vertically slidable rod 145, the downward movement of which is limited by a collar 148, Fig. 3. The upper collar 149 has a lateral extension 150 which is engaged by a finger 172 for raising the upper wheel and its associated parts. The finger 172 is fixed to a shaft 171 which is connected by links 168, 167 to one arm of a bell-crank lever 165, the other arm of which may be pulled downwards by means of a cable attached to a pedal, or like means. A leaf-spring 152, compressed by a nut 158 on a threaded spindle 153, acts on a swivel cap 164 on the rod 145 and normally urges the latter downwards. The main shaft 45 derives its motion from a variable-speed electric motor 176. For intermittent movement of the wheels 136 and 96, the shaft 184 of the motor has fixed to it a plate 185 having a groove in which the head of a ball stud 187 fits with an eccentricity adjustable by a screw 187a. The stud 187 has pivoted to it a link 188, the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 190 forming part of a oneway clutch mechanism in driving engagement with the main shaft 45. Alternatively, for continuous rotation of the wheels, the shaft 45 may be driven through worm gearing 201, 198 and a pulley 194 driven by a belt 193 running over a pulley 192 on the motor, Fig. 20. Ultrahigh frequency electrical oscillations are produced in a generator 205 mounted beneath the machine, Fig. 3, and are applied to the upper wheel 136, through a co-axial centre conductor 210 of transmission line 209, and a spring strip 215. A neon bulb 219 may be provided to indicate when the generator is operating. A guard 140 is provided to prevent the operator's hand from contacting the wheel 136. U.S.A. Specification 2,043,749 is referred to.