Patent GB-190100487-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Mats for Covering Bottles and for other like Purposes and in Machines for Making the same.
Filed: 1901-01-08
Granted: 1902-01-08
Abstract: 487. Lake, H. H., [Northwestern Grass Twine Co.]. Jan. 8. Straw-mat and straw-casing sewing-machines.- Consists of a machine for making an improved straw mat for covering bottles and for other purposes, consisting of a flat mass of parallel straws &c. held together by one or more transverse rows of stitching and having a loose end of thread or twine for tying the cover round the bottle. Fig. 1 shows a general view. The operation is briefly as follows :-A suitable quantity of straw &c. is arranged by hand on the left-hand end of the table and deposited by arms 17, 17<a> on the feed chain 69, which carries the straw under the needles and delivers the finished. mat. Just at the end of the sewing operation the thread is cut and clamped, and a sufficient quantity of it pulled off by a hooked finger 25 to form the loose end for the next mat. Feed; trimming or cutting. - The table comprises longitudinal bars between which the arms 17, 17<a> work. The arms 17<a> are secured to the shaft 17<1>, and the clamping arms 17 pressed towards them by a spring but normally held away by a pawl 111 and intermediate mechanism. On the release of the pawl, the bundle of straw is clamped and the shaft 17'then rotated to deposit the bundle on the feed chain, the second set of arms being at the same time brought into position to deal with the next bundle. A safety-device for preventing premature closing of the clamp arms is provided. Spring clutches support the arms 17<a> flush with the table when in position to receive straw, and stops limit the width of the mat. 16<1> are trimming cutters. Chain-stitching machines; multiple-needle machines presser-feet.-The needles 31, Fig. 20, are hooked, and each is fitted with a hook-closing pin R sliding in a slot above the hook and operated through a lever 101, link, and crank on the needledriving shaft C. The presser-foot can be lifted by a rock-shaft 118, and link 120. Governing needle thread ; thread-cutters; threadend holders. - The thread-pulling finger 25 is pivoted to an arm 24 secured to a slotted arm 26 pivoted at 23 and connected by a link 27 to an arm 28, Fig. 8, pivoted on a shaft 33. The arm 28 is vibrated by pins 34, 35 on a disc 29 secured to a shaft 11, which is rotated step by step and from which all the parts of the machine, except the sewing-mechanism and the trimming-cutters, are actuated. The connection between the arms 26, 28 is yielding. It comprises the spring 77 and a rod 27 sliding in a tube 74 which is slotted to receive a transverse pin 75 on the rod. The position of the finger 25 with regard to the arm 24 is yieldingly determined by the connection shown in Fig. 14, and comprising the spring 78, abutments 80, 82 fixed to the arm 24, and pin 81 on the arm 25. Slack is provided in the thread before the finger 25 operates, by means of a counterbalanced arm connected by a link 83 to the arm 26. Fig. 10 shows one of the thread-cutters, consisting of a fixed guide 60<1> in which slides a bar 60 carrying a hook 66 to co-operate with the finger 61 in clamping the thread, and pins 69, 71 to actuate the cutter 68. The slide 60 is connected to an arm, such as 45, Fig. 8, on the shaft 33 which tends to turn, under the tension of a spring, so as to clamp and cut the thread. This is normally prevented by a catch 42 on the arm 38, Fig. 7, engaging an arm 44 of the shaft 33. The shaft 38 also carries an arm 37, Fig. 8, through which it is moved to release the catch 42 by a pin 36 on the disc 29, the arm 37 on its further movement engaging an arm 39 on the shaft 33 and positively completing the movement of the thread clamp and cutter. By the engagement of a pin 41 on a disc 40 on the shaft 11, with the arm 44, the above trip mechanism is reset. Stopping-gear; stopping, automatic.-The shaft C, Fig. 7, from which the sewing-mechanism is actuated, is driven through a clutch comprising a part fast on the shaft and having a recess K in which engages a projection on a dog H carried by a spur-wheel loose on the shaft. A spring 55 tends to raise the lever N and uncouple the clutch, but is normally prevented by the engagement of a stop 52 with the lever 53 to which the spring is connected. The stop 52 is carried on a lever 51 which is pushed from under the lever 53 to uncouple the clutch by a projection 50 on the disc 40. A pin 56 on the same disc lifts the lever 53 to couple the clutch. The relative angular position of the projection 50 and pin 36 is such that the sewing is stopped at the same time as the thread is clamped and cut.