Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY SANDS of 7 Longhedge Lane, in the town and County of Nottingham,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide sewing machines adapted for sewing
and connecting together jacquard cards in the form of a chain.
The connecting together of the cards is effected by sewing or stitching to the
cards both on the upper and on the lower side a continuous length of braid or of
cord passing across the cards at each end and at their mid length.
For this purpose I employ an organized machine consisting of one modification
of a bed plate supporting a right hand and a left-hand sewing machine, whose
overhanging arms are turned towards each other with the needle bars at the
requisite distance apart for stitching across both ends of the cards simultaneously.
The bed plate is kneed or is formed with a depression near its centre to make
space for two feed wheels which are fitted on a spindle passing under the bed.
plates of the two sewing machines. These feed wheels consist of discs upon the
periphery of each of which are a series of equally spaced projecting pins which by
eutering the large punched holes in the ends of the jacquard cards serve to feed
them forward over the needle plate of each sewing machine, the periphery of each
wheel being on a level with the corresponding needle plate. The sewing of the.
braid or cords to the upper and lower sides of the cards in order to attach them
together is effected by the needles and shuttles of the sewing machines while the
cards are fed forward, the cords on the lower side being led into the needle through
grooves formed for them in the needle plate, and those on the upper side being
carried through a slot formed in each presser foot. The supply of cord or braid is
obtained from bobbins fitted under the bed plate for the lower side and over the
overhanging arm of the sewing machines for the upper side.
In order to avoid altering the shuttle and other parts of the left hand sewing.
machine I drive both as right band machines, that is to say, I drive the right hand
machine direct and the left hand machine through an intermediate wheel to reverse
the direction of motion. This is conveniently effected by fitting a driving spindle
on carrying brackets at the back of each machine and connecting it by gearing
direct to the horizontal driving spindle of the right hand machine and through an
intermediate wheel with the horizontal driving spindle of the left, hand machine.
To adapt the machine for stitching together cards of greater or less length at
different times 1 fit one of the sewing machines eg, the left hand machine to slide
on the bed plate and provide for its adjustment by a screw spindle or similar
device; and to keep the driving wheel in gear with the intermediate wheel it is
fitted to slide on the driving shaft to which it is connected by a feather and

page_text: groove. The feed wheels are also fitted so that they may be adjusted on the shaft
by which they are carried, and they are by preference made in halves so that they
may be readily removed and replaced by wheels of larger or smaller diameter
having formed or fitted on their peripheries pins spaced at greater or at smaller
distances apart to suit different widths of cards to be joined together. To
provide also for maintaining the upper sides of the feed wheels on a level with the
needle plate of each sewing machine the feed wheel shaft is carried in bearings
which are capable of vertical adjustment by screws. The carrying brackets of the
shaft may be provided with graduated scales by the use of which the position of
the shaft may be accurately adjusted relatively to the needle plate. A central
supporting bracket is also provided and is fitted with a support for the centre of
the cards to which the cords are being stitched. This support for the cards may be
removed when short cards are being operated on.
The feed wheel shaft has a step by step movement imparted to it by means of a
feeding disc on its end, the disc being acted on by a feed dog, pawl, or similar
device operated by a rod from an eccentric on the horizontal shaft of the fixed
sewing machine. The eccentric strap is formed with a slot whose effective length
may be varied by a screw adjusting device to allow greater or less play between
the eccentric strap and feed rod, thereby to vary the extent of feed or forward
movement of the feed wheels and consequently to vary the length of stitch made
by the sewing machines.
+
The series of cards when joined together by the cords stitched across them at
both ends are delivered over the back of the machine to a bogie or platform by
which they are afterwards brought forward to the front of the machine in order
that they may have joining cords or braid stitched across the centre of their length.
In stitching the cords across the mid length of the cards it is only necessary to use
one of the sewing machines; and the other is for the time being thrown out of
action by disengaging the connecting clutch from the driving shaft.
In a modified arrangement adapted for stitching the cords simultaneously across
the cards at each end and at or near their mid length I fit behind the two sewing
machines which stitch the cords across the ends of the cards, a third sewing machine
whose needle bar is over the mid-length of the cards, and for cases in which four
rows of stitching are employed to secure the cards together by a corresponding
number of cords I fit two additional sewing machines behind the first pair, the
needle bars of the several sewing machines being in such positions that they may
each make a separate row of stitching. The additional machine or machines is or
are driven from the countershaft which gives motion to each of the first pair of
machines, intermediate gearing being introduced in the case of one of the rear
machines in order that the machines may all be driven as right hand or as left
hand machines. In this case the cards may be fed forward by endless bands fitted
with studs, instead of by stud wheels, the endless bands being carried over the
bed plates of the rear machines. To avoid knotting of the thread in the rear
machines while the cards are being fed forward through the front machines at
starting, an engaging and disengaging clutch or similar device may be employed
for throwing the rear machines into and out of action. In starting the apparatus
the rear machines are kept idle until the first of the series of cards is fed under the
needle bars when by means of the clutch the rear machines are thrown into gear.
In some cases though not with advantage a single machine of the kind described
may be employed to join together a series of jacquard cards the cards being fed
forward by a stud wheel or studded-chain while the cords are led in towards the
needle by which they are stitched to the cards.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1885

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Sewing together Jacquard Cards.
I, HENRY SANDS, of 7 Longhedge Lane, in the town and County of Nottingham,
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The object of my invention is to provide sewing machines adapted for sewing
and connecting together jacquard cards in the form of a chain. The connecting
together of the cards is effected by sewing or stitching to the cards both on the
upper and on the lower side a continuous length of braid or of cord passing across
the cards at each end.
For this purpose as seen in side elevation at figure 1, in plan at figure 2 and in
end elevation at figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, I employ an organised
machine consisting of a bed plate A, supporting a right-hand and a left-hand
sewing machine marked B and C respectively whose overhanging arms are turned
towards each other with the needle bars at the requisite distance apart for
stitching across both ends of the cards simultaneously. The bed plate is kneed or
is formed with a depression near its centre to make space for two feed wheels D, D,
which are fitted on a spindle E passing under the two sewing machines. These
feed wheels consist of discs, upon the periphery of each of which are a series of
equally spaced projecting pins d, which by entering large punched holes in the
ends of the jacquard cards G, as shown in figure 1 serve to feed them forward over
the needle plate F of each sewing machine, the periphery of each wheel being on
a level with the corresponding needle plate which, in lieu of being flat, is curved
to such an arc as to permit the pins d, to feed forward the cards with facility.
The sewing of the braids or cords to the upper and lower sides of the cards,G, in
order to attach them together, is effected by the threads in the needles and
shuttles of the sewing machines while the cards are fed forward, the cords e on the,
lower side being led in to the needles through grooves f formed for them in the
needle plates, and those g on the upper side being carried through a slot formed-
in each presser foot c. The supply of cord or braid is obtained from bobbins H, H},.
carried respectively under the bed plate. A on the lower, side, and over the over-
hanging arms B, C, of the sewing machines on the upper side..
..
In order to avoid altering the shuttle and other parts of the left hand sewing
machine I drive both as right hand machines, that is, to say, I drive the right
hand machine direct and the left hand machine through an intermediate wheel to
reverse the direction of motion. This is conveniently effected by fitting a driving
shaft I, in carrying brackets at the back of both machines and connecting it to,
the horizontal driving shaft of the right hand machine B, by gearing consisting of
two spur wheels J, J, one of which is on the shaft I, and the other on the driving.
shaft of the machine B.
i..
For the left hand machine C, between the spur wheel on the shaft I, and the
spur wheel on the driving shaft of the machine an intermediate, wheel K, carried
on a stud in the supporting bracket L, is interposed, the said wheel K, being
double the breadth of the other wheels and having the wheels on the shaft I, and

page_text: #
driving shaft of the machine C, so geared with it as to clear each other. The
wheel for operating the machine C, is geared to the shaft I, by a draw stop motion
or equivalent mechanism so that by withdrawing the stop the machine C, is
rendered stationary when necessary, whilst when it is in operation, by the inter-
position of the wheel K, the driving shafts of both machines are caused to rotate
in the same direction.
To adapt the machine for stitching together cards of greater or less length at
different times, I secure one of the sewing machines (eg) the left hand machine C,
to a slide M, on the bed plate A, and provide for its adjustment by a screw
spindle N, which passes through a nut or eye made on the under side of the slide
the latter being guided in its movement by plates O, secured to the bed plate A, in
such a manner as to overlap the edges of the slide as indicated in detailed cross
section at figure 4. The feed wheels D, D, are also fitted so that they may be
adjusted on the shaft E, and they are by preference made in halves so that they
may be readily removed and replaced by wheels of larger or smaller diameter
having formed or fitted on their peripheries pins spaced at greater or smaller
distances apart to suit different widths of cards to be joined together. To provide
also for maintaining the peripheries of the feed wheels on a level with the needle
plate of each sewing machine the feed wheel shaft E, is carried in bearings P,
which are capable of vertical adjustment, the bearings being fitted to slide in
brackets Q, bolted to the bed plate A, and each of them having an adjusting
screw h, tapped through its upper part and bearing on the head of the bracket Q.
By turning the screws h, the bearings P, are raised or lowered and when adjusted
to the desired position they are secured by pinching screws i, passed through
slotted holes in the brackets Q. The carrying brackets Q, may be provided with
graduated scales by the use of which the position of the shaft may be accurately
adjusted relatively to the needle plate.
Between the feed wheels D, D, a support for the centre of the cards is provided.
the said support consisting of a bracket R, bolted to the bed plate A, and having
in it a vertical slot through which a pinching screw 1, passes into one arm ; of a
boss carried on the shaft E, the said boss having another arm j¹ to which is secured
by means of a pinching screw k, a curved support S, for the centre of the cards.
In adjusting the vertical height of the shaft E, the pinching screw 7, is slackened
to enable it to move freely in the slot of the bracket R, and after the adjustment
has been effected the height of the central support S, relatively with the feed
wheels D, is regulated by slackening and refixing the screw k, which passes
through a slot in the arm of the support S. The central support S, may be
removed or swung down when short cards are being operated on. The feed wheel
shaft E, has a step by step movement imparted to it by means of a feeding ratchet
disc or wheel T, on its end, the disc or wheel being acted on by a pawl m, which
is centred on a lever U, carried on the shaft E, and connected at its upper end to
an eccentric on the shaft I, or it might be on the horizontal shaft of the fixed
sewing machine B.
To counteract the tendency of the machine to feed too fast (due to the weight
of the cards hanging over the back of the machine dragging round the feed
wheels D) a brake is provided in conjunction with the ratchet wheel T, the said
brake consisting of a bar or strip n, of wood placed in contact with the side of the
wheel. On the back of the brake a spring o is provided into which two screws p,
are tapped the said screws passing through horizontal arms or wings made on the
adjustable bearing P, and by increasing or diminishing the tension on the spring,
by operating the said screws, the tension of the brake on the ratchet wheel T, is
adjusted.
The series of cards when joined together by the cords stitched across them at
both ends are delivered over the back of the machine to a bogie or platform, by
which they are afterwards brought forward to the front of the machine in order
that they may have, joining cords or braid stitched across the centre of their
length. In stitching the cords across the midlength of the cards it is only

page_text: necessary to use one of the sewing machines; and the other is for the time being
thrown out of action by disengaging the connecting clutch from the driving
shaft.
In some cases, though not with advantage, a single machine of the kind described
may be employed to join together a series of jacquard cards, the cards being fed
forward by the stud wheel D, while the cords are led in towards the needle by
which they are stitched to the cards. Under this mode of working, after the cards
have been stitched at one extremity they are turned end for end and the other
extremity similarly operated on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In the connecting together of jacquard cards the employment of sewing
machines organised substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The arrangement and combination of the parts constituting the organised
machine hereinbefore described.
3. In machines for sewing together jacquard cards the combination with the
sewing mechanism of permanent or adjustable feed wheels and feed devices,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination with a twin sewing machine, of a central support sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Fourteenth day of July 1886.