IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BUTTON HOLE ATTACHMENTS FOR SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BUTTON
HOLE ATTACHMENTS FOR SEWING MACHINES" and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention relates to button hole attachments for sewing machines, and
comprises certain combinations of elements whereby the cloth is vibrated under
the needle during its reciprocation, the said cloth being vibrated from a fixed
point, and in many details of construction, all of which are fully hereinafter
set forth.
Heretofore in button hole attachments for sewing machines, the cloth clamp has
been moved under the needle in two directions by devices guided in suitable ways,
the said devices being made to move at right angles to each other, or the needle
has been made to move laterally in place of moving the cloth, in which case, only
one movement is given to the cloth.
With the improved devices the material to be operated upon is held in a suitable
clamp or vice supported by one arm of a cranked lever, or at one end of a straight
bar, the said cranked lever or bar having a fulcrum upon which it vibrates at a
convenient distance from the end bearing the clamp or vice. Connected with the
said lever or bar, preferably upon the upper surface, is a sliding vibrating lever
having its fulcrum attached to the first mentioned lever or bar, the said fulcrum
also serving as a guide by which the second lever can move in a direction parallel
to its own length, the parallel movement being communicated in the following
manner. At convenient positions upon the sliding vibrating lever are attached
two studs or rollers having contacts with opposite points of a rotating cam of
requisite formation, the cam being caused to rotate by intermittent movements
of suitable duration and length, by means of a clutch or other suitable mechanism
actuated by the first mentioned lever or bar around the fulcrum of which the cam
Price 1

page_text: rotates. The sliding vibrating lever is caused to vibrate upon its fulcrum by
means of a second cam attached to the first cam or friction clutch. Each part of
this machine by reason of the arrangements above mentioned receives its motion
from the vibration of the first mentioned cranked lever or bar which has its
fulcrum securely fixed to a suitably arranged base or support.
t
In the accompanying Drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved button hole attachments for sewing
machines.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan of part of the same on the line y y Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device partly in section.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the same on the line x x Figure 3.
Figure 5 shows a complete button-hole.
Figure 6 is an elevation showing the button attachment applied to a sewing
machine.
Figure 7 is a cross section on the line 8, 8 Figure 1.
Figure 8 is à cross section on the line t, t Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the feed cams.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the same, and
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the entire attachment.
A indicates the base plate which carries a stud B. Pivotted to this stud is a.
straight or cranked lever C which may receive its motion from the sewing machine
by any suitable mechanism. To vibrate the lever C I pivot to one end of it at ca
lever C¹ having a slot C2 in which a slide block C works, the said block being
pivotted to an adjustable fulcrum c¹ carried by a block c³ furnished with a slot c
through which a bolt ca passes to secure it firmly to the base plate A. The throw
of the crank C may be regulated by the above described device at once by the
gauge c. The lever C¹ may be vibrated by a lever R pivotted on a pin R¹ secured
to standard Q and connected with lever C by à universal joint R³. The other end
of the lever C is slotted, as at C, to allow the passage of a stud D secured to base
plate A, and on each side of the said slot are secured pins D¹ and D' the latter of
which carries a block or roller D³. Loosely pivotted on the stud D is a lever E
having a short arme which rests against the pin D¹ and a long arm e' which
actuates the clutch mechanism, and is adapted to impart the requisite motion to
the cloth clamp.
Pivotted to the stud B is an arm F which carries on its end a lever F1 pivotted
at f, and on its outer end provided with a roller or pin f¹ against which the long
arm of lever E works. The inner end of the lever F¹ is secured to the friction
band F which encircles the friction wheel G, also pivotted to the stud B, and
provided with pins g. The other end of the band F is secured at f' to the arm F.
A screw F on the lever C adjusts the amount of throw of the arm F in one
direction and thus limits the total throw of the said arm. This arm F is drawn
against the said screw by a spring ƒ³.
The lever E oscillates the lever F tightening the band F on the wheel G, and
upon the further movement of the said lever E the arm F is swung around
extending the spring f³ and turning the wheel G, and also the cams H and I
which are set upon pins g or otherwise secured to the friction wheel G. Any other
well known clutch device may be used in lieu of that just described.
The cam H is formed of two segments of concentric circles having different
diameters and connected by straight edges, which latter move the cloth to form
the ends of the button hole. The difference between the diameters of the
concentric parts of this cam control the distance apart of the two rows of stitches
forming the two sides of the button hole. This cam H works in a slot k of the
sliding vibrating lever K, which is slotted also at K' and works on the cranked
lever C, being guided thereon by the block D³ and its pin D. Hence this bar is
carried by the said lever C and in addition to the vibration imparted to it by the
motion of the said lever C it is also vibrated by the cam H. The end of this
'sliding vibrating lever K is provided with the lower jaw J of the clamp, which is

page_text: provided with an aperture ; sufficient to take in the complete button hole.
Pivotted at J to the end of this lever K is the other jaw J' having an aperture
and teeth J to fit the jaw J. The upper part of the said jaw J₁ is provided
with a spring extension J which is pressed out when clamping the cloth by a
lever L.
To the upper part of the sliding vibrating lever K is secured by the bolt M,
a plate M carrying the fixed roller m and the roller m¹ made adjustable in a slot O
by the stud N and nut N¹. The heart shaped cam I secured to cam H works
between said rollers to reciprocate the sliding vibrating lever K uniformly in both
directions upon the lever C independently of its lateral or vibratory movement.
By this means the button hole worked first up one side, then by the straight
part of cam H around the end U₁, and then back down the other side; and
the other straight edge of the cam H completes the other end U¹ of the said
button hole.
This button hole attachment X as a whole is attached to a sewing machine in
any suitable manner, varying with the different machines. One method is shown
in Figure 6 in which the lever R is rocked by a bar S worked by an excentric S¹
upon the sewing machine shaft T. P indicates the sewing machine needle in the
various views.
zz in Figure 1, represents the centre line, and ww the amount of.
lateral throw.
The action of this machine is as follows;-The cloth or material to be operated
upon is secured in the clamps J J' and placed conveniently under the needle P of
the sewing machine with which the button hole attachment X is connected to act
synchronously. At each stitch or descent of the needle P the sliding vibrating
lever K moves from one terminus of its vibratory movement to the other the
distance of such vibration being adjustable through the movable fulcrum C
connected with the intermediate lever R placed between the sewing machine and
the button hole attachment. This vibration by the cams H, I in unison with the
needle and thread of the sewing machine forms the stitches along the sides and
around the ends of a button hole. At the same moment of vibration, the lever K
to which the clamp J J is securely attached is advanced or retired one interval
of its movement by cam I, this movement regulating the distance between the
stitches, and being adjusted by varying the distance travelled at each vibration, by
the friction wheel G and cam I. Upon the completion of half a revolution of the
cam H and at each end of the parallel movement of the sliding vibrating lever K and
its clamp (consequently at each end of the button hole) the cam H communicates
an oscillating movement to the said lever K. This movement forms the rounded
ends U of the button hole U, and regulates the distance between the two rows of
stitching and is adjustable either by tapering the cam H or by using cams of
varying sizes. The length of button hole may be regulated by the same method
applied to the cam I.
The sliding vibrating lever K may be moved forward at each single vibration if
desired, in place of each double vibration which is preferable.
I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, as it may be modified in
various ways without departing from my Invention.
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 I claim
in a button hole attachment for a sewing machine.
First. An oscillating lever pivotted at one end in combination with mechanism
to oscillate it, and devices by which the cloth is attached to the said lever and
moved forward a short distance at each alternate vibration or oscillation of said
lever and then automatically passed across and back again to form the end of the
button hole, substantially as set forth.
Second. An oscillating lever in combination with mechanism for oscillating it, a
sliding vibrating lever supported by the said oscillating lever and provided with
means for clamping the cloth, and mechanism substantially as described for moving

page_text: the said sliding 'vibrating lever forward or backward a short distance with each
alternate vibration thereof, as set forth.
Third. An oscillating lever in combination with mechanism for oscillating the
said lever, a sliding vibrating lever supported by the sald oscillating lever and
provided with means for clamping the cloth, and mechanism substantially as
described for moving the said sliding vibrating lever forward or backward a
short distance with each alternate vibration, the said mechanism being controlled
by the oscillating lever, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. An oscillating lever, mechanism for oscillating the said lever, and
adjusting device for regulating the amount of the said oscillation, in combination
with a sliding vibrating lever actuated by the said oscillating lever and provided
with means substantially as described for moving the said sliding vibrating lever
forward or backward a short distance with each alternate vibration thereof,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. An oscillating lever, and mechanism for oscillating the said lever, in
combination with a sliding vibrating lever provided with means for clamping the
cloth, means substantially as described for moving the said sliding vibrating lever
forward and backward a short distance with each alternate vibration thereof, and
mechanism for regulating the amount of the said intermittent movement,
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. An oscillating lever pivotted at one end and means for oscillating it, in
combination with a sliding vibrating lever supported by the said oscillating lever,
and provided with means for clamping the cloth, cam mechanism for moving the
said sliding vibrating lever forward or backward a short distance with each
alternate vibration thereof, and a cam for oscillating the said sliding vibrating lever
upon the oscillating lever independently of its regular vibratory movement for
the purpose of forming the ends of the button hole, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. An oscillating lever, and means for oscillating it, in combination with a
sliding vibrating lever vibrated by the said oscillating lever and provided with
means for clamping the cloth, cam mechanism for moving the said sliding vibrating
lever forward or backward intermittently a short space with each alternate
vibration thereof, and mechanism for oscillating the said sliding vibrating lever
independently of its vibratory movement and during the completion of the forward
movement and starting of the backward movement, or vice versa, substantially as
set forth.
Eighth. An oscillating lever, and means for oscillating it, in combination with
adjusting devices for regulating the amount of the said oscillation, a sliding
vibrating lever provided with means for clamping the cloth and carried by the said
lever, cam mechanism for moving the said sliding vibrating lever forward or
back ward intermittently, a short space with each alternate vibration of the said
sliding vibrating lever, and adjusting devices for regulating the amount of the said
intermittent movement to the said sliding vibrating lever, substantially as set
forth.
Ninth. The combination of the oscillating lever C, the sliding vibrating lever K
the stud D' and its block, the lever C', the adjustable pin c¹, the block C, the
cams H and I and mechanism substantially as described for imparting intermittent
rotary movement to the said cams, substantially as set forth.
.Tenth. The oscillating lever C, in combination with a sliding vibrating lever
provided with meaus for clamping the cloth and supported and vibrated by the said
oscillating lever, the slotted lever C¹, the slide block C³, and the adjustable
fulcrum c¹ substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Eleventh. The combination of the base plate A, the stud B, the lever C, the
stud D, the lever E, the pins D1 and D2, the block D³, the sliding vibrating lever K
carrying the cloth clamp and having slots K¹, k, the rollers m m¹, the cams H and I,
and means actuated by the lever E for rotating the said cams, substantially as set
forth

page_text: Twelfth. The combination of the base plate A, the stud B, the lever C, the
lever C having the slot C2, the adjustable fulcrum c', the stud D, the lever E, the
pins D D², the block D, the sliding vibrating lever K carrying the cloth clamp and
having slots Kk, the rollers m m', the cams H and I, and means actuated by the
lever E for rotating the said cams, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of the base plate A, the stud B, the lever C, the
stud D, the lever E, the pins D1, D2, the block D³, the sliding vibrating lever K
carrying the cloth clamp and having slots K¹ k, the rollers m m³, the cams H and I,
the wheel G, the band F2, the arm F, and the lever F¹, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of the base plate A, the stud B, the lever C, the
stud D, the lever E, the pins D¹ D', the block D³, the sliding vibrating lever K
carrying the cloth clamp and having slots K k, the rollers m m³, the cams H
and I, the wheel G the band F, the arm F, the lever F¹, the spring f³, and the
adjusting screw F³, substantially as set forth.
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c T1 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.