IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR SEWING HEAVY FABRICS SUCH AS CARPETS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR SEWING HEAVY FABRICS
SUCH AS CARPETS AND THE LIKE A communication to him from abroad
by George Gowing, of Oakland, California, United States of America.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
MACHINES FOR
SEWING HEAVY FABRICS SUCH AS CARPETS AND THE LIKE
"
[a cominunication to him from abroad by George Gowing, of Oakland, California,
United States of America.]
This invention relates to sewing machines adapted to move upon a cable or rope
along the edge of the material to be sewed as the stitches are formed. It further
relates to certain details of construction as hereinafter set forth.
The object of the said invention is to provide means for sewing heavy fabrics
such as carpets and the like without moving the said fabrics during the operation
of forming the seam therein.
According to the said invention the main frame of the machine is provided with
a grooved feed-wheel pivoted in suitable bearings and adapted to bear upon a
cable or rope which is stretched to a sufficient degree of tension to support the
machine in a proper position for its operation.
At about the central part of the frame is a bar provided with a handle below
the main portion of the frame; this bar carries, at its lower end, in suitable
bearings a fly-wheel. The aforesaid grooved wheel is placed in the frame of the
machine above the said handle.
The cable or rope passes over guide-wheels attached to the frame by arms which
extend parallel with the cable. The upper parts of the peripheries of the guide-
wheels are a little above the lower part of the periphery of the feed-wheel, by
077

page_text: which arrangement the amount of grip of the machine on the cable or rope is
increased; these guide-wheels also hold the machine steadily in line with the edge
of the fabric to be sewed. A driving pulley is suitably mounted in the frame and
is provided with a gear-wheel meshing with a smaller gear-wheel which is fixed
upon a shaft; motion is imparted to the said driving pulley by means of a crank
and is transmitted, multiplied, to the said shaft; this shaft carries a grooved cam.
A pitman is pivoted at its upper end to the needle-bar and its lower end is pivoted
eccentrically to the face of the said grooved cam whereby the rotation of the
aforesaid shaft causes the needle to oscillate vertically. The lower needle is
operated by another pitman which is in connection, by means of a pin at its upper
end, with the groove in the face of the aforesaid cam. This needle pitman is
properly supported in bearings in the frame. An arm fixed adjustably by means
of a set-screw near the lower end of the said pitman is operated by means of a
pin and a bell-crank or lever pivoted upon the frame beneath the needle plate;
the connection between the arm and the lever being effected by means of a pin
and 'ot The said bell crank or lever carries the lower needle which is pivoted
thereon so as to be capable of lateral movement. Fixed to the lower needle is a
small arm, which, in the movement of the bell-crank, impinges against the side
of a projection provided upon the frame.
The pitman for the lower needle is moved in a guide and the shape of the cam-
groove to, which it is connected determines the movement of the lower needle. The
tension-devices employed are of the ordinary kind but their positions are varied to
correspond with the peculiar shape of the machine. The fly-wheel is carried on a
stud or journal attached to the bar carrying the handle and receives motion by
means of a belt.
The construction of the needle plate is especially adapted to this form of machine;
it consists essentially of a plate which is held by means of slots and screws upon
the ledge of the main frame; to this plate is attached the presser-foot by means of
a guide-rod and an adjusting set-screw.
The movement of the machine upon the cable or rope is effected by a pawl and
ratchet mechanism operated by the aforesaid shaft upon which is a stud for
operating a pivoted lever provided with a spring. The said lever carries an arm
to which is attached the pawl which engages with a ratchet-wheel on the same
shaft with the aforesaid grooved feed-wheel; being preferably fixed close to the
said wheel the said pawl engages with this wheel, being held in gear therewith
either by gravity or by a spring, and as the stud on the said shaft throws the said
lever forward it actuates the pawl and turns the wheel thereby advancing the
machine upon the cable a given distance; the said grooved wheel being serrated
and formed to exactly correspond with and fit the strands of the cable or rope;
any other well known adjusting device may be employed to regulate the amount
of distance advanced. A guide-bar is also provided upon which is a nipping
device, and proper connections, for the thread.
For the purpose of keeping the plush or pile from being pressed down in the
seam of the carpet when sewed I arrange tongues to pass each side of the needle and
to be operated by a lever and cam-wheel; as the said cam-wheel revolves with the
aforesaid shaft a reciprocating motion is given to the said lever by the connecting
pin operating in the groove of the said cam-wheel thus causing the reciprocation
of the tongues at each movement of the needle and pressing the plush or pile in
between the edges of the carpet or fabric to be sewed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
"
MACHINES FOR SEWING HEAVY FABRICS, SUCH AS CARPETS AND THE LIKE
A communication to me from abroad by George Gowing, of Oakland, California,
United States of America.
This invention relates to sewing machines adapted to move upon a cable or
rope along the edge of the material to be sewed, as the stitches are formed.
The object of the said invention is to provide means for sewing heavy fabrics,
such as carpets and the like without moving the said fabrics during the operation
of forming the seam therein
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the improved machine
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof
Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the guide-plate, presser foot, and
needle plate.
Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section showing the device for imparting
intermittent motion to the machine upon the cable
Figure 5 shows a face view of the cam and the pitmans for operating the
needles
Figure 6 is a detached view of the lower needle and the bell crank lever which
carries it
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the same
Figure 8 is a detail view of the lower needle and other parts operating in
combination therewith
Figure 9 is a front elevation shewing the position of the needles when the
lower one is pushed aside, and showing also a modified form of the bell crank
lever
Figure 10 is a front elevation representing the thread nipping devices.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the improved machine illustrating some slight
modifications.
Figure 12 is a plan of the gauge
Figure 13 is a section of the same on the line x, x Figure 12 and
Figure 14 is a detached view shewing the reciprocating gauge.
In Figures 1 and 2, A is the main frame of the machine, Q is a grooved feed-
wheel carried by, and free to rotate upon, a stud fixed in the said frame; this wheel
is adapted to bear upon the cable or rope O which is stretched to a sufficient degree
of tension to support the machine in a proper position for its operation and to give
the proper degree of grip of the feed-wheel upon the cable. The position of the
machine upon the cable is shown in Figures 1 and 2.
At about the central part of the frame is fixed a bar or handle A' below the main
portion of the frame; this bar carries at its lower end a stud upon which the
By-wheel p is fitted and is free to rotate. The wheel Q is placed in the frame of the
machine above the handle A².
The cable or rope passes over the guide-wheels P as shewn in Figure 1; these
wheels are attached to the frame by arms P¹ which extend parallel with the cable.
The upper parts of the peripheries of the guide-wheels P are about one eighth of an
inch above the lower part of the periphery of the feed-wheel Q, by which

page_text: arrangement the amount of grip, or the traction of the machine on the cable or rope
is increased; these guide-wheels P also hold the machine steadily in line with the
edge of the fabric to be sewed. That is to say the guide-wheels P are so arranged
relatively to the feed-wheel Q as to cause a depression in the cable at the point
where the said wheel bears upon it; the said wheel has therefore a stronger grip
upon the cable, the tighter the latter is stretched. A driving pulley B is mounted
in the frame A as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is provided with a gear-wheel C
meshing with a smaller gear-wheel D fixed upon the shaft E; motion is imparted
to the driving pulley B by means of the crank-handle B' and is transmitted to the
shaft E; this shaft E carries the grooved cam F shown in position in Figure 1 and
detached in Figure 5. A pitman H is pivotted at its upper end to the needle-bar I,
and its lower end is pivotted excentrically to the face of the said grooved cam so
that the rotation of the shaft E imparts a vertical reciprocating motion to the said
needle-bar. The lower needle S is operated by a pitman G which is in connection.
by means of a pin at its upper end, with the groove in the face of the aforesaid
cam F This needle-pitman is properly supported in bearings in the frame. An
arm fixed adjustably by means of a set-screw near the lower end of the pitman G
operates the bell-crank-lever R pivotted to the frame beneath the needle-plate; the
connection between the arm and the lever being effected by means of a pin and slot
as shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7. The bell-crank-lever R carries the lower
needle S which is pivotted thereto so as to be capable of lateral movement. The
small arm T is fixed to the needle S as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8; this arm, in
the movement of the bell-crank-lever R, impinges against the side of the projection U
provided upon the frame A. The said arm is thereby turned slightly aside as shown
in Figure 8, and in turning, pushes the needle S away from the path of the upper
needle; this is done while the bell-crank lever is carrying the needle forward. When
the lower needle S is thus acted upon and pushed to one side by the projection U,
it is held in this position until the descent of the upper needle takes place, when
the lower needle commences its return, being retained against the projection in its
backward movement by means of the spring R. The arm and needles are shown
in Figure 9 in position for the lower needle to receive the loop of the upper thread.
The relation of the bell-crank-lever to the frame is shewn in Figures 1 and 2. The
pitman G is held and moved in the guide fixed to the frame A. The shape of the
cam-groove to which the pitman is connected ensures the proper movement of the
lower needle relatively to the upper needle. The relative positions of the pitman,
needle, and bell-crank-lever are shewn more clearly in Figure 2. The operation of
the lower needle is as follows, that is to say :-In the forward movement the lower
needle passes the upper needle in the required position to secure the loop of the
upper thread; at the same time the arm Tis brought in contact with the guide-block
or projection U which pushes it to one side during the still further, and final,
forward movement of the bell-crank lever R, thus carrying the lower thread to the
opposite side and holding it until the return of the upper needle which passes
between the lower needle and the thread and completes the locking of the two
threads. The tension-devices employed are of the ordinary kind, but their positions
are varied to correspond with the peculiar shape of the machine. The fly-wheel p
is carried on a stud or journal attached to the bar A³ as shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
and receives motion by means of the belt b.
The construction of the needle-plate is especially adapted to this form of machine;
it is shewn in place in Figures 1 and 2, and detached in Figure 3; the guide-plate L
is made with slots through which pass screws whereby it is fixed upon a ledge of
the main frame A; to this plate L is attached the presser-foot m by means of the
guide-rod c and an adjusting screw a. The needle plate is under the guide-plate L
and forms a part of the guide, but is fastened independently to the frame of the
machine.
The movement of the machine upon the cable or rope is effected by the pawl
and ratchet mechanism shewn in Figure 4 which is operated by the shaft E; on
this shaft is a stud X which operates a pivotted lever V provided with a retaining

page_text: spring s. The lever V is provided with an arma W to which is attached the pawl
engaging with the ratchet wheel Z fixed on the shaft carrying the grooved feed-
wheel, preferably close to the said wheel; the said pawl engages with this
ratchet wheel, being held in gear therewith, either by gravity or by a spring, and
as the stud on the shaft E throws the lever V forward it actuates the pawl and
turns the ratchet-wheel, thereby advancing the machine upon the cable a given
distance, the grooved wheel Q being serrated and formed to exactly correspond
with, and fit, the strands of the cable or rope; any other well known adjusting
device may be employed to regulate the amount of distance advanced.
The fabric is held stationary against the guide and in line with the cable, the
required stitches being formed as the machine moves forward, step by step, upon
the cable. The guide-bar J, and the thread-nipping devices d, e and are shewn
clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The nipper e is pivotted to the lower part of the
needle-bar and rests upon the same; a check upon the thread allows the said
nipper to open only to the desired extent from the face of the needle-bar. The
nipper-spring is attached to the facc-plate of the machine. The edges of the
nipper and spring are so bevelled that the nipper is caused to pass outside of the
spring in the downward movement of the needle-bar and under the spring in the
upward movement thereof. The thread is at all times retained between the nipper
and the needle-bar. It will be seen that by this arrangement the pressure upon
the thread for forming the loop is only applied during the upward movement of
the needle-bar. The feed-movements are timed to the movements of the needle as
in ordinary machines; the operation of the machine is simple and will be understood
by the above description. The machine is adapted to sew any kind of heavy fabric,
the lapped edges of which are stretched along by the side of the cable and can pass
into the guide between the presser-foot and the needle-plate while the machine
travels by a step by step movement which may be adjusted to suit the length of
the stitch. For the purpose of keeping the plush or pile from being pressed down
in the seam of the carpet when sewed, I arrange the tongue C2 to pass on one side
of the needle and to be operated by the lever B2 and cam-wheel D²; as the said
cam-wheel revolves with the shaft E a reciprocating motion is given to the lever B²
by the connecting pin operating in the groove of the cam D, thus causing the
reciprocation of the tongue at each movement of the needle, and pressing the plush
or pile in between the edges of the carpet or fabric to be sewed. In some cases
I fix upon the said tongue C2 a guide-plate or gauge C³ as represented in Figures
11 to 14, which illustrate the operation of the said tongue and gauge. The edges
of the carpet being placed in the guide as shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 are.
allowed to rest against the stationary guide-plate which is placed at a greater
distance from the needle than the required depth of seam the said tongue is moved
back to bring the said gauge in line with the stationary guide-plate. The said
gauge is adjustable so that it may be stopped in its forward movement at any
required distance from the vertical needle; thus it may be adjusted to suit any
depth of seam. When the machine is advanced a step for the purpose of forming
a stitch, the said gauge is, at the same time moved forward with the tongue
carrying the edges of the carpet before it to the upper needle; it is held in this
position until the needle has passed through both edges of the fabric to be sewn
when it is returned in line with the stationary guide plate allowing the fabric to
follow and rest against the same. It will be seen that by this construction of the
tongue any overlapping of the edges of the fabric will be brought even by the
forward movement of the tongue and gauge for the projecting edge is first met by
the gauge which is carried forward until the other edge is met, when both are
carried into proper position relatively to the needle where they are held until the
same bas passed through; the said construction also allows a seam to be formed
much nearer to the edge of the fabric than can be done with the ordinary guide-
plate of a travelling sewing machine.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood

page_text: that I am aware that a travelling sewing machine has been supported by, and
moved upon, the edge of the fabric to be sewed and I therefore do not claim such
construction, but I claim
First. The combination, with a sewing machine constructed with a main frame,
a bracket and fly wheel, needles and mechanism for operating the same, and a
wheel to which step by step movement is imparted by mechanism substantially as
described, of a supporting cable or rope upon which the said wheel bears so that
the machine is moved bodily upon the said cable or rope, substantially as
described.
Second. The combination, with the main frame A, of the main driving-wheel
and intermediate gear-wheels, the shaft E and the feed-wheel with its impelling
mechanism, the cam F, the pitmans H and G and their connections for carrying
the upper and lower needles, substantially as described, and for the purpose
specified.
Third. The combination, with the pitman G, of the bell-crank-lever R, the
needle S, and the guide-block or projection U, substantially as described, and for
the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination, with. the plate L arranged as above described in
relation to the needles, of the presser-foot m, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the guide-wheels P and feed-wheel Q, with the
cable O, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The cam D, the lever B and the tongue C2, arranged and operated sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Seventh. The gauge C³ for the purpose of bringing the edges of the carpet even
at the point where the stitch is to be made and regulating the depth of seam,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the stationary guide-plate, the gauge C³, and the
upper needle, with the presser-foot and needle-plate, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.