Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Sewing Books.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Sewing Books.
I, ALFRED GERLACH, of 33, Moor Lane, in the City of London, Engineer and
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Friedrich Rehwoldt, of Leipzig-Plagwitz,
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines or apparatus for sewing books wherein the
sewing is effected by means of hookers and needles. Such a machine for example
is described in the Specification of my Application for Letters Patent No. 22955
dated 6th October 1897.
According to the present invention the machine effects the sewing of the sections
by means of one hooker and two needles, one on either side of the said hooker,
loopers being so arranged and operated in combination therewith that they form
loops from the thread passed through the sections by the needles, one of which
loops is drawn by the hooker through the other loop to the back of the section
where it is held by the hooker until a loop formed in the next section has been
drawn through it and so on with each succeeding section thus forming a stitching
wherein there is a continuous chain of thread at the back of the sections and
inside each signature one loop is passed around the other loop which is drawn
through to the back of the section as aforesaid.
The parts of the machine by which the hooker, the needles and the loopers
are operated are arranged and turned so that after each section has been placed
in position the needles carrying the threads pierce the section and then by a
slight backward movement form loops, then one looper carries forward one loop
of thread to beneath the hooker and then the hooker passes through the section
and through the said loop. The other looper draws the loop formed by the other
needle past the hooker so that as the said hooker rises it catches this second
loop and turns half a turn and draws the said loop through the first loop, through
the section, and through the thread of the previous stitch, which still encircles
the hooker. The needles and loopers return to their original positions and the
needles move sideways carrying the threads over to the other side of the tapes
upon which the book is being sewn and the next section of the book is put in
place, and the actions described are repeated and so on until the sewing of the
book is completed, the stitches on either side being of course alternately longer
and shorter owing to the sideway shifting of the needles the object of which
is to pass the thread from side to side of the tapes and so secure them to the
back of the book. If tapes be not used the sideway movement of the needles is
not necessary. If a large size book is to be sewn there may be two or more sets
of the devices described (each comprising two needles and loopers and a. hooker)
arranged side by side in the same machine.
Hated this 18th dow of Ianuary 1898
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
i
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Sewing Books.
I, ALFRED GERLACH, of 33, Moor Lane, in the City of London, Engineer and
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Friedrich Rehwoldt, of Leipzig, Plagwitz,
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer) and. in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
.131
L
This invention relates to machines or apparatus for sewing books wherein "the
sewing is effected by means of hookers and needles. Such a machine for example
is described in the Specification of my Application for Letters Patent No. 22955
dated 6th October 1897.
According to the present invention the machine effects the sewing of the sections or
signatures by means of one hooker and two needles, one needle on either side of the
said hooker, loopers being so arranged and operated in-combination therewith that
they form loops from the thread passed through the signatures by the needles, one of
which loops is drawn by the hooker through the other loop to the back of the
signature where it is held by the hooker until a loop formed in the next signature
has been drawn through it and so on with each succeeding signature thus forming
à stitching wherein there is a continuous chain of thread at the back of the signatures
and inside each signature one loop is passed around the other loop which is drawn
through to the back of the section as aforesaid.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my improved machine.
Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of opposite ends of the machine, certain parts
being omitted from Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a vertical section and Figure 5 a front elevation shewing the
mechanism for lowering and raising the hooker and needles.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the bar for guiding the needles and hook,
and a tape-guide thereon.
Figure 7 is a plan of the tape-guide.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively a vertical section and a plan shewing a series
of books sewn according to this invention.
Figures 10 to 28 inclusive are views shewing the various stages. in the pro-
duction of the sewing represented in Figure 9, by the machine shewn in Figures 1
to 5 inclusive and
Figures 29 to 41 inclusive are views shewing the various stages in the pro-
duction of similar sewing by a modified construction of the machine.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of
the drawings, the various devices which in these drawings, are similar to devices
described in the aforesaid Specification No. 22955 of 1897 are marked with refer-
ence letters corresponding with those used in the said specification for the said
devices.
.
--
In a machine constructed as shewn in the drawings the main framing com-
prises two vertical frames or standards A A² rigidly connected together by a
bridge rail A3, and also, if desired, by suitable tie-rods or their equivalent and
supporting a table A whereon the work to be sewn may be placed.
In the standards A A2 are provided bearings for supporting a main shaft B,
on which are secured two cam discs B5 B36 each of which is provided with two
cam grooves b 62 one shewn in dotted lines in each of the Figures 2 and 4, and cam
prejections hereinafter described. The cams or cam grooves 6 engage with anti-

page_text: friction rollers c mounted on levers e¹ pivotted on a bar the forward ends of.
these levers c are pivotted to arms 3 rigidly connected each to one end of a
bar or rail C, which, at these ends, engages with inclined guides A¹ secured to
the standards A A².
The bar or rail C which is hereinafter termed the "saddle-bar," is that on
which the signatures are placed during the sewing operation, and by means of the
before mentioned arms ³, levers cand cam grooves b this saddle bar, at the
proper times, is moved downwards and forwards, as indicated by the dotted lines
in Figure 2, to enable the unsewn signatures to be placed on it, and upwards
and backwards to bring the signatures into the position wherein they are sewn
as shewn in full lines in Figures 1 and 2.
At or near their upper parts the standards, A A2 incline from back to front
as shewn in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and on these parts, in suitable guides, is mounted
a frame or channelled-bar D Figures 1 and 4, connected by links d and levers d²
with the before mentioned cams or cam grooves 62 which engage with anti-friction
rollers pivotted on the rearward ends of the levers d², as shewn in Figures 4 and 5;
by this arrangement the frame D is caused at the proper times to descend and
ascend as hereinafter more particularly described. The frame D is provided with
suitable guides for accommodating a bar E which, while participating in all
upward and downward movement of the frame I) is also capable of being moved
in a horizontal direction independently of the said frame. This horizontal move-
ment is imparted to it through a lever E² Figure 2 pivotted by a pin or fulcrum e,
to lugs a on the standard A, from a cam E³ mounted on a stud a rigidly secured
to the standard A. The cam E3 is geared with the main shaft B by spur
wheels ee the relative diameters of which are such as to cause the cam E3 to
rotate at the desired speed in relation to the main shaft B. The connection
between the bar E and the lever E is such as to admit of it remaining undisturbed
throughout the descent and ascent of the bar in which movements the lever E³
does not participate; for this purpose the forward end of the lever E2 may be
forked and engage with a rib or projection extending backwardly from the adjacent
end of the bar E; or the reverse of this last described arrangement may be
employed. To enable the throw or longitudinal travel of the bar E to be varied
for a purpose hereinafter described the lever E2 and lugs a are provided with two
or more holes e to admit of the pin or fulcrum e being inserted in either of them
according to the particular result to be obtained.
"
To the front of the bar E are secured one or more pairs of similar brackets F
hereinafter termed "needle carriers which are arranged so that they may be
moved to, and secured in any desired position on the bar E. Between each pair of
needle carriers F is a hook carrier G which is adjustably secured on a frame or bar I)
which, like the frame D is arranged so that it may move up and down in suitable
guides at the upper part of the standards A. A2, this motion being derived from
grooved cams E secured on the shaft B, and transmitted to the frame or bar D¹
by means of anti-friction rollers engaging with the cams E, rods d carrying
the rollers d³, levers de pivotted to the upper ends of the rods d, and links d
connecting the bar D' with the levers d; the lower ends of the rods are slotted
as shewn in Figure 4 so as to allow the main shaft B to pass through them and
thereby serve to guide them at these parts. In the lower ends of the needle
carriers F are secured sewing needles f f and from their upper ends extend
arms fa pivotted to the rearward ends of levers f* (only a portion of one of which
is shewn in Figure 2) provided with a number of holes f5 through either of
which the thread is passed according to the degree of tension desired to be put
upon the said thread all as fully described in the aforesaid Specification No. 22955
cf 1897.
Within the before mentioned hook carrier or bearing G is journalled a vertical
spindle g in the lower end of which is secured a hook 2 of substantially the
shape shewn in Figures 17, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 26, and on the upper end of which
is secured a spur wheel g³ which gears with a rack adapted to slide in the direc-

page_text: tion of its length in the before described rising and falling frame or bar D'. The
longitudinal motion of the rack g is derived from the before mentioned cam
projections 636 Figures 1 and 4 which respectively operate on anti-friction
rollers g g the cam projection 63 and the roller g5 on which it operates being
situated in a plane differing from that in which are situated the other cam pro-
jection and roller go as most clearly shewn in Figure 1. The rollers g5 g are
mounted on a lever G2 pivotted to the standard A2, and connected by a link g'
to the arm 8 of a bell-crank lever 98 99 the other arm g³ of which is slotted or
forked to engage with a block or anti-friction roller glo pivotted to the rack_g';
the lever arm is slotted or forked to allow of the descent and ascent of the block
or roller go when the frame or bar D¹ is lowered and raised, in which motion
the bell-crank lever g8, g, being pivotted to the standard A³, does not partici-
pate. The cam projections 63 and the levers G2 and 98, 99 are of such shape
and size as, when operated, to cause the spindle g and hook ga to be turned through
an angle of 180° first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, one of
the cam projections serving to turn the front of the hook g² towards the back of
the machine and the other to turn it back so as again to face towards the front
of the machine. -
On the before mentioned bridge rail A³ are secured the thread gripping and
releasing devices H constructed and operating as described in the aforesaid
Specification No. 22955 of 1897.
In suitable guides L secured to the front face of the before described saddle
bar C are mounted two generally cylindrical rods L2 L³ which are capable of
being moved longitudinally in these guides. On each of the rods L³ L³ is secured
a hooked looper 2 or 3 respectively, each facing in a direction opposite to that
in which the other faces. The hooked ends of the loopers 12 13 are adapted,
throughout the greater part of their stroke, to travel close in front of the saddle-
bar Cin the front face of which are formed a number of vertical grooves cand
a horizontal groove c, the former for receiving the needles f f and hook y²
after the said needles and hook have pierced the signature and the latter for
allowing the thread-loops to be moved rearwards so as to alternately allow the
hook to pass through one of the said loops and hold another loop close against
the front of the then-depressed hook g² and thereby ensure that when the hook
is next raised it shall engage with the second thread-loop and draw it through
the first one. For effecting this rearward movement of the thread-loops the
rods L2 L3 are provided with projections or studs adapted to travel in cam-slots !6
each formed in one of the before described bearings L. These cam-slots 16 are
so shaped that at the proper part of the longitudinal movement of each of the
rods L2 L and corresponding movement of the looper or 13 appertaining thereto
(which looper at that juncture has engaged the thread-loop) the said rod is
slightly-turned on its axis so as to press the thread-loop rearwards into the paths,
or against the front, of the then-depressed hook g².
The two rods L³ L³ are reciprocated in a longitudinal direction by means of
cams L L respectively, secured on the main shaft B, and levers 7 and 18 each
pivotted as shewn in Figure 3 by a separate fulcrum pin 19 (only one of which is
represented) to lugs a on the standard A2. The levers 1718, at their rearward
ends, are provided each with an anti-friction roller entering the groove of the
cam L or L at the upper side of the latter, and, at their forward ends the said
levers are provided with forks 10 for engaging with a pin or projection on.
the rod L² or L³, the arms of the forks 10 being splayed to admit of the pins or
projections readily entering them during the upward and rearward movement
of the saddle bar C it being here explained that when the said saddle bar is
moved downwards and forwards for receiving a fresh or unsewn signature, the
pins or projections 11 leave the forks 10, and that during this disengagement
neither the rods L2 L³ nor the levers 718 receive any motion which disturbs the
alignment of the pins or projections with the forks 710.
The levers and 18, and the lugs at (Figure 3) in or to which they are pivotted,

page_text: as described in the before mentioned Specification No. 22955 of 1897 are pro-
vided with a number of holes, to admit of the position of the respective fulcrum
pins being adjusted to suit the motion to be imparted to the loopers 12 13 the
amplitude of this motion depending upon the distances from the hook 2 at which
the needles ff are adjusted to work.
Before the needles ff and hook g², during their descent, reach the signatures,
they pass through the perforations or slots m of a bar M Figures 6 and 8 secured
to fixed brackets A5, Figures 1 and 2 which bar thereby serves to prevent bending
of the said needles and hook when they are piercing the signatures.
The before described machine may be used for sewing either with tapes 0 as
shewn in Figures 2, 6, 8 and 9 or without such tapes. When sewing without
tapes the lever E2 Figure 2, is either rendered inoperative say for example by
withdrawing the fulcrum pin e from it and the lugs a, or entirely detached
from the machine, or any other convenient means may be employed for the
purpose. When sewing with tapes these latter are wound on spools or reels 02
whence they lead to a series of rods o over or between which they are passed
first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, more or less drag or tension
being applied to the tapes by passing the latter a greater or smaller number of
times between the rods o. From the rods o the tapes O pass beneath the bar M
whereon are mounted adjustable guides o² which serve to prevent the tapes from
moving edgewise, the ends of the tapes being secured by spring clips o³ Figure 8
or other suitable devices to a wooden bar of supported at its ends on rails 05
Figure 2 along which the bar of travels as the signatures are pressed backwards
by a bar 10 as described in the before mentioned Specification No. 22955 of 1897.
To prevent the thread from slitting the paper when sewing with tapes and during
the tightening of the stitches, I provide the tape guides o² with tongues of adapted
to extend beneath that part of the said tapes at which the stitches are at the
time, being formed, the stitches passing through the slots or recesses o' of the
said tongue as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 9 so that the strain upon the
thread will draw it against the edges of the tongue instead of against the paper.
The tongues of are suitably tapered to admit of the stitches readily slipping off
them; although I have shown the tongues of applied only to the needles I may
if desired also apply a similar one to each of the hooks g².
The operation of sewing without tapes may be described as follows;
For facilitating the understanding of this operation I have in Figures 9 to 28
represented the thread n appertaining to the needle f in dot-and-dash lines and
the thread n appertaining to the needle f2 in full lines.
At starting the threads hang loosely a short length through the eyes of the
needles. The operator places one of the signatures P astride the saddle-bar C,
when the latter is in its lowered position. The saddle-bar then moves upwards
and brings the signature into proper position beneath the needles f f and hook ²,
which are then in their raised positions as shewn in Figure 10. Immediately
after this, the needles f f through the medium of the bar E, frame D, links d,
levers d², and cams 2 are caused to descend and penetrate the signature as shewn
in front and side elevation in Figures 11 and 12 respectively. The needles
slightly ascend after reaching their lowest position, so as to form loops in the
thread as shewn in Figure 12 and at this stage the cam L4 moves the looper 12,
towards the right, during which movement the said looper engages with the thread
loop of the needle f and carries it beneath the hook g², which at this time is turned
towards the front of the machine all as shewn in front elevation in Figure 13.
Near the termination of its rightward travel the looper 2, through the medium
of the rod L2 and the stud and cam 6 appertaining thereto, is tilted backwards
so as to move the thread loop n into the path of the hook g² as shewn in plan
in Figure 14, the said hook immediately thereafter. under the influence of the
cams being caused to descend and pass through the loop as shewn in Figure 15.
The looper, under the influence of the cam L is then caused to move towards
the left and engage the thread loop of the needle f as shewn in Figure 15 and

page_text: carry the said loop in front of the looper 12 and hook g² as shewn in Figures 15
and 16. Near the termination of its leftward travel the looper through the
medium of the rod L³ and the stud and cam 76 appertaining thereto, is tilted
backward so as to press the portion of thread n¹ forming the rear side of the loop
against the hook gas shewn in plan in Figure 18. The needles f f and hook g²
then commence to ascend the hook being thereby caused to engage with the loop n¹
as shewn in Figures 19 and 20 in respectively front and side elevation. During
this upward movement of the needles and hook, the cam projection 64, through
the lever G, link g, lever g8, g, rack g and pinion g³ causes the hook g² to
turn through 180° as shewn in Figures 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, the loopers 12 13
meanwhile moving towards their original positions and releasing the loops n
and n¹ respectively. As soon as the hook has drawn the loop, which is then
engaged with it, through the last previously formed loop or stitch the cam
projection 63 and the above named parts G2 9' g³, g³, g¹ and g³ cause the hook g²
to turn backwards through 180° so that it again faces towards the front of the
machine as shewn in side elevation in Figure 26, thus completing the stitch.
The saddle-bar then moves downward and forward, and after the next signature
has been placed astride it, it again moves upward and backward to bring this
unsewn signature beneath the needles f f and hook 2, and the sewing is again
effected in the manner before described.
By a modification (illustrated by Figures 29 to 41 inclusive,) of the before
described apparatus, I can produce sewing like that shewn in Figure 9. In
this modification the needles f f and hook g² unlike those in the previously
described arrangement have no independent vertical motion and are arranged
to descend and ascend simultaneously twice to each stroke of the loopers 13 13
which latter are also somewhat differently operated as will be well understood
from the following detailed description of the stitch-forming operation.
From, say the position shewn in Figure 29 the nedles f f and hook g² simul-
taneously descend and penetrate the signature P and then slightly ascend so as
to form loops in the needle threads n n' as shewn in Figures 30 and 31. The
loopers are then moved inwards so as to engage with the thread loops and
carry them towards the hook g² which, together with the needles f f2, are at
this time being slowly raised. The inward movement of the loopers 12 13 is
simultaneous and equal until they both engage the loops, after which, the
speed of the looper is decreased as indicated in Figure 32 and
which it
then the said looper is stopped in about the position in
is shewn in Figure 33 the looper 12 meanwhile continuing its move-
ment past the hook g² which, at that time, has been raised out of the
path of the said looper a as shewn in Figure. 34. After the looper 2 has passed
the hook g² and, through the medium of the before described rod L2 stud and
cam 76 appertaining thereto, been tilted backwards so as to move the thread loop n
into the path of the hook 2 as shewn in Figures 36 and 37, the said hook
(together with the needles f f³) is again caused to descend and thereby pass
through the loop as shewn in Figures 35 to 38. At this juncture the looper B
again commences to travel towards the left of the machine and carries its thread
loop past the front of the looper and hook g² as shewn in Figure 39 and when
past the said hook it is tilted backwards so as to press the portion of thread n¹
forming the rear side of the loop against the hook g² as shewn in plan in Figure 40).
The hook 2 and needles f f2 are then raised, the former engaging the loop of
the thread and drawing it through the loop of the thread n and being turned
180 degrees all substantially as indicated in Figure 22. After this, all the parts
return to their original positions ready for making the next stitch.
The operation of sewing with tapes after these latter have been attached to
the bar o as hereinbefore explained is carried out in a manner similar to the
sewing without tapes but at each successive signature the cam E³, lever E², and
bar E cause the needles f f² to move towards the right or left so that the two loops
in cach signature are of different lengths on opposite sides of the row of chain

page_text: stitches, the longer loops in adjacent signatures being formed on opposite sides
of the said stitches n³ as shewn clearly in Figure 9. The length of these loops
may be varied by changing the position of the fulcrum pin e in the lever E and
lugs a. The above described lateral displacement of the needles is indicated in
full and dotted lines in Figures 10, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 of which Figure 28
shews a view generally similar to Figure 16 but with the needles shifted as last
described.
For sewing books in the manner shewn in Figure 9, only two needles f f
and one hook g² are necessary as shewn in Figures 10 to 28 but if desired two or
more of such sets of needles and hooks may be employed as shewn for example
in Figure 1, these various sets being either used for sewing separate books or for
sewing different parts of one and the same body which may subsequently serve as
one book or be divided into a number of books.
The needles f f and hook g² and the various parts operating in conjunction
therewith or the various sets of such apparatus may be adjusted to any desired part
of the machine to suit the size of the books to be sewn.
I desire it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
of construction hereinbefore described, as various modifications may be made with-
out departing from the essential features of the invention and it is also to be under-
stood that I do not herein independently claim anything disclosed in the before
described Specification of Letters Patent No. 22955 of 1897.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A book sewing machine for producing outside, or at the back of, the book
a continuous row of chain-stitches and inside each signature two stitches or loops
extending respectively to the right and left of the row of chain stitches and passing
one through the other substantially as herein before described.
2. In a book sewing machine having two needles and a hook and two loopers
operating in conjunction therewith for forming a row of chain stitches at the
outside or back of the book, mechanism whereby two thread loops or stitches are
formed within each signature on relatively opposite sides of the chain stitches
and whereby one of the said thread loops or stitches is passed through the other and
through the back of the signature, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Datod this 18th day of October 1898
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.