IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Singleton, of Darwen, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES.”
Sealed the 8th October 1878, and dated the 10th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Singleton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1878.
THOMAS SINGLETON, of Darwen, in the County of Lancaster.
IN SEWING MACHINES."
This Invention relates,-
"IMPROVEMENTS
Firstly. To improvements in apparatus employed for winding the thread upon
the spool.
Secondly. To shuttle tension devises.
Thirdly. To a reel protector with revolving spindle.
Fourthly. To loose wheel devises.
A winder according to this my Invention is so constructed that when the spool
full of thread depresses the plate and spindle, a pin attached to the spindle passes
down a vertical and oblique slot; when the pin reaches the entrance to the oblique
slot, the driving wheel moves the winder outwards or upon its support, locking the
pin in the oblique groove, so holding down and further clearing the plate from the
full spool, the winding plate being replaced by means of a spiral spring. An
adjustable arrangement is attached by which the friction rubber on winding pulley
is held to its position as it diminishes by friction.
Another arrangement is, that when the full spool depreses the presser plate,
the latter operates a lever attached to the winder which is liberated from a
notch or catch on an inclined plane, and the winding pulley by gravitation
or velocity swings clear of the driving wheel of the machine, the winding
plate being returned by a spring. The inclined plane can be formed with dead catch
or by spindle tube and spring comprises a lever one end depressed by a spindle
when the spool is full the other end of the lever is raised out of a holding recess,
and the spool and its pulley are free to swing clear of the driving wheel; further

page_text: movement of the lever dlong the incline deprèses the opposite end of the lever, and
permits the winding plate to to fall below the spool, so that there is room afforded
for removal of the latter.
For winding upon circular or disc spools, I mount upon the spool spindle a cam
boss, one part of which is loose or free to turn upon its spindle; the thread
from the tension devise bears upon one arm of a catch lever or tumbler; as
the spool fills, it gradually depresses the other end of the lever or tumbler until
the latter enters a notch on the loose boss whercon the latter is held, and so
receives a sliding motion on the spindle of the winder, the spool being thus
self-actingly forced off its spindle when full.
For cutting the thread of the above when the reel is full, I work a lever
from the cam of its own spindle, that actuates a circular or straight knife or blade
which cuts the thread when it reaches a certain point; this arrangement is applicable
for the machine to be in operation a stationary when winding.
In order to run or drive the spool winding parts without operating the other or
main parts of the machine, I employ a central spindle passed through the shaft of
the balance wheel and pulley; the end of the spindle is provided with a holding or
clip piece, so that on the latter being brought in contact with the pulley, the machine
is in operation when the holding piece is clear of the pulley, the winding parts only
are at work,
Another arrangement comprises the use of a sliding boss (on the crank shaft)
having engaging pins which enter recesses in the spool winding pulley or the wheel
of the machine, as the case may be. In some cases a special wheel may be applied
to the crank shaft for winding, so that when the holding boss is in contact with the
driving pulley, the driving band for spool winder inay remain over or upon its pulley
without giving rotation thereto.
Another arrangement, on the catch or clutch I arrange a long boss with a key
upon it, so that the loose wheel will run on the same, either in or out of gear acted
upon as above.
In connection with spool winding is a revolving spindle with flange and pin
attached to the tail end of winder to protect the ends of spools from worn and
destroyed whilst in motion, that is to say, both ends of the spool holder involve
during the winding of thread upon the spool,
In another arrangement the above spindle is made to revolve within the spring
holder to prevent the spring from revolving, and is fit up with pin and face plate
as above; the flange of reel is made applicable to meet the above arrangement.
In another arrangement I attach a double-acting spring, one end to grasp an
upright spindle or thread guide, the other end to hold or carry the tension disc to be
acted upon by screw.
The shuttle tension devise is designed to secure the required tension without the
labour of threading through holes, and comprises a spring forming one or both
sides of the lid or cover of the fine which binds the thread against the inside of
the shuttle, the spring side being loose at one end, and adjusted by screw or an
independent spring attached to the lid, also adjusted by screw; the shuttle, as above
described, being specially adapted for cop wound thred, but also applicable for
spool or bobbins.
Another construction comprises a U shaped spring forming interior lining for the
shuttle and an adjusting screw, the thread being passed between the inside of the
shuttle and the spring lining, and so gives the teusion; a recessed portion of the
spring affords passage of the thread from the spool or reel.

page_text: the spool.
Secondly. To shuttle tension devices.
Thirdly. To a reel protector with revolving spindles.
Fourthly. To loose wheel devices.
A winder according to this my Invention is so constructe 1 that when the spool is
full of thread, the thread depresses the plate and spindle, a pin attached to the spindle
passes down a vertical and oblique slot; when the pin reaches the entrance to the
oblique slot, the driving wheel moves the winder outwards or upon its support
locking the pin in the oblique groove, so holding down and further clearing the
of
plate from the full spool, the winding plate being replaced by means
a spiral spring. An adjustable arrangement is attached, by which the friction
rubber or winding pulley is held to its position as it diminishes by friction.
Another arrangement is, that when the full spool depresses the presser plate, the
latter operates a lever attached to the winder which is liberated from a notch or
catch on an inclined plane, and the winding pulley by gravitation or velocity swings
clear of the driving wheel of the machine, the winding plate being returned by a
spring. The inclined plane can be formed with dead catch or by spindle tube or
spring.
Another arrangement comprises a lever, one end depressed by a spindle when the
spool is full, the other end of the lever is raised out of a holding recess, and the
spool and its pulley are free to swing clear of the driving wheel, further movement
of the lever along the incline depresses the opposite end of the lever, and permits
the winding plate to fall below the spool, so that there is room afforded for removal
of the latter.
For winding upon circular or disc spools, I mount upon the spool spindle a cam
boss, one part of which is loose or free to turn upon its spindle, the thread from the
tension device bears upon one arm of a catch lever or tumbler; as the spool fills, it
gradually depresses the other end of the lever or tumbler until the latter enters a
notch on the loose boss whereon the latter is held, and so receives a sliding motion
on the spindle of the winder, the spool being thus self-actingly forced off its spindle
when full.
For cutting the thread of the above when the reel is full, I work a lever
from the cam of its own spindle that actuates a circular or straight knife or blade
which cuts the thread when it reaches a certain point.
In order to run or drive the spool winding parts without operating the other or
main parts of the machine, I employ a central spindle passed through the shaft of
the balance wheel and pully, the end of the spindle is provided with a holding or
clip piece, so that on the latter being brought in contact with the pully, the machine
is in operation when the holding piece is clear of the pulley, the winding parts
only are at work.
Another arrangement comprises the use of a sliding boss (on the crank shaft)
having engaging pins which enter recesses in the spool winding pulley or the wheel
of the machine, as the case may be; in some cases a special wheel may be applied
to the crank shaft for winding, so that when the holding boss is in contact with the
driving pulley, the driving band for spool winder may remain over or upon its pulley
without giving rotation thereto.
In connection with spool winding is a revolving spindle with flange and pin
attached to the tail end of winder to protect the ends of spools from being worn and

page_text: destroyed whilst in motion, that is to say, both ends of the spool holder revolve
during the winding of thread upon the spool.
In another arrangement the above spindle is made to revolve within the spring
holder to prevent the spring from revolving, and is fit up with pin and face plate as
above; the flange of reol is made applicable to meet the above arrangement..
In another arrangement I attach a double-acting spring, one end to grasp an
upright spindle or thread guide, the other end to hold or carry the tension discs to
be acted upon by screw.
The shuttle tension device is designed to secure the required tension without the
labour of threading through holes, and comprises a spring forming one or both sides
of the lid or cover of the shuttle, which binds the thread against the inside of
the shuttle, the spring side being loose at one end, and adjusted by screw or
an independent spring attached to the lid, also adjusted by screw. The shuttle
as above described being specially adapted for cop wound thread, but also ap-
plicable for spools or bobbins.
Another construction comprises a U shaped spring forming interior lining for the
shuttle, and an adjusting screw, the thread being passed between the inside of the
shuttle and the spring lining, and so gives the tension; a recessed portion of the
spring affords passage of the thread from the spool or recl.
Such being the nature of this my said Invention, the particulars thereof will be a
fully understood on reference to the accompanying Drawings, aided by the letters of
reference, and the description thereof.
A winder according to this my Invention is so constructed, see Sheets 1 and 2,
that when the spool 1 is full of thread, the latter depresses the plate 2 and spindle 3,
a pin 4 attached to the spindle 3 passes down a vertical and oblique slot 5;
when the pin reaches the entrance to the oblique slot 5, the driving wheel 6
moves the winder 7 outwards or upon its support 8, blocking the pin in the
oblique groove, so holding down and further clearing the plate 2 from the full
spool, the winding plate being again raised or replaced by means of a spiral
spring. An adjustable arrangement 9 is attached by which the friction rubber
10 on winding pulley 7 is held in relative position as it diminishes or becomes
worn by friction.
Another arrangement, see Figs. 4 and 5, is that when the full spool I depresses
the presser plate 2, the latter operates a lever 3 attached to the winder 4ª,
which is liberated from a notch or catch 5 on an inclined plane 6, and the winding a
pulley 7 by gravitation or velocity swings clear of the driving wheel 8 of the
machine, the winding plate being returned by a spring 9. The inclined plane can
be formed with dead catch or by spindle tube and spring.
Another arrangement, see Figs. 6 and 7, comprises a lever 1, one end depressed
by a spindle 2 when the spool 3 is full, the other end of the lever 1 is raised out of 4
a holding recess 4, and the spool 3 and its pully 5 are free to swing clear of the
driving wheel 6, further movement of the lever 1 along the incline 7 depresses the
opposite end 8 of the lever 1, and permits the winding plate 10 to fall below the
spool 3, so that there is room afforded for removal of the Intter.
For winding upon circular or disc spools 1, see Figs. 8 and 9, I mount upon the 4
spool spindle 2 a cam boss 3, one part 4 of which is loose or free to turn upon its
spindle 2, the thread from the tension device bears upon one arm of a catch lever
or tumbler 6. As the spool fills it gradually depresses the other end of the lever
or tumbler G, until the latter enters a notch 7 on the loose boss 4, or acts upon a
projection instead of the recess whereon the loose boss is held, and so receives a 5
sliding motion on the spindle 5 of the winder, the spool 1 being thus self-actingly
forced off its spindle when full.
For cutting the thread whon the reel is full, see Figs. 10 and 11, I operate
a lever or spring 1 from the cam 2 of its own spindle 3 which actuates a circu-
lar, straight, or hooked knife or blade 4 which cuts the thread when it reaches a 5
certain point, that to say, when a given quantity has been wound upon the
spool; 5 is the knife guide.

page_text: In order to run or drive the spool winding parts without operating the other or
main parts of the machine, see Figs. 12 and 13, I employ a central spindle 1 passed
through the shaft 2 of the balance wheel and pulley 3; the end of the spindle 1 is
provided with a holding or clip piece 4, so that on the latter being brought in contact
with the pulley 3 the machine is in operation, but when the holding piece 4 is clear
of the pulley, the winding parts only are at work.
Another arrangement, see Fig. 14, comprises the use of a sliding boss 1 (on the
crank shaft) having engaging pins which enter recesses 3 in the spool winding
pulley 4, or in the wheel of the machine, as the case inay be. In some cases a
special wheel may be applied to the crank shaft for winding, so that when the
holding boss 1 is in contact with the driving pulley, the driving band for spool
winder may remain over or upon its pulley without giving rotation thereto.
In connection with. spool winding is a revolving spindle 18, see Figs. 1, 2, 3,
with flange 12 and pin 13 attached to the tail end of winder to protect the ends of
spools from being worn and destroyed whilst in motion, that is to say, both ends of
the spool holder revolve during the winding of thread upon the spool.
In another arrangement, see Fig. 5, the spindle 18 is made to revolve within the
spring holder 19 to prevent the spring froin revolving, and is fit up with pin 13 and
face plate 12, as above; the flange of reel is made applicable to meet the above
arrangement.
In another arrangement, see Figs. 1, 2, 3, I attach a double-acting spring 14, one
end to grasp an upright spindle 15 or thread guide, the other end to hold or carry
the tension disc 16 to be acted upon by screw 17.
The shuttle tension device, see Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, is designed to secure the
required tension without the labour of threading through holes, and comprises a
spring 14 forming one or both sides of the lid or cover 15 of the shuttle, which lid
or cover binds the thread against the inside of the shuttle, the spring side being
loose at one end, and adjusted by screw 16 or an independent spring attached to
the lid, also adjusted by screw; the shuttle, as above described, being specially
adapted for cop wound thread, but also applicable for spool or bobbins.
Another construction comprises a U shaped spring 17 forming interior lining for
the shuttle, and an adjusting screw 16, the thread being passed between the inside
of the shuttle and the spring lining, and so gives the tension; a recessed portion of
the spring affords passage of the thread from the spool or reel.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as my Invention
is,
Firstly. The use in combination of the pin 4 and alot 5, acting as and for
the purpose described, and as illustrated.
Secondly. The use in combination of the lever 3 and incline 6, acting in the
manner and for the purpose described, and as illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5, and lever 1
and incline 7, Figs. 6 and 7.
Thirdly. The use in combination of the parts 4 and 6 (Figs. 8 and 9), for the
purpose described, and as illustrated.
Fourthly. The use in combination of knife 1, cam 2, and guide 5, as and for
the purpose described.
Fifthly. The combination and arrangement of parts, as illustrated by Fig. 12,
acting as and for purposes described.
Sixthly. The uso of the sliding boss 1 in combination with the wheels or pulleys
4 and 5, as illustrated by Fig. 14.
Seventhly. The use of the revolving spindle 18, actuated by flange and pin of
the spool 1, Figs. 1 and 3, or revolving within the spring holder, as shewn at Fig. 5,
for purpose described.
Eighthly. The combination of double-acting spring 14 and tension discs 16, as
and for purpose described.

page_text: Lastly. The peculiar spring 14 and 17. in combination with adjusting screw
16, for purpose described, and as illustrated by Figs. 16, 17, 18, 19.
In witness whereof, the said Thomas Singleton hath hereunto set his hand
and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
THOS. SINGLETON. (L.S.)