IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Davies, of Kennington Oval, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Davies at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1876.
THOMAS DAVIES, of Kennington Oval, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SEWING MACHINES."
Hitherto it has been customary to make a lock-stitch by means of a shuttle or
bobbin, whereby much time is lost. Now to obviate this I make an ordinary
sewing machine cotton act as the shuttle.
For this purpose I proceed as follows:-Beneath the needle plate I place a hollow
cylinder, open at each end, of suitable diameter and length; such cylinder is held
in a horizontal position by means of a metal upright in which is a socket. The
cylinder is provided with a groove, which works in the socket formed in the metal
upright as before mentioned. On the front edge of such hollow cylinder I form a
sinall hook, and around the outer circumference of the other end of such hollow
cylinder I fix a cog wheel, which gears into another wheel placed above it in the
ordinary manner in order to impart rotary motion to the cylinder. Through the
centre of the cylinder I pass a round metal rod about twice the length of the
cylinder itself, and so arranged as to come flush with the front of such cylinder.
Such rod is held in position by means of an upright metal stay which is fixed to
the standard of the machine, and to the upper end of which the metal rod is
fastened in any suitable manner.
Just beneath the needle plate to the front of the machine I attach a movable
upright, which works on a screw at the bottom, and is kept in an upright position
by means of a suitable catch or spring, and being provided at the top with a knob
or handle in order to pull the standard forward when necessary, as hereafter
described. To such standard I fix a short horizontal bar, which is placed parallel
with the before-mentioned rod through the cylinder, and is so arranged that it does
not quite touch the same. Over this horizontal bar I place a tube of a suitable size
and diameter to slip easily over the same. At both ends of such tube I fix a small
metal disc, the front one being movable and the rear one being a fixture. Each of
such discs has a hole or orifice in its centre to permit of its being slipped over the
[Price 6.]

page_text: tube on the horizontal bar. On the top and bottom rim of the hindermost of such
discs I fix two or more thin narrow inetal plates, one end of each of such plates
resting loosely on the rim of the front or foreinost disc.
When going to work the machine I draw off the front disc and slip the reel of
cotton over the metal tube, after which I replace the disc and keep it fast by means
of a nut or any other suitable device. I then draw down the standard by means
of the knob or handle before mentioned, and I then slip on the reel car carrying
the cotton on the horizontal bar attached to such standard, and replace the standard
in its upright position.
At the base of the machine I place a horizontal bar running its entire length,
which passes through two metal standards, and to which a to-and-fro motion is
imparted by a cam in the ordinary manner. At the front end of such horizontal
bar I place an upright arm (preferably of a crank shape), and about midway I fix
another arm having a horizontal bar attached thereto at the top, which also passes
through the centre of the cylinder just below the horizontal bar. By the to-and-fro
notion which is imparted to the horizontal bar at the base of the machine the reel
car is thrown to and fro in and out of the cylinder, and the needle descending in
front of the cylinder in the ordinary manner the hook on the front of the cylinder
takes the cotton of the needle, and when it is wound round the cylinder the recl
car is sent through the cylinder and the loop of the cotton. At the same time the
cotton on the hook escapes and takes up tlie cotton of the reel, thereby making a
lock-stitch, and the reel car being pushed back in its normal position by means of
the metal arm before described the operation is repeated ad infinitum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th November
1876.
THOMAS DAVIES, of Kennington Oval, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SEWING MACHINES."
Hitherto it has been customary to make a lock-stitch by means of a shuttle or
bobbin, whereby much time is lost. Now to obviate this I make an ordinary
sewing machine cotton act as the shuttle.
For this purpose I proceed as follows:-Beneath the needle plate I place a hollow
cylinder a open at each end, of suitable diameter and length; such cylinder is held
in a horizontal position by means of a metal upright in which is a socket. The
cylinder is provided with a groove b, which works in the socket formed in the
metal upright as before mentioned. On the front edge of such hollow cylinder I
form a small hook c, and around the outer circumference of the other end of such
hollow cylinder I fix a cog wheel d, which gears into another wheel placed in any
suitable position in the ordinary manner in order to impart rotary motion to the
cylinder. Through the centre of the cylinder I pass a round metal rod c about
twice the length of the cylinder itself, and so arranged as to come flush with the
front of such cylinder. Such rod is held in position in any suitable manner.
Just beneath the needle plate to the front of the machine I attach a moveable
upright which works on a screw or hinge g at the bottom, and is kept in an
upright position by means of a suitable catch or spring, and being provided at the
top with a knob or handle gl in order to pull the standard forward when necessary,
as hereafter described. To such standard I fix a short horizontal bar h, which is
placed parallel with the before-mentioned rod c through the cylinder, and is so
arranged that it does not quite touch the same. Over this horizontal bar I place
tube of a suitable size and diameter to slip easily over the same. At both ends of
such tube I fix a small metal disc, Figure 3, the front one being moveable and the
rear one being a fixture, Figure 4. Each of such discs has a hole or orifice in its
centre, Figure 5, to permit of it being slipped over the tube on the horizontal bar h.

page_text: On the top and bottom rim of the hindermost of such discs I fix ono or two thin
narrow metal plates, Figure 6, having holes through which the thread is drawn
and tension made, the other end of each of such plates resting loosely on the rim of
the front or foremost disc.
When going to work the machine I draw off the front disc and slip the reel of
cotton over the metal tube, Fig. 4, after which I replace the disc and keep it fast
by means of a nut or any other suitable device. I then draw down the standard
by means of the knob or handle before mentioned, and I then slip on the reel car
carrying the cotton on the horizontal bar attached to such standard, and replace the
standard in its upright position.
k
At the base of the machine I place a horizontal bar i running its entire length,
which passes through two metal standards, and to which a to-and-fro motion is
imparted by a cam in the ordinary manner. At the front end of such horizontal
bar I place an upright arinj (preferably of a crank shape), and about midway I fix
another arm & having a horizontal bar attached thereto at the top, which also passes
through the centre of the cylinder just below the horizontal bar e. By the to-and-
fro motion which is imparted to the horizontal bar at the base of the machine the
reel car is thrown to and fro in and out of the cylinder, and the needle descending
in front of the cylinder in the ordinary manner, the hook on the front of tho
cylinder takes the cotton of the needle, and when it is wound round the cylinder
the reel car is sent through the cylinder and the loop of the cotton. At the same
time the cotton on the hook escapes and takes up the cotton of the reel, thereby
making a lock-stitch, and the reel car being pushed back in its normal position by
means of the metal arın before described the operation is repeated ad infinitum.
Having now described the nature and object of my Invention for improvements
in sewing machines, together with the manner in which the same is to be or may
be performed or carried into practical effect, 1 would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the identical arrangements of apparatus as shewn in the
Drawings, as the same is capable of various modifications, but what I claim as my
Invention and secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is, the reel car, cylinder
hook, the two horizontal bars c and h, and in the manner the same are worked to
form a lock-stitch with an ordinary reel of cotton, whereby doing away with the
usual shuttle or bobbin to form the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Davies, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
THOS. DAVIES. (L.S.)