Improvements in Machines for Stitching Books, Pamphlets, Papers, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
. PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Stitching Books, Pamphlets, Papers,
and the like.
We, MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON, of 16 Blue Boar Lane, Leicester,
Engineer, and PEARSON & BENNION LIMITED, also of 16 Blue Boar Lane
Leicester Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in machines for stitching books,
pamphlets, papers, and the like, and consists of improved means for controlling the
thread, for cutting the thread at the completion of each series of stitches, and for
tightening the last stitch of the series.
We shall describe these improvements as adapted to the machine referred to in
Beecrofts' Patent Specification No. 816, A.D. 1892, but they may be applied to
other machines used for similar purposes.
In order that the varying power required to draw the thread from the cop,
reel, ball &c., may not affect the uniformity of the sewing, we provide a device
consisting substantially of a moving thread eye situated between two stationary
thread eyes, which draws the thread from the source of supply at convenient
intervals, and a novel device for regulating the tension of the thread, formed by
two plates pressed together by an adjustable spring and arranged so that the
thread when placed between them may be drawn one way with the necessary
amount of tension, but if pulled the other way will cause the plates to press
firmly upon the thread, and thus prevent its being drawn back. We also provide
means for separating these two plates at the commencement of each series of
stitches to allow of the thread being drawn through them with less than the usual
amount of tension.
In addition to the moveable presser plate described in the previously mentioned
Specification, we employ a presser foot perforated at its lower extremity which
surrounds the needle as it penetrates the paper &c., and presses upon the loose
end of the thread thus preventing its being drawn through the paper &c.
The thread lever we use is raised by the needle lever, and is held up by a
friction device until it is drawn down by the thread, or by an adjustable projection
attached to the needle bar. Connected to the bar which supports the previously
mentioned presser foot we provide an adjustable pin, which, when the presser foot
is raised to allow of the work being moved, strikes the thread lever and raises it
somewhat higher than it was raised by the needle lever.
Under the sliding saddle and carried by a slide or an arm connected to a rocking
shaft we use a device comprising pincers or nippers for holding the thread, and
scissors or shears for cutting the same. After the thread is severed the act of
moving the work upon the sliding saddle withdraws the thread from the pincers
and in so doing tightens the last stitch.
Dated this 25th day of March 1895.
MARSHALL H. PEARSON.
FRANK E. WHEELER, Secretary,
For the Company.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Stitching Books, Pamphlets, Papers,
and the like.
We, MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON of 16, Blue Boar Lane, Leicester,
Engineer, and PEARSON & BENNION LTD., of 16, Blue Boar Lane, Leicester,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in machines for stitching books,
pamphlets, papers and the like, and consists of improved means for controlling the
thread, for cutting the thread at the completion of each series of stitches, and for
tightening the last stitch of the series.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1. is a side elevation (partly in section) of a stitching machine similar to
that described in Specification No. 5,816, A.D. 1892, but with our improvements
adapted thereto.
Fig. 2. is an elevation of part of the thread controlling device.
Figs. 3 & 4. are, respectively, elevation and plan of the tension device.
Figs. 5. 6 & 7. are views of the presser-foot.
Figs. 8 & 9. are, respectively, elevation and plan of the thread-lever &c.
Fig. 10. shows the presser bar, foot &c.
Figs. 11. 12 & 13. are three views of the mechanism for cutting the thread and
tightening the last stitch of a scries.
Figs. 1. 2 & 10. are drawn to a smaller scale than the remainder.
In order that the varying power required to draw the thread from the cop,
reel, ball or other source of supply, may not affect the uniformity of the sewing,
we provide a moving thread-eye A. and two stationary thread-eyes A' (Figs.
& 2), through each of which the thread is passed and thence through the tension
device (Figs. 1. 3 & 4), consisting of a fixed plate B. and a movable plate B₁
hinged to B. at B². The plate B is provided with a series of thread holes B³
and is pressed upon the plate B by the spring B4, except during the time it is
held up by the rod B' which is actuated by the lever B and cam B7.
At the commencement of each series of stitches, the plate B' is raised by the
rod B to allow the thread to pass freely to the loop-former, thus reducing the
liability of the end of the thread being drawn through the paper &c., as is
explained later, but before the completion of the first of a series of stitches, the
plate B is allowed to press upon the thread in order to give the necessary tension
which may be regulated by the nut & screw B³.
During the time that the thread is being drawn through the tension device, the
movable thread-eye A. is, approximately, in a straight line between the two
thread-eyes A' but while the thread in the tension device remains stationary, it
moves to the position shown in Fig. 2. and in so doing draws the thread from the
source of supply, as any tendency to draw the thread back through the tension
plates, is overcome by the thread pressing the plate B' hard down, and thus
locking the thread. The eye A. is then moved back to its original position,
thus causing the thread, situated between the tension and the source of thread
supply, to be slack.
In this manner the tension upon the thread, between the tension device and the
needle, is made uniform (except when the plate B' is raised) and is not varied by
any obstruction which may be caused by the cop, reel, ball &c.
The movable thread-eye is shown formed in one end of a lever A² which is
fulcrumed on centres A and actuated by an eccentric A* on shaft A', but may be
constructed and moved in any convenient manner.

page_text: In the machine as described in Specification No. 5,816, A.D. 1892, we find
that, when the loop former draws down the thread it frequently pulls the ends of
the thread through the paper, thus preventing the formation of a stitch.
To obviate this, we employ, in addition to the movable presser-plate mentioned
in the Specification referred to, a presser-foot C. (Figs. 5. 6. 7 & 10.) perforated
at its lower extremity as shown at C¹, which presses upon the thread near the end
and prevents it being drawn through the paper, as, owing to the tension-plate B¹
being raised at the time, it is easier for the loop-former to draw upon the thread
supply than to pull the end of the thread from under the presser-foot C.
In Figs. 1. 8 & 9. D. is the thread-lever which is provided with thread-eyes D¹
and is raised by the roller D2 attached to the needle-lever E. and, when raised,
is held up by the friction device D³ until it is drawn down by the thread or by an
adjustable projection attached to the needle-lever E.
D' are thread-eyes for guiding the thread and may be carried as shown or may
he attached to any convenient part of the machine.
Connected to the bar C2 Figs. 1. & 10. we may employ a projecting pin C³
which, when the presser-foot is raised to allow of the work being moved, strikes
the thread-lever and raises it somewhat higher than it was raised by the roller D³
the result being, that, the thread is drawn upwards through the needle-eye so as
to leave the smallest convenient amount of thread projecting through the needle,
thus effecting a saving in the amount of thread used and shortening the loose end
of thread at the commencement of each series of stitches.
Under the sliding saddle F. (Fig. 1), we use a device as shown in Figs. 11. 12
& 13. consisting of pincers or nippers formed by fingers G. G₁ and scissors or
shears formed by blades G2 G3, these being shown carried by an arm G' fixed to a
rocking shaft H. which is caused to oscillate by lever H and cam H³, but it
may be carried by a reciprocating slide supported and actuated in any convenient
manner.
The finger G. and blade G2 are fixed to the arm G4 while the finger G¹ is
pivotted at G and the blade G' at G. The finger G¹ is drawn towards the
finger G. by the spring G' and the lever G but is kept out of contact with it
(except when the shears are closed or nearly so) by the projecting pin G which
presses against the blade G³. Attached to the blade G³ is a stop G10 terminating
in a hook to which one end of the spring G7 is connected.
The spring G and adjustable collar G" are provided to keep the faces of the
blades G & G³ in close contact.
At the commencement of each series of stitches, the arm G' is moved away
from the loop-former until the stop G10 strikes the projection J. formed on or
fixed to the framework of the machine, when a slight continued motion causes
the blade G³ to move away from G2, and the finger G¹ from the finger G.
The pincers G. G¹ and shears, G2 G3 remain open until the conclusion of the
series of stitches, when the arm G is moved towards the loop-former, the stop G¹º
striking the projection J' and causing the pincers and shears to close on opposite
sides of the thread, which is first held by the pincers and immediately afterwards
cut by the shears, the severed part of the thread attached to the paper being held
by the pincers. When the paper is removed from the machine it withdraws the
thread from the pincers which hold the thread with just sufficient pressure to
tighten the last stitch of the series.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In machines for stitching books, pamphlets, papers and the like, the means
for obtaining a uniform thread tension and for regulating the same substantially
as illustrated by Figs. 1. 2. 3 & 4. and herein described.
2. In machines for stitching books, pamphlets, papers and the like, the
combination of the device for regulating the thread tension with the means for

page_text: automatically reducing the thread tension at the commencement of each series of
stitches substantially as herein described and illustrated.
3. In machines for stitching books, pamphlets, papers and the like, the
employment of a presser-foot as shown by Figs. 1. 5. 6. 7 & 10. and herein
described in combination with means for automatically reducing the thread tension
at the commencement of each series of stitches, substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
4. The arrangement construction and combination of the various parts forming
the device for holding and cutting the thread, substantially as shown by Figs. 11.
12 & 13. and herein described.
5. In machines for stitching books, pamphlets, papers and the like, the combination
of the thread-lever, friction device, and means for operating the same with a bar
supporting a presser-foot and provided with means for raising the thread lever
specially high at the conclusion of each series of stitches, substantially as
illustrated by Figs. 1. 8. 9 & 10. and herein set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1895.
MARSHALL HENRY PEARSON.
PEARSON & BENNION, LIMITED,
FRANK E. WHEELER, Secretary,
For the Company.