IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Jones, of Ilion, in the County of
Herkimer, and State of New York, in the United States of America,
"
Sealed the 9th October 1874, and dated the 22nd August 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Thomas Jones at
'
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 22nd August 1874, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS JONES, of Ilion, in the County of Herkimer, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES,"
and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and
have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor
thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Thomas Jones, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming a
part of this Specification, that is to say :—

page_text: face view, with the cap at the end of the arm removed; Figure 6 is an
elevation of the back of said cap with the needle bar and presser foot;
Figure 7 is a disc at the end of the shaft; Figure 8, the intermediate;
and Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, are detailed views of the revolving thread
tension clamp; Figure 13 is an elevation of the front plate and
parts attached; Figure 14 is a horizontal section of the parts at
the line X, X; Figure 15 is a section of the needle bar and bearing
block at the line y, y; Figure 16 is a section of the tension mechanism
and two part friction nut; Figure 17 a plan of the hemmer complete;
Figure 18 is a gage and fold turner detached; Figure 19 is an elevation
of the same; Figure 20 is an elevation of the forward portion of the
treadle mechanism; Figure 21 is a cross section of the same, and the
rear portion or heel rests; and Figure 22 is a side view of a modification
of said treadle; Figure 23 is a perspective view. of my improved
folding table; Figure 24, a longitudinal: vertical section of the same;
and Figure 25 is a view of a portion shown in detail.
According to the first, second, and third parts of my Invention',
reference being had to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of
the annexed Drawings, I make use of an eccentric intermediate between
the revolving shaft and needle bar or arm, said eccentric intermediate
receiving its motion from said shaft, and being differential in consequence
of the eccentricity, and hence moving faster during part of its revolution
and slower during another part of its revolution than the motor shaft,
and this intermediate acts upon a cam upon the needle bar or arm, so
that the movement of the needle is accelerated in its upward and down-
ward movement, and pauses while in the cloth to allow the proper
movement of the shuttle.
The feeding mechanism consists of a rocking shaft that communicates
the reciprocation: horizontally to the feed bar, and this bar slides in a
shoe connected by a screw to an arm upon a sleeve around the rock
shaft, and this arm receives motion from a cam upon the rock shaft that
drives the shuttle, so as to strike the feeding points up into the cloth at
the proper time. The thread tension is made with a clamp of peculiar
character, which does not confine the two or more coils.upon each other,
thereby there is not any change in the tension in consequence of the
last coil of thread being partially beneath one of the other coils, as
the thread is liberated from the prossure of the clamp prévious to passing

page_text: off toward the needle. The bed a of the machine and the arm are of
any suitable character, and adapted to the other parts of the machine.
c is the fly wheel upon the motor shaft d, mounted in any usual manner,
and carrying at the end near the needle bar a crank pin e. I have
represented this crank pin as upon a disk e', with a link f, to the
eccentrically placed intermediate / that transmits motion through the
roller or stud i acting in the cam 9 upon the needle bar or arm k. The
movable ring introduced in the head of the arm 6 forms a bearing
for the intermediate to revolve within, and allows of access to the
disk e', but when this ring is inserted and properly positioned it is to be
held firmly in place, which may be effected by the screw 2. It is now
to be understood that the intermediate / does not revolve at a uniform
speed with the shaft d, but is accelerated and retarded by the eccentricity
of 'to d, as illustrated in Figure 8, the swinging of the link f causing a
retardation of the intermediate, and afterward a proportionate acceleration
as the circles described by the respective connections approach each
other. The same character of movement would be given to the inter-
mediate h if it were provided with a radial slot for the crank pin e.
'
The differential movement aforesaid is communicated to the needle m
through the bar or arm k and the cams g, and the shape of theso cams is
to be such as to give the proper pause or dwell to the needle while in
the cloth after rising to form the loop of needle thread for the shuttle to.
pass through, and as the needle thread is drawn up the shuttle is also
drawn up by the movement of the parts so as to cause the threads
to tighten equally and properly; the feeding of the fabric, as hercafter
described, takes place at the same time. The cap or face plate p for the end
of the head ₁ of the arm 6 is made to receive the needle bark and also
the bar q and spring of the presser foot 2', and said cap is also recessed
for the reception of the spring lever r, the hook 3 of which projects
through a slot in said face plate to take up the slack thread. In this
manner the lever of the take-up hook is concealed under the face plate
and out of the way of injury. Upon the outside of the face plate p is
the revolving thread tension clamp made of the short cylinder 4 having
a cloth or yielding face 5 and a notched barrel 6 around which the
.thread is wound. The clamping fingers 7 project from a wheel behind
the conical body 8 and pass into the slots or notches of tlic barrel 6 so as
to press the thread to the face 5, and the force with which the pressure
is maintained is the screw nut 9, cone 8, and washer of cloth or similar

page_text: .
material with said cone 8. If the fingers 7 press upon the thread
while around 6 with equal force at all points, and one coil of thread lies.
upon another, it will be obstructed in drawing off, hence the tension
will be unequal at different times. I prevent this difficulty by inclining
the axis 10 of the finger wheel 7 so as only to press upon the thread at
one side of such wheel 7, and the inclination is such that the thread is
not pressed upon as it commences to coil around the barrel 6 nor as it
leaves the same, hence the coils are not held in position lapping cach
other but are free to draw off, hence the tension is maintained uniformly.
The shuttles is fitted in any usual manner to be moved by the driver st
in the race way a¹ of the bed a. The link t, crank arm t¹, shaft 15,
crank 16, and link 17 to a crank pin upon the fly wheel form a con-
venient means for moving the shuttle. The feed bar u slides at one end
between the hinge 18 and bed a, and at the other end the roughened
surface or feeding points 19 are formed; and 20 is a spring tending to
keep the bar down into the shoe v, that is at the end of an arm o¹, and
to which arm said shoe is connected by a screw so that the parts may be
adjusted to protect the feeding points more or less through the bed a.
The arm v¹ is upon a sleeve around the shaft w, and upon said sleeve is a
crank and roller X to a cam 21 upon the shaft 15 (or preferably said
cam is upon the hub of the crank t), so that at the proper time the
crank X causes the shoe y to press the feed bar up to the cloth and
afterward allows the spring 20 to throw the feed down. The recipro-
cation of the feed bar u is effected by the arm y upon the shaft w, and to
this shaft wa rocking movement is given by the link 25 and block 26
sliding in a groove in the lever z and operated by a link 27 to a cam or
eccentric upon the shaft d. The lever can be turned and held by a
clamp screw 28 upon the segment 29 so as to place the groove for the
block 26 at a greater or lesser inclination to the arc described by the end
of link 25, hence the sliding of said block in the groove will give
greater or lesser endwise motion to the link 25 and a longer or shorter
feed motion and stitch. The crank pin e may be placed near the shaft d
so as to describe a smaller circle than the intermediate h, and hence the
movable eccentric ring may be dispensed with, the bearing for the
eccentrically placed intermediate
the arm h
being made directly in the end &' of

page_text: peculiarity in the construction of the mechanism employed for taking
up the slack thread and tightening the stitch. I employ a lever upon
the front plate of the stationary arm. This lever is operated by a cam
on the main driving shaft and acts to take up the slack by drawing the
thread off laterally between two studs or rollers of peculiar construction.
The said front plate also carries a tension mechanism from which the
thread passes to an eye or guide upon the upper end of the needle bar.
By this arrangement the thread is relieved from unnecessary strain when
the stitch is being tightened, and there is but little lateral motion required
at the eye or hook of the take-up lever. The tension mechanism is
provided with a two-part nut and contractile band that prevents the
nut turning by the rotation of the thread detainer and insures uniformity
of friction and prevents unequal wear, as in the split spring nuts here-
tofore employed. The needle bar is made trough shaped to obtain
strength with lightness, and wear upon the same is compensated by
adjustable bearing blocks. The bed a, pressure foot 6, front plato c, and
'needle d, are of the usual character; and the mechanism that moves the
needle bar is a crank pin and roller f at the end of the shaft g acting in
a cam slot across the needle bar e. The thread passes from the spool
through the open eye e¹ that is made by a rounded groove, over which
a slight spring to keep the thread from escaping but allow it to be
easily entered or withdrawn by the operator. The thread tension / is
made of two interlocked plates (see Figure 13) as explained in the
first part of my Specification, and the thread passes around below this
and up over a stud i projecting from the upper end of the needle bar,
and having a groove for the thread and a spring over the groove. The
nut of the tension h is made in two separate parts with a neck, around
which the split steel ring 10 is forced, and this ring is partially opened
in screwing the nut upon its screw, thereby the friction and conscquent
force required for turning the nut will be uniform, and the nut will not
'wear loose or unequally. The thread passes down around the rollers or
eyes at 1, n, and through the eye or hook at the end of the controlling
lever m that takes up the slack, thence the thread goes through a groove
in the needle stock having a spring closing finger o, thence to the
'needle eye. There is an axis r for the lever m, and the same passes
through the front plate c, and has a crank arm t contiguous to the
cam s upon the shaft g. A spring z around the axis r serves to keep
the arm t toward the cam. The bearing for the axis is shown as a
sleeve or tube passing through the front plate and held by a screw. The

page_text: shape of the cam 8 is such that as the needle descends the thread:
controller draws back, taking up slack thread between the rollers 1, n.:
As the needle completes its downward movement the controller yields.
up the thread for the shuttle to pass through the loop, and then the
thread is drawn up to tighten the stitch at or about the termination of;
the movement of the shuttle.
0
In order to retain the thread in position on the rollers 1, n, I employ
the spring fingers u, v, extending off from the centers of the rollers or
studs and resting upon each other. To insert the thread it is to bo
passed between' and beneath the roller 1, thence through the spring
hook at the end of the thread controller, thence again between u and v
in an upward direction, and then down behind and around the roller n.
This thread controlling mechanism is simple, durable, easily employed,
and not liable to injure or break the thread. The needle bar e is made
trough-shape so as to be very light and strong. This will lessen the
wear due to concussion in machines of this character, and in order
to compensate for wear and increase the bearing surface the blocks 15
are introduced inside the bar near top and bottom parts of the front
plate c, and a set screw 16 inserted through the arm and partially into
cach block serves to retain the block in place and adjust the same to
compensate wear, and by this construction the bearing surface of the
needle bar is largely increased.
According to the fifth part of my Invention, with regard to Figures 17;
18, and 19, I use a fold turner made double and of U shape, so as to be
adapted to folding the fabric for the hem, or for guiding in its contre
párt a cord to be included in the hem, or the edge of a piece of fabric
to be bound by a strip of binding running through such folder, or for
uniting a strip to the hem. This U shaped turner and guide is applied
to a volute edge turner, a movable gage, and an attaching plate, so as
to be adapted to the various uses set forth. The plate a, with the spring
arm b, and volute turner c, are of ordinary construction, and in use this
volute turns the edge of the fabric under at or near the line of sewing.
The plate d is beneath the plate a, and it is adjustable toward or from-
the turner c, a slot e being provided in such plate d, through which the
screw passes to clamp the parts after adjustment. At the end of this
plate d is the gage i, against which the edge of the hem runs. The fold
turner is made of spring sheet metal upon a plate that extends out,
from the plate d, and such turner is formed as a U shaped mouth opened

page_text: at one end, as seen in Figure 19, and into this tlie fabric is introduced
and drawn back in the upper portion of the mouth sufficiently far to
properly enter the volute turner c. It will now be understood that the
gage i and fold turner k move together in adjusting the hemmer, and
that the width of hem will thereby be varied, but the volute c will.
remain in the same place relatively to the needle of the sewing machine..
The spring blade 7 is attached at one end to the plate a. The other end
is free to move, and it is inclined, the edge nearest the arm being the
highest, so that the folded fabric passes easily beneath the same, and the
hem is pressed out flat or creased by said blade, so as to pass correctly to
the sewing mechanism.
When desired a cord may be introduced at the inner part of the
Ụ shaped folder, to be guided thereby into the hem; or edge of a
fabric or strip may be passed into this central portion, to be confined at
one edge by the hem, or to receive around its edge a strip of binding
introduced through the, double portion of this turner. This guide is
therefore available for a variety of uses.
I am aware that a hem guide has been made by combining a volute
edge turner with the moveable gage and a guide or fold turner. My fold
turner being made of a double U sliape and of spring sheet metal, yields
freely as the fabric is introduced, but it acts to keep the fabric smooth
as it passes into the hemmer, and avoids the risk heretofore existing of
there being creases or folds in the hem, especially when wide.
And according to the sixth part of my Invention, with reference to
Figures 20, 21, and 22, the treadle is made for allowing the position of
the feet to be changed in relation to. such treadle, so that it will be
operated by the foot swinging upon the ankle joint or by the rise and fall
of the foot and leg, thereby the operator can bring into action different
muscels of the legs or body as desired, thereby preventing too great
fatigue of the person in consequence of the prolonged operation of the
treadle by one character of movement.
t
The treadles-receive a rise and fall movement, and the heel picces
remain in a fixed position, hence when the foot rests upon both the heel
piece and the treadle the latter will be operated by the forward part of.
the foot, and the movement will be principally at the ankle joint. When
the hollow of the foot rests upon the treadle, the movement of the foot
and lower limb will be nearly vertical, and there will be but little motion
at the ankle..

page_text: The treadle lever a is mounted upon a fulcrum stand 6 of any suitable
character, and form one end of the lever a the pitman c.extends to the
crank d of the fly wheel e or shaft to be revolved, the joints by preference.
being made as balls in recesses so as to allow of the varying movements.
The treadle pieces of are above the lever a, and provided with vertical
armh-extending below the treadle pieces and pivoted to sucli lever a,
and also connected at their lower ends to the parallel motion bar 7, that:
is, parallel or nearly so to the lever a, and swings upon the fulcrum. i..
It will now be evident that the arms k and bar 7 maintain the treadle
pieces in a nearly horizontal position as they rise and fall with the
lever a, as the parts are actuated by the feet resting upon such treadles.
The heel pieces m are separate from the treadles, and are attached upon
the cross bar n, and either receive a limited rocking motion thereon, or
else are rounded upon their upper surfaces so as to allow the heel to rest
upon such supports m and the front part of the foot to be moved freely,
the principal motion being at the ankle joint, or else when the foot is
moved further forward and the hollow portion thereof rests upon the
treadle the heel is clear of these heel pieces and the foot and leg
move up and down freely in operating the treadles, there being but little
motion at the ankle joint. By this construction the operator is enabled
to use either one movement or the other in actuating the treadle so as to
avoid fatigue. The same results are accomplished when the treadle is
made in the form shown in Figure 22, the heel' piece m and treadle
being connected by the bent bar that comes down sufficiently far to be
out of the way of the heel when the foot is in the position shown by
dotted lines.
3
And according to the last part of my Invention with references to
Figures 23, 24, and 25, in sewing machine tables as usually constructed,
the machine is stationary upon the table, and hence it is in the way
when it is desired to use the table for any other purpose than merely to
support the machine and its cover, and although some plans have been
devised for dropping the machine through or below the table top they
have been of such character as not to have come into use. It is also
desirable to have one or more leaves hinged to the table to afford more
space and support the various articles used, as well as the cloth while
being sewed; but hitherto the hinges used for this purpose have be so
constructed that they could not be used for this purpose without cutting
away the moulding which it is desirable to use around the under edge of
the table, all of which my Invention is intended to obviate.

page_text: In constructing a table on my improved plan I construct a skeleton
top consisting of an end piece a and two side pieces or strips i, as shown,
in Figure 23. I then provide a sliding central portion composed of two,
pieces. b, c, of such a size as to fit within the skeleton frame and fill
the space therein, so that when they are slid in they with the parts a
and i will constitute a complete table top of the required size, as repre-
sented in Figure 23. These parts b, c, are hinged together so that when.
drawn out part way the partc can be turned down the same as an
ordinary falling leaf of a table, they sliding in grooves formed at the
inner edges of the side pieces i.
''
It is obvious that instead of the two pieces b, c, a single piece may be
used of the proper size, but in such case the end will project when the
machine is raised. I then provide another piece e, upon which the
machine is mounted, this piece being of suitable width to fill the space
between the side pieces i when raised to a level therewith. The rear end
of this piece e I hinge to the frame of the machine by means of two
bars a', as shown in Figures. 23 and 24, these bars being of such a length
that when the picce e is dropped down its front end will reach the frame
at the opposite end of the frame, where it will rest on a couple of lugs
or supports b', as shown in Figures 23. and 24, the rear end being
supported by the bars a', as shown, care being taken also to hinge the
opposite ends of these bars a¹ to the frame at such a hight that when
the piece e is raised it will come level with the table, as shown in
Figure 24. With these parts thus constructed it will be seen that by
sliding the parts b, c, outward the piece e with the machine thereon can
be lifted or swung up into place ready for use, when by sliding the
parts b, c, back until the part c comes against the piece e the latter will
be held in place, the front end of e resting on lugs c¹ secured to the under
side of the part c, as shown in Figure 24; or instead of the lugs c¹ a
strip may be arranged to extend entirely across the part c, or the
adjoining ends of the pieces c and e may be rabeted so as to form a
shoulder that will support the piece e, in which case the end piece a
would require to be correspondingly rabeted, so that when the sliding
top was shoved in, as in Figure 23, it would form a close joint.
I
"
:
In order to secure the sliding top in place and also support the hinged
part I construct a locking lever d', as shown in Figure 25, and pivot
it in a recess upon the top of a cross piece k secured cross wise to the
frame at the end of the table, as shown in Figure 25. This lever d' is

page_text: slotted, so it can be shoved endwise on its pivot; and it also has
a projecting shoulder on its inner end to engage against a corresponding.
shoulder formed on the bar k. At its outer end I secure to this lever a
knob or handle h, the point of which extends through and projects
beyond the upper face of the lever, as shown in Figure 24.
In the under side of the part 6 I cut a groove of such a form that
when the part e is raised and the sliding parts are shoved back against
it, as represented in Figure 24, the lever d' can be swung around in line
with the table with the projecting point of the knob / resting in this
groove, thereby locking the sliding parts b, c, securely in place, and at
the same time supporting the part in a horizontal position. When
the parts are shoved in, as in Figure 23, the lever d' is shoved end-
wise, so that its shoulder will come in front of the shoulder on the
bar k, as shown in Figure 25, which will draw the projecting point of
the knob in front of the outer end of the part b, thereby locking the
parts b, c, in place.
In order to make the table still larger I hinge a leaf d to its rear or
right-hand end, and to enable this to be done without cutting away the
moulding underneath the end of the table I construct a hinge e' with
two downwardly projecting arms, as shown in Figure 24. In order to
bring the point of the hinge behind the moulding I make the arm of
that part of the hinge which is to be secured to the leaf longer than the
other, and curve it so that it will reach around behind the moulding, as
shown, where it is joined to the other part of the hinge. It is obvious
that a hinge thus formed may be used to secure a leaf to any sewing
machine table without cutting away the moulding, which is secured to
the under side thereof. In order to support the leaf when raised I hinge
to its under side a curved bar f, as represented in Figure 24, its opposite
end having a notch formed in its under side and passing loosely through
a slotted stud or arm projecting vertically from the under side of the
stationary part of the table, or which may be attached to or made a part
of the frame. When the leaf is raised the curved bar f will be drawn
outward through a slot in the arm ġ; and when the leaf is raised to a
horizontal position the free end of the brace will drop down, causing its
shoulder or notch to engage with the arm g, thereby automatically
locking the leaf up.
When it is desired to drop the leaf it is only necessary to raise the
inner end of the brace fand disengage its shoulder from the arm g and

page_text: :
then let the leaf down, the brace sliding back through the slot in the
arm g, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 24.
If desired the parts may be reversed in position, that is, the brace f
may be secured to the frame or the table, and the part 9 may be attached
to the leaf, the operation being the same.
It is obvious that if desired a cover may be placed over the machine
on the piece e and left thereon, when dropped below the table, to protect
it from dust or injury; or in lieu thereof curtains may be suspended from
the table in such a manner as to enclose it when lowered. By these
means I am enabled to produce a sewing machine table which while
serving the ordinary purpose of supporting the machine can also be con-
verted into a table for other uses and that can be enlarged at will, I also
am enabled to hinge a leaf to sewing machine tables without disfiguring
or risking them by cutting the moulding attached to the table.
"
Having thus described my Invention, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the exact details shown and described, as the
same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of
my Invention, but what I do claim is,-
First. The eccentrically placed intermediate between the motor shaft.
and the cam, in combination with said cam, roller, and needle bar or
arm, substantially as specified, to' communicate a differential movement
to the needle, as specified.
Second. The thread tension clamp made in two parts revolving
together, but at an inclination to each other, and provided with a notched
barrel and fingers, as and for the purposes set forth.
น
Third. The adjustable shoe in which the feed bar u slides in com-
bination with the arm v', sleeve, and crank X acted upon by the cam 21,
as and for the purposes set forth.
!..
Fourth. The shaft to and arm y to the feed bar u, in combination with
tlie arm ¹ and crank swinging upon said shaft 10 to press the feed bar
upon the cloth, substantially as set forth.
Fifthi. The rocking shaft w, links 25 and 27, block 26, and lever z,
with a slide for the said block 26 and the clamping screw 28, the parts
being constructed and arranged as and for the purposes specified,

page_text: Sixth. The spring fingers u, v, of the rollers or guides ɩ, n, in com-
bination with the controlling lever m, operated as and for the purposes
specified.
Seventh. The arrangement of the stationary eye e¹, tension dovice h,
eye or groove i, guides or rollers I, n, and take-up lever m, operated
substantially as set forth for controlling the tension and the slack
thread, substantially as set forth.
Eight. The two-part nut made with a neck that receives the
contractile band 10, as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. The U formed fold turner and guide made of spring sheet
metal, and double, and connected to the gage i in combination with the
hemming guide and attaching and adjusting mechanism, as set forth
and for the purposes specified.
Tenth. The rocking lever a connected to the crank or fly whcel by
the pitman c in combination with the treadles f and parallel motion
bar, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The heel pieces m seperate from the moving foot pieces or
treadles in combination with the rocking lever a to which the treadles
are connected, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The sewing machine treadle made in two pieces, one of
which forms a heel rest independent of the treadle piece that receives a
rise and fall movement, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The treadle for sowing and other machines made with
heel and foot bearings and an intermediate space, so that the foot may
rest upon both portions or only on the foot bearing, for the purpose set
forth.
Fourteenth. The board e baving the machine mounted thereon, in
combination with the rods a¹, having one end hinged to the board e, and
their opposite ends to the frame, whereby the machine can be raised to
a level with the table or swung below the table and supported there,
substantially as shown and described.
Fifteenth. A sewing machine table consisting of the skeleton frame,
and the central sliding portions b, c, constructed and arranged to operate
!

page_text: Sixteenth. In combination with the sliding top b, c, I claim the
locking and supporting lever d constructed to operate as described.
Seventeenth. In combination with the table and leaf I claim the
curved or
projecting hinge e¹ whereby the leaf can be attached to the
tablo without removing or cutting away the moulding on the under side
of the table, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Jones, have hereunto
.set my hand and seal, this, 28th day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.