IMPROVEMENTS IN OVERuead SewinG MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fyfe Elder, of Lochec, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OVERuead SewinG
MACHINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fyfe Elder at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1881.
GEORGE FYFE ELDER, of Lochec, in the County of Forfar, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OVERHEAD SEWING MACHINES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in overhead sewing machines,
consists in driving the circular needle used in such machines between two
cylindrical, metallic, or other rollers, one of these being so formed as to grip or
seize upon rather more than the first turn of the needle only, whilst the other turn
or part of the turns of the needle is not gripped or seized upon by the pressure of
the outward roller, so that the turns or part of the turn of the needle not so
gripped or seized upon are (or is) left free to move or be moved clastically through
a slight distance inwards or outwards or laterally, as the nature or texture of the
cloth being sewn may require in order to ensure a maximum of facility in the
sewing.
This is effected by making the internal roller continuously of the same diameter,
whilst the outer roller which presses the needle against the inner roller is made
cylindrical for a length corresponding to the first turn, or rather more than the
first turn of the needle, the remaining portion of this driving roller being made
slightly conical so as not to bear against the remaining turns or part of the turns
of the circular needle; thus this portion of the needle is free to move elastically, as
hereinbefore mentioned. The driving roller has formed on its conical end a flanch
which confines the circular needle between itself and tho face of the bearing of the
cylindrical roller.
In order to produce the requisite pressure of the driving roller on the circular
needle, this roller is mounted in a swinging arın acted upon by a weight or spring
drawing or forcing it against the needle and inner roller, the tension of the spring
or the quantity of weights used being variable from time to time according to the
character of the cloth being sewn.
In order to produce a similar condition of the circular needle, that is to say, so
that it is gripped or seized upon during one portion of its turns and free to be
moved elastically during the remainder of its turns or turn, this may be effected
by making that part of the needle which is so gripped or seized upon thicker than
the remaining part of the needle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Fyfe Elder in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th November 1881.
66
GEORGE FYFE ELDER, of Lochee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OVERHEAD SEWING MACHINES."
My Invention relates to the means for driving the needle of overhead sewing
machines of the class in which a spiral needle is used, and consists in driving the
said needle between two rollers, one of these rollers being inside the needle and
bearing upon all the coils of the needle on the inner side thereof, the other roller
bearing upon rather more than the first coil of the needle only, whilst the other
coil or coils of the needle is or are left free from the pressure of the said outer roller,
and the said coil or coils are therefore free to move or be moved elastically through a
slight distance to accommodate themselves to the work. The Invention also
provides means for driving the outer roller, and for regulating the pressure thereof
upon the needle.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which
the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say
Figure 1 represents in elevation; Figure 2 in plan (partly in section on the
line 1, 2, Figure 1), and Figure 3 in transverse section on the line 3, 4, Figure 1, a
portion of an overhead sewing machine sufficient to illustrate the application of my
Invention thereto; Figure 4 represents the needle and inner roller, and a portion
of the outer roller; and Figure 5 is a transverse section of the outer roller drawn
to a larger scale.
The framing of the machine is marked A, and the spiral needle is marked a.
The cylinder or tube 1 contains the thread barrel J, which tube and barrel are or
niay be in construction and operation similar to these parts of the said overhead
sewing machine as they have hitherto been constructed and operated. Keyed or
fastened to the outer end of the tube I projecting from the bearing i is the roller c
bearing throughout its width upon the interior of all the coils of the needle a.
The outer roller & which presses the needle upon the inner roller c is constructed
as shewn, with one portion of the periphery cylindrical to bear upon the first coil
or rather more than the first coil of the needle, the remaining portion of the
periphery of the said roller being conical so as not to bear upon the remaining coil
or coils of the needle which are therefore free to move elastically, as herein before
mentioned. The roller d has formed on the conical side a flanch 2 which confines
the needle a between itself and the bearing i. The flanged guide rollersƒ (shown in
Figure 1, but omitted for the sake of clearness from the other Figures) bear upon
the needle a. and guide and retain it in position. The roller d is keyed to an
axle g mounted in an arın or lever turning upon a fulcrum pin ³, there being
connected to the lower end of the said lever one end of a chain or cord & passing
over a pulley 1, and carrying at its other end weights m; thus according to the
amount of this weight the frictional bearing of the roller & upon the needle a may
be adjusted as may be requisite for the kind of material being sewn by the
machine. The roller d is driven at the same surface speed as the roller c by means
of the driving band n passing over the pulley 2 (driven by gearing wheels
froin
the main driving shaft or other convenient part of the machine), and under guide
pulleys adjustable in a bracket 8, and thence over a pulley t keyed to the axis g
of the roller d.

page_text: It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings; for example, other con-
venient means of driving the roller d may be adopted, and a spring or springs may
be used instead of the weights m, and in place of making the roller d with one
part of less diameter than the other the periphery may be cylindrical throughout
the coil or coils of the spiral needle upon which the roller is to bear being made
thicker or of greater diameter, than the coil or coils which are to be free to movo
elastically.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by tho hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,—
First. The combination in overhead sewing machines, of an inner roller (c) and
an outer roller (d) for driving the spiral needle of the said machines by frictional
contact of the said rollers with tho said needle, essentially as hereinbeforo
described.
Second. The roller & constructed or formed as herein before described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings, for driving the spiral ncedlo of overhead
sewing machines by frictional contact with a coil or with coils thereof, leaving the
remaining coil or coils free to yield elastically.
Third. The modification described, wherein the said roller d is made cylindrical
throughout, and the needle is made with one portion thicker or of greater
diameter than the other, for the purpose referred to in the preceding claiming
clause.
Fourth. The combination with the roller d, of the lever h and weights m (or a
spring or springs) for giving adjustable pressure of the said roller upon the needle,
essentially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth. The combination with the roller d for driving the same, of the band n
and pulleys p, r, and t, arranged essentially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Fyfe Elder, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
GEORGE FITE ELDER, (L.S.)