Improvements in Lock-stitch Sewing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock-stitch Sewing Machines.
I, DANIEL JONES, of 62 Albion Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in lock-stitch sewing machines of the kind
described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me No. 9089
dated 1st June 1889, in which a rotary looper having at its rearward part a hook
formed inward is used in conjunction with a "take-up" in such a manner that when
a loop has been carried by the hook partly around the reel carrier, which is freely
supported in a holder carried by an articulated arm, a part of the loop will be taken
up by the take-up so that the loop will clear the hook, and the rest of such loop
will be subsequently taken up by the action of the hook during the formation of the
succeeding loop and so on. Now, the object of this invention is to so construct and
arrange the parts of such a machine in relation to each other as to make it more
simple, durable and capable of being readily manipulated. The rotary looper is of
curved blade form with a hook which points in the direction of rotation of the
looper and projects into an opening formed in the curved body of the looper, the
arrangement being such that the upper thread can only be engaged by the hook
once during a revolution. The external or edge formation of the looper is such as
to spread the loop and pass it under the reel carrier. The rear point of the blade
operates in spreading the loop. The loop is drawn clear of the hook by the action
of the take-up, that part of the loop which is not taken up by the take-up being
taken up by the action of the looper itself whilst forming the succeeding loop.
The holder in which the reel carrier is supported, is mounted upon swinging
bearings or trunnions that are immediately under the bed plate in such a manner
that the holder can be caused to turn upon its said bearings or trunnions so as to
occupy a position either above or below the bed plate at the will of the operator.
The holder may be tubular or may consist of a framework; it is provided with a
spring catch.
A cup-shaped reel carrier is placed in the holder with its closed end uppermost ;
depending from its closed end is a pin or stud provided with a spring tube that is
free to revolve on the pin or stud. Upon this revolving tube the commercial reel
or other suitable supply of thread is placed. The open end of the reel carrier is
closed by a swinging bail, or equivalent device which will prevent any loose coils of
thread that may drop from the reel during the revolution of the same, falling in the
path of the rotating looper, said loose coils being drawn away between the lower
end of the pin or stud and the bail as required. The bail is shaped in such
a manner that it will tend to spread the loop over the reel carrier. The usual
under tension spring is either fixed to the reel carrier proper, or to the bail, as may
seem desirable.
A finger thread clip is provided in combination with a finger or its equivalent
(worked from the same movement) for. drawing a supply of slack from the upper
reel.
Between the upper reel and the usual upper or needle thread tension is arranged
a finger that is adapted to press upon the upper thread, the said thread being
released for a short period once during each revolution of the machine. This period
of release is so regulated that only enough thread to form a stitch can be drawn
from the upper reel; the release occurs during the tying of the last formed stitch
in the material. The finger is closed upon the thread whilst the take up is operating
to take up the slack thread, and thus prevents thread being drawn from the upper

page_text: reel by the action of the take-up. After the said finger has closed upon the thread
a further movement is imparted to it, whereby it is caused to take a supply of slack
thread from the upper reel, which thread will be taken up and used by the machine
when the finger is again raised. By this means the drag of the reel is prevented
from affecting the evenness of the tension.
The upper thread tension comprises a grooved wheel around which the thread is
passed so that the wheel is caused to revolve by the passage of the thread. The
grooved wheel is mounted to revolve upon a short sleeve or boss, through which
passes a loosely fitting stud, the head of which forces the grooved wheel against an
abutment provided for that purpose. The other end of the stud engages with a
suitable spring, the effort or tension of which can be adjusted so as to vary the
power with which the stud forces the grooved wheel against its abutment. The
sleeve or boss protects the stud from cross strains due to the pull of the thread
round the wheel, and the tension is consequently more sensitive than usual. The
end of the said stud is arranged to engage with the presser foot gear, so that the
tension is released simultaneously with the raising of the presser foot.
Some of my improvements may be used without the others.
Dated this 15th day of December 1899
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock-stitch Sewing Machines.
1, DANIEL JONES of 62 Albion Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanician, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in lock-stitch sewing machines of the kind
described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me No. 9089
dated 1st June 1889 in which a rotary looper having at its rearward part a hook
formed inward is used in conjunction with a "take-up" in such a manner that when
a loop has been carried by the hook partly around the reel carrier, which is freely
supported in a holder carried by an articulated arm, a part of the loop will be taken
up by the take-up so that the loop will clear the hook, and the rest of such loop will
be subsequently taken up by the action of the hook during the formation of the
succeeding loop and so on. Now, the object of this invention is to so construct and
arrange the parts of such a machine in relation to each other as to make it more
simple, durable and capable of being readily manipulated.
And in order that the nature of my invention may be fully understood I will
proceed to explain the same by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, partly in elevation, of a sewing machine
constructed according to this invention, the presser foot, feed mechanism and other
parts being removed for the sake of greater clearness.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the front cover being partly broken away
to show the parts behind.
Figs. 2 and 2B are detail views hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section of a reel carrier.
Fig. 4 is an elevation thereof as seen from the opposite side to that shown
in Fig. 3 ; and
Fig. 5 is a section on the line a Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a development of the looper except that the rearward hook is
represented so as to point, as it does in the actual looper, in the direction of
rotation.

page_text: Fig. 9 is a plan of the same.
Figs. 10 and 11 are side views of a modified construction of "finger" thread
clip; and
Fig. 12 is a plan thereof.
Fig. 13 is a transverse section taken through the upper thread tension device.
Figs. 14 to 23 are diagrammatic views, hereinafter referred to, illustrating the
formation of a loop and stitch.
Fig. 1, and Figs. 14 to 23 inclusive, are drawn to a smaller scale than the
remaining figures.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1 is a rotary looper of curved blade form
secured to the looper shaft 1", which is mounted in bearings below the bed plate of
the machine. This looper according to this invention, is provided with a hook 2
which points in the direction of rotation of the looper and projects into an opening 3
formed in the curved body of the looper; the arrangement being such that the
upper thread can only be engaged by the hook once during a revolution and the
hook is prevented from re-engaging with a previously formed loop which has been
partly drawn up by the take-up. The needle 4 of the machine descends through
the opening in the work plate, and the hook, as it passes the eye of the needle,
engages with the loop of the upper thread presented in the ordinary way by the
needle, the said loop being partially spread by the sides of the hook 2 as the same
continues to rotate. The external or edge formation of the looper is such that
during its continued movement, the pointed rear portion 5* of the looper will turn
or move into the loop the inclined edges 5 5 of said rear portion acting to spread
the loop and to assist in passing it under the reel carrier 6. 24 is the take-up by
the action of which the loop is drawn clear of the hook 2, at a certain point in each
rotation of the looper, that part of the loop which is not thus taken up by the
take-up, being taken up by the action of the looper itself whilst forming the
succeeding loop as hereinafter explained.
8 is a reel holder in which the reel carrier 6 is supported. This holder is
mounted between pivot pins 8* immediately under the bed or work plate 9 in such
a manner that it can be turned upon said pivot pins so as to occupy a position either
above or below the work plate, at the will of the operator. The holder is provided
with an arm 10 which serves as a handle for turning the holder into the desired
position and also as a means for securing it in the working position. The front end
of the bed plate is formed with an opening or recess 11 to enable the holder to be
turned above the bed plate, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 so as to allow of
the reel carrier 6 being readily placed in or removed from the holder. The
opening 11 is provided with a cover 12 arranged to slide in dovetail grooves as
shown in Fig. 2 and by means of which the arm 10 is held depressed so as to
maintain the holder in proper working position. The holder, which may be tubular
as shown, with parts at opposite sides thereof cut away, or may consist of a
framework, is provided with a spring catch for retaining the carrier 6 therein.
This catch which is shown detached and to a larger scale in Fig. 24, comprises a
spring blade 8 secured at one end to the outer side of the holder and provided at
the other end with an inwardly projecting ledge 8b that normally projects beneath
and supports the lower edge of the carrier and a spring actuated catch 8°. The
lower end of this catch extends through an opening in the spring blade and is
formed with shoulders or recesses at 8d and 8 which respectively bear against the
portion of the spring blade below the opening therein, when the blade is in its
operative and inoperative positions shown respectively in full & dotted lines
in Fig. 1. The catch is pivoted to a projecting portion 8' of the holder 8 which
extends through the said opening in the spring blade, and is formed with a pocket
containing a coiled spring 8 that acts upon the lower end of the catch and serves
to hold the same at all times in engagement with the spring blade. As will be
seen the arrangement is such that when the blade is pressed inwards the inner

page_text: recessed part 8ª of the catch 8c will engage with it and maintain it in that position,
and that when the lower end of the catch is slightly raised, the spring blade will be
permitted to spring outward into its inoperative position in which it will be held by
the recessed part 8° of the catch.
The reel carrier 6, which is cup shaped, is placed in the holder 8 with its closed
end uppermost; depending from its closed end is a pin or stud 13 upon which is
mounted a tube 14. Upon this tube, which is free to revolve on the pin 13 & is
retained in place by a removable nut or stop 13* on the lower end of the said pin
the commercial reel 15, or other suitable thread carrier, is placed, springs 16 being
provided on the tube 14 to prevent any movement of the reel relatively to the tube.
The tube may advantageously be of the cross section shown in Fig. 5. The lower
open end of the reel carrier 6 is closed by a swinging bail 17, or equivalent device,
that will prevent any loose coils of thread that may drop from the reel during the
rotation of the same, falling in the path of the rotating looper 1, the said loose coils
being drawn away between the lower end of the pin 13 and the bail during the
working of the machine. The bail at that side 17 with which the loop of thread
is brought in contact, is so shaped for example wedge shaped as shown, that it
will tend to spread the loop over the reel carrier. It is pivoted at 17* to the reel
carrier, so that it can be swung upon its pivots to uncover the open end of the
carrier, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is provided with spring horns or projections 18
which bear against the outer part of the reel carrier and prevent the bail becoming
accidentally displaced. The usual under tension spring 19 is fixed to the bail in
the example illustrated, but it may, if desired be fixed direct to the reel carrier 6.
Between the upper reel 20 aud the usual upper or needle thread tension device
shown at 21 (Figs. 1 and 2), is arranged at the point 22 (Fig. 1) a finger thread
clip adapted to normally press upon or clip the upper thread 23, which is released
for a short period once during each revolution of the machine. This period of
release is so regulated that only sufficient thread can then be drawn from the upper reel
to form a stitch the release occurring during the tying of the last formed stitch in
the material. This finger thread clip, holds the upper thread 23 whilst the take up
lever 24 is operating to take up the slack thread and so prevents thread being
drawn at this time from the upper reel by the action of the take up.
This finger
thread clip, which is shown separately in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, comprises a flat circular
sheet metal spring 22, fixed by means of screws 22' to the top of a flanged tube 22",
which is arranged upon the arm of the machine in such a manner as to project into
the interior thereof. Within the tube 22° is arranged a finger or plunger 25 formed
at its upper end with a hook 25 under which the thread 23 is passed. The
plunger carries at its lower end an antifriction wheel 25° that is pressed by the
action of a spiral spring 26, towards the driving shaft 27 on which is fixed a cam 27ª
by which the said wheel and plunger will be actuated once in each rotation of the
shaft in such a manner that the upper hooked end of the plunger will at the required
time come in contact with the spring 22 and raise the same, so as to release the
upper thread. Upon the descent of the plunger the thread will be first clipped by
the spring 22 at the point 22*, after which the plunger 25, descending somewhat
further will pull the thread into the tube 22 and thus draw from the upper reel a
fresh supply of thread which will be taken up and replace that used in the
formation of the succeeding stitch, when the spring 22ª is next raised.
this means the drag of the reel is prevented from affecting the evenness of the
tension.
By
The modified construction of finger thread clip shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12
comprises a straight flat spring 22 having forward and rearward downwardly bent
notched projections 22d and 22° respectively. These projections pass through
slots 22 formed in a plate 228 that is secured to the tube 22 and to which the
spring 22 is fixed by a screw 22³. The arrangement is such that the upper
thread 23, which is passed through the notched projections 22d and 22, is first
clamped between the lateral forward part 22* of the spring plate and the top of the
plate 228 and is then crimped or bent into a loop by the rearward projection 22* in

page_text: such a manner as to draw a fresh supply of thread from the upper reel. This
finger thread clip is operated by a plunger 25 with antifriction wheel 25, in the
same manner as hereinbefore described with reference to the finger thread clip
illustrated in Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 9.
The upper thread tension device indicated at 21 in Figs. 1 and 2, and shown in
detail in Fig. 13 comprises a grooved wheel 28 around which the upper thread is
passed so that the wheel is caused to rotate by the passage of the thread. This
grooved wheel is mounted to rotate upon a short sleeve or tubular boss 29 through
which passes a loosely fitting stud 30, the head 30 of which acts against the
grooved wheel either directly, or as shown, through a dished plate 31 which is
fitted on the stud and the rim of which acts to force the wheel inward towards the
fixed abutment 32 between which and the wheel is or may be placed another dished
plate 31. 32 are lubricating washers of felt arranged between the sides of the
wheel and the dished plates 31 and 31ª. The inner end of the stud 30 engages
with a suitable bent spring 33. 34 is an adjustable set screw by which the effort
or tension of the spring on the stud 30 can be adjusted so as to vary the power
with which the stud forces the grooved wheel 28 inward against its abutment, and
thus the resistance tending to prevent the wheel turning. The sleeve or tubular
boss 29 serves to protect the stud from transverse strains due to the pull of the
thread round the wheel and thereby renders the tension device more sensitive than
those usually einployed.
The inner end of the said stud is arranged to engage with the presser foot gear,
so that the tension device will be released and rendered inoperative, simultaneously
with the raising of the presser foot. For this purpose, in the arrangement
illustrated, the cam 35 used for raising the presser foot 35 is formed with a notch
or recess 35* (Fig. 2B) which, when the presser foot is down, comes opposite the
inner end of the stud 30 and allows the said stud to be moved inward by the
spring 33. The said cam is also formed with an inclined surface or groove 35°
which extends outward from the notch or recess 35" and gradually decreases in
depth, the arrangement being such that when the cam is operated to raise the
presser foot, the inner end of the stud will take into this groove and will be thereby
forced outward against the action of the spring 33 so as to relieve the wheel 28
from pressure.
Referring to Figs. 14 to 23 inclusive, which illustrate diagrammatically the
formation of a loop and stitch, Figs. 14 and 15 are views at right angles to one
another, illustrating my improved looper 1 with hook 2, the reel carrier 6 with
bail 17, the needle 4, the upper thread tension device 21, and the take-up lever 24.
In the said figures, the hook 2 of the looper is shewn engaged with and in the act
of spreading a loop a of thread which has been formed in the usual manner,
previous to the engagement of the looper hook 2 therewith, by the upward
movement of the needle after it has passed through the material and work plate
into the opening 3 of the looper. The take-up lever 24 at this time is stationary.
Figs. 16 and 17 are similar views to Figs. 14 and 15, indicating approximately the
relative positions of the parts after a partial rotation of the looper has caused the
hook 2 to draw out the loop a, which, as it is drawn out, is spread by the inclined
edges 5 of the rear portion 5* (Fig. 6) of the looper. Figs. 18 and 19 are corre-
sponding views to Figs. 16 and 17, indicating approximately the relative positions
of the parts at the moment when the loop a is caused to pass the widest part of the
reel carrier 6. During the movement of the parts from the position shewn in
Figs. 16 and 17 to that shewn in Figs. 18 and 19, the loop a will be still further
spread or opened by the action of the wedge-shaped part 17" of the bail 17 so
as to facilitate its passage around the widest part of the reel carrier, and the
take-up lever will descend to its lowest position. When the loop has passed this
part of the carrier the take-up will ascend so as to take up a portion of the slack
thread, and as it rises more rapidly than the looper, it will act to draw the loop
clear of the hook 2. Figs. 20 and 21 shew the relative positions of the parts when

page_text: the take-up has thus drawn the loop clear of the hook 2. As the looper continues
to rotate, the take-up will continue its ascent until the rear portion of the looper
has been withdrawn from the loop, and as the point of the hook terminates within
the opening 3 of the looper, all liability of the point of the hook re-engaging the
loop at this time is obviated. During the operation of the take-up, the finger
thread clip at 22 (Fig. 1) is closed upon the upper thread, thus preventing thread
being drawn from the upper reel by the action of the take-up. Fig. 22 is a view
corresponding to and shewing the parts in the same relative positions as in Fig. 14,
the looper having passed the loop a around the lower thread b and engaged a fresh
loop presented by the needle. In drawing out this fresh loop the looper hook 2 as
it continues its movement will complete the taking up of the first loop and tie or
tighten the stitch thus formed (Fig. 23). Immediately upon the completion of the
tying or tightening operation, the upper thread 23 is momentarily released from
the finger thread clip at 22 (Fig. 1), and the slack previously drawn thereby from
the upper reel 20 is taken up by the looper. As will be obvious some of the
hereinbefore described improvements may be used without others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a lock-stitch sewing machine of the kind in which part of a loop is taken up
by a take-up device and the remainder by the looper when spreading the next loop,
a rotary looper constructed with an outwardly bent hook arranged to point in the
direction of rotation of the looper and having its free end projecting into an
opening formed in the body of the looper and through which the point of the needle
passes, and with a rearwardly projecting part carrying said hook and adapted,
during the rotation of the looper, to spread the loop of thread engaged with the
Baid hook substantially as herein described.
2. In a two reel lock stitch sewing machine, a rotary looper constructed arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described with reference respectively to
and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings annexed.
3. In a lock-stitch sewing machine, a lower reel carrier holder pivotally mounted
on a transverse axis immediately below the bed plate of the machine in such a
manner that it can, at will, be turned so as to occupy a position either above or
below the level of the bed plate, and provided with a spring blade or catch adapted
to normally support the reel carrier within the said holder substantially as
described and shown.
4. In a lock-stitch sewing machine, a cup-shaped lower reel carrier adapted to
be supported, with its closed end uppermost, within a holder, and provided with a
swinging bail or cover arranged to close the lower open end of the reel carrier and
prevent any loose coils of thread that may drop from the reel therein from falling
in the path of the rotating looper, the said bail or cover being also so shaped as to
aid in spreading a loop of thread engaged with the looper, over the said reel carrier
substantially as herein described.
5. A lower inverted cup-shaped reel carrier of the kind referred to in the
preceding claim, constructed with an internal depending pin provided at its lower
end with a removable nut or stop and fitted with a freely revolving spring tube
adapted to carry a commercial thread reel, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to and shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In a lock-stitch sewing machine, a finger thread clip arranged between the
upper thread reel and the upper thread tension and adapted to hold the upper
thread during the operation of the take up and to release the same for a short time
immediately after the tying of the last formed stitch, the said clip being provided
with means for drawing, at each operation thereof, enough thread from the upper
reel to form a stitch substantially as herein described.
7. In a lock stitch sewing machine, a finger thread clip constructed arranged

page_text: and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shewn
in Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 9, or modified according to Figs. 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings
annexed.
8. An upper thread tension device comprising a grooved wheel mounted to
revolve upon a sleeve or tubular boss, an endways movable stud loosely fitted
within the said sleeve or tubular boss and acted upon by a spring in such a manner
as to cause the head of the stud, or a washer carried thereby, to force the grooved
wheel against an abutment through which the sleeve or boss and stud pass, and
means such as a set screw, for adjusting the action of the said spring, the said stud
being so arranged in connection with the presser foot gear as to be actuated
thereby in a manner to release its pressure on the said grooved wheel when the
presser foot is raised, substantially as herein before described with reference to
Fige. 2, 2B and 13 of the drawings annexed.
9. A two reel lock-stitch sewing machine constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described and shewn.
ea
1
1000
DANIEL JONES.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.