AN IMPROVED METHOD OF APPLYING WAX TO THE THREADS USED IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th December 1865.-A communication from abroad by Job Dawley
and John Blocher, both of Buffalo, New York, United States of
America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF APPLYING WAX TO THE THREADS USED IN SEWING
MACHINES," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention is more especially applicable to double thread sewing
machines, and consist chiefly in a device for supplying wax to the threads,
which operates in such a manner as not to cause any difficulty in regulating
the tension of the said threads, this difficulty having hitherto been the chief
cause of the failure of thread-waxing devices.
Wax in a liquid or semi-liquid state is supplied to a receptacle formed in
the shuttle race at or near the needle throat. The upper or needle thread is
carried at each descent of the needle into this receptacle, and is thoroughly
saturated with the wax lying therein. Heretofore the needle thread has
been waxed before passing through the fabric, and this has prevented the

page_text: proper adjustment of the tension. By the improved method herein described
no wax is applied to any part of the thread until the said thread has passed
all the tension devices. All difficulties of adjustment of the tension are
thereby overcome, and the machine altogether works more easily than other
waxed thread machines. The wax is supplied to the receptacle formed in the
shuttle race from a reservoir or cylinder which is secured to the top of the
table below the shuttle race, as nearly in line as may be convenient or
practicable with the needle throat to allow of a communication being easily
formed therewith by a tube or nozzle. A moveable piston or bottom is fitted
to work in this cylinder provided with a piston rod on which a screw thread
is formed. This rod extends downward through the lower end of the said
cylinder and table top, and through a nut fixed below the said table top.
This nut being supported and confined between the table top and a bridge
cannot move upward or downward. The piston and rod are prevented from
turning by a feather fixed inside the cylinder. When, therefore, the nut is
turned round each revolution thereof causes a vertical movement of the piston
in the cylinder. Motion is communicated to this nut from the rock shaft or
other convenient moving part of the machine, and the piston is gradually
raised, and thereby maintains a proper supply of wax to the receptacle at the
needle throat.
.
The application of this Invention is extended to the waxing of the lower
or shuttle thread in the following manner:-The shuttle is provided with a
door by means of which the bobbin containing the thread may be enclosed
within the said shuttle in such a manner as prevents the wax gaining access
thereto as the shuttle travels in either direction over the wax receptacle in
the shuttle race. No part of the thread therefore can come in contact with
the wax till it has left the shuttle and tension devices. The shuttle thread
tension device may be advantageously placed within the shuttle, which need
only have one opening for the thread to pass through. As the shuttle is
thrown through the loop of the upper thread, the said loop (which has been
just before dipped in the liquid wax,) when drawn up will carry with it a
quantity of the said wax. This quantity when the loop draws over the heel
of the shuttle and comes in contact with the shuttle thread will be sufficient
to thoroughly wax the said thread. A piece of felt or other suitable material
is attached to the race cover to clean the heel of the shuttle and prevent the
deposit of wax thereon, which might cause the loop to stick. The bottom
and face of the shuttle may be kept clean by a sponge inserted in a recess
formed in the race, the said sponge being saturated with benzine or other
similar substance. If the wax in the reservoir or cylinder should solidify

page_text: heat may be applied by a lamp or other suitable means, which will quickly
cause the said wax to return to its liquid state.
This Invention, though more especially applicable to double thread machines,
may be adapted to any machine whose construction will permit the location of
a wax receptacle at or near the needle throat.