IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hector Auguste Dufrené, of No. 10, Rue de la Fidélité,
A
Paris, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Civil-Engineer and Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
communication from Monsieur Jose Ribeiro Vieira de Castro, of Porto, in the
Kingdom of Portural
Sealed the 30th January 1880, and dated the 14th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hector Auguste Dufrené
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November
1879.
HECTOR AUGUSTE DUFRENÉ, of No. 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, and 4, South
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Street, Finsbury, London, Civil-Engineer and Patent Agent.
SEWING MACHINES." [A communication from Monsieur Jose Ribeiro Vieira de
Castro, of Porto, in the Kingdom of Portugal.]
These improvements relate to that class of sewing machines employing shuttles
large enough to contain an ordinary wooden bobbin, containing about one hundred
yards or two hundred yards of thread or more.
The
In carrying out these improvements, the bobbin placed in a suitable cover or case,
is placed in a tube provided with a projection for fitting it to the underside of the
table of the machine. The driving shaft turns a flanged disc cut out in the form of
a hook, which takes hold of the thread to cause it to pass round the bobbin.
needle passes through the fabric, forms a loop underneath, and then stops; the hook
then takes this loop and causes it to pass round the bobbin. The thread is furnished
by a break or stretcher placed on the upper frame of the machine, and which
advances the required distance to furnish the quantity of thread necessary for the
formation of the loop.
When the bobbin has been passed into this loop, the hook of the rotating flanged
disc leaves the thread, the needle rises again, and the thread drawn along by the
break or stretcher, which returns to its first position, is gradually shortened to close
the stitch. At this moment the two bobbins (the upper and lower bobbins) furnish
the necessary quantity of thread for the following stitch and so on.
These improvements may be applied to other sewing machines, for example, to
those machines which have a circular steel bobbin consisting of two discs united in
the centre; for this purpose the hereinbefore described disc would be provided
with two hooks and with a concavity in which the bobbin would be placed,
an annular cover being provided between which and the concave disc the bobbin
rests.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hector Auguste Dufrené in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
May 1880.
HECTOR AUGUSTE DUFRENÉ, of 10, Rue de la Fidélité, Paris, and 4, South Street,
Finsbury, London, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINES." A communication from Monsieur Jose Ribeiro Vieira de Castro; of
Porto, in the Kingdom of Portugal.
These improvements relate to that class of sewing machines employing shuttles
large enough to contain an ordinary wooden bobbin, containing about one hundred
yards or two hundred yards of thread or more.
In carrying out these improvements, the bobbin, placed in a suitable cover or
case, is placed in a tube provided with a projection for fitting it to the underside of
the table of the machine. The driving shaft turns a flanged disc cut out in the
form of a hook, which takes hold of the thread to cause it to pass round the bobbin..
The needle passes through the fabric, forms a loop underneath, and then stops; the
hook then takes this loop and causes it to pass round the bobbin. The thread is
furnished by a break or stretcher placed on the upper frame of the machine, and
which advances the required distance to furnish the quantity of thread necessary
for the formation of the loop.
When the bobbin has been passed into this loop, the hook of the rotating flanged
disc leaves the thread, the needle rises again, and the thread drawn along by the
break or stretcher, which returns to its first position, is gradually shortened to close
the stitch. At this moment the two bobbins (the upper and lower bobbins) furnish
the necessary quantity of thread for the following stitch and so on.
But to make the Invention communicated to me better understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure A
represents the flanged disc forming a rotating hook. It is screwed to the driving
shaft in combination with the break or stretcher 12.
Figures B, B', Bu, represent the case carrying the bobbin of the lower thread;
a, shell or frame with the bobbin; b, tube in which the shell or frame is placed;
c, the case complete.
Figure C represents the rotating hook at the moment at which it takes the
thread from the needle.
Figure D represents an underside view of the rotating hook with the thread
which it has received from the needle embracing the bobbin of the lower
thread.
Figure E represents the break or stretcher 12, furnishing to the hook the thread
necessary to embrace the bobbin of the lower thread.
Figure F represents the said break or stretcher withdrawing the thread which it
had furnished to the hook and locking the stitch.
In all the Figures similar parts are represented by similar figures of reference,
that is to say,-
1, driving shaft; 2, the rotating hook (or stitch maker); 3, the case of the lower
bobbin 4, the lower thread; 5, projection holding the case of the lower bobbin;
6, the grooved support for the needle helping to make the knot; 7, plate; 8, the
needle; 9, the upper thread; 10, the screw holding the needle; 11, the needle bar;
12, the moveable break; 13, the eye through which passes the thread forming an
angle with the break; 14, the discs for the tension of the thread; 15, the fixed arm
having in its interior the arm which causes the needle bar to move in combination
with the driving shaft; 16, the claw which causes the cloth to move.
DESADITION OR TUP MACHINE

page_text: tension, but it is distinguished from other machines in this, namely, that in forming
a double stitch, instead of the metallic shuttles or bobbins on which a small quantity
of thread is wound, I put in the place of these small apparatus an ordinary wooden
bobbin used in commerce, containing 100 or 200 yards of thread, thus avoiding the
constant renewal of the lower thread, and allowing of working during many
consecutive hours, and even a whole day without any troublesome interruption or
loss of time.
With this machine all the kinds of work can be executed that can be done with
one of the best shuttle machines, locking the stitch by the same method, whereby it
is distinguished from some of the present machines having two bobbins with which
it has not been possible to obtain perfect work.
The result is due to the peculiar combination of the rotating hook 2 with the
break 12, as I will now describe.
I place the upper thread in the manner shewn in Figure F.
The bobbin of the lower thread arranged in the frame a, Figure B, is
introduced into the tube b, Figure B; I place this case in the groove 5, as shewn in
Figure F.
In actuating the fly wheel of the machine, the hook and the needle are caused
to turn or move simultaneously, the latter in a vertical and the former in a rotary
direction.
The needle with the thread passes through the fabric into the interior of the
mechanism, and arriving at a suitable height, forms a knot with the thread, and its
movement is stopped. At the same time the hook meets the needle and takes the
formed knot for the needle (as shewn at Figure C) and places it on the lower
bobbin, Figure D. The upper thread embraces the bobbin of the lower thread,
arriving at the position in which it is seen at Figure D, without the least
resistance being furnished by the break or stretcher 12, which advances as shewn
at Figure E.
When the embracing of the bobbin of the lower thread is accomplished, the book 2
automatically leaves the thread, the needle rises until it reaches the position shewn
in Figure F, and the break or stretcher recoils carrying all the thread which it had
furnished for the embracing, Figure F.
It is in the position seen at Figure F that the stitch is locked, causing the necessary
quantity of thread for the following stitch to unwind from the two bobbins. It is
owing to this circumstance that I am enabled to apply the most ordinary thread to
this machine as it is submitted to only a slight pressure or strain when the stitch
is locked. This important result is owing, as hereinbefore described, to the com-
bination of the rotating hook 2 with the break or stretcher 12. It should be
observed however that some of these parts (as well as the frame 3 containing the
bobbin of the lower thread) constituting the Invention, may be modified in
their shape, as well as in their arrangement and their combination with the
mechanism.
These improvements may be applied to other sewing machines, for example, to
those machines which have a circular steel bobbin consisting of two discs united
in the centre; for this purpose the hereinbefore described disc would be provided
with two hooks, and with a concavity in which the bobbin would be placed,
an annular cover being provided, between which and the concave disc the bobbin
rests.
Having thus described the Invention communicated to me, and the best means I
am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that what is claimed and desired to be protected by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
Firstly. The application of the ordinary wooden bobbin in the lower part of the
double stitch machine, giving the advantage of a considerable economy of time in
the operation.
Secondly. The embracing of the lower thread by the upper thread taking place

page_text: without any pressure which allows of the employment of ordinary thread, and effects
a great economy in money.
Thirdly. The arrangements whereby the stitch is caused to lock when the needle
is in its highest position out of the fabric, and without leaving any thread in the
interior of the mechanism, the result of which is that the most pliant as well as
the stoutest fabrics may be sewn by regulating the tension of the threads.
Fourthly. The application of the improvements herein before described to the
Wheeler and Wilson machine, and in general to any construction of shuttle sewing
machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hector Auguste Dufrené, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
H. A. DUFRENÉ. (L.S.)