Improvements in the Method of and Machinery for Sewing Books.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1891--Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery for Sewing Books.
I, DAVID MCCONNELL SMYTH, of Northwood, in the State of New Hampshire,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to sew the folded sheets or signatures into books,
by one, two or more ranges of connected threads across the back of each
book. With small books one range of sewing is sufficient and with large books
two, three or more ranges of sewing are provided, either alone or in connection with
strips of parchment or tapes passing across the back of the book and being united
into and by the sewing.
Each range of sewing is composed of two or three threads; the first thread is
passed from one signature to the next and laid in the form of a loop or double thread
along the inside of the fold and the end of the loop in one signature passes out of that
signature and around the loop of thread in the next signature, so that at one end of
the range of sewing the threads appear to pass out of one signature into the next
and at the other end of the range of sewing the loops are interlooped from one signa-
ture to the next; the second thread in the line of sewing passes out of one signature
into the next signature and around the longitudinal threads before mentioned, so as
to strengthen the sewing by these threads that pass across the back; and in some
instances a second line of crossing threads is provided, and where a strip of parch-
ment or a tape, or two or more of such strips or tapes are provided, the crossing
thread passes into one signature at one edge of the strip or tape and into the next
signature at the opposite edge of the strip or tape, thereby the threads are inter-
laced across such strips of parchment or tapes to hold the same to the back of the
book and increase the strength of the sewing.
In one form of
The machinery for performing this sewing may be varied.
machine a longitudinal needle is made use of, with a hook upon the end of it, and
this longitudinal needle is passed along in the fold of the signature and catches a
loop of thread from an eye pointed needle that is passed into the back of the signa-
ture; and in its passage this hooked needle has passed through one or more loops of
thread from one or more eye pointed needles that have penetrated the signature
from without so that the loop of thread taken by the longitudinal hooked needle is
drawn through these aforesaid loops, to perform the sewing before described and at
the end of the movement of the longitudinal needle, the loop of thread is taken off
of the same by a reciprocating looping hook passing in at the folded back of the
signature and by this looper the loop from one signature is drawn through the loop
from the previous signature.
In another form of this machine the signatures are notched at the folded back
edges, at some little distance from the top and bottom edges of the signatures, so
that the longitudinally moving needles pass in and out of these notches and such
needles are hook pointed and draw the thread from the aforesaid perforated eye
pointed needles, and the thread from one signature remains around the hook of the
longitudinal needle while a second signature is being applied in place, so that the
longitudinal needles pass along through their own loops of thread in the second
signature, to draw out the threads in such second signature and loop them with
the threads of the first signature, as the loops of the first signature are cast off
over the ends of such longitudinally moving hooked needles, thereby the loops
are interlooped by such longitudinally moving hooked needles.
The mechanism for giving motion to the respective needles, consists of levers
sliding bars, longitudinally moving bars for the respective eye pointed needles
and hooked needles, and the longitudinally moving needles receive motion from

page_text: levers, cams and a main driving shaft and there is a sheet holding arm or
bar that receives motion preferably from a rack, and carries the sheet or signa-
ture into its position and the edge of this sheet holding bar is properly grooved
or channeled for the passage of the needles in performing the sewing.
Dated this 30th day of June 1800
D. McC.
SMYTH.
By Brewer & Son,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Machinery for Sewing Books.
I, DAVID MCCONNELL SMYTH, of Northwood, in the State of New Hampshire,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of this invention is to sew the folded sheets or signatures into
books by one, two or more ranges of connected threads across the back of cach
book. With small books one range of sewing is sufficient and with large books
two, three or more ranges of sewing are provided either alone or in connection
with strips of parchment or tapes passing across the back of the book and being
united into and by the sewing.
Each range of sewing is composed of two or three threads; the first thread is
passed from one signature to the next and laid in the form of a long loop or
double thread along the inside of the fold and the end of the loop in one signa-
ture passes out of that signature and around the loop of thread in the next
signature, so that at one end of the range of sewing the threads appear to pass out
of one signature into the next and at the other end of the range of sewing the
loops are interlooped from one signature to the next. The second thread in the
line of sewing, passes out of one signature into the next signature and around the
longitudinal threads before mentioned, so as to strengthen the sewing by these
threads that pass across the back; and in some instances a third thread forming a
second line of crossing threads is provided and where a strip of parchment or a
tape, or two or more of such strips or tapes are provided, the crossing thread passes
into one signature at one edge of the strip or tape and into the next signature at
the opposite edge of the strip or tape, thereby the threads are interlaced across such
strips of parchment or tapes to hold the same to the back of the book and increase
the strength of the sewing.
The machinery for performing this sewing may be varied. In one form of
machine a longitudinal needle is made use of, with a hook upon the end of it and
this longitudinal needle is passed along in the fold of the signature and catches a
loop of thread from an eye pointed needle that is passed into the back of the signa-
ture, and in its passage this hooked needle has passed through one or more loops
of thread from one or more eye pointed needles that have penetrated the signature,
so that the loop of thread taken by the longitudinal hooked needle is drawn
through these aforesaid loops, to perform the sewing before described, and at the
end of the movement of the longitudinal needle the loop of thread is taken off of the
same by a reciprocating looping hoop, passing in at the folded back of the signature,
and by this looper the loop from one signature is drawn through the loop from the
previous signature.
In another form of this machine the signatures are notched at the folded back
edges at some little distance from the top and bottom edges of the signatures, so that
the longitudinally moving needles pass in and out of these notches and such needles
are hook pointed and draw the thread from the aforesaid perforated eye pointed
needles, and the thread from one signature remains around the hook of the longitu-
dinal needle, while a second signature is being applied in place, so that the longitu-
dinal needles pass along through their own loops of thread in entering the second

page_text: посттоорси юз Salongiomany nooned
needles.
In the drawings
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of machine which may be used in carrying out
my invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of said machine.
Figs. 3 & 4 are diagrams illustrating the sewing performed by said machine.
Fig. 5 is a cross section in larger size at the line. Fig. 1.
2
Fig. 6 is an elevation of part of the lever for moving the sheet holding arm.
Fig. 7 is an elevation in larger size of a portion of one of the hook pointed
needles.
Figs. 8 & 9 are sections at the line and y y respectively of Fig. 2.
Fig. 10 is a detached plan view of the levers and rods that move the longitudinal
ncedles.
Figs. 11 & 12 are diagramatic perspective views illustrating the manner in which
the needles perform the sewing.
Fig. 13 is a plan view partially in section of the same machine excepting that a
looper is used in conjunction with the longitudinal hook pointed needle.
Fig. 14 is a diagram representing the sewing performed by said machine and
Figs. 15 & 16 are diagramatic perspective illustrations of the manner in which the
needles perform the sewing.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive A represents a horizontal shaft to
which the power is applied and said shaft is supported in the lower parts of the
frame 12 of the machine.
Upon this shaft A are the cams C the grooves of which are properly shaped to
give motion to the levers D¹ upon the fulcrum 22 and at the upper ends these
levers D' D'are connected by the bars 3, 3, to the collars 4, 4, upon the needle bars B B¹
respectively. These needle bars B B are supported in bearings upon the frame B²,
and the needles D carried by said bars are made with hooks near the points, sce
Fig. 7, and they pass into the fold of the signature, there being incisions or saw cuts
near the top and bottom back edge of the signature, to allow the paper to be pressed
down to allow such needles to pass above the end portions of the paper into the saw
cuts and when the needles are fully projected into the fold of the signature they
receive the loops of thread as hereafter described, but when the needles are with-
drawn and the hooks pass outside of the cuts in the signature, such needles receive a
partial rotary movement to clear the previous loop of thread from the hook, and
then the needles pass through their own loops of thread into the next signature, to
draw out the second loops of thread through the loops of thread of the first signature
and interloop the same and so on.
A cam 32 on each needle bar B B and pins 33 on the frame B2 to pass into the
grooves of said cams, may be employed for giving the partial rotary movements to
the needle bars BB'.
I remark that the portions of the signatures between the
saw cuts and the top and bottom edges of the signature, are pressed down below
the path of the longitudinal needles by a presser bar hereafter described, so
that said needles may be free to enter and draw out of said saw cuts.
I make use of a swinging sheet holding arm G that is upon a vertical shaft G¹
provided with a segmental gear G2 and there is a lever G³ connected to a rack 6
near the upper end gearing into the teeth of the gear segment G² and this
lever G³ is on the pivot 7 and the lower end thereof is slotted as seen in Fig. 6
for the reception of the crank pin
upon the shaft A. The shape of the slot
in the lever G³ is such that while the crank pin 8 is moving through the central
portion of the slot the lever remains stationary, because such slot is at this part
an arc of a circle corresponding to the radius of the crank and the parts are
placed so that the crank pin 8 is in the curved portion of the slot, while the
sheet holding arm is in position for the sewing to be performed, after which the

page_text: crank pin moves the arm out of the sewed sheet and then returns the same
rapidly into the next signature which had been laid by the attendant upon the
top of the previously sewed signature and the arm G carries such signature
properly into place beneath the presser bar H.
The sheets as they are sewed to form the book are to be laid in succession
upon a suitable table, and this table is to descend as the signatures accumulate
in the sewing of the book.
This presser bar H is provided with vertical guide bars H₁ sliding in the
frame and having rollers 10 at their lower ends and there are cams 11 upon the
shaft A. that act upon such rollers 10 bars H' and presser bar H at the proper
time to force down the sewed signatures, and then the presser bar is raised by
the action of suitable springs H Fig. 2 for the next signature to be inserted
beneath it, and the upward movement is limited by the adjustable wedge bar H2
against which pins upon the bars H¹ come into contact in the upward move-
ment.
Saw cuts may be made in the backs of the signatures corresponding in number
and position to the longitudinal threads and cross threads made use of in sewing
and I provide two sets of needles, one set I supply threads to the hooked needles D
and the other set K supply threads that cross the back of the book and are
interlooped with the threads that are drawn in from I by the needles D. I have
shown two needles K but the number may be increased to any desired extent.
Upon the frame B2 are the horizontal slideways B4 into which are received the
bars K & 1 and the bar K' rests upon and is received into the notched ends 12 of
the bar so that these bars K¹ & I and the sets of needles I & K can be recipro-
cated laterally of the bars, to carry the needles end wise into the back folded edge
of the signature either directly through the paper or where saw cuts may have been
made and the bar K¹ can be reciprocated end wise, if desired, for a purpose hereafter
stated.
Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the bars 1' & K' laterally,
but I have shown the rock shaft M and levers M' & M², the upper ends of which
are slightly slotted and receive screws that connect them to the ends of the bar I¹
and the lever M2 is extended downwardly and it is acted upon by the cam Me upon
the shaft A. so as to give the bars 1' & K a lateral reciprocation at the proper
time.
There are spools P4 P₁ for supplying threads to the needles I and spools QQ
for supplying threads to the needles K and upon reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen
that the needles K pass into the signature to a greater depth than the needles I.
The sheet holding arm G is grooved upon its edge for the passage of the needles D
it is also grooved or recessed transversely for the needles K & I to pass in, and
this grooving is sufficiently deep to allow for the loops of thread to be thrown out
from the respective needles I & K; the shape of the cam M being such as to
draw back the bars I & K¹ slightly after they have been projected laterally to
the full extent, so as to spread the loops at the eyes of the needles I, K.
From this description it will be apparent that the needles K are to carry threads
from the spools Q into the folded back edge of the signature, and then the loops
of thread are thrown out by a slight withdrawal of the needles, so that the longi-
tudinally moving needles D pass through the loops of thread from both the
needles K & I and the hooks upon the needles D seize the threads from the
needles I and draw the same from said needles and through the loops of thread
from the needles K and pull the loops to the top and bottom saw cuts of the
signature, and then such needles D pass through such loops into the next folded
signature for performing the sewing. As soon as the needles D are withdrawn or
nearly so, the bars 1¹ & K' are moved laterally to withdraw the needles I & K
from the signature, and it will be seen that in consequence of the needles K pene-
trating further than the needles I a lateral motion can be commenced to be given
to the bars I & K¹ before the needles D are fully withdrawn.
It is preferable to provide slots or ranges of holes in the bars I' and K' for

page_text: receiving the clamping screws for the respective needles 1 K so that the positions of
the needles I may be varied if necessary to suit the size of book that is being sewed
and the numbers and positions of the needles K can also be varied to introduce two
or more cross threads at the backs of the signatures.
Upon reference to the diagram Figs. 3 11 & 12 it will be seen that the threads
supplied by the needles K are convoluted so as to pass around the loops 2 of
threads a, that are drawn off from the needles I. This is accomplished by the
needles K passing in below the needles D so that the loops of thread from such
needles K being thrown upwardly allow the needles D to pass through them, and
the needles K as they are withdrawn, leave the convoluted threads around the
loops 2 of the threads a, from the needles I and pass forward again into the folded
back edge of the next signature that is laid upon the pile, after the presser bar H
has been forced down and raised up. The threads a, pass out of one signature into
the next as shown at 14.
In many instances it is desirable to introduce a strip of parchment, a tape c or a
heavy cord at the back of the book. With this object in view the bar K' can be
moved endwise within the supports 12 upon the bar I'; this end motion is given by
any convenient means. I have however shown a lever K³ acted upon by the doubled
grooved cams K upon the shaft A there being a traveller or switch pivoted at the
lower end of the lever K³ which switch crosses over from one peripheral groove to
the other, so that the lever K³ remains in one position during one rotation of the
shaft A and in another position during the next revolution of the shaft A and this
lever K³ is connected at its upper end either directly to the bar K' or immediately
through the short lever K with the sliding bracket piece K the upper portion of
which is slotted for a pin upon the bar K so that this bar K' and the bar I can
be moved laterally as before described and at one stitch the needles K will penetrate
the signature in one position and after being withdrawn the bar K¹ will be moved
end wise to the desired extent, so that the next penetration of the needles K will
be at a slight distance from the previous penetration and this distance can be regu-
lated by shifting the pin 20 in the slot of the lever K so that the threads & from
the needles K can be made to pass across the cord or strip of parchment or a tape o
that crosses the back of the book, thereby the threads in the sewing of the book
will be interlooped or convoluted as illustrated at 5 in the diagram Fig. 4, and will
also hold the strips or cords firmly to the back of the book.
The same kind of sewing is performed by the machine shown in Fig. 13 as by
the machine before described, but with the machine of Fig. 13 I employ a
hook pointed needle or looper P to act in conjunction with the longitudinal
needle D.
This looper P is connected to the bar I' and it is fitted to turn therein and upon
this bar 1 is the eye pointed needle I and as said bar is moved back and forth, the
looper P is partially rotated first in one direction and then in the other by a
stationary pin P¹ entering a groove in a cam P2 on the looper P.
The operation of the machine shown in Fig. 13 is as follows, it being understood
that the needle bar B¹ and needle D the sheet holding arm G and bars I¹ K' receive
their movements at the proper times by similar devices that are correspondingly
lettered to those shown in Figs. 1 & 2.
The operator places the folded signature upon a suitable table or support, and
the sheet holding arm G swings into the same and holds the sheet while the sewing
is being performed. The needles K & I are now brought up and penetrate the
folded back edge of the signature, the needles K penetrating the fartherest into
the signature and they are drawn out slightly so as to throw up loops of the
thread a from the respective spools. The reciprocating needle D is now caused
to enter the fold of the sheet and travel through the loops of thread from the eye
pointed needles K and the hook end of D catches a loop of thread a from the
needle I and draws such loop of thread double as at 2 through the loops of thread b
from the eye pointed needles K as such needle D is drawn back out of the signature,

page_text: but before the hook of the needle D passes out from the folded signature, the
hooked needle P is to be thrust through the fold of the signature and into such
loop 2 of thread from the needle I that is upon the needle D and the needle D
receives a partial rotation and moves sufficiently for the loop of thread to be cast
off the hook of the needle D and received upon the hook of the needle P. As
this needle P draws back the hook thereof pulls out the loop of thread at the
folded back edge of the signature see Figs. 15 & 16 and such hooked needle P
receives a partial rotation to slightly twist the loop of needle thread. Another
signature has by this time been placed upon the first, the sheet holding arm G is
swung back out of the first signature and forward into the second signature and
carries such signature accurately to the point of the sewing, and the operations
before described are repeated by the needles K being caused to penetrate such
signature for the needle D to pass through the loops of thread at the needles K and
the needle I also penetrates the second signature for the loop of thread to be taken
by the hooked needle D and drawn back through the loops of thread at the
needles K and as this is done the hooked needle P passes through the loop of
thread that has been around its hooked end and penetrates the second signature
and passes through the loop of thread that has been drawn from the eye pointed
needle I by the hooked needle D and this loop of thread is dropped by the needle D
around the hooked needle P and the hook of the latter draws out the end of the
second loop from the signature through the loop from the first signature that had
been around the needle P and this first loop is now cast off around the second loop
of thread and the operations are repeated, so that the needles D & P form a chain
of looped stitches at 30 and the threads from the needles K form loops around the
threads a from the needle I.
For large books, the devices of Fig. 13 might be duplicated, as with the machine
shown in Figs. 1 & 2 the sheet holding arm being sufficiently long, and if strips of
parchment or tapes care to be applied to the back of the book, the bar K' is to be
moved longitudinally as explained with reference to Figs. 1 & 2 so that the
needles Kwill penetrate one signature at one side of the strip and the next signature
at the other side of the strip, and the interlacing threads will cross as illustrated
in Fig. 14.
If the needles K are at the side of the needle towards the previously sewed
signature, the loops 5 will be wound around the doubled thread 2 as illustrated in
Figs. 11, 12 & 15; if the needles D are at the side of the needles K towards the
previously sewed signature, the loops 5 will simply pass under or behind the double
threads 2 as indicated in Fig. 16.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First: In book sewing, the thread a laid double along the folds of the signatures
with the loop at the end of the doubled thread in one signature around the doubled
thread of the next signature and such thread a passing out of one signature into
the next, in combination with a thread & passing across the back of the book with
loops 5 within the signatures and through which the doubled portions 2 of the
threads a pass, substantially as specified.
Second In book sewing, the threads a laid double along the folds of the
signatures and passing out of one signature into the next and the loops at the ends
of the doubled portions of the threads interlooped across the back of the book, in
combination with the thread 6 passing across the back of the book and having loops
passing into each signature and around the doubled longitudinal threads, substantially
as set forth.
Third The combination in book sewing of the thread a passing from one
signature into the next and laid double in the folds of the signatures, the loops at
the ends of the doubled portion being interlooped across the back of the book, in

page_text: combination with a tape or strip crossing the back of the book and a thread
laced across the strip and having loops entering the folded signatures and passing
around the longitudinal doubled threads, substantially as specified.
Fourth: The combination with the sheet holding arm or bar and the hook
needles D and mechanism for reciprocating the same, of the needles I for supplying
threads to be taken by the hooked needles D, the bar I¹ for supporting the needles I
and mechanism substantially as specified for moving the bar 1 and giving to the
needles I an end wise movement to cause them to penetrate the folded back of the
signatures, substantially as set forth.
Fifth The combination with the sheet holding arm and the end wise moving
needles D passing into the fold of the signature, of the needles I for supplying
thread, mechanism for moving the same to cause them to penetrate the fold of the
signature, and the needles K and means for reciprocating the same, for supplying
loops of thread through which the threads are drawn by the needles D substantially
as set forth.
Sixth The combination with the sheet holding arm and the thread supplying
needles I and means for moving the same, of the needles D and mechanism for
moving the same endwise and carrying threads along the fold of the signature,
the thread carrying needles K and mechanism for moving the same to cause them
to penetrate the folded back edge of one signature at one place and the next signature
at a different place and lay threads across the tapes or cords, substantially as set
forth.
Seventh The combination with the sheet holding arm and the needles D of the
needles I and needle bar I the needles K bar K supported on and moved laterally
by the bar the slotted support B34 for the bars I' K and mechanism substantially
as specified for giving to the bars I K₁ a lateral motion and to the bar K' an end
motion substantially as set forth.
:
Eighth In a book sewing machine the combination with the sheet holding arm
and needles D that lay doubled threads along in the folded signatures, of needles K
that lay loops of thread in the path of the needles D, so that the longitudinal
threads may be passed through such loops, and means for giving motion to the
needles and looping the longitudinal threads where they pass from one signature to
the next, substantially as specified.
Dated this and day of Wahmu 1901
D. MCCONNELL SMYTH.
By Brewer & Son,
Agents.