Improvements in Apparatus for Sewing Straw into Mats suitable for being used for Covering Corn Ricks and for other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sewing Straw into Mats suitable
for being used for Covering Corn Ricks and for other Purposes.
I, JOHN RUSSELL EDWARDS of Flemings Hall Bedingfeld Eye in the County of
Suffolk Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for sewing straw into
mats suitable for being used for covering corn ricks and for other purposes.
For this purpose I cause a layer of straw of any desired depth to be moved forwards
over the surface of a table up through which a needle can he made to rise-the needle
I use is one which is provided with a hinged latch which can either be turned into a
position to close an opening formed at one side of the eye or turned into a backward
position so as to lie along the stem and leave the side of the eye open.
The straw as it passes over that part of the table where the needle is from time to
time made to rise up through it is made to pass under an arm the end of which is
over or in proximity to the needle. Each time that the point of the needle is drawn
downwards below the surface of the table packers or pressing pieces are caused to rise
up from the table and compress the straw above them up to and against the arm.
Movement may conveniently be given to the needle and packers by means of opposite
cranks on a crank axis which can be revolved by a crank handle at its end or in other
suitable way.
When the needle rises up through the straw its latch turns back leaving the eye
open the eye catches a string which lies above the straw and draws the string
downwards a loop of the string which was on the stem of the needle comes under
the latch as the needle descends and turning over the latch causes it to close the eye
and the loop consequently slips off over the point of the needle. When the needle
again rises the loop of string which during this time has been held in the eye of the
needle again turns back the latch and the loop passes on to the stem of the needle
below the latch-the eye of the needle then again catches the string above the straw
and so the work goes on, the straw being fed forwards a distance along the table
either by hand or automatically after each descent of the needle.
In this way a very simple way of sewing together straw is provided.
31
1
1 1900
J. RUSSELL EDWARDS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sewing Straw into Mats suitable for
being used for Covering Corn Ricks and for other Purposes.
I, JOHN RUSSELL EDWARDS of Flemings Hall Bedingfeld Eye in the County of
Suffolk Gentleman 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 has for its object improvements in apparatus for sewing straw into
mats suitable for being used for covering corn ricks and for other purposes.
For this purpose I cause a layer of straw of any desired depth to be moved
forwards over the surface of a table up through which a needle can be made to
rise, the needle I use is one which is provided with a hinged latch which can
either be turned into a position to close an opening formed at one side of the eye
or turned into a backward position so as to lie along the stem and leave the side of the
eye open.
The straw as it passes over that part of the table where the needle is from time

page_text: has passed the inclines, and when the needle next rises the bundle of straw is between
it and the loop just before carried down. The needle is provided with a latch d' as
shown; when the needle rises the latch opens and the loop of string escapes from the
hook and passes on to the stem of the needle. The needle afterwards again catches
the string as it descends past it in the arm g and it takes down another loop of string
through the first loop. The latch closes on the new loop as the needle passes down
and the old loop which was on the stem of the needle éscapes over the latch and hook
but with the new loop drawn through it. Thus the work goes on, and each successive
bundle of straw is retained by string lapped around and the string being continuous
from bundle to bundle ties them together.
In this way mats of any desired length may be made and of a width corresponding
to the length of the straw. For many purposes one line of sewing is sufficient but if
desired two or more lines may be introduced by passing the mat more than once
through the machine.
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 :-
1. The combination in apparatus for sewing straw into mats, of the table; the arm;
the needle, and the packers substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for sewing straw into mats substantially as described and represented
by the annexed drawings.
D
L
571 1
T
1000
J. R. EDWARDS.