IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Cyrus Shaw Cushman and Nesbit
Delany Stoops, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Mechanical Engineers.
sealed the 5th November 1875, and dated the 18th September 1875.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 13th September 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Oo., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SEWING MACHINES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent

page_text: oscillate to its full extent, and rotate the crown wheel by means of a
pawl lever, to which it is connected, as more fully herein-after set
forth.
Fourth. In the combination with the oscillating lever operated by the
cam on the driving shaft of an adjustable pin attached thereto, a slotted
pattern wheel operated by a cam on the driving shaft through the
medium of a pawl and ratchet wheel, the oscillating pawl lever and
rotating crown wheel, said pawl lever being provided with sliding spring
bolts, which are adapted to work into recesses on the face of the crown
wheel, and carry the same forward, imparting an intermittent variablo
rotary motion to the same and to the feed plate, as hercin-after moro
fully set forth.
Fifth. In the combination with the driving shaft of a sewing machine
of certain devices for imparting an intermittent rotary movement to the
dentated feed plate which carries the fabric, consisting in an eccentric
attached to said shaft, an oscillating lever pivoted at one end to the frame
of the machine and connected at the other by a link to an oscillating
lever mounted upon a short journal attached to the frame of the machine,
and carrying a pawl at its upper end, and a ratcheted crown wheel
mounted upon the same journal and gearing into a pinion on the lower
end of the feed plate shaft, as herein-after set forth.
"
Sixth. In the combination with said pawl lever and pawls and the
recessed ratcheted crown wheel gearing into the pinion on the lower end
of the feed plate shaft of a regulating lever for throwing the pawls into
and out of gear, as more fully hercin-after set forth.
Seventh. In the combination of the above-mentioned devices for
imparting a variable rotary movement to the feed plate, as fully hercin-
after described.
Eighth. In the combination with the above-mentioned devices for
imparting a variable intermittent rotary motion to the feed plate of
certain devices for imparting vertical and horizontal reciprocating move-
ment to the feed plate, consisting of two cams attached to the shaft of
the machine operating two levers, which in turn operate the vertical
shaft carrying the feed plate, raising the same and advancing the feed
plate at proper intervals and springs for retaining the feed shaft and its
attachments in position when the levers are dropped, as more fully
herein-after specified.

page_text: . Ninth. In the combination with the stationary or permanent hanger
of the machine of a removable or detachable hanger for supporting or
carrying the various parts of the feed movement, said movable hanger
being secured to the stationary hanger by means of a strap or cross
piece and screw bolts embracing said hanger, said movable hanger being
capable of adjustment in relation to the bed plate by means of set screws,
-

page_text: are secured around the same by means of a strap or cross piece a by the
nuts e, e, secured on the ends of said bolts. The upper edge or side of
the removable or detachable hanger is provided with lugs or projections f
through which project the screw bolts g, the upper ends of which bear
against the lower surfaces of the bed plate, and by means of which
the removable hanger and the working parts attached to the same may be
leveled and adjusted in relation to the bed plate of the machine.
D represents a cam attached rigidly to the main driving shaft 'B;
and E, an oscillating lever pivoted upon a short stud F secured to the
hanger C and forming the fulcrum of said lever; G represents a friction
wheel secured to a stud upon the lever E in a plane just above the
cam D, against which said wheel bears, and by means of which an
upward motion is given to the lever as the driving shaft is rotated, the
downward or return motion of said lever being effected by means of a
spiral spring H secured at one end to a pin I which sets over the stud F,
the other end being secured to the hanger C or lower frame of the
machine.
K represents an adjustable pin or pawl secured by means of a set
screw L within a slot on the lever E and projecting to the rear of the
same; and adapted to work in connection with a slotted rotating cylinder
or pattern cam M. secured by means of a screw to a short stud or
journal N, on which it revolves to the hanger C.
The pattern cam or wheel M. consists of a short cylinder or tube
secured rigidly to the sleeve or boss o of the ratchet wheel O. The
enlarged end or crown m of said cylinder is provided with slots,
openings, or indentations m' which may vary in number and position
according to the configuration of the intended or elected pattern. In
the present instance four of such slots are illustrated in the proper
position required to give the feed plate the proper intermittent rotary
motion in connection with the shifting lever Cand crown wheel to form
the pattern illustrated in Figure 7 of the Drawings.
Other configurations of the pattern may be formed by substituting
differently slotted or indented pattern cams for the one shewn, for which
purpose the cam is made detachable in order that others may be sub-
stituted in its place when desired. In the present case the pattern cam
is illustrated as deriving its rotary movement through the medium of
a pawl and ratchet wheel O̟ in connection with a pawl lover Rand

page_text: eccentric strap S secured to an eccentric T on the driving shaft B, but it
is evident that any mechanical equivalent or mechanism may be
employed in connection with said shaft to impart proper rotary move-
ment to the pattern cam. The adjustable pin or pawl K attached to the
lever E rests upon the periphery of the pattern wheel or cam, the
oscillating motion of said lever being limited thereby until the slots are
brought below said pin or pawl, when the pawl drops through the slots
allowing the lever E to oscillate to its full extent, and upon its return
movement operate the crown wheel to the proper extent to rotate or
partially rotate-the-dentated feed plate so as to change the line of motion
of the fabric in order to form the desired figure or pattern of the

page_text: ↑
such relative points that one or the other of the pawls or sliding bolts
D, D, may be allowed to project through the same, and enter the
recesses in the wheel as may be desired by shifting or changing the
position of said lever. The upper end of said lever is also provided with
a hook which is adapted to set over the bent arm of the pawl A¹, and
lift its other end out of the ratchets, when said lever is set so as to allow
the outer pawl D¹ to work into the outer series of recesses F¹ on the face
of the crown wheel W, for a purpose to be herein-after explained.
The lower end of the lever C¹ has the shape of a handle by which it
may be shifted, and near said end is a catch M¹ which engages in
recesses on the rear face of the lower end of the lever V, and confines
it in position after shifting, the said lever O¹ being made sufficiently
elastic to be easily sprung in and out of said recesses.
The crown wheel W, as above stated, gears into a pinion wheel H³,
secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft O', journalled in a bore
formed for the purpose and extending vertically into the shaft O¹,
behind the spring bar, the upper end being beveled off in front and
adapted to work in contact with a corresponding bevel on the spring bar
just below the feed plate; Z represents a lever pivoted at one end'
to a screw bolt secured to the lever T", and extending across the machine
parallel with the said lever T, and a little below the same. The front
end of said lever Z' is bent upwards and rests upon a cam A², attached
to the driving shaft B, and at its centre it is enlarged or extended to onė
side, said enlarged or extended portion falling directly under the end of
the shaft W¹, where it is provided with a set screw B³, by means of which
vertical play of said shaft may be adjusted and the throw of the feed
plate regulated. Around the shaft W₁ is secured a spiral spring O³, the
lower end of which rests upon a shoulder formed upon said shaft for the
purpose, the upper end bearing against a shoulder in the recess formed
in the shaft O¹, said spring serving to keep the shaft W₁ pressed down-
ward.
Having fully described the various parts of this Invention, I will now,
proceed to describe its operation.
:
When the machine is put in motion the driving shaft B, by rotating
the cam D, imparts an oscillating motion to the lever E, the extent of
which will depend upon the adjustment of the pin L, and the position of
the slotted pattern wheel or cylinder M. The lever E at each oscillation'

page_text: will impart a corresponding oscillatory movement to the lever V, causing
the pawl A to advance the wheel W the extent of one or more teeth
according to the position in which the adjustable pin I is set. This
movement rotates the feed plate slightly at each stitch, and together
with the reciprocating motion imparted to said plate, advances the work
diagonally across the bed plate of the machine.
While this operation is taking place, the slotted wheel or cylinder M
is advanced at each revolution of the shaft B through the medium-of-the
_eccentric on said shaft, and the.-oscillating lever R attached thereto,
moving the pawl-P and ratchet O secured to the end of said cylinder
until one of the slots in the cylinder falls under the pin L, when
said pin drops through the slot allowing the lever E to move backwards
to its full extent, when one of the pawls D¹ will enter the next backward
recess F¹¹, and upon the return movement of the levers carry the wheel
W forward independently of the pawl A', rotating the feed plate to such
an extent as to properly change the direction of the stitches for the
succeeding portion of the design.
The design will be varied by the relative distances apart of the slots
in the pattern wheel and by the number of slots formed in the same. In
order, however, further to vary the character of the design or Figure of
the stitches, provision is made by means of the controlling lever C' for
throwing the pawl A' and the pawl or sliding bolt D', which works in
.the inner series of recesses F" out of gear, and at the same time throwing
the outer pawl D¹ into gear, with the outer series of recesses F". This
is accomplished by shifting the lever C³, so that its hooked end will
depress the rear or bent end of the pawl A¹, and at the same time change
the positions of the apertures L', L', so as to interpose a solid portion of
said plate between the inner pawl D¹ and the inner series of recesses F¹,
and allow the outer pawl to work into the outer series. When the parts
are in this position the pawl A will cease to act, and the intermittent
rotary motion will be accomplished by the action of the lever E only
when the pin L drops through the slots in the-pattern wlieel. The
wheel W in the latter caso-will receive no-gradual forward movement
as the pawl A-does-not-act, and consequently the feed plate will be
operated in one direction only at the successive stitches, being only
rotated periodically after sewing a straight row of stitches when it is
necessary to change the direction of which the cloth is to-be-moved."
1

page_text: It will be evident from the foregoing description that by changing
the number and relative positions of the slots in the pattern wheel,
the character of the design formed by the stitches may be infinitely
varied, and for this reason I prefer to make the said pattern wheel easily
detachable, in order that it may be removed and others substituted in its
place.
The following Figures of the Drawings illustrate a modification in the
feed mechanism forming part of this Invention.
•
Figure 11 represents a bottom view of the front end of the bed plate
with these improvements attached.
Figure 12 is an elevation of the front end of the bed plate and the
said improved feed movement.
Figure 13 is a detached elevation of the frame and devices constituting
this improved feed movement. Figure 14 is a top view of the same.
Figures 15 and 16 are detached views of the lever, by which the
forward rectilinear movement is given to the sliding bar that carries the
feed plate.
Figures 17 and 18 are detached views of the devices for imparting the
lateral movement to the feed plate.
And Figure 19 and 20 detached view of the feed plate and shaft to
which it is attached.
Figure 21 shews another portion of my improved apparatus.
A represents the feed plate of the machine, and A¹ the stationary or
permanent hanger or abutment formed thereon or attached thereto.
F represents a removable fṛame or hanger, upon which the various
working parts of this improved feed movement are supported, with the
exception of the cams secured upon the driving. shaft. Said frame or
hanger is provided with a screw bolt f, which is adapted to set between
the jaws of the permanent hanger A² of the machine, and confined
therein by means of a screw nut e, by means of which the moveable
hanger is securely fastened in place, the same being capable of being
readily attached and detached in order that either the ordinary feed
movement of the machine or the improved compound feed movement
may be employed at pleasure.

page_text: H, represents set screws setting through lugs d, d, on the upper
part of the moveable hanger A¹, the ends of which bear against
the lower surface of the bed plate A, and by means of which the
removable hanger or frame and the various parts of the feed movement
may be beveled and adjusted to the proper position in relation to the bed
plate and the work. B is the driving shaft, which has on its front end
a fced cam for giving the forward movement to the feed bar D, the
_cam_operating the said bar by means of the lever E hung on the fulcrum
pin a, which. projects from the front side of the frame F. The upward
movement is given by means of the cam C³.
T
The said frame F and parts in connection are shown detached from
the machine in Figures 13 and 14. The swivel b on the front end of
the lever E,is kept up against said conical cam by the action of the wire
spring G connected with the feed bar pulling the stud c of the bar'
against the rear end of the lever, so that the cam may give the forward
movement to the feed bar, and the spring the backward movement.
The said frame F has a vertical adjustment by means of the set
screws H, in the lugs d, d, of the frame to suit various thicknesses of
the bed plate A, the points of the screws bearing against the under side
of the bed plate. It is confined in its adjusted position by means of
the nut e on the outer end of the stud f, which projects from the inner
side of the frame through the slot of the projection on the under
side of the bed plate. The front end of the feed bar is hung on the
adjustable fulcrum pin i, which passes through the shaftj of the bar,
and is screwed into the frame F. The other end is held by the pin i
which
passes through the slot j', which is of proper dimensions to admit
of the forward, back, and vertical- movements of the bar. The feed
plate I is separate from the feed bar, and has a stem k, which has a
-sliding-movement in the above-mentioned lug to provide for a lateral
movement of the feed plate-simultaneously with its forward movement
given by the forward movement of the feed bar, whereby a zig-zag or
ornamental stitching, is produced. On the outer-end-of the-stem-k-of-
the feed plate I there is an arm adjustable for the-purpose of adjusting
the lateral movements of the feed plate, being held by means of the
screw m, and an arm connected therewith by means of a pin for
the purpose of holding the feed plate in a vertical position. The outer
end of said-arm-is-held-in-the-cross-groove --of-the-sleeve.J, which
surrounds the cylinder K on the stem K¹. The cylinder has a circum-

page_text: ferential cam groove p on its inner end, into which the pin q of the
sleeve J projects, and also a ratchet wheel L, whereby as the cylinder
is revolved by an intermittent movement of the spring detent Ma
longitudinal movement on the cylinder J is given to the sleeve, and
thereby a reciprocating lateral movement to the feed plate I simul-
taneously with the forward movement to produce ornamental stitching.
N is a hollow rocking shaft on the stem N¹, which projects laterally
from the front end of the frame F. It has a reciprocating movement
by means of a cam on the driving shaft, in combination with the
spring P¹.
The heel of the spring is fast to the rocking shaft, and the resilient
end bears upon said cam wheel, whereby the outer end of the short
arm 7 of the shaft is kept against the cam. The rocking shaft has a
long arm ¹ for giving a quick movement to the ratchet wheel L of
the cylinder K, and for giving rapidly to the lateral movement of
the feed plate I through the parts above described, as the lateral move-
ment each way must be made in the length of time in which the forward
movement is given. To the outer end of said long arm ¹ is pivoted one
end of a link, the other end of which by means of the pivot s is con-
nected to one end of the plate R hung on the hub of the ratchet
wheel L, which has the spring detent M, that engages with 'the afore-
said ratchet wheel L to give an intermittent rotary movement to the
cylinder J, which by acting through the means above described gives
the lateral movement to the feed plate I.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the
same; I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A movable frame or hanger for carrying or supporting the
compound movements of a sewing machine, constructed and adapted to
be secured to the hanger or abutments below the bed plate of the
machine in lieu of the ordinary feed movement thereof, and capable of
adjustment in relation to said plate by set screws, whereby a feed motion
or mechanism may be leveled and adjusted, as above described.
Second. The improved pattern wheel or cam, consisting of a rotating
cylinder provided with slots, openings, or indentations at one end, and
adapted to the machine, and to operate in connection with the driving
shaft and the levers which operate the crown wheel that gives motion to.

page_text: the feed plate, as above described, whereby an intermittent rotary
motion is imparted to the feed plate at proper intervals to change the
direction in which the fabric is moved to form the desired configuration
of the stitches.
Third. The combination of the slotted rotating pattern wheel or cam,
the oscillating lever operated by a cam on the driving shaft, and a pin
or pawl or projection resting upon the periphery of the pattern cam, as
above described, whereby the pin or pawl drops through the slots in the
pattern cam as they are successively presented, and allows the lever to
move to its full extent for the purpose of rotating the crown wheel
through the medium of the oscillating lever to which it is attached, and
thus change the line of motion of the feed plate.
--
Fourth. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the.
cam D attached to the driving shaft; the lever E carrying the adjust-
able pin; the pattern wheel M, operated by a pawl and ratchet and
eccentric secured to the driving wheel; the lever V connected to the
lever E, and carrying the pawls A' and D', D¹; the controlling lever;
and the ratcheted and recessed crown wheel W gearing into the
pinion of the feed wheel shaft, all arranged to operate as herein set
forth.
Fifth. The combination,. substantially as herein set forth, of an
eccentric attached to the driving shaft; an oscillating lever operated by
said eccentric, and secured by means of a link at its end to an auxiliary
lever mounted upon a short journal or stud secured to the lower part of
the machine; and the crown wheel ratchetted on its periphery, operated
by said pawl, and gearing into a pinion wheel on the lower end of the rod
which carries the dentated feed plate, for the purpose of imparting an
intermittent rotary motion to the same, as above described.
Sixth. The combination, substantially as herein set forth, of the oscil-
lating lever operated by an eccentric on the driving shaft, and carrying
an adjustable pin; the slotted pattern wheel operated by a ratchet and a
pawl, which derives its motion from a cam on the driving shaft; and the
Loscillating pawl lever and crown_wheel_mounted_on_a_common_journal,
said pawl-lever-being-provided-with sliding spring bolts or pawls adapted
to work into recesses on the face of the wheel, and impart an inter-
mittent rotary motion to the same, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.

page_text: Seventh. In combination with said pawl lever provided with sliding
spring bolts or pawls, and the recessed crown wheel gearing into the
pinion wheel on the feed plate shaft, a regulating lever for throwing the
pawl and sliding bolts and pawls into and out of gear with the crown
wheel, for the purpose of varying the motion of the same to change tho
pattern of the stitches, as above described.
Eighth. The combination with the driving shaft and levers E, V, and,
crown wheel W, operated as described, the driving shaft O¹ carrying the
feed plate and its attachments with the levers, for imparting a vertical
and horizontal reciprocating motion to the feed plate, as above described.
Ninth. The combination, substantially as hercin-before described, of
the stationary hanger and the removable or detachable hanger carrying
the working parts of the feed movement, and adapted to be attached
to the stationary hanger by means of the screw bolts and strap attached.
to said removable hanger, and to be adjusted and levelled in relation to
the bed plate by means of set screws.
Tenth. The combination, substantially as herein-before set forth, of a
driving shaft and its cam; the oscillating lever for imparting a forward
movement to the sliding feed plate bar; and a spring for imparting back-
ward or return motion to the same, the whole constructed and arranged
to impart a back and forth reciprocating motion to the feed plate, as
above described. ⚫
Eleventh. The combination, substantially as herein-before set forth,
of the driving shaft and cam thereon and the sliding feed plate bar,
5. provided with a downwardly projecting arm operated by said cam, for
imparting a vertical reciprocating motion to the feed plate, substantially
as described.
Twelfth. The combination, substantially as described, with the driving
shaft and cam thereon of the oscillating lever operated by said cam ;
O the pawl lever and pawl connected to said oscillating lever; the ratchet
wheel operated thereby; the rotating cam wheel attached to said ratchet
wheel; the laterally sliding sleeve operating by said cam wheel; and the
downwardly projecting finger working in the slot in said sleeve, and
attached to the sliding stem to which the feed plate is attached, for the
ŏ purpose of imparting a lateral reciprocating motion to the feed plate, as
above set forth,

page_text: Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)