Improvements in Lock-stitch Sewing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock-stitch Sewing Machines.
We, GEORGE WORSLEY, of Beech Lawn, Hat Manufacturer, ALBERT ERNEST
WORSLEY, of 22, Audenshaw Road, Commercial Traveller, both of Audenshaw,
and FRANCIS CREE, Senior, of Broomstair House, Hyde Road, Denton, Mechanic,
all in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention is applicable to that class of sewing machines known as
"lock-
stitch sewing machines, and the objects of the said invention are to enable the
bottom or "lock" thread to be worked from a long cop, so that the said bottom
or "lock" thread can be used of almost any practicable length (say) one thousand
yards or more (instead of being confined to a length of, say, from twenty to forty
yards or thereabouts) and generally to simplify and improve the construction of
such sewing machines, to decrease the number of parts, and to make them more
economical, simple, and certain in their action.
According to our invention, instead of using a revolving or reciprocating
shuttle with a bobbin to carry the bottom or "lock" thread we employ a hollow
cage or carrier of metal in the form of a curved trough or curved tube, the two
ends of which do not meet but have an open space between them. The front end
of this curved cop carrier is provided with a point or beak of a suitable shape
to enter the loop of the upper thread formed by the commencement of the raising
of the needle, and the other or rear end is made in a more blunted form, to " ease
off" the said loop after the "lock" thread has been carried through it, and the
revolving "driver" for propelling the cop carrier is provided with a projection
for acting against this rear end.
The curved-cop-carrier may be round or semi-round in section and the outer
rim or one side may be hinged thereto or otherwise removable so that it can be
opened out for placing the cop therein and then closed to retain it in position.
The cop is wound on a spindle in a straight form with rounded or coned ends,
being removed from the spindle and bent into a curved form as it is introduced
into the carrier.
.
The thread is unwound from the rear end of the cop being preferably drawn
through the hollow centre thereof to the nose end for delivery.
The thread is wound on the cop in such a way that the cop always remains the
same diameter outside but gradually decreases in length at the rear as it is drawn
off. Tension is given to the "lock" thread by passing it beneath a plate spring
fixed on the top or side of the cop carrier.
The frame of the sewing machine is similar to that of the ordinary type of
machine comprising a base-plate and a bracket with horizontal arm carrying the
|upper or driving shaft which is provided with a fly wheel at one end. The other

page_text: end of the arm is formed with an open or closed bracket and a vertical slide in
which the needle bar moves up and down above the work plate. Below the
work plate is mounted a second or lower shaft which is driven from the above
at the same speed and in the same direction, either by means of a pair of sprocket
wheels of equal diameter and an endless chain, or by two spur wheels of equal
diameter and an endless chain, or by two spur wheels of equal diameter, ene on
each shaft, geared together by a carrier wheel.
A face plate carried on the end of the upper shaft is provided with a bowl which
gives the necessary rising, dwelling, and falling motion to the needle bar, the bowl
running in a cam shaped groove in a transverse plate fixed to the back of the
needle bar. The upper shaft is also provided with a cam which acts upon a
taking-up-arm for drawing up the loop of the "lock" thread as the loop slips
off the rear end of the cop carrier.
This cam is so formed as to let off and draw up the thread in the exact ratio
required for the cop-carrier to pass through, so that there is not at any time
any slack thread, and a shorter stroke may be given to the needle bar.
The cop carrier revolves in a circular track beneath the work plate and the
"driver" may either be mounted on a vertical spindle so as to revolve in a hori-
zontal plane, or it may be mounted on a horizontal shaft and revolve in a vertical
plane.
In case it is thought preferable for the cop-carrier to revolve in a vertical plane
upon a horizontal spindle we divide the under shaft in the centre, and we meunt
the two halves in the same horizontal plane but not in the same line. We
-mount-a-face-plate on the inner end of each half and we connect the two face-
plates together by a link so as to obtain such-a-differential speed in the cop-
carrier that it moves slower as the beak or nose enters the loop of the needle thread,
and more rapidly during the remainder of the stroke. In this case we work the
feed-plate by a double tappet fixed on the under shaft near to the "driver," and
acting upon a slide which works the "feed" lever.
The tension for the upper thread consists of two plates or discs mounted on a
spindle and pressed together by means of a spring, in combination with a wire
coiled round the said spindle and terminating in a curl through which also the
thread passes.
ཞ
In the reverse case the driver has attached to it below the work plate a disc.
and this disc is connected by a link to a second disc mounted at the upper end
of a short vertical shaft or spindle the axis of which is set at a certain distance
behind the vertical line of that of the driver," that is to say, nearer to the
driving end of the machine.
6
This vertical shaft or spindle is driven from the under shaft of the machine by
means of a pair of mitre wheels. The effect of the link arrangement is that the
under shaft, revolving always at the same speed, gives a variable speed to the
"driver" in such a manner that the nose of the cop-carrier enters the loop of
the needle thread at a reduced speed, and the body of the cop then passes through
more rapidly, until the thread slips off the rear end of the carrier and out of the
space between it and the readvancing point or beak, as the taking-up arm draws
the thread up quickly.
In this case the taking-up of the work is effected by a roughened feed-plate
actuated by a lever so mounted as to be capable of rocking in two directions,
that is, both vertically and horizontally, which lever is operated by a double
cam or tappet fixed on the lower shaft. In either case the length of stitch is
regulated by a set screw which limits the travel of the feed-plate.
Date : 1511 1
1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

page_text: We, GEORGE WORSLEY, of Beech Lawn, Hat Manufacturer, ALBERT ERNEST
WORSLEY, of 22, Audenshaw Road, Commercial Traveller, both of Audenshaw,
and FRANCIS CREE, Senior, of Broomstair House, Hyde Road, Denton, Mechanic,
all in the County of Lancaster, 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 is applicable to that class of sewing machines known as "lock-
stitch sewing machines, and the objects of the said invention are to enable the
bottom or "lock" thread to be worked from a long cop, so that the said bottom
or "lock" thread can be used of almost any practicable length (say) one thousand
yards or more (instead of being confined to a length of say, from twenty to forty
yards or thereabouts) and generally to improve the construction of such sewing
machines, to decrease the number of parts, and to make them more economical,
simple and certain in their action.
The manner in which our said invention is to be performed or carried into
practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the two sheets of draw-
ings hereunto annexed, and the following explanation thereof.
a
On Sheet 1 of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end view,
and Fig. 3a plan view (all partly drawn in section) of our improved "lock-
stitch sewing machine arranged to work with a cop carrier mounted on
vertical spindle, and on Sheet 2 of the drawings Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevation
and plan view (partly in section) of our improved "lock-stitch" sewing machine
arranged to work with a cop-carrier mounted to revolve on a horizontal spindle.
Figs. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are detached views of portions of the same hereinafter
more particularly referred to.
According to our invention instead of using a revolving or reciprocating
shuttle with a bobbin to carry the bottom or "lock" thread we employ a hollow
cage (shown detached in plan view at Fig. 6, edge view at Fig. 7 and horizontal
section at Fig. 8) in the form of a curved trough or curved tube a the two ends
of which do not meet but have an open space between them. The front end
of this curved cop-carrier is provided with a point or beak of a suitable shape
to enter the loop of the upper thread formed by the commencement of the raising
of the needle c, and the other or rear end is in a more blunted form, to
ease off" the said loop after the "lock" thread has been carried through it,
and the revolving driver" for propelling the cop-carrier a is provided with a
projection e (see Fig. 3) for acting against the rear end "*.
"
The curved cop-carrier a may be round or semi-round or rectangular in cross
section, and the outer rim, or one side, may be hinged thereto, or otherwise
removable, so that it can be opened out for placing the cop a* therein (see Fig. 8)
and then closed to retain it in position.
The cop a is wound on a spindle in a series of cones superposed so as to form
a straight cylinder with coned ends (as shown) and being removed from the
spindle and bent into a curved form as it is introduced into the carrier (see
Fig. 8) the thread is unwound from the rear end of the cop, being preferably
drawn through the hollow centre thereof to the nose end for delivery.
The thread is wound on the cop a* in such a way that the cop always remains
solid and the same diameter, but gradually decreases in length at the rear as it
is drawn off. Tension is given to the "lock" thread by passing it beneath a plate
spring fixed on the top or side of the cop carrier (see Fig. 6).

page_text: The frame g of the sewing machine is similar to that of the ordinary type of
machine comprising a base plate g¹ and a bracket with horizontal arm g* carrying
the upper or driving shaft h which is provided with a flywheel 4* at one end.
The other end of the arm is formed with an open bracket * (or it may be
closed if preferred) and a vertical slide in which the needle bar moves up and
down above the work plate g as usual. Below the work-plate g₁ is mounted a
second or lower shaft which is driven from the one above, at the same speed
and in the same direction either by means of a pair of sprocket wheels of equal
diameter and an endless chain or by two spur wheels of equal diameter (one on
each shaft) geared together by a carrier wheel as commonly practised.
A face-plate m carried on the end of the upper shaft is provided with a
bowl which gives the necessary rising, falling, and dwelling motion to the
needle bar i, the bowl m running in a cam-shaped groove in a transverse plate **
fixed to the back of the needle bar. The upper shaft h is also provided with a
cam which acts upon the taking-up arm n for drawing up the loop of the
"lock" thread as the said loop slips off the rear end a of the cop-carrier (see
also detached face view Fig. 4ª).
This cam n is so formed as to let off and draw up the thread in the exact
ratio required for the cop-carrier a to pass through, so that there is not at any
time any slack thread, and therefore a shorter stroke than usual may be given
to the needle bar i.
The cop carrier a revolves in a circular track beneath the work plate gand
the "driver" may either be mounted on a vertical spindle o so as to revolve
-in-a-horizontal plane as shown at Figs. 1 and 3 on Sheet 1, or it may be mounted
on a horizontal shaft and revolve-in-a-vertical-plane, as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5
on Sheet 2 of the drawings..
In case it is thought preferable for the cop-carrier a to revolve in a vertical
plane upon a horizontal spindle we divide the under shaft into two parts (see
Figs. 4 and 5) at or near the centre, and we mount the two halves in the same
horizontal plane (see Fig. 4) but not in the same line (see Fig. 5). We mount
a face-plate and on the inner end of each half and we connect these two
face-plates together by a link 7 (see also detached view Fig. 9) so as to obtain
such a differential speed in the cop.carrier that it moves slower as the beak or
mose a enters the loop of the needle thread, and revolves more rapidly during the
remainder of the stroke.
In this case we work the feed-plate by a double cam or tappet fixed on the
under shaft near to the "driver" and acting upon a slide s which works the feed
lever (see also detached view Fig. 10).
The tension for the upper thread consists of two plates or dises mounted on
a spindle and pressed together by means of a spring, in combination with a wire
coiled round the said spindle and terminating in a curl through which also the
thread passes (see Fig. 4).
In the reverse case (see Figs. 1 and 3) one of the discs or face plates pis
attached to the "driver" d or to the shaft thereof and is connected by the link p
to the second disc or plate which is mounted at the upper end of a short
vertical shaft or spindle o, the axis of which is set a certain distance behind
the vertical line of that of the "driver" d, that is to say, nearer to the driving
end of the machine. This vertical shaft or spindle o is driven from the under
shaft of the machine by means of a pair of mitre wheels v. The effect of this
link arrangement is the same as that above described viz. that the under
shaft always revolving at the same speed gives a variable speed to the
"driver" in such a manner that the nose a¹ of the cop carrier enters the loop
of the needle thread at a reduced speed (just after the last loop has been drawn
off the rear end through the space by the thread lifter or taking-up-arm n
and the body of the cop-carrier then passes through more rapidly until the thread
slips off the rear end a³ of the cop carrier and out through the space between

page_text: it and the re-advancing point or beak a' as the taking-up arm draws the thread up
again quickly, and so on continuously.
!
In this case the feeding of the work is effected by a roughened feed-plate w
Fig actuated by a lever so mounted as to be capable of rocking in two direc-
tions, that is, both vertically and horizontally, which lever is operated by the
double cam r fixed on the lower shaft k. In either case the length of the
stitch is regulated by a set screw y with a conical point which limits the travel
of the feed plate. (see Figs. 4, 5 and 10) is a hinged plate or guard to keep
the cop carrier a in its place when working and to allow of its being removed when
required to supply a fresh cop.
The timing of the several motions of this improved sewing machine, and
the form of the cam shaped groove in the transverse plate fixed to the back
of the needle bar, and of the cam which works the thread-lifting-arm n
are such that when the needle bar is at its highest point the needle thread is
within about half an inch of the butt end of the cop carrier. The needle begins
to descend before the loop slips off the said butt end, the point of the needle about
reaching the level of the work-plate at the time that the butt end passes through.
As the loop of needle thread slips off, the thread-lifter a* draws the thread upwards
and prevents slack thread.
As soon as the needle has reached its lowest point it rises slightly so as to
form a loop of the needle thread. It then makes a momentary pause, as the
point a of the cop carrier enters this loop and then drops slightly; the needle com-
inences to rise again when the cop carrier is about half way through the loop,
and continues to rise until the upward stroke is complete.
When the point of the needle has risen out of the work, and before it falls
again, the feeding forwards of the work takes place, it will be seen that for every
revolution of the shaft and cop carrier a stitch is made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
"
1. In that class of lock-stitch sewing machines which work with a rotating cop-
carrier for the under or lock thread, the combination with a continuous rotary
"driver" mounted upon either a vertical. or a horizontal shaft and fitted with
driving projections, of a curved tubular cop-carrier provided at one end with a beak
and rounded or blunted at the other end, with a space between the two for the
passage of the loop of the top or needle thread, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In the indicated class of lock-stitch sewing machines, the use, in combination
with a rotating cop carrier, of a long cylindrical cop formed of a series of cones
superposed so as to form a conical nose at one end and a conical recess at the
other, so that the said cop can be bent round into a curved form and introduced
in such cop carrier, and the thread from the rear end drawn forward through
the centre and delivered at the nose end thereof the cop remaining always solid
and of the same substance and diameter but merely shortening from the rear as
it is drawn off substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
3. The means for giving a differential revolving speed to such cop-carrier by
two discs or arms mounted on separate shafts or studs and connected together by
a short driving link substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. In a lock-stitch sewing machine of the indicated class the combination with
a transverse plate fixed at the back of the needle bar of a cam-groove for actuating
the same, having a rise, dwell, and fall so graduated as to give the peculiar
differential motion to the needle bar substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by the annexed drawings.
5. In a lock-stitch sewing machine of the indicated class the combination with a
needle bar fitted with a cam groove of the indicated description, of a revolving
cam surface fitted upon the upper shaft and acting on a thread lifting arm, such

page_text: cam surface being so formed as to give the required intermittent differential
motion to the said arm so as to cause it to .let off and take up the thread in the
exact ratio required for the cop carrier to pass through substantially as and for
the purposes described.
6. In a lock-stitch sewing machine of the indicated class the combination with a
roughened feed plate for feeding the work, of a feed slide and a feed lever actuated
by means of a double cam fixed on the lower shaft substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
7. In a lock stitch sewing machine of the indicated class the combination with a
roughened feed plate of a lever so mounted on cross pivots or centres, as to be
capable of rocking both vertically and horizontally and actuated by a double cam
fixed on the lower shaft substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the annexed drawings.
8. The combination with the feed lever of lock-stitch sewing machine of the
indicated class, of a conically pointed screw acting against the. bevilled side or
end of such lever so as to limit its movement, and thus to regulate the length of the
stitch substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
9. The improved lock-stitch sewing machine, constructed timed, and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Jerever
DateT UHID 101
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.