Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1890-Accepted, 5th Sept, 1898
TROYIDIONAL STEIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, JEROME CARLTON TAFT, of 266 Dudley Street, Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a sewing machine adapted for sewing carpets, and it
consists, firstly, in the combination with mechanism for forming the stitch, and
feeding the machine forward along the edge of the fabric, of means for supporting
the edge of the fabric above the path of the needle, a fabric guide, and means for
operating the same to press the edge of the fabric below the path of the needle, at
each alternate stitch, whereby the loop of the stitch will then be drawn outside of
the fabric
Secondly, in the combination of a reciprocating eye-pointed needle, and oscillating,
hook formed looper arms, with a cam for actuating the looper arms simultaneously
forward, so that their hook ends will enter the loop, and carry it sidewise from the
under side of the needle, and hold the said loop while the needle recedes, means for
feeding the machine forward upon the retraction of the needle, a cam for raising
the upper looper arm from the lower one to spread the loop, for the entrance of the
needle upon its return movement, means for supporting the edge of the fabric above
the path of the needle, and a fabric guide adapted to press the edge of the fabric
away from the needle, at each alterbate stitch.
Thudly, in the combination of a reciprocating eye-pointed needle, with a lower
looper arm, provided with thread guiding and thread delivering eyes, and an
intermediate groove at the under sule of the looper-arm, and a movable upper
loopel-arm provided with a projecting boin, which forms a recess for holding the
thread when spreading the loop.
Fourthly, in the combination of oscillating looper arms, and a fabric guide, with
a reciprocating eye pointed needle arranged upon the needle carrier, and having an
opening through which the needle passes.
Fifthly, in the combination of a supporting track provided with a rack with a
carriage provided with flanged wheels, a loose gear engaging with the rack, a
ratchet wheel and pawl for operating the gear, and frictional means arranged upon
a fixed axle, to prevent the improper movement of the carriage along the track in
spacing the stitch.
Sixthly, in the combination of a carriage, a vertically moving fabric guide, and a
cam for giving the fabric guide an up and down movement, with an intermediate
rock-shaft and connecting arms, and means for optionally, either securing the fabric
guide in an inoperative elevated position for making the stitch through and through
the fabric, or securing the cam arm to the shaft, whereby an up and down movement
will be imparted to the fabric guide, to cause the loop of each alternate stitch to be
diawn over the edge of the fabric.
Dated this Eighth day of October 1895.

page_text: improvements in Sewing Maonines.
I, JEROME CARLTON TAFT, of 266 Dudley Street, Providence, Rhode Island,
United States of America, Machinist, 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 nature of my invention consists in a mechanism for passing the needle
alternately through and over the edge of the fabric, whereby the loop of each
alternate stitch will be drawn across the said edge In the improved construction
of the looper-aims for the employment of two threads in the stitch, and in the
combination of the needle and the looper-arms with means for changing the position
of the stitch in the fabric, and in certain details of construction, as hereinafter fully
Bet forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 repiesents a side elevation of the machine with the needle at its inward
position.
Fig 2 represents a fiont elevation
Fig 3 represents a rear elevation partly in section.
Fig. 4 represents a section taken in the line 44 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 represents a top view of the carriage with the upper portion of the
machine removed, showing the looper-aims at the extreme forward position.
Fig. 6 represents a similar view with the looper-arms at their rearward position.
Fig. 7 represents a side elevation with the needle in its outward position.
Figs. 8 to 15 are detail viens of the looper-aims.
Figs. 16 and 17 are sections showing the construction of the frictional device for
preventing the improper forward movement of the machine along the track.
Figs. 18 and 19 ate perspective views illustrating the formation of the stitch.
Fig. 20 shows the machine anlanged for operation
In the accompanying drawings, A represents the supporting-track upon which
the machine moves, and B the carriage, which is supported for movement along the
trach by means of the flanged wheels C C C C, which wheels are held loosely upon
the fixed axles D D', and to the carnage B is secured the under plate E, provided
at its corners with the ears F F F F, wbich extend downward below the level of
the under surface of the track A, and are provided with the antifriction-rollers C¹C',
which bear against the under surface of the track A in opposition to the flanged
wheels C C above the said track. The under plate E is connected to the carringe B
and adapted to transmit a yielding pressure to the track by means of the upright
studs G G, attached to the plate E, and passing loosely through the pei forations a
in the earringe B, and which are provided at the upper side of the carnage B with
the springs held upon the studs G by means of the collets c. Upon the stationary
axle D is loosely held the ratchet-wheel I, and loosely upon the loose collar & upon
the said axle, at the side of the ratchet-wbeel, is placed the vibrating arm J, to the
side of which is pivoted the pawl K, which engages with the teeth of the ratchet-
wheel 1 and operative connection is made from the vibrating aim J to the
eccentric Lupon the cam-shaft M by means of the connecting 1od N, the said
connecting-1od being pivoted to the adjustable piece N', secured to the side of the
arm J.
To the side of the loose ratchet-wheel I is secured the gear D³, which is also
secured to the adjacent side of the flanged wheel C, so that the said ratchet-wheel,
gear, and flanged wheel will be caused to move together, the gear D³ being made
to engage with the tack C. The end c of the stationary axle D is slotted to
receive the tightening cam-lever d and also the sliding shoe do for the action of the
said cam-lever, and loosely upon the axle D is placed the sliding flanged sleeve B³,

page_text: which is recessed to receive the spiral spuing and the loose washer g', which iests
against the forward end of the shoe d, and botween the sliding flanged sleeve B³ and
the flanged wheel C is placed the yielding fiction-disk, by means of which the
proper degice of friction may be produced to prevent the fice movement of the
machine when the latcbet-wheel I is not being positively acted upon by the pawl K,
thus tending to hold the carnage and the attached sewing mechanism in their
properly set position for making stitches of uniform length in the fabric. Upon the
shaft M is placed the cam O,.which serves to operate the needle-um P, which aim
is pivoted to the frame at the point a' and at its lower end carries the cuived
needle . To the shaft M is also secured the cam Q, which serves to impart
a vibrators movement to the upright spindle R, to the lower end of which is
attached the hook-formed lower looper-aim S, and loosely upon the spindle R 18
placed the slidable hook-formed upper arm S of the looper, which aim is prevented
from tunning upon the spindle R by means of the downwardly-extending pin e¹,
which passes loosely through a suitable perforation made in the lower-loopei
arm S. The hub of the aun S is provided with the flange e, and upon the
spindle R, above the hub d', is placed the spal spring 7, which will serve to force
the upper aim S' down upon the lower aim S, the said upper arm being raised
against the downward action of the spring, by menus of the forked bell-crank
lever T, which engages with the under side of the flange e, and is operated by the
cain U upon the shaft M, and to the bell-crank level T is attached the guide u,
which serves to prevent the formation of a loop upon the upper side of the needle
The hook-formed lower looper-aim S is provided at its outer end with the eye e',
though which the thread a from the horizontal spool A2 is made to pass and also
with the rear guiding-eye e and the open groove at the under side of the hook.
The hook-formed upper looper-arm S' is provided with the projecting hon e¹,
which forms the thread-receiving ecoss e³, which is adapted to hold the binding
thread a running from the honzontal spool A³, while the threads from the
spools A and A3 are being spread for the entrance of the needle between them.
To the side of the needle-an P is pivoted the sping-utuated arm 9, which at its
lower end embraces the needle and serves, by beating against the outer side of the
fabi, to secure the proper formation of the needle-loop wuen the stitch is benig
taken over the edge of the fabric and operates in this case to prevent the backward
movement of the loop with the needle, and a table stop is provided for the
aim g, by means of the pin 7. The fabuc guide V is provided with a dovetailed
slide g, which enters a corresponding vertical groove made in the side of the
curringe B, whereby the said guide is made capable of an up-and-down movement,
hich movement is imparted thereto by means of the aim W, the said aim being
bald between the top of the shde g and the under side of the pin I, which pin
projects backward from the inner side of the guide V. The aim W is attached to
the rock-shaft, which is held loosely in the transverse bening h, and to the
opposite end of the said 1ock-shaft is attached the cam-aim 1, which engages at its
outer end with the cam X. (Shown in dotted lines upon the inner side of the
gear Y, the said gear being held to turn loosely upon the stud' m and engaging
with the teeth of the pinion Z upon the shaft M.) To the hub n of the geat Y 18
attached the hand-crank o, by means of which the machine is operated. The
guide V for the fabric may be preferably provided with the downwardly-projecting
blade p, which enters between the edges of the two pieces of labric which are to
be sewed. The pieces of fabule FF to be sewed together edge to edge are to be
suitably stretched side by side and held by a proper support independent of the
machine, so that the edges of the said pieces of fabric will rest against the
horizontal bearing-sui faces ss of the guide, and also have a lifting tendency
thereon, whereby the edges of the said pieces will automatically follow' the said
guide in its upward movement, as shown by the dotted line in Fig 20
Upon turning the hand-crank o the machine will be fed along the track inter-
mittently by means of the ratchet mechanism, each forward movement of the
machine being made equal to the desired length of the stitch, and as the needle-

page_text: arm is moved forward by the action of the cam O, the threaded needle will be
first passed through the fabric and then drawn back to make the loop. The
looper-armis S S are now passed together through the needle-loop, and the needle
withdrawn from the fabric, leaving its loop at the bend at of the hooks of both
loopei-arms. The fabric is now, by the downward movement of the fabric-
guide V, pressed down below the penetrating plane of the needle, and the
upper looper-aim rises from the lower looper-aim, thus spreading the needle-loop
and the accompanying binding-thread a', which binding-thiend is held in advance
of the needle-loop a at the forward ends of the looper-aims. The needle now
passes forward over the fabric and through the loop of the binding-thread a³ and
in advance of the needle loop a³, as shown in Fig. 19. The loopei-ins are now
caused to recede and discharge the loop of the binding-thread onto the needle,
and receding farther the needle-loop a³ is discarded from the looper-aims upon the
loop of the binding-thread Now the upper loopet-ain closes down upon the lower
looper-aim and the needle recedes to form another loop. Then the looper arms
come forward and pass through the needle-loop. Then the needle recedes, leaving
the needle-loop upon the looper-arm at the base at of the looper-hook. Now the
fabile is allowed to use above the penetrating hue of the needle, and the upper
looper-aim is caused to rise to spread both the needle-loop and the loop of the
binding thread a², so that the needle will pass through the bic and through the
loop of the binding-thread a in advance of the needle-loop. The looper-aums now
recede and discard the loop of the binding-thiend a² upon the needle, and upon the
further backward movement of the looper-aims the needle-loop is discarded upon
the loop of the binding-thread a³ as before; and this operation is continuously
repeated in sewing the fabric, the operation of the needle being the same
whether the stitch is taken over on through the fabric. The cam-am is
attached to the rock-shaft by means of the removable pin 3, which enters a
suitably located perforation made in the said shaft, and when the said cam-am is
thus attached the fabric-guide will be so operated that euch alter unte stitch will be
taken above the fabule. But if it is desired to take the stitches uniformly through
the fabric, as may be desnable in some cases, then by removing the pin 3 from the
cam-am the said cam-aim will be rendered loose upon the shafi, so that the
cam X will not affect the fabuc-guide to cause the up-and-down movement of
the same, and then by inserting the pin into the perforation in the carriage B,
so as to enter a corresponding hole in the shaft 7, the fabric-guide V may be
permanently held in an elevated position, so that the stitches will be taken uniformly
ihrough and through the fabric.
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
1 claim 16.
In a sewing machine, the combination with mechanism for forming the stitch,
and feeding the machine forward along the edge of the fabric, of means for
supporting the edge of the fabic above the path of the needle, the fiabuc
guide, and means for operating the same to picks the edge of the fabric below
the path of the needle, at each alternate stitch, whereby the loop will then be
drawn, outside of the fabue, substantially as described.
2. In a sewing machine, the combination with the reciprocating eye pointed
needle, and the oscillating hook formed looper aims, of the cam for actuating the
looper aims simultaneously 101 ward. so that then hook ends will enter the loop and
carly it sidewise from the under side of the needle and hold the said loop while the
needle ecodes, menus lo feeding the. machine. forward upon the retraction of
the needle, the cam for raising the upper looper aim from the lower one to spread
the loop for the entrance of the needle upon its return, movemeut, meaus, for
supporting the edge of the fabric above the path of the needle, and the fabric
guide adapted to press the edge of the fabic away from the needle at each alternate
stitch, substantially as described.

page_text: 3 In a sewing machine, the combination of the reciprocating eye pointed
needle, with the lower looper-arin, provided with the thread guiding and thread
delivering eyes, and the intermediate groove at the under side of the looper arm,
and the movable upper looper-arm, provided with the projecting horn which
forms a recess for holding the thread when spreading the loop, substantially as
described
4. In a sewing machine, the combination with the oscillating looper arms, and
the fabric guide, of the reciprocating eye pointed needle, and the spring actuated
arm arranged upon the needle carrier, and having an opening through which the
needle passes, substantially as described.
5. In a sewing machine, the combination with the track provided with the
rack, the carriage, the flanged wheels, the loose gear engaging with the rack,
the ratchet wheel and pawl for operating the gear, and the spring actuated
frictional means arranged upon the fixed axle, to prevent the improper
movement of the carriage along the track, in spacing the stitch, substantially
as described.
6. In a sewing machine, the combination with the stitch forming mechanism,
and the carriage, the vertically moving fabric guide, and the cam for giving the
fabric guide an up and down movement, of the intermediate lock-shaft and the
connecting arms, and means for optionally either securing the fabric guide in an
inoperative elevated position for making the stitch through and through the fabric,
or securing the cam arm to the shaft, whereby an up and down movement will be-
imparted to the fabric guide, to cause the loop of each alternate stitch to be diawn
over the edge of the fabric, substantially as described.
D
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.