MECHANISM FOR STARTING, DRIVING, AND STOPPING SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Duverney Pentz of the City of Elizabeth in the
State of New Jersey United States of North America but at present residing
in Glasgow, in the County of Lanark North Britain-for an invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Duverney Pentz at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1882.
ALBERT DUVERNEY PENTZ, of the City of Elizabeth, in the state of New Jersey,
United States of North America, but at present residing in Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, " MECHANISM FOR STARTING, DRIVING, AND STOPPING
SEWING MACHINES
"
This Invention which relates to certain Improvements in actuating Sewing
Machines has especial reference to the arrangements for starting and stopping the
same or in other words controlling the driving thereof.
The Improvements are applicable to Sewing Machines which are driven by
mechanical power as distinguished from machines driven by the foot or by hand,
and are so devised that the machine is instantly started, or stopped, whilst the
driving pulley is being continuously rotated.
The Improvements consist in attaching to the end of the driving shaft, a hollow
disc against which a collar of millboard, or equivalent material rests, and on a
projection at the centre of this disc which may be either in one piece with the disc
or a continuation of the driving shaft projecting through the disc, there is carried
a spring whose outer ends rest against the millboard collar, and whose central
portion rests or presses against the boss of the driving pulley. The driving pulley
is carried upon the portion projecting at the centre of the hollow disc, and this
projecting portion is made tubular with a hole having a slot entering into it from
the extreme end of the projecting portion, which receives a stud on a flanched
button piece whereby the driving pulley is retained in its position. This button
piece has a radial oil hole in it, proceeding from its axis to the inner side of the
flanch for the purpose of feeding oil thereto.-A bifurcated lever is arranged

page_text: relatively with the driving parts of the machine in such manner that when the
outer one of the bifurcations presses against the button, it forces the driving pulley
inwards so that the flanch on the driving wheel is pressed more or less tightly
against the collar of millboard, and this collar again against the surface of the
hollow disc, so that the requisite frictional contact is thereby obtained for driving
the machine.
When it is desired to stop the machine the pressure which caused the one
bifurcation of the bifurcated lever against the button is withdrawn so that the
frictional contact of the discs and collar is broken and the other bifurcation of the
said lever, which is provided with a wooden or other brake-block is pressed against
the outer side of the hollow disc whereby its rotation and therefore the driving of
the machine are stopped.
A convenient method of actuating the bifurcated lever is to connect it by an
adjustable rod to a treadle or foot piece.
In that end of the bifurcated lever which presses against the button an oil
reservoir is formed for feeding the oil to the working face of the button, and thence
through the radial hole to the flanch thereof.
A winder, for winding the bobbins used in the shuttle of the machine, is attached
to one of the bifurcations of the lever so that the winding operation may be carried
on by the action of the driving pulley when the machine is stopped.
An advantage of this arrangement is that when applied to machines which are
hinged to the table, the bifurcated lever permits of the machine being turned back
on its hinges so that the button, driving pulley, and their associated parts may
removed when required.
In place of a spring, a groove may be cut in the hub of the driving pulley, into
which a hook connected with the outer arm of the bifurcated lever enters, so that
the driving pulley may thereby be pulled out of contact with the frictional driving
surface.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Albert Duverney Pentz in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th November 1882.
ALBERT DUVERNEY PENTZ, of the City of Elizabeth, in the State of New Jersey
United States of North America, but at present residing in Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain " MECHANISM FOR STARTING, DRIVING, AND STOPPING
SEWING MACHINES
".
My said Invention which relates to certain Improvements in actuating sewing-
machines has especial reference to the arrangements for starting and stopping the
same or in other words controlling the driving thereof.
The Improvements are applicable to sewing-machines which are driven by
Mechanical power as distinguished from machines driven by the foot or by hand
and are so devised that the machine is instantly started or stopped, whilst the
driving pulley is being continuously rotated.
'
The Improvements consist in attaching to the end of the driving shaft a hollow
disc against which a collar of millboard or equivalent material rests and on a
projection at the centre of this disc which may be either in one piece with the disc
as a projecting boss of the same or a continuation of the driving shaft projecting
through the disc, there is carried a flattened spring whose outer ends or arms rest
against the millboard collar and whose central portion, which is carried upon the
projection of the disc, rests or presses against the one side or boss of the driving-
pulley, which is also carried upon the projecting portion or boss of the hollow disc.
The said projecting portion of the disc is made tubular and is formed with a hole
having a slot entering into it from the extreme end of the projecting portion which
receives a stud on a flanched button-piece whereby the driving pulley is retained
in its position. This button-piece has a radial oil hole in it, proceeding from its axis
to the inner side of the flanch for the purpose of feeding oil thereto. A bifurcated
or forked lever actuated by the foot of the operator upon a treadle with which it
is connected by a connecting rod, is arranged relatively with the driving parts of
the machine in such manner that when the outer one of the bifurcations or arms
presses against the button which abuts against the boss of the driving pulley it
forces the driving pulley into close proximity with the hollow disc, so that the
flanch on the driving pulley is pressed more or less tightly against the collar of
millboard, within the hollow part of the disc, the said collar being thus forced
against the inner surface of the disc so that the requisite frictional contact is
obtained for driving the machine.
When it is desired to stop the machine the pressure which caused the one
bifurcation of the bifurcated lever to bear against the button, is withdrawn so that
by the action of the spring the frictional contact of the disc, collar, and flanch
under the action of the expanding spring is broken and the other bifurcation of
the said lever which is provided with a wooden or other brake-block, is pressed
against the outer side of the hollow disc, whereby its rotation and therefore the
driving of the machine are stopped.
A convenient method of actuating the bifurcated lever is to connect it by an
adjustable rod to a treadle or foot piece.
In that end of the bifurcated lever which presses against the button, an oil
reservoir is formed for feeding the oil to the working face of the button, and thence
through the radial hole to the flanch thereof.
A winder for winding the bobbins used in the shuttle of the machine is attached
to one of the bifurcations of the lever so that the winding operation may be
carried on by the action of the driving pulley when the machine is stopped.

page_text: An advantage of this arrangement is that when applied to machines which are
hinged to the table, the bifurcated lever permits of the machine being turned back
on its hinges so that the button, driving-pulley, and their associated parts may be
removed when required.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and Figures marked thereon that
is to say
Figure 1, of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of a portion
of a sewing machine with the Improvements constituting my present Invention
applied thereto.
Figure 2, is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3, is a transverse section of certain parts of the apparatus constituting
part of my present Invention
Figures 4, and 5, are detail views of portions of apparatus constituting part of
my present Invention as hereinafter more fully set forth.
As shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the sewing machine is mounted upon the table A,
beneath which is arranged the treadle (not shewn in the drawing) for throwing
the machine into and out of operation in accordance with my improvements.
Upon the end of the driving shaft B, which operates the machine, is mounted
the hollow disc C. The said disc as shewn more particularly in section at Figure 3,
is formed with a deep recess c, at its one side and there projects from its central
part, a boss c¹, forming an extended bearing surface upon the driving shaft B, the
boss c², at the other side of the disc C, is the part by which the disc C, is secured
upon the driving shaft B, by means of one or more pinching screws c³, but this
feature may be effected by any other convenient means. Within the recess c,
of the disc C, rests a collar d, of millboard or other equivalent material, shewn
more particularly in Elevation at Figure 4, which is a front view of the
disc C, detached from the machine.-Upon the projecting boss c¹, of the disc C,
is carried a spring e, and from that part e, immediately encircling the same,
the two arms e', project and bear upon the washer or collar d, of millboard,
which rests within the recess c, of the disc C, the position of the said spring
and the millboard collar d, being shewn more particularly in front elevation
at Figure 4. The circular part e, of the spring abuts against the boss f, of the
driving pulley F, which is also carried upon the projecting boss c', of the disc C.-
The boss f, of the driving pulley F, as shewn in section at Figure 3, is formed with
a long bearing surface and the outer end of this boss f, has abutting against it, the
flanch g, of a button G, which retains the driving pulley in position upon the pro-
jecting boss c', of the disc C, by a stud g¹, which projecting from the side of the
portion g², of the button G, rests and is free to slide laterally within a partly flat
and partly rounded slot c³, which at its inner end terminates in a hole co, and
slot c, being formed in the extreme end of the projecting boss c¹, of the disc C.
The object of the hole co, is to allow the stud g', and with it the button G, a slight
radial motion which will be imparted by the friction between the flanch g, of the
button G, and the end of the boss f, this radial motion will by virtue of the shape
of the hole c³, act as a hook upon the stud g¹, of the button G, and causes it to
retain the driving pulley F, in position upon the projecting boss c¹.-The driving
pulley F, has formed upon its periphery a V shaped groove f¹, to receive the gut
or band for driving it, and it has further formed upon it the flanch f³, which fits
within the recess c, of the disc C.
The lever, for operating the hereinbefore described parts of the machine, is
pivoted upon the pin h, (represented in dotted lines,) carried in a bracket h¹, one
side of which is passed through the table A, to whose upper surface the other side
is secured. The bifurcated part of the lever which projects through and above the
table A, has one of its arms h², abutting against the button G, and its other arm h³,
against the outer side of the disc C. When it is desired to throw the machine into

page_text: operation, the operator with his foot presses upon, in the required direction, an
ordinary balanced or pivoted treadle which is connected with the arm h³, of the
herein before mentioned lever, by the connecting rod h³, (a small portion only of
which is shewn on the drawing) draws down the said arm h5, of the lever which
being pivoted upon the pin h, as hereinbefore described causes its arm h², to be
forced against the button G, the flanch g, of which as shewn in Figure 3, forces the
pulley F, inwards, the boss f, of the driving-pulley F, sliding and rotating simul-
taneously upon the projecting boss c¹, of the disc C. In order to allow of this
lateral movement of the driving pulley F upon the projecting boss c¹, of the disc C,
the boss f, at its end in contact with the button G, is lengthened as shewn in the
drawings, which represents the position of the apparatus when the sewing-machine
is not in operation. The lengthening of the boss f, allows of the necessary lateral
motion being imparted to the driving pulley F, without the inner face of the
flanch g, coming into contact with the end of the projecting boss c¹, so that the
frictional contact upon the washer or collar d, of millboard may be made without
impediment. As shewn in Figure 3, the parts are in their distended position, that
is to say the flanch 2 of the pulley F, is out of contact with the washer or
collar d, of millboard but as the pulley is forced inwards, the flanch f2, is pressed
against the washer or collar d, of millboard, and this collar against the inner
surface of the hollow disc C, so that the requisite frictional contact is obtained by
which the pulley F, transmits its rotatory motion to the disc C, the disc C, being
secured upon the driving shaft of the machine, and by these means the sewing
machine is thrown into operation. When it is desired to stop the Sewing-Machine
the operator with his foot presses the treadle in a direction opposite to that herein-
before mentioned for starting the sewing-machine, whereby through the connecting
rod h³, the arm ho, is forced upwards which causes the arm h², of the lever to be
withdrawn from the button G, and the spring which has been compressed when
the machine was in operation, between the millboard and the inner side of the
boss f, of the driving pulley F, thereby expands and forces the flanch f2, of the
said pulley F, out of contact with the washer or collar d, of millboard, and the
brake-block h, of wood or other suitable material which is provided on the arm h³,
of the bifurcated lever, is pressed against the outer side of the disc C, whereby its
rotation is stopped. The disc C, may be perforated with holes c', as shewn at
Figure 3, for the purpose of lightening the said disc C, and the flanch of the
driving pulley f³, may if necessary be provided with an air-hole f³.
The button-piece G, as shewn in Figure 3 has a hole g³, drilled in it proceeding
radially from the centre of its outer surface to the inner side of the flanch for the
purpose of feeding oil thereto, and the head of the arm h³, of the bifurcated lever
as shewn in Figure 1, is similarly provided with an oil hole h', for feeding oil to
the working face of the button G, and thence through the radial hole as hereinbefore
described to the flanch thereof.
An ordinary winder for winding the bobbins used in the shuttle of the machine
is attached to the arm h³, of the bifurcated lever and consists of a wheel J, having
a ring j, of india rubber upon its grooved periphery, the said wheel J, being
mounted upon an arm ¹, hinged to the arm h², of the lever and capable of being
brought up into frictional contact with the periphery of the driving-pulley F,
where it is retained in position by the spring 2³, bearing against a flattened end of
the arm, so that the winding may be carried on when the sewing-machine is
out of operation. As shewn in Figure 2, the machine is hinged to the table and
thus the bifurcated lever permits of the machine being turned back on its hinges k,
so that the button, driving pulley, and their associated parts may be removed
when required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or
may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
I do not limit myself to the precise details as herein before described as the same
may be varied in many ways without departing from the nature of the said

page_text: Invention for instance I do not limit myself to any particular method of actuating
the bifurcated lever but I have described the method of doing so by the foot of
the operator actuating a treadle as being a convenient method but what I
consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First. In sewing-machines operated by power, the arrangement and construction
of parts for starting, driving, and stopping the same by the foot of the operator or
by other equivalent means essentially as herein before described and shewn on the
accompanying drawings.
Second. The construction and arrangement upon the driving shaft of a disc keyed
upon the driving shaft and having a washer or collar of millboard or other
equivalent material applied thereto and the combination therewith of a power or
driving pulley for rotating the said disc as required, essentially as herein before
described and shewn on the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The construction and arrangement of a lever of a bifurcated or other
equivalent shape for throwing the power or driving pulley into frictional contact
with the disc which is secured upon the shaft actuating the sewing-machine
and applying the brake essentially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement upon the bifurcated lever of a winder
capable of being operated by the driving pulley, when the machine is stopped
essentially as herein before described and shewn on the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The button-piece and stud working within the slot of a partly curved and
partly straight form as hereinbefore described with reference more particularly to
Figure 5, of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The spring e, e', for forcing the driving pulley out of contact with the collar
of millboard essentially as bereinbefore described, and shewn on the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I the said Albert Duverney Pentz, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Thirty-first day of May in the year of Our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ALBERT DUVERNEY PENTZ (L.S.)