IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
GI JOHN Fox of 128 London Wall in the city of London, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in sewing machines of that class
which have an upper and lower rotating shaft and in which two threads are used
the upper thread being passed through the material to be sewn by an eye pointed
needle and the lower thread being passed through a loop of the needle thread by
means of a rotating hook and spool or a shuttle.
The upper shaft has an equable rotatory motion (imparted direct by any
convenient means) and operates the needle and thread lifter in known manner.
The novelty of this invention commences with the under shaft and its accessories
the motion being imparted from the upper shaft said motion being a variable one
imparted in novel manner to be hereinafter described and operates a novel con-
struction of hook which hook works in conjunction with a novel spool case and
holder.
To place the mind of the reader of this Specification in clear contemplation of
the scheme of this invention it is to be remarked that the variable rotatory motion
of the bottom shaft and the rotating hook, as will be described effects the engage-
ment and passing of a loop of the needle thread over the spool case of the under
thread so that the two threads become linked together in a peculiar manner to
complete a stitch at each revolution and the feed motion is effected as may be
convenient.
At the rear end of the machine below the hollow pedestal of the overhanging
arm of the machine is mounted on a bracket, a stud which carries a disc with a
crank pin on the outer face thereof or it may be a sleeve with a crank arın and pin.
This disc and crank pin or crank arm and pin is driven either by chain wheels
and chain off the upper shaft (said chain and wheels being described and claimed
in Patent of equal date herewith) or by bevil gear and counter shaft.
The crank pin engages with a slot in a disc carried on the adjacent end of the
under variably rotating shaft (carrying the hook to be hereinafter described).
The centres of the crank pin and of the under shaft are out of line horizontally
so as to give the variable rotation to the said under shaft and to the hook; the
improvements also consist in the construction of the hook carried by the variably
rotating under shaft driven as described and the parts immediately connected
therewith so as to enable the two threads to be positively directed and to be locked
together in the making of the stitch with minimum amount of friction upon the
thread,

page_text: The hook as constructed consists of a disc having in its front side a circular
recess for the reception of the spool case and spool said recess being eccentric to
the centre of the disc and such eccentricity has for its object to raise the lower
the spool case and spool and consequently to loosen and tighten the spool thread at
stated times that is to say to tighten the spool thread at the moment the point
of the hook enters into and takes the loop of the needle thread to prevent the
spool thread being caught by the hook at the same time (the spool case and spool
will at this point of time be in their lowest position) the loosening of the spool
thread will take place by reason of the eccentricity of the recess when the needle
thread has left the hook and the thread lifter is pulling up the needle thread
into the work. The spool thread will be tightened again at the moment the stitch
is completed ready for the next stitch.
The hook proper projects laterally from the edge of the disc and concentrically
with the eccentric recess thereof, said hook has upon its outer surface an oblique
projection which plays an important part in positively directing the needle thread
loop in the formation of the stitch and the operation of which I will now describe.
Assuming that the needle has penetrated the material to be stitched and having
reached its lowest point has risen a certain distance so forming a loop in the
thread below the material, at this moment the point of the hook (in the hollow or
recess of which is held the spool case and spool) enters the loop and the needle
now rises rapidly out of the material leaving its thread upon the hook which now
moves at an accelerated speed (in consequence of the variable motion given to the
bottom shaft to which it is attached) and carries with it by means of the oblique
projection the loop of the needle thread. The hook having passed through a
quarter of a revolution one portion of the loop of thread will have passed around
at the inner side of the hook and behind the spool case (an open portion of the
book disc is cut away and so are parts of the spool case to facilitate the passage
of the thread between the disc and spool case so preventing friction on the thread),
whilst that portion of the thread (from the next previous stitch completed) which
is attached to the material being sewn has been retained and carried forward by
the oblique projection and will pass over the front of the spool case in a position
exactly the reverse to that in which it was first taken hold of by the hook so
giving to the loop of thread a balf twist.
The rotation of the hook continues until the loop of the needle thread has passed
over the spool case and off the hook and is then carried up a channel in the face of
the spool case holder which positively guides the said needle thread loop to the
point of engagement and locking with the spool thread so resulting in a stitch
resembling a half tied knot exceedingly fast and elastic and therefor of considerable
commercial value.
Upon the face of the spool case is a tension bar having a series of holes therein
for applying tension to the spool thread and the said tension bar inclines outward
from the lower portion of the spool case to the upper and lies in the face groove or
directing channel of the spool case holder disc. The spool thread is passed through
a hole in the spool case and is laced through the holes of the tension bar.
A spring and round faced pressure pins hold the spool case to the recess of the
hook evenly and securely without undue friction and the tension bar lying in the
directing channel of the spool case holder retains the spool case in vertical position
and prevents the same from turning with the hook.
WALTER A. BARLOW,
6, St. Paul's Churchyard, E.C.
50

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I JOHN Fox of 128 London Wall in the city of London Machinist do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to certain improvements in sewing machines of that class
which have an upper and lower rotating shaft and in which two threads are used,
the upper thread being passed through the material to be sewn by an eye pointed
needle and the lower thread being passed through a loop of the needle thread by
means of a rotating hook and spool or a shuttle.
The
The upper shaft has an equable rotatory motion (imparted direct by any con-
venient means) and operates the needle and thread lifter in known manner.
novelty of this invention commences with the under shaft and its accessories, the
motion being imparted from the upper shaft, said motion being a variable one
imparted in novel manner to be hereinafter described and operates a novel con-
struction of hook which hook works in conjunction with a novel spool case and
holder.
To place the mind of the reader of this specification in clear contemplation of
the scheme of this invention it is to be remarked that the variable rotary motion
of the bottom shaft and the rotating hook, as will be described, effects the engage-
ment and passing of a loop of the needle thread over the spool case of the under
thread so that the two threads become linked together in a peculiar manner to
complete a stitch at each revolution and the feed motion is effected as may be
convenient.
In the drawings Fig 1. is a longitudinal vertical section of machine framing
showing the invention applied.
Fig 2 is an end view of Fig 1 and Fig 1ª shows modification in the means for
communicating motion to the driver crank pin of under shaft.
Fig 3 is an end view and Fig 4 face view of the chain pulley and crank pin
of Fig 1.
Figa 5 and 6 are like views of the disc and crank pin slot of the under variably
rotating shaft:
Fig. 7 is an end view from left of Fig 1 of the improved hook and Fig 8 is like
view from right of Fig 1 (showing section in diagram) Fig 9 is side view of
Figs 7 and 8 (showing section of hook with its oblique outside projection in
diagram) and Fig 10 is like view to Fig. 8 with the hook in section following
diagram Fig 9.
Figs 10 and 10 show a modification of the hook. Fig 11 is face view of the
spool case; Fig 12 an end view; and Fig 13 back view of same with spool in
position.
Figs 14 and 15 show the spool case holder with thread guiding groove on the
inner face thereof Figs 16 and 17 show a modification of the spool case holder.
At the rear end of the machine below the hollow pedestal of the overhanging
arm of the machine is mounted on a bracket A, a stud B which carries a disc

page_text: .
with a crank pin D on the outer face thereof, or it may be a sleeve with a crank
arm and pin D. In the drawings the pin D is faced with an anti friction roller.
This disc and crank pin D or crank arm and pin D is driven either by chain
wheels E E and chain F (as described in my application for letters patent of even
date herewith) off the upper shaft G as shown in Figs 1, 2, 3, 3, 4 and 4 or by
bevel gears E E¹ and counter shaft F as shown in Fig. 1.
The crank pin D engages with a slot H in a disc I carried on the adjacent end
of the under variably rotating shaft K (carrying the hook to be hereinafter
described).
The centres xx of the crank stud B and y y of the under shaft are out of line
horizontally so as to give the variable rotation to the said under shaft and to the
hook, the improvements also consist in the construction of the hook carried by
the variably rotating under shaft K driven as described and the parts immediately
connected therewith so as to enable the two threads to be positively directed and
to be locked together in the making of the stitch with minimum amount of friction
upon the thread.
The hook as constructed consists of a disc 1 having in its front sido a circular
recess 2 for the reception of the spool case 3 and spool 4 said recess 2 being
eccentric to the centre line y, y of the disc and such eccentricity has for its object
to raise and lower the spool case 3, and spocl 4 and consequently to loosen and
tighten the spool thread at stated times; that is to say; to tighten the spool thread
at the moment the point of the book 5 enters into and takes the loop of the needle
thread, so as to prevent the spool thread being caught by the hook at the same
time (the spool case and spool will at this point of time be in their lowest position)
the loosening of the spool thread will take place by reason of the eccentricity of
the recess 2 when the needle thread has left the hook 5, and the thread lifter is
pulling up the needle thread into the work. The spool thread will be tightened
again at the moment the stitch is completed ready for the next stitch.
The hook proper 5, projects laterally from the edge of the disc 1 and concen-
trically with the eccentric recess 2 thereof; said hook 5, has upon its outer surface
an oblique projection 6 clearly shown in the drawings, which plays an important
part in positively directing the needle thread loop in the formation of the stitch
and the operation of which I will now describe.
Assuming that the needle has penetrated the material to be stitched and having
reached its lowest point has risen a certain distance so forming a loop of the thread
below the material, at this moment the point of the hook 5 (in the hollow or
recess 2 of which is held the spool case 3 and spool 4) enters the loop; the needle
now rises rapidly out of the material having its thread upon the hook which now
moves at an accelerated speed (in consequence of the variable motion given to the
bottom shaft to which it is attached) and carries with it by means of the oblique
projection 6 the loop of the needle thread. The hook having passed through a
quarter of a revolution, one portion of the loop of thread will have passed around
at the inner side of the hook and behind the spool case (an open portion 7 of the
hook disc 1 is cut away and so are the parts 8 and 9 of the spool case to facilitate
the passage of the thread between the disc and spool case so preventing friction on
the thread) whilst that portion of the thread (from the next previous stitch com-
pleted) which is attached to the material being sewn has been retained and carried
forward by the oblique projection 6 and will pass over the front of the spool case 3
in a position exactly the reverse to that in which it was first taken hold of by
the hook so giving to the loop of thread a half twist as shown in Figs 7, 8, and 9.
The rotation of the hook 5, continues until the loop of the needle thread has
passed over the spool case and off the hook and is then carried up the channel 10
in the face of the spool case holder and against the upwardly and outwardly
projecting incline of the tension bar 11 which positively guides the said needle
thread loop to the point of engagement and locking with the spool thread so
resulting in a stitch, resembling a half tied knot exceedingly fast and elastic
and therefore of considerable commercial value. Figs 10 and 10% show a slight

page_text: modification of the eccentric recess 2 of the hook, a slight dwell being provided
as shown at 2 and a prolongation of the edge of the disc 1 at 2.
The tension bar 11' has a series of holes therein for applying tension to the
spool thread.
The spool thread is passed through a hole 12, in the spool case and is laced
through the holes of the tension bar 11 or under a spring of the same in combina-
tion with a hole or holes.
In Figs 14 and 15 and in Figs 16 and 17 is shown the mounting of the spool
case holder. A spring 13 and round faced pressure pins 14 (Figs 14 and 15) hold
the spool case to the recess 2 of the hook, or the spring block 13 (Figs 16 and 17)
serves the same purpose and the tension bar 11 lying in the directing channel 10
of the spool case holder retains the spool case (Figs 11, 12 and 13) in vertical
position and prevents the same from turning with the hook. The spool caso
holder is articulated at 15 to the block 16 which may slide on or be of a piece
with the arm 17 said arm 17 being fixed to the framing as shown in Fig 1 or cast
tberewith.
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
Firstly. In a sewing machine the combination of the crank carrying stud B
mounted in bracket A upon the line xx and carrying the disc C, and crank D (or
a sleeve and crank) said crank. D engaging with the slot H of the under shaft
disc I mounted on the line y y for giving variable rotation to the said under shaft
and its hook 1 2, 5, 6, 7, said crank D being driven directly by the chain wheels
and chain or by the bevel wheels and counter shaft E E and F as and for the
purpose herein set forth and shown by the drawings.
Secondly. In a sewing machine the combination with the hook 5 of the oblique
projection 6 and the eccentric recess 2 as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown by the drawings.
Thirdly. In a sewing machine the hook 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, or 1, 2, 2* 2b 5, 6, 7 mounted
on the under shaft K in combination with the spool case 3, 8, 9, 11 and the
groove 10 of the spool case holder operating in combination with the needle and
constructed as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown by the respective
figures of the drawings.
Fourthly. In a sewing machine the hook 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, or 1 2, 2a, 2b, 5, 6, 7 mounted
on the under shaft K in combination with the spool case 3, 8, 9, 11, and the
groove 10 of the spool case said spool case holder being hinged at 15 to the block 16
and serving to hold the spool case and spool in position in relation to the needle,
or to remove the same for refilling or adjustment as and for the purpose herein set
for and shown by the respective figures of the drawings.
WALTER A. BARLOW,
Agent for John Fox.