Improvements in and relating to Sewing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sewing Machines.
I, JAMES TRIPP, of 64 East 11th Street, in the City. County and State of New
York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to mechanism for driving rotary, or rotarily
oscillating shuttles, and particularly that class of shuttle driving mechanism that
carries the shuttle without the aid of a race or other similar peripheral parts.
The object of the invention is to obviate the difficulties attendant upon the presence
of a race for carrying a rotating shuttle, that is, to obviate the soiling of the thread
due to the presence of the oil necessary to make the shuttle run freely when in a
race, and the friction and clogging of the race and wear of the parts due to the
gummed oil collecting dirt, and lint or flock. It is also the object of the invention,
while supporting and carrying the shuttle concentrically with the shuttle shaft, to
so support it that it shall have no looseness nor irregularity of motion and be held
against any tendency to have motion along the axis of the shuttle shaft, or laterally
away from the same, thereby permitting a high speed for the shuttle and obviating
all tendency of the needle thread to catch and tangle or break.
The invention consists of cam-actuated plungers mounted upon the shuttle shaft
and arranged to reciprocate into and out of corresponding holes in the shuttle, the
plungers being arranged so that at least two of them will at all times be inserted in
the shuttle and carrying the same; the invention also consists in combination with
the said plungers and shuttle, of a face plate arranged in front of the shuttle, which
holds it against the longitudinal thrust of the plungers, and of a pressure plate
arranged against the rear face of the shuttle, which holds the shuttle against tendency
to rearward motion and is mounted so as to have a slight yielding pressure upon the
shuttle.
Figure 1 of the drawings shows a front elevation of the shuttle, shuttle face plate
and surrounding parts.
Figure 2 shows the shuttle and needle bar in their relative position when the shuttle
is positioned as in Figures 1 and 3.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on plane a x of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the same parts as in Figure 1, except that the face plate
and shuttle have been removed.
Figure 5 is a section on plane y, y of Figure 4, but also showing the shuttle in
position and sectioned by the same plane.
Figures 6 and 7 show the cam parts sectioned on plane y y Figure 6 being a plan
view of the upper parts of the cam looking upwardly, and Figure 7 a plan of the
lower parts of the cam looking downwardly.
Referring to these views in detail, A represents the work plate of a sewing machine,
Ba cam sleeve attached to the underside of plate A and constituting a journal for the
shuttle shaft and parts attached thereto, and C the shuttle shaft.
Upon the shuttle shaft are fixed two discs D D, which are circular in form and of
the same size as the cylindrical opening in the sleeve B, and which constitute journals
for this end of the shuttle shaft, revolving as they do with the shaft in the sleeve.
These discs support the plungers E, F, G and H, which extend in either direction
beyond the discs D and are free to move in their bearings in a direction parallel with
the axis of the shuttle shaft. Each of the plungers has fixed to it a lug I and each
lug carries upon its outer end a friction roll J that enters the cam groove K formed
in the inner surface of the sleeve B between the bearings of the discs D, D. The
inner end of each lug is pierced to receive a rod N, which is fixed in the journal

page_text: discs D and upon which the lugs are free to slide, being thereby held in a radial
position relatively to the cam sleeve with their rolls always in the cam groove.
L indicates the shuttle, which in general form is of well known construction. It
is pierced with four holes M which in size and position correspond to the outer ends
of the plungers E F G and H which plungers play in and out of these holes in the
shuttle as the shuttle shaft revolves, thereby carrying the shuttle concentrically with
-the shuttle shaft. L' is a hollow post in the shuttle which serves as an axis for the
bobbin, the bobbin being of the usual or any suitable form. O indicates the shuttle
face plate. This is an open ring-like plate, which is secured by screws P to the cam
sleeve and rises in front of the shuttle in such position as to bear lightly against its
peripheral edge, as seen in Figure 3 for the purpose of holding the shuttle against
any action tending to cause it to move along the line of its axis, such as the thrust
of the plungers or any like action. Q is what I term a pressure plate. It is in effect
a flat ring surrounding the position of the shuttle and bearing against the peripheral
edge of the shuttle from its rear side similarly to the face plate O. This pressure
plate is held in position by the screws R which enter the front face of the cam sleeve
and are each provided with a spring S which bears upon the pressure plate and
thereby keeps it pressed against the heads of the screws R which screws thereby
serve to adjust the plate so that it will bear upon the shuttle as firmly or as
delicately as may be required while yet permitting it to be pushed away from the
shuttle. T is the ordinary spring lever which holds the bobbin and its case in the
shuttle.
The action of the parts will now be plain. As the shuttle shaft revolves the plungers
are caused to move to and from the shuttle according as the cam groove deviates. It
is to be understood that the cam is so arranged that two of the plungers are always
in the shuttle and carrying the same. This is important to the action of the shuttle,
as at least two plungers must be in the shuttle to prevent it acting centrifugally and
leaving its position concentric with the shuttle shaft. Thus taking the parts in position
of Figure 1 where the shuttle is about to take the needle loop, just before the shuttle
reaches the loop the plunger nearest the hook will begin to draw out of the shuttle
and by the time the shuttle has made a quarter turn it will be entirely withdrawn so
that the loop then on the shuttle can pass it, after which and during substantially the
second quarter of the revolution this plunger will be returned to position in the shuttle
and held there during the second half of the revolution. Of course the other
plungers are actuated similarly and hence it will appear that two plungers must
always be in the shuttle and carrying it during the time that the two others are being
withdrawn, to let the loop pass and being again reinserted therein. Accordingly it
will be obvious that the plungers may be worked in pairs when there are four of
them, as in the present case by simply shaping the cam groove so that the separate
pairs may be properly timed. Similarly, too, if desired, three plungers may be
arranged to accomplish the same result, but it is preferred to use four, as that
number permits of a better arrangement and working of parts, than would a less
number of plungers.
The purpose of the face plate and the pressure plate is to hold the shuttle against
any action tending to displace it from its plane of revolution, and to prevent any
wobbling or irregular movement thereof. The pressure plate, however, is not a
necessity; the shuttle may be held between the face plate and any other suitable
part attached to the shuttle shaft or cam sleeve, but it is preferred to use the yielding
pressure plate shown, as it affords a convenient means for regulating the position of
the shuttle, and for preserving such a pressure upon its periphery as is best suited
to hold it in place.
I do not herein claim broadly cam-actuated plungers or pins for carrying a
shuttle, when the same are arranged and operated so that the shuttle is at all times
carried by two or more of the pins or plungers and is held against displacement by
a face-plate device, for such combination of parts constitutes the subject matter of
an application for British Letters Patent No. 2945 A.D. 1889.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:
First. The combination in a sewing machine, of a shuttle shaft, three or more
reciprocating plungers mounted upon said shaft, a shuttle provided with holes to
receive the plungers, a cam for reciprocating the plungers to and from engagement
with the shuttle, and a face plate to hold the shuttle in its plane of revolution, the
parts being arranged so that two of the plungers will at all times be in engagement
with and carrying the shuttle, while the other plunger or plungers are being withdrawn
to let the needle loop pass and being again inserted in the shuttle.
Second. The combination in a sewing machine, of a shuttle shaft, three or more
reciprocating plungers mounted upon said shaft, a shuttle provided with holes to
receive the plungers, a cam for reciprocating the plungers to and from engagement
with the shuttle, two plates arranged to bear against the peripheral edge of the shuttle
upon its front and rear faces for holding the shuttle in its plane of revolution, the
plungers and cam being arranged so that two of the plungers will at all times be in
engagement with and carrying the shuttle.
Dated this 15th day of October 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.