Improvements in Apparatus for Holding and Sewing Carpets and other Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: CORT DELE DI PULICATION,
Improvements in Apparatus for Holding and Sewing Carpets and
other Fabrics.
1, RUDOLPH MELVILLE HUNTER, of 926 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, in the
County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained.
in and by the following statements :-
Among the essential features of my invention may be enumerated the means for
supplying electrical energy to the travelling carriage, which latter is adapted to
travel upon a railway parallel to a fabric support or table. The vehicle carrying
the electric motor sustains an electrically actuated sewing machine, the feed motion
of which, acting upon the fabric lying upon the table, may give motion to the said
travelling carriage. If desired, the carriage may be propelled by the electric
motor and the feed motion dispensed with. In addition to the above mechanism,
I provide a guide for receiving the edges of the carpet to be sewn, and in con-
junction with this guide I may provide suitable means for crowding the edges of
the carpet against said guide to insure the two edges lying exactly in line or
superimposed one upon the other.
The railway is preferably carried upon the table in whole or in part, and one or
more of the conductors may be housed in conduits or compartments or otherwise
shielded so that the conductor or conductors are out of reach of the operators and
thus not in position to permit contact and consequent injury.
The
The rails of the railway are preferably at different levels, and one is secured
near the upper part or legs of the table while the other is either at a lower or a
higher elevation. I show several modifications of these arrangements.
carriage is provided with supporting and guide wheels running upon or against the
said rails and preferably overhangs or is located mainly to one side of the rails.
The carriage may be bodily adjusted laterally with respect to the table, or the
sewing machine may be adjusted upon the carriage. The rails may wholly or in part
act as the conductors between the source of electric energy and the electric motor
on the carriage. They may be used separately or in conjunction with independent
conductors. The mechanical source of power for operating the sewing machine
may be fixed and suitable power transmitting connections be employed to convey
the power to the travelling sewing machine.
Another feature of my invention relates to the stretching mechanism employed
to stretch the carpet. I secure the carpet at each end between clamps, and one of
said clamps is connected at one end to a fixed part of the table by means of a long
cord, and the other clamp is also connected to a cord which is fastened to a
windlass device adjustably secured to the table. By this means the carpet may be
moved laterally while under the action of the sewing machine and the edges of said
carpet kept snugly up into the guide of the sewing machine during its travel along
the table.
The invention is equally adapted to all kinds of sewing where long strips of
material are to be united at their edges, such for instance as carpets, awnings, sails,
and the like.
I do not limit myself to the mere details of construction herein set out, and the
above features are simply general disclosures of the nature of the invention which
is more specifically described hereinafter, and shown in the several accompanying
sheets of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a transverse section through the table, conductors, rock shaft, railway,
and carriage of a fabric sewing machine, embodying my invention ;

page_text: Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the carriage and electrically actuated sewing
machine:
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line y y of Fig. 4, showing the means for
stretching the carpet over the table;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the table and carpet stretching mechanism;
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a front elevation of the conductors for supplying
electric current to the motor on the vehicle ;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carpet guide and adjusting rollers for crowding the
carpet into the guide;
Fig. 7 is a cross section of a modified form of my electric fabric sewing machine
on line of Fig. 8;
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of same;
Fig. 9 is a plan view of the guide wheels for the extensible conductor ;
Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of same on line y y ;
Fig. 11 is a cross section through the table and railway on line za of
Fig. 12 showing another modification of my improved electric sewing machine
applied thereto;
Fig. 12 is an elevation of the same;
Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the construction and arrangement of the electric
circuits;
Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the carriage arranged for lateral
adjustment upon its supporting wheels;
Fig. 15 is a front elevation of another modified machine embodying my improve-
ments, a portion thereof being broken away;
Fig. 16 is a cross section of same on line of Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 is an elevation showing the power transmitting cable;
Fig. 18 is a plan view of same, showing the connection with the electric motor
or primary source of power;
Fig. 19 is a modified power transmitting device which may be used in place of
the cable;
Fig. 20 is a cross section of same on line y y ;
Fig. 21 is a cross section of another modification of an electric sewing machine
and appendages embodying my improvement; and
Fig. 22 is a front elevation of same.
•
Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, A is the table and may be made of wood, metal,
or other suitable material. B and B are two rails arranged nearly in the same
plane and are supported at intervals by cast iron brackets b, carried by the legs
of the table. The rail B is preferably made inverted V-shaped or otherwise
formed to receive and centre a supporting and guide wheel D of the carriage C.
It is so formed that the carriage cannot shift laterally to interfere with the
straightness of the line of sewing. There are two such supporting and guide
wheels D running upon the rail B, best shown in Fig. 2, and between them and to
the rear is an under running guide wheel D' working against the under side of the
flat rail B. A small roller d may also be carried by the carriage C and arranged
above the flat rail B. This construction prevents the movement of the carriage
about B as a centre, and yet permits the ready removal of the carriage, sewing
machine, and motor by lifting the wheels D off the rail B and then drawing the
wheels D' and d laterally from the rail B'.
F is a sewing machine, and is provided with the usual feed H. This feed
is preferably arranged above the guide and supporting wheels D, or above a
plane through said wheels, so that the line of action of the feed is substan-
tially above the outer rail B and in the centre of the load distributed upon the
carriage.
E is an electric motor, and is furnished with a power wheel e which connects
with a band wheel on the sewing machine by a power transmitting band E'. The
operation of the electric motor actuates the sewing machine, and the feed motion F
of said sewing machine acting upon the carpet S stretched upon the table causes

page_text: the vehicle and sewing machine to travel longitudinally upon the rails at a speed
commensurate with the speed of sewing.
In place of relying upon the feed of the sewing machine to propel the sewing
machine and carriage, the electric motor may positively drive the carriage by a
suitable power transmitting device between the motor shaft and one or both of the
wheels D as indicated in dotted lines.
Arranged under the table A and carried preferably by the legs thereof are
conduits Land L' through which pass endless conducting cables M and M². The
cable M passes about contact wheels N at each end, and likewise the conductor M¹
passes about N'at each end, and between the said end wheels these cables are
supported by grooved wheels m. The cables are insulated from each other, but
are in continual connection with a stationary source of power X which may be
a battery or dynamo, by means of the conducting wheels N and N' and the circuits
(see Fig. 5).
A current controller or resistance changer Y may be employed in the supply
circuit to control the current flowing to the motor, and thereby control its speed
and the travel of the sewing machine. The upper conduit L is provided with a
slot through which projects contact arms e respectively connecting with the two
conductors M and M. These contact arms are secured to and insulated from the
carriage C, but are electrically connected by a circuit P with the terminals of the
motor E, including a current reversing switch O for the armature so that the carriage
may be run back to its original position after performing the work of sewing the
length of carpet stretched upon the table.
To the sewing machine is secured a guide G projecting laterally so as to form a
groove parallel with the length of the carpet in which the carpet is received during
the travel of the sewing machine and its guide. This guide is laterally adjustable
to control the distance of the stitch from the edge of the carpet. Carried by the
sewing machine is a shaft I' upon each end of which is secured rollers I of rubber
or other flexible material, and said wheels act as brushes or friction devices to
crowd the carpet against the edge of the guide G. These rollers I are preferably
formed of rubber, and made with spiral teeth like worms, which teeth rub upon
the surface of the carpet and while feeding laterally travel longitudinally over the
carpet, the pitch of the teeth or threads on the wheels or rollers being substantially
equal to the distance travelled by the sewing machine for each revolution of the
said rollers. By this means there would be little or no dragging longitudinally
upon the carpet. The shaft I' and its rollers I are driven in any suitable manner.
As shown these rollers are driven by an endless band K passing about a pulley k
on the motor shaft and a pulley i on the shaft 11 and guide wheels J J. Any other
method of rolating the rollers I may be employed if desired. It is also evident
that a similar set of rollers I may be located upon the under side of the carpet, as
well as the upper side thereof.
The carpet S is clamped at each end in suitable clamps U which are pulled away
from each other by single or long cords u. One of the clamps by its cord is
connected with a fixed piece U¹ on the table, while the other clamp is connected
by its cord u to a windlass drum V journaled on a frame V' and adapted to be
rotated by a crank W and locked in position by a ratchet and pawl device w.
The table is provided with a series of holes or apertures a in its length, and the
frame V' is provided with pins r corresponding to said holes so that the said frame
may be adjusted at various places upon the table by placing its pins in the said
holes. This is to compensate for different lengths of carpet to be sewn. The
carpet is stretched by these devices (see Figs. 3 and 4) after the two edges have
been adjusted and pinned together by the pins R, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
After the sewing machine has sewn the two edges together, the rock shaft Qis
rocked by the hand lever Q after releasing the lock 9, and the arms Q' are raised,
bringing the cords or chains under tension and forcibly pulling all of the
pins R out of the carpet simultaneously. The sewn carpet is then released from
the clamps U.

page_text: Referring now to Figs. 7 to 10, A is the table upon which the strips of carpet or
other fabric are placed and adjusted, for having their edges sewn together. This
table may be of any length desired, and in practice is made very long. Arranged
along the floor under one edge of the table is a V-shaped rail B, which may act as
one of the conductors.
C is a carriage which is supported upon a large wheel D and a small wheel E¹
having V shaped grooves to run upon the rail B, and carries above the axis of the
wheel D a sewing machine F, which is operated by means of an electric motor E
and the band f. The wheels D and E' are in the same plane, and to prevent the
carriage from falling over and away from the table, a groove guide wheel D' is
employed, journaled upon a vertical axis, and running between guide rails B' and T
secured to the table. The sewing machine F is provided with a fabric guide G
adapted to receive the edges of the fabric and hold them in relative position while
the needle passes through the fabric. This guide G and the needle are arranged
above the wheel D and the rail B, so that the downward strain is preferably
directly received upon the rail B. The ordinary feed motion of the sewing machine
acting upon the fabric is the means employed for automatically causing the
carriage C to travel upon the railway.
S' is a resistance changer for controlling the speed of the motor E and is
preferably arranged upon the carriage C. X is a source of electric power of any
kind, and is an electric circuit including said source of power, and resistance
changer Y for controlling the supply of current to the motor. One terminal of the
source of power connects with the rail B, and the current passes through the said
rail and wheel D and its supporting frame, and by conductor P to one brush of the
motor E. The other terminal of the source of power connects with the guide
pulley QN is an upright rod secured to the carriage C, and extends to an eleva-
tion sufficient to hold the conductor M out of reach of persons standing at the
edge of the table A. An extensible conductor M is connected to the upper end of
the arm N, and extends to the base of the said arm, and thence to the resistance
changer S¹, and from it to the other brush of the motor. The conductor M passes
over a guide pulley P, and between guide pulleys P¹, thence over a guide pulley Q
and connects with a weight_n. The guide pulleys P² are grooved wheels, and
arranged edge to edge, and adapted to revolve in a horizontal plane, as shown in
Figs. 9 and 10. The guide pulley P² is adapted to rotate in a vertical plane, and
is journaled in a frame p pivoted at p' which is a point between the two wheels P¹,
and is suspended at such an elevation that the upper part of its groove is in line
with the groove between the two horizontal pulleys P, as clearly shown. As the
carriage moves along the railway, the conductor M is pulled out or given in
permitting the travel of the carriage C, and at all times maintaining an electrical
connection with the conductor x.
In practice the guide pulleys P* P¹ are arranged in the middle portion of the
table with reference to its length, so that in starting the carriage from one end of
the railway, and moving it to the other end the extensible conductor M is first
given in, and after the carriage passes the guide pulleys P P¹, the conductor is
drawn out. In practice, the conductor M is the positive conductor, and rail B the
negative, but this may be varied if desired.
It is evident that two extensible conductors may be employed, one for the
positive and the other for the negative current. The extensible conductor might
be located at any level and under the table if desired.
It is immaterial to my invention what the nature of the extensible conductor may
be as my invention comprehends any means for maintaining a positive connection
with one terminal of the source of power, in which the conductor is positively
connected with the carriage, and is extensible with reference to the source of
power.
Referring now to Figs. 11 to 14, A is the table, which may be made in any
suitable manner, and is supported upon suitable supporting legs or frames A¹.

page_text: This table in practice would be made about 40 feet in length, but might be made
longer if desired.
To the legs A' of the table are secured brackets upon which are supported a
V-shaped rail B, which is clamped in place by means of the clamps d. Secured
to the under part of the table is a second rail B' which may be formed of a T rail
or of an angle iron, and this latter rail may be shielded by a depending wooden
stringer K to prevent accidental touching.
The rail B' acts as a positive conductor and has connection with one pole of the
generator X or source of electric supply, and the other rail B connects with the
opposite pole of said generator or source of electric supply and acts as the return
conductor. The resistance changer or regulator Y may be employed in the main
circuit to control the amount of current passing to the conductors B B'. It is
quite evident that the rail B might be the positive conductor and the rail B' the
negative if so desired.
C is the carriage, and is provided with the brackets & upon which are journalled
the two grooved wheels D, which rest upon the V-shaped rail B, and also with an
intermediate arm or bracket ; upon which is journalled the grooved wheel D'
running upon the rail B'.
The brackets and j are insulated from each other and are respectively
connected with the terminals of the conductor P which includes a resistance
changer or regulator S' carried by the carriage C, and also the electric motor E.
F is the ordinary sewing machine, provided with a very heavy feed mechanism,
and said sewing machine is operated by the electric motor E through a trans-
mitting band. G is the fabric guide secured to the sewing machine so that the
edges of the fabric are guided in the proper position for passing under the needle,
and in the right connection with the feed mechanism F. The operation of the
feed mechanism upon the fabric causes the entire carriage and its appendages to
travel upon the railway.
By this construction of railway tracks, the conductors and tracks are located
where they are out of the way of danger, and form no obstruction to the operator.
The rails are preferably both arranged back of a vertical plane through the edge
of the table.
It is often desirable that the sewing machine may be adjusted laterally to follow
any irregularity in the edges of the fabric to be sewn, when said fabrics are of
very heavy material and are supported or stretched upon the table in such a
manner that they are not readily shifted thereon, and to accomplish this, I form
the brackets and j with long axles respectively k and i (in Figure 14) upon
which the wheels are journaled. The wheel D' is loosely sleeved upon the axle i,
and one of the wheels D is journaled upon a sleeve S' which slides upon the axle k
and may be adjusted by means of a link s, a lever T', and a locking detent
mechanism t. The sleeve S' which connects with the bars may if desired, be also
connected with the other wheel D, but this however is not necessary as the other
wheel D might be loosely fitted upon the axle just as the wheel D' is loosely fitted
upon the axle i. If the carriage is shifted with respect to one of the wheels D
directly under the sewing machine and in line with the motor the whole carriage
will be properly adjusted. The lever T' is fitted to the bracket h, and it is evident
that by moving said lever the carriage C may be shifted bodily upon the wheels D
and D, and with it the electric motor and sewing machine. This shifting may be
performed while the machine is in operation and is under the control of the
operator who may be walking along with the travelling machine.
In the construction herein set out the cloth plate of the sewing machine is on a
level with the upper surface of the table so that the fabric may extend from the
table upon the cloth plate machine in a proper position to be acted upon by the
feed mechanism.
By locating the main portion of the carriage C with the motor and sewing
machine to one side of the rails the weight thereof is brought to bear upon the

page_text: respective rails with considerable leverage to positively exert good electrical
contact with the respective rails which form the conductors. Furthermore this
arrangement enables me to locate the rails back of the edge of the table and within
a space bounded by a vertical plane through the edge of the table.
Referring now to Figs. 15 to 20, A is the table, and is provided with a vertical 5
leg A¹. The construction of this table is immaterial. B is the longitudinal rail
arranged near the lower part of the leg A', and close to the table so as to be out
of the way of the operator. C is the carriage which is supported upon the large
'groove wheels D, which run upon the rail B.
F is the sewing machine of any suitable construction securely fastened to the fl
carriage C. B' is a rail arranged upon the upper portion of the table A, and in
contact with which a vertically supported roller D' runs. This roller D¹ is
journaled upon the end of a horizontal arm J' movable in a transverse guide K*
upon the carriage C, and said arm with its roller may be moved or adjusted
laterally by means of the bell crank L¹, link and hand lever M³, which latter is 11
provided with a detent locking device m³ for holding it firmly in various positions
of adjustment. The tendency of the carriage C is to rotate upon the rail Bas an
axis and fall away from the edge of the table A. This action is prevented by the
wheel D' running against the vertical rail B¹.
It will be observed that by adjusting the lever M³, (which may be performed
while the machine is travelling), the upper edge of the carriage C and the sewing
machine F with its guide G may move laterally to or from the table A, and with
respect to the edge of the fabric supported thereon.
It is immaterial to my invention what means are employed to adjust the wheel or
roller D laterally with respect to the carriage C, as various mechanical
equivalents of the devices shown may be resorted to if desired. A rail I' may be
employed upon the opposite side of the roller D' so as to form with rail B¹ a groove
having metallic walls between which said roller travels.
The carriage is provided with a transverse shaft N' upon one end of which is a
band wheel O, from which a band extends to the sewing machine F for operating:
it. Upon the other end of said shaft is secured a grooved wheel n, about which the
transmitting cable R³ passes. This transmitting cable R³ is made endless and
is passed about the wheels r at each end of the table, and is wrapped about the
grooved wheel n so as to create a friction thercon. One of the wheels r is
connected with an electric motor S³, which is operated from a source of:
electrical energy X through suitable circuits and controlled by a regulator Y.
The motor S being put into motion the endless cable R' is caused to travel at any
desired rate of speed and imparts to the wheel n and its shaft N³ a rotary motion,
which in turn is imparted to the sewing machine F by the band f.
C
The lower portion of the endless cable R³ may be guided upon supporting
pulleys Ps arranged upon the legs of the table. The carriage C with its shaft N
is caused to travel longitudinally over the railway by means of the ordinary feed
motion of the sewing machine operating upon the edges of the fabric guided under
the guide G. The sewing machine thus pulls the carriage and itself along over its
railway by its gripping action upon the fabric. While the carriage is travelling
along, the shaft N is kept in constant rotation, and to make the machine work
more easily the transmitting portion of the cable R³ acting upon the wheel n
should preferably travel in the direction which the sewing machine and its carriage
should move when sewing the fabric.
In place of using an endless cable and a grooved wheel n, the shaft N' may be
rotated by means of bevel gears U (see Fig. 19) which are rotated by means of a
shaft R' provided with a longitudinal groove in which a spline extends from one
..f the gears U sleeved upon said shaft. This shaft is rotated by means of an
electric motor S. The shaft R' is supported on the table, and by the action of
the gears with the carriage C through the shaft N2 the said gears are caused to
travel along the shaft with the movement of the said carriage.

page_text: I do not limit myself to any special mechanism for imparting the motion to the
shaft N' from a source of power stationary with respect to the railway, as various
methods may be employed for accomplishing this result.
Referring now to Figs. 21 and 22, A is the table, and may be of any desired
length. B is a rail arranged' near the ceiling, and is secured thereto by means of
brackets C. C is a carriage having grooved wheels D running upon the said'
rail B, and is provided with a downwardly extending part which supports at its
lower end a sewing machine F, having the cloth plate on a line with the upper
edge of the table A. The sewing machine is provided with a guide G under
which the edges of the fabric to be sewn pass, and are held while being acted
upon by the feed motion mechanism and needle of the said machine. The over-
head rail B is arranged parallel with the edge of the table A so that the sewing
machine F may travel along parallel to said edge.
E is an electric motor, which is carried by the carriage C, and is mechanically
connected by a transmitting belt with the shaft of the sewing machine. The
under edge of the table A is provided with an inverted channel rail B', in which
the roller or wheel D' works. The roller or wheel D' is journaled upon trans-
versely adjustable frame J', supported in guides K' and this frame J¹
may be
adjusted laterally with respect to the sewing machine or vice versa by means of the
bell crank lever M having a locking device consisting of a pawl and detent m³.
The guide roller D' and its connection with the frame J' insures the sewing
machine travelling parallel to the edge of the table A, and by adjusting the
lever M, the lower end of the carriage and the sewing machine F may be adjusted
laterally with respect to the edge of the table. In this movement these parts.
swing about the rail B as an axis.
The rail B connects with the positive pole of the source. of electric power X and
acts as the positive conductor, while the channel rail B' acts as the return
conductor, and connects with the negative pole of the said source of electric
power. The wheel D connects electrically with the electric motor by a motor
circuit P, which includes the electric motor E and the rheostat S¹. The current.
passes thence through the parts K², J', D' to the return conductor B¹.
In practice I prefer to place the rail B in such position with respect to the
sewing machine that there will be a tendency of the sewing machine to move
toward the table A by the action of gravity, which tendency is counteracted by
the action of the roller D' against one of the lateral faces of the rail B'.
It will be seen that while the electric motor E operates the needle of the sewing.
machine to sew the fabric, it is also employed to operate the ordinary feed motion
mechanism of said sewing machine, and thereby cause the carriage and the sewing
machine to move longitudinally with respect to the edge of said table when in the
act of sewing the fabric.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, a table on which the fabric is.
stretched, in combination with a railway extending along one side of the table and
having the rails at different elevations, a carriage mounted upon said railway, a
sewing machine mounted on the carriage, and a motor for operating the sewing
machine also mounted on the carriage and moved with it.
อ
i
1.
2nd. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of means for
supporting the fabric consisting of an horizontal or substantially horizontal support.
provided with legs extending to the floor, a railway arranged above the floor and
supported directly by the fabric support and close to the same whereby the
railway shall not project materially from said fabric support, a carriage supported
upon said railway and having a laterally projecting part or parts provided with
wheels running upon said railway whereby it is adapted to travel parallel to the
edge of the fabric support, a sewing machine supported by the carriage to one."

page_text: side of the railway, an electric motor supported by the carriage and mechanically
connected to operate the sewing machine, and a source of electrical energy for
operating the electric motor.
3rd. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table, a
railway arranged to one side of said table, a carriage guided upon said railway, a 5
sewing machine carried upon said carriage and having its cloth plate substantially
in line with the upper surface of the table, an electric motor to operate said sewing
machine, a stationary source of electric power, and a movable conductor receiving
current from said source of electric power and connecting with the electric motor
whereby it delivers current to the motor.
4th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
for supporting the fabric, a railway carried by the framing of the table, a carriage
running upon the railway and overhanging the outer rail thereof, a sewing machine
carried by the carriage and having its guide plate substantially on a level with the
surface of the table, feed motion mechanism carried by the sewing machine
arranged close to the edge of the table and substantially over the outer supporting
guide wheel of the carriage, and an electric motor mechanically connected to
operate the sewing machine.
5th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table, a
railway arranged parallel to one edge of the table, a carriage running upon the
railway, a sewing machine supported by the carriage, a source of electrical energy,
a conductor leading from the source of electrical energy to the electric motor, and
a conduit structure or shield secured to the table and enclosing or shielding the
conductor.
6th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
upon which the fabric is supported, a railway parallel to the said table, a carriage
supported by the railway, a sewing machine secured to the carriage and moving
therewith and provided with a guide for guiding the edges of the fabric under the
needle, means carried by the sewing machine or carriage for crowding the edges of
the fabric into the guide of the sewing machine, and power mechanism to operate
the sewing machine.
7th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabric, the combination of a table upon
which the fabric is held, clamps arranged at each end for holding the fabric, a
long flexible cord connecting one of the clamps with the table, a long flexible cord
connecting the other clamp with a windlass or take up device, a railway arranged
parallel to the front edge of the table, a travelling carriage upon the railway, a
sewing machine carried by the carriage for sewing the edges of the fabric, and
power mechanism for operating the sewing machine.
8th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table or
support upon which the fabric is placed, a supporting rail arranged close to the
base and parallel to the table, a movable carriage having a large supporting wheel
running upon said supporting rail and overhanging it so as to project away from
the table, a guide rail arranged parallel to and secured near the upper portion of
the table, a guide wheel secured to the carriage and running against the said guide
rail to support the carriage in an upright position, and a sewing machine secured
to the carriage so as to move close to the edge of the table.
9th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table for
supporting the fabric, a railway arranged parallel to the table, a carriage moving
upon said railway, an electrically actuated sewing machine carried by said carriage,
a source of electrical power, and an extensible conductor leading from the source
of electrical power to the electrically actuated sewing machine.
10th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table or
support upon which the fabric is placed, a railway arranged parallel to the table, a
carriage movable upon the railway, an electrically actuated sewing machine
carried by the carriage, a source of electric supply, a guide fixedly located with
respect to the table, an electric circuit connecting the guide with the source of
electric supply, and a flexible conductor having one end connected with the

page_text: electrically actuated sewing machine and the other end loosely guided upon the
fixed guide.
11th. In apparatus for supporting and sewing fabrics,. the combination of a
table, two rails arranged upon said table below its upper surface, a travelling
carriage having supporting wheels running upon different sides of the said rails, a
sewing machine secured to and moving with the carriage, an electric motor upon
the carriage to operate the sewing machine, a source of electrical energy
connected with one of the rails, and an electric circuit secured to the carriage
and connecting the electric motor with the wheel running upon the rail connecting
with the source of electrical energy.
12th. In apparatus for supporting and sewing fabrics, the combination of a
table, a railway arranged parallel to the edge of the table, a travelling carriage
provided with supporting wheels and movable upon said railway and located
to one side of the table, a sewing machine secured to the carriage and movable
therewith, and adjusting mechanism for laterally adjusting the carriage and
sewing machine with respect to the table, whereby the sewing machine may
follow the edge of the fabric being sewn.
13th. In apparatus for supporting and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table,
a rail arranged immediately under the table and projecting downward, supporting
brackets projecting laterally from the table, a rail supported by said brackets at a
lower elevation than the first mentioned rail, a travelling carriage having supporting
wheels adapted to run upon different faces of said rails and projecting laterally
over said rails, and a sewing machine supported upon said carriage in line with the
upper edge of the table.
14th. In apparatus for supporting and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
with two electric conductors arranged below the upper part of the table and at a
distance above the floor, and an electrically actuated sewing machine supported
upon a carriage and movable along the edge of said table and electrically connected
with the two conductors.
15th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
for holding the fabric, a supporting rail secured close to the legs of the table near
the floor, a carriage having large supporting wheels running upon said rail and
overhanging the same, a guide rail secured to the table near its top and above the
supporting rail, a guide wheel secured to the frame of the carriage and adapted to
run against the said guide rail to prevent the carriage falling away from the edge
of the table, and a sewing machine secured to the carriage having its cloth plate
arranged substantially on the same level as the surface of the table.
16th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
for holding the fabric, a supporting rail secured close to the legs of the table near
the floor, a carriage having large supporting wheels running upon said rail and
overhanging the same, a guide rail secured to the table near its top and above the
supporting rail, a guide wheel secured to the frame of the carriage and adapted
to run against the said guide rail to prevent the carriage falling away from the
edge of the table, a sewing machine secured to the carriage having its cloth plate
arranged substantially on the same level as the surface of the table, and means to
adjust the sewing machine laterally with respect to the rails and the edge of the
fabric supporting table.
17th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
upon which the fabric is held, a railway parallel to the table, a carriage upon
said railway, a sewing machine supported by the carriage and having feed motion
mechanism to act upon the fabric, a rotating part arranged at one place with
respect to the railway, and a power transmitting connection extending from the
rotating part to the sewing machine and close to the table, whereby the sewing
machine may be operated from a stationary source during the travel of the
carriage over the railway.
18th. In apparatus for holding and sewing fabrics, the combination of a table
upon which the fabric is placed, a supporting rail arranged parallel to the table, a
B

page_text: guide rail also arranged parallel to the table and at a different elevation than the
supporting rail, a carriage having wheels running upon the supporting rail and also
a wheel or wheels running upon the guide rail, a sewing machine secured to the
carriage and travelling parallel to the edge of the table, and means to adjust the
sewing machine laterally with respect to the table.
Dated this 1st day of September 1891.
RUDOLPH MELVILLE HUNTER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.