Improvements in Apparatus for Sewing Carpets.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sewing Carpets.
A communication from abroad by FRANKLIN AMES, of 2204, Prairie Avenue,
Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of
America, Manufacturer."
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner.
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
In making up carpets heretofore, the breadths have been sewn together by hand.
This mode of sewing carpets is very unsatisfactory, for it requires considerable
time and adds very materially to the expense of the carpet. My correspondent is
aware that some attempts have been made to do this work by machine, but he is
not aware that it has ever been satisfactorily accomplished.
It is the object of the present invention to provide machinery which will readily
and successfully do the entire work of making up carpets, and my correspondent has
found, by actual and very considerable use, for several months past, of the apparatus
devised for this purpose, that the invention is thoroughly practical and entirely
successful in operation.
An apparatus in which the invention is embodied in one practical form will now
be described in detail, and, then, the improvements which are believed to be new
and which it is wished to protect by Letters Patent will be pointed out definitely
in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention,
a portion being broken away at each end thereof;
Figure 2, a similar view of the same, but showing a smaller portion thereof;
Figure 3, a rear end elevation of the same;
Figure 4, a plan view of the same, the ends being broken away;
Figure 5, a front elevation showing only a part of the table and devices for
turning the carpet ;
Figure 6, a detail plan of the rear end of the table, showing the clamping
device by which the lengths of carpet are fastened to the table at this end;
Figure 7, a longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 7, 7, of Figure 6;
Figure 8, a detail plan showing a clamping device for connecting carpet lengths
together endwise;
Figure 9, a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 9, 9, of Figure 8;
Figure 10, a detail plan of a portion of the table near its front end and the
clamp by which the front ends of the length of carpet are here secured to the
table;
Figure 11, an enlarged vertical section of the same, taken on the line 11, 11, of
Figure 10;
Figure 12, a detail plan of the device for drawing out the pins which temporarily
fasten the edges of the carpet together;
Figure 13, a detail plan of a device for setting the edges of the carpet, in proper
position for sewing;
Figure 14, a section of the same, taken on the line 14, 14, of Figure 13;
Figure 15, a detail elevation of the motor brake; and
Figure 16, an elevation showing a part of the carriage, the motor, brake and its
connections.
In these drawings :-
Figure 1 is unon
°
scale by itself.

page_text: Figures 2, 3, and 4, are all upon the same scale enlarged from that of Figure 1 ;
Figures 5 and 16 are on a smaller and larger scale respectively to Figure 1;
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are upon the one scale, but still further enlarged;
and
Figures 13, 14 and 15 upon a scale still more enlarged than the latter.
In these drawings:-
A represents a long table; it may be of any desired length, but should be at
least as long as carpets of large size, and it will be found convenient to make it of
even greater length, so that two or more carpets of ordinary size may be sewn at
the same time. This table may be set up in the room in. any suitable way, but
should be firm and level. At one side of the table, which may be called the front,
there is laid a track B, consisting of two small light rails, which extend along
the entire length of the table and which also must be level the same as the table.
This arrangement of the table and track, so that both will be level, is important,
as will be seen in the description further on. The track should also be in a fixed
position, so that its relation to the table will be unchanged. The track and the
table may be entirely separate from each other, each being supported by independent
structures, but, as a matter of convenience, for the purpose of maintaining these
two parts in a level and constant relative position, they are shown in the drawings
mounted upon the same base support, which is made adjustable for levelling
purposes. To accomplish this, a base frame B' is constructed, which is as long as
the table and of sufficient width to accommodate both the latter and the track.
The table is mounted on supporting posts, set along one side of this frame, and, at
the other side in front of the table, stringers are run to receive the two rails,
being set in the cross-bars 2 of the base frame. The table and track are both set
level on this frame. It will be seen then that, if this base is level, the table and
track will also be level and that they will be maintained in a fixed relation to
each other. This base frame is not mounted in a fixed position, but is set upon the
floor on adjusting screws 63, which are of sufficient number to support the whole
framework steadily and at the same time provide means for setting the base, so
that it will be practically level, and may be kept so by such adjustment as may be
required. A carriage C is constructed to run upon this track, preferably the
carriage is provided with four wheels c, which are adapted to run upon the rails b,
some or all of them having grooved felloes adapted to fit the rails, so as to keep
the carriage in place. Upon the carriage, a sewing machine D is mounted, and
arranged so that the needle will be on the inside of the carriage next to the table,
but a little way from the edge of the latter, so that, when the lengths of carpet
are stretched upon the table in position for sewing, the double edges may be
extended out over the front edge of the table and brought under the needle in
proper position for sewing. This sewing machine may be of any known con-
struction suitable to the heavy work of sewing carpets. A machine which will
make a well known zig-zag elastic stitch, substantially like that shown in the
United States Letters Patent No. 167,492 of September 7, 1875, is preferred, for
the carpet will then present an even surface at the seams when laid. It is not
necessary to describe the particular construction of the sewing machine, for, as just
stated, it may be of any known construction, and the machine for making the
particular stitch referred to is old and well known. The sewing machine is
preferably mounted on the top of the carriage frame and at its rear end, though
this is a mere matter of choice for convenience; but the machine must, of course,
be as high as the table. There is also mounted on the carriage an electric motorE,
which, as shown in the drawings, is arranged on the lower part of the carriage
frame and at the front end, though this also is a matter of choice and convenience.
This motor may be of any known construction adapted for light work, and a special
description is not necessary,
for there are several well known and in common use
for various purposes.
The shaft e, of this motor, is provided with a band pulley e¹,
from which a baud E¹ runs to a similar pulley e³ on the main shaft of the sewing
machine, so that the latter is driven by this motor, Current is supplied to the
.

page_text: motor by any of the well known means in use for this purpose. As shown in the
drawings, there are two wires F and F¹, strung along about over the outer track
and the carriage, and a sufficient distance above the latter to be entirely out of
the way. These wires are the two main wires of an electric circuit, and they are
connected to the necessary devices on the carriage by means of a post G, rising
from the outside of the carriage frame and carrying, at its upper end, an adjustable
section g, on which is a cross-head g', carrying on its ends small pulleys g³, which
are held up in contact with the circuit wires by the cross-heads, as seen in Figures 2
and 4 of the drawings; springs 93 are also arranged above and rest on the wires,
which serve to maintain the circuit, if, by accident, contact should be broken
between the wires and the pulleys. The pulleys and springs are both in circuit it
will be seen, but, of course, each set must be insulated from the one at the other end
of the cross-bar. Connecting wires and filead, respectively, from the supports
of the springs and pulleys down the post to the carriage, where they are properly
connected up with the motor to give current to it, as required. At the rear of the
machine, is a switch-lever H for opening and closing the circuit to which a spring h
is applied, which tends to hold the lever up in its highest position, as shown in
A rod or cord '
Figure 3 of the drawings, in which position, the circuit is open.
extends from this lever down to a treadle or foot-lever H', which is pivoted at one
end to the base of the carriage frame, as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. When
this lever is forced down, it will, of course, pull down the switch-lever, thereby
closing the circuit and setting the motor in operation. A rheostat is also arranged
in the circuit and connected with the switch-lever, so that the degree of current to
the motor may be regulated as required, the adjustment being such that, as shown
in the drawings, the more the switch-lever is depressed, the greater the force sent
to the motor. In order to aid the spring in lifting the lever and treadle con-
nected to it, a supplementary spring H2 may be connected directly to the treadle
and arranged to operate to lift the latter, as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings.
The carriage is provided with a seat c¹, conveniently arranged toward its rear
end, on which an attendant sits and manages the movements of the carriage by
operating the treadle-lever and attends to the work of the sewing machine and the
proper arrangement of the carpet. This seat is arranged for the attendant to sit
facing to the rear, and, when in this position, there is just in front of him a
box, c³, in which the rheostat is placed and upon the back of which the switch-lever
is arranged.
The table is constructed so that the clamps, to which the ends of the carpet are
attached, may be applied thereto and held down to the table, but at the same time
may be moved back and forth thereon. This is accomplished by making a
groove a, running the entire length of the table and of irregular shape in cross-
section. This groove or channel may be conveniently provided as shown in the
drawings, in which the top boards a of the table are separated slightly at their
inner edges and below them are middle boards a²; the corresponding edges of which
are separated a little more widely, and a bottom board a³ is arranged immediately
below these middle boards and closes the bottom of the channel, as seen in Figure 3
of the drawings. Clamps I and K are applied respectively to the rear and front
ends of the table. The clamp I consists of a longitudinal strip i having a tongue
adapted to fit the groove in the table, so that it may be slipped into the latter at
the end of the table and be moved back and forth therein lengthwise of the latter.
A cross-bar is attached to this piece and has hinged to it a second cross-bar²,
from which arms extend forward and carry upon their outer ends the movable
clamping bar, which has a series of small holes made in its underside. The
hinges by which this bar is connected to the cross-bar i are preferably double-
acting spring hinges, which will tend both to throw up and to hold down the
clamping bar, as seen in Figure 7 of the drawings. Immediately below the bar it,
is a strip, attached to the sliding bar i, arranged transversely thereto and provided
with a series of short teeth corresponding to the holes in the movable bar above.
The ends of the carpet lengths are fixed to the clamp by catching them over the

page_text: teeth on the lower bar and then bringing down the upper bar upon them, and the
latter is fastened in place by means of a button mounted on a block rising from
the sliding bar. This clamp is set at any point desired, by means of a bolt J,
having its head imbedded in the underside of the slide i passing up through the
same and having a thumb nut j, applied to its upper end; it is evident that, when
this nut is turned down upon the bolt, the slide will be tightly clamped to the
table, so that it will remain in the position in which it is fixed.
The clamp K is constructed in all respects like the clamp I, except the device
described for fastening the clamp to the table at any desired point, instead of the
fastening bolt, there is mounted on the sliding bar a small windlass L, to which is
fastened and on which is wound a rope l. The slide of this clamp is provided
with a longitudinal passage k', and the rope is carried down from the windlass into
this passage and thence out at the front end of the clamp, where it is provided with
a hook, which is adapted to enter any one of a series of holes 12 in the bottom
board of the channel formed in the table. The windlass is provided with a ratchet
and pawls, so that it is fastened, when required, to hold the carpet taut.
Now, to prepare the carpet for sewing, two lengths are laid together, the right
side of each being inward, and in this position the carpet M is fastened at its
respective ends in the respective clamps I and K, as described, being placed in
these clamps so that the outer edges will be extended over the front edge of the
table to the needle of the sewing machine and in proper position with reference to
the latter for the operation of sewing, as seen in Figure 4 of the drawings. The
clamp I is fastened to the table as already described; the cord on the clamp K is
hooked into a hole some little distance in front of said clamp and the windlass is
then turned, thereby drawing the clamp back and so straightening out the carpet
and giving it the required tension. When the carpet is sufficiently taut, the pawl
is let into the ratchet on the windlass, thereby holding the latter from turning
backward, and so the clamp will be held in its position by the rope and the carpet
will be held taut.
In order to secure the edges of the two lengths of carpet together to match the
figure, as required for sewing, a number of large long pins N are provided, by means
of which the two lengths are fastened together near their edges, as seen in Figure 4
of the drawings. It is desirable to remove these pins automatically, and for this
purpose, the pins are preferably made with eyes, so that cords O may be
fastened to them. These cords have attached to them, a short distance from the
pin, small discs or buttons o of wood, or any other suitable material, and the cords
run up over pulleys o¹, suspended on a wire O¹ arranged above the carpet, and at
the other ends of the cords are attached light weights o². These weights are just
sufficient to pull up the pins when released from the carpet, and, in order to prevent
the latter from being drawn up to the pulleys, a second series of buttons o³ is
provided for the cords some distance above the first series, which act as stops
when they reach the pulleys and prevent the cords from running further over the
latter.
In order to remove the pins automatically from the carpet, a spring-hook P is
provided, which is fastened to the carriage just back of the sewing machine.
This hook extends inward over the edge of the carpet and beyond the line of
the pins, so that its bent end will be brought by the movement of the carriage
into contact with the pin cords just below the button o, as seen in Figure 4 of the
drawings. The forward movement of the hook with the carriage will then, of
course, pull out the pins, and the latter will be immediately drawn up out of
the way by the action of the weights attached to the cords, as seen in Figure 2
of the drawings. The hook is provided with a coil p', so as to be somewhat
elastic.
The operation of the apparatus described above is as follows:-
Two lengths of carpet, laid as described, are placed upon the table and fastened
at their respective ends to the clamps I and K. The clamp I is fastened to the
table at the desired point, and the clamp K is moved on the table by means of the

page_text: windlass until the lengths of carpet are perfectly taut and stretched, as required.
The windlass being secured against turning by means of the ratchet and pawl,
the clamp K will be thereby held in the position to which it is adjusted and
the carpet will be retained in a fixed position on the table. Either before or
after the fastening of the ends of the carpet in the clamps, the two edges are
secured together by the pins, as described, and the carpet is in readiness for
sewing. The carriage is run back sufficiently far to bring the sewing machine
in front of the front end of the carpet. The attendant mounts the carriage and
sets in operation the electric motor by the movement of the treadle lever, as already
described. The first slight movement of the carriage must be by a little pull or
push of the attendant until the edge of the carpet enters the feed devices of the
sewing machine. My correspondent has found, however, that, with the level
arrangement of the table and track and the light friction attending the running
of the carriage, constructed as described upon the rails, that the ordinary feed of
the sewing machine is entirely sufficient to give the required progressive movement
forward of the carriage and that too with the attendant riding on the machine.
The duties of the attendant are very simple and light, so that a small boy or girl of
ordinary intelligence can attend to everything required; this, of course, lightens
the weight on the carriage and makes it easier to run, and, the carriage, being
progressed by the feed of the sewing machine, will, of course, always move exactly
at the speed demanded for properly doing the work of sewing. The speed of the
sewing machine, and, consequently, of the carriage, is regulated by the amount of
current supplied to the motor, which is adjusted by the switch and rheostat lever,
as already explained. The operation of the machine, and movement of the
carriage may be very rapid; this apparatus has been in almost daily practical
operation for several months past, and it has been found practicable to work the
devices up to a speed of eight yards per minute. As the carriage moves along, it
withdraws the pins which fasten the two lengths of carpet together, as already
explained. It will be understood, of course, that the thread spools or balls are
mounted on the carriage in any convenient place and the threads are run to the
sewing machine in the usual way. When the carriage is run the length of the
carpet, it will, of course, stop as the latter passes out from the feed of the sewing.
The carriage
machine and at this point current should be shut off from the motor.
is run back by hand to the front portion of the table and new lengths of carpet
prepared, as described, for sewing, when the same operation is repeated.
It is desirable to provide means for stopping the operation of the sewing machine
instantly. This is accomplished by applying a brake to the shaft e of the motor.
The brake used is shown enlarged in Figure 15 of the drawings; it is a spring e³
bent somewhat in U-shape and inverted so as to be fitted upon and over the shaft e,
as seen in Figures 1 and 16 of the drawings, or, more correctly speaking, it is fitted
over an enlargement or pulley on the shaft, which may be an extension of the hub
of the pulley e¹. One end of the brake is fastened rigidly to the frame of the
carriage; the other end is bent outward at about right angles and is connected by
a link to the end of a long lever e which is pivoted to the carriage frame at a
point quite near the motor shaft, as seen in Figures 1 and 16 of the drawings?
This lever extends back to the treadle with which it is connected by a pivot, so
that the movement of the latter will vibrate the lever. The tension of the spring
brake is sufficient to set it upon its bearing on the shaft, so that, when free to act,
it will operate as a brake to the latter, and this will occur, it will be seen, when the
treadle is let up, which is the action that stops the current, so that the moment the
supply of current to the motor is interrupted, the brake acts to stop the motor shaft
and thus stops the operation of the sewing mechanism. But when the treadle is
depressed to start the motor again, the corresponding vibration of the lever will
draw upward the end of the spring brake connected thereto and thus take the
brake off from the shaft. The particular construction of this spring brake is not
material, provided it is adapted to the purpose described. As shown in the

page_text: drawings in Figure 15, it is composed of an interior metal spring e, and a covering e
of some suitable fabric and may be made in any convenient way.
It has been mentioned above that an attendant may ride on the carriage; this is
not absolutely necessary, however. The carriage will be run forward and the work
of sewing satisfactorily done without an attendant sitting on the carriage. To
accomplish this, however, it is evident that there must be some device for setting
the apparatus in operation and fixing it at the degree of power and speed desired.
For this purpose, a standard or post H³ is pivoted at its lower end to the long
lever e a short distance from the connection of the latter with the treadle. This
post extends upward a little above the table of the carriage and is provided at its
upper end with a series of notches 2, the perpendicular faces of which are upper-
most, as seen in Figure 16 of the drawings. A suitable stop or catch h³ mounted
on the table, is arranged to engage with this notched section of the post, as shown
in Figure 16 of the drawings, so that, when the said post is depressed, it will be
held in any position desired by the engagement of the stop with some one of the
notches. But it will be seen that the depression of this post will necessarily
depress the treadle, which, as already described, is the movement of the latter
required to close the circuit and set the motor in operation. Now the teeth of the
notches are arranged to correspond with the different adjustments of the rheostat or
switch-lever, so that the setting down of the post one notch will produce a corre-
sponding movement of the said lever to the first degree of adjustment, and so on
with the remaining notches. It will be seen then that the apparatus will be started
by depressing the said post H³, and that it may be set at the speed desired by
engaging the stop with the proper notch, when the carriage will proceed auto-
matically along the track at the same rate of speed and the sewing of the carpet
will be accomplished, as already explained. For convenience of adjustment, a
small hand-lever is provided, which is pivoted at one end to a suitable support
under the carriage table and is connected by a link or any other suitable device
to the post, as seen in Figure 16 of the drawings. It is obvious that the post is
readily adjusted by means of this lever, thereby easily starting and stopping the
apparatus, or adjusting its speed as desired, so that the carriage will run and the
work of sewing be done without an attendant riding on the machine.
If the room in which the apparatus is set up is of sufficient size, the table may be
made long enough to accommodate two or more carpets to be sewn at the same time,
or in case the carpets are short this may be done; and it is desirable, whenever
possible, as the longer the one continuous movement of the carriage and sewing
machine, the more economical is the work. When this can be donc, it is desirable
to connect the adjoining ends of the length of two carpets, instead of having two
sets of independent clamps, like those already described. In order to do this, a
connecting clamp Q is provided which consists of a transverse bar or plate g
provided with two rows of projections running lengthwise of the bar and on
opposite edges, as seen in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. This bar is attached
to a plain straight edged block q' which is adapted to be set into the
channel in the table from the surface or upper side of the latter. An upper
bar qis hinged at one end to the lower bar 7 and is provided with holes
adapted to receive the projections in the lower bar. The upper bar is also
provided with an oblong slot about its centre, so that when it is closed down, the
oblong head of a fastening key 73 which is on the block below may pass up through
and then be turned around across the bar, as seen in Figure 8 of the drawings,
whereby the two parts are locked together. In sewing two or more carpets at the
same time, this connecting clamp is set on the table between the two clamps I
and K, its block entering the channel in the table. The two adjoining ends of the
carpet lengths are then fastened respectively to the lower bar by catching them
over the respective rows of points and the upper bar is brought down into place
and secured as described. The forward end of one carpet and the rear end of the
other are secured respectively to the clamps I and K, as already described. It is

page_text: evident that with this arrangement the two can be sewn by one trip of the
carriage.
In making up carpets it is necessary to turn the carpet. My correspondent has
devised means for this purpose also in connection with the apparatus already
described and has shown the same in Figure 5 of the drawings. Over each end of
the table, a pulley R is arranged over which a rope r is run and weights r¹ are
attached to its respective ends, depending from the pulleys. About the centre of
the rope, it runs over two small pulleys arranged only a little distance
1.2
apart.
A
cord S is attached to the roper between these two last named pulleys and extends
thence outward over the track and then down to a windlass s mounted in any
suitable support outside of the track, so as to be entirely out of the way of the
movement of the carriage back and forth. This cord S is run over pulleys
arranged suitably to give it the direction required. The windlass is also provided
with a ratchet and pawl s¹ to hold it from turning backward whenever desired. A
series of cords T are fastened at one end to the rope and run thence over pulleys t
down to the table in the course of their direction downward, passing through
guides U, in a bar u, running lengthwise of the table and arranged a little below
the supports for the pulleys t. Hooks V are attached to the free ends of the
cords T, which are adapted to hook into the edges of the carpet, as seen in
Figure 5 of the drawings. The windlass is then turned so as to wind up the cord S,
which will, of course, pull the rope r inward, thereby pulling up the cords T and
raising the carpet. When raised sufficiently high to hang free, or nearly so, the
other edge of the carpet is readily brought forward to the front of the table with
the next breadth to be sewn and then upon pulling up the hooks still further, a
projecting tail, v, extending beyond the point of attachment at each hook, will be
brought against the bar and thereby turn the hook so as to release the carpet, as
seen in Figure 5B of the drawings, when, of course, it drops upon the table and is
then easily straightened out by attendants. With this device, heavy carpets may
be easily handled and much more readily manipulated in arranging them for the
sewing required in completely making up the carpet. The hooks V may be made
either as shown in Figure 5A or 5%, the latter being preferable.
It is also necessary that the edges of the carpet lengths should be kept in proper
adjustment or alignment with the needle of the sewing machine. In Figures 13
and 14 is shown a device for this purpose. A gauge plate C₁ is attached to the
table of the carriage a little in front of the sewing machine. This gauge consists
of a horizontal plate c³, and a vertical plate c, at one edge thereof, and projecting
both above and below the former, as seen in Figure 14 of the drawings. The
horizontal plate is placed between the two lengths of carpet and the gauge is
arranged in proper alignment with the needle, so that when the edges of the
carpeting are brought up against the vertical flanges above and below the
horizontal plate, as seen in Figure 14, they will be in the proper position for
sewing. The gauge is secured to the table by means of an arm c, at one end
thereof and standing out at right angles back from the horizontal plate. This is
hinged at its corner to a corresponding bracket plate c, which is securely fastened
to the carriage table, as seen in Figure 13, and the former may be adjusted upon
the latter by means of a curved guide c' and set-screw for fastening it in any
position desired. This device provides for turning the gauge out and in slightly as
may be required to secure the proper alignment. Two rods W are mounted
at the back of the gauge in wings at the ends, and a lug at the middle
thereof. These rods are arranged one above the other and on each of them
are two coiled springs w, one end of said springs being fastened to the central lug
and the other free outer ends of the springs being turned upward and downward,
respectively, as seen in Figure 14 of the drawings. Small toothed wheels X are
mounted loosely on the inner ends, respectively, of four shafts, r, which are
separately and independently mounted on the free ends of the springs by passing
the latter through the shafts, thereby providing a pivotal mounting.

page_text: The outer ends of these shafts are bent inward towards each other back of the
gauge and are joined in pairs to buttons, ¹, the upper pair being secured to one
plate and the lower pair to another. Each shaft & is provided with a gauge-stop Y,
which is fastened at one end to the shaft and thence curves forward and inward so
that its free end will strike against the back of the gauge, as seen in Figure 13 of
the drawings. The inner end of each stop is provided with a slot y, through which
a clamping-screw y' is passed, to fasten the stop to its shaft; this fastening device
permits the adjustment of the stops, as desired. In the operation of the apparatus,
the horizontal plate of the gauge sets in between the two lengths of carpeting, as
seen in Figure 14 of the drawings, and the design is to keep the edges of the
carpeting out against the vertical portion of the gauge. This is accomplished
by means of the toothed wheels, one set of which will run upon the upper face of
the upper length, and the other set upon the underside of the under length; and
the action of the springs on which the shafts of the wheels are mounted will tend
to hold said wheels to their work. The stops on the respective shafts are adjusted,
so that the shafts may be turned slightly from a perpendicular to the upright portion
of the gauge when the stops strike the back thereof, thereby bringing the wheels
into a position slightly diagonal to the line of motion, and the preferable adjustment
is such as to give the forward wheels a little more inclination than the rear ones, as
seen in dotted lines in Figure 13 of the drawings. Now, as the carriage moves
forward, these wheels will, of course, be revolved by reason of their contact with
the carpet, and owing to their diagonal position, will draw the latter inward toward
the gauge, thereby bringing the edges up snug to the upright plate, as seen in
Figure 14 at the same time these wheels, especially the rear pair, hold the two
edges of the carpeting closely together just in front of the needle, so that they are
in the required position for the action of the latter. Whenever it is desired to
disengage these toothed wheels from the carpeting for any reason whatever, it is
effected simply by pressing the two buttons together, when the outer ends of the
wheel shafts will be brought toward each other, thereby moving the wheels away
from the carpet.
With this apparatus, the sewing on carpets is done with great rapidity and with
comparatively little expense, so that a large amount of this work can be done in a
single day and the cost of making up carpets greatly lessened. It is seen, of course,
that the carpet is stationary, while the sewing machine travels, but the relation of
the two is fixed and practically unchanging; and for the successful working of the
apparatus, the supports of the two must be practically level.
It is not to be understood as limiting this invention to all the special devices and
details of construction which have been described above and are shown in the
drawings; for it must be obvious to any good mechanic that many changes may be
made in these minor details, without departing from the main characteristics of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for sewing carpets, a table on which the carpet is stretched,
in combination with a track extending along one side of the table, a carriage
mounted on said track, a sewing machine mounted on the carriage and a motor
for operating the sewing machine also mounted on the carriage substantially as
described.
2. In an apparatus for sewing carpets, a level table on which the carpet is laid
and to which it is fastened, in combination with a level track extending along one
side of the table, a wheeled carriage mounted on said track, a sewing machine
mounted on said carriage and arranged to operate upon the edges of the carpet
projecting over the front of the table, and a motor also mounted on the carriage
for driving the sewing machine and under the control of an attendant riding on the

page_text: carriage, whereby the sewing machine is operated by said motor and the carriage
moved forward by the feed devices of said machine, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. In an apparatus for sewing carpets, a movable and vertically adjustable base
frame B¹, in combination with a table A. mounted on said frame, a track B also
mounted on the same base frame at one side of the table and in a plane substantially
parallel to the surface of the latter, a carriage C arranged to run on said track, a
sewing machine D mounted on the carriage and a motor for driving the machine
also mounted on the carriage, whereby the table and track may be adjusted together
to a level position, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4. The table A on which the carpet is laid and secured, in combination with the
track B, the carriage C, the sewing machine D mounted on the carriage, an electric
motor E, also mounted on the carriage, a rheostat, the switch H, and the treadle
lever H', substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In an apparatus for sewing carpets, the table A in combination with the
clamps I and K secured to the table and adjustable thereon, whereby the carpet
is fastened to the latter, and the sewing machine D mounted on a carriage
movable back and forth at one side of the table, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
6. The table A on which the carpet is laid for sewing, provided with a channel a
running lengthwise thereof, the clamp I applied to said channel in the table and
adapted to be secured therein at any point desired, and the clamp K also applied to
the said channel in the table and movable therein, the windlass L mounted on the
clamp K and the rope applied to the windlass and adapted to be secured at the other
end to the table whereby the carpet may be secured to and stretched the
table in position for sewing, substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. The table A having a channel a running its entire length, in combination with
the carpet clamp I, provided with bottom bar i fitting into said channel, the cross-
bar, the hinged bar, clamping bar it, and toothed strip attached to the bar i,
substantially as described.
-
upon
8. The table A on which the carpet is stretched for sewing, in combination with
pins N, which fasten the edges of the carpets together, the cords O, attached to
said pins and provided with buttons o, the sewing machine carriage C, and the
hook P on said carriage, arranged to engage with the cords O and remove the
pins as the carriage progresses, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. The table A on which the carpet stretched for sewing, in combination with
the carriage C, the sewing machine D mounted on said carriage, the pins N, which
fasten the edges of the carpet together, cords O attached to said pins running freely
over pulleys and weighted at their free ends, and the hook P mounted on the carriage
and arranged to engage with the cords O as the carriage moves forward, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
10. In an apparatus for sewing carpets, a table on which the carpet is stretched,
in combination with a track extending along one side of the table, a carriage mounted
on said track, a sewing machine mounted on the carriage, a motor for operating
the sewing machine, also mounted on the carriage, and mechanism for starting the
motor and fixing it at a certain rate of speed, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
11. The table A on which the carpet is laid, in combination with the track B, the
carriage C, the sewing machine D mounted on the carriage, an electric motor E
also mounted on the carriage, a rheostat, a switch H, a treadle lever H' and a
standard Hs connected with the treadle and provided with a stop, whereby the
standard may be set at any point desired for the depression of the treadle, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
12. The track B, arranged at the side of the table, in combination with the
carriage C, a sewing machine D mounted on the carriage, an electric motor E, also
mounted on the carriage, the brake e³, the brake lever e³, and the treadle, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 13. The table A on which the carpet is laid and secured, in combination with
the carriage C, a sewing machine D mounted on the carriage, a gauge C¹ also on
the carriage and the toothed adjusting wheels X, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
14. The table A on which the carpet is laid and secured, in combination with
the carriage C carrying the sewing machine, the gauge C¹ on the carriage, the
toothed wheels X mounted loosely on shafts, the springs w and the gauge
stops Y adjustably attached to the shafts a substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 15th day of June 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.