Shuttle Operating Mechanism for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Shuttle Operating Mechanism for Sewing Machines.
I, JAMES BOLTON, of Glen Spey, in the County of Sullivan and State of New York,
United States of America, 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of sewing machines adapted to form lock-stitches
by means of oscillating or rotating shuttles co-operating with the needles thereof, the
object of my invention being to provide a clamping device by which the shuttle is
held to the driver in such a manner that a race for the shuttle to run in will not be
required, and the objectionable friction and wear incidental to running the shuttle in
the race will thus be avoided.
My clamping device consists of a plate pivoted to and moving with the shuttle-driver,
said plate having an opening or forked portion to receive a stationary cam by which
the said plate is swung on its pivot as the driver moves. The said plate is provided
with two clamping arms, one of which is adapted to impinge against the shuttle near
its point, and the other of which is arranged to impinge against the shuttle near its
heel, the said clamping arms being released alternately to permit the loops of needle
thread to pass around the shuttle.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a portion of a "Singer "
oscillating shuttle sewing machine with my invention applied thereto.
Figs. 2 and 3 are partial front views of the same, showing the parts in different
positions.
Fig. 4 is a front view showing the clamping plate and its operating cam, the shuttle
and driver being removed.
Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the clamping arms and a portion of the
shuttle.

page_text: A denotes the shuttle operating shaft, which, in the well known "Singer" machine,
to which my invention is specially applicable, has a rocking or oscillating movement of
a little more than half a circle.
B is the shuttle driver, secured to the forward end of the shaft A and having
horns 6 and 6', which engage the shuttle (at different points on the latter.
D is a stationary cam, formed, in the present instance, integral with the hanger e,
depending from the bed-plate E, and forming the front bearing for the shaft A.
F is the clamping plate for the shuttle, provided with the arms f and f¹, the arm f
impinging against the shuttle near the point thereof, and the arm f¹ engaging the
shuttle toward the heel of the latter. The clamping plate F is pivotally attached to
the shuttle driver by a pin or screw f, and is provided with an opening, *, of proper
size to receive the stationary cam D.
The shuttle may be held in the carrier by a ring or face plate, G, as shown in Fig. 1;
but this plate will preferably be dispensed with by providing the clamping arms and f
with V shaped lugs fo, adapted to enter V shaped notches in the shuttle. (See Fig. 5).
This construction will tend to keep the shuttle central in the driver, from which the
shuttle cannot escape when in operation, as the centrifugal force will hold the shuttle
against the said lugs even when the clamping arms are loosened to permit the loops of
needle thread to pass. With this construction, a downwardly extending curved
projection, i, on the throat plate I will be all that will be necessary to securely retain
the shuttle in the carrier.
The operation of my invention is as follows: The stationary cam D is so arranged
that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the clamping arm fis released
from the beak of the shuttle, which has just taken a loop of thread from the needle, so
that the said loop can pass around the said beak and.between. the latter and the forward
part of the front horn, b, of the driver, the rear clamping arm, f³, meanwhile firmly
holding the body of the shuttle against the inner rear portion of the front horn, b, and
also against the inside of the rear horn, 61. As the shuttle continues its movement
from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the clamping arm f¹
is released and the clamping arm f is forced against the shuttle beak, thus firmly
grasping the shuttle at its front portion and tilting it clear of the bearings on the horns
of the carrier, against which it was previously clamped by the arm f¹, so that the loop
of needle thread can freely pass around the rear portion of the shuttle. This change of
positions of the clamping arms is effected by the swinging of the clamping plate F
on its pivot pin, owing to the movement of said plate around the stationary cam D,
this movement of the said plate to change the positions of the arms fand f being
effected quickly, owing to the form of the cam D, the latter being shaped like an
ordinary feed cam, which gives a sudden movement in a
" four-motioned" feed.
It will be seen that my clamping arms, of which I employ but two, both move
bodily with the plate by which they are carried, said arms being preferably formed
integral with the said plate, and are consequently rigid therewith. These clamping
arms thus change their positions simultaneously, and when they are respectively in
clamping position the shuttle is held so tightly that there is no looseness for the passage
of the needle thread around the part which is clamped, so that the clamping device in
connection with the driver, forms a secure and perfect holder or carrier for the shuttle.
It may be observed that in addition to the great advantage which my invention
secures in enabling the shuttle to be run without a race, thus greatly reducing the
fr ction and wear on the shuttle and other parts of the machine, my clamping device
holds the shuttle firmly to the driver at the moments when the reverse movements
occur, so that the shuttle is prevented from rattling against the driver, and the noise
of the machine is thus greatly lessened.
Although I have herein shown my invention as applied to a "Singer " oscillating
shuttle machine, it will be understood that it may be applied to other forms of machines
in which the shuttles have either a continuous or reciprocating (or oscillating) rotary
movement. It will also be understood that the details of construction may be varied
from those herein shown without departing from the essential features of my invention.

page_text: 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 as new
and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :
1. The combination, with a movable shuttle driver and a clamping plate pivoted
thereto, and thus moving bodily therewith, said plate having two clamping arms
adapted to engage the shuttle alternately, of a stationary cam engaging said clamping
plate, and adapted to swing the latter on its pivot to operate the said arms, substantially
as set forth.
2. The combination, with the movable shuttle driver B, having the horns b and b¹,
of the clamping plate F, pivotally attached to the said shuttle driver and having two
arms, and f, and the recess or opening, and the stationary cam D, arranged to
operate said clamping plate, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of September 1887.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.