Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 29th Jan., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
1, FRIEDRICH WILHELM MÜLLER, Junior, of 31/32 Mariannen Strasse, Berlin,
Kingdom of Prussia, Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in sewing-machines, particularly in small toy
or pocket sewing machines for the use of children, and the object of my invention is
to provide a construction, which, by its great simplicity, may be readily used by any
child without preparatory practice, and without the assistance of adults, while, with
the toy or pocket sewing machines, hitherto in use, children, in general, are not able
to sew by themselves; such little machines, instead of amusing the child and affording
a useful occupation are only a source of annoyance. The improved machine of my
construction offers, besides, the considerable advantage of being the cheapest of all
which for toy machines, is an essential condition for securing success.
The improvements of my invention consist chiefly in a new driving device for the
working parts, and further in an improved feeding device and stitch guide. To obtain
the utmost simplicity of the constituent parts of the machine, I avoid the use of any
gearing wheels, of crank shafts and such parts which require a careful or exact work-
manship. In the improved machine of my construction nearly every part may be
readily stamped of sheet metal and fitted by rivets, screws and soldering.
A perfect and regular seam being obtained by this improved construction of a
sewing machine, I do not limit myself to employing the same for toy or pocket sewing
machines only, but I wish it to be understood that I reserve myself the right to apply
the improvements of my invention to sewing machines of any size and type.
For the small sized or toy machines, I prefer the one-thread chain or lock stitch
seam, this being the simplest, and for childrens' use it does very well; the two-thread
or shuttle device gives constant annoyance to the child. Nevertheless, the construction
of my invention also permits the two-thread or shuttle system to be worked.
In the toy machines, for which my invention is particularly destined, the frame of
the machine may consist of a sheet metal standard mounted or made integral upon a
sheet metal bed plate, which may be fastened on a table by a clamp, or screws or other
means.

page_text: The standard carries at its upper rear end a pivot with a winch handle on it,
connected to a reciprocating rod, the lower end of which is connected to a driving rod,
to which it imparts a vertical up and down motion. The two ends of the driving rod
are connected each to a lever pivoted on the frame, said levers following the motion
of the driving rod and describing, with their free forward ends, a vertically swinging
up and down motion.
The forward end of the upper horizontal driving lever is attached to a pin projecting
from the needle bar, and imparts its reciprocating up and down motion to the said
needle bar and needle secured to it. The lower driving lever is guided with a pin at
its forward end in a vertical slot of the needle-plate supporting plate, projecting from
said plate and working within a cam slot of the thread-catcher, which is pivoted to the
said supporting plate, and receives a reciprocating swinging motion crossing the
needle path and catching the needle thread to form the loop of the chain-stitch, as
well known in similar chain-stitch sewing machines. Where a shuttle is to be
employed, its driver may receive the required to and fro motion, by means of the
same up and down motion of the lower driving lever.
The feeder is worked by the upper driving lever, which on each descent, strikes
against the longer arm of a lever pivoted to the frame, the shorter arm of which lever
engages with a pin or shoulder secured or formed to the feeder rod; the said feeder
rod, accordingly, is lifted at each revolution of the winch handle, and then forced down
again by a spring surrounding the upper part of the rod.
Besides this vertical up and down motion, the feeder receives at each revolution of
the winch handle, a forward sewing motion, the amount of which is adjustable, to
advance the stock. To obtain this forward motion of the feeder, the feeder rod is
guided in the wings of a plate pivoted to the frame. To one side of said plate an
adjustable shoulder or abutment is secured, against which the upper driving lever
works on its upward stroke, imparting to the pivoted plate a swinging motion; the
feeder rod guided in said plate, is carried along to follow the forward motion of the
plate.
The amount of stroke imparted to the said plate and feeder is adjustable by means
of the shoulder or abutment secured to the swinging plate. The said shoulder is
formed or connected to a lever; in forcing the long arm of said lever upwards or
downwards, the shoulder or abutment is lowered or raised with reference to the path
of the working lever that comes to strike it. According to the position of the said
shoulder or abutment, the stroke of the pivoted plate will vary, and the feeder receive
a shorter or longer forward motion to adjust the length of stitch, while feeding the
work.
D11
100
1
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,"
Filing Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM MÜLLER Junior, of 31 & 32 Mariannen Strasse, in the City
of Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia German Empire, 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 improvements in sewing-machines particularly in small toy
or pocket sewing-machines for the use of children, and the object of my invention is
to construct a machine which, owing to its great simplicity, may be readily used by
any child without previous practice and without the assistance of adults.
With toy
or pocket sewing-machines hitherto in use, children in general, are not able to sew by
themselves, such small machines, instead of amusing the child and affording a
useful occupation for the same, becoming only a source of annoyance. The improved
machine herein set forth also offers the considerable advantage of being cheaper than
any hitherto in use, which for toy machines, is an essential condition as regards its
commercial success.
The improvements consist, essentially, of a new driving-device for the working
parts of the machine, and secondly, of an improved feed-device and stitch guide.
To obtain the utmost simplicity in the constituent parts of the machine, 1 avoid
the use of toothed wheels, gearing, and pinions, and also of crank-shafts and like parts
which necessitate careful or exact workmanship. In the improved machine herein set
forth, nearly every part may be readily stamped out of sheet-metal, or cast and fitted
together by rivets, screws or soldering.
As a perfect and regular seam can be obtained by this improved construction of
sewing-machine, I do not limit myself to the employment of the same as a toy or
pocket sewing-machine, as my improvement may be applied to sewing-machines of any
size or type.
For small sized or toy machines I prefer the one-thread chain or lock-stitch-seam,
this being the best for children's use, the two-thread or shuttle-device giving constant
annoyance to the child. Nevertheless, my improvements can also be adapted to work
with the two-thread or shuttle-system.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention as applied to a small
sized toy or pocket sewing-machine.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sewing-machine.
Figure 2 an elevation looking towards the front or needle-end of the same.
Figure
an elevation looking towards the rear end of the machine.
The frame A may consist of a sheet-metal or other convenient standard, mounted
upon or made integral with a suitable bed-plate B, which may be fastened to the edge
of a table by a suitable clamp Q, or by other convenient means. The standard A at

page_text: its upper rear end carries a pivot C with a winch-sleeve and handle D' on it, con-
nected to a reciprocating rod D, the lower end of which is connected to the driving-
rod E, to which it imparts a vertical up and down motion. The two ends of the
driving rod E are connected respectively to levers F, FI pivoted respectively at f,fl
on the frame, in some cases it may be preferable to provide adjustable pivots f, f¹
to control the stroke of the lever arms F, F. The free ends of said levers F, F,
by means of the driving-rod E oscillate up and down in a vertical plane while the
winch-handle D' is being turned.
The forward end of the upper horizontal driving-lever F is attached to a pin
projecting from the needle-bar G, which, by the oscillating motion of the lever F, is
caused to reciprocate in a vertical plane so that the needle H secured to the needle-bar
works regularly up and down through the needle-plate.
The lower driving-lever F has attached to its forward end a guide-pin i working
within and projecting through a vertical slot in the-supporting plate H. The pin i
works within a cam-slot in the thread catcher 1 which is pivoted to, the said supporting
plate H. The said thread-catcher 1, by this means, receives an oscillating motion
in a vertical plane across the needle path and, catching the needle-thread, forms the
loop of the chain-stitch and completes the stitch in the manner known in sewing
machines.
Where it is desired to employ a shuttle instead of the thread-catcher 1, the shuttle-
driving arm receives its to and fro motion by means of the aforesaid oscillating motion
of the lower driving-lever F in the same or a similar way to that described with
reference to the thread-catcher I.
The bobbin S is carried by a pin secured to the frame A and the thread is
suitably guided to the needle by passing it through a tension-device not shown in
the drawings.
My invention further relates to an improved feed-device connected with the
driving-mechanism as described. The feed-plate is made integral with the presser-
foot, which, being lifted at each stroke of the needle, has a forward motion imparted
to it on descending again, thereby feeding the work towards the needle.
The feed-plate is worked by the upper driving-lever F, which on each downward
stroke comes in contact with the longer arm of a lever N pivoted at n, forcing said
arm down to a certain extent. The short arm of said lever N being lifted, engages
with a pin or shoulder secured to or formed in one with the feed-bar L, which,
accordingly, is lifted once during each revolution of the winch-handle D'. A spring M
surrounding the upper part of said feed-bar L serves to force the same down again,
when the lever F has released the lever N.
Besides this vertical reciprocating motion of the feed-plate or presser-foot the said
foot also receives, at each revolution of the winch-handle D', a forward motion to
advance the stuff. The amount of the said forward motion may be adjusted so as to
vary the length of stitch.
To obtain this adjustable forward motion of the feed-plate, the feed-bar L is guided
in the wings of a plate O pivoted at o to the frame A. To one side of the said
plate O, an adjustable shoulder or abutment R is secured, against which the upper
driving-lever F may strike on its upward stroke, thus imparting to the pivoted
plate 0, a swinging motion. The feed-bar L passing through the wings of said plate O
and guided in slots of the frame-plate A1, A2, is carried along by the plate O, its lower
end receiving a forward motion which feeds the stuff on which it presses by means
of the toothed lower surface of the presser-foot.
The amount of stroke imparted to the said plate O and feed-bar and plate L is
adjustable by means of the shoulder or abutment R pivoted to the swinging plate O.
The said shoulder R is made integral with or secured to a lever R' pivoted at on the
plate O. By forcing down the long arm R' of said lever the shoulder R will take a
more elevated position, and the lever F, on striking said shoulder, will cause but a
small amount of movement in the plate O and feed-bar L. When, on the contrary,
the lever-arm R' is lifted, the shoulder R will take a lower position, and the amount of

page_text: movement imparted to the plate O and feed-bar L will be increased. By this means
the length of stitch may be conveniently adjusted.
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 :-
1. In a sewing-machine, the combination of an upper pivoted driving-lever F, for
working the needle-bar with a lower pivoted driving-lever F" connected therewith
for working the thread-catcher or shuttle-driver, whereby the said levers may be
simultaneously oscillated in a vertical plane, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In a sewing-machine the combination of an upper pivoted driving-lever F, a
lower pivoted driving-lever F¹, a connecting rod D for simultaneously working both
levers, a pivoted feed-bar carrier O, oscillated by the upward stroke, the upper
driving-lever and a pivoted lever N connected with said feed-bar and engaged
by said upper driving-lever on its downward stroke, whereby the feed-bar is lifted
at each downward stroke of the upper driving lever, and receives a forward motion
at each upward stroke of said lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of November 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.