oring devices for sewing machines
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1888
Specification Accepted, 5th Feb., 18°9
I, ALEXANDER ANDERSON, Manager of the Singer Manufacturing Company's
Works, Kilbowie, Dumbartonshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My Invention which relates to tuck-creasing or marking devices for sewing
machines has for its object to provide a simple, compact and strong creasing or
marking device, which will operate in a silent and positive manner.
In sheet of the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a partial front view of a
sewing machine with one modification of the marker in operative position relative to
the presser and needle bars thereof. Figure 2 is a front view of the marker. Figure 3
is a cross section of the same on line 3---3 figure 2, and figures 4 and 5 are vertical
and horizontal sections through the supporting bracket. Figure 6 is a detail front
end view of the marker. Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the retaining bar
or block.
In sheet 2 of the drawings figure is a partial front end view of a sewing machine
with another modification of the marker in operative position relative to the needle
and presser bars thereof. Figure 2 is a plan view of the marker removed from the
machine. Figure 3 is a front view of the same. Figure 4 is a detail view of the
front end of the marker with the parts in marking or creasing position. Figure 5 is
a sectional view on line 5---5 figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the
arrows. Figure 6 is a view similar to figure 5 showing the operating lever detached
from the marker carrying bar. Figure 7 is a section on line 7---7 figure 2.
In sheet 3 of the drawings figure 1 is a perspective view of a further modification
of the improved attachment. Figure 2 is a plan view of the same. Figure 3 is a
longitudinal section on line 3---3 figure 2 with the marking lever depressed.
Figure 4 is a cross section on line 4---4 figure 2. Figure 5 is a detail view to show

page_text: the connection between the operating lever and the marker lever. Figure 6 is a detail
section on line 6---6 figure 2.
Referring to the modification of the invention represented in sheet 1 of the
drawings, A, denotes a portion of the depending "head" at the forward end of the
bracket arm of a sewing machine, B the needle-bar and the presser-bar. Surrounding
the presser-bar which is, as usual, arranged rearward of the needle bar is a tubular
attachment holding bar D. provided with a clamping lever d.
E denotes the frame or body-bar of the attachment, said bar being bent downward
to form a lower flattened portion e provided at its forward end with a knife-edge or
upturned creasing lip el which is preferably directly below the forward end of the
bar E. F is a bracket having backwardly turned perforated ears through which
the rod E passes, the said bracket serving to secure the creaser to the attachment
bar D.
G is a rocking marker-carrying bar or shaft journailed on the bar E and retained
thereon by the screw e², the said bar & having depending arms and g¹. The
creasing wheel g² is arranged in a recess in the lower end of the arm and is
journalled on the spring rod attached at its rear end to the army of the rocking
bar G. The arm, through which the forward or free end of the spring rod passes,
is provided with a slot g³ to permit of a limited vertical movement of the said end of
the said rod so that the creasing wheel, which is normally pressed down against the
lip el by the spring rod h, will have a yielding pressure against said lip, as is desirable
in this class of devices.
to
The rocking bar G is operated positively in both directions by a forked lever which
engages a screw or projection on the machine needle bar and which is preferably
made in two separable portions and, the part having a notched portion
embrace the said rocking bar. One or both parts of this operating lever are of spring
metal and are held together by a pin on the parti, said pin entering a hole or slot
in the part ¹ which springs over the said pin. By a slight lateral pressure the operator
can disengage the part from the pin and the two arms or parts of the said lever
will then be free to be separated as indicated by dotted lines, figure 3, and the creaser
can thus be thrown out of operation without removing it from the machine; the
needle-bar screw or projection moving freely up and down without engagement with
the operating lever when the two parts of the latter are thus separated.
J is a gage or edge guide carried by a bent rod or wire which passes through the
ears of the bracket F and is adjustable through the said bracket. The supporting
bar E is also adjustable through the bracket F so as to vary the position of the
creasing wheel and lip e relative to the needle in forming marks or creases for
tucks of different widths, the said bar E and the guide carrying rod; being both
secured in place by a retaining loop K having a threaded stem to receive a set nut L.
The loop K embraces the bar E and rod j, as shown in figure 4, and also a retaining
block ni interposed between the said bar and rod. To prevent turning or lateral
displacement of the said loop its forward end is entered into a slot or recess in the
bracket F and to form a neat finish for this part of the device the said loop and the
block m are encased by a cap or housing plate n. The bar E, and the rod jare both
provided with flattened faces which are in contact with the block m (see figure 4) and
which prevent these parts from rocking and thus getting out of place.
When the set nut L is loosened the bar E and rod will be free to be adjusted
laterally through the ears of the bracket F, but when the said nut is tightened against
the housing platen the loop K will draw the rod jagainst the block m forcing the
latter against the bar E and causing the said bar to impinge against the ears f of the
bracket and thereby securing or holding all of these parts in place.
The block m is provided at both ends with small shoulders m (see figure 7) which
abut against the ears of the bracket. F to prevent displacement of the said block, the
latter having also a notch m² to receive the parts and of the forked operating
lever, said notch thus serving to hold the two parts of the said lever in contact with
each other and also to retain the said lever in proper position contiguous to the
bracket F so that it will not be accidentally displaced when the bar E or rod jare

page_text: adjusted through said bracket, or at other times. The block m also serves to separate
the bar E and rod so that either of these parts may be adjusted without accidental
displacement of the other such as might occur if those two parts were in frictional
contact.
The operating lever is also provided with a curved slot which receives the rod j
and also the thin portion of the block m opposite the notch m², the said rod or block
serving as a stop against which the upper end wall of the said slot may abut to prevent
the part of the operating lever from falling down on to the work when the two arms
or parts of the said lever are separated to throw the creaser out of operation without
removing it from the machine.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the creaser or marker is secured
in operative position on a sewing machine and the machine set in motion the rocking
bar or shaft & will be vibrated from the operating lever, which receives its movements
from the needle-bar of the machine, to cause the creasing roller carried by the said
rocking bar to come in contact with and to move back and forth over the fabric resting
on the knife edge or lip e; the creasing roller moving from the position shewn in full
lines to that shewn by dotted lines, figure 6, and back again, at each stroke of the
needle bar the said roller being lifted from the fabric when the needle is out of the
work and the latter is moved forward by the feed, thus leaving the work unimpeded
by the pressure of the creaser during the times of the feeding movements.
It will be observed that the creasing roller is moved positively back and forth in
the arc of a circle by the arm of the rocking bar or shaft by which it is carried and is
yieldingly pressed against the fabric by the spring rod on which it is journalled so
that it creases the cloth with a yielding rolling pressure which precludes the possibility
of cutting or abrading the thinnest fabrics.
The bracket F by which the creaser is connected to the attachment bar is on the
front side of the creaser and the creasing lip is below the centre of movement of the
rocking bar so that the creasing devices are not only rearward of the needle but are
rearward of the presser foot of the machine, as clearly shewn in figure 1. From this
construction and arrangement of parts I am enabled to form well-defined creases
nearer to the line of stitches than can be made by the creasers heretofore in use
for the reason that if a crease be made in front of the presser-foot and near enough
to the needle to come in the line of the presser foot it will be partly obliterated when
passed under the said foot in the operation of sewing; and where the creasing
devices are opposite to the presser foot the latter will prevent them from being
adjusted as closely to the line of stitches as is necessary in making very narrow
tucks.
Referring to the modification of the invention represented in Sheet 2 of the
drawings A, denotes a portion of the depending "head" at the forward end of the
bracket arm of a sewing machine, B, the needle bar and C the presser bar.
Surrounding the presser bar is a tubular attachment-holding bar or sleeve D provided
with a clamping bar d.
g
E, denotes the body bar of the attachment, said bar being bent downwards and
flattened to form an arm or plate e provided at its forward end with an upturned
creasing lip e which is beneath the bar E. F is a bracket through which the bar E
passes and by which the attachment may be secured to the attachment bar D. G is
the rocking marker-carrying bar extending lengthwise of the attachment and pivotted
on the bar E by means of loops formed on the said rocking bar, the latter being
provided at its forward end with a spring arm g' carrying the grooved creasing
roller g. The roller g is steadied by a small arm or link e having a hole at its
lower end to receive the pivot pin of the said roller and having at its upper end a
slot e to receive the shank of a screw or pin e. The said arm or link & serves to
limit the movement of the creasing roller carried by the spring arm gl, away from the
centre of motion of the rocking bar G.
His the operating lever to be engaged by a screw or other projection on the
needle bar of the machine, the said lever being preferably detachably connected with
the rocking marker carrying bar by the flanged head of a pin passing through a

page_text: loop or lug formed on the said lever. The head of the pin is cut away on one
side and when the said pin is turned over so that the cut away side is down, as in
figure 6, it is obvious that the flanged head of the pin will not engage the bar G and
the operating lever will thus be detached therefrom. The pin i is held either in or out
of its operative position by a pin or small lever, the upper end of which passes
through the pin and thus holds it in the loop and the lower end of which is forked
to embrace the lever H. When the forked end of the lever is disengaged from the
lever H, as shown in figure 6, the pin will be free to be turned in the loop to bring
the full portion of the head of the said pin down, to engage the bar G, or to turn it up
to disconnect the said bar from the operating lever H.
A torsional spring e surrounding the bar E and connected with the rocking bar G,
serves to effect the return movements of the latter bar, these movements being limited
by a stop pine passing through the bar E and also serving to hold the bar G
thereon.
Jis a bar which passes through the bracket F and which carries the guide k for
the edge of the material, the shank of the said guide being preferably pivotted to said
bar so that the guide may be turned up out of the way, as indicated in dotted lines in
figure 5, when not in use. The edge of the fabric to be guided will pass between lugs
or lips struck out from the metal from which the edge guide and its shank
are formed.
The bar E is held in the bracket F by the set nut which also secures the guide
holding bar J in the said bracket, the latter being provided with the fixed screw
threaded pin 2 for the reception of the said nut. The bars E and J are provided
with flattened faces (see figure 7) against which bears a housing plate m outside of
which is a plate or washer n. The bearing portion of the nut is rounded so that
the plate or washer a can rock slightly to accommodate itself to the flattened faces of
the bars E and J so as to bear equally thereon and hold both firmly if one should
project out a little beyond the other.
When the nut fis loosened the bar E, with which the marking or creasing devices
are connected, may be adjusted laterally through the said bracket (which latter is of
course stationary relative to the needle of the machine) to vary the position of the
said creasing devices according to the width of the tuck which is to be made. The
loosening of the said nut also leaves the bar J free to be adjusted laterally to move
the edge guide & nearer to or further from the needle of the machine.
When the marking devices are adjusted laterally of the bracket F the screw, the
head of which overlaps the operating lever H, holds the said lever in operating
position contiguous to said bracket.
By providing my improved tuck creaser or marker with a bracket by which it
may be attached to a support or attachment bar secured to the depending head of the
machine a neater and more compact device is produced than is possible when the
marker or creaser is constructed for attachment to the work plate of the machine.
When the creaser or marker is secured in operative position on a sewing machine
and the machine set in motion a projection on the needle bar, on the descent of the
latter, comes in contact with the operating lever H, and as the said lever is connected
to the bar G the said bar is caused to rock on the bar E forcing the creasing roller
carried by the spring arm at the forward end of the said bar G in contact with the
fabric resting on the lip e, the said spring arm yielding as it rides over the said lip
and thereby creasing the fabric with a yielding rolling pressure which precludes any
possibility of cutting or abrading the thinnest fabrics. When the needle bar rises the
parts are returned to their normal positions by the torsional retracting spring eª and
thus the operations are repeated as the work is fed through the machine.
i
If it is desired to run the machine without creasing the goods and without removing
the creaser from the machine the lever H may be disengaged from the rocking bar G
by raising the forked lever from the lever H and turning the pin over so that the
full portion of its head will be upward or away from the bar G, as shewn in figure 6,
and if the edge-guide & should then be in the way it may be raised to the position
shown in dotted lines in figure 5.

page_text: Referring to the modification of the Invention represented in sheet 3 of the
drawings A denotes a support or bracket the upturned portion of which is provided
with a slotted horizontal part a¹ adapted to be secured to an attachment holding bar.
B is the body-bar of the attachment passing through the support A and having its
forward end flattened and provided with an upwardly projecting creasing lip, tho
rear end of the said bar being turned upward and backward and bored to form a
socket for the reception of the rear end e of the marker carrying lever C to the forward
end of which latter are pivotted two small pinching or creasing levers having
lugs connected by a retracting spring c³. A stop e formed on the part of the
lever C to which the pinching levers are pivotted is arranged to be engaged by the
tail portions of the said pinching levers and thus limit the return movements thereof
effected by the spring c³.
C
D is the operating lever pivotted to a small post a² on the bracket or support A,
the said lever having a lug d arranged to be engaged by the lower end of the needle
bar of the machine. The lever D is provided at its forward end with perforated
lugs d, d, through which passes the longer arm of a hook e the shorter arm of which
iinpinges against the upper side of the marker carrying lever C. A spiral spring e¹
interposed between a pin e entering the longer arm of the hook e and the lug d
forms a yielding connection between the said hook and the lever 1 so that if the
shorter arm of the said hook should force the marker carrying lever or arm down-
ward as far as it is desirable for it to go before the needle-bar should have reached
the lowest point of its descent the spring e' will be compressed and a sudden shock or
jar will thus be prevented.
The hook e is free to be turned in the lugs d', d, of the operating lever D so that
if it, is desired to disconnect the said operating lever from the marker carrying lever C,
to suspend the movements of the latter, it is only necessary to turn the said hook to
the position shown by dotted lines in figure 3 when it will be entirely clear of the
said lever C. A torsional spring on the rear end of the bar B serves to lift the
lever C after it has been depressed.
C
The rear end of the lever is preferably held in a socket at the end 2 of the
bar B by a pin which, in the present instance, is merely the upturned end of a small
rod F the forward end of which extends over the lip and thus serves as a slight
presser to hold the passing fabric on the said lip. The pin fits rather loosely in the
hole in the end e of the lever so that the said lever will be free to move downward
when depressed by the needle bar, but the said pin fits closely enough in said hole to
serve as a stop to limit the upward movement of the said lever when the latter is raised
by the spring e³.
G, is an edge guide secured to a bar g passing through the support or bracket A,
and adjustable therein, the said edge guide being steadied by the bar B which passes
freely through said guide. The bar B is also free to be adjusted through the support
or bracket A when not clamped thereto so that the upper and lower creasing devices,
which are both movable with said bar, may be adjusted from or towards the needle of
the machine to vary the width of the tucks made by folding the fabric on the crease
produced by the said creasing devices, the said support or bracket being, of course,
stationary relative to the line of the stitches made by the machine. The bars B and g.
which are preferably provided with flattened lower faces, are secured to the support
or bracket A by a clamping plate H provided with threaded pins extending up
through the said support or bracket A and receiving set nuts h¹ by which the clamping
plate may be forced upward against the lower flattened faces of the said bars to
hold them in place.
When the creasing or marking attachment is secured in place on a sewing machine
and the machine set in motion a vibrating movement will be imparted to the marker
carrying lever by the needle bar of the machine and the retracting spring 3. When
the pinching levers e' strikes the flattened forward end of the bar B on opposite
sides of the lip they will be forced towards each other pinching the fabric lying
on said lip to form a mark or crease on which the said fabric will be folded to form
the next tuck parallel with the one being sewed.

page_text: 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)
I declare that what I claim is: :-
1. The combination with the operative parts of a sewing machine, of a tuck
creaser or marker the creasing or marking devices of which are rearward of the
presser foot of the machine.
2. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines the combination with a rocking
bar or shaft having an arm carrying a creasing roller which is positively connected
with said bar or shaft in the direction of its movement so as to be oscillated in the
are of a circle directly by the said arm, of a creasing lip cooperating with the said
roller.
3. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines the combination with a rocking
bar or shaft having a depending arm carrying a creasing roller which is oscillated in
the are of a circle directly by the said arni, of a creasing lip arranged below the
centre of movement of the said bar or shaft.
4. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines the combination with a rocking
bar or shaft having a rigid arm carrying a spring pressed creasing roller which is
oscillated in the arc of a circle directly by the said arm, of a creasing lip to co-operate
with the said roller and against which lip the said roller is yieldingly pressed as it is
moved back and forth over the same.
5. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines the combination with a rocking
bar or shaft extending lengthwise of the marker and provided with a rigid depending
arm having a slot near its lower end, a spring rod passing through said slot, a creasing
roller journaled on said rod within a recess at the lower end of said arm, and a
creasing lip to co-operate with said roller.
6. A tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines provided with an operating lever
consisting of two parts which may be separated from each other to throw the creaser
out of operation without removing it from the machine.
7. A tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines provided with an operating lever
consisting of two separable parts one or both of which are of spring metal, one of said
parts having a pin and the other a hole into which the said pin enters to connect the
said parts together.
8. The combination with the bar E having the flattened lower portion e provided
with the creasing lip e¹ of the rocking bar or shaft G journalled on the said bar E and
having two depending arms g and g', a spring rod attached to the said arm g' and
extending through a slot in the arm g, a creasing roller journalled on the said spring
rod, and an operating lever for the bar G.
9. The combination with the bar E having the flattened lower portion e provided
with the creasing lip e' of the rocking bar or shaft G journalled on the said bar E and
having a depending arm carrying a creasing roller, and an operating lever pivoted on
the said bar E and having a portion notched to embrace, and thus operate, the said bar G.
10. The combination with the bar E and the creasing devices supported thereby, of
the bracket F having ears through which the said bar extends, a clamping device to
secure the said bar to the said bracket and an operating lever pivotted on the said bar
and connected with the said bracket.
11. The combination with the bar E and the creasing devices supported thereby, of
the bracket F having ears through which the said bar extends, a guide carrying rod
also extending through the ears of the said bracket, a block interposed between said
rod and bar, a clamping loop surrounding said rod, bar and block and provided with a
threaded stem, and a set nut on the said stem.
12. The combination with the bar E and the creasing devices supported thereby, of
the bracket F having the perforated cars f, the rod j, the block m, the loop having a
threaded stem, a set nut on said stem and the cap or housing plate n.
13. The combination with the bar E the rocking bar G and the creasing devices, of
the bracket F the operating lever and the block m secured in the said bracket and
having a notch to engage the said lever and hold it in place contiguous to said bracket.

page_text: 14. In a tuck marker or creaser for sewing machines the combination with a rocking
bar having a spring arm provided with an upper creasing device or roller, of a
support for the said rocking bar, means for operating the latter, and a lower bar or
plate having a creasing device co-operating with the said upper creasing device or
roller.
15. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with a
rocking bar having a spring arm and an upper creasing device or roller carried by said
arm, of a bar or support on which the said rocking bar is pivotted, a lower bar or
plate having a lower creasing device or lip to co-operate with the said upper creasing
device or roller, an operating lever, imparting increasing movements to the said
rocking bar, and a spring for effecting the return movements of the said bar.
16. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with a
rocking bar and creasing devices, of an operating lever having a detachable connection
with the said bar.
17. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
bar E, the creasing devices, the rocking bar G and the operating lever H, of the
reversible pin carried by the said lever, the said pin having its bead cut away on one
side, substantially as set forth.
18. In a tuck marker for sewing machines, the combination with the bar E, the
creasing devices and the rocking bar G, of the operating lever having the loop h,
the pin i free to turn in said loop and having its head cut away on one side, and the
forked lever to retain the said pin in said loop and to hold it in and out of operative
position.
19. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
bracket F, the creasing attachment supported by and adjustable relative to the said
bracket, and the operating lever H, of the set screw f* for retaining the said operating
lever in proper working position when the attachment is adjusted laterally on the
said bracket.
20. A tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, provided with a laterally
adjustable bar having an edge guide hinged thereto.
21. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
bracket having the threaded pin of the bars E and J passing through said
bracket, the marking devices supported by the said bar E, the edge guide attached to
the said bar J, the housing plate m, the plate or washer n and the set nut f.
22. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
rocking bar G having the spring arm provided with the creasing roller gs, of the
steadying arm e connected at its lower end to the said arm g' and having a slot at its
upper end a pin passing through said slot, a lower creasing device, and means for
supporting and operating the said rocking bar.
23. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with a
rocking bar provided with a spring arm carrying a creasing roller, of a creasing lip
beneath the centre of movement of the said rocking bar, the said creasing roller
being normally lifted from the said lip but being forced in yielding contact therewith
and rolled forward and backward over the same as the said rocking bar oscillates.
24. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with a
rocking bar provided with a spring arm carrying a creasing roller, of an arm or link,
as e for steadying the said roller and limiting the outward movement thereof under
the influence of the said spring arm.
25. The combination with the rocking bar G having the spring arm g' provided
with the creasing roller g of the arm or link e connected to the said spring arm and
having the slot e³, the bar E and the screw et passing through the slot of the said
link.
26. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines the combination with a
marker carrying lever, of two independent pinching or creasing levers pivotted to
the forward end of the said marker carrying lever, a single retracting spring for the
said pinching levers, and means for operating the said marker carrying lever."

page_text: 27. In a tuck creaser for sewing machines, the combination with the bracket or
support A, of the body bar B having the flattened end provided with the lip b¹ and
the rearwardly turned hollow end 6, the marker carrying lever pivotted in the
said hollow end the independent pinching or creasing levers c¹, the retracting springs c³
and and the operating lever D.
28. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
marker carrying lever C, of the operating lever D having the perforated lugs d', d²,
the reversible hook e one arm of which passes freely through said lugs and the other
arm of which impinges against the said lever C, the spiral spring e¹ and the pin e².
29. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines. the combination with the
of
body bar B having the rearwardly turned and longitudinally socketed end 62,
the marking lever C the rear end c of which has a bearing in the socket of the said
end 62, means for retaining the said end e in the said socketed end 2 and means for
operating the said lever (
30. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
body-bar B having a creasing lip at its forward end and having at its rear end a
longitudinally socketed portion of the marking lever the rear end of which has
a bearing in the said socketed portion 72, the spring rod F having an upturned rear
end to form a pin which retains the said end e in its socket and having its forward
end extended over the said creasing lip to serve as a presser and means for operating
the said lever C.
31. In a tuck-creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
bracket or support of the bars B and g passing through said support, the edge
guide G steadied by the said bar B which passes through the said guide, the clamping
plate H having the threaded pins and the set nuts .
32. In a tuck creaser or marker for sewing machines, the combination with the
marking lever C and its lifting spring, of the operating lever D carrying at its forward
end an engaging device to impinge against the said lever C, and the support or
bracket A having the post a² to which the rear end of the said lever D is pivotted.
Dated this Twenty fourth day of December 1888.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.