Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1887
Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
I, SAMUEL SIDNEY BROMHEAD of 97 Newgate, London, E.C., Patent Agent,
(communicated), 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 :—
This Invention has reference to an improved sewing-machine for making hemstitch
seams, and the invention consists in a sewing-machine having a vertically reciprocating
needle bar, that is guided in a needle-bar box, to which an horizontally reciprocating
motion is imparted by suitable intermediate mechanism operated by the main shaft of the
sewing-machine. To the needle-bar box is attached an horizontal guide-rod having a
fixed collar. A connecting-rod is pivoted to the collar and to a slide-piece guided in a
grooved oscillating arm, having an antifriction roller, engaged by a grooved cam,
which is rotated by suited gearing, once for every three revolutions of the main
shaft of the machine. The grooved cam imparts horizontally-reciprocating motion"
to the needle-bar, the cam groove being so shaped, that for one third of its circum-
ference the needle bar remains at one end of its horizontal stroke, while for the
remaining two thirds of the circumference of the cam groove the needle remains at
the other end of its horizontal stroke, so as to make two stitches of the needle. The
feed mechanism is worked intermittently and feeds the fabric, operated upon, twice
before every third stitch of the needle, as herein fully described.
The feed mechanism is operated by the main and intermediate vertical shaft of the
machine, which actuates by transmitting gearing a double cam which is rigidly attached
to a gear wheel and together with such gear wheel mounted upon the intermediate
vertical shaft. This gear wheel meshes into, and is actuated by a gear wheel upon the
main vertical shaft. The double cam on the intermediate vertical shaft, working in

page_text: connection with a lever and yoke, feeds the fabric to be operated upon forward and
backward for every third stitch of the needle.
Figure 1. illustrates a bottom view of my Improved Sewing-Machine.
Figure 1ª. illustrates a piece of fabric hemmed by my machine.
Figure 1. is a detail view illustrating a top view of the feed device.
Figure 2. illustrates a side view of my improved machine partly in section and
partly in elevation.
Figure 2. is a detail view illustrating the cam which imparts horizontally
reciprocating motion to the needle-bar, and to the needle-bar box.
Figure 3. is a top view illustrating a part of the upper arm of the machine, and a
top view of the needle-bar and the needle bar box.
Figures 4, and 5, illustrate horizontal sections of Figure 2. drawn on a larger scale
for the purpose of better illustration.
Figure 6. illustrates a vertical section of Figure 5.
In the drawings A. designates the cloth plate, B, the upper arm, C, the main shaft,
of my improved sewing machine. The needle bar D, is vertically reciprocated, by a
crank pin on the shaft C, said crank pin engaging a grooved socket of the needle bar
as is customary in sewing machines. The needle bar D is surrounded on three sides
by the needle bar box D₁, as illustrated in Fig. 3. which is guided in top and bottom
openings in the head B' of the upper arm B. The needle bar box D' is rigidly attached
to an horizontal rod D² which is guided in an opening d, of the head B' and by a
bracket D³ of the arm B. A collar d¹, is attached to the horizontal rod D³ and
provided with a pivot pin d from which a connecting rod D* extends to a pivot pin d³,
of the sliding piece d, which latter is guided by a groove do, in the oscillating arm D³
which is pivoted by its lower end to the bracket D6, of the vertical arm B. An anti-
friction roller do, is attached to the rear side of the oscillating arm D³ and is engaged
by a grooved cam D8, mounted upon the short shaft D' attached to the vertical arm B.
This grooved cam is rotated by the gear wheel e, mounted on the main shaft (which
meshing into the gear wheel e', of the cam D8 communicates motion thereto. The
relative proportion of the gear wheel e, and the gear wheel e¹; is such that the grooved
cam D³, makes one rotation to every three rotations of the main shaft C, the cam
groove of the cam D³, engages the friction roller, de, of the oscillating arm D³, so as
to impart to the latter an oscillating motion, which is transmitted by the connecting
rod D, and the guide rod D2, to the needle bar box D', so as to communicate an
horizontally reciprocating motion to the needle-bar, the shape of the cam groove is
such that for one third of its circumference, the needle-bar is held at one end of its
horizontal stroke, while for the remaining two thirds of its circumference the needle
bar is retained at the opposite end of its horizontal stroke. The breadth of the
horizontally reciprocating motion or stroke of the needle-bar may be adjusted by
placing the slide piece d higher or lower in the groove d³ of the oscillating arm D³.
The cam D, and the form of its groove are illustrated in Figure 2ª. The effect of
this cam is, that the needle is so held, that while at one end of its horizontal motion
it makes one stitch, and makes two stitches while at the other end of its motion, being
held twice as long at one end of its motion as it is at the other. By the use of the
helical spring do, the outer edge of the groove of the cam D³, may be dispensed with,
and the friction of the roller de, greatly decreased, and the resistance of the friction
proportionately diminished.
The shuttle motion is illustrated in Figure 1. and is operated from the main shaft (),
by an intermediate vertical shaft C³, located in the upright part of the arm B, and
transmitting bevel gears which are shown in dotted lines, in Figure 2. This shuttle
motion is of the usual construction and forms no part of my Invention.
The feed mechanism is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, Figures 4, 5, and 6, being
detail views on a larger scale. Upon the vertical shaft C', is mounted the spur wheel 6,
which meshing into the spur wheel 7, imparts rotary motion from the upright shaft C',
to the double cam 8, 9, which is mounted on the bolt, 12. Upon this cam works the
yoke 2, 3. The motion of this yoke is regulated by the springs 4, 5. The bar, 1,

page_text: which is pivoted on the arm 11, of the feed adjuster, 10, is attached to the yoke 2, 3,
and from it communicates, motion to the feed device. This feed device being of the
usual construction forms no part of my Invention. The arm 3, of the yoke 2, 3, is of
such width that it will only work on the part 9, of the. cam 9, 8, while the arm 2, of
this yoke works on the part 8, of said cam, so that the double cam gives a backward
and forward motion to the bar, 1, and as before said by reason of its shape and motion,
in connection with the mechanism described operates the feed.
The fabric to be stitched must first be properly folded and laid upon the cloth
plate A, which is illustrated by Figures 1, and 2, so that the part to be stitched will
be in proper position under the presser foot, to receive the needle, I now refer to
Figure 1. All the parts of the machine being in proper condition, the thread properly
arranged and adjusted, and the machine being put in motion, the needle will first enter
the cloth at 1x, and having formed the stitch will, by reason of the combined effect of
the mechanism connected with the needle.bar, and the feed mechanism, noxt enter the
fabric at 2 and having there formed the stitch will, by reason of the motion imparted
as aforesaid, next enter the fabric, at 3*, and having here formed its stitch, will next
enter at 4*, and having there formed its stitch will next enter at 5* from whence
having formed the stitch, it returns to 2x, from thence to 6*, from thence to 7*, from
thence to 5*, from 5*, to 8x, from 8 to 9*, from 9*, to 7*, and so continues through
the whole length of the seam, forming a perfect imitation of a very handsomely made
hemstitch seam, as illustrated in said Figure 1.
Other parts of this machine I have not described, because they are common to many
sewing machines and form no part of my Invention.
Having now fully described and ascertained what my said Invention is, and how
the same is constructed and performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I do hereby declare, that what I claim as my Invention and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,
1. In a sewing machine the combination with a vertically reciprocating needle-bar,
a needle-bar box to guide said needle bar, and a main shaft operating said needle-bar,
of a primary spur wheel mounted upon said main shaft, a second spur wheel mounted
upon an intermediate shaft, and having such a proportionate diameter and number of
teeth that it will only revolve once while the spur wheel on the main shaft, which
meshes into it, revolves three times, a cam mounted upon said intermediate shaft,
rigidly attached to said larger spur wheel and moving therewith and mechanism
substantially as specified connecting said cam, with said needle-bar, whereby facility
is afforded said cam for moving said needle-bar, horizontally substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. In a sewing machine the combination with a needle-bar, a main shaft, and
connecting mechanism substantially as specified, for reciprocating said needle-bar
vertically, of a spur wheel mounted upon said main shaft, a spur wheel mounted upon
an intermediate shaft, meshing into the spur wheel on the main shaft, and of such
proportionate diameter and number of teeth thereto, that while said wheel on the main
shaft, revolves three times it will only make one revolution, a grooved cam mounted
upon said intermediate shaft rigidly attached to the said larger spur wheel, and moving
therewith, a movable needle-bar box in which said needle bar reciprocates vertically,
a rod attached horizontally to said needle-bar box, an oscillating arm grooved as
specified, having an adjustable slide piece and friction roller, which roller works in the
groove of said cam, a bar forming a pivotally attached connection between said rod
and said oscillating arm whereby, while the said needle bar is reciprocated vertically,
it is also moved horizontally at the intervals, in the way, and for the purpose
substantially as set forth.
3. In a sewing machine the combination with a main shaft, a needle-bar, and
connecting mechanism substantially as specified for reciprocating said needle bar
vertically of a double cam, mechanism connecting said cam with said main shaft,
whereby motion is communicated from said main shaft to said cam substantially as

page_text: specified, a yoke having two parts one put to work on one part of said cam, and the
other put to work on the other part of said cam, whereby a triple motion is imparted
to the feed of said machine, and an oscillating bar by which motion is transmitted
from said cam to said feed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle-bar vertically reciprocated,
a grooved cam of the proportionate rotation aforesaid, and mechanism substantially as
specified, connecting said cam with said needle-bar, and affording facility for moving
said needle-bar horizontally, at the intervals and in the way substantially as specified
of a double cam connected with the main shaft of said machine, by mechanism
substantially as specified, and mechanism connecting said cam with the feed of said
machine substantially as described whereby facility is afforded, for shifting the fabric
operated upon at the intervals and in the way substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1887
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.,
Patent Agent.