IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING-MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Chester Ammen Snow, of the City of Washington, in
the District of Columbia and United States of America, Patent Solicitor, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING-MACHINES." A communication
by Frank G. Altman and Fred Pommer, both of Edina, in the County of
Knox, and State of Missouri, in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Chester Ammen Snow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1881.
"
CHESTER AMMEN SNOW, of the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia
and United States of America, Patent Solicitor. IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINES." A communication by Frank G. Altman and Fred. Pommer, both of
Edina, in the County of Knox, and State of Missouri, in the United States of
America.
This Invention relates to a device for threading sewing machine needles, which
is to be so arranged as to form a part of the sewing machine. The Invention
consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, as hereinafter
fully described and as shown in the accompanying Drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the mechanism in position for operation;
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view; Figure 3 is a view of the needle threading
devices detached; Figure 4 is a view of the threading tube; Figure 5 is a horizontal
sectional view of the latter; and Figures 6 and 7 show slight modifications of
arrangement of the devices.
A represents the end of the machine frame, having bearings for the foot bar and
for the vertically reciprocating needle bar B, to the lower end of which the needle C
is attached in the usual manner. The frame A is provided with bearings E
for a vertically sliding rod D, said bearings being preferably V-shaped in cross
I Drin CJI

page_text: section for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Additional bearings are provided for
the said rod in studs or brackets F, G, H, arranged respectively near the upper
and lower ends and near the centre of the needle bar, the bearings F, G, being
equi-distant and the central bearing H at a somewhat greater distance from
the side of the needle bar. The rod D is to be made of spring metal, preferably
steel.
It follows that by raising or lowering the said rod the guide brackets, which
cause the said rod to assume a bow or curved form, will cause its lower end to
move away from or toward the needle, as the case may be, in raising or lowering
it, and also holds the threading tube when lowered in contact with the needle.
The bracket F at the upper end of the needle bar is provided with a bearing for
a spring operated lever I, having a tooth or catch J engaging the thumb picce L
of the rod D, which may thus be retained in a raised position when adjusted.
Rod D is provided at its upper end with a thumb piece L, by which it may be
conveniently moved up and down in its bearings when released from catch J. The
rod carries at its lower end the threading tube M, which consists of a cylinder,
a vertical
cone, or block of any suitable shape, having at its inner end
groove N, so placed and shaped as to be capable of embracing or holding the
needle of the machine. The said block is also provided with a conical opening
formed transversely of said block, its small opening terminating in the bottom as it
were of the groove N.
It is of course essential to so adjust the several parts that when the rod D is
lowered the small opening of the threading tube shall coincide or register with
the eye of the needle carried by the needle-bar. In operation the machine is
threaded in the usual manner, and lastly through the threading tube which guides
the thread through the eye of the needle. The rod D is then raised, thus carrying
the threading tube away from the needle so as to prevent it from interfering
injuriously with the operation of the machine, it being evident that the sewing
thread passes continuously through the threading tube. When the thread breaks
or when for any reason it is necessary to rethread the needle, the threading tube
may be lowered as above described, so as to bring its small opening in conjunction
The modifications shown
or in juxtaposition with the eye of the machine needle.
in Figures 6 and 7 consist essentially in providing suitable stops to limit_the_
movement in either direction of the rod D that carries the threading tube M; for
this purpose we employ a spring S, recessed in or otherwise attached to the needle
bar B, the lower end of which spring has a projection, or a lug, or pin, or other
suitable stop s or a hook that engages with the lower end of the rod D by entering
a suitable notch d¹ to hold the rod against upward or downward motion when
said rod is elevated to a position in which the threading tube is removed from the
needle or out of its way.
When the rod D is lowered for the purpose of threading the needle then the
stop 8 on the spring S engages a notch don said rod to arrest any further down-
ward movement of said rod. The location of the notch d is such that the rod will
be arrested in its downward motion at a time when the small opening in the
threading tube is in the proper position to enable the thread to pass through the
needle eye. In all other respects the devices are or may be constructed and operated
substantially as herein before set forth; G is a thumb piece that is adapted to
engage the stop 8 of the spring and disengage the same from the notch d or d¹, as
the case may be, when the rod is raised or lowered.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner in which the same may
be carried into practical effect, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,
First. The combination in a sewing machine of the frame provided with
bearings E and a needle bar having brackets F, G, H, a threader tube carrier D,
and means for securing the latter in an elevated position.
Second. The combination of the needle bar, the threader tube carrier D, and

page_text: mechanism to lock the same in position for threading the needle or hold the same
in an elevated position, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Chester Ammen Snow, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
CHESTER AMMEN SNOW. (L.S.)