Improvements in Embroidery Looms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
Improvements in Embroidery Looms.
A communication by MARTIN HENRI RUMPF, of 84 Rue Hauteville, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick and 21 High, Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :-
This invention relates to that class of embroidery looms in which the needles
operated mechanically act on the material held in a movable frame which is
operated by means of a pantograph. It has for its object to provide means for
obtaining a very great speed in the working of the loom and consequently a great
production of useful work; to avoid the breakage of the threads which may be the
result of this high speed, and to secure all the time necessary for displacing or
moving the material holding frame.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the loom ;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure
3 a plan view of the principal parts of the loom;
Figure 4 is a detail view of the operating mechanism;
Figure 5 is a partial elevation of the front part of the loom ;
Figure 6 is a partial plan view of the loom;
Figure 7 is a section on the line a x of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a section on the line y y of Figure 6 ;
Figure 9 is a section on a larger scale on the line zz of Figure 6;
Figure 10 is a view of the discs regulating the tension of the bobbin thread;
Figure 11 is a view of the discs regulating the supply of thread to the needle;
Figures 12 and 13 are views in full size of the material presser or presser feet
and of the needle carriers ;
Figures 14, 15 and 16 are views of the thread-case and spool;
Figures 17, 18 and 19 are views of the needle on a larger scale.
As may be seen on the views of the apparatus as a whole shown in Figures 1, 2, 3,
all the parts are supported by a frame formed of two uprights A A' connected by
a cross piece A2 and by two bars B B¹. The upright A carries the driving
mechanism which operates two main shafts one of which E operates all the lock
stitch hooks F mounted on the fixed cross bar B' and the other shaft D placed
under the cross bar B and not visible in these figures, operates the needle carrier H
and the other parts of the loom mounted on this cross bar B.
In order to allow the working of the apparatus to be fully understood, Figures 1, 2, 3,
show a suitable arrangement of the material holding frame G and of the arrangement
of the parallel guide G' operated by a pantograph G' (which are already described
in my previous Patent No. 21382°³).
The mechanism for operating the loom which is shown on a larger scale and in
detail in Figures 4, 5 & 6 is set in motion by a fly wheel C driven by a belt
passing over a pulley C¹ or by a crank C' connected with a treadle Č. The

page_text: axle a of this fly wheel carries a toothed wheel b which engages with a similar spur
wheel mounted on an intermediate spindle a¹ which carries an elliptical wheel e
engaging with a similar elliptical wheel el fixed on the main shaft E, hereinbefore
mentioned. In the same way the axle a of the fly wheel carries an elliptical
wheel d engaging with an elliptical wheel d' fixed on the other main shaft D.
The elliptical wheels e e¹ are arranged in such a way that whilst the flywheel is
making one sixth of a revolution they transmit to the shaft E and consequently to
the lock stitch hooks F an angular displacement equal to of a revolution. The
hook will then have passed by the half of its rotation and consequently the
material may be displaced without inconvenience.
In the same way the shaft D receives by means of the arrangement of elliptical
wheels d d a rapid rotary motion immediately after the hook has entered into the
loop formed and which forces the needle to rise consequently in succession to a
sufficient height to allow the material to be displaced or shirted.
In order to avoid breaking the thread which might result from this very high
speed of the hook and the inequality of the points of the embroidery, the device N
for supplying the thread is arranged in such a way that during the thrust of the
needle it furnishes automatically more thread than is necessary for the longest
66 'point" or stitch. In this manner the hook when seizing the loop exerts no
dragging action on the thread which is slack at this moment and the material may
be displaced without inconvenience for any length of "point" or stitch.
But in order to prevent the thread supplied in excess being dragged by the
needle, adjustable tension discs are interposed between the thread feeder N and
the needle, which discs exert a slight pressure on the thread and force it to slip
into the bezel or groove of the needle and which separate as soon as the needle has
passed through the material in order to leave the thread slack during the action of
the hook, the displacement of the material and backward return of the thread
feeder.
Another frequent cause of the breakage of the thread more particularly in the
case of woollen materials and thick threads is that the loop is not well formed and
is not presented in a suitable manner to be engaged by the look. It also frequently
happens that when the material is shitted horizontally from the opposite side to the
movement of the hook the point of the needle catches and injures the thread.
order to render the loom a practical one, it is necessary to avoid these drawbacks,
and for this object the lock stitch mechanism and the needle are arranged in the
manner hereinafter described.
In
Finally with the same object a special arrangement prevents any movement of the
material carrying frame G so long as the positions of the hook and the needle do
not admit of the displacement of the material.
A brake or thread grip, intended to retain the thread whilst the thread feeder N
returns and brings back the excess of thread which it has supplied, and tension
dises which serve to stretch the thread in its passage into the thread break detector
and to press the point on the material are interposed between the bobbins o and the
thread feeder N.
Finally the needles are mounted on a hinged support which allows of their being
raised in order to give free passage to the material carrying frame G, when it is
desired to withdraw it or put it in its place.
Having thus indicated the essential characteristics of this invention the description
of the principal parts of the apparatus will now be given.
As may be seen inore particularly on Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 all the needle-
carriers Hare mounted on a bar or carriage 1 movable in slides I, Figure 7
arranged at the ends of a supporting bar M, and this carriage I receives near its
two extremities a reciprocating movement by means of cranks plates fl and
shafts g operated by bevel gearing fixed on the mainshaft D as shown in
Figure 7.
The material pressers K are mounted on another bar or carriage J movable in
front of the bar of the needle carriers and the reciprocating movement of which

page_text: bar J is produced by means of a grooved cam h, Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9, mounted on
a shaft g operated by the shaft D; this cam h causes a rod h¹ travelling in the
bar M herein before indicated, to move, and this bar h¹ operates two levers ² the
extremities of which are hinged to the bar J.
The material pressers K, Figure 12 are arranged in the form of a tube in which
the needle carrier H may travel and which fits in grooves or notches formed in the
bar J, Figure 7, where they are held flexibly by means of a spring j, Figure 9.
Finally the cylindrical needle carriers H, Figure 13, are fixed to the bar or
carriage I by means of thumb screws i, as shown in Figure 9.
In order to allow the material-carrying frame G, Figures 1, 2, 3 to be withdrawn
easily and again inserted in its place, the bar M on which the bars I and J
(carrying the needle carriers and the material pressers) travel, is hinged at its two
extremities m, Figures 6, 8 and 9 on the fixed cross bar B and may be easily raised
by means of the handle m', Figures 8 and 9. With the same object the connecting
rods of the cranks are also hinged and the cam is notched or grooved at one of
its points to allow passage to the gudgeon of the slide piece which engages
therein.
The thread feeder N, Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9, is mounted on a longitudinal shaft n
which receives an oscillating movement from an adjustable lever n' Figures 4 and 6
and from a grooved cam n' fixed for instance on the axle a of the fly wheel
Figures 4 and 5.
As may be clearly seen in Figure 9 the thread from the bobbin O passes into
tension discs Q and then into the thread break detector L and from there
between a bar P' and a thread gripper P and over a rod n' whence it arrives at
the thread feeder N and then passes into the discs R and finally into the needle
carrier H.
The thread gripper Figures 5, 6, and 9 is composed of a series of cams mounted
on a shaft p operated by a lever p¹ and a cam p² mounted on the main shaft D,
said cam being formed of two parts provided with similar projections as shown in
Figure 6, which allows the duration of the action of these projections on the
lever p¹ to be varied. The thread zz is thus arrested and held when the projec-
tions of the cams P press it against the bar P' fixed on vertical supports Z arranged
on the cross bar B.
The shaft p has further at its extremities a handle på which allows it to be
turned by hand in order to release the thread when necessary. As has been
already hereinbefore stated the adjustable pressure or tension discs Q seive to
maintain the thread stretched on its passage into the loop of the thread break
detector Figure 9 and to ensure the tightening up of the point on the material.
As may be seen in Figure 10 one of the discs Q is fixed on a sleeve q¹ surround-
ing the shaft g whilst the other disc Q₁ is pressed against the disc Q by a spring q²
supported or resting against a ring q³ fixed on the shaft q by means of a screw
which allows of the pressure exerted on the thread coming from the bobbin to be
regulated.
As has been already stated the tightening and slackening of the thread which
reaches the needles must be produced at given moments for this purpose the shaft
carrying the discs R hereinbefore mentioned employed for this purpose is arranged
in two parts one of which S is held fast by the supports Z above mentioned whilst
the other S is connected by a hinged lever s with a cam s mounted on the main
shaft D, Figures 5, 6 and 8.
It is clearly evident in Figure 11 that one of the discs R of each group is fixed
on the sleever which encloses the two rods S S' hereinbefore mentioned whilst the
other disc R is fixed on the rod S¹, the pressure exerted on the thread being
regulated by a spring r¹ supported by a ring fixed on the rod S by means of a
screw.
As shown in Figure 9 when the thread == happens to break, the thread break
detector L oscillates and encounters the rod n of the thread feeder which causes
the closing of an electric circuit passing into the electro magnet T Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: The armature of this electro magnet T is immediately displaced and disengages
the arm t which in falling exerts on the periphery of the fly wheel C a sufficiently
strong pressure to immediately stop the movement of the loom.
Figures 5, 6 and 8 show the arrangement for holding fast the material carrying
frame when the position of the needles and of the hook do not allow it to be
displaced without inconvenience.
In these figures G is a tubular upright of the frame and u is a rod parallel to
this upright as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This rod u passes through a socket U
(Figure 8) carrying a cam U which according to the position which it occupies
either grips and holds fast the rod u or allows it liberty of movement.
The socket U is obliged to follow the horizontal movements of the frame
carrying with it the cam U' which is engaged therein, and this latter is mounted
on a spindle V (Figures 5 and 6) provided with a groove which spindle transmits
to said cam the angular oscillating movement imparted thereto by means of a
lever pivoted to a rod operated by an eccentric v fixed on the shaft D or on
any other suitable shaft of the loom.
Figures 14, 15 and 36 show the arrangement employed for ensuring the formation
of the loop and for forcing it to be presented to the hook in a suitable position to
allow of it being easily engaged by the same.
It may be seen on these figures that the bowl X which is held immovable in the
hook F is hollowed out eccentrically in order to receive the bobbin or spool Y and
in the thickest part of its periphery a slot is formed to allow of the passage of
the needle in such a way that the loop formed is held by this slot in a suitable
position to be easily engaged by the hook. Further the upper part of the slot.
is inclined in such a way that its lowest point a rubs against the thread when the
needle is withdrawn and forces the loop to be formed below the needle as shown in
Figure 14.
In these figures the bobbin or spool Y fits on a little cup with an adjustable
amount of friction by means of a spring and a nut y'. Finally Figures 17, 18
and 19 show the arrangement of the needle for the purpose of preventing the
point of this needle encountering and injuring the thread when the material fitted
in the frame G is displaced in a horizontal direction opposed to the movement of
the hook and for forcing the said thread to always pass above the needle, which
ensures the formation of a very regular point er stitch of embroidery.
"
Figure 17 is a side view of the needle; Figure 18 is a view from above; and
Figure 19 is a view from below of the said needle.
In these figures it is seen that the end part k of the needle is provided with a
groovek starting from the bezel or eye ³ and ending above the point which is
placed at a suitable prolongation from the lower centre line of the cylinder which
forms the body of the needle.
As shown in Figure 17 at the moment when the needle is withdrawn from the
material the thread emerging from the bezel or eye is slightly stretched along
a line passing above the point of the needle; in this way when the material is
displaced in an opposite direction to the movement of the hook shown by the
arrow, Figure 18, the thread guided by the curved groove is forced to pass
above the point without meeting it. Under these conditions the loop is always
formed by the side of the needle where it can be freely caught by the hook as
shown in Figure 18 which ensures a regular formation of the embroidery point.
It is evident that if the hook turned in an opposite direction to that shown by
the arrow, Figure 18, the groove would have to be bent back in an opposite
direction to that shown in the drawing.
As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 of the drawings, the loom is provided with a vertical
frame carrying the material said frame being adapted for this purpose and composed
of two easily separated parts. One of the parts G has rollers for stretching the
stuff and fits on the other part G by means of screws 1 in order to allow of its
being removed. The second part of the frame is formed of a framework the
uprights of which are guided between rollers 2 attached to the frame. This

page_text: framework is operated by a pantograph G and parallel guiding mechanism G¹
described in Patent No. 21382 dated November 23rd 1892 by means of the bar 3
which fits on the vertical bars u of the framework by means of sliding sockets
provided with thumb screws 4. A graduated scale formed on the bar and the
bar u allows the position of the frame to be easily adjusted which may then be
fixed during this operation by means of thumb screws 5.
Finally the weight of the apparatus and of the fabric which is fitted therein is
counterbalanced by an adjustable weight 6 fixed at one of the ends of a flexible
band 7, the other end of which is fixed to the cross bar G of the framework.
This band 7 passes over a pulley, the axle 8 of which rests on anti-friction rollers 9
fitted on the frame in order that the weight 6 may exactly follow the frame in all
the positions which it assumes during the work. Any other suitable method of
counterpoising may however be employed for the same object.
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 by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an embroidery loom; an operating mechanism driving by means of
elliptical wheels, the two main shafts D E of the loom with the object of trans-
mitting to the needles and books variable speeds in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore shown.
2. In an embroidery loom; a thread feeder N operated by means of an
adjustable arm n¹ and a cam n³ combined in such a way that this feeder feeds and
advances the thread more quickly than the needles in order to supply all the
thread necessary for the greatest "point" which has to be formed before the
needles prick the material, thus avoiding a breakage of the thread, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. In an embroidery loom; a needle provided with an oblique groove ³ which
forces the thread coming from the bezel or eye to pass above the point of the
needle when the material is displaced horizontally in a direction opposite to the
movement of the book, substantially as herein before described and for the purpose
set forth.
4. In an embroidery loom; a lock stitch thread-case X recessed eccentrically
to receive the bobbin or spool and having in its thickest part a slot in which the
needle passes; substantially as herein before described and for the purpose set
forth.
5. In an embroidery loom; the combination with the material-holding frame of
a cam U lodged in a sliding socket U and operated by the shaft D for the purpose
of fixing immovable at intervals the material carrying frame substantially as
herembefore described and for the purpose set forth.
6. In an embroidery loom; a combined mechanism for stretching the needle
thread comprising cams or thread grips such as P placed in front of the thread
feeder, the adjustable pressure discs such as R interposed between the thread
feeder and the needles, and adjustable pressure discs such as Q placed near the
bobbins substantially as herein before described and for the purpose set forth.
7. In an embroidery frame; the combination of needle carriers such as H fixed
in a removable manner on a sliding carriage I operated by means of cranks f
plates and shafts g driven from the principal shaft D, and tubular material
pressers such as K in which the needle holders pass and which are fixed flexibly
on another sliding carriage J operated by the arms h', a sliding piece ¹ and a
cam driven from the shaft D substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying drawing.
8. In an embroidery loom and in combination with carriages and J for the
needle carriers and for the material presser; a hinged support bar M for the
purpose hereinbefore described; means being provided for enabling the slide
piece and the crank connected with the said carriages to avoid hindering the

page_text: rising of the plate M substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
accompanying drawings.
9. In an embroidery loom; the combination of a brake or thread grip formed
of cams such as P serving to grip the thread against a fixed bar P¹ and which are
operated by an adjustable cam Ps substantially as herein before described and shown
on the accompanying drawings.
10. In an embroidery frame; the combination of pressure discs R R mounted
respectively in a flexible and adjustable manner on two rods one of which S is fixed
and the other S¹ is operated by a cam s¹ fixed on the shaft D substantially as
herein before described and shown on the accompanying drawings.
11. In an embroidery loom and in combination with the cams or thread grips P
and the thread break detector L; pressure or tension discs Q and Q which are
mounted respectively in a flexible and adjustable manner on a central shaft and its
sleeve, substantially as herein before described and shown on the accompanying
drawings.
12. In an embroidery frame; a material carrying frame composed of two parts,
one of which G³ has rolls for stretching the material and fits in a detachable
manner on the other part G, whilst the latter which is guided and counterbalanced
receives movement from a parallel guiding mechanism G' and from a pantograph
by means of double slides 4 allowing the position of the frame to be regulated
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 24th day of Mo 1805
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.