Improvements in and relating to Sewing Machines for Uniting the Outsoles to the Welts in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Sewing Machines for Uniting the
Outsoles to the Welts in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.
I, JOHN THOMAS RUSH, of No. 13, Burns Street, Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Shoe Factory Operative, 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; -
The present invention relates to shoe sewing machines and more particularly
to machines for sewing the soles to uppers and welts of boots and shoes.
Much trouble has been caused in the use of shoe sewing machines, particularly
in those machines employing curved needles, by the tendency of the needle to
stick either in the needle guide or on its passage through the work caused by the
wax which is used on the thread becoming smeared over the needle and the needle
guide, and it has often happened, that the strain placed upon the needle necessary
to force it through the guide, or through the work caused by the sticking of the
needle, causes the needle to break, and in other respects renders the machine
difficult to operate.
Many expedients have been tried to prevent the needles from sticking and
thus remedy the defect above noted; such as imparting to the needle a smooth
finish, as by nickel plating them; but such expedients have been found to be
generally unreliable in use and have failed to prevent the objectionable sticking
of the needle.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a lubricating device, so
constructed and arranged as to apply a lubricant to the needle during the sewing
operation, and thus provide a free movement of the needle through the needle
guide and the work.
To the above end therefore, the present invention consists of the combination
with a needle of a sewing machine, of a lubricating device arranged to apply a
lubricant thereto, during the operation of the machine.
The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows in side elevation and partial section the needle and parts of
its actuating mechanism, showing my improved lubricating attachment applied
thereto, with the needle in its raised or retracted position when out of the work.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts when the needle is advanced and
in the position which it occupies when passed through the work.
Figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal section of the lubricating device considerably
enlarged.
Figure 4 shows a side elevation thereof, with the end of the shank removed.
I have illustrated my invention as applied to that type of shoe sewing machines
disclosed in Letters Patent of Great Britain granted to Alfred George Brookes
of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent,
on a communication from Johnathan Munyon of Worcester in the State of Massa-
chusetts, one of the United States of America, No. 7793 of 1892, but such machine
has been selected for the purpose of illustration only, and the invention is not
limited to its application to any particular form of shoe sewing machine.
:

page_text: Similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts
throughout the specification and drawings.
In the drawing 1 indicates a portion of a lever having at its forward end a
segment rack 2 engaging a rack 3 formed on the needle segment 4. The needle
segment 4 is pivoted at 5 whereby as the lever 1 is moved about its fulcrum by a
suitable cam (not shown), the needle segment 4 will be oscillated about its axis 5
and thus impart to the needle 6 carried by the segment 4; a;movement in a curved
path, as fully illustrated in the drawing. The needle guide 7 is pivotally mounted
to oscillate about the center 5, and is actuated by a pinion 8 engaging
rack 9 whereby the needle guidé has a movement in the arc of a circle corre-
sponding to the path of movement of the needle 6.
a curved
All the foregoing parts may be and preferably are the same in construction.
organization and mode of operation as corresponding parts in the machine of the
patent hereinbefore referred to, and in and of themselves form no part of my pre-
sent invention.
The present invention contemplates a lubricating device arranged to come in
contact with the needle when the needle is withdrawn from the work and retracted
to apply a small portion of suitable oil to its shank, so that when it shall be
advanced, its passage through its guide and. through the work will be greatly
facilitated.
The lubricating device consists of a hollow box 10 which is preferably filled
with felt or other suitable fibrous material 11, and any suitable lubricant such.
as oil. In one side of the box 10 is formed a slot 12, through which a portion of
the fibrous packing 11 is projected as shown at 13. The box 10 is provided with a
shank 14 by means of which it is secured by a bolt 15 to the upper surface of the
forward end of the lever 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the location
of the lubricating device being such, that as the lever 1 moves downwardly to
oscillate the needle segment 4, raising the needle 6 to the position shown in Fig. 1,
the portion 13 of the fibrous packing 11 which projects through the slot 12 will
be in position to contact with the shank of the needle, as shown in Fig. 1 of the
drawing. The box 10, it will be understood, is provided with means whereby a
suitable lubricant may be introduced into the same, and in the device of the
drawing, I have shown the box 10 as being formed on its upper surface with an
upwardly projecting, hollow stem 16, which upon one side is provided with a
suitable opening 17, and I have provided a cap 18 which is secured to turn on the
stem 16 by means of a screw 19, and on one side of the cap 18 is formed a notch
or recess 20 which, when the cap 18 is turned about the stud 19, may be caused
to register with the opening 17 permitting the introduction of the lubricating
material to the box 10.
The operation of the device, it is thought, will be clearly understood from the
illustrations, it being simply necessary to state herein that the lubricating
device 10 is so positioned on the lever 1, that the fibrous packing 11 as it projects
through the slot 12, as shown at 13, will be in the path of oscillation of the needle,
so that as the needle is withdrawn from the work and raised as shown in Fig. 1;
it will come in contact with portion 13 of the fibrous packing and thus a small
portion of oil will be placed on the shank of the needle, whereby on the advance
of the needle as shown in Fig. 2, it will be enabled to freely pass through the
needle guide 7 and through the work without sticking therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination with a needle segment and
needle, and means for oscillating the segment, of a lubricating device carried by
the segment actuating means, arranged to be brought in contact with the needle
when the needle is retracted and withdrawn from the work, substantially as
described.

page_text: 2. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination with a needle segment and
needle, and a lever for actuating the segment of a lubricating device secured to
the actuating lever and projected into the plane of the path of movement of the
needle, arranged to be moved to contact with the needle when the segment is
oscillated to retract the needle, substantially as described.
3. In a shoe sewing machine, the combination with a curved needle, its
segment, and a lever for actuating the segment, of a lubricating device comprising
a hollow box having a curved opening in one side, a fibrous packing in the box
projecting from the opening; and a rearwardly extended shank, secured to the
segment actuating lever in position to engage the needle when retracted, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated the 22nd day of December 1890
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55/56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.