Improvements in Feeding Devices for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feeding Devices for Sewing Machines.
I, PHILIP SHATFORD, Sewing Machine Expert, in the employment of The Singer
Manufacturing Company, Kilbowie, Dumbartonshire, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention, which relates to sewing machines, has for its object to provide
an improved upper feed operating in conjunction with the ordinary lower feed
movement so as to effect the feeding in unison of the upper and lower plies of
fabrics being stitched in the machine.
Under the invention the upper feed movement is effected by means of a vibrating
presser bar and foot which latter has a forward motion imparted to it in unison
with the movement of the feed dog below by the action upon the presser bar of
a heel piece or wyper formed on or secured to the link which connects the needle
bar to the crank disc on the end of the main driving shaft. This heel piece or
wyper is fitted with an antifriction roller which by the rotation of the crank disc
and oscillating movement of the link on its pivotal connection to the needle bar is
brought to bear on the edge or face of an adjustable block secured on the vibrating
presser bar, the bearing block being so formed and positioned that on the needle
rising out of the fabric the presser bar is acted on by the wyper so as to move
forward the presser foot in unison with the feed dog below. The presser foot
may be serrated on its lower face to facilitate the feeding operation, but in general
it may be smooth, the usual spring pressure of the foot sufficing to firmly grip the
goods between it and the feed dog whilst the feeding movement takes place.
The extent of forward feeding movement of the presser bar and foot to correspond
with that of the feed dog, and thus to suit the length of stitch, is determined by the
greater or less projection of the bearing block into the path of movement of the
heel piece or wyper as it ascends with the needle bar; and to provide for variation
of the length of stitch the bearing block is made adjustable on the presser bar
This adjustment may be effected by means of a screw or like device, but by prefer-
ence the bearing block is made in the form of a forked link pivoted at one end to
the presser bar and having in its forked end an eccentric fitted on a stud secured
the bearing face of the
to the presser bar. By turning the eccentric
block is thrown more or less into the path of the heel piece or wyper and a
correspondingly longer or shorter feeding movement is imparted to the presser bar
and its foot. In lieu of fitting an adjustable block on the presser bar the roller
on the heel piece or wyper may be made adjustable in which case it may be fitted
to bear directly on the rear edge of the presser bar. The backward movement of
the presser bar and foot takes place when the latter rises off the goods in the usual
way and is effected by means of a spring.
In order to prevent undue stress on the connecting link and needle bar the pivot

page_text: block secured on the latter to engage the link is or may be fitted with a gib or
guide piece which enters a slotted guide in the face plate of the machine.
Dated this 8th day of October 1897.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applican
improvements in Feeding Devices for sewing machines.
I, PHILIP SHATFORD, Sewing Machine Expert, in the employment of The Singer
Manufacturing Company, Kilbowie, Dumbartonshire, 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, which relates to sewing machines, has for its object to provide
an improved upper feed operating in conjunction with the ordinary lower feed
movement so as to effect the feeding in unison of the upper and lower plies of
fabrics being stitched in the machine.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 of which
is a side elevation of the front end of the sewing machine arm having the improved
feeding device fitted thereon, Figure 2 a front elevation of the same with the front
plate removed, and Figure 3 a vertical section of a detail of the feeding device.
Under the invention the upper feed movement is effected by means of a vibrating
presser bar A and foot A', the presser bar being pivoted at A2 to a guide rod A³
capable of vertical movement only and the presser foot having a forward motion
imparted to it in unison with the movement of the feed dog below by the action
upon the presser bar of a heel piece or wyper B formed on or secured to the
link B which connects the needle bar C to the crank disc D on the end of
the main driving shaft. This heel piece or wyper B is fitted with an antifriction
roller B2 which by the rotation of the crank disc 1) and oscillating movement
of the link B¹ on its pivotal connection to the needle bar C is brought to bear
on the edge or face of an adjustable block F secured on the vibrating presser
bar A, the bearing block F being so formed and positioned that on the needle
rising out of the fabric the presser bar A is acted on by the wyper B so as to move
forward the presser foot A in unison with the feed dog below. The presser
foot A may be serrated on its lower face, as shewn, to facilitate the feeding
operation, but in general it may be smooth, the usual spring pressure of the foot
sufficing to firmly grip the goods between it and the feed dog whilst the feeding
movement takes place.
The extent of forward feeding movement of the presser bar A and foot A¹
to correspond with that of the feed dog, and thus to suit the length of stitch
is determined by the greater or less projection of the bearing block F into the path
of movement of the heel piece or wyper B as it ascends with the needle bar C;
and to provide for variation of the length of stitch the bearing block F is made
adjustable on the presser bar A. This adjustment may be effected by means of
a screw or like device, but by preference the bearing block F' is made as shewn in
the form of a forked link pivoted at one end F¹ to the presser bar A and having in
its forked end an eccentric G (Figures 2 and 3) fitted on a stud G¹ secured to the
presser bar A. By turning the eccentric G the bearing face of the block F is
thrown more or less into the path of the heel piece or wyper B and a corresponding
longer or shorter feeding movement is imparted to the presser bar A and its

page_text: foot A. In lieu of fitting an adjustable block on the presser bar A the roller on
the heel piece or wyper B may be made adjustable in which case it may be fitted
to bear directly on the presser bar A. The backward movement of the presser
bar and foot takes place when the latter rises off the goods in the usual way and
is effected by means of a spring H situated between a block A on the guide rod A³
and a shoulder A on the bar A.
In order to prevent undue stress on the connecting link B¹ and needle bar C the
pivot block C secured on the latter to engage the link B is or may be fitted with
a gib or guide piece C³ which enters a slotted guide J in the face plate J¹ of. the
machine.
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 sewing machine the improved feeding device constructed, combined and
arranged to effect the feeding in unison of the upper and lower plies of fabrics
substantially as described.
2. In a sewing machine the improved means for operating the upper feed in
conjunction with the lower feed movement consisting of a heel piece or wyper
formed on or secured to the needle bar operating link and adapted to act on a
pivoted presser bar substantially as described.
3. In a sewing machine the combination with the needle bar and needle bar link
and a heel piece or wyper formed thereon, of a bearing block adjustably secured to
a pivoted presser bar substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1000
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.