Improvements in Darning Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1888
7th Aug,
Loft,
1000
th
Accepted,
1600
Complete Specification
15.J
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Darning Machines.
1, ARTHUR HELWIG, of 123 Leighton Road, Kentish Town, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this. invention to be as
follows:
. This invention relates to improvements in darning machines of the kind described
and claimed in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me dated
17th June 1887, No.: 8765, according to which the darning is effected with a single
thread and one needle.
The object of my present invention is to simplify the construction of the said
'machine and render the same capable of darning in a more efficient and easier manner
than heretofore...
The darning machine described and shewn in my said former specification is for
the sake of brevity hereinafter called my "former machine."
According to my present invention a reciprocating motion is imparted to the
needle and needle-bar by. means of a lever and a connecting link or rod; and the
looper is arranged to reciprocate. vertically instead of horizontally as in my former
machine, thus the looper mechanism is simplified.
In order that the article to be darned may be more readily placed in position than
heretofore the ribs or projections on the blocks or plates composing the work holder
are arranged at an acute angle with reference to the needle instead of at right angles
thereto as in my former machine, and the upper plate or block is caused to press
rigidly against the material to be darned.
The needle or needle bar is provided with a thread tension or gripping device that
automatically grips and releases the thread at certain stages in the production of each
stitch. In order to compensate for shrinkage of the thread, due to washing of the
darned article, and to prevent consequent "drawing" of the material a comb or
toothed plate is provided to form a loose loop of thread at each bond connecting two
stitches. Referring to the accompanying three sheets of illustrative drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a darning machine.
Fig. 2 a plan or top view with the upper half of the work holder and adjacent parts
of the frame removed; and
Fig. 3 a front elevation of the machine.
1-is a darning needle secured to a needle bar 2 that is arranged to reciprocate in
a bracket 4 to which an intermittent step by step sideways movement is imparted
to cause the needle to assume the proper positions for commencing successive
stitches.
This bracket is carried by standards 7 as in my former machine and the mechanism
employed for imparting the sideways movement thereto and the means for throwing
the said mechanism out of gear and for returning the bracket, needle, looper, and
attached parts to their normal positions are similar to those described and shewn in
my said former specification for like purposes, and are correspondingly figured.
10 is a lever for reciprocating the needle bar and needle to form stitches; it is
pivotted at 10 and is connected to the needle bar 2 by a link or rod 10. For
convenience in packing it is advantageous to form the lever in two parts hinged
together as shewn. 31-is-a looper pivotted at 32 to a lever arm 39 that is secured
to one end of a looper shaft 37. This. shaft which is carried in bearings on the
bracket 4, has secured to it a lever 40, that carries a plate. 41 which is normally
maintained by the action of a spring 48 in the path of a roller 19 carried by the
needle bar 2. These parts are similar to and act in substantially the same
manner as the parts correspondingly figured in the drawings of my former
machine....
"
2 .

page_text: The looper 31 which is in the form of a bent lever is however arranged to work in
a vertical sense and is moved sideways by the direct action of the lever arm 39 when
the looper shaft is partly rotated. The shaft is partly rotated to cause the point of
the looper .to enter the loop of thread thrown by the needle, by the direct action of
the roller 19 on the plate 41 and lever 40, instead of by the action of the spring 48
as in my former machine, this spring in the present machine being employed to
move the looper into the position shewn in dotted lines in fig. 3 in order to release
the loop of thread held by it (the looper). 43" is a spring that is arranged to bear
upon an extension 31" of the looper and 31 is a fixed stop against which the looper
strikes when it is moved from the position shewn in dotted lines to that shewn in full
lings in fig. 3. When this takes place the looper is partly turned upon its pivot the
point of the looper thereby raised, and the loop of thread thereon caused to assume
a position in which the needle upon the completion of its next outward stroke, will
enter the loop.
When the looper commences to move into the position shewn in dotted lines it
leaves the stop 31' and the spring 43" causes it to turn in an opposite direction upon
its pivot thereby slightly depressing the point of the looper, and permitting it to
"move to the right without coming in contact with the needle. 31° is a looper guard
in the form of a bent plate carried by the bracket 4 and below which the point of the
looper works; it causes the loops of thread thrown from the needle to extend down-
ward into such a position as to ensure their being caught by the looper when it is
moved into the position shewn in full lines in fig. 3.
.
The slotted ribs or projections 55 on the blocks or plates 50, 51 forming the work
holder are arranged at an acute angle with the needle as shewn in fig. 2. By this
arrangement after a series of stitches have been formed the article being darned is
turned through a right angle and the second series of stitches is produced, whereas
with the former machine the article after the first series of stitches had been formed
had to be turned through an angle of about.60 degrees. The upper block or plate 51
instead of being held on to the work to be darned and to the lower block or plate 50
by springs as in my former machine is according to my present invention held down
rigidly by a plate 66 that is carried by a hand lever 67 and is caused to bear upon
the upper end of the rod or extension 53 connected to the said block, after that rod
or extension has been depressed by hand in opposition to a spring 68 and the hand
lever has been moved into the vertical position shewn in fig. 1.
When the hand lever, which is pivotted to the head 54, is moved into the horizontal
position shewn in fig. 3, the block or plate 51 is raised by the spring 68. The
automatic thread tension or gripping device comprises a lever 69 which pivotted
to the needle bar 2, and is provided at its upper and lower ends respectively with a
pin 70 and a roller 71. The pin 70 is arranged to work in a groove or recess 72 that
may consist of a bent piece of sheet metal 73 as shewn secured to the needle bar.
This piece of metal 73 is formed with a slot 76 (fig. 2) through which the darning
thread is passed and led under the pin 70, to the eye of the needle as shewn in fig. 1.
74 is a bent spring wire secured at one end to the bracket 4 as shown; it is so
arranged that the lower end of the lever 69 or the roller thereon, passes over, and for
a part of its outward stroke is in contact with it so as to be maintained thereby in
the position shown during such stroke. Upon the return stroke of the needle the
lower end of the lever (or the roller thereon) strikes the downwardly bent free end of
the wire and is thrown into the position shewn in dotted lines in fig. 1, in which
position the pin 70 forces the thread against the inner end of the groove or recess 72
and grips it during the time the needle is performing a part of its return stroke, after
which, the lever (or roller) leaves the wire, owing to the curvature thereof, and is
returned to its original position by the thread which is under tension, and which.
then becomes released. 75 is a comb or toothed plate secured to the upper block or
plate 51 of the work holder.
At each sideways movement of the needle to form a new stitch, the thread will be
caused to pass partly around a tooth of this comb or toothed plate and thus form a
loop between the stitch just completed and that about to be made. Thus when a

page_text: darn is completed each set of stitches will terminate at one end in a row of loose
loops that will, by being drawn up, serve to compensate for shrinkage of the stitches
when the article darned is washed."
61 and 62 are cover plates as in my former machine.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Darning Machines.
I, ARTHUR HELWIG, of 123 Leighton Road, Kentish Town, in the County of
Middlesex, 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 improvements in darning machines of the kind described
and claimed in the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me dated
17 June 1887, No. 8765, according to which the darning is effected with a single
thread and one needle. The object of my present invention is to simplify the
construction of the said machine and render the same capable of darning in a more
efficient and easier manner than heretofore. The darning machine described and
shewn in my said former specification is for the sake of brevity hereinafter called my
"Former machine." According to my present invention a reciprocating motion is
imparted to the needle and needle-bar by means of a lever and a connecting link or
rod; and the looper is arranged to reciprocate vertically instead of horizontally as in
my former machine, thus the looper mechanism is simplified.
In order that the article to be darned may be more readily placed in position than
heretofore the ribs or projections on the blocks or plates composing the work holder
are arranged at an acute angle with reference to the needle instead of at right angles
thereto as in my former machine, and the upper plate or block is caused to press
rigidly against the material to be darned. The needle or needle-bar is provided with
a thread tension or gripping device that automatically grips and releases the thread
at certain stages in the production of each stitch. In order to compensate for
shrinkage of the thread, due to washing of the darned article and to prevent con-
sequent drawing of the material, a comb or toothed plate is provided to form a loose
loop of thread at each bend connecting two stitches.
Referring to the three sheets of illustrative drawings filed with my provisional
specification,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a darning machine;
Fig. 2 a plan or top view with the upper half of the work holder and adjacent
parts of the frame removed; and..
Fig. 3 a front elevation of the machine.
1 is a darning needle secured to a needle bar 2 that is arranged to reciprocate in a
bracket to which an intermittent step by step sideways movement is imparted
to cause the needle to assume. the proper positions for commencing: successive.
stitches.
This bracket is carried by standards 7 as in my former machine and the mechanism
employed for imparting the sideways movement thereto and the means for throwing
the said mechanism out of gear and for returning the bracket, needle, looper, and
attached parts to their normal position are similar to those described and shewn in my
said former specification for like purposes and are correspondingly figured.. 10 is a
lever for reciprocating the needle bar and needle to form stitches; it is pivotted
at 10 and is connected to the needle bar 2 by a link or rod 10. For convenience in
packing it is advantageous to form the lever in two parts hinged together as shewn.
31 is a looper pivotted at 32 to a lover arm 39 that is secured to one end of the
looper shaft 37. This shaft which is carried in bearings on the bracket 4, has secured

page_text: to it a lever 40, that carries a plate 41 which is normally maintained by the action of
a spring 48 in the path of a roller 19 carried by the needle bar 2. These parts are
similar to and act in substantially the same manner as the parts correspondingly
figured in the drawings of my.former machine. The looper 31, which is in the form
of a bent lever, is however arranged to work in a vertical sense and is moved sideways
by the direct action of the lever arm, 39 when the looper shaft is partly rotated, and
the shaft is partly rotated to cause the point of the looper to enter the loop of thread
thrown by the needle, by the positive or direct action of the roller 19 on the plate 41
and lever 40, instead of by the action of the spring 48 as in my former machine,
this spring in the present machine being employed to move the looper into the
position shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 3 in order to release the loop of thread held by
it (the looper). 43 is a spring that is arranged to bear upon an extension 31" of
the looper and 31 is a fixed top against which the looper strikes when it is moved
from the position shewn in dotted lines to that shewn in full lines in Fig. 3. When
this takes place the looper is partly turned upon its pivot the point of the looper
thereby raised, and the loop of thread thereon caused to assume a position in which
the needle upon the completion of its next outward stroke, will enter the loop.
When the looper commences to move into the position shewn in dotted lines it
leaves the stop 31 and the spring 43ª causes it to turn in an opposite direction upon
its pivot thereby slightly depressing the point of the looper, and permitting it to
move to the right without coming in contact with the needle. 31° is a looper guard
in the form of a bent plate carried by the bracket 4 and below which the point of
the looper works; it causes the loops of thread thrown from the needle to extend
downwards into such a position as to ensure their being caught by the looper when
it is moved into the position shewn in full lines in Fig. 3.
The slotted ribs or projections.55 on the blocks or plates 50, 51 forming the work
holder are arranged at an acute angle with the needle as shewn in Fig. 2. By this
arrangement after a series of stitches have been formed the article being darned is
turned through a right angle and the second series of stitches is produced, whereas
with the former machine the article after the first series of stitches had been forined
bad to be turned through an angle of about 60 degrees. The upper block or
plate 51 instead of being held on to the work to be darned and to the lower block.
or plate 50 by springs as in my former machine is according to my present
invention held down rigidly by.a plate 66 that is carried by a hand lever 67 and is.
caused to bear upon the upper end of the rod or extension 53 connected to the said
block, after that rod or extension has been depressed by hand in opposition to a
spring 68 and the hand lever has been moved into the vertical position shewn in
Fig. 1. When the hand lever, which is pivotted to the head 54, is moved into the
horizontal position shewn in Fig. 3, the block or plate 51 is raised by the spring 68.
The upper end of the rod or extension .53 may be provided with an adjustable, head
formed with a screw threaded shank as shewn that takes into the rod or extension.
With this construction the length of the rod or. extension may be varied to suit.
different thicknesses of material to be held in the work holder. The automatic
thread tension or gripping device comprises a lever 69 which is pivotted to the
needle bar 2, and is provided at its upper and lower ends respectively, with a pin 70
and a roller 71. The pin 70 is arranged to work in a groove or recess 72 that. may
consist of a bent piece of sheet metal 73 as shewn secured to the needle bar. This
piece of metal 73 is formed. with a slot 76 (Fig. 2) through which the darning
thread is passed and led under the pin 70, to the eye of the needle as shewn in
Fig. 1. 74 is a bent spring wire secured at one end to the bracket 4 as shewn,
it is so arranged that the lower end of the lever 69 or the roller thereon, passes
over, and for a part of its outward stroke is in contact with it so as to be maintained
thereby in the position shewn during such stroke. Upon the return stroke of the.
needle the lower end of the lever (or the roller thereon) strikes the downwardly bent
free end of the wire and is thrown into. the position shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1
in which position the pin 70 forces the thread against the inner end of the groove
or recess 72 and grips it during the time, the needle is performing a part of its

page_text: return stroke, after which, the lever (or roller) leaves the wire, owing to the curvature
thereof, and is returned to its original position by the thread which is under tension
and which then becomes released. 75 is a comb or toothed plate secured to the upper
block or plate 51 of the work holder.
At each sideways movement of the needle to form a new stitch, the thread will
be caused to pass partly around a tooth of this comb or toothed plate and thus form
a loop between the stitch just completed and that about to be made. Thus when a
darn is completed each set of stitches will terminate at one end in a row of loose loops
that will, by being drawn up, serve to compensate for shrinkage of the stitches when
the article darned is washed.
61 and 62 are cover plates as in my former machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a darning machine of the kind referred to the arrangement of the looper to
reciprocate in a vertical sense substantially as described.
2. In a darning machine of the kind referred to the arrangement substantially as
described whereby the looper is caused by a positive movement imparted to it
through a shaft and a lever that carries the looper, to enter a loop of thread thrown
by the needle.
3. In a darning machine of the kind referred to the improved looper reciprocating
mechanism in combination with the means described for raising and lowering the
point of the looper.
4. In a darning machine a work holder comprising two blocks a spring that
normally holds up the one block and a lever that can be actuated so as to cause the
block in opposition to the spring to be pressed against material to be darned and to
hold it firmly during the darning operation substantially as described.
5. My improved work holder in which the slotted ribs or projections are arranged
substantially at the angle shewn in and described with reference to the drawings for
the purpose specified.
6. In a darning machine of the kind referred to, providing the needle or neodle
bar with a thread tension or gripping device adapted to automatically grip and release
the thread at certain stages in the production of each stitch, substantially as herein-
before described.
7. My improved thread tension or gripping device constructed and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described and shewn in the drawings annexed.
8. In a darning machine of the kind referred to, a comb or toothed plate adapted
to form a loose loop of thread at each bend connecting two stitches substantially as
hereinbéfore described for the purpose specified.
9. My improved darning machine constructed, arranged and operating as herein-
before described with reference to and shewn in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 7th day of August 1889.
ARTHUR HELWIG.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.