CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINERY
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,.
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINERY."
-A communication from abroad by Isaac Merrit Singer, of New York
City, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th December 1863.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention relates to certain novel contrivances for
actuating the feed bar of sewing machines (by which the length of stitch is:
regulated) so as to adapt its action to varying circumstances. In one
arrangement the length of traverse of the feed bar and its rise and fall are
determined by the use of adjustable wedges. The feed dog or roughened:
surface is formed on the end of a lever pivoted to the under side of the table.
Its opposite end is operated both vertically and horizontally by separate cams...
The adjustable wedges are inserted between the cams and the lever; and as

page_text: they are advanced or withdrawn the length of the stitch and the pressure of
the feed upon the work may be regulated. A more direct action may be
obtained to cause the feed bar to rise and fall by attaching the wedges or
inclines to a horizontal bar, and traversing it underneath the feed bar, which
may be loose and free to rise and fall in the throat or slot of the table, or
hinged at one end thereto.
By another combination of adjustable inclines and sliding bars the feed may
be caused to act either longitudinally of the machine or at right angles. This
arrangement consists of three sliding bars placed one upon the other beneath
the table of the machine. The uppermost carries at one end the feed dog or
roughened surface, and at the other is guided by a fixed pin which projects
from the under side of the table, and works through a slot in the upper bar;
the other two bars are operated by separate cams. The middle bar gives the
traverse to the first or feed bar,- it being itself operated by a cam, as is also
the lowest bar, both cams being on the same shaft. A projection on the end
of the middle bar coming in contact with the end of the feed bar carries it with
it to the end of its traverse, whence it is returned by a spring, the distance it
returns being determined by an adjusting screw in the framing. The lower
bar at one end rests upon and moves over an adjustable incline attached to a
lug cast on the frame, and so causes the combined bars to be raised together
with the feed dog on the uppermost bar. When it is desired to feed at right
angles another adjustable wedge piece is brought to bear against the side of
the middle or traversing bar, changing its direction of motion and carrying
with it the upper or feed bar. A projection on the adjustable wedge is caused
to bear against the feed bar, and check any tendency to move longitudinally
as before, the throat being made wide enough for the feed to move either
way. It is also desirable in some cases, besides regulating the length of the
traverse of the feed bar, to cause it to feed either from or towards the
operator. To this end the feed bar, which is carried beneath the table of the
machine, has one end in a staple or socket and the other resting upon an
incline capable of being traversed beneath it to effect the rise and fall of the
feed. To the under side of the feed bar a disc is pivoted, having a groove
across its lower face in which takes a fulcrum pin attached to an adjusting
lever. At right angles to this groove the traversing lever is pivoted to the
disc. The traversing motion of the bar and oscillation of the disc though
always the same, will move the feed bar more or less according as the position
of the moveable fulcrum pin is nearer to or farther from the centre of the disc,
and as it is placed on one or other side of this centre the feed will be towards
or from the operator. As a modification of this an adjustable guide plate is

page_text: attached to the under side of the table of the machine, and capable of being
placed at any angle with the line of traverse of the feed bar to determine the
length of traverse and direction of the feed. The rise and fall being the same
as that last described a feed bar similar to the last arrangement carries on its
under side a pin, which passes through a slot in a bar, traversed beneath it at
right angles: This bar is operated by a cam as before and carries a pin
projecting from its upper face, which works in a groove cut in a circular guide
plate sunk in the under side of the table. To this guide plate is jointed an
adjusting bar by which it can be moved so as to bring the groove on its under
side to any desired angle with the traversing bar. When in motion this bar
will be forced from the direct line, and that amount of motion will be com-
municated to the feed bar, which crosses it at right angles through the pin on
its under side, taking into the slot in the traversing bar. By a combination
of two disc guides, one for determining the length of traverse and direction of
feed, and the other for giving a semicircular sweep to the feed bar, the feed
may be directed at any angle from the needle. The traversing bar is guided
out of its direct line of motion by a circular guide plate sunk in the under
side of the table, and which can be adjusted to any angle. This motion is
communicated to a bar crossing it at right angles by means of a pin pendent
from it, taking into a slot in the traversing bar; this cross bar is jointed to
the feed bar by a link. The feed bar is arranged parallel with the traversing
bar, and longitudinally of the machine, and is supported and guided at its
opposite end by a stud in the under side of the table. The joint pin of the
link and feed projects downwards into the groove of an adjustable guide plate,
which turns on a fixed centre pin carried in a bracket from the table of the
machine. It has a ring of teeth upon it in gear with a rack bar, by which it
can be set at any desired angle to the feed bar. As this guide plate moves
round it gives a portion of its circular motion to the feed bar: This circular
motion will be greatest when the groove is parallel to the feed bar and least
when nearly at right angles.
A further modification of feed arrangement consists in making the parts
which perform the part of the table in supporting the work also act as the
feed. To this end two hollow cylinders are mounted borizontally and loose"
upon a fixed hollow sleeve shaft carried by brackets from the bed plate of the
machine, the ends being only a sufficient distance apart to allow of the needle
passing between them, but one is made capable of sliding back to give access
to the interior when required. At these adjacent ends raised roughened
surfaces are formed around each cylinder. Motion' may be communicated in
the same or in contrary directions to either portions, separately or to both of
-0-
•

page_text: the supporting feed cylinders simultaneously by means of two friction wheels
or rollers carried loosely on fixed stud axles from brackets on the frame, but
mado capable of sliding in and out of gear or contact. These rollers are
rotated in opposite directions by a shaft mounted between them, and which
receives an intermittent rotary motion from an excentric on the main shaft.
Through the hollow sleeve shaft a rod is passed, which receives a traversing
motion from a cam. To this rod (a slot being cut out through the sleeve
shaft) is attached the driver or other instrument for securing the loop of the
needle when it has passed through the work and is within the cylinders. One
or other of the friction rollers is to be slidden in gear or contact with both
portions of the feed cylinder when both are required to move in the same
direction, or both rollers may be in action together on separate portions of the
cylinders as may be required to be driven according to the nature of the work
to, be performed.
Another improvement in feeding cloth in sewing machines consists in the
combination of the ordinary vertical feed wheel with a horizontal feed wheel.
The vertical wheel is mounted on a stud axle carried by a lug from the frame,
and projects slightly through the table. The horizontal feed wheel, which is
sunk in the top of the table, is keyed upon a short vertical shaft, which turns
in bearings attached to the under side of the table, and is driven by friction
gear, which is capable of being shogged so as to change the direction of the
feed motion. The vertical wheel is also driven by friction gear, which is kept
in its place by means of a fork.
A further modification consists in the employment of three horizontal feed
wheels arranged on the top of the table of the machine around the needle as a
centre. The wheels are carried by short vertical shafts, one of which can be
driven in either direction by bevil wheels, and two of the three horizontal feed
wheels are so constructed as to be capable of being brought into contact, and
will be driven by friction of contact with the one which may be called the driver
either separately or one being driven by the other. This allows of any direction
of feed being obtained.
For sewing round button holes and other very short curves a feed bar
similar to some of those already described is provided with a stud which enters
a slot in a guide plate attached to the under side of the table. This slot is
straight for a short distance and curved at its end; the bar can be so adjusted
that during the time the straight part of the button bole is being operated on
the pin on the feed bar traverses forward and back in the straight part of the
slot. Then the guide plate is to be shifted to bring the curved portion up
to the pin; the feed bar will then traverse on a curved line, and enable the

page_text: operator to sew round short curves. A vertical stud pin having a groove for
the passage of the needle is supported within the throat, projects through the
table, and into or through the presser foot, and serves as a guide to turn the
work by. In order to provide for changeable presser fect (by which the work
is held firmly on the table) the foot of the presser may be attached to its
vertical stem, so that it can be readily detached and changed for other feet
having different forms, such as those suitable for braiding. A notch is formed
on the lower end of the vertical stem into which part of the foot holds, and
the binder part is brought round the back of the rod and over a pin fixed in
the stem, so that the natural spring of the hinder part of the foot will retain
it in its place. For laying braid ready to be sewn, a guide is made to slide
edgewise into the presser foot, such guide having a suitable arrangement of
passages through it horizontally and vertically to hold the braid at proper
tension. The corner of the needle bar being made to draw the braid from the
spool, it will be laid and sewn on at an equable tension.
The shuttle is supported
The Invention further relates to the employment of an oscillating shuttle;
this shuttle is somewhat circular in form, having a projecting lip as a guide in
passing the loop; it moves .in a circular flanged race of twice its diameter.
The flange of the race is cut of suitable form to allow of the passage of
the needle, and to assist in opening out the loop.
or carried by pins or a continuous piece projecting into the race from a circular
head; this head is carried in bearings, and rocked by a connecting rod from
some convenient shaft of the machine. The thread is brought from the
shuttle through a series of holes formed at its outer edge to give the necessary
friction, and leaves the shuttle at the centre of motion; this oscillating shuttle
is applicable to a variety of machines.
As an improvement in slackening the thread from the spool for the vertical
needle, the following contrivance is adopted :-The spool containing the thread
for the vertical needle is placed upon any convenient part of the frame of the
machine, and on the vibrating needle bar or any other rocking lever which
may be situate near the spool is formed a projection against which a finger or
spring pawle bears; between these surfaces the thread is held with sufficient
force to draw off from the spool a portion of thread as that part of the lever
rocks from the spool. In order to lessen the tension upon the thread during
the formation of the loop, and to take it up again after the shuttle has passed.
through the loop, and to assist in tightening the stitch, a supplementary
rocking lever is provided actuated by a tappet on the heel of the needle bar.
The thread, after passing from the spool between the nipping surfaces and
around the friction rod on the needle bar, is brought through an eye in the

page_text: head of the needle bar, and it passes thence through an eye in a spring carried
by the take-up lever, froni which eye it passes down to the needle.
To make a button-hole stitch the following is the mode of proceeding
The vertical needle is caused to descend and pass through the fabric near the
edge of the button hole, and a shuttle is passed through a loop formed below,
laying a thread therein; the needle now rises, and the shuttle goes back to
its place. The needle next receives a lateral motion, and moves down past
the edge of the work, when the shuttle again passes through the loop. The
needle and shuttle threads are now held over the edge of the work by suitable
instruments, in order that the needle, in its next descent, may. pass through
its own loop past the edge of the work, and through the loop of the shuttle
thread. Every succeeding stitch being formed in the same manner, the result
will be a stitch similar to that known as the tailor's button-hole stitch,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINERY," being a communication from
Isaac Merrit Singer, of New York City. United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
relates, firstly, to certain novel contrivances for improving the feed motion of
sewing machines, so as to adapt them to various kinds of work.
:
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 shews in elevation (the
table being in section) an ordinary Singer machine fitted with a novel arrange-.
ment for regulating the traverse motion and rise of the feed plate by means of
wedges, which arrangement is an improvement on the Patent of Isaac Merritt
Singer, bearing date May Sixth, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three
(No. 1132); Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the machine.
In this arrangement a is a wedge interposed between the side of the feed.
lever I' (which is pivotted to the table A) and the cam c on the vertical
shaft C for the purpose of regulating the amount of rocking motion to be
imparted to the lever I', and consequently of the traverse of the feed plate I
which it carries, and thereby determining the length of the stitch. This
wedge a is advanced and drawn back by means of a nut a working on a screw
thread attached to the outer extremity of the wedge. In like manner, between
the upper face of the rock lever I' and the cam'c' (also on the shaft C) a
wedge is interposed. This wedge is secured by a clamping screw 6' to the
table A and is adjustable thereon. It will be understood that as the tail end
of the rock lever l' is operated both vertically and horizontally by the cams c
and c', the adjustable wedges inserted between the cams and the lever will, as
they are advanced or withdrawn, modify the movements of the feed plate I,
and thus the length of the stitch and the pressure of the feed upon the work
may be regulated at pleasure.
A more direct action to effect the rise and fall of the feed plate may be
obtained by attaching the wedges or inclines to a horizontal bar and traversing.
it underneath the feed plate, which being made loose and free to rise and fall
in the throat or slot of the table, will allow of the action of the wedge. This
arrangement is shewn at Figures 3 and 4, Sheet I., where D is the shuttle
driver, to which are attached wedge-shaped bars d, d, that are adjustable, and
as they are traversed under the presser plate will lift it and allow it to drop as,

page_text: desired. The traverse motion of the feed plate may be effected in any ordinary
manner, or as already described.
By another combination of adjustable inclines and sliding bars the feed may
be caused to act in opposite directions, either longitudinally or transversely, of
the machine. This is also an improvement on a wedge arrangement described
in the Specification of the Patent above referred to. It is shewn as applied
to a Singer sewing machine in Sheet II., Fig. 1 being a side elevation with the
table in section to shew the feed movement; Fig. 2, a transverse section; and
Fig. 3, a plan view with a portion of the table broken away. 11, 1, and I
are three sliding bars arranged parallel to each other beneath the table A of
the machine. The bar I carries at one end the feed plate or roughened
surface I, and at the other is guided by a pin which projects from the bar I'
and works through a slot in the upper bar. The bar 12 is operated by a cam c
on the vertical cam shaft C, and is intended to effect the rise and fall of the feed
plate, and the bar 13 is operated upon indirectly by a cam c¹ on the shaft C,
and is intended to impart the traverse motion to the feed plate. A lateral
projection of the bar 13 bears against the side of the feed bar l' for the purpose,
when actuated laterally, of moving the feed plate to the end of its traverse
transversely of the machine, whence it is returned by a spring i bearing against
the bar I', the distance it returns being determined by an adjusting screw it,
to be presently more particularly referred to. The bar 13 is jointed to a
rocking arm I, which has for its fulcrum a fixed pin projecting from the
table A, and into the other. end of the arm I' the adjusting screw i¹ is tapped.
The free end of the bar 13 has a wedge-shaped termination which works over
an adjustable wedge-shaped piece I³ that forms also a stop for preventing the
endway motion of the feed bar. The position of this wedge-shaped picce I' is
determined by an adjusting screw i3 which is capable of drawing the wedge
out of reach of the inclined face of the bar 13. When, however, it is in action
the cam in its rotation will thrust back the rocking arm 1 and cause it to
draw the bar 13 over the wedge-shaped portion of the piece 1', which endway
movement of the bar 13 will give the transverse feed motion to the feed plate I.
The bar 1 is guided and supported by fixed pins pendent from the table A,
and its free end rests upon and moves over an adjustable incline 1* supported
in a guide attached to the under side of the table, which incline may be
advanced or drawn back by means of a screw 2. This incline I, when the
bar Is is acted upon by its cam c, will cause the bars 11 and 13 to rise and lift
the feed plate carried by the bar I. The depression of the feed plate will he
caused by the withdrawal of the bar 12 from its raised position by an elastio

page_text: band which couples it with the bar 13 (or a fixed point), coming into action
as the cam c goes out of action.
In order to adapt the above described mechanism to feed longitudinally of
the machine it is merely necessary to shape the slot of the throat plate L so
that it will allow of the feed plate moving in the direction of the length of the
feed bar, as shewn at Fig. 4, where the throat plate is colored red. The feed
bar is coupled to the bar 12 by means of an elastic band . The traverse
of the feed plate is now effected by a lateral projection on the extremity of the
bar Is coming in contact with the end of the feed bar, and the return motion
is obtained by the contraction of the elastic band i³. To allow of the direction
of feed being thus changed the wedge-shaped piece I requires to be drawn
back into the position shewn at Fig. 4, which represents in plan view the feed
arrangement adjusted for feeding in the direction of the length of the feed
bar.
In Sheet III. Fig. 1 shews in plan view, and Fig. 2 in edge view, ari
arrangement for giving the traverse to the feed plate in which a grooved disc
is used for regulating the amount of traverse of the feed bar and reversing, as
required, the direction of the feed. The up-and-down motion for throwing
the feed bar into and out of contact with the work to be sewn is effected by
means of the shuttle driver as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4,
Sheet I. I is the feed bar working beneath the table of the machine and
having one end in a staple or socket bolted thereto; the other end rests upon
an iucline, not shewn, but capable of being traversed beneath it to effect the
rise and fall of the feed. To the under side of the feed bar I, which is shown
detached at Fig. 3, a disc l' is pivotted, having a groove across its lower face
in which takes a fulcrum pin attached to an adjustable bar I which receives
an endway motion from a hand lever. At a point in a line at right angles to
this groove and cutting the axis of the dise the traversing lever I³ is pivotted
to the disc 1. The traverse motion of the lever I and oscillation of the
disc carried by the cam c on the shaft C, though always the same, will move
the feed bar more or less according as the position in the groove of the disc
of the pin on the bar I, which pin forms a moveable fulcrum for the disc to
turn on, and as it approaches to or recedes from the centre of the disc varies
the length of feed, and when thrown past the centre varies the direction of the
feed, thus causing the work to move either towards or from the operator.
As a modification of the last-described arrangement, the feed shewn in
plan view at Fig. 1, Sheet IV., may be employed. The grooved disc I' is in
this instance let into a circular recess in the under side of the table of the
machine, and it is capable of being turned by a draft rod attached thereto, so

page_text: as to place its groove at any angle with the line of traverse of the feed bar I to
determine the length of traverse and direction of the feed. The rise and fall
of the feed bar will be the same as that of the last-described arrangement.
The feed bar I carries on its under side a pin, which passes through a slot in
a bar I traversed beneath it and at right angles thereto. This bar is
operated by a cam c as before, and carries a pin projecting from its upper
face, which works in the groove of the disc 1'. When the bar 12 is in motion,
and its pin traverses the inclined groove, as shewn in the Drawing, it will bo
forced from the direct line, and that amount of motion will be communicated
to the feed bar I, and consequently to the work in the machine.
In Sheet V. an arrangement is shewn having two dises or adjustable guide
plates, which will admit of the direction of feed being varied to any angle at
pleasure. This arrangement is shewn in side elevation at Fig. 1, in plan
view at Fig. 2, and end elevation at Fig. 3. I is the feed bar carrying the
feed plate, and coupled by a link connection with the cross bar K, that slides
in a recess formed for it in the under face of the table A. This bar is con-
nected to the traversing bar M by a pin taking into a slot of that bar. The
bar M is jointed to a rocking arm, as already described, and operated longi-
tudinally by a cam on the cam shaft C. It is guided out of its direct line of
motion by a pin projecting therefrom, and taking into a straight slot cut in
the face of a circular guide plate N, which is sunk in the under side of the
table, and is adjustable to any angle by the hand lever N' connected there-
with. The lateral motion of the bar M thus obtained is communicated to
the bar K by means of its connection with the bar M, and thence through
the link coupling to the feed plate. The feed bar I is arranged, as will be
seen, in a, line parallel with the traversing bar M, and longitudinally of the
machine, and is supported and guided by a stud in the under side of the table.
The joint pin of the link and feed plate projects downwards into the groove
of an adjustable slotted disc, or circular guide plate O, which turns on a fixed
centre pin carried in a bracket from the table of the machine. It has a ring
of teeth on its periphery in gear with a rack bar P, by which the groove can
be brought (through the hand lever P¹) to any desired angle with the feed
bar. Thus when motion is given to the feed plate, modified in degree by the
action of the disc N, the direction will also be modified by the direction of
traverse of the link pin in the groove of the disc O to suit the requirements of
the operator.
In Sheet VI. is exhibited a further modification of reversible feed. Fig. 1
represents in longitudinal elevation and partial section a sewing machine with
the parts which perform the office of the table in supporting the work acting.

page_text: also as a feed wheel; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the back end of the machine';
and Fig, 8, a cross section in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1. I, I', Fig. 1, are two'
hollow cylinders mounted loosely upon a fixed horizontal sleeve shaft or:
hollow axle 1, carried by brackets upon the bed plate A. The proximate:
ends of the cylinders I, I', are a sufficient distance apart to allow of the:
needle passing between them, and the cylinder l' is made capable of sliding.
back to give access to the interior when required. At their proximate ends
a raised ring of roughened surface is formed around each cylinder. Rotary:
motion may be communicated in the same or in contrary directions, to either
cylinder separately or to both of the supporting feed cylinders simultaneously,
by means of friction wheels or rollers K, K', which are mounted on axles:
carried by brackets on the framing, but are capable of being slidden in and out!
of gear or contact with the cylinders. These rollers are rotated in opposite
directions by bearing upon a horizontal shaft L mounted below the framing.'
This shaft L receives an intermittent axial motion from an excentric on the:
main shaft D, which cam bears against a lever mounted loosely on the shaft, :
and carrying a finger or spring catch that bears against the periphery of the
shaft. At every vibration therefore of the lever, the finger is caused to bind
tightly against the shaft, and move it round a sufficient distance to transmit a
movement to the cylinders equal to the length of one stitch. In the hollow:
axle 1* a rod M works, it being coupled to a rock lever N, which receives
a rocking motion from a cam on the driving shaft D. To the rod Ņ (a slot.
being cut out through the sleeve shaft for the purpose) is attached the shuttle:
driver M. One or other of the friction rollers being slidden into contact with
the raised portion of one or both of the feed cylinders, the required feed move-.
ment will be imparted thereto, and either to the right or to the left as may
be required according to the nature of the work in hand.
:
Another improvement in feeding cloth and sewing machines consists in the
combination of the ordinary vertical feed wheel with a horizontal feed wheel. :
This arrangement is shewn in Sheet VII., where Fig. 1 is a sectional eleva- .
tion, shewing the mechanism below the table, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the
same. The vertical feed wheel I is mounted in any ordinary way, with its :
roughened surface projecting slightly through the table. The horizontal feed:
wheel I' has on its upper face a ring of roughened surface near its periphery.,
This wheel is sunk in the top of the table and keyed upon a vertical shaft I³,
which turns in bearings attached to the under side of the table. The shaft 121
is driven by friction wheels K, which are keyed to a horizontal shaft K¹, and
runs in contact with a disc keyed to the lower end of the shaft 12. The:
friction wheels are capable of being shifted in position, so as to change.the

page_text: direction of the feed motion by turning a nut upon the end of the shaft K
for the purpose of giving it, when required, an endway motion. Upon this
shaft a friction wheel is also mounted for driving the vertical feed wheel, and
to prevent the endway motion of the shaft interfering with this friction wheel
it is made to slide over a feather on the shaft, and is kept in its place by means
of a flange overlapping the edge of the vertical feed whcel.
The wheels I and I turn on
A further modification of rotary feed is shewn in elevation at Fig. 4,
Sheet III., and in partial plan view at Fig. 5. It consists in combining three
horizontal feed wheels I, I, I, arranged on the top of the table of the
machine and around the needle as a centre.
stud axles, carried by crank arms K, which are adjustable by means of regu-
lating screws and nuts L (see Fig. 6) which is a plan view, on a reduced scale,
to shew the mode of throwing the feed wheels out of contact with each other.
The feed wheel I is carried by a vertical shaft which is driven in either direc-
tion at pleasure by bevil wheels I*, I*, keyed on a sleeve shaft that slides over
a feather on the feed wheel shaft. The other two feed wheels are capable of
being brought into contact with each other or with the wheel I, which drives
them by friction of contact, the simple rocking of their crank arms through
the action of the regulating screws serving to throw them in or out of
action by shifting the position of the wheels I, 1, so as to make the trans-
mitter of motion the receiver of motion. From the transmitter the direction
of rotation of the feed wheels will be reversed, and by raising or lowering the
bevil wheels I, through which rotary motion is given to the wheel I by a bevil
pinion M on the axle M' (so that the motion is taken from the upper or the
lower side of the wheel M, or vice versa), the direction of rotation of the
wheel I will be changed. An intermittent motion is given to the axlo M¹ by
a finger N on a forked arm N', which is loose on the axle M'. This arm is
oscillated by a cam O on the driving shaft (see the detached view, Fig. 7),
and its finger N acting as a wedge in one direction of the motion, will bind
against the axle M' and force it to turn in its bearings. By this means there
will be transmitted to the feed wheel a movement equal to the length of a stitch
at every forward oscillation of the forked arm N'. At the return motion of
this forked arm, the finger will be tripped, the spring that keeps it up to its
work presenting no obstacle to that movement.
Further modifications of feed are shewn in Sheets VIII. and IX., and will
be described in connection with other novel mechanism with which it is cm-
bodied, instead of detached and separate from the other parts which are
necessary for effecting mechanical sewing.
In Sheet. VIII. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a side clevation,

page_text: partly in section, of a sowing machine, embracing improvements in the con-
trolling of the needle thread, and in the construction and operation of the
shuttle, besides the improvement above referred to in the feed motion. Fig. 2
is a plan view of the machine inverted; Fig. 3 is a front view, with the table
in transverse section to exhibit the operating parts below the table, and Fig. 4
is a view of the same operating parts in a different position.
In my description I shall have to refer to most of the working parts of the
machine, some of which are common to Singer's well-known construction of
sewing machine; but I would have it understood that I lay claim to no parts
unless particularly described as novel in construction.
A is the table of the machine, below which are situate the shuttle for
locking the stitch of the vertical needle and the feed apparatus. B is a
hollow standard and bracket arm, cast in one and attached to the table A.
Within this standard the vertical and horizontal shafts C and D are mounted
as usual, and connected together by bevil gearing. At the outer extremity of
the shaft D, which is the driving shaft, is a crank pin a for working the needle
bar E through a hollow cam piece b attached to the needle bar. This bar
works in a vertical guide box, as usual, carried by the bracket arm, and in the
same guide box works the bar of the presser foot F. For giving off the
thread to the vertical needle and taking up the slack thread a peculiar arrange-
ment of mechanism is employed, which forms a novel feature of the Inven-
tion. The thread as it leaves the bobbin c passes through a hole or eye in the
bracket arm (see the cross section of the arm, Fig. 5), and is led thence
upward to a spring clip arrangement carried by the bracket arm, between
which clip it passes to an ordinary thread regulator. This spring clip is shewn
in plan view at Fig: 6, and consists of a fixed friction piece d, against the
edge of which bears a finger e, which is held up to the friction piece by a
spring f. The thread is laid around a portion of the periphery of the piece d
and pressed upon by the finger e, which is so shaped and applied that as the
thread is drawn to tension by the action of the needle, the pressing finger will
yield and allow more thread to pass; but immediately the requisite supply has
been given out, it will hold the thread firmly, and effectually provent any ten-
sion applied in the opposite direction, drawing back the thread that has passed
through the spring clip. This is a necessary precaution, as will be presently
seen. The thread is taken off the bobbin by means of a cam 9 on the shaft D
(see Fig. 5), which cam at every rotation comes in contact with the thread,
and as that end held by the spring clip will not yield, the cam causes a certain
definite portion to unwind from the bobbin. The thread as it leaves the tension
regulator h passes upwards through an eye in the top of the presser bar and

page_text: thence back to a rock lever i which is mounted on the bracket arm B, and is
'intended to give out thread on the ascent of the needle, and thus to allow of
the expansion of the needle thread loop by the shuttle in its passage through
the loop, and then to take up the slack thread after the shuttle has passed
through the loop. This rock lever i is fitted with an adjustable finger, which
is caused to bear upon a face cam k carried by the shaft D, a spring pressing
'on the lever giving it always a tendency to bear against the cam k. As,
therefore, the cam k comes into action, it will thrust back the rock lever and
'cause it, with the assistance of the needle, to draw the stitch tight after the loop
of the needle thread has received the shuttle thread.
I will now explain the construction and operation of the shuttle employed
for interlocking the second or shuttle thread with the needle thread in the
manner well understood by all persons conversant with sewing machinery
The shuttle, which is of a somewhat novel construction (and is an improve-
ment on the shuttle described in the Specification above referred to), has a
rocking motion in a vertical plane, and is formed that it will take hold of and
open the loop of the needle thread and pass through that loop without the
'assistance of a loop distender. It is shewn in several views at Figures 1,
Sheet IX. of the Drawings, and consists of a metal box 1, with a ciretilar
cavity and open at its side, to receive a bobbin 2, which is shewn in side view
and section at Figures 2. The box is pierced at the circular part of its peri-
phery with small holes to allow of the bobbin thread being led through the
holes in any required manner to ensure a proper tension thercon before it
finally leaves the shuttle. A wedge-shaped projection 3, terminating in a hook,
provides the means for the shuttle to seize upon and open out the loop of the
needle thread. This shuttle is carried by a disc G keyed to a stud axle m,
which is loose in a bearing forming a portion of the casting of the table A,
and projects through the disc, and serves as a support for the shuttle.
Attached to this disc G (see Fig. 7, Sheet VIII.) are two drivers 4, 4, which
alternately come in contact with the shuttle and drive it round in its circular
race in opposite directions. H (Sheet VIII.) is the shuttle race. It consists
of a vertical plate, bolted to tho table, and presenting a circular recess for
receiving the shuttle. A reciprocating axial motion is given to the disc G
through a rod G' jointed thereto, and connected by a joint pin, with a straight
bar G, which moves in fixed guides bolted to the under side of tho table.
This sliding bar is jointed to a rod G³ which completes the connection of tho
disc with a crank G on the lower end of the vertical shaft C. A spring.
carried by the sliding bar, bears against the under side of the rod G¹ to ensure
smoothness of working of that connecting rod. The shuttle is inserted in the

page_text: race, with its open side innermost, and it is kept up to the face of the race by
the pressure of a spring, as shewn at Figures 2, 3, and 4, Sheet VIII. The
action of the shuttle will be readily understood by reference to Sheet IX., in
which Fig. 8 shews the nose or hook of the sbuttle inserted into the loop of
the vertical needle thread. Fig. 4 shows the loop extended by the shuttle to
the length sufficient to admit of the shuttle passing through it. This extension
of the loop at the time the needle rises is permitted by the inward movement
of the lever i (Sheet VIII.), as already explained. Fig. 5 shows the loop
slidden partly over the shuttle, the needle meanwhile continuing its ascent, the
shuttle thread being brought up to the loop. Fig. 6 shews the shuttle passed
through the loop and its thread left in the loop, which is now to be drawn
tight by the combined action of the lever i and the needle. In order to allow
of the loop slipping over the shuttle, as at Fig. 6, the motion of the shuttle is
reversed, whereby the driver, which gives the forward movement, is thrown
out of action and caused to recede from the shuttle sufficiently far to afford a
space for the escapo of the loop.
Another improvement in this machine is the arrangement for obtaining the
feed motion, the object being to alter at pleasure the direction of the feed.
I is the feed bar, formed with a roughened surface, as usual, and inserted in a
slot cut transversely in the under face of the table, as shown at Fig. 8, Sheet
VIII. A pin on the under side of this bar projects into a slot of a longitu-
dinal bar I', which is jointed to an arm I, pivotted to the under side of the
table. A cam 13 on the lower end of the vertical shaft C acts upon the arm 1³,
and causes it to vibrate, a spring being employed to keep the arm in contact
with the cam. On the upper face of the bar l' is a pin, which takes into a
straight slot cut across the face of a disc 1', shewn detached at Figures 9.
This disc is inserted in a circular recess in the under face of the table, and it.
is free to turn therein. A lateral projection of the disc is jointed to a rod 15,
which is jointed to a hand lever I', pivotted to the table. When the slot in
the disc 1 is at right angles to the feed bar, there will be no endway motion
of the feed bar; but so soon as its position is changed by the movement of
the hand lever, say to the dotted position of Fig. 2, the feed bar will move
forward so as to feed in the direction of the arrow at every movement of the
bar acted upon by the cam 1. When, however, the hand lever is moved
over to the dotted position, the feed will take place in the reverse direction.
The rise and fall of the roughened surface of the feed bar, to enable it to take
hold of and release the work, is effected by a cam projection on the periphery
of the reciprocating disc G (see Fig. 7), which cam, when it comes into action,
lifts up the feed bar and sustains it for a suitable time during the traverse of

page_text: the feed bar in its raised position. It should be here remarked that the
amount of inclination given to the slot of the disc I determines the amount
of traverse motion imparted to the feed bar, and consequently the length of
stitch produced by the machine.
In Sheet IX., at Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, I have shewn a modification of
the above-described feed for turning short curves to work around holes or
produce other irregular work. For this purpose it is necessary to give the
feed plate a sideway as well as a longitudinal motion, which is effected by the
employment of a plate K, slotted as shewn in the plan view, Fig. 8, and
capable of being slidden in and out of use by the attendant. This plate works
in guides formed for it in the table, and is set above the feed plate I, which
carries a stud that takes into the slot of the plate K. The slot of the plate
K is straight for the greater part of its length, and terminates in a short
curve. A pin near the rear end of the plate K takes into a slot in the feed
plate, and forms the fulcrum for its oscillations. When the traverse of the
pin of the feed plate is in the straight portion of the slot of the plate K, the
direction of feed is at right angles to the axis of the driving shaft of the
machine, but when the plate K is drawn out, as shewn in the Drawing, and
the traverse of the pin is in the curved or diagonal portion of the slot, the
feed plate will receive a sideway motion. To allow of the feed plate taking a
good bold of the work when worked sideways, the roughened surface is
widened, as shewn at Fig. 9, which represents it as forming three sides of a
square, and to permit of this double motion of the feed plate, the throat plate
I. (through which the feed plate, when elevated in any well-known manner,
projects) is shaped as shown in plan at Fig. 10. Upon the throat plate, at
the point where the vertical needle passes through it, there is a rounded pro-
jection, which is intended to facilitate the turning of the work. For this
purpose the work is slit and placed, over this projection; it is then traversed
forward, say in a direct line, until a straight portion of sufficient length is
sewn. The slide K is now drawn out, and thereby brought into action, for.
the continued reciprocating motion of the feed plate I will then, by its pin
working in the curved or diagonal slot, be caused to move diagonally, and thus
gradually turn round the work with comparatively little aid from the attendant,
the projection on the throat plate forming the fulcrum on which the work
When this projection is used, a corresponding form of presser foot
must be employed, as shewn at Fig. 11.
turns.
In order to allow of the pressers being easily changed to suit different kinds
of feed it is preferred to make them of elastic metal, and to spring them into
place on the presser bar. Fig. 12 shews a presser foot laid out flat, but suitably

page_text: formed for attaching itself to the presser bar. The presser bar to receive this
kind of foot is formed with a hook at its extremity, as shewn at Fig. 13, and
furnished with a pin, the ends of which project from opposite sides of the bar.
The end of the bar is passed through the long slot made in the presser foot to
receive it, and the presser foot is bent over the fixed pin to the curve shewn
in edge and plan views at Figures 14, and the inner end of the slot being
caught into the hook on the presser bar.
Another mode of applying a shifting presser foot is shewn at Fig. 15. The
form of presser foot shewn in this Figure, and better in the plan and sectional
views, Figs. 16, is intended for laying braid or cord on the work. To give
the cord the proper tension the foot is pierced, so that it will admit of the cord
being threaded through two or more vertical and horizontal holes. The
presser bar plate or foot is formed with V edges, which are embraced by the
correspondingly shaped prongs of a fork affixed to the presser bar. Το
remove the presser plate it is only necessary to draw it out from between
the prongs.
In adapting the apparatus above described for drawing off the thread from
the bobbin to a machine having a vibrating needle, the spring clamp is arranged
on the rocking arm that carries the necille, as shewn in the side view of
the machine at Fig. 17. As this clamp has a motion to and from the bobbin,
it draws off the proper amount of thread without the aid of a cam on the
driving shaft, as in the first-described arrangement. Upon the rocking arm M
near fis fulcrum is a finger N hinged thereto, and kept in position by a
pressure spring. This finger is intended to impart motion to a bent rocking
arm O that carries a spring P for taking up the slack of the needle thread.
A projection Q on the arm O is presented to the finger N, in order that as the
finger rises it may raise the rocking arm O and draw the thread to tension.
In moving upwards the finger N passes the projection, and continues its motion
upwards until the needle has reached its lowest depression. On the return
motion of the rocking arm M and its needle, the finger N will turn on its
hinge and slide over the projection Q, which is chamfered for the purpose, as
shewn in the partial plan view, Fig. 18, and regain the starting position,.
shewn at Fig. 17, assisted by the action of the pressure spring.
A further modification of the apparatus for drawing off the thread from the.
obbin is shewn at Fig. 2, Sheet IV., where the spring clamp is applied to
he side of the bracket arm, the thread is fed through an eye on this arm,
hence through an eye on the rock lever 0 (which is operated in precisely the
ame manner as in the last-described arrangement) through an eye at the
xtremity of that lever; thence to a guide on the bracket arm, and then down

page_text: to the spring clamp. The rock lever O therefore performs the office of the
cam in the first-described, and the rocking arm carrying the needle in the
second-described arrangement.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Certain Improve-
ments in Sewing Machinery, and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim,-
First, the peculiar arrangements or combinations of parts above described
for regulating the feed, and for producing a changeable feed motion.
Secondly, the means above described with reference to Sheets IV., VIII.,
and IX. of the Drawings for taking the needle thread from the bobbin and
delivering it to the thread controller, and also the rock lever i, Sheet VIII.,
or its equivalent for taking up the slack thread, as above described.
Thirdly, the reciprocating or rocking shuttle constructed and operating as
above described.
Fourth, constructing detachable or shifting pressers as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
A. V. NEWTUN. (L.S.)