IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES FOR WORKING TWO NEEDLES EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY OR INDEPENDENTLY, AND IN MOVABLE SHUTTLE CARRIAGES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of the Firm of A. C.
Henderson and Company, British and Foreign Patent Agents, of
No. 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middle-
sex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES FOR
WORKING TWO NEEDLES EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY OR INDEPENDENTLY, AND IN
MOVABLE SHUTTLE CARRIAGES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."-A commu-
nication from abroad by Messieurs Leconte and Sons, Sewing
Machine Manufacturers, of Paris, Franco.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles
Henderson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 8th September 1873.
-I, ARTHUR CHARLES-HENDERSON, of the Firm of A. C. Henderson
5 and Company, British and Foreign Patent Agents, of No. 6, South-
ampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN. SEWING
MACHINES FOR WORKING TWO NEEDLES EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY OR INDEPENDENTLY,

page_text: 'AND IN MOVABLE SHUTTLE CARRIAGES IO CONNECTION THEREWITH,” a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Messieurs Leconte and Sons, Sewing
Machine Manufacturers, of Paris, France, to be as follows.
This Invention consists in the special combination of two needles, the
movement of which may be either simultaneous or independent, for.
working double parallel scams with variable space, or for producing
simple ordinary sewing. This independence or union of action of the
needles is rapidly and readily offected, and the mobility of the shuttle
carriage forms the indispensable complement to the effective operation
of the machine.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawing is a longitudinal view of the machine,
showing, in conjunction with the general mechanism, those parts
forming the subject of the present Invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of
the same.
Motion is transmitted from the treadle to the lever a, destined to
actuate together or singly the two needle arms or bars b and c, which
move lengthwise on the vertical plates d, d, acting as slides. A small
pivoting latch or bolt frenders the needle arms b and c solid or inde-
pendent, according as it engages in or withdraws from the notch or
cavity formed by the salient parts o, o¹, and o³, o³, of the needle arms.
When the latter are united by the bolt f the small shaft y articulated at
the end of the lever a actuates them both in consequence of the position
occupied by its button on the projection o³ of the needle arm c; this
position shown in the Drawings is rendered invariable by the small
piece h, which rests on the external surface of this projection.
If it is desired to stop one of the needles, 6 for instance, the bolt f is
released, which allows the needle arm 6 to drop a little, and to isolate it
from any participation in the movement of the lever a. If on the other
hand it is desired to suspend the action of the needle c the button of the
shaft is displaced from o³ to o³, raising the picce h for its passage,
the end of which then rests outside o³; the bolt f is then opened, as
in the previous case, and isolates the needle arm c from participation in
the movement of the lover a. Thus the two needles work together.
(position shown in the Drawing) when the bolt f is in its notch, and.
that the button of the shaft g is on the part o³ of the needle arm c, whilst if
the bolt fis open one or other of the needles- will work, according as

page_text: the button of the shaft g is on one or other of the needle arms that is to
work.
The end receiving the needle is dependent on a slide piece %,
admitting of the separation of the needles from 2 to 25 millimétres.
The presser foot of the needle arm 6 may be displaced at will by aid
of a slide ; or other suitable method, so that in proportion to the distance
between the stitching of each needle the presser feet and may be
accordingly regulated.
The threads k, k, are supplied to each of the needles from bobbins
arranged above the frame, so as to give the threads a constant and
elastic tension, preventing rupture and insuring the locking of the
stitch. On leaving the bobbins they are made to pass over a stretcher
with internal spring, after which they pass through the guides n, n²,
then to be gently pressed by small spring blades r, r³, arranged in front
lengthwise on the slides d, d, of the machine, and finally, the thread
passes through the oye of the needle.
In order that the position of the shuttle should correspond with the
displacement of the needle 6 the shuttle carriage is mado movable; this
is effected by the action of a small fly wheel furnished with a tumbler
screw, which in accordance with the way it is turned either draws
forward the shuttle carriage q or presses it back.
จ
As to the needle c and its shuttle they do not change their position
5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Arthur Oharles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th March 1874
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
CHARLES HENDERSON, of the Firm of A. O. Henderson and Company,
British and Foreign-Patent-Agents, of No. 6, Southampton Buildings,
0 Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the

page_text: organs of the double-needle system; Fig. 2 is an end view of the head
of the machine. The new parts only of the machine forming the basis
of the Invention are here mentioned.
The transmission of motion from the pedal to the lever a offers no
special characteristic feature, but it is this lever which effects the simul-
taneous or independent action of the two needle arms b and c, and which
move the length of the vertical plates d, d, acting as slides. A. small
latch or bolt f turning on the screw f¹ (which renders it solid with the
needle arm 6) has for its object the union or separation of the needle
arms b and c, according as it engages in or leaves the notch or cavity
formed by the salient part e and the catch o of the needle arm c; vide
also detail Fig. 3. When the needle arms b and c are connected by
the bolt the small shaft g, articulated to the end of the lever a, draws
them both along on account of the position occupied by its button g¹ in
the projection e of the arm c, which position is shown in the Drawing
with the needles at the height of their course.
If it is desired to stop one of the needles, 6' for example, the bolt fis
released, the effect being to withdraw from the needle arm 6 all par-
ticipation in the movement of the lever a. If on the other hand it is
requisite to suspend the functions of the needle c¹ the button of the
shaft is displaced from e to e¹³, having previously raised the connecting
piece by pivoting to admit of such displacement; then by slightly
turning the piece the shaft and needle arm are rendered solid 'and
invariable. In liberating the screw f, as in the preceding case, the
needle b¹ is alone set in motion. Thus the two needles work together
(the position shown in the Drawings), when the bolt f is in its cavity
and the button of the shaft is in the projection e of the needle arm c,
whilst if the bolt is released one or other of the needles will work,
according as the button of the shaft is in one of the projections e or e¹
of the needle arm cor b, whichever it is desired* to use.
ទ
The lower end of the arm b is dependent on a slide piece i allowing of
the movement of the needle 6, its presser foot s can thus be drawn
towards or-soparated-from-that-s- by aid of the slide ; or other con-
venient means, in such wise that according to the distance that should
; exist between the stitching of each needle, so the needles b¹ and c¹ are
drawn together or separated with the corresponding-presser feet 8, 8', by
the displacement to which the pieces i and ; are subjected.
'

page_text: !
The threads k, k¹, aro furnished to each of the needles b³, c¹, by
bobbins 1, 2, arranged at the top of the frame, and in order to insuro to
these threads a constant and elastic tension avoiding all rupture and
admitting of the locking of the stitch, they are made to pass over a
stretcher with an internal spring, after which they pass through the cyes
of the guides n and n', to be thon gently pressed by the small spring
blados,, arranged in front of and lengthwise on tho guides of the
machine, and thence through the eyes of the needles b' and c¹.
In order that the position of the shuttle should correspond with the
displacement to which the needle is subjected the carriage bearing
the shuttle is also rendered movable. This result is obtained by
¨manœuvring a small fly wheel v acting by the nut screw p, according as
it is turned on the shuttle carriage 7 one way or other to cause it to
'advance or recede. This screw can be replaced by a lever. By this
means the respective positions of the needle 6 and shuttle are made to
coincide.
With regard to the needle c and shuttle their position is unchanged in
a longitudinal sense with the machine. The shaft X imparts to the
shuttles their backward and forward movement. Any kind of shuttle
can be employed, and any thickness of thread used to suit the work to
-perform.
In addition to the advantages of this machine forming a double line
of stitching with facility and without augmenting labour, by arresting
one or other of the needles, as occasion may require, it may be used as a
simple sewing machine. The most difficult kinds of sewing, such as
angular and other devices are readily effected with the double parallel
stitching machine, the subject of the present Invention.
Having thus described the Invention, what is claimed and desired to
be secured is, the hercin-before mentioned double-needle machine for
producing a double and parallel line of stitches, the characteristic features
of the apparatus being,—
1st. The capacity for union of action of the two needle arms or bars
or of their independent and isolated functions.
2nd. The regulation of the space between the two lines of stitches, by
the drawing together or separation of the needles.

page_text: 3rd. The movability of the shuttle carriage in the manner and for the
purposes precisely as herein set forth, and as illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings, with the proviso that no restriction as to the form,
dimensions, or materials of construction is made.
In witness whereof I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.