IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES AND SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES, PARTS OF THE INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred David Turner, of Homerton, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SEWING MACHINES AND SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES, PARTS OF THE INVENTION
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Scaled the 14th September 1875, and dated the 8th April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred David Turner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th April 1875.
I, ALFRED DAVid Turner, of Homerton, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES AND SEWING MACHINE NEEDLES, PARTS OF THE
INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention bas reference, firstly, to the means of imparting the
requisite reciprocating motion to the looper of sewing machines; and
the Invention consists in attaching the looper to the end of a longi-
tudinal shaft, to which a reciprocating partial rotary motion is given by
means of a rod leading from an excentric or cam on the upper longi-

page_text: tudinal shaft of the machine. One advantage of this arrangement is
that it enables the machine to work in either direction.
Another part of the Invention relates to the means of effecting the
feed. For this purpose I attach the "feed" to the end of a bar or lever,
the opposite end of which works on a pin or screw, and I form an arm or
projection on the reciprocating looper shaft above described, which arm
or projection as the shaft reciprocates acts against and moves the feed
bar or lever so as to effect the feed, and then allows the bar or lever to
be returned by a spring' ready for the next movement. A regulating
screw is placed at the side of the bar as near to its pivoted end as is
thought requisite, so that a slight change in the screw will make a con-
siderable change in the length of the stitch.
Another part of my Invention relates to the production in the machine
of a description of herring-bone stitch. For this purpose I form on a
back prolongation of the feed bar a vertical fork in which a cam on the
driving shaft works, so that as the driving shaft rotates the cam causes
the feed to make a to-and-fro motion, that is to say, a motion at right
angles to the ordinary feed motion. The result of these two motions,
viz, the to-and-fro motion and ordinary feed motion, is an inclined
motion, whereby an inclined or herring-bone stitch is produced The
length of the stitch in the line of the feed bar is regulated by a screw,
which by preference connects the feed bar with the fork, while the
length of the stitch in the line of the ordinary feed motion is regulated
in any usual manner The inclined stitch may by means of the
regulating screw be so reduced in length as to resemble a hem stitch.
Another part of my Invention is intended to overcome a defect which
cxists in hand sewing machines, viz., that after a time the wheel of the
machine works loose and consequently wobbles. For the purpose of
overcoming this defect I employ a set of internal and external cones,
that is to say, I form a cone on the inner boss of the wheel to fit into a
corresponding conc in the frame, and I form a cone on the wheel pin to
fit into a corresponding conc in the outer boss of the wheel. The pin
has a flat portion for a tightening screw to bear against. Should the
wheel begin to work at all loose a knock or tap on the outer end of the
pin is sufficient to tighten it again. This part of my Invention may also
be applied to other purposes, for securing tyres on wheels, for example,
and a lock nut may be added where necessary.

page_text: Another part of my Invention has reference to the toothed gearing for
driving hand sewing machines, and is intended, firstly, to diminish noise ;
and, secondly, to dispense with the use of oil on the gearing. For this
purpose I make the teeth of the driving wheel of gutta percha, which
may be secured to the flange of the wheel by a suitable solution or other-
wise, the said flange being dovetailed to hold the gutta percha more
securely. Or a matrix may be employed, between which and the wheel
flange the gutta percha may be run in a melted state. Or instead of
making the teeth of the driving wheel of gutta percha I make the teeth
of the pinion into which it gears of gutta percha, or the teeth of both
the wheel and the pinion may be so made. Or instead of gutta percha
I use some other analogous material, such as hardened india-rubber or
cbonite, or a mixture of gutta percha and india-rubber or leather. This
part of my Invention is also applicable to toothed gearing in other
machinery
Another part of my Invention consists in forming sewing machine
needles with a portion of the shank made flat, so that should the operator
not insert the needle truly in the proper position the screwing up of the
ordinary tightening screw against the needle shank will have the effect
of causing the needle to turn until the flat portion comes round to the
correct position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred David Turner in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 8th October 1875.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
DAVID TURNER, of Homciton, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did. for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred David Turner, Her
special licence that I, the said Alfred David Turner, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, tho said Alfred
David Turner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agrec 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES and Sewing
MACHINE NEEDLES, PARTS OF THE INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
David Turner, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 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 David Turner, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :—
My Invention has reference, firstly, to the means of imparting the
requisite reciprocating motion to the looper of sewing machines, and
the Invention consists in attaching the looper to the end of a longi-
tudinal shaft, to wluch a reciprocating partial rotary motion is given by
means of a rod leading from an excentric or cam on the upper longi-
tudinal shaft of the machine. One advantage of thus arrangement is
that it enables the machine to work in either direction. Figure 1 of the
annexed Drawings is a side clevation, Figure 2 a bottom plan, and
Figure 3 a section through the line A, B, of a sewing machine, with this
part of my Invention applied thereto. a is the looper attached to the
end of a longitudinal shaft b, which is supported by bearings c, c; d is a
rod connecting an arm e on the shaft b to a cam or excentric on the
upper longitudinal shaft g. As this upper shaft is caused to rotate a
reciprocating rotary or rocking motion is imparted to the shaft.b, and
therefore to the looper a
Another part of the Invention relates to the means of effecting the
food
For this purpose I attach the "food" to the and of a har or lovor

page_text: the opposite end of which works on a pin or screw, and I form an arm
or projection on the reciprocating looper shaft above described, which
arm on projection as the shaft reciprocates or rocks acts against and
moves the feed bar or lever so as to effect the feed, and then allows the
bar or lever to be returned by a spring ready for the next movement.
A regulating screw is placed at the side of the bar as near to its pivoted
end as is thought requisite, so that a slight change in the screw will
make a considerable change in the length of the stitch. 7, Figures 1
and 2, is the feed carried on one end of a bar or lever i, the opposite
end of which works on a pin or screw /, is a projection or arm on the
looper shaft b, which projection as the said shaft rocks acts against and
moves the bar so as to effect the feed; m is a spring for returning the
bar, n is the screw which is screwed up against the bar i to regulate
the length of the stitch.
Another part of my Invention relates to the production in the machine
of a description of herring-bone stitch, and is represented in side eleva-
tion, partly in section, in Figure 4. I form on or attach to a back pro-
longation o of the feed bar a vertical folk p in which a cam q on the
driving shaft works, so that as the driving shaft rotates the cam q causes
the feed to make a to-and-fro motion, that is to say, a motion at right
angles to the ordinary feed motion. The result of these two motions,
viz, the to-and-fro motion 'and ordinary feed motion, is an inclined
motion, whereby an inclined or herring-bone stitch is produced. The
length of the stitch in the line of the focd bar is regulated by a screw r
which connects the feed bar 2 with the fork p, while the length of the
stitch in the line of the ordinary feed motion is regulated in any usual
manner. The inclined stitch may by means of the regulating screw be
so reduced in length as to resemble a hem stitch, or the regulating screw
may be made to entirely stop the longitudinal movement when necessary.
The feed bar should have a slot to allow of its working longitudinally
on the screw or pin k.
Another part of my Invention is intended to overcome a defect which
exists in hand sewing machines, viz., that after a time the wheels of
the machine works loose, and consequently wobbles. For the purpose of
overcoming this defect I employ a set of internal and external cones,
that is to say, I form a cone, see t, Figure 1, on the inner boss of the
wheel to fit into a corresponding cone u in the frame, and I form a cone
on the wheel pin to fit into a corresponding cone in the outer boss w

page_text: of the wheel; the pin v has a flat portion for a tightening screw x to
bear against. Should the wheel begin to work at all loose a knock or
tap on the outer end of the pin is sufficient to tighten it again. This
part of my Invention may also be applied to other purposes; for
securing the naves of wheels on their axles, for example, and a lock nut
may be added where necessary.
Another part of my Invention has reference to the toothed gearing for
driving hand sewing machines, and is intended, firstly, to diminish
noise; and, secondly, to dispense with the use of oil on the gearing.
For this purpose I make the teeth of the driving wheel of gutta percha,
which may be secured to the flange of the wheel by a suitable solution
or otherwise, the said flange being dovetailed to hold the gutta percha
more securely. Or a matrix may be employed between which and the
wheel flange the gutta percha may be run in a melted state. Or instead
of making the teeth of the driving-wheel of gutta percha I make the
teeth of the pinion into which it gears of gutta percha; or the teeth of
both the wheel and the pinion may be so made. Or instead of gutta
percha I use some other analogous material, such as hardened india-
rubber or ebonite, or a mixture of gutta percha and india-rubber, or I
use compressed leather This part of my Invention is also applicable to
toothed gearing in other machinery. The driving wheel 8, Figure 1, 18
shewn as made according to this part of my Invention. The teeth y arc
of gutta percha, or hardened rubber, or leather, and may be formed in a
strip of the required length to fit into the flange ≈ of the wheel, which is
slightly dovetailed, a suitable adhesive material being employed to
secure the strip in place.
Another part of my Invention consists in forming sewing machine
needles with a portion of the shank made flat, so that should the operator
⚫not insert the needle truly in the proper position the screwing up of the
ordinary tightening screw against the needle shank will have the effect
of causing the needle to turn until the flat portion comes round to the
correct position. Figure 5 represents one of my improved needles in
side view and top view.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The arrangement, substantially as herein-before described, for
imparting reciprocating motion to the looper of sewing machines.

page_text: Second. The arrangement, substantially as herein-before described,
for effecting the feed in sewing machines.
Third. The arrangement, substantially as herein-before described, for
producing in sewing machines an inclined or herring-bone stitch.
Fourth. The arrangement of cones, substantially as herein-before
described, and for the purpose explained.
Fifth. Forming the teeth of toothed gearing in sewing and other
machines of gutta percha, hardened india-rubber, leather, or other
analogous material, secured to the body of the wheel or other gear,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Sixth. Forming sewing machine needles as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred David Turner, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Seventh day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
ALFRED DAVID TURNER. (L.S.)