Year: 1887

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by HENRY H. CUMMINGS, of Malden, in the County of
Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, U.S.A.]
I JOHN FERGUSON HASKINS of 114" Queen Victoria Street in the City of London,
Consulting and Mechanical 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 has for its object to improve that class of apparatus employed for
sewing upon clothing and other articles buttons having holes or eyes made through
them from side to side.
My present Invention consists chiefly in the apparatus employed for holding and
moving the button intermittingly, the same having provision whereby a button having
four eyes may be stitched either diagonally across the centre of the button, or from eye
to eye about the button, the machine having provision whereby it may be automatically
stopped when the button has received the proper number of stitches.
The foot to receive the button has two, but it may have more than two holders to
receive buttons of different sizes.
The foot is attached to the end of a rigid carrier bar having as its fulcra two pointed
screws which enter recesses in a collar encircling an eccentric loose on a stud erected
upon the base of the attachment frame, the said eccentric having an intermitting
rotation to effect the vibration of the front end of the carrier bar, the said carrier bar
between its ends being extended through a slotted guide which is pivotted in such
manner as to permit the carrier bar to slide within it longitudinally and also to rise
and fall as may be necessary, the vibration of the carrier bar through the eccentric
causing the slotted guide to oscillate about its pivotal centre, the forward end of the
carrier bar being kept down, as herein shown by a spring upon a bar which occupies
the position of the usual presser-foot bar.

page_text: c
The presser-bar as I shall term it is provided with a lug which receives one end of a
rocking pin, the other end of the pin engaging loosely the carrier bar.
I have provided means for lifting the carrier and foot for the insertion and removal
of the work and to enable the button to be stitched diagonally across its centre
in different diametrical lines. I have provided means for imparting a varying
rotation to the eccentric which actuates the carrier bar; the said means effecting
at times a half turn of the eccentric, and at other times a quarter turn, as will be
described.
Figure 1 in plan view represents the bed plate of a sewing machine of the Wheeler
and Wilson class, it having been selected by me to illustrate my invention, the over-
hanging arm of the said machine and the parts contained therewith having been
omitted, the bed plate being somewhat broken out to show devices below it.
Figure 2 is an elevation of only the parts shown at the left of Figure 1 in full lines,
the said Figure having however added to it the front end of the overhanging arm
chiefly to show the needle-bar and the presser-bar.
Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 in the line a, a, chiefly to show the stopping
device for the shaft, the dotted lines showing the second position of the shipper
lever 22.
Figure 4 is a section of Figure 1 in the line a¹,
Figure 5 is a section of Figure 1. in the line
Figure 6 is a section of Figure 1 in the line a³.
.):2
Figure 7 is a section of part of Figure 4 in the dotted line..
Figure 8 is a detail showing the lever which carries the pawl disengaging device B.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the worm gear, the sleeve of which it turns, and of
the sleeve having the dog 13.
Figure 10 a detail of the lever 15 to be referred to.
Figure 11 is a vertical section in the line, Figure 1, the pawl carrier and pawl
being omitted.
Figure 12 a detail showing the eccentric for moving the carrier bar, and the friction
device co-operating therewith.
Figure 13 is a plan view of the devices below the dotted lines, Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a vertical section of Figure 2 in the line 8.
Figure 15 is a front elevation of the button holding foot.
Figure 16 shows a button stitched from eye to eye instead of across its centre, as in
Figure 1, and
Figure 17 a detail in top view of the hub d*.
The bed plate A, the main hook shaft A³, the cam A2, the overhanging arm A³, the
needle bar A, link A, needle har operating rock shaft A, the presser bar A', are ail
common to the Wheeler and Wilson sewing machine style No. 10, so need not be
herein further described.
In accordance with my invention I have added to the hook shaft an eccentric a
which is embraced by the strap of a link a', which at its outer end is adjustably
attached by a suitable screw stud a², to an arm a³, secured to a rock shaft a one end
of which is supported in a bearing a bolted to the bed plate by bolts a, the opposite
end of the said rock-shaft being supported in a sleeve like stud a attached by a set
screw a to a stud a' secured by a nut a to the stand or base 2 of the attachment.
The stand a fastened to the bed plate A by set screws has an upright shaped
rim which receives two pivot or point screws . . which serve as pivots for
a guide ³, which is slotted as shown in Figure 14 for the passage through it freely of
the carrier bar .
The carrier bar 6 is embraced at its front end by a head 6, through which and into
the carrier-bar is entered a shouldered screw stud 66, the stud receiving upon its
portion of largest diameter below its head a foot 7, the foot being mounted
thereon loosely so as to be turned to place one or the other of the button holding
springs in position under the needle, the said foot having a suitable slot and
notches as shown in Figure 15 to receive one end of a latch or dog 68 acted upon by a
suitable spring see Figure 2 the latch serving as a locking device for the foot,
:

page_text: The foot as herein shown has two sections suitably slotted or cut away to receive
the button 60, the eyes of which are to be entered by the usual eye-pointed needle 612
carried by the needle-bar a*.
Underneath these slots or openings are arranged forked or other suitable
springs, upon which the underside of a button rests, the said forked springs
being made thin so as to lie under the button and between it and the fabric garment
or other article to which the button is to be stitched.
In practice the different sections of the foot will have slots or openings of different
sizes to receive buttons of different diameters, as upon the same garment it is
frequently necessary to apply buttons of different sizes.
The carrier bar at its rear end beyond the guide 3 through which it is entered
loosely is forked as shown to embrace a collar c, each of the said forks receiving a
point screw which enters a cavity in the collar, the point screws serving as the fulcra
for the carrier in its movements.
The collar a embraces an eccentric c², loose on the stud a, and at its upper end the
eccentric, which may have more or less throw according to the length of stroke
desired for the front end of the carrier, has secured to it a ratchet wheel c³ having
four teeth, marked respectively 1. 2. 3. 4 in Figure 13.
These teeth are engaged by a pawl e pivoted at upon a pawl carrier c which
surrounds loosely the stud said pawl carrier having attached to it a bevil gear c²
which is engaged and oscillated in one and then in the opposite direction by the bevel
teeth of a toothed sector e fast upon the rock shaft a*.
The pawl is acted upon by a spring 5 sec Figure 1, which normally keeps the end
of the pawl pressed against the periphery of the ratchet wheel, and during such
engagement the pawl at each motion of the rock shaft a' effects a semi-rotation of the
eccentric within the collar c, provided the screw stud a is in that one of the two holes
in the arm ; see Figure 6 which is nearest the rock shaft a, but if the screw stud is
placed in the hole a* then the movement of the rock shaft is so much less that the
eccentric is given but a quarter turn at each oscillation of the said shaft.
With the screw stud in the position shown in Figures 1 and 6, a semi-rotation of
the eccentric will be effected and the carrier-bar 6, will have its front end moved in
such manner and at such times as to cause the foot holding the button to be vibrated
in such direction that the needle will descend through one of the eyes of the button
at one descent and at its next descent the needle will descend through a second eye of
the button diametrically opposite to the one through which it first descended, stitching
the button as shown in Figure 1.
Some people prefer that the stitching to attach the button to clothing pass
diametrically across the button, and so with a button having four holes, it is necessary
to be able to stitch automatically across the button in two different lines.
The desired number of stitches for one diametrical crossing of the button having
been effected, it becomes necessary to give the carrier a different and shorter move-
ment in order that the needle may descend through one or the other of the unfilled
holes of the button, and thereafter pass through the hole diametrically opposite it.
To do this it is only necessary to give the eccentric e at the desired time, a quarter
turn instead of a half turn.
This is herein also accomplished by means of a pawl disengaging device B which is
adjustably connected by a screw Bi with a slotted head B2 of a lever B³ pivoted at B
upon the bed plate, the said lever being acted upon by the spring 44, see Figure 8.
The upturned outer end see Figure 2, of this pawl disengaging device is so located
with relation to the rock shaft and pawl carrier et that when the pawl carrier is
operated by the sector es to throw the pawl into its backward position prior to
commencing a new stroke, the tail 8 of the said pawl will strike against the upper end
of the pawl disengaging device and will bear against it for a sufficient length of time
during the movement of the pawl to permit the engaging tooth of the pawl to skip one
of the teeth of the ratchet and engage the next tooth, thus giving but a quarter turn
to the eccentric.
This pawl disengaging device is thrown into operative position as described, only at

page_text: the time when the pawl referred to is to give a single quarter turn to the eccentric,
and then the pawl disengaging device is thrown out of operative position.
These pawl disengaging devices are to come into position when half the number of
stitches to be used to secure the button to clothing have been made.
As herein shown the lever B carrying the pawl disengaging devices is provided at
its rear end with an adjustable pin B which is acted upon by a finger B made
preferably of cam shape see Figure 7, said finger being attached to or forming a part
of the sleeve d see Figure 9 of a worm gear d which is acted upon by a worm d
attached to the usual hook shaft A¹.
The action of the finger B' against the underside of the pin B causes the upper
end of the pawl disengaging device B to be drawn down and at the same time
moved toward the stud about which the pawl carrier turns, thus placing the end
of the pawl disengaging device in the range of the tail of the pawl c.
The underside of the bed plate A has secured to it by screws 3 a bracket
which is slotted to receive a bolt d, the head of the bolt resting above the said
bracket and the shank of the bolt extending downward below the bracket see Figures 9
and 4.
This bolt, receives upon it a sleeve 9 having at its upper end a collar 10 which
abuts against the under side of the bracket t.
This sleeve 9 receives upon it a hub d*, shown separately in Figure 17, the said hub
receiving also upon it the hub of the worm gear d, the latter being secured to the
sleeve by a suitable spline so that the hub * and worm gear move in unison.
The hub has a projecting wedge shaped finger 13 see also Figure 5 and dotted
lines Figure 1, which once in each rotation of the worm gear d¹ strikes against the
hooked end of an adjustable toc 14 attached to a lever 15 pivoted upon a stud 16,
extended from one side of the bracket, the said finger 13, when it acts upon the
said pawl causing the lever 15 to be turned upon its pivot sufficiently far to enable
its notched part 17, see Figures 1 and 10 to be moved away from and so as to release
the lug 18 connected to the stop rod 19 held in suitable bearings in the frame work
of the machine so that it may be moved transversely of the machine.
The rod 19 has secured to it a block 20 into which is screwed a shouldered stud 2.1
which is embraced by the inner end of a shipper lever 22, a spiral spring 23 attached
to the said block 20, see Figure 1, for the position of this said spring 23 and also to
a pin on a rigid part of the frame, normally acting to move the shipper-lever and
rod 19 in the direction of the arrow 24 Figure 1, the spring being made effective to
move the rod and lever, as stated, as soon as the lever 15 is made to release the
projection 18, such movement of the rod and lever 22 causing the machine to be
stopped.
The belt receiving pulley C loose upon the hooked shaft A has at its side a stud e
which when the shaft A is to be rotated is engaged by a dog e pivoted at e sec
Figure 6 upon an arm of a hub the said hub being secured to the shaft A' and
having a spring e which acts upon the dog e¹ and normally keeps the free end in
such position as to engage the stud e. To stop the machine this dog must be moved
out of its engagement with the stud e.
To do this the inner end 26 of the shipper lever 22 having as its fulcrum or pivot
the stud 25 is by the action of the spring 23, before described brought into such
position with relation to the dog that the latter in its rotation with the shaft A¹ in
the direction of the arrow 27, see Figure 6, is caused to wipe against the bent end 26
of the shipper lever and is forced in toward the shaft A¹ and out from its engage-
ment with the stude; such release of the dog from the stud e preventing the further
rotation of the shaft A' by means of the belt pulley C, and immediately thereafter
the rotation of the shaft A is stopped by the arm attached to the said shaft A.
the said arm in its rotation with the shaft striking the inner edge of the lever 22 the
movement of the lever 22 by the spring 23 having thrown it into such position as
to be in the range of movement of the said arm.
To prevent any rebound or recoil-movement of the shaft A' I have provided the
with a spring pressed latch which is forced back into the arm when the
arm

page_text: latch strikes the lever 22, and after the latch passes beyond the lever the said latch
is immediately pressed out forming a locking device to hold the shaft positively.
In order to lift the foot for the insertion and removal of the work, I have provided
the carrying bar or lever with a stud or projection n which is acted upon by the
short arm of a lever a mounted loosely on a stud n² extended from the inner side of
the pivoted guide block 3 the long arm of the lever n' constituting the handle by
which to move it, and if desired, a rod attached to a treadle, not shown, arranged in
usual manner below the machine may be connected to the lifting levers n' at n³ so
that the said lever may be raised by the foot of the operator.
The inner or free end of the carrier or bar bat a point back of the foot a',
receives upon it one end of a loose pin or rod m, the upper end of the said rod or
pin being acted upon by a projection m' extended from the presser bar A normally
kept pressed down by the spring A³.
To prevent the eccentric from over-running, I have slotted the collar c, see
Figure 12 and have provided a friction device herein shown as a spring actuated
plunger held in the carrier .
Instead of the eccentric e I might use a suitable cam acting against the forked
ends of the carrier lever b³,
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. The carrier-bar or lever, its attached button holding foot, and a guide for the
said carrier bar between its ends combined with an eccentric or cam to move the
said carrier bar intermittingly to place the eye of the button under the needle of a
sewing machine, substantially as described.
2. The carrier bar or lever its attached button holding foot and a guide for the
said carrier bar between its ends, combined with an eccentric or cam to move the said
carrier intermittingly to place the eye of the button under the needle of a sewing
machine, and with means substantially as described to rotate the said eccentric
intermittingly.
3. The carrier-bar or lever, and the foot or button holder connected thereto loosely
and provided with means for holding buttons of different sizes, combined with a latch
or locking device to retain the said foot or holder in adjusted position, substantially
as described.
4. The carrier bar 4, the button holding foot attached to it, and an eccentric or
cam to move the opposite end of the said carrier, combined with a pivoted guide in
which the said carrier bar is free to both slide and rise and fall, substantially as
described.
5. The carrier bar &, the collar upon which the said carrier bar is pivoted, and
a button foot or holder attached to said carrier bar, combined with a pivoted block 63
through which said carrier bar is free to slide, the said block being located between
the ends of the carrier-bar, and operating, substantially as described.
6. The carrier bar, a button hokler attached to the carrier bar at one end, a collar
upon which the said carrier bar is pivoted at its other end, an eccentric within the
collar, an attached ratchet pawl, a pawl carrier and means to rotate it intermittingly
for a half turn, combined with a pawl releasing device to act upon the pawl to effect
a quarter rather than a semi rotation of the said eccentric, substantially as described.
7. The carrier bar, its attached button holding foot, the collar upon which the
said carrier bar is pivoted, the eccentric located within the said collar, the ratchet and
pawl and pawl carrier, and the beveled gear e', combined with the rock shaft at the
toothed sector e, and means to operate the said rock shaft, substantially as described.
8. In a sewing machine for stitching buttons, the main rotating shaft A', worm
thereon, the worm gear d' actuated thereby, the finger B moved in unison with the
said worm gear, the lever B3, having the projection B and pawl releasing device B,
combined with the pawl C, having a tail 8, the pawl carrier means to operate it, and
with the ratchet wheel and eccentric, whereby change of position of the pawl

page_text: releasing device alters the effectual length of stroke of the said pawl, substantially as
described.
9. In a sewing machine, the shaft A', the belt pulley loosely mounted thereon, and
provided with a pin or projection e, the worm attached to the said shaft, the worm
gear driven thereby, the projection or finger 13 moved in unison with the said worm
gear, the notched lever 15 actuated by said finger the slide rod 19, its projection
engaged by the said lever and a spring as 23 and the shipper lever, combined with
the dog attached to the hub fast on the shaft A' and engaging the pin e, of the
band pulley the movement of the said lever effecting such a movement of the shipper
lever as to cause its outer end to disengage the dog e from the pin or projection of the
belt pulley permitting the latter to run loose on the shaft A¹.
10. In a sewing machine the shaft. A', the belt pulley loose thereon provided at one
side with a pin or projection e, and a hub e fast upon the said shaft, and dog e' attached
to the said hub and adapted to be engaged by the said pin or projection to thus effect
the rotation of the shaft A', combined with a shipper lever to disengage the said dog
from the said pin or projection, and with a locking device substantially as described
to engage the said shipper lever after the same shall have released the dog from its
engagement with the said pin or projection, substantially as described.
11. In a machine for stitching buttons upon fabric or other material, a carrier
bar having at one end a button holding foot, and pivoted at its other end to a
collar, a guide for the said carrier bar between its ends, an eccentric within the
said collar and adapted by its rotation to vibrate the carrier bar, a ratchet connected
with the said eccentric a pawl carrier and a pawl, combined with means substan-
tially as described whereby the eccentric may be rotated as desired for a greater or
less distance whereby the carrier bar may be moved far enough at each operation
of the eccentric to enable the needle to descend first through one hole in the button
and then through a hole diametrically across the centre of the button, or whereby
the carrier may be moved to cause the needle to descend through first one and then
the next hole to it in the direction of the surface of the button and not across the
centre of the button, substantially as described.
12. In a sewing machine, the combination with the rotating shaft and the shipper
lever, of an arm attached to the said shaft and provided with a spring held dog or
latch whereby the said shaft is positively stopped by the action of the said arm against
it as soon as the shipper-lever has been moved to effect the release of the belt pulley
from the main shaft, substantially as described.
13. In apparatus for sewing upon clothing and other articles buttons having holes
or eyes made through them from side to side, the combination and arrangement of
mechanism cooperating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.