OR IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Marshall Arthur Weir at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st April 1876.
MARSHALL ARTHUR WEIR, of No. 4, Blomfield Villas, Shepherd's Bush, in the
County of Middlesex. "NEW OR IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING
SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES."
The Invention relates especially to means of imparting motion to sewing
machines by mechanism set in motion by the combined weights of the operator or
person using the machine, and of the sewing machine, stand, and its appurtenances,
but is also applicable to the driving of other light machinery.
In order to carry the Invention into effect I propose to place the sewing or other
machine fixed on a table or cabinet stand in the usual manner upon a platform on
which is also placed a chair or other seat for the use of the operator. The platform,
with its machine, table, and seat is arranged to slide vertically up or down in a
suitably constructed frame resting on the floor, the frame being made of sufficient
height to enable the platform with its attendant parts to be raised any con-
venient distance from the floor. Beneath the table, or in the cabinet stand of the
machine, I place a train of gearing so arranged that when it is caused to revolve it
may be made to impart motion to the machine on the table or stand. By suspend-
ing the platform with its attendant parts to the aforesaid frame in such a way that
the supporting cords or chains pass round a shaft or barrel in connexion with the
gearing afore mentioned, the descent of the platform carrying the operator, the seat
and the machine with its stand and gearing will cause the said gearing to revolve,
and so to drive the machine for a period dependant upon the height to which the
platform, etcetera, is raised.
Instead of gearing, a system of cords, bands, or chains passing over pullies may
be employed, and instead of suspending the apparatus in the frame by cords or
chains, racks may be attached to the frame and pinions connected with the gearing
arranged to take into them. When the apparatus reaches the floor the operator
may by turning a handle in connexion with a ratchet and click again raise the
apparatus in the frame, when it will be ready to act on the machine for a further
period.
In order to regulate the speed of descent of the apparatus, and consequently that
of the machine, and to stop the descent altogether when required, I employ a break
in connexion with the gearing regulated by means of a treadle under the control of
the operator in such manner that when no pressure is applied to the treadle the
break is applied by means of a spring or weight, and the apparatus is held sta-
Price 2d1

page_text: tionary, but when pressure is applied to the treadle the break is relieved more or
less and the apparatus allowed to act, the speed being regulated accordingly.
In order to prevent accidents from the breakage of the chains or cords suspending
the apparatus in the frame I employ a safety clip wedge or stopper so arranged
that should the chain or cord break the clip, wedge, or stopper is instantly forced
into action by a spring or other suitable means, and the descent of the apparatus
thereby arrested.