Year: 1855

page_text: sewing the material and feeding it along, the feeder and lifter are not only
enabled to accommodate themselves to the variations in the thickness of the
material being sewed, but the feeder is pressed against the material while
the lifter is moved downward and while the said feeder is moved, so as to
move the material.
Third, in a combination of a rocker arm [having a pin or stud], an elevator,
and a guide plate, the same being applied to the feeder and lifter, and for the
purpose of actuating them, in connection with a spring, by which they are
pressed upwards.
Fourth, in a moveable slotted plate, and an adjusting stop and confining
screw, in combination with the rocker arm or lever, and a working lever, and
for the purpose of enabling the movements of the feeder to be regulated or
changed, so as to lengthen or shorten the stitch made, as circumstances may
require.
Fifth, in a combination of mechanism for giving vertical movements to the
'needle mechanism, for imparting to it reciprocating semi-rotative movements,
and mechanism or means for imparting to the needle a rotatory movement, so
as to move its barb towards and away from the thread guide.
Sixth, in a combination of a rotary grooved roller with a pressure roller,
operating by means of a spring, the same constituting a thread tension
apparatus, to be employed in sewing with a waxed thread.
Seventh, in an arrangement of the top surface of the lifter with respect to
that of the bed or table of the sewing machine, such top surface being
elevated a short distance above the same, whereby the sewing of some kinds of
work may be performed to better advantage than would be the case were the
said surfaces in one plane.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Elmer Townsend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th June 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELMER
TOWNSEND, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of America,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, A.D. 1855, in the
eighteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Elmer Townsend, Her special license that J,

page_text: the said Eliner Townsend, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Elmer Townsend, my executors, administrators,
or 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 the Isle of Man, an Invention
of "NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEWING CLOTH, LEATHER,
OR OTHER MATERIAL," (the same being communicated to me by Alfred Swingle,
of the said State of Massachusetts), upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Elmer Townsend, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office, or Office of Her Majesty's Com-
missioners of Patents, within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Elmer Townsend, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Specification and the accompanying Drawings, letters, figures, and references
thereof:
Of the said Drawings, Figure 1 denotes a top view, Figure 2 a side eleva-
tion, and Figure 3 a front end view, of a sewing machine constructed in
accordance with the principles of my Invention; Figure 4 is a central vertical
and longitudinal section of said machine; Figure 5 is an under side view of it;
Figure 6 is a transverse section of it, taken through its awl and needle, said
section being made so as to represent parts intervening between the needle
carrier and the front end of the frame of the machine; such other Figures as
may be necessary to a more complete delineation of the parts of my Invention
will be herein-after referred to and explained. In the said Drawings, A repre-
sents the bed or table of the machine containing said 'Invention; B is the
hollow arm or standard that projects above and over the same, and supports
most of such of the operative parts of the machinery as are arranged above the
top of the table; C is an awl or punch, which operates in connection with a
hook needle D, their respective carriers or slides being seen at E and F, and
one being placed over the other. The thread guide or thread carrier is repre-
sented at G; it consists of a bent or curved arm, fixed to the lower end of
a vertical shaft H, to which a reciprocating horizontal intermittent rotary.
motion is to be imparted, in order at proper times to lay the thread across the
needle and below its barb, or in the notch of the said barb. The thread

page_text: proceeding down through the end of the guide G is shown at I, it being carried
from a spool or bobbin K, through the eye of a sinall projection L, and thence
around and in the grooved periphery of a roller M, that revolves' freely on a
stationary pin N. From this roller the thread is continued to and through the.
thread guide G.. Another and smaller roller O, having a convex periphery,
or one curved transversely, to fit. into the grooved periphery, of the roller M,
is made to bear upon the thread resting on the roller M. The said roller O is
carried by a fork P, whose shank extends through a stud R (projecting from:
the arm B), and has a helical spring S arranged upon it, and made to operate,
so as to force the roller O towards the roller M. The upper part of the. said
shank is provided with a male screw cut upon it, such having a female screw.
nut T, which, by being screwed down against the stud R, serves to raise the
roller O against the pressure of the spring: The thread tension apparatus,
composed of the rollers Mand O, their fork P, its screw, and nut, and spring,
as above described, is of great advantage when a waxed thread is employed in
the machine, it producing a proper and uniform' tension of the thread, and pre-
venting the wax thereon from being scraped therefrom, 'as takes place when a
waxed thread is carried and pressed between two flat surfaces. The principal'
operative parts of the machine obtain their motions from the rotation of a
driving shaft U, which carries a fly wheel V, and may be put in rotation by
any suitable motor.
This driving shaft is furnished with a grooved cam W,
the groove a of whose periphery is represented in Figure 7 as developed upon.
a plane surface. In the said groove the lower arm of a bent lever X is pro-.
jected, the said lever being made to turn upon a fulcrum, as seen at Y... The
front end of its upper arm is so jointed to the awl carrier E; that when said
arm is moved upward and downward it shall produce vertical movements of
the said carrier, they being governed by the operations of the groove a (of the
cam) on the lever a side view of said lever is shown in red in Figure 4. The
shaft H of the thread guide G is provided with a curved groove, as represented
at in Figure 8,, such groove being made to receive a pin or stud c, project-
ing from the awl carrier,, as seen in Figure 9, which is a side view. of said
carrier. By means of the cam 6 and the stud c the curved arm of the thread
carrier is moved, so as to carry its eye towards and away from ands by the
needle at proper times, the said arms being made to move through the sector
of a circle, and to lay the thread in a very obtuse angle across the needle. "A
vertical rod slides freely in the arm B; and is raised and lowered by means
of a slotted lever d, which turns upon a set screw e,' that serves to confine said
lever in position. This lever is shown in Figures. 1, 3, and 6, and more parti-
cularly in Figure 10, which exhibits a side view of it, its cam-lifting slot f, set

page_text: screw e, and the pin 9, which extends from the slide rod Z, and enters the lift-
ing slot. To the lower end of the said slide rod Z.there is fixed. what may be
termed the stationary bearer," which is simply a plate of metal, formed as seen
in top view in Figure 11, and in side and end views, as shown in Figures 2
and 3; it is provided with a long opening or notch i, through which the awl
and the needle play. This bearer is arranged directly over the feeder k (see
Figures 4 and 6), which operates in connection with what I term a lifter m.
Figure 12 exhibits a view of that side of the said feeder which is next to the
rocker arm v. Figure 13 is such a view of the elevator, such elevator sliding
between parallel guides a¹; ¹, fixed to the inner side of the feeder, as seen in
Figure 23, which is a view of such inner side of the feeder. Figure 14 is a
view of that side of the lifter m-which is next to the feeder, while Figure 15
is a view of that side of the guide plate n which is next to the lifter; the said
elevator guide plate lifter and feeder being also represented in Figures 4, 5,
and 6 in their relative positions with respect to cach other, and as placed
upon a round stud or pin o, projected horizontally from a slide or carriage p,
which is supported and plays vertically in a stationary forked standard or pro-
jection . Figure 16 denotes a vertical and transverse section of the projection
1, its slide p, screw t, and spring u. The carriage or slide p rests upon the
spring u, which is supported by and made to envelope the screw, such screw
being screwed into the standard.r, as seen in the Drawings. The employment
of a spring for the carriage p to rest upon and be forced upwards constitutes
an important feature of my Invention, as will be herein-after described.
the round stud o, as a fulcrum, a rocker arm v is placed, the said arm being
made to extend outward, as seen in Figures 5 and 6. To the rocker arm v
a slotted plate wis applied, and made to turn upon a fulcrum or pin a,
and to be fastened in position by a set screw y.
Into the inclined straight
slot of the plate w the longer arm a¹ of a bent lever A¹ extends, a stud
from the shorter arm being caused to enter and work in the groove c¹ of
a cam B', fixed upon the driving shaft U. In Figure 17, the groove c¹ of
the cani is represented as developed upon a plane surface. By means of the
cain B and the lever A', an intermittent reciprocating rotary movement is
imparted to the rocker arm v during the continued rotary movement of the
driving shaft, and by means of the adjustable slotted plate w, the amount of
such movement may be regulated so as to increase or diminish what, is usually
termed the length of the stitch, or that movement of the feeder necessary to
ensure suclí a length of stitch as may be desirable under any circumstances.
The relative positions of the cams of the driving shaft thereon or with
respect to each other are denoted by a dotted line a², in Figures 5, 7, 17,
On

page_text: and 22. Figure 18 denotes a top view of the rocker arm v; Figure 19 is
an external or front side view of the same. From these Figures it will be
observed that the said rocker arm is provided with a circular hole d', through
which the round stud or pin o extends, the diameter of this hole and that of
the pin being equal to each other. It will also be observed that said. rocker
arm is furnished with a stud or pin e¹, which passes through an elongated.
slot f, formed through the feeder and arranged therein, as seen in Figures 12
and 23, the said feeder being also provided with a circular hole g¹, for the
reception of the pin o, and to enable said feeder to rotate on said pin,. the
diameters of the hole and pin being made to correspond in size. The pin e¹
of the rocker arm passes entirely through the elongated slot f¹ of the feeder,
and enters a round hole h', made in the elevator 7, as seen in Figure 13.
The elevator, as well as the lifter m, is provided with an elongated slot,.
through which the pin o passes, these slots being shown at 2 and k¹.in
Figures 13 and 14. The width of each of these slots is equal to the diameter
of the pin o.
From the upper part of the elevator a stud or pin l¹ is made to
extend, as seen in Figure 4, and enter a short curved slot n', formed in the.
lifter, as seen in Figure 14. The lifter is made to play or slide vertically
between parallel lips or guides n', n', projected from the guide platen (see
Figure 15), such guide plate being fixed to the carriage or slide p, so as to
he immoveable with respect to the same. The feeder is formed with its
upper end curved to the arc of a circle, whose center is in the axis of the
pin o, and said feeder extends through the lifter, and has its upper end notched
or provided with teeth, as seen in Figures 4, 6, 12, and 23. By exami-
nation of Figures 2, 3, 4, & 6, it will be perceived that the upper or bearing
surface of the lifter is arranged a short distance above the top surface of the-
bed or table A. An important advantage in sewing some kinds of articles,
and particularly in connecting the vamps and the quarters of a shoe, when one
is made to overlap the other, is attained by means of such an arrangement
of the top surface of the lifter with respect to that of the bed or table. When
the vamp and quarter of a shoe are being connected or sewed together by a
sewing machine, the heel part or counter is generally doubled under the hind
quarters, causing an excess of thickness of material near those parts of the
quarter and vamps which are to be sewed together, and were not the lifters
elevated somewhat above the bed, such heel part or counter would present au
obstacle to the proper operation of the machine, as it would cause these parts
which are being sewed together to assume an inclined position when they
ought to be horizontal, such being unfavourable to the production of good
work. In my machine the counter or heel part may be supported on the top.

page_text: surface of the bed A, while the parts sewed together may be placed directly
over and be sustained by the lifter, the amount of elevation of the lifter
above the table being equal to the thickness of the counter or heel part
which is doubled under the quarters.
Having thus described the construction of my improved feeding apparatus,
I shall now proceed to explain the manner in which it operates in order to feed
or move the cloth along over the needle during the operation of forming
stitches thereby. To the feeder k reciprocating forward and backward move-
ments are imparted during the vertical movements of the rocker arm v, for
when the rocker arm is moved in either the one direction or the other, its stud
or pin e¹ will be carried into contact with one or the other end of the elongated
slot f, and by being borne against the same, will move the feeder on the pin o.
During the time that the pin e' is in movement from one end of the slot f¹ to
the other, it is acting upon the elevator in such manner as to cause it to move
the lifter m either upward or downward. The upper surface of the cloth or
material to be sewed being borne firmly against the stationary bearer 7, by the
upward pressure of the spring u acting through the feeding apparatus, is
maintained against the said bearer by the lifter when the cloth is stationary,
and also by the feeder when said cloth is moved along. Previous to the action
of the feeder upon the cloth or material to be sewed the lifter is depressed, so
as to deposit the cloth on the feeder, which, being put in motion laterally, is
pressed by the spring against the cloth or material, and feeds it along the
distance required; the lifter next moves up and raises the cloth or material
off the feeder, so as to allow said feeder to move backward. When the rocker
arm is raised upward, the spring s is releived of its pressure, whereby the
spring is rendered free to force the feeder against the material being sewed,
and while such feeder is moved, so as to move the said material. By means of
the combination and arrangement of the stationary bearer and a spring u, or the
equivalent thereof, with the lifter and feeder, and their operative mechanism,
the lifter and feeder during the operation of sewing the material and feeding
it along are not only enabled to accommodate themselves to any variations in
the thickness of the material while it is being sewed, but the feeder is pressed
against the material while the lifter is moved downward, and while the said
feeder is moved, so as to move the material. This will be obvious to a person.
who may understand the construction of my Invention, and who may be skilled
in the art to which it appertains, or that with which it is most nearly connected.
The needle D employed in my machine is a barbed or booked needle, it being
particularly represented in Figures 20 and 21, which are side and edge views
of it,, and its carrier F, such carrier there being exhibited with a cam groove o¹,.

page_text: for regulating the rotary movements of the needle during its vertical.movements.
This needle: carrier is supported by, and rotates horizontally in, a. sliding
carriage p¹, adapted to play vertically between parallel guides q, q', -attached
to a stationary projection or arm 2. The said arm is provided with a screw
pin or projection s¹ (see Figure 6), which enters the cam groove o¹ of the
needle carrier. This projection in connection with such cam groove serves to
effect the rotary movements of the needle carrier when the latter is. raised or
depressed in a vertical direction, such elevation and depression of the needle
carrier. being produced by the action of a groove t¹, of a cam c¹, fixed upon
the driving shaft.. This groove is made in the side of the cam c¹; and has the
form as represented in Figure 22a projection or stud u from the sliding
carriage p being made to enter said groove t¹, and to be provided or not with
a friction roller The cam" groove is so made as to impart to the needle
reciprocating semi-rotative movements; and for the purpose of preventing the
loop held by the look or barb.of the needle from being pulled off the same
while the cloth or material being sewed is moved along by the feeder. Were
these the only rotary movements given to the needle; it would be necessary to
so operate the thread carrier as to cause it to lay or wind-the thread entirely
around tlic needle, and while the barb of the needle might be standing in the
direction in which the cloth might be moved by 'the feeder; such barb should
remain in such direction not only while the thread is being laid around the
needle, but until the barb has descended through the cloth or material far
enough to carry the loop through the other loop on the needle. As soon,
however, as this has been accomplished, the needle should commence to make
a semi-rotative moment, and subsequently should complete this movement, in
order that the barb may stand in a direction such as will prevent its loop from
being pulled from it while the cloth is in movement. When the movement of
the cloth has ceased, the needle should take its upward movement and return
to its former position.
In connection with the mechanism for producing such movements of the
needle, I employ a mechanism or means-which, after the needle. has risen
upwards and made its backward semi-rotative movement, shall turn it and its
barb about ninety degrees towards the thread guide, or so as to enable the barb
while it next descends to cateli the thread simply laid and bent across the
needle, and not wound entirely around it. As soon as the needle descends and
catches the thread, it is turned back through the arc of its last movement..
In the Drawings, the cam groove o¹ of the needle carrier is represented with
a bend wformed to effect by its action against the pin s¹ these last-described
movements of the needle the remaining rotary movements of the needle being

page_text: produced by the remainder of the groove acting in concert with the said pin,
and formed in a suitable manier, as. is well. understood. by mechanicians.
Important advantages result from these additional movements of the needle,
and the peculiar movement of the thread guides, wliercin the thread is laid:
simply across the needle in an obtuse angle, as herein-before specified; for when
a thread is 'wound once entirely around the needle, the machine requires its.awl
to be made much larger than would be necessary were the thread simply laid
across the needle, as described: "This will be evident; when the quantity of
thread to be drawn through the cloth during a descent of the needle is taken
into consideration. When the thread is wound entirely around the needle, it
cannot be drawn so closely into the cloth as when it is simply laid across it; as
specified; and besides this disadvantage, it requires a very inconvénient move-
ment: of the thread guide, whose eye has to be made to perform an entire
revolution in a circle instead of a partial one; as does the thread guide of my
machine. As in other sewing machines, the awl, serves to puncture. the hole
for the passage of the needle through the material to be sewed, so in mine-it
performs the same function. While in my machine the feeder presses the cloth
against a rigid or unyielding bearer, such bearer is so combined withì the
framework as to enable it to be adapted to leather or material of any
thickness
capable of being introduced into the machine, the spring u permitting the
feeding apparatus.to readily accommodate itself to the variation of such thick-
ness that may occur in any piece of the material:
In the above-described machine, I claim the combination of a feeder k
(having reciprocating or forward and backward movements), with a lifter m
separated therefrom, and made to operate therewith substantially as specified.
I further claim the combination of a stationary bearer h (arranged ove the
lifter) and a spring u, or its equivalent, with the. lifter m and feeder k, operated
as described, whereby during the operation of sewing the material and feeding it
along, the feeder and lifter are not only enabled to accommodate themselves to
variations in the thickness of the material being sewed, but the feeder is pressed
against the material while the lifter is moved downward and while the said
feeder is moved, so as to move the material.
And for the purpose of operating the feeder and the lifter (arranged on one
shaft, as described), I claim the combination of the rocker arm v, having a pin
or stud e¹, the clevator l, and the guide plate n; the whole being applied to the
said feeder and lifter, and made to actuate the same substantially as specified.
I further claim the moveable slotted plate w', its adjusting slot and confining
screw, in combination with the rocker arm and the lever A¹, and for the purpose
as herein-before stated.

page_text: And I also claim, in combination with mechanism for imparting vertical or
up and down movements to the needle, a mechanism, substantially as described,
(or its mechanical equivalent), for producing reciprocating semi-rotative move-
ments of the needle during the vertical movements of it, the same being for the
purpose as herein-before specified.
And, in combination with mechanism for giving vertical movements to the
needle, and that for producing reciprocating semi-rotative movements thereof,
in manner and for the purposes as described, I claim mechanisin or means for
imparting to the needle a rotary movement, so as to move its barb towards
and away from the thread guide during the movement of such barb above the
cloth, substantially in manner and for the purposes as specified.
I do not claim a tension apparatus composed of a spring bearing against a
fixed surface or another spring, the thread being drawn between the two; but
I do claim, as a tension apparatus, the combination of a rotary grooved roller
and a pressure roller, operating, by means of a spring or its equivalent, essen-
tially as specified, the same, when a waxed thread is employed, producing
advantages substantially as herein-before stated.
I further claim arranging the top surface of the lifter m above that of the
table A, in manner and for obtaining an advantage as specified.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature and seal, this
Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
ELMER TOWNSEND. (L.S.)