IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Beach Cochran, of 48, Fleming Road,
Kennington, in the County of Surrey, Machinist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 16th October 1863, and dated the 5th May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Beach Cochran
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on
the 5th May 1863.
I, SAMUEL BEACH COCHRAN, of 48, Fleming Road,. Kennington, in the
County of Surrey, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES AND IN APPARATUS CON-
RECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
sewing machine for producing the "lock" or shuttle stitch, and consists in..
the employment of an ordinary reel or bobbin, which is enclosed in a reel case
provided with any suitable contrivance for giving the requisite tension to the
thread. This reel case is placed in a carrier, which is connected at one end to
a piston or driver working to and fro within a hollow cylinder formed on the
front end of the driving shaft beneath the cloth plate. This connection. is so
formed as to admit of the rotation with the shaft of the piston, or driver without
rotating the carrier. A pin in the side of the piston rod passes through a slot

page_text: made longitudinally in the tubular portion of the driving shaft, within which
the piston rod works. The to-and-fro motion of the piston or driver is obtained
from a stationary cam wholly or partially surrounding the driving shaft, the
pin above referred to in the piston rod working over the face of the cam and
so imparting motion to the piston or driver. In front of and in the same
axial line with the cylinder and piston or driver above-mentioned there is a
second cylinder or holder to receive the thread case and carrier when they are
pushed forward out of their cylinder by the piston or driver. The loop of the
needle thread is opened by a hook or looper carried on the cylindrical end of
the driving shaft, and when fully extended the reel case is pushed forward so as
to carry its thread through the open loop of the needle thread presented to it.
The needle then rises, and the reel case is returned to its original position
either by the action of a spring or by a cam surface for that purpose.
Another part of my Invention relates to the tension apparatus for the needle
thread, and consists in fitting to each machine two or more separate tension
apparatus of any convenient construction, which tension apparatus are severally
and permanently adjusted by the maker to different sized threads, and .num-
bered respectively so as to indicate the thread to be used in each, the operator
has therefore simply to pass the thread through or on that tension apparatus
which is marked with the number of thread he desires to employ, and thus all
interference with or manipulation of the tension apparatus on the part of the
operator (which is necessary where only one tension apparatus is used to suit
various sized threads) is dispensed with. I further propose to adapt to the
stitch-regulating mechanism an indicator working in conjunction with a
divided plate or surface, upon which are marked the various numbers or
sizes of thread to be used with the particular length of stitch for which the
machine is set. The presser foot is made removable from the foot bar by
a simple contrivance, whereby facility is afforded for readily changing the
foot according to the kind of work to be produced. For this purpose: I have
a square shank formed on the lower end of the bar, and a screw is cut on the
same shauk, on which a jam nut works. The foot is slotted to fit the square
portion of the shank, and it is held firmly against a collar or shoulder by
tightening up the jam nut. Or a square stem may be made on the foot, and
passed through a corresponding hole in the lower portion of the foot bar, the
jam nut serving to secure the same against the upper or lower side of
the hole.
Another part of my Invention relates to a mode of driving or actuating
sewing machines, whereby the dead centres are obviated, and consists in the

page_text: employment of two rings in combination with friction rollers or wedges, which
operate directly upon a rim on the side of the boss. of the fly wheel; each
ring is connected by a rod or link to the treadle, the two operating.alternately,
the rollers or wedges being kept up to their work by springs..
I propose to make the hinges for the covers of sewing machines in such a
manner that they may be separated, and the cover removed when opened to
a certain given extent only. For this purpose one part of the hinge is made
cylindrical, and fits into a box or chamber in the other part. The cylindrical
part is slotted and the binge pin passes through the slot and through the box or
chamber. When the hinge is turned to a given angle (say 45°) the cylindrical
part can be drawn off the pin, but in all other positions it remains fixed thereon,
being held by the sides of the box or chamber in conjunction with the pin.
Another part of my Invention consists of a binder, which is made self-
adjusting to suit various thicknesses of material, whilst it is also capable of
adjustment to suit different widths of binding. The binding is held by an
upper and lower hook in combination with a spring or hinged plate, which is
acted upon by the ordinary presser foot; or may itself act as a presser foot in
holding the material down. This plate is slotted for the needle to work
through, and to admit of the lateral adjustment. of the body of the binder to
which the hooks and plate are fixed, the hooks being adjusted by an
adjusting screw or screws of their own to suit different widths of binding.
The upper hook with the hinged plate is capable of self-adjustment vertically
to suit different thicknesses of material. A curved flange projection or guide
is formed on the front of the body of the binder in order to give the binding
the proper turn before it enters the hooks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Beach Cochran in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th November 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
BEACH COOHRAN, of 48, Fleming Road, Kennington, in the County of
Surrey, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty, Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year.
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant

page_text: unto me, the said Samuel Beach Cochran, Her special license that I, the
said Samuel Beach Cochran, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Samuel Beach Cochran, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
ÄND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Samuel Beach Cochran, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under the
hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the, same was to be per-
formed, 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 Samuel Beach Cochran, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates, firstly, to a peculiar construction and arrange-
ment of sewing machine for producing the "lock" or shuttle stitch, and
consists in the employment of an ordinary reel or bobbin, which is enclosed in
a reel case provided with any suitable contrivance for giving the requisite
tension to the thread. This reel case is placed in or actuated by a carrier,
which is connected at one end to a piston or driver working to and fro within
a hollow cylinder formed on the front end of the driving shaft beneath the
cloth plate. This connection is so formed as to admit of the rotation with tho
shaft of the piston or driver without rotating the carrier or the reel case.
A pin in the side of the piston rod passes through a slot made longitudinally
in the tubular portion of the driving shaft, within which the piston rod works.
The to-and-fro motion of the piston or driver is obtained from a stationary
cam or helix wholly or partially surrounding the driving shaft, an antifriction
roller on the pin above referred to in the piston rod working over the face of
the cam or helix, and so imparting a longitudinal motion in one direction to
the piston and carrier or driver, whilst a helical spring moves it in the opposite
direction. In front of and in the same axial line with the cylinder and piston

page_text: or driver above mentioned there is a stationary cylinder or holder to receive
the thread case and carrier when they: are pushed forward out of their cylinder
by the piston or driver. The loop of the needle thread is opened by a hook
or looper carried on the cylindrical end of the driving shaft, and when this
loop is fully extended the reel case is pushed forward so as to carry its thread
through the open loop of the needle thread prosented to it. The needle then
rises, and the reel case is returned to its original position either by the action
of the helical spring or by the spiral cam surface.
Another part of my Invention relates to the tension apparatus for the neė‹lle
thread, and consists in fitted to each machine two or more separate tension
apparatus of any convenient construction, which tension apparatus are severally
and permanently adjusted by the maker to suit different sized threads; and
numbered respectively so as to indicate the thread to be used in each, the
operator has therefore simply to pass the thread through or on that tension
apparatus which is marked with the number of thread he desires to employ,
and thus all interference with or manipulation of the tension apparatus on the
part of the operator (which is necessary where only one tension apparatus is
used to suit various sized threads) is dispensed with. I. further propose to
adapt to the stitch-regulating mechanism an indicator working in conjunction
with a divided plate or surface, upon which are marked the various numbers
or sizes of thread to be used with the particular length of stitch for. which the
machine is set. The presser foot is made removable from the foot.bar by a
simple contrivance, whereby facility is afforded for readily changing the foot
according to the kind of work to be produced. For this purpose. I have a
square shank formed on the lower end of the bar, and a screw is cut on the
same shank, on which a jam nut works. The foot is slotted to fit the square
portion of the shank, and it is held firmly against a collar. or shoulder by
tightening up the jam nut. Or a square stem may be made on the foot, and
passed through a corresponding hole in the lower portion of the foot bar, the
jam nut serving to secure the same against the upper or lower side of
the hole.
Another part of my Invention relates to a mode of driving or actuating
sewing machines, whereby the dead centres are obviated, and consists in the
employment of two rings in combination with friction rollers.or wedges, which
operate directly upon a rim on the side of the boss of the flywheel; each ring
is connected by a rod or link to the treadle, the two operating alternately, the
rollers or wedges being kept up to their work by springs, if required.
I propose to make the hinges for the covers of sewing machines in sucli a

page_text: manner that they may be separated, and the cover removed when opened to a
certain given extent only. For this purpose one part of the hinge is made
cylindrical, and fits into a box or chamber in the other part. The cylindrical
part is slotted, and the hinge pin passes through the slot and through the box
or chamber, into which it is rivetted at each end. When the hinge is turned
to a given angle (say 45°) the cylindrical part can be drawn off the pin, but
in all other portions it remains fixed thereon, being held by the sides of the
box or chamber in conjunction with the pin.
Another part of my Invention consists of a binder, which is made self-
adjusting to suit various thicknesses of material, whilst it is also capable of
adjustment to suit different widths of binding. The galloon, tape, or other
binding material is held by an upper and lower hook in combination with a
spring or hinged plate, which is acted upon by the ordinary presser foot, or
may itself act as a presser foot in holding the material down, in which latter
case I prefer to use a screw for giving the requisite degree of pressure.
This plate is slotted for the needle to work through, and to admit of the
lateral adjustment of the body of the binder to which the hooks and plate are
fixed, the hooks being adjusted by an adjusting screw or screws of their own
to suit different widths of binding. The upper hook with the spring or
hinged plate is capable of self-adjustment vertically to suit different thick-
nesses of material. A curved flange, projection, or guider is formed on the
front of the body of the binder in order to give the binding the proper turn
before it enters the hooks.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the correspond-
ing Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of my
improved lock-stitch sewing machine; Figure 2-is a longitudinal section of a
portion of the lower part of the machine; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the
machine; and Figure 4 is an end view and side elevation of the front end of
the driving shaft. A is the bed plate of the machine, provided with the usual
fixed bracket arm B, and having its driving shaft C fitted on bearings D, D,
secured to the under side of the bed plate A. The needle is straight and
carried by a slide E, which receives its vertical motion from a bell-crank
lever F.working on a fixed centre G, and actuated by the cam H on the
driving shaft C; or, if desired, a curved needle attached to the needle arm

page_text: may be employed. J is the reel or bobbin for supplying the needle; its thread
is passed through one or other of the three tension apparatus K, K', K",
according to the size or number of the thread. The tension apparatus may be
of any of the well-known constructions, but I prefer to employ tension
apparatus similar to those used on the Grover and Baker, Wheeler and Wilson;
or Wilcox and Gibbs' machines. The thread afterwards passes. through the
eye L on the top of the needle slide, when it finally enters the eye of the
needle. The under or locking thread is contained within a shuttle or thread
case M, which is by preference of a size sufficient to contain an ordinary reol
or bobbing, so that the operation of winding the thread. on to the shuttle spool
may be dispensed with; the tension of this thread may be obtained by passing
it through holes in the shuttle or thread case in the usual manner, or by any
other suitable contrivance.
A shuttle or thread case and enclosed.bobbin are.shewn in side elevation at
Figure 5, and in plan at Figure 6.; Figure 7 is a face view of the driver ;
and Figure 8-an end- view of the thread case. The driver N is connected
loosely by a screw pin at c to a rod O, and works to and fro within a hollow.
cylinder P. formed on the front end of the driving, shaft. The rod O passos
along the hollow interior of the shaft, and has a pin Q fitted into it, which pin
projects through and works in a slot made longitudinally along one side of the
hollow shaft. R is a fixed cam surrounding the shaft, and secured by screws
at d, d, to the bed plate A. Against the face of this cam works an anti-
friction roller on the pin Qwhen the shaft is rotated by the driving pulley S;
consequently a longitudinal motion is imparted to the driver and to the thread
case or shuttle. So soon as the pin Qhas arrived at the back end of the cam
it passes or escapes over that end, and the driver and shuttle are then
impelled forward by the action of a spiral or other spring T, or by another
cam surface, if desired. The loop of the needle thread is caught and expanded
by a hook U provided with a guard u to prevent the catching of the loop after
it has been cast off. This hook and guard are formed on the front end of the
cylinder P (Figure 4), and the shuttle is pushed through the loop so expanded,
and enters the stationary receiving chamber or box P. The needle then rises
and the shuttle returns to its original position again in the cylinder P in
readiness for the next stitch. The cloth is fed by the 4-motion or serrated
feeding bar V, actuated by the cam W (shewn in dotted lines. in Figure 3).
fast on the main driving shaft. Other feeding devices may, however, be
adopted, if preferred. The driver N is connected by a curved dovetail e and
slot e' or other equivalent device to one end of the shuttle, a dovetail slot:e!

page_text: being cut in the rounded or curved end of the shuttle, as shewn in the end
elevation, Figure 8, and a corresponding projecting dovetail e is formed on the
convex or curved face of the driver N, as shewn in the face view of the driver
at Figure 7. These male and female parts are fitted together so as to allow
of sufficient play to the passage of the needle thread between them, and still
maintain the connection between the two parts. As the surfaces are both
curved, the loop of the needle thread, which is drawn up between them, as
shewn in Figures 3 and 4, meets with no obstructing angle or projection, but
slides freely over and between the two surfaces. N' is a guiding piston,
attached in precisely the same way to the opposite end of the shuttle, and
carried by a square rod X in order that it may check any tendency which the
shuttle may have to rotate. If desired, the thread case may be dispensed
with, and the bobbin held upon a spindle, as shewn in Figure 8, each end of
the spindle having a dovetailed connecting piece similar to those already
referred to screwed thereto. Y is a cam or eccentric for regulating the length
of the stitches; this cam is provided with a slotted arm Z, which engages with
a pin a, connected with. the slide b, working in a slot in the bed plate of the
machine, as shewn in the plan,: Figure 9. A pointer or indicator c is attached
to or formed on the slide b, and consequently moves with it. On the side or
sides of the slot a series of divisions or graduations are made, numbered to
correspond to the number or sizes of threads to be employed in the machine.
If a certain length of stitch be decided upon, the cam Y is adjusted in the
usual manner until the proper stitch is attained; but this adjustment of the
cam will at the same time move the indicator c along the graduations, which
will point out on the table the particular number or size of thread best adapted
for that length of stitch; or, vice versa, supposing the number or size of thread
to be first decided upon, then the stitch regulator may be adjusted until the
indicator points to the corresponding number in the divisions, when the proper
length of stitch will be obtained for that thread.
.
By using the variously adjusted tensions herein-before described in com-
bination with the indicating feed regulator all difficulty in the selection of
thread, length of stitch, and proper tension is removed.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modified arrangement of stitch regulator;
in this case a pin a is fitted into the side of the regulating cam Y, and works
in a slotted projection attached to the slide b..
Figure 11 represents a side elevation of the presser foot bar of a sewing
machine having the presser foot attached thereto, so as to be readily removable
therefrom.

page_text: Figure 12 is a plan of the foot, shewing also a portion of the lower shank
or stem of the bar in the foot. A is the bar; B, the foot, which is slotted at
one end a, such slotted portion fitting on to a square portion of a screwed
stem &; c is a nut, which tends to join the foot against the shoulder or collar
on the bottom of the bar, and hold it firmly in its place. By slightly turning
or slackening the nut the foot is released, and may be readily removed, to be
replaced by another to suit the peculiar work required.. Figure 13 shews a
similar mode of attachment of the foot, the nut c in this case, however, being
above the foot, and pressing it down against a collar at the extreme end of
the bar.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 represent another mode of fitting the presser foot to
the bar. Here a square shank is formed upon the rear end of the foot, such
shank being inserted into a corresponding hole made transversely through the
bar: The foot is then nipped in its place by the nut c, working on the
screwed end of the bar, and acting either above or below the shank of the
foot.
One form of my improved self-adjusting binder is illustrated by Figures 17,
18, 19, and 20. Figure 17 is a side elevation of the binder; Figure 18 is a
plan of the upper surface thereof; Figure 19 is a plan of the under side of the
same; and Figure 20 is a front elevation of the binder. A and B represent'
respectively an upper and a lower spring hook, which hold the edges of the
binding to be applied, and between which the material to be bound is placed;
the material is shewn by a line, .and the binding by a curved red line in
Figure 17. Immediately under the blade of the upper hook A, and connected
therewith so as to rise and fall with it, there is a plate or spring blade C,
which is connected at D with the body E of the binder; either by means of a
hinge joint or otherwise so as to be free to rise or fall at its outer end or that
part under the needle of the sewing machine. An opening is made in this
plate to allow the upper hook to work thro' it. When a binge joint is
used a spring will be required to keep the plate C elevated when not pressed
down by the presser foot, in order to facilitate the introduction of the work.
The front end of the plate C is formed into a presser foot as at c, and is
provided with a slot & in it to allow the needle to work thro' it. The blade.
of the lower hook B is (like that of the upper hook and plate C) contained
within a slot or channel in the body part E of the binder, and both the blades"
of the two hooks are connected at their rear ends with an adjusting screw F,"
which adjusts the position of the hooks A and B to take any desired width
of binding. G is a projecting curved guide formed on and projecting the

page_text: front end of the body part of the binder, for the purpose of giving the binding
the proper turn as it enters the hooks. The binder is fitted to a sewing
machine by a screw passing through the slot H, or otherwise. As the blades
of the hooks A and B are elastic they will separate more or less when binding
different thicknesses of material, thus adapting or adjusting themselves to any
thickness.
Figures 21, 22, 23, and 24 represent similar views to those last referred to,
of a slightly modified form of binder.. In this arrangement the hook A and
spring blade C are fitted to the upper side of the body E of the binder, and
the lower hook B is carried in a slot in the under side thereof. The spring
blade C is not hinged to the body E, as in the first arrangement, but is
rivetted thereto at one end a. The upper and under hook are connected by a
pin b, passing through a slot c in the body E, so as to enable the two hooks
to be adjusted for any width of binding. d is a tightening nut for securing the
hooks when adjusted.
.
Figure 25 is a sectional view of my improved hinge for the covers of sewing
machines. a is a cylindrical portion formed on the one half of the hinge, and
having a slot made therein, which fits on to a pin c in a chamber d formed
on the other half of the hinge. By making this slot at a given angle the two
halves of the hinge cannot be separated until they are opened to the given
extent, according to the angle at which the slot is made.. The Drawing
represents the slot as being in a position for separating the hinge when the
latter is opened to an angle of about forty-five degrees, but any other angle
may of course be selected.
.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represent respectively a face
and side elevation of my improved mode of driving sewing machines, whereby
the dead centres are avoided. A is the fly wheel, and B a boss, of larger
diameter than usual, cast on one side thereof, which boss is fast on the first-
motion shaft C, and forms part of the fly wheel. This boss is made hollow or
recessed on the inner side, so as to.leave a projecting rim b, and to the exterior
and interior surface of this rim are fitted the two rings D and E respectively.
These rings have a series of inclined notches notches or recesses a, a, formed in
the surfaces, which are in contact with the rim of the boss, and into each recess
is fitted loosely a ball or roller c, of a diameter about equal to the greatest
depth of the recess. The outer ring D is connected on one side of its centre
to a rod F, and the inner ring is similarly connected, but on the opposite side
of its centre, to another rod G, the two rods being united at H, where they are
connected to a foot treadle, or rigidly joined to a short length of connecting

page_text: rod which connects them to the treadle. In order that the junction points
d, d', of the two rods F and G, with their rings, may be equidistant from the
centre, I propose to adapt a short arm I rigidly to the inner ring, and to carry
it over or in front of the rim of the boss, and to connect the rod G with this
arm in place of to the ring direct. As the treadle is alternately raised or
lowered one or other of the two rings will act by the friction of their rollers
against the boss and carry it round, the inclined notches in the rings being
made in reverse directions, so that when one is acting the other will work
freely, and vice versa. K (Figure 2) is an annular plate or cover fitted to
the inner or outer ring, which serves to prevent the balls or rollers from
escaping, a sufficient portion being cut away in the cover to allow of the free
play of the arm I attached to the inner ring. (This cover is removed in
Figure 1.) The boss B may be fitted to the driving shaft of the sewing
machine itself when driven direct from the treadle, as in some of the heavier
make of machines.
·
If preferred, the two rings D and E may both be made to work side by side
upon the outside or inside of the projecting rim.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be new and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and combination of mechanism for sewing
or uniting fabrics, as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use of a reciprocating shuttle or thread case
driven or actuated in the manner herein-before described.
Third, the combination with the shuttle and shuttle-actuating mechanism
above referred to of a rotating hook and cylinder, formed on the end of the
driving shaft, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use to and in sewing machines of all kinds of
two or more tension apparatus, which are each permanently adjusted to take
certain specified sizes or numbers of thread.
Fifth, the combination with the stitch-regulating mechanism of an indicator
and graduated scale, for the purpose herein-before described.
Sixth, the attaching of the presser foot of a sewing machine to the presser
bar by the aid of a slot made either in the bar or in the foot in combination
with a jam nut, whereby it can be readily removed and another substituted,
substantially as herein before described.

page_text: Seventh, the peculiar arrangement of apparatus for driving sewing machines,
as berein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Eighth, the peculiar construction of hinges for sewing machine covers, as
herein-before described.
Ninth, the constructing of binders 'for. sewing machines in such a manner
that they aro self-adjusting to any. thickness of material, as well as being
capable of adjustment to suit different widths of binding, substantially as
herein-before described.
.
In witness whereof, I; the said Samuel Beach Cochran, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three:
SAM. B. COCHRAN. (L.S.)