IMPROVE- MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Foxwell, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Card Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1855, and dated the 8th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Foxwell at the
Office of the Commissiouers of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
May 1855.
I, DANIEL FOXWELL, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Card Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to the use of perforated plates or rods, through
or between which the threads pass, thereby giving them a proper degree of
tension without requiring springs or other pressure to the bobbins.
Secondly, to the use of a spring to overcome the back-lash of the crank
which works the upright needle, thus causing the needle to arrive with
certainty at its proper position.
Thirdly, to fixing the upright needle to the head of a pin or spindle working
in a socket furnished with a set screw, thereby affording means of adjusting
the needle with the greatest nicety.
Fourthly, to the use of a spring to press against the vertical needle to cause
the loop to form on the proper side, so that the circular needle may enter it
with greater certainty.
Fifthly, to the use of a strong spring acting upon the cranked segment to
prevent any back-lash to the circular needle.

page_text: Sixthly, to the use of an additional spring to the feeding apparatus on the
pulling side.
Seventhly, to the use of a pointed centre screw for the end of the main
shaft to work in, so that it can always work easy and without shake.
Eighthly, to the use of two moveable centres to the spindle of the cranked
segment, with a set screw to adjust it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Foxwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
FOXWELL, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Card Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Daniel Foxwell, Her special licence that I, the said Daniel Foxwell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Daniel
Foxwell, my executors, administrators, and 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," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Daniel
Foxwell, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Daniel Foxwell, 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
statement (that is to say):-
-
My Invention relates, firstly, to the use of perforated plates or rods, through
or between which the threads pass, thereby giving them a proper degree of
tension without requiring springs or other pressure to the bobbins.

page_text: Secondly, to the use of a spring to overcome the back-lash of the crank
which works the vertical needle, thus causing the needle to arrive with
certainty at its proper position.
Thirdly, to fixing the vertical needle to the head of a pin or spindle working
in a socket furnished with a set screw, thereby affording means of adjusting
the needle with the greatest nicety.
Fourthly, to the use of a lever acted upon by a cam and a spring, to press
against the vertical needle and cause the loop to form on the proper side,
so that the circular needle may enter it with greater certainty.
Fifthly, to the use of a strong spring acting upon the cranked segment to
prevent any back-lash to the circular needle.
Sixthly, to the use of a pointed centre screw for the end of the main shaft
to work in, so that it can always work easy and without shake.
And, seventhly, to the use of two pointed centres to the spindle of the
cranked segment, with a set screw to adjust it.
These my said improvements will be clearly understood by reference to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and the letters of reference thereon; in
which, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a sewing machine with my improvements
attached, part of the frame being in section; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof
without the front part of the frame; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same with the
top plate off; Figs. 4 and 5 are detached views of the wire grid and perforated
plates; Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detached views of the socket for holding the
needle; and Figs. 9 and 10 are detached views of the arrangement for causing
the loop to form on the proper side of the vertical needle.
The thread of the vertical needle a is supplied from the bobbin b, placed
simply upon a pin or spindle, without either spring, nuts, or screws, to obtain
the necessary resistance as hitherto adopted. c represents a grid, between the
rods of which the thread passes from the bobbin 6 to the vertical needle. A
greater or lesser number of rods are used, according to the strength of the
thread employed; by this means any required resistance can be obtained with-
out inconvenience or loss of time. d represents the bobbin for supplying the
circular needle; and c, the grid, between which the thread passes, and is seen
detached at Fig. 4; or a perforated plate may be used instead of the said grid,
as shewn in Fig. 5. The spring for overcoming the back-lash of the crank
which works the vertical needle is shewn at f, oue end being attached to
the frame at g, and the other to the slide or needle holder h. The pin or
spindle, to the head of which the vertical needle a is attached, is shown at i,
Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 8, fitting the socket k, by which means the needle can be
adjusted and afterwards held fast by the set screw 1. In order to cause the

page_text: loop to be made in the proper position, the thread in the vertical needlo a is
slightly pressed by the pin m in the lever n, acted upon by the spring o, as
seen in Fig. 10. The pressure of the spring is counteracted and the pin
taken off the needle by means of the camp on the main shaft of the machine,
as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 9. The back-lash of the circular needle is
prevented by the spring 9, Fig. 3, one end of which is attached to the top
plate of the machine. The spring presses against the cranked segment ", and
keeps the circular needle close up to its work. The pointed centre for the
main shaft is shown at s, Figs. 1 and 3, and those for the cranked segment r
at t and u, Fig. 1.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein
set forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the
principle thereof; but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the use of perforated plates or rods for the threads to pass through.
Secondly, the uso of a spring to overcome the back-lash of the crank.
Thirdly, fixing the vertical needle to the head of a pin or spindle working
in a socket.
Fourthly, the use of a lever acted upon by a cam and spring to press against
the vertical needle.
Fifthly, the use of a strong spring acting upon the cranked segment.
Sixthly, the use of a pointed centre screw for the end of the main shaft
to work in.
And, seventhly, the use of two pointed centres to the spindle of the cranked
segment, capable of being adjusted with a screw, as all such improvements
are herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Foxwell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
DANIEL FOXWELL. (L.s.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Daniel Foxwell, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent, Manchester.