Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1890-Accepted. 14th Feb
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
We, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN, of 23, 24, 25 and 26 Great Charles Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and ISIDORE HENDRICKX,
of 28 Portland Terrace, Regents Park, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object improvements upon that class of sewing
machine shown and described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 11214 of
the year 1887, and relates to various improvements for rendering the working of
such class of machine more certain and satisfactory than heretofore.
Our first improvement relates to the top and bottom presser feet and needle guide,
and consists of means whereby, on altering the length of stitch, the hole of the needle
guide will be corrected in position in relation to the needle, to ensure the latter always
descending in the same relation to the slot in the bottom presser foot, whatever may
be the length of stitch for the time being produced, whilst for varying thicknesses
of work, the front end of the slot in the bottom presser foot is also always main-
tained in the same relative position with the needle.
For this purpose we adjustably mount the needle guide on the top presser foot
and give longitudinal motion thereto by means of a
presser or in a projection therefrom, and acting on the needle guide, which latter is
screw working in the top
formed of a spring plate and with a crank, shoulder or projection to act in con-
junction with a crank, shoulder or projection on the top presser foot.
moving the needle guide backwards, its shoulder, crank or projection will be
Thus, on
brought more or less against the shoulder, crank or projection of the top presser
foot, thereby causing the guide hole therein to be raised or lowered in proportion
to the amount of longitudinal motion given to the needle guide, and thus maintain
the same relative position of the needle in regard to the slot in the bottom
presser foot.
The bottom presser foot is made of a spring plate formed or bent to the required
shape and fixed to the underside of the work plate, the portion, or foot.proper, pro-
jecting upwards through the work plate is at such an angle as to support the work at
about right angles with the needle as it enters the same. We also so mount the
bottom presser foot that when it is depressed the front end of the slot therein is
always maintained in the same relation with the needle, so as to avoid any great
space between the needle and the end of the slot, and thus prevent the work from
being dragged down said slot by the needle. In some cases we mount at the end
of the slot in the bottom presser foot proper, a covering or filling plate, which is
acted upon by a spring wire to keep it normally at the extreme backward position,
which spring wire on the descent of the bottom presser foot comes against a fixed
guide and thereby moves the filling or covering plate forward in the proportion
required to enable the needle to work without striking it and yet to cover the front
part of the slot and thereby prevent the work being dragged down. Other means
may however be employed for acting upon said covering or filling plate. The bottom
presser foot is also acted upon by a spring and adjusting screw, to regulate the
ressure exerted thereby on the work.
By the above construction of parts, any thickness of work can be sewn in the
nachine without affecting the length of stitch produced.
We also employ on the needle guide, a spring guide to act against the back of the
eedle to keep the latter always against the front of the guide hole and thus
revent variation in the length of stitch.
We also improve the spool case by forming it with a comparatively sharn nose or

page_text: projection to facilitate its entrance between the needle and needle thread and with
a second perforated nose or projection formed with a flat inner surface having a
single perforation therein and bearing against the cheek under the work plate. The
thread from the lower spool is passed through some of the holes in the perforated
nose or projection of the spool case and then through the hole in the flat inner
surface thereof, by which means the tension on the under thread is obtained by the
carrier spring pressing the spool case against the face of the cheek and thereby
pressing the thread between the two surfaces. A spring is employed to keep the
spool properly within the case in order to prevent the needle from striking the
same.
We also retain the spool case in position against the face of the cheek by means
of a spring hinged plate bearing against the back of the case, and we fix to such
plate a guide to ensure the needle always passing between the spool case and
the face of the cheek.
We also improve the needle thread take up or thread handler by mounting a cam
on the needle crank shaft and by pressing it by means of a spring against such cam,
by which means we are enabled to give the required motion to the take up or thread
handler to maintain the normal tension on the needle thread, as the cam can be
made of the necessary form to effect this result.
We also improve the spool winder by forming the lever or carrier of wire, which
is so coiled and bent as to provide means for fixing it to the machine, to form a
spring arm and bearing for the spool carrying spindle, and a stop to act on the
spring arm to permit the latter to bear against the periphery of the hand or fly
wheel, or to keep it away therefrom, as may be required.
The needle operating shaft has a gut wheel thereon which is driven by a gut or
band from a gut or driving wheel operated by a hand or fly wheel. We form the
said gut or driving wheel separate from the hand or fly wheel, as has heretofore
been done in some other sewing machines, and we communicate motion from the
latter. to the former by means of a self acting spring dog, which acts in connection
with a projection on the gut or driving wheel, the face of which projection is formed
to receive the spring dog, and enable the latter thereby to give motion to the gut
or driving wheel, whilst the back of such projection is inclined to enable the spring
dog to slip freely past the same when the hand or fly wheel is rotated backwards.
Thus the machine is incapable of being driven in the wrong direction, and there-
fore remains stationary when winding a spool.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
We, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MArtin, of 23, 24, 25 and 26 Great_Charles
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and ISIDORE
HENDRICKX, of 28 Portland Terrace, Regents Park, in the County of Middlesex,
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 :-
The present invention has for its object improvements upon that class of sewing
machine shown and described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 11214 of
the year 1887, and relates to various improvements for rendering the working of
such class of machine more certain and satisfactory than heretofore.
Our first improvement relates to the top and bottom presser feet and needle
guide, and consists of means whereby on altering the length of stitch, the hole of

page_text: the needle guide will be corrected in position in relation to the needle, to ensure the
latter always descending in the same relation to the slot in the bottom presser
foot, whatever may be the length of stitch for the time being produced, whilst for
varying thicknesses of work, the front end of the slot in the bottom presser foot is
also always maintained in the same relative position with the needle.
For this purpose we adjustably mount the needle guide on the top presser foot,
and give longitudinal motion thereto by means of a screw working in the top
presser or in a projection therefrom, and acting on the needle guide, which latter
is formed of a spring plate and with a crank, shoulder or projection to act in
conjunction with a crank, shoulder or projection on the top presser foot. Thus on
moving the needle guide backwards, its shoulder, crank or projection will be
brought more or less against the shoulder, crank or projection of the top presser
foot, thereby causing the guide hole therein to be raised or lowered in proportion
to the amount of longitudinal motion given to the needle guide, and thus maintain
the same relative position of the needle in regard to the slot in the bottom presser
foot.
The bottom presser foot is made of a spring plate formed or bent to the required
shape and fixed to the underside of the work plate, the portion, or foot proper,
projecting upwards through the work plate is at such an angle as to support the
work at about right angles with the needle as it enters the same. We also so
mount the bottom presser foot that when it is depressed the front end of the slot
therein is always maintained in the same relation with the needle so as to avoid
any great space between the needle and the end of the slot, and thus prevent the
work from being dragged down said slot by the needle. In some cases we mount at
the end of the slot in the bottom presser foot proper, a covering or filling plate
which is acted upon by a spring wire to keep it normally at the extreme backward
position, which spring wire, on the descent of the bottom presser foot, comes against
a fixed guide and thereby moves the filling or covering plate forward in the
proportion required to enable the needle to work without striking it and yet to
cover the front part of the slot and thereby prevent the work being dragged down.
Other means may however be employed for acting upon said covering or filling
plate. The bottom presser foot is also acted upon by a spring and adjusting screw
to regulate the pressure exerted thereby on the work.
By the above construction of parts any thickness of work can be sewn in the
machine without affecting the length of stitch produced.
We also employ on the needle guide, a spring guide to act against the back of
the needle to keep the latter always against the front of the guide hole and thus
prevent variation in the length of stitch.
We also improve the spool case by forming it with a comparatively sharp nose
or projection to facilitate its entrance between the needle and needle thread, and
with a second perforated nose or projection formed with a flat inner surface having
a single perforation therein and bearing against the cheek under the work plate.
The thread from the lower spool is passed through some of the holes in the
perforated nose or projection of the spool case and then through the hole in the
flat inner surface thereof, by which means the tension on the under thread is
obtained by the carrier spring pressing the spool case against the face of the cheek
and thereby pressing the thread between the two surfaces. A spring is employed
to keep the spool properly within the case in order to prevent the needle from
striking the same.
We also retain the spool case in position against the face of the check by means
of a spring hinged plate bearing against the back of the case, and we fix to such
plate, a guide to ensure the needle always passing between the spool case and the
face of the check.
EL
We also improve the needle thread take up or thread handler by mounting
cam on the needle crank shaft and by pressing it, by means of a spring, against
such cam, by which means we are enabled to give the required motion to the take

page_text: and by bearing against one end of such slot is enabled to move the guide to the
left in proportion as the screw is more or less screwed into the foot i, a crank
or shoulder, or it may be a projection of the needle guide j, acts in conjunction
with a crank, shoulder or projection on the top presser foot i. Thus on moving
the needle guide j towards the left by screwing down the screw *, its shoulder,
crank or projection will be brought more or less against the shoulder, crank
or projection of the top presser foot i, thereby causing the guide hole therein
to be raised or lowered in proportion to the amount of longitudinal motion given
to the needle guide j and thus maintain the same relative position of the needle /².
in regard to the slot in the bottom presser foot k.
We also employ on the needle guide ja spring guide to act against the
back of the needle, to keep the latter always against the front of the guide
hole when it is about to pass into the work and thus prevent variation in the
length of stitch.
The bottom presser foot is made of a spring plate formed or bent to the
required shape, and fixed to the underside of the work plate c, the portion, or
foot proper, projecting upwards through the work plate c, is at such an angle as
to support the work at about right angles with the needle as it enters the same.
We also mount such bottom presser foot & on an axis carried by a bracket k³
fixed to the underside of the work plate c, so that when such bottom presser foot
is depressed, the front end of the slot therein is always maintained in the same
relation with the needle, so as to avoid any great space between the needle and
the end of the slot, and thus prevent the work from being dragged down said slot
by the needle.
In some cases we mount at the end of the slot in the bottom presser foot proper,
a covering or filling plate which is acted upon by a spring wire to keep it normally
at the extreme backward position, which spring wire, on the descent of the bottom
presser foot, comes against a fixed guide and thereby moves the filling or covering
plate forward in the proportion required to enable the needle to work without
striking it and yet to cover the front part of the slot and thereby prevent the work
from being dragged down. Other means may however be employed for acting.
upon said covering or filling plate.
A spring placed around a pin and adjusted in tension by a nut ko, acts to.
press such bottom foot k upwards and to regulate the pressure exerted thereby on
the work.
By the above construction of parts, any thickness of work can be sewn in the
machine without affecting the length of stitch produced.
We also improve the spool case 1 by forming it with a comparatively sharp nose.
or projection to facilitate its entrance between the needle and needle thread, and
with a second perforated nose or projection formed with a flat inner surface 13 -
having a single perforation therein and bearing against the cheek or face b' of the
standard carrying the work plate c. The thread from the lower spool l' is passed
through two or more of the holes in the perforated nose or projection 12 of the spool
case and then through the hole in the flat inner surface thereof, by which means
the tension on the under thread is obtained by the carrier spring m¹ pressing
the thread between the two surfaces. A spring fixed inside the spool case, is
employed to keep the spool properly within the case in order to prevent the
needle from striking the same.
We also retain the spool case in position against the face of the cheek b¹
by means of a spring hinged plate in bearing by a spring m¹ against the back
of the spool case, and we fix to such plate m, a guide m² to ensure the needle
always passing between the spool case and the face of the cheek >>'.
We also improve the needle thread take up or thread handlery by mounting
a cam on the needle crank shaft hand by pressing it against such cam by
means of a spring acting against the cut away part 93 of the thread take up
or thread handler q, by which means we are enabled to give the required motion
to the take up or thread handler to give the required tension and freedom of

page_text: the needle thread at the times required, as the cam can be made of the necessary
form to effect this result.
We also improve the spool winder p by forming the lever or carrier pof
wire, which is so coiled and bent as to provide a loop or eye p² for fixing it by
a screw to the machine, to form a spring arm p' and bearing p³ for the spool
carrying spindle p and a stop p₁ to act on the spring arm p² by being placed
on one or the other side thereof to permit the wheel 2 on the spindle p to bear
against the periphery of the hand or fly wheel f, or to keep it away therefrom
as may be required.
The needle operating shaft has a gut wheel * thereon, which is driven by
a gut or band from a gut driving wheel g operated by a hand or fly wheel f
We form the said gut or driving wheel y separate from the hand or fly wheel f
as has heretofore been done in some other sewing machines, and we communicate
motion from the latter to the former by a self-acting spring dog which acts in
connection with a projection g' on the gut or driving wheel g, the face of which
projection is formed with a recess ³ to receive the spring dog and enable the
latter thereby to give motion to the gut or driving wheel when the hand or fly
wheel is rotated forwards, whilst the back g³ of such projection is inclined or
chamfered off to enable the spring dog f' to slip freely past the same when the
hand or fly wheel is rotated backwards. Thus the machine is incapable of being
driven in the wrong direction and therefore remains stationary when winding
a spool.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved construction
and mode of operation of the needle guide, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved con-
struction and mode of operation of the bottom presser foot, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved spool
holder and carrier for the same, constructed substantially as herein shown and
described.
4. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved spool
winder, constructed substantially as herein shown and described.
5. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved arrange-
ment of parts for operating the thread handler or thread take up, substantially as
herein shown and described.
6. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved arrange-
ment of parts for driving the same, whereby the working parts of the machine can
only be operated when turning the hand or fly wheel in the forward direction.
7. In sewing machines of the character herein described, the improved con-
struction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1800
P. A. MARTIN.
I. HENDRICKX.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.