Improvements in Book Stitching Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
UI -
Improvements in Book Stitching Machines.
I, FRIEDRICH ERNST KRUMICHEN, of 32 Hospital Strasse, Leipzig,
ermany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
anner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a machine for stitching together the component parts
f books, the needles containing the threads for sewing the top or one end of the
ook being mounted in a separate slide to those containing the threads for the
ottom or other end of the volume. By this arrangement relative lateral motion
nay be imparted to the stitching needles between the stitches so that the threads
re continuously zig-zag, those of one series oppositely to those of the other.
The accompanying drawings, reference to which is bereinafter made, illustrate in
what manner this invention may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 represents a plan of the back of a book stitched by the improved
apparatus.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the machine.
Figure 3 shews the machine in front elevation.
Figure 4 illustrates part of the mechanism employed for maintaining tension in
the threads.
Figure 5 shews the same mechanism in front elevation.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the folding apparatus.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine drawn to a larger
scale than Figure 3, the machine being also furnished with fewer needles.
Figure 8 is a similar view shewing the positions assumed by the needles at the
completion of a stitch.
Figures 8 and 8B are representations of the front end of the shuttle or device
by means of which the lower thread is inserted within the loops of the stitching
threads.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the apparatus for releasing the thread at the end
of the stitching.
Figure 10 shews a view of the lever connecting together the two needle carrying
slides.
Figure 11 is an elevation of the upper part of the machine shewing the shuttle
or thread inserting device immediately after placing the lower thread within the
loops of the stitching threads.
Figure 12 is a view of details of part of the folding mechanism.
On referring to the drawings, with especial reference to Figures 3, 7, 8, and 11,
it will be seen that the upper part of the machine is furnished with two slides a a
capable of relative motion one to the other. The stitching needle bars b b of
which any suitable number may be employed, are mounted upon these slides. The
0 slides are connected together by the lever d and motion is imparted to them by
the cam or grooved pulley e engaging with a bowl mounted upon a projection e
from the slide a'. The needle bars c and c¹ carrying the needles by means of which
the lower thread is inserted and secured are mounted upon the frame work of the
machine and are capable of vertical stitching motion only. They are adjustably
15 fixed however, so that their positions may be varied to suit different widths of
books. The stitching needles bb in addition to their longitudinal stitching motion
have a lateral motion imparted to them between stitches. The came is driven
from the main shaft by the pitch chain f'.

page_text: The operation of stitching is as follows:-The stitching needles & and the lower
thread inserting needle e pass through the paper which is half folded and in
position. The loop of the lower thread from the needle c¹ is then engaged by the
front end of the shuttle or inserting device h, which carries it across the machine
passing through the loops of the stitching threads from the needles b b which are
preferably slightly withdrawn for the purpose. The flap or hook needle c which
is of the same construction as those usually employed in knitting and similar
machines, then descends, engages with the loop of the lower thread, passing into
or through the front end of the shuttle h for the purpose, see Figure 8, and,
withdrawing, draws it through the loop previously formed. The shuttle returns,
the other needles are raised, lateral motion is imparted to the stitching needles and
fresh sheets of paper are moved into the stitching position. The cycle of move-
ments is then repeated. The plan of the book back Figure 1 shews clearly the
position of the threads the chain of loops formed by the needle c being shewn at
the upper end. The dotted lines illustrate the course of the lower threads. The
line g shews the stitches taken when the slides a a' are furthest from one
another, g' after relative motion has been imparted to the slides and they have
moved together and the return to the first position. The result of this zig-zag
stitching is that the threads are stretched and the parts of the book are firmly
pressed together.
The apparatus for actuating the shuttle or lower thread inserting device is
illustrated by Figures 2 and 3 and consists of a cam h¹ and a connecting slotted
lever which carries a bowl engaging with the groove. The roller is mounted
upon the main shaft of the machine. The necessary tension upon the lower thread
is produced and maintained by the apparatus shewn in the same figures. The
thread coming from the spool passes through the eye of a lever pivoted at 2.
This lever is slotted and within the slot slides the end of a second lever ; which is.
pivoted at j. The lever j rests upon a pin.k secured in the side of the roller ¹ 80
that as the roller rotates the lever j receives an up and down motion which is
imparted to the lever i. The pin k is fixed in such a position that the lever¹
falls and draws thread from the spool when the lower thread inserting device is
returning, that is to say, when the lower thread has been passed through the
previously formed loop. The lever is raised when the front end of the shuttle h
engages with the thread in the needle c' and commences its stroke to the other end
of the machine. During its passage from the lever i to the needle c¹ the thread
passes over a tension lever k¹, Figures 2, 4, and 5, which. is raised by a cam at the
same time as rises but which is a little quicker in action. The necessary tension
is thus attained.
The tension device for the stitching threads is illustrated by Figures 4 and 5.
The threads pass over the pivoted arms m which are operated by the cams I and I'
and are preferably connected by the rod m'.
The sheets are automatically folded by the apparatus. represented in Figures 2
and 6. The folding table o is fixed to the levers of which are secured to the
shaft p.
One of the levers o' is extended beyond the shaft p and engages with
its end in a groove formed in the disc p¹. When it is desired to attach sheets
of paper to those which have already been secured they are placed as at o'
between the adjusting plate p³ and the table o, one half of each of the sheets
hanging vertically between the table and the sheets which have already been
stitched. While in this position the needles descend and the threads are secured.
The table then moves away to the left and the sheets are folded by the apparatus
shewn in Figures 2 and 12. Attached to one of the levers o' is a slotted arm q
the slot of which contains a stud secured to a curved arm q' pivoted to the frame
of the machine. A second similar curved arm is mounted upon the other side
of the machine and the two are connected by the rod q. As the lever o' moves
away to the left the arms g' are lowered and the connecting rod or folding bar q
comes down upon the paper and folds it down. When fresh sheets are placed upon
the folding table and it returns to the right the bar q³ is raised by the arm q..

page_text: As before described the guides for the needle bars c and c² are fixed to the-
headstock of the machine so that their stitches form a straight line instead of
zig-zag, the different forms of stitches being illustrated in the Figure 1.
The flap or hook needle receives its motion from a two armed lever one end
of which engages with a hinged catch attached to the needle bar c. During the
stitching the catch is in the position shewn in full lines in Figure 9. After the
stitching is over however it is necessary to draw out the last formed loop and fasten
it, otherwise the stitches come loose. To do this the needle bar must be discon-
nected from the lever s' and this is accomplished by moving the catch into the
position indicated by the dotted lines. The needle bar can then be moved into any
desired position and the thread easily fastened off.
Any of the usual forms of driving devices hitherto in use for these and similar
machines may be employed to actuate the needles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a book stitching machine, two slides capable of relative movement and
carrying the stitching needles, arranged and operated substantially as and for the-
purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a book stitching machine, a folding device for completely folding the
attached sheets of paper, constructed and arranged and operated substantially as.
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for stitching books, a tension device for the lower thread
consisting of the levers j and which are actuated by the pink and a suitable-
cam, constructed arranged and operated substantially as herein before described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. In a book stitching machine the combination with the flap or hook needle of
a movable latch or catch by means of which the needle may be disconnected from.
its driving mechanism substantially as and for the purpose herein before described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March A.D. 1894
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.