Improvements in Embroidery Looms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1893
Improvements in Embroidery Looms.
A communication by MARTIN HENRI RUMPF, of 84, Rue Hauteville, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a machine having any suitable number of needles each
of which needles is worked by means of a series of parts customary in sewing
machines. All the similar parts of each of these series are arranged parallel to one
another, being mounted on movable common supports which receive their motion
from a single mechanism forming the head of the machine. In the same way all the
needles work by means of a common frame holding the material, arranged and
working under peculiar conditions for this special purpose. Finally, the apparatus
is completed by an arrangement for electrically disengaging the parts when a thread
breaks.
The machine which will be hereinafter described as a specimen is supported on
two vertical uprights connected with one another by two metallic cross pieces.
One of the uprights carries the driving mechanism which may be arranged in any
suitable manner and which is such as is usually found in sewing or embroidering
machines. This mechanism is provided with a lever for throwing it out of gear,
which may be shifted either by hand or automatically on the breaking of a thread.
This inechanism transmits motion to two horizontal main shafts, the lower one of
which operates the shuttle carriers, and the upper shaft actuates all the other parts
of the loom.
All the spindles of the shuttles are arranged in the lower cross piece of the
machine, and are operated by a movable horizontal coupling rod or bar, into which
penetrate crank studs fixed to plates which are keyed on the above named spindles
of the shuttles. This movable bar is operated by mitre gearing and by transverse
shafts arranged on both sides of the machine and driven by the lower main shaft
above named. All the needle carriers are arranged on a transverse bar capable of
sliding between the uprights of the frame, and having an alternating up and down
movement by means of little cranks. These cranks are hinged at each side of the
machine on plates fixed on two little transverse spindles operated by the upper main
shaft by means of mitre gearing.
All the presser feet ("pieds de biche") are arranged on another transverse
movable bar driven from each side of the loom by rods operated by the two little
transverse spindles above named, by means of a cam and by a hinged lever; spiral
springs are used for limiting the descent of this bar which carries the presser feet
(pieds de biche).
In order to regulate the tension of the threads, all the thread gripping discs,
over which the threads running from the bobbins pass, are fixed on a common
horizontal spindle capable of turning freely in its supports. This spindle, however,
is subjected at one of its points to the action of a kind of brake which arrests its
rotation at a given moment, and prevents the thread arriving during a given
space of time.
For this purpose the upper main shaft has towards its centre a cam operating at
any desired moment the above named brake. The release of the brake is effected

page_text: automatically by the action of a spring arranged in its lower part so that the spindle
of the thread gripping discs may again freely revolve and allow these discs to
supply the necessary further amount of thread.
The raising mechanism (l'appareil releveur) consists of a slight horizontal rod
formed of a metallic or glass tube. This tube is held at its two extremities by
levers provided with balancing counter weights and fixed on a common horizontal
axis.
The movement for lifting this tube is obtained by means of a cam keyed on the
upper main shaft and acting on a little arm fixed at a corresponding point of the
common spindle above named. Finally, the lowering of the mechanism, which is
suitably counter balanced, is effected by the action of the slight pull of the threads,
which bring it back into its initial position as soon as the action of the cam ceases
to be felt.
A second glass tube, supported at its two extremities by fixed holders, serves as a
guide for the different threads to the needles.
As has been previously stated, the apparatus is preferably provided with thread
breakers hinged on a common axis and held up by the threads which surround
them. When, however, one of these threads happens to be broken, the corre-
sponding thread breaker, by falling, forms a contact with the axis of the thread
gripping discs above named, and which is for this purpose insulated in its supports
and communicates by a conducting wire with an electric battery. The circuit of
this battery being closed operates an electro magnet, the armature of which then
operates on the disengaging lever and causes the stoppage of the machine.
The work is performed in this machine by means of a new frame or material
carrier having a parallel guiding apparatus allowing pieces of material of large
dimensions to be embroidered, without it being necessary to frequently remove the
stuff which is held therein.
In order to ensure that its movements shall be parallel, the frame has two front
extensions connected by a transverse slide in which two travellers may freely
travel, the same being hinged to the extremities of two rods having at their
opposite extremities sectors hinged on a fixed table and which are arranged in such
a manner as to operate reciprocally.
In consequence of this arrangement, the frame must always be moved in a
direction parallel to itself whatever may be the movements imparted thereto.
On the other hand, one of the prolonged parts above named is equal in dimensions
to the height of the frame, and is connected by a screwed socket to an ordinary
pantograph. In this manner, after the pantograph has given the frame all the
upward movement which it can, it suffices to slide the said socket on the above
named prolongation and to fix it in this new position, to allow a continuation of the
embroidery upwards to an extent equal to that which has just been done, and
without displacing the material in the frame, as long as all the surface of this
material surrounded by the frame has not been entirely embroidered.
On the other hand the lateral sides of the frame are extended vertically and
provided with longitudinally hinged squares arranged in such a way that by making
them revolve on their hinges they may grip the material along all its length and
hold it without injuring it in any manner whatever size it may be.
Finally, it may be stated that in order to avoid any injurious friction of the
frame on the work table, it is provided at its lower part with a longitudinal roller
which may revolve freely on a transverse roller arranged on the above named work
table.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Embroidery Looms.
A communication by MARTIN HENRI RUMPF, of 84, Rue Hauteville, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
This invention consists of a machine having any suitable number of needles, each
of which needles is worked by means of a series of parts customary in sewing
machines. All the similar parts of each of these series are arranged parallel to
one another, being mounted on movable common supports, which receive their
motion from a single mechanism forming the head of the machine. In the same
way, all the needles work synchronously and a common frame holds the
material, the mechanism arranged and working under peculiar conditions, for this
special purpose. Finally, the apparatus is completed by an arrangement for
electrically disengaging the parts when a thread breaks.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the various parts of the machine.
Figure 2 is a transverse section.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement for the tension of the thread.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement for operating the thread lifter.
Figure 5 shows views in detail of the mechanism for operating the needles, and
for pressing the material.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the frame of the machine which holds the material.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of this frame.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of this frame.
Figure 9 is a section on a larger scale of the arrangement for the tension of the
material.
The machine, which will be hereinafter described, and which is shown in Figures 1,
2, 3, 4, 5 of the accompanying drawings, is supported on two vertical uprights A A',
connected with one another by two metallic cross pieces B B'. One of 'the
uprights, A, carries the driving mechanism M, see Figure 1, which may be arranged
in any suitable manner, and which is such as is usually found in sewing or embroider-
ing machines. This mechanism is provided with a lever C for throwing it out of
gear, which may be shifted either by hand, or automatically on the breaking of a
thread. This mechanism M transmits motion to two horizontal main shafts; the
lower one, D, of which operates the lock stitch mechanism E, and the upper
shaft, F, actuates all the other parts of the machine.
As may be seen in Figures 1 and 2, all the spindles of the lock stitch mechanism E
are arranged in the lower cross piece B' of the machine, and are operated by a
movable horizontal coupling rod or bar c, into which penetrate crank studs fixed to
the plates i, which are keyed on the above named spindles of the lock stitch
mechanism. This movable bar c is operated by mitre gearing, and by transverse
shafts j, arranged on both sides of the machine, and driven by the lower main
shaft D above named. It is evident that the shaft D might operate each of the
shafts of the lock stitch books by means of a pair of bevel gearings, if thought
desirable. All the needle carriers G are arranged on a transverse bar H, capable
of moving between slides h arranged on the uprights A A¹ of the frame, and having
an alternating up and down movement by means of little cranks g. These cranks
are fastened at each side of the machine on plates I, fixed on two little transverse

page_text: spindles J, operated by the upper main shaft F by means of mitre gearing f. This
mode of operation is clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings. These figures also show that all the presser feet K are arranged on
another transverse movable bar L, driven from each side of the machine by rods 1,
operated by the two little transverse spindles J above named, by means of a cam n,
and by a hinged lever N; spiral springs m are used for actuating the descent of
this bar L which carries the presser feet.
In order to regulate the tension of the threads, all the thread gripping discs p,
over which the threads running from the bobbins P pass, are fixed on a common
horizontal spindle Q, capable of turning freely in its supports. This spindle,
however, is subjected, at one of its points, to the action of a kind of brake q,
Figure 3, which arrests its rotation at a given moment, and prevents the thread
arriving during a given space of time; this brake is shown in detail in Figure 3.
For this purpose, the upper main shaft F has, as shown, towards its centre a
cam r, operating, at any desired moment, the above named brake q; the application
of the brake being effected automatically by the action of a spring arranged in its
lower part, and the release of the brake being effected by the cam so that the
spindle of the thread gripping discs may again freely revolve, and allow these
discs p to supply the necessary further amount of thread.
The thread raising mechanism consists of a slight horizontal rod R formed of a
metallic or glass tube. This tube is held at its two extremities by levers S,
provided with balancing counter weights and fixed on a common horizontal axis s.
The movement for lifting this tube R is obtained, as may be seen in Figure 4,
by means of a cam T, keyed on the upper main shaft F and acting on a little arm t
fixed at a corresponding point of the common spindle s above named. Finally, the
lowering of the raising mechanism, which is suitably counter balanced, is effected
by the action of the slight pull of the threads, which bring it back into its initial
position, as soon as the action of the cam T ceases to be felt.
A second glass tube U, supported at its two extremities by fixed holders u, serves
as a guide for the different threads to the needles.
As has been previously stated, the apparatus is preferably provided with thread
break detector V, hinged on a common axis v, and held up by the threads 'which
surround them, as shown in Figure 2. When, however, one of these threads happens
to be broken, the corresponding thread break detector r, by falling, forms a contact
with the axis Q of the thread gripping discs above named, and which is, for this
purpose, insulated in its supports, and communicates by a conducting wire with an
electric battery. The circuit of this battery, being closed, operates an electro
magnet W, the armature of which then operates on the disengaging lever C and
causes the stoppage of the machine, as shown in Figure 1.
As has been herein before stated, the work is performed in this machine by means
of a new frame or material carrier having a parallel guiding apparatus allowing
pieces of material of large dimensions to be embroidered without it being necessary
to frequently remove the stuff which is held therein.
As may be seen in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, the frame A
has, at its lower part, four rollers a, resting on similar rollers barranged at-right
angles on fixed supports B, in this manner, the whole weight of the frame and the
material is supported by these rollers at right angles, which does away with any
resistance to movements in any direction.
•
In the rear of the frame A, a longitudinal bar C is placed, which has at its
extremities slots in which the frame is fixed by means of screws D which allow of
its position being exactly adjusted. This bar C has further transverse bars E E¹
intended to allow of the taking up of the work without displacing the material in
the frame as will be hereinafter explained.
Near the extremities of the frame A, two sectors or discs F F are placed, mounted
on vertical axes ffl arranged on the work table T, these sectors are connected by a
steel band G in such a way that any motion imparted to the sector F, for instance,
is exactly reproduced on the other sector F¹.

page_text: In this arrangement, the large arm Z of the pantograph, which operates the
movements of the frame, is hinged at the centre of rotation f of the sector F, and
is attached to this sector by means of a screw or in any other manner, and the
small arm of this pantograph is hinged on the trausverse bar E by means of the
screw grip I.
a
In the same way, the other sector F1 carries a rod H, which must be placed in
direction exactly parallel to the large arm Z of the pantograph, and which has a
small arm', exactly similar to the arm above mentioned, hinged on the transverse
bar E by means of the screw grip I¹.
It is evident that, in this manner, the frame will always move parallel, and, on
the other hand, when the point P of the pantograph has traversed all the surface
of the pattern, and, in consequence of the reduction furnished by this pantograph,
the frame has been displaced only to the extent of a x¹, for instance, it will
suffice, in order to continue the embroidery upwards, to displace the screw grips I
and I on the bars E E' to an equal extent. A new width of material may be then
embroidered, and so on until all the width of material enclosed in the frame has
been embroidered.
In order to hold in the frame pieces of material of such large dimensions as
may be necessary, the arrangement shown on a larger scale in Figure 9 is preferably
employed.
The frame A bas at its upper part four tension rollers J mounted on supports K,
and, on each of these rollers J, a band of strong material is wound, which band,
after having passed round the lower edge of the frame, is fixed to a metal cross
bar M which moves in the frame A.
On the other hand, the material N, which is to be embroidered, is placed on the
frame and is held on the movable cross bars M by means of screw caps m; it
suffices then to revolve by hand the rollers J in order to impart to the material the
desired degree of tension, which is maintained by means of pawls O. Figure 9 shows
clearly the direction in which the material N which is to be embroidered passes, and
also the position of the band of material L which transmits this tension by being
wound more or less on the rollers, J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what 1 claim is :-
1. In an embroidering machine which has two main shafts such as D and F, the
combination of a movable horizontal bar such as H having a certain number
of needle holders, and a movable horizontal bar such as L having the same
number of presser feet (or material pressers) with the means of transmitting to
these bars the desired ascending and descending motion by the action of the upper
main shaft F, substantially as hereinbefore explained and shown on the accompanying
drawings.
2. In an embroidering machine having two main shafts such as D and F, the
combination of a series of lock stitch hooks such as mounted on a fixed trans-
verse bar such as B' with the means of causing the lock stitch hooks to revolve
under the action of the lower main shaft D, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown on the accompanying drawings.
3. In an embroidering machine having two main shafts such as D and F, the
combination of movable bars such as R for producing the tension of the threads,
and of a shaft such as Q carrying all the thread gripping discs, with the means of
displacing the movable bar R and of stopping the rotation of the shaft Q under the
action of the upper main shaft F; substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with an embroidering machine, a frame for holding the
material movable on rollers placed at right angles, this frame fitting in an adjust-
able manner on a bar such as C which receives its motion from two sectors or
discs connected by means of a flexible metallic band; these two sectors, one of

page_text: which is directly operated by the pantograph, acting on the frame by means of equal
and parallel hinged arms, and of screw grips fitting on the cross bars E E' fixed at
the extremities of the bar C in order to allow of the work being continued upwards
without displacing the material; substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying drawings.
.
· Dated this 22nd day of August 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.