IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," A communication from
abroad by Charles Henry Warner, of Sturbridge, in the County of Worcester,
and State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Physician.
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 11th June 1877.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th June 1877.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by Charles Henry Warner, of Stur-
bridge, in the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, one of the United
States of America, Physician.]
One object of my Invention is to stop the movement of the needle at will, either
when raised out of the work or when down in. the work, while the driving wheel
continues its motion in the same direction.
.3
Another object of my Invention is to raise the presser foot, if desired, when the
needle is stopped in either position by the same movement continued.
It is well understood by those familiar with sewing machines that it is desirable
to stop the needle when it is down in the work, and to raise the presser foot to
enable the work to be turned or examined; and that it is also desirable to stop the
needle when it is raised out of the work, and to raise the presser foot to enable the
work to be removed.
Heretofore in order to accomplish these results it has been necessary either to
stop the driving mechanism and then to adjust the needle and presser foot by hand,
or elso to disconnect the driving mechanism from its operative relations to the
needle, and afterwards to adjust the needle and presser foot by hand.
By my Invention I obviate these difficulties, and stop the movement of the needle
at will in either of the desired positions of elevation or depression instantly and
with certainty, and at the same time either raise or not raise the presser foot, as
desired, while the driving wheel is in motion, no matter at what speed, and without

page_text: necessarily checking or stopping it. I am also enabled to force the presser foot
down again and start the needle at will while the driving wheel continues its
motion.
While all this may be done the machino may also be stopped and started, and the
needle and presser foot adjusted in the old way, if desired.
I combine with the driving wheel and shaft a connecting and disconnecting
mechanisin capable of being operated either by the hand or the foot to instantly
stop the needle in the elevated or depressed position, and, if desired, to also raise
the presser foot, and then afterwards to as readily depress the presser foot and set
the needle in operation, in the meantime the driving wheel continuing its rotation
in the same direction.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,
through the balance wheel; Figure 2, a front view looking at tlie needle end of the
machine, with the front plate partly removed to show the pitman connection
between the needlo bar and its driving crank; Figure 3 is a rear.elevation, with
the balance wheel shown in dotted lines; Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of
the arm lying near the balance wheel, with the balance wheel shown in section;
and Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 1, 1, of Figure 1, showing
the inner face of the balance wheel.
The details of my Invention, as I have illustrated in the Drawings, are as !
follows: A indicates the table of a sewing machine; B, the arm; and C, the
driving wheel, which is loose on the driving shaft D. On the inner face of the driving
wheel I place two springs a and b, secured adjustably to the rim of the wheel by
screws, the screw slots in the springs being elongated for adjusting. The spring a
bears against the end of the spring b, and is preferably bent so ás also to normally
bear on the end of an inclined piece c secured or cast on the inner face of the
driving wheel. These springs impinge against each other at such angles as to form
a V shaped notch. Secured adjustably on the driving shaft near the driving wheel
is a block E, to which is pivotted a dog F with a projection f for engagement with
the springs on the driving wheel, and a shorter projection f¹ for a purpose herein-after
explained. A spring f² secured to the block E tends to keep the projection ƒ of
the dog in contact with the inner face of the driving wheel. The block E, however,
might be dispensed with and the dog F pivotted directly to the driving shaft.
Pivotted to the upright portion of the arm B is a bell-crank lever G operated'
either by the hand lever H or the treadle J, but this lever need not necessarily be
bell-cranked. On the top of this bell-crank lever is a notch h, into which a
spring catch or stop i secured on the top of the arm B takes and holds. the bell-
crank lever in its vertical position. There is an opening K through the upper end
of the bell-crank lever which enables it to be tilted from side to side, and to ride on.
the bearing of the driving shaft. On the front of this lever and on opposite sides
and in reverse position to each other are two lateral projections L, L', forming
respectively a combined incline or cam. and stop k indicating the cams, and k¹ the.
shoulders or stops.
M indicates the presser foot lever pivotted to the arm B, and projecting a short
distance through the opening K in the bell-crank lever at a point where the latter
is cut away for a short distance, as clearly shown in Figure 3, the sides of the notch
or cut-away part being inclined.
The hand lever H for operating the bell-crank lever is connected to the latter by
the pieces b¹, m, n, or in any other convenient manner, and has a projection o below,
against which presses a notched spring O to hold the lever in place.
The treadlo J, also for operating the bell-crank lever, is connected to the latter
by the rod p.
Cast or fastened on the bottom of the treadle or foot plate is a block* Q with
three faces on its lower side, as shown in Figure 3, against which respectively as
the-block is moved by the treadle the spring R presses to hold it in position. The
two springs connected respectively with the hand lever and treadle operate in

page_text: conjunction with the spring stop i and for a like purpose, but are not indispensable
although I prefer to employ them.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-The block E being properly
adjusted on the driving shaft, the bell-crank lever being held in the vertical position
by the spring stop i or otherwise, and the projection f of the dog F being in
engagement with the V shaped notch formed by the springs on the driving wheel
when motion is imparted to the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow,
Figures 2, 3, and 5, the driving shaft will be revolved, the presser foot will be down
on the work, and the needle will be operated in the usual manner. In this condition
of things the hand lever H and treadle J will remain dormant and substantially in
position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
If. it be desired to stop the motion of the needle in the elevated position either
the hand lever or the treadle may be employed to throw the bell-crank lever away
from the operator to such a distance that the spring stop i will ride up out of its
notch. The effect of this will be to move the combined cam and stop L within,the
radius of the projection f¹ of the dog F, when the said projection will strike the
cam k and move the projection f laterally out of the V shaped notch formed by the
springs on the driving wheel, and unclutch the driving wheel and its shaft at
the same instant before the projections ƒ and ƒ¹ of the dog strike the shoulders.
or stops k¹.
If it is desired to raise the presser foot also it is only necessary to throw the
bell-cranked lever a short distance farther in the same direction, when the inclined
sides of the notch or cut-away part of the opening K will strike the projecting enḍ
of the presser foot lever M and raise the presser foot. .
If it be desired to stop the needle in the depressed position and to raise
presser foot the operation is the reverse of that just described.
the
To again bring down the presser foot and start the needle from either of these
positions of rest it is only necessary to bring the bell-crank lever to the vertical
position as in the beginning, when the dog F will engage with the moving driving
wheel, the projection f striking the spring b, which yields to permit it to again
enter the V shaped notch.
Should the driving wheel happen to be turned in the wrong direction..the
projection f, through.the yielding of the spring b, will be released, and as the wheel
revolves will rise up over the inclined piece c and the springs, and thus remain
disengaged...

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Sydney Pitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th December
1877.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING
MACHINES." (A communication from abroad by Charles Henry Warner, of Stur-
bridge, in the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, one of the United
States of America, Physician.)
One object of my Invention is to stop the movement of the needle at will, either
when raised out of the work or when down in the work, while the driving wheel
continues its motion in the same direction.
Another object of my Invention is to raise the presser foot, if desired, when the
needle is stopped in either position by the same movement continued.
It is well understood by those familiar with sewing machines that it is desirable
to stop the needle when it is down in the work, and to raise the presser foot to
enable the work to be turned or examined; and that it is also desirable to stop the
needle when it is raised out of the work, and to raise the presser foot to enable the
work to be removed.
Heretofore in order to accomplish these results it has been necessary either to
stop the driving mechanism and then to adjust the needle and presser foot by hand,
or else to disconnect the driving mechanism from its operative relations to the
needle, and afterwards to adjust the needle and presser foot by hand.
By my Invention I obviate these difficulties, and stop the movement of the needle
at will in either of the desired positions of elevation or depression instantly and
with certainty, and at the same time either raise or not raise the presser foot, as
desired, while the driving wheel is in motion, no matter at what speed, and without
necessarily checking or stopping it. I am also enabled to force the presser foot
down again and start the needle at will while the driving wheel continues its
motion.
While all this may be done the machine may also be stopped and started, and the
needle and presser foot adjusted in the old way, if desired.
I combine with the driving wheel and shaft a connecting and disconnecting
mechanism capable of being operated either by the hand or the foot to instantly
stop the needle in the elevated or depressed position, and, if desired, to also raise
the presser foot, and then afterwards to as readily depress the presser foot and set
the needle in operation, in the meantime the driving wheel continuing its rotation
in the same direction.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,
through the balance wheel; Figure 2 is a front view looking at the needle end of
the machine, with the front plate partly removed to show the pitman connection
between the needle bar and its driving crank; Figure 3 is a rear elevation, with
the balance wheel shown in dotted lines; Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of
the arm lying near the balance wheel, with the balance wheel shown in section ;
and Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 1, 1, of Figure 1, showing
the inner face of the balance wheel.
The details of my Invention, as I have illustrated it in the Drawings, are as 4
follows: A indicates the table of a sewing machine; B, the arm; and C, the
driving wheel, which is loose on the driving shaft D. On the inner face of the driving
wheel I place two springs a and b, secured adjustably to the rim of the wheel by
screws, the screw slots in the springs being elongated for adjusting. The spring a
bears against the end of the spring b, and is preferably bent so as also to normally
hear on the end of an inclined piece o secured or cast on the inner face of the

page_text: driving wheel. These springs impinge against each other at such angles as to form
a V shaped notch. Secured adjustably on the driving shaft near the driving wheel
is a block E, to which is pivoted a dog F with a projection f for engagement with
the springs on the driving wheel, and a shorter projection.¹ for a purpose herein-after
explained. A spring f secured to the block E tends to keep the projection ƒ of
the dog in contact with the inner face of the driving wheel. The block E, however,
might be dispensed with and the dog F pivoted directly to the driving shaft.
Pivoted to the upright portion of the arm B is a bell-crank lever G operated
either by the hand lever H or the treadle J, but this lever need not necessarily be
bell-cranked. On the top of this bell-crank lever is a notch h, into which a
spring catch or stop i secured on the top of the arm B takes and holds the bell-
crank lever in its vertical position. There is an opening K through the upper end
of the bell-crank lever which enables it to be tilted from side to side, and to ride on
the bearing j of the driving shaft. On the front of this lever and on opposite sides
and in reverse position to each other are two lateral projections L, L', forming
respectively a combined incline or cam and stop & indicating the cams, and k¹ the
shoulders or stops.
M indicates the presser foot lever pivoted to the arm B, and projecting a short
distance through the opening K in the bell-crank lever at a point where the latter
is cut away for a short distance, as clearly shown in Figure 3, the sides of the notch
or cut-away part being inclined.
The hand lever H for operating the bell-crank lever is connected to the latter by
the pieces b³, m, n, or in any other convenient manner, and has a projection o below,
against which presses a notched spring O to hold the lever in place.
The treadle J, also for operating the bell-crank lever, is connected to the latter
by the rod p.
Cast or fastened on the bottom of the treadle or foot plate is a block Q with
three faces on its lower side, as shown in Figure 3, against which respectively as
the block is moved by the treadle the spring R presses to hold it in position. The
two springs connected respectively with the hand lover and treadle operate in
conjunction with the spring stop i and for a like purpose, but are not indispensable,
although I prefer to employ them.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-The block E being properly
adjusted on the driving shaft, the bell-crank lever being held in the vertical position
by the spring stop or otherwise, and the projection f of the dog F being in
.engagement with the V shaped notch formed by the springs on the driving wheel
when notion is imparted to the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow,
Figures 2, 3, and 5, the driving shaft will be revolved, the presser foot will be down
on the work, and the needle will be operated in the usual manner. In this condition
of things the band lever H and treadlo J will remain dormant and substantially in
position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
If it be desired to stop the motion of the needle in the elevated position, either
the hand lever or the treadle may be employed to throw the bell-crank lever away
from the operator to such a distance that the spring stop i will ride up out of its
notch. The effect of this will bé to move the combined cam and stop L'within the
radius of the projection f' of the dog F, when the said projection will strike the
cam and move the projection f laterally out of the V shaped notch formed by the
springs on the driving wheel, and unclutch the driving wheel and its shaft at
the same instant, before the projections ƒ and ƒ³ of the dog strike the shoulders
or stops k¹.
If it is desired to raise the presser foot also it is only necessary to throw the
bell-crank lever a short distance farther in the same direction,. when the inclined
sides of the notch or cut-away part of the opening K will strike the projecting end
of the presser foot lever M and raise the presser foot.
If it be desired to stop the needle in the depressed position and to raise the
presser foot the operation is the reverse to that just described.
J

page_text: To again bring down the presser foot and start the needle from either of these
positions of rest it is only necessary to bring the bell-crank lever to the vertical
position as in the beginning, when the dog F will engage with the moving driving
wheel, the projection f striking the spring b, which yields to permit it to again
enter the V shaped notch.
Should the driving wheel happen to be turned in the wrong direction the
projection f, through the yielding of the spring b, will be released, and as the wheel
revolves will ride up over the inclined piece c and the springs, and thus remain
disengaged.
.. I do not intend to confine myself to the precise details of construction herein
specified, as they may be varied in numerous ways without departing from the
principle of my Invention, but what I claim is,-.
First. The combination with the driving wheel and shaft of a sewing machine of
clutching mechanism adapted to suddenly stop the movement of the needle, either
in the elevated or depressed position, at will, without stopping the motion of the
driving wheel, substantially as described. :
:
Second. The combination with the driving wheel and shaft of a sewing machine
of clutching mechanism constructed and adjusted to suddenly stop the movement-of
the needle, either in the elevated or depressed. position, at will, and also to either
raise or not raise the presser foot as desired, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the lever G, the hand lever, and the spring stop i,
substantially as described:
Fourth: The combination of the bell-crank lever, the treadle with its three-faced
block and spring, and the spring stop is substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the bell-crank lever having an opening K and a
cut-away portion with inclined sides with the presser foot lever, substantially as
described:
:
Sixth. The combination of the bell-crank lever, the presser foot lever, and the
presser foot, when so constructed and connected that the movement of the bell-crank
lever, either way, a given distance from.its vertical position, will cause it to press
down one end of the presser foot lever and elevate the presser foot at the other end,
substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination of the bell-crank lever with its: projections L and L',
the dog F, and the springs and incline piece on the driving wheel, substantially.as
described.
Eighth. The combination of the presser foot lever and notched surface on the
under side of the bell-crank lever, substantially as described.
Ninth. The lever G provided with one or more inclines and stops, and a notch or
cut-away portion with inclined sides, substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of the springs a.and 6 and the inclined piece c, substan-
tially as described.
"
Eleventh: The combination of the adjustable block and spring dog F. with the
driving shaft, substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination of the treadle, three-faced on its lower side, and spring,
substantially as described.
Thirteenth. The combination of the hand lever and the notched spring, substan-
tially as described.
Fourteenth. The combination of a lever having the opposite sides inclined or cam
shaped, with the dog F, substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The combination of a lever having the opposite sides inclined or cam
shaped with the dog F and driving wheel and shaft, substantially as described.
Sixteenth. The bell-crank lever provided with the projections L, L', on its
opposite sides and in reversed position with respect to each other, substantially as
described.
Seventeenth. The combination of the hand lever, the bell-crank lever, the spring

page_text: stop i, the dog F, the driving shaft, and the driving wheel carrying the springs and
inclined piece, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.