IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES FOR STITCHING CARPETS, SAIL CLOTH AND LIKE HEAVY WORK
Year: 1884

page_text: We ALPHONSO BUDD SMITH, Master Mariner and SOLON PATTEE, Accountant,
both of the City and County of San Francisco in the State of California one of
the United States of America do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES FOR STITCHING CARPETS, SAIL CLOTH
AND LIKE HEAVY WORK" to be as follows:-
Our Invention has reference to sewing machines of the kind or class now
commonly known as Carpet Sewing Machines which are constructed for the
special purpose of stitching carpets, sail cluth, canvas and other like coarse heavy
material.
The improvements hereinafter described as composing our said invention are
designed to produce a machine having the capacity to work either upon the edges
of the material supported for the purpose in a vertical position from points of
suspension at intervals for the length of seam to be formed, or by adjustment to be
made capable of operating upon a fixed track or guides along a bench or table to
the edge of which the inaterial to be stitched is clamped.
The objects sought to be attained are to provide a machine for working upon
large heavy character of material that cannot be readily handled and stitched by
ordinary machinery, and for working upon all grades of such material from the
heaviest to the lightest with features of adjustment that render the machine
particularly adaptable for each kind of material.
To such ends our improvements consist first in certain novel construction of
frame or carriage as hereinafter described whereby the working parts are disposed
supported and balanced in the manner and form best calculated to produce even
motion and regular feed. Whereby also the machine is rendered adaptable to travel
and work directly upon the edges of the material or to be operated upon a track or.
guides fixed on a bench or work supporting table.
Secondly, in the combination with such frame of carrying and guiding rollers
adjustable to enable the machine to work in both positions i,e, either upon the
edges of the material held vertically, or upon the work bench upon which the edges
of the material are held by clamps.
Thirdly, in certain novel construction of bench or table, with guide tracks for
the machine, and clamping and supporting devices for confining and supporting
work in position with respect to the movements of the machine.
Fourthly, in certain novel construction of feed mechanism for operating the
machine upon the fixed work bench to give it a progressive movement step
by sten

page_text: Fifthly, in certain novel construction and combination of feed mechanism by
which the machine is caused to move along step by step when supported directly
upon the edges of the material.
And lastly in the combination and arrangement together and with the frame or
carriage of parts and mechanism for operating a horizontally moving needle, an
under thread carrying mechanism and thread controlling devices comprising more
particularly the stitch forming mechanism.
Our improved Sewing machine is composed of a main or bed-plate or part
carrying the mechanism that gives motion to the needle the looper and the feeding
device.
A stud holds a groove cam and a double face cam the groove cam works the
needle arm and the other cams operate the feed lever and the looper and thread
carrier lever.
A box and guide for the needle bar; secured to the plate and having upon it
sockets for the spool spindles.
A frame with traction rollers travelling upon a fixed track on the edge of a work
bench,
A slot cut in the bottom of the rear end of the box and a dovetail piece on
the top of a moveable plate attached to the main or bed plate is fitted to slide in
the slot so that while still attached to the main plate this plate can be moved out
or in to give greater or less width of opening between the two plates. The moveable
plate is somewhat shorter than but is about as wide as the bed plate and when set
in either position it is held by a thumbscrew.
the
A guiding handle and a steady bar are attached to the moveable plate;
metal parts of the handle are fixed to the back of the plate by screws and a rod
passing through a ferrule fixes it in place between two extensions. A half round
socket on the back of the plate takes the bent end of the steady bar of which the
lower end holds a grooved roller that is set to travel on a supplemental guide rail
on the back of the bench parallel with but at some distance below the principal
guide rail.
The steady bar is used only when the machine is arranged for traveling upon the
work bench. But when running directly upon the material the moveable plate
being set in, the bar with the roller is removed and a horizontal steady bar is
substituted for it. The steady-bar has an end to fit a socket and a crutch piece
forms the opposite end this part is of a shape to fit under the arm of the operator,
and when in use it serves to hold the main-plate or carriage firmly while leaving
the two hands of the operator free to work the crank and grasp the guiding
handle.
The work bench is a thick board of required length set on edge, and placed at
suitable heighth to bring the machine in position to be handled by the operator
standing.
Upon this practically horizontal edge is a rack formed along the top edge of a
strip of metal baving upon its face a row of sharp points or pins set at regular
distances apart for the full length of the bench.
A clamp bar in suitable lengths or sections is placed against the material after it
is impaled upon the points and clamp dogs press and firmly hold the bar in this
position.
This bar serves to hold the material smooth and even at and along the line of
the seam, as well as to support tho weight of the material.
The impaling points take into holes in the inner face of the clamp bar. The
clamps being detachable, are moved and transferred from the front to the rear as
the machine advances. The top edge of the rack plate projects above the bench, to
afford a ledge for the jaw of the clamp to engage with, and the body of the clamp
is curved to carry it over to the front and clear of the material being stitched, so
.that both ends or jaws are brought into direct line when placed over the top of the
work. The front end of the clamp has a threaded socket into which a clamp screw
is fixed to give a moveable jaw.

page_text: The feed movement of the carriage takes place after the needle leaves the
material and is produced by the backward movoinent of the feed lever and by the
engagement of the end of its pawl or finger with the top of the rack on the bench.
The feed lever is fulcrumed and a cam acting against its lower end throws out
the upper end and by engagement of the pawl or finger moves the whole machine
a step backward, the length of which movement determines the length of stitch
and is regulated by the throw of the lower end of the lever. The finger engaging
with the fixed rack gives a point of resistance as the lover is thrown outward at
each revolution of the cam. A spring holds the lever to the face of the cam, but
the use of a grooved cam would render the spring unnecessary. To regulate the
length of stitch the lower end of the finger has an adjustable contact point formed
of a spring tongue one end of which is fixed to the lever and the other end is set
out by a screw. The fulcrum of the feed lever is an eccentric set into a bearing in
a bracket and with a handle extending to the front as a means for throwing the
fulcruin in and out to bring the feed into or out of play as required.
For running the machine directly upon the edge of the material, a nipper feed is
substituted for the feed pawl or finger and when thus used the end of the foed
lever acts upon notched feed jaws in such manner that they close and grasp the
material between them, the effect of which is to produce a fixed point of resistance
for the upper end of the feed lever. The notched jaws are loosely pivoted to the
ends of two curved bars that rest in two small brackets one fixed to main plate
and movable plate to give fulcrum points for the bars to rock upon. In place
of the feed pawl there is fixed to the end of the feed lever by a screw a beak
with wedge shaped sides. There are two slots in this end of the feed lever, one to
receive the screw of the feed pawl, and the other one for the binding screw of the
aforesaid beak. These two slots are necessary in order to change the machine from
the work bench to the edge of the material, as the center line between the main
and moveable plates is shifted when the moveable plate is set out or in.
A deeply grooved roller that runs upon the edge of the material has a deep
groove, and acts both as a guide and as a presser to bring the two edges of material
closely together in advance of the needle. The bracket of this roller is moveable
vertically by having a screw taking through a slot and into the needle arm box.
Two flanged rollers carry the machine along upon the track, but in working
upon the edge of the material the rollers do not act. At such time the machine is
supported by the deeply grooved roller and a smaller roller at the rear.
This latter roller is fixed in an extension at the top rear corner of the main
plate.
As thus constructed to work both upon a fixed work bench and also upon the
edges of the material suspended or held in a line to permit it to travel along step
by step, this improved machine is serviceable for heavy medium and light grades
of carpet and like material. The bench and clamp bar are used where the material
has not sufficient body or stiffness to support the machine of itself, and the change
of parts necessary to adapt the mechanism to work upon the material is done by
simply shifting the moveable or slide plate removing the steady bar and substituting
for it the horizontal bar and also removing the feed pawl and attaching a wedge
piece and the feed jaws.
Combined with these several parts and devices are the necessary thread con-
trolling and needle and looper mechanism for forming the stitches but the particular.
construction and arrangement of these parts form no feature of our present inven-
tion and they are therefore not described in detail; their application and the
method of obtaining the movements from the other parts are within the province
of the mechanic.

page_text: We ALPHONSO BUDD SMITH, Master Mariner, and SOLON PATTEE,, Accountant,
both of San Francisco, California, United States do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING-MACHINES FOR STITCHING CARPETS,
SAIL CLOTH, AND LIKE HEAVY WORK, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Our Invention has reference to sewing-machines of the kind or class now
commonly known as Carpet Sewing Machines which are constructed for the
special purpose of stitching carpets, sail cloth, canvas and other like course. heavy
material.
The improvements hereinafter described as composing our said invention are
designed to produce a machine having the capacity to work either upon the edges
of the material supported for the purpose in a vertical position from points of
Buspension at intervals for the length of seam to be formed, or by adjustment to be
made capable of operating upon a fixed track or guides along a bench or table to
the edge of which the material to be stitched is clamped.
The objects sought to be attained are to provide a machine for working upon
large heavy character of material that cannot be readily handled and stitched. by
ordinary machinery, and for working upon all grades of such material from the
heaviest to the lightest with features of adjustment that render the machine
particularly adaptable for each kind of material.
To such ends our improvements consist first in certain novel construction
of frame or carriage as hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying
drawings, whereby the working parts are disposed supported and balanced in
the manner and form hest calculated to produce even mution and regular feed;
whereby also the machine is rendered adaptable to travel and work directly upon
the edges of the material or to be operated upon a track or guides fixed on a bench
or work supporting table.
Secondly, in the combination with such frame of carrying and guiding rollers
adjustable to enable the machine to work in both positions i.e, either upon the
edges of the material held vertically, or upon the work bench upon which the edges
of the material are held by clamps.
Thirdly, in certain novel construction of bench or table with guide tracks for the
machine, and clamping and supporting devices for confining and supporting work in
position with respect to the movements of the machino.
Fourthly, in certain novel construction of feed nechanism for operating the
machine upon the fixed work bench to give it a progressive movement step
by step.
Fifully, in certain novel construction and combination of feed mechanism by
which the machine is caused to move along step by step when supported directly
upon the edges of the material,

page_text: And lastly in the combination and arrangement together and with the frame or
carriage of parts and mechanism for operating a horizontally moving needle, an
under thread carrying mechanism and thread controlling devices comprising more
particularly the stitch forming mechanism.
In the accompanyin Drawings
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of our said sewing machine set up for
operation on a work supporting bench;
Figure 2 is an end view taken from the left hand side of figure 1; the work
bench and two thicknesses of material being shown in section ;
Figure 3 shows the work-clamping devico;
Figure 4, the ferding mechanism for moving the machine along the work bench;
Figures 5 and 6 are views in detail of the nipper-feed which is substituted for
the feeding-mechanism figure 4, when the machine is adjusted to work directly
upon the edge of the material without the use of the work-bench;
Figure 7 shows the machine adjusted to work with this last described feed and
directly upon the material which for this purpose is suspended in a vertical position
by means of cords and suspension hooks fixed overhead.
Figure 8. shows the crutch or brace for use with the machine figure 7.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
•
The flat plate A of thin sheet or cast metal forms the principal carrying plate for
the mechanism that operates the needle and looper and the feed device. On this
plate a stud A carries the cam C that works the lever A of the needle actuating
device. One end of this lever has a roller stud to work in the groove of cam C
and the other end is attached to the needle bar B. On the same stud is a double
face-cam C¹ C, of which the one operates a lever D', and the other part actuates the
lever E. The feeding mechanism is worked by the lever D, and the lever E,
operates the looper or under thread carrier.
Lever E, is fulcrumed on the plate A at b, and the feed lever works on a center
in a bracket d. The looper lever is pivoted at e.
Across the top of the plate A, is fixed a box A' having a groove or slot, a³, to hold
and guide the needle-bar. It is fixed in a horizontal position transversely to the
face of the plate the point of attachment being at f. There are sockets a³ a on
this box for the spool splindles, and there is secured to it a frame G carrying
traction rollers, g, g. These rollers have flanges to run upon fixed tracks H on the
work-supporting bench.
In the under side of the box As at the end back of the plate A a dovetailed slot
or way as is cut to receive the end piece i, of corresponding shape on the plate K.
A thumb screw k working through this sliding piece from the underside constitutes
the means for locking the slide in the slut as at any point of adjustment. The cad
of the screw passing through the sliding piece bears against the bottom of the way
when the screw is turned down.
The slide i is part of the plate K, that is generally about the same width as the
principal plate A but is considerably shorter. The office of this plate K is to afford
a surface to slide upon the back of the work bench and steady the machine in its
movements (as in figures 1 and 2) and also to give a point of attachment for
a guiding-handle M and for the steadying-bars, N and P. The metal parts of the
handle are fixed to the back of the plate K by screws m² m² and the rod m³ passes
through the roller that forms the grasping surface for the hand of the operator.
The half round socket N¹ on the back of the plate K receives the bent end of the
steadying bar N when this bar is used (as in figures 1 and 2) or the end of
the steadying bar P which is used when the machine is adjusted as shown in
figure 7 to run directly upon the edge of the work.
The bar N has a vertical position and is long enough to extend below the plate A.
It has a grooved roller mounted on a short stud n³ to travel upon a rail H that is
secured to the back side of the bench W. This steadying bar, roller and rail servo.

page_text: to keep the machine in upright position and counteract the sway produced by the
movements of the crank L.
In operating the machine without the work-bench W this bar N is removed and
the steadying bar P is substituted. It has an end p³ to fit the socket N' and a
crutch-piece p² on the opposite end to fit under the arm-pit of the operator.
This attachment leaves the two hands of the operator free to handle and control
the machine and work the crank, and it should be long enough to reach the arm-
pit when the crank and the guiding handle M are grasped, the one in the right, and
the other in the left hand.
As thus constructed the carriage is capable of running and working as well upon
thin light quality of material, as upon thicker and heavier qualities.
In the first-mentioned case the work-bench with its tracks to carry the machine
and its work-clamps to grasp and hold the edges of the material to be stitched is
made use of; while for the other class of work where the material is of sufficient
stiffness or body to suitably carry the machine, the work-bench may be dispensed
with and the machine be adjusted to sit astride of and grasp the material and in
such manner travel along directly upon its edges. The material in such case is
suspended vertically and lengthwise of the work room by means of cords and hooks
from overhead after the manner now employed in running carpet sewing machines
of this class.
The work-bench is a stout plank W set on edge at suitable height to accommodate
the operator standing—The rail H is fixed along the top, and against the front face
a narrow plate was nearly as practicable parallel with the rail; the upper edge of
this plate projecting above the top of the plank is notched as at w¹ (figures 1 and 4)
to form a rack for the feeding pawl or finger to work on, and in the front of the
plate a number of pointed pins w³ at short distances apart are fixed.
The two thicknesses of material are impaled on these points, and the clamping
bar X, composed of strips of wood or metal, with holes for the impaling pins, and
in sections of convenient length, is employed to hold and contine the top edges of
the material to receive the stitches. Clamps Y, with a fixed jaw y, and a movable
jaw y¹ (seen in figures 1 and 3) securely hold the clamping-bar X in place during
operations. These clamps are removed and shifted from front to back as the
machine advances along the work-bench, and in turn as each one is reached. The
top edge of the plate w on the bench affords a bearing for the jaw y, of the clamps,
and its body is bent or curved to carry it over clear of the material and bring the
pressure of the two jaws into line.
The movable jaw is composed of the thumb screw y' working through a threaded
socket y².
Progressive movement of the carriage is produced by the backward movement of
the feed lever D' and the engagement of the feed pawl D with the rack on the
bench. Face-cam C₁ operates the feed-lever and by throwing the lower end
outward it presses the feed-pawl end against the notched plate, which point then
forms a fulcrum for the lever and causes the machine to advance a distance the
extent of which is regulated by the length of movement at the lower end of the
feed lever. The spring f², holds the feed-lever against the can. The use of
a groove cam will enable this spring to be dispensed with.
.
To regulate the length of stitch, a contact plate D is fixed to the inner side of
the lever D' so that this end of the lever can be set away from the centre of the
cam a greater or less distance. This part is a spring-tongue fixed at d³ to the
lever and its lower end rests against a set-screw D³ in the end of the feed-lever from 5
the front. The throw of the feed lever is then diminished by setting out this
part D³ to meet the cam, and the length of the stitches is shortened accordingly.
The fulcrum of the feed lever is an eccentric e³ set in bearings on the bracket d,
and by means of a handle D' this cam is turned to throw the center of the lever
in or out for the purpose of bringing the feed into and out of action to start and 5
stop the machine.

page_text: For running directly upon the material the machine is provided with the nipper
feed (shown in figures 5 and 6).
The nippers of this device by grasping the material at each movement of the
feed lever forms a fulcrum point in lieu of the pawl and notched bar in the other
style of feed mechanism. This nipper feed consists of dogs S¹ with sorrated faces
and loosely pivoted to the ends of two curved bars S S that work in tho
brackets S, one fixed to the plate, A and the other directly opposite to the plate K.
At the front ends the bars S, S, aro inserted through the loop a on the top of the
plate A. In place of the feed-pawl, a beak r with wedge-shaped sides is fixed by a
screw to the end of the feed lever.
Two slots, p, p, are provided in this end D of the feed-lever, one to receive the
screw of the feed pawl, and the other for the binding screw used to fix this beak T.
The necessity of these two slots arises from the difference in the position of the
center of the machine that is found to change as the plate K, is moved towards
the plate A in setting the two plates to the thickness of the material. The feeding
jaws S¹, work through slots A in the plates A, K.
The roller Q, has a deep groove with inclined faces; it is set to run upon the
edges of the material and it serves both as a guide and a presser to bring the two
thicknesses of the material together in advance of the point where the needle
penetrates. Vertical adjustinent of this roller is obtained by fixing its bracket d'
to the front of the needle-arm box A' by the screw that works through a slot.
When the machine is arranged for operation with the work-bench, it is carried
along the fixed track by the rollers g, g fixed at G to the back of the needle-arm
box; but in the application of the machine to work without the work-bench these
rollers, g, are inoperative, and the machine is carried along by the roller, Q, and a
smaller roller Q' at the rear, which is held in an ear or extension p at the top rear
corner of the plato A.
In the feeding operation of the nipper foed the wedge r is pressed in between the.
ends of the bars S S, and the jaws grasp the material between them; at the
reverse movement of the feed lever D' the wedge withdraws and the sinall
springs S throw out the feed points.
The smaller end of the wedge r curves downwardly to enter the slit between the
two thicknesses of material being stitched together, and its office is to turn in the
threads and ragged edges or nap in advance of the needle and feed.
In the application of our improved machine, however, for operation directly upon
the edges of the material and where continual use for such purpose renders the
adjustment of parts before described altogether unnecessary the two plates may be
fixed in position and the plate K therefore made stationary instead of movable.
Combined with these parts of frame or carriage and feeding mechanism are the
necessary needle and looper operating mechanism and tension devices, but as the
particular constructions of these necessary parts to form a complete operativo
machine are no part of our present invention and the same can be supplied and.
combined with these our improvements by any mechanic familiar with the
construction and operation of sewing machinery generally.
The substitution of one kind of feeding device for the other and the provision
for adjustment of the plates A K, as well as for the change in the character of
steadying-bar required, will enable one machine to be used for several kinds of
work when such adjustinent is provided according to our said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1 In a carpet sewing-machine the combination with the stitch forming and
the feeding mechanism, of the two plates A and K supporting said mechanism; one
of said plates being provided at the top with an arm extending across over the
other plate, and the other of said plates being secured adjustably to the said arm,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2 The combination of box A2 fixed depending plate A having stud A', and
brackets b d and the actuating mechanism connected therewith, and rear plate K,
having a guide handle and adapted to slide laterally to and from the fixed plate,
and a binding screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3 The combination of the frame adapted to travel astride of the edges of the
material to be stitched together, the carrying wheels g, ga work supporting
bench W with a fixed track, the clamps wx and the steadying bar having n
traction wheel or roller and the guide rail H¹ substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
4 The combination of the traveling machine adapted to carry all the stitch-
forming mechanism and to rest astride of and move over the edges of the material
to be stitched, a work supporting bench having a guide-track for the frame, and a
clamping device to hold the material in a vertical position, a fixed rack placed in
relation to the guide track as described, a pawl or vibrating finger D and operating
mechanism on said frame the movements of which cause the finger to engage with
the fixed rack and progress the entire machine step by step substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
5 The combination with the adjustable traveling frame having a horizontally
reciprocating needle and vibrating looper, of the fixed lever D' having the headl Do
in which are two slots and the inter changeable feeding devices to bo secured in the
slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6 The combination of the stationary bench W, track H, notched plate w clamps X
and movable clamps Y, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7 The combination of stationary bench W, track H, notched plate w clamp-
bar X, movable clamp Y, and lower guide rail H¹ carrying frame, and steadying
bar N, with roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8 The combination with the carrying-frame, of the steadying bar P, having the
crutch-piece on one end, and on the other end a part adapted to take into a socket
on the frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9 The combination with the traveling-frame adapted to carry all the stitch-
ferming mechanism, of the nipper jaws S S, upon opposite sides of the frame,
having the dogs S₁ S₁, the wedge piece r, and mechanism whereby the outer ends
of said jaws are spread apart and their inner ends pressed together to grasp the
material, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10 The combination with the traveling frame having horizontally reciprocating
needle-carrier and vibrating looper, of the feed lover, with the wedge-piece 2, the
fixed loop us, the brackets 80, nipper jaws supported by brackets 8 and the openings
in the plates A K, substantially as an for the purpose set forth.
11 The combination with the traveling frame having horizontally reciprocating
needle carrier and looper, of the brackets SS feed-bars S, S, and dogs S¹ S¹
pivoted on said bars, the binding screws t, wedge piece r, actuating lever D¹, and
cam for operating said lever substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1 of Tamu 100K