IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DRIVING THE SAME, SO AS TO RENDER THEM SELF-ACTING
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Watkins, of 30, St. George's Square, Regent's
Park Road, in the County of Middlesex, Horologist, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR DRIVING
THE SAME, SO AS TO RENDER THEM SELF-ACTING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Watkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August 1881.
ALEXANDER WATKINS, of 30, St. George's Square, Regent's Park Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Horologist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR DRIVING THE SAME, SO AS TO RENDER THEM SELF-
ACTING."
My Invention relates to improvements on the Invention described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to me, and bearing date 19th November 1877,
No. 4326, and consists in the first place in adapting and applying to sewing
machines, as therein described, an apparatus for regulating the tension of the
thread, consisting of two plates, between which the thread passes, such plates
being pressed together as required by means of a screw and spring. The
thread passes from the reel between the said plates and thence to the needle as
usual.
"
My Invention relates in the second place to the lower thread holder, which
consists of a bar screwed on to a moveable plate, to which bar is fixed a spring, on
the end of which is fitted a brush to hold the loop previous to its being
drawn up. This brush can be adjusted as required by means of a screw and
nut.
My Invention consists in the third place in an arrangement to work the looper.
For this purpose there is fixed on the main shaft a pinion and disc that holds the
looper, into which pinion gears a pinion nut of larger diameter, on which is fixed an
excentric which revolves with the said pinion and pinion nut, thereby moving the
work along as required. My Invention relates in the fourth place, to an

page_text: instantaneous brake, consisting of a lever bar, which is caused to act on a spring
screwed to the base plate at one end, the other part of the spring being curved, so
as to press on the circumference of a metal disc on the main shaft. My Invention
consists in the fifth place in making the lifter for the presser bar with a slot both
at the top and bottom for the purpose of easing the motion in lifting the foot or
presser bar. And my Invention relates in the last place to improvements in the
driving apparatus. This consists of a shaft with a block or solid cylinder of wood
to revolve on two journals. On the said shaft is fitted one or more skeleton rollers
to receive the spring band or bands, which are stationary instead of circum-
volving as in ordinary applications. Connected to the said block is a cord or
chain, the other end of which is connected to a parabolic spiral on a shaft revolving
and on which are or may be placed one or more tapered elastic bands, according to
the amount of pressure or power required to aid the parabolic spiral. On the
spiral is attached a wheel acting thereon and gearing into a pinion in connection
with one
or more driving wheels connected to the driving shaft of the
machine.
In order to reduce the power or resistance in winding a large toothed wheel is
fixed on the outside end of the shaft that carries the parabolic spiral, into which
is geared a pinion and other wheels if required. A modification of the driving
apparatus consists of a shaft with one or more skeleton rollers and tapered
springs or bands, on one of which rollers is fixed a wheel for driving, which
wheel gears into a pinion in connection with one or more driving wheels, as before
stated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Watkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th February 1882.
ALEXANDER WATKINS, of 30, St. George's Square, Regent's Park Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Horologist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES AND
IN APPARATUS FOR DRIVING THE SAME, SO AS TO RENDER THEM SELF-
ACTING."
My Invention of "Improvements in Sewing Machines, and in Apparatus for
Driving the same, so as to render them Self-acting" relates to improvements on
the Invention described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me and bearing
date Nineteenth November, One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven,
No. 4326, and consists in the first place in adapting and applying to sewing
machines, as therein described, an apparatus for regulating the tension of the
thread, consisting of two plates between which the thread passes, such plates
being pressed together as required by means of a screw and spring. The
thread passes from the reel between the said plates and thence to the needle as
usual.
My Invention relates in the second place to the lower thread holder, which
consists of a bar screwed on to a moveable plate, to which bar is fixed a spring, on
the end of which is fitted a brush to hold the loop previous to its being
drawn up. This brush can be adjusted as required by means of a screw and
nut.
My Invention relates in the third place to an instantaneous brake, consisting of
a lever bar, which is caused to act on a spring screwed to the base plate at one end,
the other part of the spring being curved, so as to press on the circumference of a
metal disc on the main shaft.
And my Invention relates in the last place to improvements in the driving
apparatus. These consist of a shaft with a block or solid cylinder of wood to
revolve on two journals. On the said shaft is fitted one or more rollers with
flanges to receive the spring or springs, which are stationary instead of circum-
volving as in ordinary applications. Connected to the said block is a cord or
chain, the other end of which is connected to a parabolic spiral on a shaft capable
of revolving and on which are or may be placed one or more tapered elastic
bands, according to the amount of pressure or power required to aid the parabolic
spiral. On the spiral is attached a wheel acting thereon and gearing into a pinion
in connection with one or more driving wheels connected to the driving shaft of
the machine.
In order to reduce the power of resistance in winding, a large toothed wheel is
fixed on the outside end of the shaft that carries the parabolic spiral, into which is
geared a pinion and other wheels if required.
A modification of the driving apparatus consists of a shaft with one or more
flanged' rollers and tapered springs, on one of which rollers is fixed a wheel for
driving, which wheel gears into a pinion in connection with one or more driving
wheels, as before stated.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the improvements above

page_text: mounted, as shewn, the upper plate a being formed as shewn in Fig. 2, and the
lower plate b being a simple disc. The requisite tension is applied to the thread by
means of a screw within the spiral spring c.
In Figures 3 and 4 is represented the lower thread holder, consisting of a small
bar screwed on to a moveable or adjustable plate, to which bar is fixed a spring, on
the end of which is fitted a brush & to hold the loop previous to its being drawn
up; e is a screw by which the position of the brush can be adjusted as required.
In these two Figures is also represented the improved arrangement for working
the looper; f is a pinion fixed on the looper shaft, and g, the disc which holds the
looper; h is a pinion nut of larger diameter than the pinion f. On the pinion nut
is fixed an excentric i which revolves with the said pinion ƒ and pinion nut h,
thereby moving the work along as required..
In Figures 5 and 6 is represented an instantaneous brake, which may be applied
in addition to the gradual brake described in the Specification hereinbefore referred
to; j is a lever bar having its fulcrum at k, which is caused to act on a spring 1
screwed at one end to the base plate or board A, the other part of the spring being
curved so as to press on the circumference of the metal disc n on the looper shaft.
At Fig. 7 is represented the lifter for the presser bar with slots o; o, as shewn at
the top and bottom of the plate, and also an intermediate slot, so as to ease the
motion in lifting the foot and presser bar by providing additional points as guides
for the sliding plate.
In all other respects besides those above named, the parts of the machine are
similar to those described in the Specification hereinbefore referred to.
It is to be observed that the claims at the end hereof, referring to the parts
shewn in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, are to be understood as restricted to machines of
the kind referred to in the said former Patent.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the machine with the improved driving apparatus
combined therewith; A is the base plate or board on which the machine rests,
underneath which plate the driving apparatus is enclosed within a box or case only
partially shewn in the Figure.
B is a shaft on which is a pinion C gearing with a wheel D on the axis of the
parabolic spiral E, to which is connected on end of a line or chain F, the other end
of which is fixed to the block or solid cylinder of wood G, mounted so as to turn in
journals and having a shaft H, on which is fixed the roller with flanges (shewn by
dotted lines) to which are fastened one end of each of the volute springs I, I, the
other end of each spring being fastened to the back of the box or casing, or to a
horizontal bar or rod provided with suitable hooks for the purpose.
'
By means of the foregoing arrangement of the parts, on applying a key to the
square end of the shaft B, the parabolic spiral will be turned on its axis, and
thereby caused to take up the line or chain F as it is unwound from the block or
solid cylinder G, which will be turned so as to give motion to the roller with its
flanges, to which one end of each spring I is fastened, and thereby cause all the
springs to be simultaneously wound up, the requisite amount of mechanical force
being thus stored up in readiness to work the machine by the gradual reaction of
the springs I, I, through the gearing, by which motion is conveyed from the
parabolic spiral to the main shaft of the machine.
This gearing consists of the toothed wheel J working in the pinion K, on the
shaft of which is the wheel L working in the pinion, the shaft of which carries the
wheel N which transmits motion to the pinion O on the driving shaft P of the
machine, thereby giving motion to the several working parts of the sewing machine
in the same manner as in the Patent hereinbefore referred to; Q is the fly wheel
for equalizing the working of the machine.
It will thus be seen that by periodically winding up the springs, the machine
can be made to perform the work of a sewing machine, the speed of which can be
regulated as required by suitable means. It is also to be observed that the spring
power can be increased as required by means of additional flanged rollers and
springs.

page_text: Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a portion of the driving apparatus shewing the
gearing thereof.
A modification of the above arrangement may be made to consist in dispensing
with the parabolic spiral E, the line or chain F, and the cylinder G, and placing
the toothed wheel J on the end of one of the flanged rollers or on the end of the
shaft H, the remainder of the gearing being as represented and described. In this
case the springs I will be tapered. This modification is represented in Fig. 10
with one tapered spring.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner.
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as. of my
Invention is,-
First. The combination of parts employed for regulating the tension of the
thread constructed in the manner substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly. The use of a lower thread holder, such as is shown in Figures 3 and 4,
constructed and applied substantially as described.
Thirdly. The use of an instantaneous brake, such as is shewn in Figures 5
and 6, constructed and applied substantially as described..
Fourthly. The combination of parts forming the driving apparatus, constructed
substantially as described and illustrated.
Fifthly. The modification of the same as described and illustrated.
And, Lastly. The combination of the driving apparatus with a sewing machine,
as represented and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Watkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
FRANK REDMAN,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
ALEX. WATKINS. (L.S.)