IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR STITCHING BOOKS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of 123, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
STITCHING BOOKS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES." A communication from abroad
by Carl Theine. of Minden, Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th September 1877.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of 123, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR STITCHING BOOKS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
A communication from abroad by Carl Theine, of Minden, Germany.
This Invention relates to improvements in the machines for stitching books or
other similar articles. The improved machine is similar in principle to the sewing
machine as regards the mechanical production of the stitching puncture, but entirely
new as regards the mechanical arrangements by which the self-acting bolting and
the isochronism of the books to be sewn are produced, as well as in the contrivance
for greasing. It consists of two endless straps passing over rollers so arranged in
front of the machine that the books or other similar articles to be stitched are
carried between the said straps and continually brought to and pushed away from
the stitching needle.
On the shaft or spindle of the hand wheel, which gives motion to the machine,
is secured a spur pinion gearing into two spur wheels mounted respectively on their
spindles at the upper and lower portions of the periphery of the pinion, and by their
rotation producing the alternate motion of the needle sliding bolt and shuttle as
herein-after described.
First. To Produce the Alternate Motion of the Needle.-The shaft or spindle of
the upper spur wheel is extended through the head of the machine, and carries at
its front end a crank plate, provided with a pin, which turns itself round a heart-
shaped spring coupled with the shank of the needle in such a manner as to cause
the alternate upward and downward motion of the latter, whereby the needle makes
the required punctures and tightens the fathom or stitching cord in its highest
position.

page_text: Second. The Sliding Bolt Motion. The shaft or spindle of the lower spur weehl
carries at its opposite end, underneath the table of the machine, a crank which
communicates by a pin with a second crank, on the axis of which is a cam or
eccentric which gives motion to the sliding bolt or "directrix," and a second cam or
eccentric shaped lifting piece for raising simultaneously the "protractor" or "pusher
forward," which cominunicates with the sliding bolt or " directrix," and by their joint
action the shifting of the book or other article being stitched is effected. The
sliding bolt or "directrix" after being acted upon by the cam or eccentric is
brought back to its normal position by a spiral or other spring. An adjustable
screw or "puncture regulator" is also provided for the purpose of regulating the
throw or motion of the sliding bolt or "directrix" to varying sizes.
Third. Motion of the Shuttle.-The alternate motion of the shuttle is effected by
a crank connected with the cranks and pin before named, and with the sledge to
which the shuttle box is secured. This sledge is mounted and works between
guides forming the upper and lower edges of a hole or break in one of the vertical
webs on the under side of the table. The shuttle lies free in its box, and contains a
small reel or bobbin, the ends of its fathoms or cords being brought out through
small eyes above the shuttle in order to catch the loops and make the threads.
Fourth. Upper Directrix of the Fathom or Stitching Cord.-The fathom or
stitching cord passes from the reel or bobbin, mounted on the top of the machine,
through a passage in the framework of a cylinder or drum, round which it is wound
one or more times as required; it then passes through another hole or passage
in the opposite framework of the said drum, and through a hole or passage in
the upper part of a contrivance for greasing the cord, then through a fixed
guide or passage at the front of the machine to another guide on the upper end
of the needle shank, thence to the holdfast of the cord through a small eye in
the nip screw, holding the needle to its shank and then to the chamfer of the
needle, through its eye and back again in an upward direction. The free end of
this cord, as well as that of the reel or bobbin in the shuttle, must be clinched with
the hand before the begining of the work. The contrivance for greasing the
cord consists of a box through which the cord in passing is caused continually to
touch the grease contained therein. In passing out at the opposite side the
superfluous grease taken up by the cord is rubbed off and returned to the box.
Fifth. Pressing Rod and Contrivance for Greasing. -For holding the book during
the stitching, and giving the necessary pressure during the forward action of the
sliding bolt and protractors, a vertically sliding rod is arranged in front of the
machine, over the book straps, and is furnished with a foot piece or plate, which is
depressed upon the upper book strap at proper times by means of a hand lever or
other device, the rod being raised again or taken off by a spiral spring at its upper
end. A cylindrical funnel parallel to a short distance from its upper end, but
curved and tapering at its lower end, is filled with grease and arranged in front of
the needle. It is provided at its upper or parallel end with a piston, which, being
depressed, forces out the grease through the tapered end on to the needle, which is
thereby prevented from heating; the piston is raised by a spiral spring.
Sixth. Guidance of the Books and Self-acting Slide.-To give guidance to the
books a bracket or knee is screwed or fixed on the table in parallel line with the
books, whilst a second adjustable bracket or knee on the opposite side of the books
presses the latter against the first-named bracket or knee." The upper and lower
endless straps, before mentioned, and between which the books are carried, pass over
flanged (or other guiding) rollers at the ends of the table, and are parallel to each
other for the whole length of the table; the upper strap is caused to press upon or
grip the books by means of spring rollers arranged at intervals along the upper face
of the strap. The rollers at the end of the table, round which the upper strap
revolves, are adjustable to suit books of varying thicknesses. The action of this
self-acting strap slide is such, that not only the book or other article to be stitched,
but all the following ones, are carried forward by equal distances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
March 1878.
A
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of 123, Chancery Lane, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR STITCHING BOOKS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
communication from abroad by Carl Theine, of Minden, Germany.
This Invention relates to improvements in the machines for stitching books or
other similar articles, the improved machine being similar in principle to the sewing
machine as regards the mechanical production of the stitching puncture, but entirely
new as regards the mechanical arrangements by which the self-acting bolting
and the isochronism of the books to be sewn are produced, as also in the contrivances
for greasing. It consists principally of two endless straps passing over rollers so
arranged in front of the machine that the books or other similar articles to be
stitched are carried between the said straps and continually brought to and pushed
away from the stitching needle.
On the shaft or spindle of the hand wheel which gives motion to the machine is
secured a spur pinion gearing into two spur wheels, mounted respectively on their
spindles at the upper and lower portions of the periphery of the pinion, and by their
rotation producing the alternate motion of the needle sliding bolt and shuttle as
hereafter described.
And in order that the said Invention may be well understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the
accompanying Drawing, like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation of the improved machine; Figure 2 a
sectional plan; and Figure 3 a side sectional elevation thereof.
Firstly. To Produce the Alternate Motion of the Needle.-The shaft or spindle of
the upper spur wheel b is extended through the head of the machine, and carries at
its front end the crank plate c, the pin of which turns itself round a heart-shaped
spring d, connected with the shank of the needle, the latter being secured to the
lower end of the shank by the little nip screw f. By turning the crank plate c and
its crank pin, which has an alternate motion in the spring d, an upward and down-
ward movement of the shank takes place, whereby the needle makes the required
punctures and tightens the fathom or stitching cord in its highest position.
Secondly. The Slide Bolt Motion. The shaft or spindle of the lower spur wheel
b' carries at its front end, underneath the table of the machine, the crank c¹, which
communicates by a pin or bolt with the crank c², on the axis d of which is a cam
or eccentric, which pushes forward the sliding bolt or directrix h², and a second
cam or eccentric e², which lifts simultaneously the protractor or "pusher forward "
9, the latter communicating with the sliding bolt or directrix h2, and by their joint
action the shifting of the book or other article being stitched is effected. For
adjusting the slide bolt or directrix 2 to varying sizes an adjustable screw or punc-
ture regulator is provided, which checks the return of the directrix h2 and the
protractor g, and by means of a small leather pad on its end the stroke of the
directrix is softened. The sliding bolt or directrix h², after being acted upon by the
cam or eccentric f², is brought back to its normal position by a spiral (or other)
spring, as shewn.
Thirdly. Motion of the Shuttle.-The alternate motion of the shuttle is effected
by a crank c³, which is connected with the crank c' and with the sledge d³, to which
The
it communicates a reciprocating motion agreeing with that of the shuttle.
sledge dis mounted and works between guides forming the upper and lower edges
of a hole or break in one of the vertical webs on the under side of the table, and to
it is secured a shuttle box, in which the shuttle flies free, and contains a small reel
or bobbin g³, the ends of the fathoms or cords of which are brought out through
small eyes above the shuttle in order to catch the springe or loop and make the
threads.

page_text: Fourthly. Upper Directrix of the Fathom or Cord.-The fathom or stitching cord
passes from the reel or bobbin v, mounted on the top of the frame, through a passage
or directrix in the framework of a cylinder or drum p, round which it is wound
one or more times as required; it then passes through another hole or "directrix "
in the top of the opposite framework of the said cylinder, and through another hole
or "directrix" in the upper part of a box or contrivance q for greasing the cord,
then towards the bottom of the box or contrivance q, round or over a notch formed
thereat, by which it is always held near the bottom and so continually takes up the
grease contained in the box or contrivance. It then passes upwards and out of the
box or contrivance between its cover and a piece of gum or other suitable
material pressed against the latter, whereby the superfluous grease is rubbed off and
falls back into the box or contrivance q. The fathom or cord then passes through
the fixed directrix r, on the front part of the machine, through the directrix 8 of
the needle shank to the holdfast t of the fathom or cord, and lastly through a small
eye in the nip screw f to the chamfer of the needle, and through the eye back again
in an upward direction. The free end of this cord, as well as that of the reel or
bobbin in the shuttle, must be clinched with the hand before the beginning of the
work so as to bend the first threads.
Fifthly. Presser Rod and Contrivance for Greasing.-For holding the book
during the stitching, and giving the necessary pressure during the forward action of
the sliding bolt h² and protractor g², a vertically sliding rod g is arranged in front
of the machine over the double straps w, w¹, between which the books are carried, as
before mentioned. This rod g is formed at its lower end with a foot piece or plate,
which is depressed upon the upper strap w¹ at the proper time by means of the
hand lever, as shewn (or other device), and raised again or taken off the said strap
by spiral spring at the upper end of the rod g. For preventing the latter coming
down too often during the stitching it is provided with a small removable aud
adjustable slider i, resting on the pin k, and below this is a bow I screwed to the rod
g for working the contrivance for greasing the needle, which consists of a cylin-
drical funnel m parallel to a short distance from its upper end, but curved and
tapering at its lower end, where it is bent forwards towards the needle, as shewn.
The funnel m is filled with grease, and is provided at its upper or parallel end with
a piston and rod n, which, being depressed by the bow before mentioned, forces
out the grease through the tapered end on to the needle, which is theroby lubricated
and prevented from heating during the stitching.
Sixthly. Guidance of the Books and Self-acting Slide.-To give guidance to the
books a bracket or knee u is screwed or fixed on the table in parallel line with the
books, whilst a second adjustable bracket or knee v on the opposite side presses the
books always against the fixed knee u. The two endless straps w, w¹, between
which the books are carried, are parallel to each other for the whole length of the
table, and each strap passes over two flanged or other suitable guiding rollers
mounted in slotted or adjustable bearings, one at each end of the table, as shewn.
The upper strap w³ also passes round or over a third roller of similar construction
fixed on the top or headpiece of the machine and the lower strap w, round or over
two similar rollers mounted below the table, as shewn. By the adjustment of these
rollers the straps w, w', can be tightened and set to the varying thicknesses of the
books. Three (or more) spring rollers x1, x2, 3, are screwed or mounted on the
fixed bracket or knee u at intervals along the upper face of the strap w¹³, upon
which they constantly bear, and by the pressure produced the book to be stitched,
and with it the following books, will be carried an equal distance.
Seventhly. Stitching-As before mentioned the turning of the crank wheel A
effects the simultaneous motion of the wheels b and b¹, and with them the needle,
shuttle, and sliding bolt or directrix h². When the needle has transfixed the book,
and is returning, the formation of the springe or loop takes place; at the same
moment it will be caught by the progressive motion of the shuttle, which will now a
be going through it with the fathom or cord of its reel or bobbin; and as the needle
is returning the bending of the springe or loop is effected, which lasts to the highest

page_text: position of the needle. Before that period (after the needle has left the lubricator)
the lift follows, and at the same time the sliding of the protractor g³. When the
eccentric fs has reached its highest position the eccentric e² lets fall the protractor
g2, which returns empty, and the stitching needle begins a new play in the manner
described. By which it is evident that at every slide the books between the two
straps w, w, are pushed forward an equal distance, the stitching follows therefore
without a break as long as new books are supplied to the straps w, w', thus
rendering this machine superior to all others in its mechanical effect and exact
work.
The shuttle of this machine has a joint on its thick end, where a lift a, b, is
located, which bears the thread roller. The roller made of metal is placed on the
lift a, b, and can be placed with the latter inside the shuttle. The beam c (also
fastened to a joint) to fasten the lift is laid over the notch d, and so clinched by a
spring f. The machine may also have a contrivance to sew with, a glue fathom,
also a prick punch, which works up and down parallel to the shank of the needle,
and pricks before every puncture to the needle; as soon as the papers intended for a
book are seized they receive above and beneath the back, according to the thickness
of the book, narrow or down going strips of stuff or linen smeared with glue, which
are basted together with the back, and are fitted for the band, which is glued after-
wards into the cap.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, in machines for stitching books
or other similar articles, the combination and arrangement of the entire mechanism
for producing the self-acting, bolting, and isochronism of the books, with the con-
trivances for greasing, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
T
HHATRA
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)