IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DARNING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Holmes, of King Street, in the City of Norwich,
Corn Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
DARNING"
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 23rd June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Holmes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1879.
ROBERT HOLMES, of King Street, in the City of Norwich, Corn Merchant.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DARNING."
"
⚫ IM-
My Invention consists of an arrangement in which several needles, which are
fixed side by side at proper intervals, each having near its point an eye carrying a
thread, are simultaneously thrust through the fabric to be darned, and another
thread is passed through the row of loops formed by the slackening of the threads
as the needles begin to return, so that when the needles are withdrawn a row of
stitches is formed, and the fabric to be darned being then moved by the feed a short
distance in a direction at right angles to the line of stitches, and the process being
repeated at proper intervals a strip of the fabric (the width of which depends on the
number of needles used) is covered with a complete darn.
The under or cross thread may be carried either by a shuttle or by a recipro-
cating bar, by either of which it is passed along close to the row of needles, and
between them and the threads they carry, which are at that moment slackened by
the needles having backed slightly, and in the latter case I employ a catch, by
which the cross thread is caught when the bar having reached its farthest point
has commenced its return, and by which it is held while the bar is returning. I
also employ an arrangement in connection with the reciprocating bar, by which
the tension of the thread it carries is governed and the quantity of thread required
for the row of stitches made by each thrust of the reciprocating bar is unwound
from the spool by the return motion of the bar ready for the next thrust.
I arrange the feed so as to carry the article to be darned at right angles to the
line in which the needles are placed.
The number of needles I employ varies according to the width of the space it is
intended to darn. For ordinary household use I prefer to employ about twelve,

page_text: which I fix in a suitable needle carrier driven by either of the arrangements usual
in sewing machines for driving the needle.
I provide suitable cams and other mechanism by which the parts before described
are actuated and controlled, together with means of regulating the tension and sup-
porting the spools (of which there is one to supply each needle); also suitable
frame, treadle, and fly wheel, or apparatus for turning by hand, similar to those of
an ordinary sewing machine.
I prefer to use comparatively fine cotton for the needles, and a stouter, softer
kind for the cross thread, carried by the reciprocating bar or shuttle so as to pre-
serve the fair appearance of the right surface of the fabric.
The darning thus done is complete when the fabric to be darned is only worn
thin, or when two edges have to be darned together, as in the case of a tear, but
when a hole has to be darned it is better after having been once over it to pass it
a second time through the machine, which I prefer to do in a direction oblique to
that in which it was passed the first time, by which means the failure of the threads
to interlace with each other, which takes place when there is no intervening fabric,
is effectually remedied.
Machines made according to my Invention may if required be so constructed as
to be convertible into sewing machines, for which purpose I provide in machines
intended to be convertable means for exchanging the row of needles for a single
needle, and for effecting the necessary changes and modification in other parts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
December 1879.
ROBERT HOLMES, of King Street, in the City of Norwich, Corn Merchant.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DARNING."
-
"IM-
My Invention consists of an arrangement in which several needles, which are
fixed side by side at proper intervals, each having near its front an eye carrying a
thread, are simultaneously thrust through the fabric to be darned, and another
thread is passed through the row of loops formed by the slackening of the threads
as the needles begin to return, so that when the needles are withdrawn a row of
stitches is formed, and the fabric to be darned being then moved by the feed a short
distance in a direction at right angles to the line of stitches, and the process being
repeated at proper intervals a strip of the fabric (the width of which depends on the
number of needles used) is covered with a complete darn.
The under or cross thread is carried by a reciprocating bar or piece acting
as a shuttle, by means of which it is passed along close to the row of needles, and
between them and the threads they carry, which are at that moment slackened by
the needles having backed slightly, and I employ a catch, by which the cross
thread is caught when the bar having reached its furthest point has commenced its
return, and by which it is held while the bar is returning. I also employ an
arrangement in connection with the reciprocating bar, by which the tension of the
thread it carries is governed, and the quantity of thread required for the row of
stitches made by each trust of the reciprocating bar is unwound from the spool by
the return motion of the bar ready for the next thrust.
I arrange the feed so as to carry the article to be darned at right angles to the
line in which the needles are placed.
The number of needles I employ varies according to the width of the space it is
intended to darn. For ordinary household use I prefer to employ about 12, which
I fix in a suitable needle carrier driven by either of the arrangements usual in
sewing machines for driving the needle.
I provide suitable cams and other mechanism by which the parts before described
are actuated and controlled, together with means of regulating the tension and
supporting the spools (of which there is one to supply each needle), also suitable
frame, treadle, and fly wheel or apparatus for turning by hand similar to those of
an ordinary sewing machine.
I prefer to use comparatively fine cotton for the needles, and a stouter, softer
kind for the cross thread, carried by the reciprocating bar or shuttle so as to pre-
serve the fair appearance of the right surface of the fabric.
The darning thus done is complete when the fabric to be darned is only worn
thin, or when two edges have to be darned together, as in the case of a tear, but
when a hole is to be darned it is better after having been once over it to pass it a
second time through the machine, which I prefer to do in a direction oblique to
that in which it was passed the first time, by which means the failure of the threads
to interlace with each other, which takes place when there is no intervening fabric,
is effectually remedied.
The mechanical arrangements by which these results may be obtained are very
numerous, and may be constructed either as independent machines or as attach-
ments to sewing machines slightly modified from the well known constructions now
commonly on sale.
Such attachments for darning purposes are actuated by the motive power of the
ordinary sewing machines, and connected in such a manner that the sewing
inechanism can be disconnected and the darning parts attached for use.
In order that the manner of carrying my Invention into practical effect may be
fully understood I shall now proceed more particularly to describe, first, a machine

page_text: for darning only, and then an arrangement to be used as an attachment to a sewing
machine, and for that purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed
Sheets of Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 represent side views of a darning
machine, which is of the same construction as an ordinary sewing machine of the
kind known as Thomas's No. 1, except in those parts which have special reference
to the work it is intended to accomplish, and which with others are more par-
ticularly hereinafter described; Figure 3 is a plan of the same machine; Figure 4
is a plan of the arm containing the reciprocating bar and appurtenances for carrying
and controlling the under thread, the cover being removed in order to shew the
mechanism; Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 shew separately several parts indicated by their
letters of reference.
A indicates the main shaft which is turned either by the driving sheave B at the
one end or the usual handle C at the other, and which carries two discs D and E,
each with an eccentric groove or cam indicated by the letters F and G respectively,
also the smaller cams H and I.
The lever K working on the fulcrum K' transmits the motion from the cam I to
the feeder to which it gives a vertical notion, the horizontal motion of the feeder
being transmitted to it from the cam H by the lever shaft L and the levers L'
and L. The lever M working on the fulcrum M¹ transmits motion from the cam F
in the disc D to the needle bar H. The cams F, H, and I, and the parts K, L, L', L²,
and M, are the same as those used in a sewing machine of the kind known as
Thomas's No. 1, as also are the frame and other parts not specially mentioned.
The parts in which this machine differs therefrom are the following:-The needle
carrier O attached to the needle bar H' are constructed to carry the number of
needles required, according to the width of the darn it is intended to make at one
operation (I prefer to use about 12), and which is shewn separately at Figure 5.
The spools (of which there is one for each needle) are carried by a small frame P
on two horizontal bars which are retained in their position by the screws Q, and
may be lifted out of their bearings when the spools require to be refilled. From
these spools the threads pass over the bar P and between the tension discs R, from
which they pass to the take up or guide S through a separate eye in which each
thread passes, and which guide works on the pivot T and is lifted by the lever M
when the needles rise, and lowered by the hook U as they descend; from this the
threads pass through a row of eyes forming part of the needle holder O and thence
to the needles.
The lower mechanism receives its motion from the cam G which is shewn
separately in Figure 6, and which communicates the motion to the bars V and V1
which are shewn in Figure 4, and more clearly in plan and elevation in Figure 7.
A hook W shewn separately in plan and elevation in Figure 8, working on the
pivot a, has its tail end held firmly against the bar V₁ by the spring b, so that as
the bar V passes backwards and forwards, the point c of the hook is caused to
advance as the thick part of the bar shewn at d passes the tail of the hook. The
bar V has an eye e to carry the under thread which is supplied from a spool X,
and passes through the tension discs f and thence through a fixed eye g, thence
under the bar V to an eye h on the bar V₁ and thence to the eye e.
As the needle bar H begins to rise the compound har V, VI, is thrust rapidly
forward by the cam G through the loops formed at that moment by the threads
from the spools at P until the eye has passed the needles, and then just as it has
commenced its return the thick part of the bar V₁ at d, acting on the tail of the
hook W, causes its point c to be thrust forward through the loop which is formed at
that moment in the slackened thread from the spool ✗ which it holds while the
bar V₁ is returning, until the thick part d has passed the tail end of the hook W.
The thread being thus firmly held while the bar is receding, the eye e passes along
the thread and the eye h draws a fresh supply of thread off the spool and through
the eye gready for the next stitch.
The cam GI make of the form shewn in the Drawing.
As an example of the manner of applying my Invention as an attachment to a

page_text: "
sewing machine, I will take a machine of the well known Singer construction, and
known as the New Family Singer Machine," and will describe the necessary
modifications therein and the attachments to be used there with for darning.
Figure 9 represents a plan of the underside of the bed plate of such a machine
with the parts immediately connected therewith as modified for darning; Figure 10
is a similar plan of the bed plate, but shews also the cam and its connections for
darning; Figure 11 is an end view of the bridge and slide and the darning cam
which is fixed rigidly to the slide; Figure 12 represents the needle bar and carrier;
Figure 13, the feed and throat plate; Figure 15, the crank plate at the lower
extremity of the vertical shaft which usually drives the shuttle, and which I modify
in form slightly so as to carry the additional pin and roller q which works in and
drives the camp, but which is removable when the machine is wanted for sewing.
The general form and motive power I leave untouched, and to the under side of
the bed plate m of the machine, imediately underneath the upright shaft which
is seen in section at n, Figure 9, I fix a bridge consisting of two transverse
bearers o, o, connected together at their ends and carrying a slide p¹ upon which
the camp is fixed. The cam p is actuated by a movable pin and roller q on the
crank plater which is part of the sewing machine, and is shewn separately at
Figure 15 slightly modified in forin to give room for attaching the pin q. I fix to
the bed plate m bevilled guides 8, 8, in which the reciprocating bar t slides, and
which is connected with the slide p' by a movable stud p², such guides being in
the position shown in Figures 9 and 10 so as to cause the reciprocating bar to
work in its proper position against the face plate of the shuttle race u, in which
I provide as many vertical grooves as there are needles for the latter to work in.
To make room for the guides 8, s, I slightly alter the shape and width of the lever
v which actuates the feed, whereby it takes the form shewn in Figure 9.
Immediately beside the slide in which the shuttle carrier runs 1 place the hooked
lever w, which turns on the pivot x at the end of the bar y, which bar works in a short
slide in the bed plate, and has a slot and set screw by means of which the hooked
lever w can be carried forward when required for use, or he withdrawn and secured
when the machine is used for sewing, and I attach to the bed a spring m² to keep
the tail end of the hooked lever pressed against the reciprocating bar t. At the spot
shown by the dotted lines ¹, underneath the shuttle carrier slide, I cut a slot or
opening to admit of the end of the hooked lever w being brought forward when
required. I find it also necessary to slightly lengthen the shuttle race u, so that the
shuttle carrier may pass out of the way of the darning apparatus and be left in situ
when disconnected for the machine to be used for darning. I alter the upper face
of the feed and the throat plate to the form shewn at Figure 13, also the presser
foot, so that they can be used for one or more needles as the machine is required for
darning or sewing. I also provide a suitable needle carrier, shewn with part of the
needle bar at h¹ in Figure 12, for darning, which can be changed for oue to hold
only one needle for sewing, which is shewn at h² in Figure 12. I place the spools
carrying the cotton for the upper needles on the arm of the machine where the spool
is generally placed, employing suitable supports, and carry the threads theuce
through tension discs attached to the same arm, regulated by a spiral spring and
The threads are carried thence through the "take up," which is shewn
at Figure 14, in which R' is a plan of the take up, shewing also a part of the head
of the machine. R2 is a side elevation of the same, R³ is a front elevation of part
of the head of the machine shewing the take up m', and R is a front elevation of
the darning take up, which I attach to the sewing take up by means of the slot and
screw; thence the threads are carried direct to the needles. The spool containing
the cotton for the reciprocating bar is placed on a stud fixed in the top side of the
bed plate over the point marked c¹ in Figure 9, and carried thence through a hole
in the bed plate shewn at d' in Figure 9, and thence through the fixed eye fl and
through an eye attached to the reciprocating bar marked g', and thence through the
eye at the point of the reciprocating bar.
set screw.
When the machine has been arranged for sewing, and it is desired to use it for

page_text: darning, it is necessary to make the following changes:-The single needle clamp
or holder must be replaced by that with several needles; the additional thread take
up must be attached to the ordinary one; the shuttle connecting rod must be
detached from the crank r, the shuttle removed, and the shuttle carrier pushed up
to the end of the shuttle race; the pin q inust then be inserted, and the pin p³ and
the hook w brought and secured forward by means of the sliding bar y and set
screw.
What I claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is, constructing a machine for darning either alone or combined with
a sewing machine, or in the form of attachments to be used therewith, in which a
row of needles, each carrying a thread, is thrust through the fabric to be darned,
and another thread is passed through the series of loops then formed by the opera-
tion of a reciprocating bar or piece acting as a shuttle, the latter thread being caught
and held while the reciprocating bar or piece returns, so as to form a succession of
darning stitches, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Holmes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Signed and sealed by the above
named Robert Holmes in the
presence of
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Patent Agent,
91, Queen Street,
Cheapside, E.C.
ROBERT HOLMES. (L.S.)