Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, Edward DavIES, of 66 Hampton Road, in the City and County of Bristol,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention, which relates to that class of sewing machines in which the
needle-bar oscillates and which class is distinguished by the term "zig-zag,"
consists in improvements whereby such machines, whilst retaining their uses as
zig-zag machines for overseam or for plain sewing, are capable of employment for
sewing and barring" button-holes.
According to this invention the quadrant in which is contained the stud of the
lever through which the needle-bar is oscillated is extended so as to give a greater
range of oscillation or throw to the needle-bar. The said lever is continued back-
wards from the quadrant and is connected by a link to one arm of a bell-crank
lever pivotted in the frame of the machine. The other arm of the bell-crank lever
constitutes a handle whereby the operator determines the nature of the work to be
done.
The first mentioned arm of the bell-crank lever has play between two adjustable
stops fixed to the machine frame the distance apart of which stops governs the
width of stitch and width of button-hole bar. The pivot pin of the bell-crank
lever is extended through the frame and carries at the inner end a crank which is
connected by a link to one arm of a second bell-crank lever, the other arm of which
engages with a bar which extends forward under the base plate to the feed. The
presser foot above the feed is, instead of being closed, as heretofore, open so that
the position of the work in relation to the needle is seen by the operator.
When, in sewing button-holes, the point is reached at which a button-hole is to
end, the stud is moved up to an extent depending on the width of bar required.
This action causes, through the intervening mechanism above described, with-
drawal of the firm bearing of the feed lever and the feed of the material to the
needle is arrested. An extended stitch is then made by the needle at the end of
the button-hole and the feed being stationary the stitch is made at right angles to
the major axis of the hole and constitutes a bar at the button-hole end. A similar
bar is made across the other end when that is reached. A chain of button holes
may with a machine constructed in accordance with this invention be readily made
and barred.
When it is required to reconvert the machine for overseaming it is necessary
merely to operate the handle and lower the stud in the quadrant to the desired
extent. The bearing is thus restored to the feed lever.
If the stud be lowered to the bottom of the quadrant, then, as is usual, the
needle-bar has no oscillatory movement, but moves only vertically.
Dated this 4th dox of Wahmury 1801
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
1. EDWARD DAVIES, formerly of 66 Hampton Road, in the City and County of
Bristol, and now of Argyle Cottage, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, in the County of
Stafford, Machine Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention, which relates to that class of sewing machines in which the
needle-bar oscillates and which class is distinguished by the term "zig-zag,"
consists in improvements whereby such machines, whilst retaining their uses as
zig-zag machines for overseam or for plain sewing, are capable of employment for
sewing and barring" button-holes.
According to this invention the quadrant in which is contained the stud of the
lever through which the needle-bar is oscillated is extended so as to give a greater
range of oscillation or throw to the needle-bar. The said lever is continued back-
wards from the quadrant and is connected by a link to one arm of a bell-crank
lever pivotted in the frame of the machine. The other arm of the bell-crank lever
constitutes a handle whereby the operator determines the nature of the work to be
done. The first-mentioned arin of the bell-crank lever has play between two
adjustable stops fixed to the machine frame, the distance apart of which stops
governs the width of stitch and width of button-hole bar. The pivot pin of the
bell-crank lever is extended through the frame and carries at the inner end a
crank which is connected by a link to one arm of a second bell-crank lever, the
other arm of which engages with a bar which extends forward under the base plate
to the feed.
The presser foot above the feed is, instead of being closed, as heretofore, open
so that the position of the work in relation to the needle is seen by the operator.
When, in sewing button-holes, the point is reached at which a button-hole is to
end, the stud is moved up to an extent depending on the width of bar required.
This action causes, through the intervening mechanism above described, with-
drawal of the firm bearing of the feed lever and the feed of the material to the
needle is arrested. An extended stitch is then made by the needle at the end of
the button-hole and the feed being stationary the stitch is made at right angles to
the major axis of the hole and constitutes a bar at the button-hole end. A similar
bar is made across the other end when that is reached. A chain of button holes
may with a machine constructed in accordance with this invention be readily made
and barred.
When it is required to reconvert the machine for overscaming it is necessary
merely to operate the handle and lower the stud in the quadrant to the desired
extent. The bearing is thus restored to the feed lever.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. represents a side elevation, partly in section, of parts of a zig-zag
sewing machine fitted with mechanism arranged in accordance with this invention
whereby, while the machine retains its uses as a zig-zag machine, it is fitted for
sewing and barring button-holes.
Fig. 2 is a part plan of the underside of the bed plate, the machine being
reversed, that is to say, turned upside down.
The quadraut a in which is contained the stud of the lever c through which the
needle-bar dis rocked or oscillated is, according to this invention, of extended
length permitting a greater range of oscillatory movement than heretofore to the
needle-bar. The lever is continued backwards from the quadrant a and is con-
nected by a rode to the arm f of a bell-crank lever pivotted as at to the frame
of the machine. The other arm 2 of the said bell-crank lever constitutes a handle
by moving which the operator determines the nature of the work to be done. The

page_text: arm has a range of motion controlled by the adjustable stops screwed either to
the frame of the machine or to a plate fixed to the frame. The distance apart to
which these stops are adjusted governs the width of stitch and width of the
button-hole bar. The pivot pin is carried into the hollow frame of the machine
and connected at the inner end by a link k to a second bell-crank lever l, lone
arm of which engages with a bar m extending under the bed plate forward to the
feed. At the front end, that is to say at the end below the feed n, the bar m
carries a plate or block o which is rigidly fixed to it. The feed is carried upon
the feed lever p which is operated in the usual manner.
Towards its outer and free end the feed lever p is of reduced thickness as seen
in dotted lines at Fig. 1, and when the plate or block o is, by actuating the hand
lever accordingly, moved outwards so as to be withdrawn from below the thicker
part of the lever the latter being no longer supported thereby drops and the
feed falls below the top of the feed plate n¹. The feed is thus rendered
inoperative until again raised.
72.
In the machine illustrated in the drawing the feed is lowered as above
described by moving the stud upwards in the quadrant a and this operation takes
place when, in sewing, the point is reached at which a button-hole is to end, the
stud being simultaneously with the lowering of the feed moved in the quadrant a
to an extent depending on the width of bar required for the button-hole. The
stitch is then made at the end of the button-hole, and the feed being inoperative
the stitch is made at right angles to the major axis of the hole and constitutes a
bar at the end thereof. A similar bar is made at the other end of the button-hole
when that point is reached.
To reconvert the machine for overseaming or plain sewing, the handle fis
operated to return the stud to its position in the quadrant a proper for the
purposes and the feed is by the same act raised and made operative.
If the stud be lowered to the bottom of the quadrant a, then, as is usual, the
needle-bar has no oscillatory motion but moves vertically only.
It is to be understood that in zig-zag machines in which the quadrant, instead of
being, as shown at a Fig. 1, pivotted towards the bottom is pivotted towards the
top, the stud is lowered to impart a wider throw to the needle-bar, and raised when
the oscillatory motion is required to be stopped.
In a machine so fitted the bell-crank lever is reversed.
A chain of button-holes can be readily made and barred in a machine constructed
as above described.
The machine may be employed for sewing on buttons.
In adapting this invention to zig-zag machines having special feeds, as, for
instance, such machines as are known as eyeletting or lace-hole machines, the bell-
crank lever is reversed so that when the stud in the quadrant is moved to the
point at which the needle-bar has vertical motion only, the feed is lowered. The
needle reciprocates in a vertical plane in the material being sewn and the ends of
the thread are tied together or otherwise fastened to finish the eyelet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
i6
1. In a zig-zag" sewing machine, the provision of a quadrant such as a
whereby an increased range of oscillatory motion is afforded to the needle-bar, as
hereinbefore described.
2. In a zig-zag sewing machine, means for adjusting the stud in the quadrant and
for controlling the width of stitch for the needle, said means consisting of the
extended lever c, rod e and bell-crank lever f, pivotted to the frame of the
machine, arranged and operating, substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The modification hereinbefore referred to under which the motions of the
stud in the quadrant and of the bell-crank lever are reversed in a zig-zag

page_text: machine in which the quadrant is pivotted to the frame towards the top, as herein-
before described.
4. In a zig-zag sewing machine, means for rendering the feed inoperative
simultaneously with imparting an increased throw to the needle-bar (or, in eye-
letting machines, stopping the throw entirely), said means comprising the bar m
with the plate or block o carried by it, the recessed feed lever end, and the bell-
crank lever connected to the pivot pin of and actuated through the bell-crank
lever, all constructed, arranged and operating, substantially as hereinbefort:
described.
5. The combination in a zig-zag sewing machine of the lengthened lever c
extended quadrant a, bell-crank levers and 1, with the bar m controlling the
feed, constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings.
Dated this 1st day of December 1891.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.