IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Chadwick, Managing Director of the Firm
Bradbury & Co., Limited, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Sewing
Machine Manufacturers, and Thomas Sugden, Foreman, in the employment of
the said Firm, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES.”
Sealed the 23rd May 1876, and dated the 18th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Chadwick and
Thomas Sugden at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th
February 1876.
THOMAS CHADWICK, Managing Director of the Firm Bradbury & Co., Limited,
of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Sewing Machine Manufacturers, and
THOMAS SUGDEN, Foreman, in the employment of the said Firm. IMPROVEMENTS
IN SEWING MACHINES."
"
Firstly. Our improvements relate to sewing machine shuttles, and consist in a
new combination and arrangement whereby a shuttle of smaller dimensions is
obtained that will contain a spool which will hold an equal if not larger quantity
of thread than the ordinary shuttle spool; at the same time the thread unwinds
more uniformly and the tension is more regular than that of the ordinary shuttle,
and it consists in forming the shuttle spool with a short hollow axis with heads of
comparatively large diameter, the axis of the spool being placed on the shuttle at a
right angle to the length or direction in which the shuttle works, and parallel to
the face against which the shuttle works. The spool is inserted in the shuttle
through a hole in its side, and rotates upon a pin projecting from one side of the
shuttle. The thread passes from the spool through a hole in the "tip" part of the
shuttle, then turns back and under a spring secured to the tip part of the shuttle by
a screw, by which the pressure of the spring upon the thread is regulated, then
partly round a pin in the tip part, and then through a hole in the side of the
shuttle.
Secondly. Our Jnvention consists in combining the shuttle above described by
preference, or the ordinary shuttle with the mechanism of a Singer sewing ma-
chine," by employing a shuttle carrier which has an hinged side or cover secured by
a spring catch, which side or cover is opened when the catch is released by a spring.
This arrangement prevents accidents to the mechanism or gearing when the shuttle
gets trapped.

page_text: Thirdly. Our improvements related to imachines used more particularly for re-
pairing boots and shoes, and its object is to reduce the size of the arm which is
inserted in the boot or shoe, and carries the shuttle and mechanism for actuating it,
and consists in employing and combining with such machines small shuttles like
that herein-before described under the first head of this specification, and in giving
motion to the shuttle by a disc which has a central pin passing through the bottom
of the shuttle race or box, and upon which pin or axis the toothed wheel is placed
which gears with the ordinary toothed rack for giving oscillating motion. The disc
has a driver or propellor secured to it by screws which imparts the required to-and-
fro motion to the shuttle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Chadwick and Thomas Sugden in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th August 1876.
THOMAS CHADWICK, Managing Director of the Firm Bradbury and Company,
Limited, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Sewing Machine Manufacturers,
and THOMAS SUGDEN, Foreman, in the employment of the said Firm. << IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."
Firstly. Our improvements relate to sewing machine shuttles, and consist in a
new combination and arrangement whereby a shuttle of smaller dimensions is
obtained that will contain a spool which will hold an equal if not larger quantity
of thread than the ordinary shuttle spool; at the same time the thread unwinds
more uniformly and the tension is more regular than that of the ordinary shuttle,
and it consists in forming the shuttle spool with a short hollow axis with heads of
comparatively large diameter, the axis of the spool being placed in the shuttle at a
right angle to the length or direction in which the shuttle works, and parallel to
the face against which the shuttle works. The spool is inserted in the shuttle
through a hole in its side, and rotates upon a pin projecting from one side of the
shuttle. The thread passes from the spool through a hole in the "tip" part of the
shuttle, then turns back and under a spring secured to the tip part of the shuttle
by a screw, by which the pressure of the spring upon the thread is regulated, then
partly round a pin in the tip part, and then through a hole in the side of the
shuttle.
"
Secondly. Our invention consists in combining the shuttle above described by
preference, or the ordinary shuttle, with the mechanism of a Singer sewing ma-
chine," or machines of similar principle, by employing a shuttle carrier which has
an hinged side or cover secured by a spring catch, which side or cover is opened
when the catch. is released by a spring, or a spring or wire may be used in place of
the hinged side, or a plate arranged to turn on one side. This arrangement prevents
accidents to the mechanism or gearing by preventing the shuttle from getting
trapped.
- Thirdly. Our improvements relate to machines used more particularly for re-
pairing boots and shoes, and its object is to reduce the size of the arm which is
inserted in the boot or shoe, which arm carries the shuttle and mechanism for
actuating it, and consist in employing and combining with such machines small.
shuttles like that herein-before described under the first head of this specification,
and in giving motion to the shuttle by a disc which has a central pin passing
through the bottom of the shuttle race or box, and upon which pin or axis the
tooth wheel is placed which gears with the ordinary toothed rack for giving
oscillating motion. The disc has a driver or propellor secured to it by screws which
imparts the required to-and-fro motion to the shuttle.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the table plate of a sewing machine upon the " Singer
principle, the arm for carrying the needle slide and other parts being supposed

page_text: removed, also the sliding plates covering the shuttle and the needle plate, so as to
expose the shuttle and shuttle carrier.
"
Fig. 2 is a view of the under side of the same machine, showing parts for
actuating the shuttle slide, and other parts.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation; and Fig. 4 an end elevation of the shuttle carrier and
slide detached.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation; Fig. 6, an end elevation; and Fig. 7, a plan showing
another improved arrangement of shuttle carrier detached.
Fig. 8, a side, and Fig. 9, an end elevation; and Fig. 10, a plan of another im-
proved arrangement of shuttle carrier detached.
Fig. 11 is a side view; Fig. 12, a section; Fig. 13, a face view; and Fig. 14, a
cross section of our improved shuttle suitable for the "Singer" and other machines
of similar principle.
Fig. 15 is a plan, and Fig. 16 a section illustrating our improvements as applied
to sewing machines having an arm, and used more particularly for repairing boots
and shoes.
Fig. 17 is a side, and Fig. 18 is a face view of our improved shuttles to be used
in such machines.
Figs. 11, 12, and 13, and Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate shuttles according to the
first part of our Invention. a is the shell; to one side there is a pin b secured,
which forms the centre for the tubular axis of the spool or reel c upon which the
thread is wound, which spool is passed through a hole in the side of the shuttle, as
shown, one end resting against the side of the shuttle, the other coming flush with, and
filling up the hole (or nearly so) in the side of the shuttle through which the spool
is inserted. The thread passes from the spool, as shown in Fig. 12, through a hole
d in the direction of the lengthway of the shuttle, and is then brought under a
spring e secured by a screw, as shown, then partly round a hook pin f, seen best in
Fig. 14, and then through a hole g in the side of the shuttle. The spools or reels
are placed upon the end of a slightly taper spindle to be rotated when they are to
be filled with thread.
.
Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate one arrangement according to the
second part of our Invention for holding the shuttle in its carrier and preventing it
from getting "trapped," and thus preventing accidents to the mechanism or gearing.
But we may here remark this part of our Invention is applicable when the ordinary
shuttle is employed. is the shuttle carrier, a our improved shuttle. A piece of
wire is bent in the form of a spring, and is secured by a screw i¹ to the end of
the carrier, as shown. The end of this spring wire is held across the shuttle to
keep it in its place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, by having its end brought under
a hook pin j, as shown. The hook pin j may be placed in the reverse position to
that shown in Fig. 4, so that the open side of the hook will be upon the other side
of the wire . When the wire i is released from the hook j its end rises and it
takes the position shown in dotted line by Fig. 1, which allows space for the shuttle
to be removed and replaced.
In the modification shown by Figs. 5, 6, and 7 a thin plate k is hinged to the
carrier at k, as shown. The end of this plate has a square notch cut out of it
so as to pass on each side of a T shaped spring latch / secured to the end of the
carrier, as shown, the end of the T spring being bent outwards so that the ends of
the hinged plate will force it back when closed down, so that it can latch upon the
two prongs of the plate left by cutting out the square notch. This plate k is shown
down in full line and up in dotted line in Fig. 5, and there is in that Figure a thin
spring m, shown in dotted line, secured to the upper edge of the carrier h, which
acts to lift and hold up the hinged plate / when released to allow the shuttle to be
removed and replaced.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 show another modification. n is a plate turning on a screw or
secured on a pivot n¹ in a hole passing through the shuttle carrier. The pivot may
be secured by a small screw nut n on its end, as shown. This plate is shown in
dotted line in Fig. 10 in the position in which the shuttle can be removed and

page_text: replaced, and in full line where it retains the shuttle in the carrier. The end of the
plate n is bent down to come under a ledge * projecting from the end of the shuttle
carrier h, and one part of the piece turned under is bent upwards (see Fig. 9) so as
to enter and catch hold of a notch in the under side of the ledge. Elasticity is
given to the plate to spring its end upwards, and this causes the piece bent upwards
to enter and remain in the notch in the ledge when the plate is pushed into the
position shown in full line, Fig. 10. The end of the plate is pressed downwards,
and the plate is then released from the notch, and may be at the same time pushed
back to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 10. There is a pin at h² to pre-
vent the plate n from being moved too far forwards.
Figs. 15 and 16, and 17 and 18 illustrate the improvements forming the third
part of our Invention. Fig. 15 is a plan of the arm part of that class of sewing
machines to which the part of our improvements is applicable with the plate or
cover & turned to one side to show the shuttle and carrier; Fig. 16 is a section of
the same. The shuttle carrier is formed by a circular disc p, with a central stem
or axis which passes through a hole in the arm q, there being a washer pl under-
neath, and a pinion p² secured upon it by a screw, as shown. This pinion gears
with the toothed rack that gives motion to the shuttle carrier in the usual manner;
?! is the shuttle driver; a is the shuttle shown detached and full size by Figs. 17
and 18.
t
We have now particularly described the nature of our Invention, and the mode
of carrying it into effect, and claim as our Invention,―
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of a reel or spool and shuttle case,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Secondly. The combination and arrangement of mechanism formed by a hinged
or swivel plate or wire with shuttle carriers so as to retain the shuttle in its place,
and prevent it from being trapped, especially in the class of sewing machines upon
the Singer principle, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination and arrangement of shuttle carrier, driver, and shuttle,
substantially as herein-before described under the third head of our Invention, and
as illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Chadwick, on my own behalf, and on
behalf of the said Thomas Sugden, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
THOMAS CHADWICK. (L.S.)