and other Machines and Appliances.
Year: 1885

page_text: and other Machines and Appliances.
I, GEORGE RICHARD POSTLETHWAITE of Park Road Aston Manor near Bir-
mingham in the County of Warwick Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING MECHANICAL FEED MOTIONS FOR
SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES AND APPLIANCES " to be as follows:-
"
My invention has for its object to supersede the old feed arrangements commonly
employed, or those parts of machinery or appliances usually termed the feed, which
consists of a ratchet wheel combined with pawls and springs and similar com-
binations for feeding forward material to be cut off or operated upon; thus, in a
sewing machine, the feed is to give motion to, or feed forward intermittently the
material to be sewn or stitched; and further, at the same time to regulate the
length of stitch which is determined by the amount of throw given to the feed, and
in this case, as in most others, feed notions are required to be intermittent, or
have periods of rest, during the time that the material is being operated upon.
The motion must at the same time be very uniform and certain in its action,
which are not obtainable by ratchet and pawl arrangements, from the fact that the
pawl will constantly engage in an extra tooth, or will miss one out of the required
compliment; and besides which the wellknown uncertainty occasioned by backlash
or loss of useful effect, attending the use of all motions obtained by ratchet and
pawl arrangements.
My invention is not only to simplify the means of producing feed motion, but
to get rid of the backlash and noise common to feeds as described; and my said
invention is to give greater certainty and more accurate results than heretofore;
and to dispense with the noise or click, click attending the pawl and ratchet feed
motions of machines of various constructions, and for various purposes. Feeds
constructed according to my invention, are simple in their construction, efficient and
noiseless in their action, and are applicable to various machines and mechanical
appliances; such for example, as cut and other nail machines, planing slotting and
shaping machines, saw frames, screw jacks, pressure screws and the like. The feeds
may either be forward or lateral feeds as circumstances require.
In carrying out my invention, I take a plain wheel or thick disc of any suitable
diameter and thickness, the same being perfectly smooth around its periphery.
1179

page_text: This plain wheel or disc, is carried by the feeding shaft or spindle of the machine to
which it is to be applied; and upon each side of this plain wheel or disc, which
I will call the grip wheel, coupling plates are placed, which coupling plates are
preferably made of thin metal and in shape somewhat resembling a pear, their ends
being circular and their sides tapering lengthwise. Holes or piercings are formed
in their larger ends of a suitable size to fit freely, and capable of moving upon the
said shaft or spindle. These coupling plates are placed close to the sides of the
grip wheel with their contracted ends projecting beyond its periphery. The said
contracted ends of the coupling plates have central holes smaller in diameter than
those already described. A lever of the same breadth as the grip wheel is placed
between the coupling plates, so as to fully occupy the space between the extending
portions of the plates. The inner or acting end of the lever or the extreme end of
that part which lies between the coupling plates is made at right angles to the axis
of the lever; that is, the forward end is straight, while the back part follows the
curvature of the grip wheel, which I term the back half. The lever being thus
curved, embraces the grip wheel, over about one fourth of its circumference. This
curved part constitutes a certain guide for the backward motion of the lever round
the grip wheel; the other or forward portion of the end of the lever is shaped
outwardly, or at a right angle to the axis of the lever. The acting end of the lever
being thus formed, is placed in its position between the projecting ends of the
coupling plates with the uncurved part of the end which comes in close contact
with the grip wheel. The lever has a drilled hole through it, exactly corresponding
to the outer holes in the coupling plates. A pin passes through the hole in the
lever and through the holes in the coupling plates, connecting the coupling plates
to the said lever. This transverse connecting pin constitutes a fulcrum or movable
joint, which when combined with the other joint or centre of the link; the parts
constitute a powerful compound lever.
The outward end of the lever or that part which extends from the fulcrum out-
wards may be made of any suitable length, or of any form according to the purpose
to which the feed is to be applied; that is, the lever may be in the form of a
handle, for operating a screw jack, pressure screw or other similar mechanical
contrivance; and further, other forms of levers or its equivalent may be sub-
stituted, so as to receive an oscillating or rocking motion from any part of a
machine, through the intervention of a connecting rod, cam, or other mechanical
power which becomes a self acting feed. Or the parts constituting the feed may
be formed independent of the machine or purpose to which it is to be applied.
The grip wheel may have a square or other shaped hole through its centre which
is made to fit interchangeably or otherwise upon feed or traversing screw ends.
The action. and working of the feed is as follows.
The plain grip wheel being secured in position upon a shaft or spindle, with the
coupling plates and actuating lever in position as already described, the result of
this arrangement is that the gripping lever or its equivalent can only move or turn
independently of the wheel in one direction; which direction I will term the back
motion, and it is in the back direction that the curved part of the acting end of the
lever is inoperative. The other part of the said end of the lever which is shaped
off in a tangent line to the grip wheel or curved part of the lever, will in reality
form or constitutes a wedge shaped projection or bite; that is, this particular part
if taken relative to a circular line drawn from the centre of the fulcrum or joint
pin, and of such a radius, that the line intersects the curved part of the acting end
of the lever. The projecting part lying within the radius of the curve described,
will instantly bite or hold the grip wheel on a forward movement of the lever, so
that the end of the lever acts upon the plain surface of the grip wheel, which holds
and moves the said wheel in the direction of motion of the lever. The reverse
direction of the said lever instantly disengages its acting end from the grip wheel;
so that by a succession of alternate curvilinear motions imparted to the end of the
gripping lever, a feed may be given in any desired direction and regulated as to its
throw by a movable or sliding joint,

page_text: It will readily be seen from the foregoing description, that the forward or
drawing to motion of the lever, brings its acting end into intimate contact with the
plain grip wheel, thereby making the grip wheel and lever rigid. The grip being
such, as to overcome any resistance offered by the grip wheel or parts connected
with it.
The grip upon the wheel being so instantaneous that all back lash is avoided on
the forward stroke, or motion of the lever; while the relaxation of the grip is just
as sudden on the backward motion.
Feed mechanism hereinbefore described, are less costly in their construction and
more certain in their action than those heretofore known.

page_text: and other Machines and Appliances.
I, GEORGE RICHARD POSTLETHWAITE of Park Road, Aston Manor, near Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING MECHANICAL FEED MOTIONS FOR
SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES AND APPLIANCES," and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention has for its object to supersede the old feed arrangements commonly
employed, or those parts of machinery or appliances usually termed the feed, which
consists of a ratchet wheel combined with pawls and springs and similar combi-
nations for feeding forward material to be cut off or operated upon; thus, in a
sewing machine, the feed is to give motion to to or feed forward intermittently the
material to be sewn or stitched; and further, at the same time to regulate the
length of stitch which is determined by the amount of throw given to the feed,
and in this case, as in most others, feed motions are required to be intermittent or
have periods of rest, during the time that the material is being operated upon.
The motion must at the same time be very uniform and certain in its action, which
are not obtainable by ratchet and pawl arrangements, from the fact that the pawl
will constantly engage in an extra tooth, or will miss one out of the required
compliment; and besides which the well known uncertainty occasioned by back-
lash or loss of useful effect, attending the use of all motions obtained by ratchet
and pawl arrangement.
My invention is not only to simplify the means of producing feed motion, but
to get rid of the back lash and noise common to feeds as described; and my said
invention is to give greater certainty and more accurate results than heretofore;
and to dispense with the noise or click click attending the pawl and ratchet feed
motions of machines of various constructions, and for various purposes. Feeds
constructed according to my invention, are simple in their construction, efficient
and noiseless in their action, and are applicable to various machines and mechanical
appliances; such for example, as cut and other nail machines, planing slotting and
shaping machines, saw frames, screw jacks, pressure screws, and the like. The
feeds may either be forward or lateral feeds as circumstances require.
In carrying out my invention I take a plain wheel or thick disc of any suitable
diameter and thickness, the same being perfectly smooth around its periphery.
This plain wheel or disc, is carried by the feeding shaft or spindle of the machine
to which it is to be applied; and upon each side of the plain wheel or disc, which
I will call the grip wheel, coupling plates are placed, which coupling plates are
preferably made of thin metal and in shape somewhat resembling a pear, their
ends being circular, and their sides tapering lengthwise. Holes or piercings are
formed in their larger ends of a suitable size to fit freely, and capable of moving
upon the said shaft or spindle. These coupling plates are placed close to the sides
of the grip wheel with their contracted ends projecting beyond its periphery. The
said contracted ends of the coupling plates have central holes smaller in diameter

page_text: than those already described. A lever of the same breadth as the grip wheel is
placed between the coupling plates, so as to fully occupy the space between the
extending portions of the plates. The inner or acting end of the lever or the
extreme end of that part which lies between the coupling plates is made at right
angles to the axis of the lever; that is, the forward end is straight, while the back
part follows the curvature of the grip wheel which I term the back half. The
lever being thus curved, embraces the grip wheel over about one fourth of its
circumference. This curved part constitutes a certain guide for the back ward
motion of the lever round the grip wheel; the other or forward portion of the end
of the lever is shaped outwardly, or at a right angle to the axis of the lever. The
acting end of the lever being thus formed, is placed in its position between the
projecting ends of the coupling plates with the uncurved part of the end which
comes in close contact with the grip wheel. The lever has a drilled hole through
it, exactly. corresponding to the outer holes in the coupling plates. A pin passes
through the hole in the lever and through the holes in the coupling plates, con-
necting the coupling plates to the said lever. This transverse connecting pin
constitutes a fulcrum or movable joint, which when combined with the other joint
or centre of the link, the parts constitute a powerful compound lever.
The outward end of the lever or that part which extends from the fulcrum
outwards may be made of any suitable length, or of any form according to the
purpose to which the feed is to be applied; that is, the lever may be in the form of
a handle, for operating a screw jack, pressure screw or other similar mechanical
contrivance; and further, other forms of levers or its equivalent may be substituted,
so as to receive an oscillating or rocking motion from any part of a machine,
through the intervention of a connecting rod, cam, or other mechanical power
which becomes a self acting feed. Or the parts constituting the feed may be formed
independent of the machine or purpose to which it is to be applied.
The grip wheel may have a square or other shaped hole through its centre which
is made to fit interchangeably or otherwise upon feed or traversing screw ends.
The action and working of the feed is as follows:-
The plain grip wheel being secured in position upon a shaft or spindle, with the
coupling plates and actuating lever in position as already described, the result of
this arrangement is, that the gripping lever or its equivalent can only move or turn
independently of the wheel in one direction; which direction we will term the
back motion, and it is in the back direction that the curved part of the acting end
of the lever is inoperative. The other part of the said end of the lever which is
shaped off in a tangent line to the grip wheel or curved part of the lever, will in
reality form or constitute a wedge shaped projection or bite; that is, this particular
part if taken relative to a circular line drawn from the centre of the fulcrum or
joint pin, and of such a radius that the line intersects the curved part of the acting
end of the lever. The projecting part lying within the radius of the curve
described, will instantly bite or hold the grip wheel on a forward movement of the
lever, so that the end of the lever acts upon the plain surface of the grip wheel,
which holds and moves the said wheel in the direction of motion of the lever.
The reverse direction of the said lever instantly disengages its acting end from
the grip wheel; so that by a succession of alternate curvilinear motions imparted
to the end of the gripping lever, a feed may be given in any desired direction and
regulated as to its throw by a movable or sliding joint.
It will readily be seen from the foregoing description, that the forward or
drawing to motion of the lever, brings its acting end into intimate contact with
the plain grip wheel, thereby making the grip wheel and lever rigid. The grip
being such, as to overcome any resistance offered by the grip wheel or parts
connected with it. The grip upon the wheel being so instantaneous that all back
lash is avoided on the forward stroke, or motion of the lever; while the relaxation
of the grip is just as sudden on the backward motion.
Feed mechanism hereinbefore described are less costly in their construction and
more certain in their action than those heretofore known,

page_text: I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
some of the uses to which my improvements are applicable.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation and figure 2 in vertical section, a feed
motion appliance constructed according to my invention, suitable for the feeding of
metal strips, sheets or rods for nail inaking or cutting machines, blanking presses,
chaff cutting machines, sewing machines, and for other machines and appliances in
which a like feed motion is required. Figure 3 is a side elevation of figure 1, and
figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are elevations and sections of the parts separately.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the Drawings.
a is a cylindrical boss or wheel perfectly plain or smooth upon its periphery, and
a² is a neck or contracted part which forms the fulcrum pivots or centres upon
which the coupling plates bb turn. The said boss or collar a is perfectly concentric
with the trunnion centres a² and upon these trunnion centres, the coupling plates
or levers b b turn or partially rotate. 63 63 are the axial holes at the wider ends of
the coupling plates, while b₁ is a smaller axial hole through which a pin or spindle c
passes in connecting the said plates to the lever d, which is hereinafter called the
gripping lever, as shown separately in side and front elevation and in section
figure 4. This lever has near the acting end a pin or spindle hole through which
the fulcrum pin passes, and which said lever turns upon the said pin as a fulcrum.
The fulcrum pin hole is marked d. The widened out portion of the gripping lever
is shaped upon its end so that the plane d³ constitutes the grip of the lever, which
acts upon the periphery of the wheel a for feeding or advancing a spindle or axle e
running through the bush or sleeve a³ of the said wheel or collar. The other
portion of the short end of the lever d is curved to the radius of the wheel a; so
that the plane d³ being at right angles to the axis' of the said lever, the slightest
forward movement of it upon its fulcrum, brings the part d³ wedge like upon the
periphery of the wheel, so as to grip the wheel and compel them to move together
as if they were rigidly connected together on the necessary motion being communi-
cated to the lever for giving the requisite feed to the axle or shaft e. ff are collars
aflixed upon the end of the sleeve or neck a² of the wheel a for keeping the
coupling plates bb in position-d³ are holes for increasing or decreasing the amount
of feed that shall be given to the shaft or axle which in its turn gives the necessary
forward or other feed motion. Such motion is imparted to the lever by means of
a connecting rod figure 8 shown in front and side elevation.
On referring back again to the acting face of the short end of the gripping lever,
I wish again to observe that the plane of the acting end from a centre axial line,
to the right hand edge, is at a right angle to the said axial line; and the other
portion which I call the back part is curved to the same radius as the feed wheel
or collar a.
Supposing an intermittent feed motion is required to be imparted to an axle or
shaft; motion is imparted to the long end of the lever in a backward direction by
means of a connecting rod or by other means; that is, the lever is moved from
right to left as represented by the dotted lines figure 9. This backward motion of
the lever does not influence the feed wheel, as the curve shape given to the back
part of the lever enables the face of the curved part, to glide smoothly over the
periphery without clutching or gripping in consequence of its radius being the same
as the pitch line of the feed wheel, thus allowing the axle upon which the feed
wheel is mounted, to remain stationary; but on the forward motion of the lever,
a rigid connection is instantly established between the lever and the feed wheel,
thus compelling the whole to move forward in accordance with the motion of the
lever. Thus the greater the pull upon the lever in a forward direction, the greater
will be the grip, in consequence of the face plates or levers b which form with the
lever a compound lever having fulcrum centres a³ c; so that the jointing of the
two levers as described and represented, creates a wedge like action between
the gripping face of the short end of the lever and the periphery of the feed
wheel, without the least loss to the reciprocating motion of the lever.

page_text: The contact surfaces of both lever and wheel are perfectly smooth, and if the
said surfaces be polished or oiled, not the slightest difference is made to the grip
or clutch action; and further the grip or clutch, will engage at any part of the
stroke without any back-lash whatever.
Figure 10 represents an arrangement for screw motion feeds as required in lathe
rests, planing, slotting and shaping machines, traversing jacks and other similar
appliances or means for creating feeds for various purposes.
The only difference between the appliance figure 10 and that of figure 1, is that
the bush a³ of the feed wheel a is made angular or square instead of round, and
that the collars f are dispensed with, and the coupling plates are held in position
by an extra pin similar to the fulcrum pin as described. This pin is marked g, and
the stem of which, passes through a distance ferrule or tube placed between the
cheeks or coupling plates. Figure 11 is a side elevation, and figure 12 a longi-
tudinal vertical section of the appliance figure 10. Figure 13 is the same applied
to the working of a feed screw. Figure 14, 15, 16 and 17 are elevations and
sections of the separate parts.
Figure 18 represents my invention applied to a screw or lifting jack. In this
case the feed or grip wheel a is made to fit on the neck part of the screw and is
made to move with the screw by a key or feather, as shown in the plan of the wheel
figure 19. is the claw of the screw jack, which turns swivel wise in the top of
the bush of the grip wheel; and the swivelling is arranged in such a way, that the
side plates bb are free to move around the neck h² of the screw h. In order to
vary the length of lever according to the load to be raised or lowered, I make the
handle of the lever socket like, wherein a removable lever, can be placed.
As the screw jack or lift requires to be worked both ways for raising and
lowering, I meet this requirement by arranging or forming the acting face of the
short end of the lever, so as to grip the collar or wheel a in either direction. This
is accomplished by forming a double grip as marked d³ ds, and best seen in figures 20
and 21. Thus by creating a double grip as represented, the lever grips in both
directions; that is, from left to right, or from right to left.
A little play is allowed in the joints or centres for the slight movement of the
handle, which is almost imperceptible. Figure 22 is a transverse vertical section
of the compound lever and feed or grip wheel.
Figure 23 is a detachable pin or cotter marked j, the shank of which passes
through either one or other of the holes 6* 6º of the side plates b b. This loose pin
when placed in either of the holes 6 65 (see figures 21 and 24) determines the
direction of the grip; for supposing the pin to be placed in the hole b* its insertion
pushes that part of the lever a little out of its centre, and prevents its return.
This slight shifting of the centre, will prevent the opposite side of the lever from
gripping the wheel, when moved in that direction, or from left to right; and
further, the lever coming in contact with the pin causes the coupling plates d d to
rotate around the feed or grip wheel a, but on reversing the motion of the lever
from right to left, the grip of the wheel is effected, and the screw raised and lowered
within its screw box by the intermittent or continuous motion imparted to it by
the feed grip.
To obtain a contrary grip for the reverse motion, change the pin or cotter ; into
the reverse hole when the same action takes place in the contrary direction.
Figures 26 and 27 represent the application of my improvements to a sewing
machine; figure 26 is a plan, and figure 27 a side elevation.
Figure 28 represents my invention applied to a tap wrench, with duplicate
acting levers and grip faces which act upon opposite sides of the feed or grip. The
levers are so arranged, that the grips act in opposite directions.
It very frequently happens in using a tap and wrench for tapping holes or
worming interior parts of metal work, that the wrench used for rotating the tap
cannot make a complete revolution for want of room; and further, where the tap
wrench is very long, the workman is compelled to do a considerable amount of
over reaching in order to follow up the work. By my invention, these difficulties

page_text: are overcome. 11 are two levers, working in opposite directions upon fulcrum
pins or centres m m², the acting faces of the short ends of the levers embracing the
grip wheel or collar a. 13 is the grip of the 1, and is the grip of the lever l.
Figures 29 and. 294 show the connecting plates provided with holes for the
fulcrum pins m m², and figure 30 is a side clevation of the said plates. Figure 31
is a front elevation of the pipe wrench, and figure 32 is an end elevation of the
same. Figure 33 is a transverse vertical section of figurè 31. Figure 34 is an
elevation, plan and section of a loose bush which is inserted in the hole or eye of
the feed or grip wheel. These loose bushes have varying sized holes to suit the
tap required.
On the appliance being used for the rotation of a tap, both gripping faces of the
levers act simultaneously on the forward motion of the lever and relax simul-
taneously on their backward motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A mechanical device or means to be used in imparting or communicating
feed motions to machines and mechanical appliances hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, whereby a rotary or an advancing
motion is imparted to shafts, spindles, rollers, feed wheels, screws, and similar parts
of machines and appliances (other than what are known as ratchet braces) by means
of the clutching or gripping action of the end of a jointed or compound lever which
acts upon the periphery of a plain wheel or collar. The gripping portion of the
end of the said lever is so formed, that on the lever being moved in one direction,
the wheel or collar is gripped and rigidly held, and compelled to partake of the
motion of the said lever and coupling links or plates, thereby imparting the neces-
sary feed.
The reverse motion of the lever relaxes the grip, and allows the wheel
or collar to remain stationary, while the lever and supplementary parts connected
with it make their return or back motion without effect. The parts being con-
structed arranged, and combined and acting in the way, and for the purpose,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. The grip part d³ and the curved part of the acting end of the
lever & substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. A double action grip for the production of feed motions in machines
and other mechanical appliances substantially as described and illustrated in
figures 18 to 23 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. The production of feed motions for machines and other mechanical
appliances by arranging levers and gripping ends upon opposite sides of the grip
or feed wheel, the levers being arranged and jointed to the coupling plates in the
manner and for the purpose and acting in the way substantially as described and
illustrated in figures 28 to 34 of the accompanying drawings.
noted this Ninth dow of Ontahan 100x