IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND IN THREAD WINDERS FOR THE SAME, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER REELING OR WINDING APPARATUS.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Watson and George Watson, Sewing Machine
Manufacturers, and Ephraim Jackson, Mechanic, all of Oldham, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND
IN THREAD WINDERS FOR THE SAME, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER REELING
OR WINDING APPARATUS.
"
Sealed the 20th June 1879, and dated the 27th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Watson, George Watson,
and Ephraim Jackson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
27th December 1878.
JOHN WATSON and GEORGE WATSON, Sewing Machine Manufacturers, and
EPHRAIM JACKSON, Mechanic, all of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster. ." IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND IN THREAD WINDERS FOR THE SAME,
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER REELING OR WINDING APPARATUS."
The first part of our Invention relates to the construction and application of an
improved needle guard, whereby the needle of a sewing machine will be prevented
being struck by the shuttle in its forward movement.
Secondly. Our improvements refer to combining or constructing a presser-plate
and thread guide together in that class of sewing machine appliance known as the the
thread spooler or winder used for filling the spools or reels employed in the shuttles
of sewing machines, and which improvements are also applicable to other relling or
winding apparatus.
.
In carrying out the first part of our Invention we attach a guard to the shuttle
carrier, so as to press against or work in close contact with one side of the shuttle
race. This guard is so attached to the carrier that as the needle point is about to
enter the loop, it shall cover the needle slot (cut in the machine) at a point just
below the needle eye, and thereby effectually prevent the needle being deflected
beyond the face of the shuttle race. The guard hereinbefore mentioned is made of
073

page_text: such a shape that it cannot get behind the needle, or interfere with the formation of
the loop.
In carrying out the second part of our Invention, we take the usual presser plate
which presses against the reel to render the thread being wound upon it hard and
smooth, and which is hinged at a suitable distance from the axis of the reel, and
form a curve upon the front edge of this presser plate, and at a suitable distance
from this curved edge we construct a hole, guide, or other suitable arrangement in
the presser plate through which to pass the thread which is to be wound upon the
reel. The distance of this hole or its equivalent from the curved edge, and the
curve or form of such edge, are so regulated that the length of thread passing from
such hole and over the curved edge to the surface of the reel or bobbin is always
the same, irrespective of whatever part of the reel is being covered by such
thread.
The action of this apparatus is as follow:-The thread to be reeled is brought in
any convenient manner to and passes through the hole in the presser plate, whence
it is carried up along the underside of the presser plate, and passing over the curved
edge of the same proceeds to be wound upon the reel. The reel, by revolving in
the ordinary manner, now causes the thread to be drawn continuously over the
curved edge, the result of which is that such thread is guided to and fro along such
curved edge, and so laid upon the reel in successive coils, and this without the
intervention of the ordinary upright radius plate, parallel rod, vibrating arm, or
fixed arm carrying the thread guides or eyes.
It will be apparent that this part of our Invention is applicable for guiding the
thread in other reeling or winding apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Watson, George Watson, and Ephraim Jackson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 27th June 1879.
JOHN WATSON and GEORGE WATSON, Sewing Machine Manufacturers, and
EPHRAIM JACKSON, Mechanic, all of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES, AND IN THREAD WINDERS FOR THE SAME,
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER REELING OR WINDING APPARATUS."
The first part of our Invention relates to the construction and application of an
improved needle guard, whereby the needle of a sewing machine will be prevented
being struck by the shuttle in its forward movement.
Secondly. Our improvements refer to combining or constructing a presser plate
and thread guide together in that class of sewing machine appliance known as the
thread spooler or winder, used for filling the spools or reels employed in the shuttles
of sewing machines, and which improvements are also applicable to other reeling or
winding apparatus.
And in order that this our said Invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illus-
trative of our improvements, and will now proceed to describe the same, reference
being had to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon. Fig. 1 represents
a plan view of the underside of the table of a sewing machine, and Fig. 2 is a
transverse section of Fig. 1 upon the line ab, both shewing the application of our
improved needle guard. In both the views A is the improved needle guard secured
to the shuttle carrier or block B by the set screw C, so as to press against or work
in close contact with the side D of the shuttle race. A reference to the Drawing
will shew that this guard is so attached to the carrier or block B that as the shuttle
point is about to enter the loop it will cover the needle slot E at a point just below
the needle eye (seen best in Fig. 2), and thus effectually prevent the needle F being
deflected beyond the face of the shuttle race. It will be also observed that the
improved needle guard A, owing to its peculiar shape, cannot get behind the needle,
or in any way interfere with the formation of the loop.
Instead of attaching a distinct needle guard, as hereinbefore described, it will be
obvious that the bottom leading prong G, or other convenient part of the shuttle
carrier or block B, may be extended to answer the same purpose, but this we should
consider to be a modification of our Invention.
Fig. 3 is a front view; Fig. 4, a side view; and Fig. 5, a plan of a combined
presser plate and thread guide, constituting our improved thread spooler or winder;
and Fig. 6 is a detached plan view of the improved presser plate and thread
guide.
In all the views H is the presser plate mounted or hinged upon the pin I at a
suitable distance from the axis of the reel or spool K. Upon the front edge of this
presser plate we form a curve L, and at a suitable distance from this curved edge we
construct a slotted hole M, through which we pass the thread requiring to be wound
upon the spool or bobbin K. The distance of this hole or its equivalent from the
curved edge L, and the curved or form of such edge, are so regulated that the length
of thread passing from such hole and over the curved edge to the surface of the
reel or bobbin K is always the same, irrespective of whatever part of the reel or
bobbin is being covered by such thread. We find that the curve, the radius line O
of which is represented in Fig. 6, is suitable for ordinary sewing machine spools,
and that the hole M, or its equivalent, through which the thread must be passed
prior to passing over the curved edge L, is situated at a point half the length of the
said radius line.
The action of this apparatus is a follows:-The thread x to be reeled is brought
in any convenient manner to and passes through the hole M in the presser plate H,
whence it is carried up along the underside of the presser plate, and passing over

page_text: the curved edge L, proceeds to be wound upon the reel K, a suitable tension being
given to the thread in any convenient manner. The reel, by revolving in the
ordinary manner, now causes the thread to be drawn continuously over the curved
edge L, the result of which is that such thread is guided to and fro along such
curved edge, and so laid upon the reel in successive coils, and this without the
intervention of the ordinary upright radius plate, parallel rod, vibrating arm, or
fixed arm carrying the thread guides or eyes.
In Figs. 7 and 8 we represent a plan and side view respectively of our improved
presser plate, as applied to winding or spooling upon spools or bobbins having
conical ends. This presser plate only differs from that shewn in the previous modi-
fication in its upper surface, which presses against the conical ended reel P, being
bevilled at Q, as illustrated, and in the edges of such bevil Q being curved (as seen
more clearly in the detached view, Fig. 9, of such presser plate), so as to follow up
the successive coils as they widen out, and to press them along the entire length,
notwithstanding that each succeeding coil is wider than its predecessor, owing to
the existence of the conical ends upon the reel or bobbin.
It will be apparent that this part of our Invention is applicable for guiding the
thread in other reeling or winding apparatus.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we
claim,―
1st. The use and application of the improved needle guard, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described, and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawing.
2nd. The combined presser plate and thread guide constituting the improved
thread spooler or winder, when constructed and operating substantially as herein-
before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Watson, for and on behalf of myself and
the said George Watson and Ephraim Jackson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.