Improvements in Machines for Sewing Straw Braiḍ.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sewing Straw Braiḍ.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by The Willcox and Gibbs Sewing Machine Company of
New York United States of America Sewing Machine Manufacturers, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to the machine described in the specifica-
tion belonging to British Letters Patent No. 5926 dated May 1st 1886 for Sewing
straw braid by means of stitches resembling those made by hand in that on the right
side of the work they are in distinct loops separated by spaces, and it has for its object
to modify and improve the construction and operation in certain particulars.
In the said machine, needles or sewing implements are attached to a reciprocatory
carrier below the work plate are thrust up through the work and cooperate with
certain looping devices which are carried by the presser foot above the work plate.
Since these looping devices are raised and lowered with the presser foot whose
position depends in operation upon the thickness of the work beneath, it was found
desirable to make the needles rise higher or not so high according to the higher or
lower positions of the presser foot in order to present uniformally the looped thread
in the best position to receive the looper.
The necessary variation in the needle stroke is effected by a controller mechanism
which is connected with the presser foot so as to be automatically set or adjusted
thereby, and which properly governs or controls the motion imparted to the needle or
sewing implements by the needle operating mechanism.
In the patented machine this controller mechanism is clamped so as to prevent its
being shifted except at one period in the formation of each stitch, namely, after the
feed has gone out of action and before the needles are thrust through the work. It
is desirable then to unclamp it only for a short time in order to have it properly
clamped before the needles get well into the work. A suitably short release, while
sufficient to permit the adjustment of the controller mechanism when the machine is
running slow, is inadequate, or not always adequate when the machine is running
fast and the controller mechanism may not always properly adjust itself before it is
again clamped.

page_text: The present invention provides means which release the controller mechanism after
the needles have reached the top of their stroke. At this time it is not only possible
to leave the controller meclianism unclamped for a longer time, but forces generated
by the needle operating mechanisin are or may be effectively utilized to shift the
controller mechanism.
In the practical application of this improvement the cam, termed the controller
clamping cam in the aforesaid specification is suitably altered to effect a very short
release of the controller clamp before the needles or sewing implements are thrust
through the work, and a considerably longer release just after they reach the top of
their stroke.
During this second release owing to the position of certain parts of the needle
operating mechanism the thrust of the needle operating eccentric tends to shift the
device whose position regulates the needle movement, in the direction to adjust itself
and the controller mechanism for a higher position of the presser foot. There is also
a spring which tends to act in the same manner. Consequently if, during the
operation of the machine the presser foot has been lifted by the work becoming
thicker and the controller mechanism fails properly to adjust itself during the first
release of the controller clamp owing to the rapidity of running, then so soon as the
said clamp is released the second time the thrust of the needle operating eccentric
(which thrust is greater as the speed of the machine is greater) or the tension of the
spring, or both said forces act upon the controller mechanism and shift it properly by
the time the looper is operated to take the loop from the eye pointed needle which
operation is made to take place a suitable time after the needles have reached the top
of their stroke in order that the partial descent of the eye-pointed needle may present a
wider loop to the looper.
Should the work become thinner instead of thicker, the presser spring forces down
the presser arm and presser foot, which carry with them the controller mechanism
while the latter is unclamped, against the pressure of any counteracting forces.
The present invention further provides guards for preventing particles of straw
from getting into the machinery. These guards are placed between the needle
carrier and a laterally projecting bracket to which the needles or sewing implements
are secured. They consist of a stationary guard provided with a slot through which
the connection between the needle carrier and the bracket passes and a movable
guard arranged outside of and in proximity to the former guard and serving at all
times to cover the slot and prevent foreign particles getting into or through it.
The slot terminates at its upper end at a distance below the upper end of the guard
equal to or in excess of the extreme stroke of the needle carrier and the connection
between the needle carrier and the bracket is placed at a corresponding distance from
their upper ends so that the position of the movable covering guard above said con-
nection will suffice to cover the slot when the needle carrier is at the bottom of its
stroke. The stationary guard is made in two parts, a solid upper part set in grooves
of the machine frame, and fastened by a screw and a lower part slotted from the top
downward which is set in the same grooves and forms a slide movable in order to
uncover the parts behind when desired.
In practically carrying this part of the invention into effect the needle carrier is
provided on its face with an oblong boss at about the middle of its length which boss
projects through the slot in the stationary guard. The covering guard is a thin plate
slightly wider than the slot which it is to cover and longer than the same by a little
more than the extreme stroke of the needle carrier. This covering guard is secured
to the back of the bracket and both it and the bracket are fastened by screws against
the face of aforesaid boss.
Dated this 11th dex of On1007

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Sewing Straw Braid.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by The Willcox and Gibbs Sewing Machine Company of
New York in the United States of America Sewing Machine Manufacturers and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
This Invention relates more particularly to the machine described in the specification
belonging to British Letters Patent No. 5926 dated May 1st 1886 for sewing straw
braid by means of stitches resembling those made by hand in that on the right side
of the work they are in distinct loops separated by spaces, and it has for
its object to modify and improve the construction and operation in certain
particulars.
In the said machine needles or sewing implements are attached to a reciprocatory
carrier below the work plate and are thrust up through the work and cooperate with
certain looping devices which are carried by the presser foot, above the work plate.
Since these looping devices are raised and lowered with the presser foot, whose
position in operation depends upon the thickness of the work beneath, it was found
desirable to make the needles rise higher or not so high according to the higher or
lower position of the presser foot, in order uniformly to present the looped thread
in the best position to receive the looper. The necessary variation in the needle
stroke is effected by a controller mechanism, which is connected with the presser
foot, so as to be automatically set or adjusted thereby, and which properly governs
or controls the motion imparted to the needles or sewing implements by the needle
operating mechanism.
In the said machine this controller mechanism is clamped so as to prevent its being
shifted except at one period in the formation of each stitch, namely after the feed has
gone out of action and before the needles are thrust through the work. It is
desirable then to unclamp it only for a short time, in order to have it properly clamped
before the needles get well into the work. A suitably short release, while sufficient
to permit the adjustment of the controller mechanism when the machine is running
slow is inadequate or not always adequate, when the machine is running fast
and the controller mechanism may not always properly adjust itself before it is
again clamped.
The present invention provides ineans which release the controller mechanism after
the needles have reached the top of their stroke. At this time it is not only possible
to leave the controller mechanism unclamped for a longer time, but forces generated
by the needle operating mechanism are or may be effectively utilized to shift the
controller mechanism.

page_text: The present invention further provides guards for preventing particles of straw
from getting into the machinery. These guards are placed between the needle carrier,
and a laterally projecting bracket to which the needles or sewing implements are
secured. They consist of a stationary guard provided with a slot through which the
connection between the needle carrier and the bracket passes, and a moveable
guard arranged outside of and in proximity to the former guard and serving
at all times to cover the slot and prevent foreign particles getting into or
through it.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification,
Figure is a view in longitudinal section and front elevation of a straw
sewing machine containing the improvements which constitute the invention,
certain mechanism which has no immediate connection with the invention being
omitted.
Figures II and III are cross sections of said machine.
Figure IV is a partial end elevation; and
Figures V and VI are partial views in horizontal section and plan, Figure VI being
taken on line VI of Figure I.
The omitted mechanism and a large part also of the mechanism shown is or may be
the same as in the said patent. It will be convenient first to describe this old
machinery, or such parts thereof as is deemed useful using the marks of reference
previously employed and referring to the said patent for a full description of any
details omitted.
The looper V and the threader W are carried by a vertically movable arm X, to a
lateral projection 145 of which the presser foot (not shown) is attached. The rear
end of the presser arm X is attached to the rock shaft B¹. When the needles R S
have been thrust through the work, after reaching the top of their stroke they are
drawn down so as to throw a loop from the eye pointed needle R in the path of the
looper V, which is thereupon caused to advance by mechanism not shown, and to
enter and then to stretch the loop in front of the threader W, which catches the
upper side of the loop and by an outward movement (to the left in Figure 1)
introduces it under the barb of the needle S. The looper and the threader then retire,
the needles descend, the feed takes place, and the needles rise, the eye pointed
needle R passing through the loop held on the barb needle S, and the latter
afterwards releasing said loop which is driven around the eye pointed needle
and is eventually locked by the thread pushed through it by said needle R.
The needle carrier P, (Figures 1 and VI) is reciprocated through the rock shaft Y
and other connections by an eccentric F (see Figure II) fixed on and revolving with
the main shaft D which is journaled in bearings of the frame A and is driven by any
suitable means. The eccentric F acts through the strap 7, pin 8, (in the outer end of
a guide arm 13) link Z, pin 9 and block 11, to move the arm 12 up and down and thus
to vibrate the rock shaft Y, and the motion is conveyed from the rock shaft Y to
the needle carrier P through the lever arm 19 and link 17.
By placing the block 11 in the slotted arm 12, nearer the rock shaft Y the latter
is turned through a larger angle and the needle carrier P is given a longer stroke.
By placing it nearer the outer end of the slotted arm 12 the length of stroke is.
diminished. The position of the block 11 is controlled by a connection with the
presser foot or presser arm X through the controller shaft A¹. When the block 11
is too near the rock shaft, the presser arm X being drawn down by the presser spring
(not shown), acts through the boss 27 and depending projections 26 (both fixed on
the presser arm) and the link 25, upon the screw pin 28, in the outer end of lever
arm 24 and pushes it down, thereby turning the controller shaft A', moving the arm 22
up, and through the link 21 lever A", link 23 and pin 9, shifting the block 11 away
from the shaft Y, until the further motion of said presser arm is arrested by the presser
foot resting upon the work.
When the block 11 is too far from the rock shaft Y, then the flat controller
spring 226 (whose near end is fastened to the arm 225 on rock shaft B') draws back
the lever A" and with it of course the block 11, turning the controller shaft A' and

page_text: lifting the arm 24 and pin 28 until the latter comes into contact with the upper end
of the slot in the link 25 and further motion is arrested.
The parts are so proportioned and adjusted, that so long as the pin 28 is at the
top of said slot, the needle operating mechanism gives to the needle carrier P, such a
stroke as will present the needles in proper position relatively to the looper mechanisın
or looper V and threader W, at the time the loop is taken.
.
During the time the needles are being thrust through the work, and also during
the operation of the feed the controller mechanism is prevented from moving by
clamping the tail 34, on lever A". The lever C mounted loosely on the shaft Y so as
to turn freely thereon is provided with a screw 33 bearing against the elastic arm of the
horizontal lever DI and when moved backward presses upon said lever D¹ so as to clamp
the tail 34 on lever A between the stationary screw 35 and the block 36 on the lever D¹.
So far there is nothing new in the machinery or its operation.
In practically applying the improvement in the controller clamp, the controller
clamping cam I is altered to effect a very short release of the controller clamp before
the needles or sewing implements R S are thrust through the work and a considerably
longer release just after they reach the top of their stroke. A suitable form of cam is
shown in Figure IlI. In the position shown (the needles being at the bottom of their
stroke) the controller mechanism is clamped, and shifting of the block 11 is prevented.
The portion 300 of the cam groove acts upon the lever (1 to release the controller
mechanism before the needles enter the work and to restore the clamp very soon after
the release while the portion 301 acts to release the clamp just after the needles reach
the top of their stroke.
During this second release, the arm 12 of the rock shaft Y is inclined upwards as
indicated in dotted lines in Figure 11, and the downward thrust of the needle
operating eccentric F, being conveyed through the link Z tends to shift the block 11
(whose position regulates the needle movement) towards the rock shaft Y, that is to
say, in the direction to adjust said block 11 and the controller mechanism for a higher
position of the presser foot. The controller spring 226 tends to shift said block 11
and the controller mechanism in the same direction.
Consequently if during the operation of the machine the presser foot has been lifted
by the work becoming thicker and the controller mechanism fails properly to adjust
itself during the release of the controller clamp by the portion 300 of the operating
cam I, then so soon as the said clamp is released by the portion 301, the thrust of the
needle operating eccentric F (which thrust is greater as the speed of the machine is
greater) or the tension of the spring 226 or both said forces act upon the controller
mechanism and shift the block 11 inward to the required extent (determined by the
pin 28 striking the top of the slot in the link 25) by the time the looper V is operated
to take the loop from the eye pointed needle, which operation is made to take place a
suitable time after the needles have reached the top of their stroke.
This shifting of the block 11 toward the rock shaft Y, causes or may cause a
supplementary rise of the needles and since it takes place after the needles have
reached the top of their stroke when, if the controller mechanism had adjusted itself
at the first release of the controller clamp, the revolution of the needle operating
eccentric F would produce a downward motion of the needles, it diminishes the
amount of downward motion which given to the needles prior to the advance of the
looper V, but it nevertheless allows some such motion to occur, in order that a loop
may be thrown out in the path of the looper.
Should the work become thinner the presser spring forces down the presser arm ✗
and presser foot which carry with them the controller mechanism while the latter is
unclamped against the pressure of any counteracting forces.
By the formn shown of the portion 301 of the clamping cam, the clamp is released
for a considerable part of the revolution so that the box 11 can be slipped outwardly
(that is away from the rock shaft Y) until the feed surface is about to rise and take
hold of the work, at which time the clamp is restored to prevent any change in the
position of the controller mechanism which might be caused by the rise of the feed,
lifting the presser foot and presser arm.

page_text: The needles R, S, are attached to the needle carrier P, by means of a bracket 200,
to which the needles are or may be secured as in the aforesaid application.
In order to apply the new or improved means for preventing entrance of straw into
the machinery, the bracket 200 is secured by screws to a boss 302 on the face of the
needle carrier P at a distance below their upper ends equal to or in excess of the
extreme stroke of the needle carrier. Between needle carrier P and the bracket 200
are placed the stationary guard 303 provided with a slot 304 in which the boss 302
works and the movable guard 305 fixed to the bracket and arranged outside of and in
close proximity to the said stationary guard. This latter is made in two parts or
plates (see Figs. IV and VI) set one above the other in the same grooves or
ways of the frame A, the upper solid plate fastened by a screw 306 and the lower
slotted plate held in place by friction and forming a slide which can be moved in order
to uncover the parts behind when desired. The covering guard 305 is a thin plate
slightly wider than the slot it is to cover and longer than the same by about or a little
more than the stroke of the needle carrier.
Modifications may be made in details without departing from the invention and
parts of the invention may be used separately.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In combination with the needle operating mechanism having a part adjustable to
regulate the needle stroke, the controller. mechanism for adjusting said part, and the
controller clamping devices, means whereby said clamping devices are released after
the needles reach the top of their stroke, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the needle operating mechanism comprising a rock shaft
provided with an operating arm, a box adjustable lengthwise, of said arm, an eccentric
and link for vibrating said arm and rock shaft through said box, and the controller
mechanism for adjusting said box, of an automatic intermistent clamp whose pressure
is relieved when said operating arm, eccentric and link are in position for the force of
said eccentric to move the said box in the direction for increasing the needle stroke,
substantially as described.
3. In combination with the looper mechanism, the needle operating mechanism
having a part adjustable to regulate the needle stroke, the controller mechanism for
adjusting said part and the devices for clamping the controller mechanism, the cam
which acts upon said devices and causes them to release the said controller mechanism
before the needles are thrust through the work, to clamp the same during this
operation, to release the clamp after the needles have reached the top of their stroke
and before the looper mechanism takes the loop and to restore the clamp during the
time of action of the feed, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the needle carrier, and its needle supporting bracket, of
the stationary and moveable guards arranged between the said carrier and the said
bracket, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the needle carrier arranged below the work plate, of the
bracket secured to said carrier at about a needle stroke's distance below their upper
ends, the slotted stationary guard having a solid portion above the slot therein, and
the covering guard arranged in proximity to the said stationary guard attached to
said bracket and projecting about a needle strokes distance above the connection
between the bracket and the needle carrier, substantially as described.
Dated this 07th Jan of 1000