Improvements in Machines for Sewing Thatch.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sewing Thatch.
I, WILLIAM BEARD LAKE, of Rayne Foundry, Rayne, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of machines for sewing thatch
for which Letters Patent dated the 29th of March 1886, No. 4385, were granted
to Frederick Crompton Lake, and the principal objects of the said improvements
are to simplify the construction and action of such machines.
In machines constructed in accordance with the Specification of the said Letters
Patent, the stitches are formed and the sewing effected by the aid of needles
reciprocated or worked by cranks from a spindle situated at the lower part of the
machine and hooks or loopers mounted on a spindle arranged above the table plate
being employed to complete the stitches, the necessary motions being given to both
the said spindles from the driving shaft by suitable connections.
According to the present invention, the hook spindle is dispensed with, and each
hook is mounted loosely on a pin fixed to a bracket attached to the presser plate.
Fixed to the upper face of the said bracket is a vertical pin or rod on which a
plate is loosely mounted, in such manner, that it is free to move vertically thereon,
and this plate is, by a spring, the strength of which is capable of regulation, kept
normally against the upper face of the bracket. One end of a connecting rod is
pin-jointed to the back of the hook, the other end being pin-jointed to the sliding
plate, and the front of the hook is provided with a vertical groove therein to allow
of the needle and hook assuming such positions in relation to each other that the
point of the hook will catch the loop of string thrown out on the descent of the
needle.
The needle is advanced and after it has passed through the aperture in the
presser plate and a corresponding aperture in the bracket provided for that
purpose, the point thereof passes into an opening or recess formed in the sliding
plate but this opening is of a size to receive only the point of the needle and is
smaller than the body of the needle, the latter, in its upward movement therefore
raises the sliding plate upon the vertical pin or rod and the connecting rod causes
the hook to be turned back on its pin or axis. On the return movement of the
needle, the spring causes the sliding plate to follow the same until it reaches the
bracket and at the same time through the medium of the connecting rod, the hook
is carried forward so that the point thereof catches the loop of string.
In lieu of giving motion to the hook or looper directly from the sliding plate by
means of a link or connecting rod pin-jointed thereto, I employ an arrangement of
toggle levers for that purpose and I pin-joint the outer end of one of these toggle
levers to the hook or looper, I pin-joint the outer end of the other toggle lever to
a lug upon the presser and I pin-joint their inner ends together and to the lower
end of the link or connecting rod from the slide and I so arrange this system of
links that upon the up and down movements of the slide and needle, the necessary
backward and forward movements will be imparted to the hook or looper whilst in
the lowermost position of the slide the central pin-joint of the system will descend
below an imaginary line drawn from the points of connection of the toggle links
with the lug and hook thus securely locking the hook or looper with its loop against
accidental movement.
I would here remark that I have hereinbefore described the best means that I
am at present acquainted with for carrying my invention into effect, but that I do
not confine myself to the precise details thereof as it evident that in lieu of operating

page_text: the hook or looper by means of the needle, I may do so by means of some part
carrying or giving motion to the needle and suitable connections, and
may also
substitute a hinged lever or other equivalent contrivance for the sliding plate
hereinbefore referred to.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1890.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Sewing Thatch.
I, WILLIAM BEARD LAKE, of Rayne Foundry, Rayne, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, 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 :-
My said invention relates to improvements in that class of machines for sewing
thatch for which Letters Patent dated the 29th of March 1886, No. 4385, were
granted to Frederick Crompton Lake, and the principle objects of the said improve-
ments are to simplify the construction and action of such machines.
In machines constructed in accordance with the Specification of the said Letters
Patent, the stitches are formed and the sewing effected by the. aid of needles
reciprocated or worked by cranks from a spindle situated at the lower part of the
machine, and hooks or loopers mounted on a spindle arranged above the table plate,
are employed to complete the stitches, the necessary motions being given to both of
the said spindles from the driving shaft by suitable connections.
According to the present invention, the hook spindle is dispensed with, and each
hook is mounted loosely on a pin fixed to a bracket attached to the presser plate.
Fixed to the upper face of the said bracket, is a vertical pin or rod on which a plate
is loosely mounted, in such manner, that it is free to move vertically thereon and
this plate is, by a spring, the strength of which is capable of regulation, kept
normally against the upper face of the bracket, and the hook or looper is connected
with the sliding plate by suitable connections, whilst the front of the hook is
provided with a vertical groove therein to allow of the needle and hook assuming
such positions in relation to each other, that the point of the hook will catch the
loop of string thrown out on the descent of the needle.
The needle is advanced and after it has passed through the usual aperture in the
presser plate or foot, the point thereof passes into an opening or recess formed in
the sliding plate, but this opening is of a size to receive only the point of the
needle, and is smaller than the body of the needle, the latter, in its upward
movement therefore raises the sliding plate upon the vertical pin or rod, and
through the connections, causes the hook to be turned back on its pin or axis. On
the return movement of the needle, the spring causes the sliding plate to follow the
same, until it reaches the bracket, and, at the same time, through the medium of the
connections, the hook is carried forward so that the point thereof catches the loop
of string.
In order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a front elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention,
part of the table being broken away in order to expose the parts.
Figure 2. is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1. and
showing the needles in their lowest position, and,
Figure 3. is a similar view to Figure 2. showing the needles in their highest

page_text: In the several figures, like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
a represents the stand or frame of the machine, and b represents the driving
shaft which is mounted with capability of revolution in bearings 6* in the frame a
and is furnished with a fly wheel 6' and crank handle 62 for driving purposes.
Upon the top of the frame a is mounted the work table c of the machine, and at
the rear thereof is hinged a feed table or platform c* which is, when in use,
supported by a moveable strut c*1 and rising from the work table c is the arm c¹ of
the machine upon which are adjustably supported the presser plates or feet c² which
are formed with apertures c2* therein for the passage of the needles.
Formed on or fixed to each presser plate c² is a bracket c³ and loosely mounted
on a pin c* fixed to each bracket c³ is a hook or looper d hereinafter more fully
referred to.
Fixed to the upper face c3** of the bracket c³ is a vertical pin or rod e upon which
an apertured plate 3 is loosely mounted in such manner that it is free to move
vertically thereon, and this plate d³ is normally kept against the upper face ** of
the bracket c³ by a spring e, the strength or degree of compression of which is
capable of regulation by a nut e² screwing upon the threaded end of the rod e.
One end of a toggle link dis pin-jointed to the back of the hook d, and the other
end of the link d¹ is pin jointed at d* to one end of a toggle link 2, the other end
of which is pin-jointed to the sliding plate d³, and the pin forming the joint *
works in a vertical slot c***. formed in the bracket c³, and so shaped, that upon the
descent of the joint d*, the hook or looper d will be advanced and held in the
required position as hereinafter described.
The front of each hook d is provided with a vertical groove d* therein to allow
of the needles and hooks d assuming such positions in relation to each other, that
the point of each hook d will, with certainty, catch the loop of string thrown out
upon the descent of the corresponding needle f.
The needles work in guides g* forined in a bracket or frame g depending from
the work table e, and they are fitted into, and adjustably held in apertures, formed
in the ends of a cross-head where they are secured by binding screws h¹, and the
cross-head is, by a link or connecting rod h², connected with a crank &³ formed
upon the driving shaft b, and, by these means, the needles f receive the necessary
reciprocating vertical movements.
In the revolution of the driving shaft b, the needles fare advanced, and after
they have passed through the apertures 2* in the presser plates or feet c², the point
of each needle passes into an opening or recess d** (seen more clearly at Figure 2)
formed in a boss d, carried by the sliding plate d³, but this opening or recess d** is
tapered, or formed of a size to receive only the tapered point of the needle f, and is
smaller than the body of the needle, so that in their upward movement or advance,
the needles fraise the sliding plates d³ upon the vertical pins or rods e and through
the toggle links d' d² turn the hooks upon their axes e* and withdraw them
from the needles fas shown more particularly at Figure 3.
Upon the return movement of the needles, when the loops of string are thrown
out, as is well understood, the springs e cause the sliding plates d³ to follow the
same until they reach the brackets e, and, at the same time, through the medium
of the toggle levers or links dd, the hooks d are carried forward, so that the
points thereof catch the loops of string, and, in this position, the hooks or loopers d
will be securely held with the loops thereon, by the toggle links or levers d' d²
against accidental movement.
In order to prevent the loops of string being thrown out in the wrong direction,
and to cause them to assume a proper shape, I employ downwardly extending
shields which are carried by the bosses * and thus follow the points of the
needles in their traverse.
In my Provisional Specification, I first described a somewhat different arrange-
ment of parts for connecting the sliding plates e with the hooks d, but in practice,
I have found certain advantages in the employment of an arrangement of toggle
levers or links for that purpose, such as was referred to in my Provisional

page_text: Specification as an alternative device, and I have therefore shown such arrangement
as the best means that I am at present acquainted with for that purpose.
In order to feed forward the straw to be sewn after the completion of one stitch,
and in readiness for the next, I employ two or more tumbling fingers which
are loosely mounted upon studs or centres of motion i** carried by the outer ends
of arms * fixed upon the main shaft b, and these fingers i are formed with tails or
offsets upon the ends of which are provided studs or axes, upon which are mounted
trucks or rollers i².
Upon the underside of the work table c are fixed depending brackets j corre-
sponding with the fingers i, and these brackets are formed with curved guide
flanges which, as the fingers are carried round by the arms i*, act upon the
offsets ¹, and turn the fingers into the required position to project through slots
formed in the table c for feeding forward the straw as shown at Figure 2, and thus
retain them until the needles commence, or are about to commence to rise, at which
time, the offsets will be carried beyond the guide flanges j', and the fingers i will
tumble over beneath the work table c.
The necessary tension is put upon the string by means of tension plates k and
collars forced together by means of springs k', the pressure or strength of which
is capable of regulation by means of fly nuts 2, and as the use of this class of
tension device was fully explained in the Specification of the said former Patent,
I do not think it necessary to give a more definite description thereof here.
I would here remark that I have herein before shown and described the best
means that I am at present acquainted with for carrying my invention into effect,
but I do not confine myself to the precise details thereof, as it is evident that in
lieu of operating the hook or looper d by means of the needle, I may do so by
means of some reciprocating part carrying or giving motion to the needle and
suitable connections, and I may also substitute a hinged lever or equivalent device
for the sliding plate d³ hereinbefore described.
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 I
claim is :-
In a machine for sewing thatch, the combination of a reciprocating needle, a hook
or looper and a sliding plate or equivalent device connected with the hook or looper
through suitable connections and acted upon by the needle, or some other recipro-
cating part through suitable connections, substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1891.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.