IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick James Drewry of Burton on Trent in the
County of Stafford, Gentleman, Executor of William Morgan-Brown, Patent
Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings London, deceased, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES Communicated to him from abroad
by Orville R. Van Vechten of New York United States of America Machinist
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1883.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN Patent Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES [Communicated to him from abroad by
Orville R. Van Vechten of New York United States of America Machinist]
The present Invention relates to sewing machines of the class in which the
material operated upon is stationary while the sewing mechanism advances along
the material as the sewing progresses and particularly to a machine of the general
construction shown in United States Letters Patent Nos. 246,644 and 256,518.
The machine shown and described in those patents is designed and adapted for
sewing together the mouths of bags or for uniting the edges of short pieces of
fabric which can readily be held between the bars of a clamping frame such as
shown in said patents. The machine there shown is however for various reasons
not adapted for use in uniting the edges of long pieces of fabric and consequently
the field of its usefulness is comparatively limited.
It is the object of the present Invention to adapt this machine for use in sewing
together long pieces of material and particularly breadths of carpeting and like
heavy fabrics which cannot be operated upon by an ordinary sewing machine.
To that end the Invention consists in various details of construction both singly
and in combination as will be hereinafter fully explained and particularly pointed
out.
In using the machine modified as herein described the adues of the fahrin to he

page_text: united instead of being clamped between the bars of a clamping frame, as in the
patents referred to, are impaled upon a series of pins which project from the edge
of a table or counter which is of sufficient length to receive the edges of the longest
pieces of fabric which it is desired to unite. The fabric is impaled upon the pins
so that its extreme edges in which the seam is to be taken will project above the
edge of the table the amount of such projection and consequently the width of the
seam being accurately determined by means of a gauge which is moved along from
pin to pin so that as the fabric is impaled its edges can be brought up snugly
against the flange of the gauge and thus be made uniform throughout the whole
length of the piece. The gauge is provided with a ring through which the operator
can pass one of his fingers so as to conveniently slide the gauge along from pin to
pin and also hold it in place while impaling the edges of the fabric upon the pins.
The sewing mechanism proper of the machine is substantially the same as in the
Patents referred to and consequently requires no detailed description.
The presser foot is however in the present case modified in construction. It
consists of a single curved plate pivoted or hinged to the end of a bar projecting
from the needle bar carrier and is provided with a spring so arranged as to press
the foot constantly inward and hold the fabric snugly against the cloth plate and
yet yield sufficiently to allow seams or other inequalities in the fabric to pass
without impeding the progress of the machine; The foot is provided with a slot
to permit the oscillation of the needle which is a necessary feature in a machine of
this character.
The construction of the guiding frame or way upon which the machine travels
has been changed in the present case in order to give the necessary range of travel
to the sewing mechanism. In the machine shown in the Patents referred to the
supports for the guide bars and driving rack are so arranged that the sewing
mechanism can only travel between two supports which distance is sufficient for
all the purposes for which the machine there shown is designed. In the present
case however the range of travel of the machine is so groat that it is necessary to
provide supports for the driving rack and guide bars between their ends. To do
this and yet not interfere with the movement of the sewing mechanism the table
or counter is provided at a suitable distance from its edge with a series of brackets
to the top of which is fixed the rack bar. The front edge of this bar is provided
with a series of teeth which engage with the driving pinion of the sewing
mechanism said pinion and rack being kept in engagement by antifriction wheels
bearing against the opposite side of the rack bar and carried by arms extending
from the frame of the sewing mechanism. The brackets are also provided with
short arins the upper ends of which carry a prismatic guide bar which is nearly
embraced by a long bearing on the frame of the sewing mechanism. From this it
will be seen that the supports for the guide and rack bars do not in the least interfere
with the travel of the machine.
.
When the bearing is made of considerable length as in the present case it is
evident that one arm and wheel will be sufficient to hold the sewing mechanism
in proper position and the driving pinion wheel in engagement with the rack.
Consequently although two arms and wheels are described one may be omitted.
The apparatus for severing the thread at the end of the run of the machine is in
the present case the same as in Letters Patent No 256,518 referred to except that
in the machine shown in the patent the apparatus is stationary since the end
of the run of the machine is always at the same point while in the present case the
severing apparatus is made adjustable so that the run can be terminated and the
thread severed at any point desired.
1
To accomplish this the severing blades are attached to a movable carrier provided
with bearings which embrace the guide bar and the front edge of the rack bar.
This permits the carrier to be moved to any desired point it being fastened in
position when adjusted by means of a set screw which impinges against the

page_text: prismatic guide bar and a spring catch which engages with the teeth upon the
rack bar.
The severing apparatus having been placed at the point where it is desired to
have the run of the machine terminate the sewing mechanism will be arrested at
the proper time and the needle held in its withdrawn position while the thread is
severed by the action of a lever upon the projection of a blade all as set forth in the
patents hereinbefore referred to.
It will readily be seen that it is not essential that the needle should reciprocate
in a horizontal plane. It may be arranged vertically equally well in which case
the material operated upon will lie upon the top of the table instead of hanging
from its edge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick James Drewry Executor of William Morgan-Brown
deceased in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th July 1883.
FREDERICK JAMES DREWRY of Burton on Trent in the County of Stafford
Gentleman, Executor of William Morgan-Brown Patent Agent of 38. Southampton
Buildings London, deceased who died on the thirty first day of March One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three. IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
(A communication to William Morgan-Brown aforesaid from Abroad by Orville R.
Van Vechten New York. United States of America Machinist
The present invention relates to Sewing machines of the class in which the
material operated upon is stationary while the sewing mechanism advances along
the material as the sewing progresses and particularly to a machine of the general
construction shown in United States Letters Patent No 246644 and 256518.
The machine shown and described in those Patents is designed and adapted for
sewing together the mouths of bags or for uniting the edges of short pieces of
fabric which can readily be held between the bars of a clamping frame such as
shown in said Patents. The machine there shown is however for various reasons
not adapted for use in uniting the edges of long pieces of fabric and conse-
quently the field of its usefulness is comparatively limited
It is the object of the present invention to adapt this machine for use in Sewing
together long pieces of material and particularly breadths of carpeting and like
heavy fabrics which cannot be operated upon by an ordinary Sewing machine
To that end the invention consists in various details of construction both singly
and in combination, as will be hereinafter fully explained and particulary pointed
out.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a mechanism such as
shown in the Patents referred to, but modified so as to embody the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same taken upon the line α-x
of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken upon the line of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken upon the line y-y of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken upon the line 2. of Figure 1.
Figures 6 and 7 are end and side views of a gauge for properly adjusting the
edges of the material preparatory to sewing them together
In using the machine modified as herein shown the edges of the fabric to be
united instead of being clamped between the bars of a damping frame as in the
Patents referred to are impaled upon a series of pins I which project from the edge
1
of a table or counter 2 which is of sufficient length to receive the edges of the
longest pieces of fabric which it is desired to unite. The fabric is impaled upon
the pins so that its extreme edges, in which the seam is to be taken will project
above the edge of the table, the amount of such projection and consequently the
width of the seam being accurately determined by means of a gauge 3 which is
moved along from pin to pin so that as the fabric is impaled its edges can be
brought up snugly against the flange 4 of the gauge and thus be made uniform
throughout the whole length of the piece. The gauge 3 is provided with a ring 5
through which the operator can pass one of his fingers so as to conveniently slide
the gauge along from pin to pin and also hold it in place while impaling the edges
of the fabric upon the pins
1
The sewing mechanism proper of the machine herein shown is substantially

page_text: the same as in the Patent referred to and consequently requires no detailed
description
The presser-foot is however in the present case modified in construction It
consists of a single curved plate 6 pivoted or hinged to the end of a bar 7 pro-
jecting from the needle-bar carrier and is provided with a spring 8 so arranged as
to press the foot constantly inward and hold the fabric snugly against the cloth
plate 9 and yet yield sufficiently to allow seams or other inequalities in the fabric
to pass without impeding the progress of the machine-The foot 6 is provided with
a slot 10 (see Figure 3) to permit the oscillation of the needle, which is a necessary
feature in a machine of this character
The construction of the guiding frame or way upon which the machine travels
has been changed in the present case in order to give the necessary range of travel
to the Sewing mechanism. In the machine shown in the Patents referred to, the
supports for the guide bars and driving-rack are so arranged that the sewing
mechanism can only travel between two supports, which distance is sufficient for
all the purposes for which the machine there shown is designed. In the present
case however, the range of travel of the machine is so great that it is necessary to
provide supports for the driving rack and guide bars between their ends. To do
this and yet not interfere with the movement of the Sewing mechanism the table
or counter 2 is provided at a suitable distance from its edge with a series of
brackets 13 to the top of which is fixed the rack bar 12-The front edge of this
bar is provided with a series of teeth which engage-with the driving pinion 14 of
the Sewing mechanism (see Figure 1) said pinion and rack being kept in engage-
ment by the anti-friction wheels 15 bearing against the opposite side of the rack
bar and carried by arms 16 extending from the frame of the Sewing mechanism.
The brackets 13 are also provided with short arms 17 the upper ends of which
carry a prismatic guide bar 11 which is nearly embraced by the long bearing 18
on the frame of the Sewing mechanism. From this it will be seen that the supports
for the guide and rack bars do not in the least interfere with the travel of the
machine.
When the bearing 18 is made of considerable length as in the present case it is
evident that one arm and wheel as 15-16 will be sufficient to hold the Sewing
mechanism in proper position and the wheel 14 in engagement with the rack 12.
Consequently although two arms and wheels are shown one may be omitted
without departing from the invention as claimed.
The apparatus for severing the thread at the end of the run of the machine is
in the present case the same as in Letters Patent N° 256,518 referred to, except
that in the machine shown in the Patent the apparatus is stationary. since the end
of the run of the machine is always at the same point, while in the present case
the severing apparatus is made adjustable so that the run can be terminated and
the thread severed at any point desired.
To accomplish this the severing blades 19-20 are attached to a movable
carrier 21 provided with bearings which embrace the guide-bar 11 and the front
edge of the rack-bar 12 as shown in Figure 5. This permits the carrier to be
moved to any desired point it being fastened in position when adjusted, by means
of a set screw 22 which impinges against the bar 11, and a spring catch 23 which
engages with the teeth upon the rack-bar.
This severing apparatus having been placed at the point when it is desired to
have the run of the machine terminate, the Sewing mechanism will be arrested at
the proper time and the needle held in its withdrawn position while the thread is
severed by the action of the lever 24 upon the projection 25 of the blade 19 all as
set forth in the Patents hereinbefore referred to.
It will readily be seen that it is not essential that the needle should reciprocate
in a horizontal plane. It may be arranged vertically equally well, in which case
the material operated upon will lie upon the top of the table 2 instead of hanging
from its edge

page_text: What I claim is
1st The combination with the guide and rack bars of the adjustable knife-
carrier substantially as described.
2nd The combination with the guide and rack bars of the adjustable knife-carrier
provided with the set screw and spring-catch for holding it in any adjusted
position, substantially as described
3rd In a sewing-machine which moves over the material operated upon the
combination with the cloth plate as 9 of the hinged presser foot as 6 consisting
of a single curved plate provided with a slot as 10 substantially as described.
4th The combination with the rack-bar 12 and the driving gear 14 whereby the
travel of the machine drives the sewing mechanism, of the sewing machine frame
provided with one or more arms, as 16 whereby said gear and rack-bar are kept in
engagement substantially as described.
5th The combination with the brackets, as 13 provided with guide and rack bars
as 11-12 of the Sewing machine frame provided with one or more partially open
bearings, as 18 and one or more arms as 16 carrying anti-friction wheels as 15
substantially as described.
6th The combination with the table as 2 provided with impaling pins as 1, of
the movable gauge 3 provided with the flange 4 substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Frederick James Drewry have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
FREDERICK JAMES DREWRY (rs)