Improvements in Machines for Sewing Horse-collars, Belts, and similar Articles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
[Communicated from abroad by THE ROSS MOYER MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
of No. 226 to 230, Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio,
United States of America, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Machines for Sewing Horse-collars, Belts, and
similar Articles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine which will sew
horse-collars, belts, or other articles where a leather thong is employed, making
what is known as a pop stitch. Another object of my invention is to provide a
take-up device which moves a full throw at each stroke and holds the string or
thong under tension, and which is automatically tripped to release the thong by
means of which it is drawn uniformly taut irrespective of the length of the .
thong.
Another object of my invention is to simplify the device so that the machine can
be operated uniformly and with great speed. Another object of my invention is to
provide a driving mechanism preferably a cam which operates the needle bars upon
both sides of the machine. Another object of my invention is to provide a driving
device preferably a cam which operates a takeup device upon either side of the
machine, thereby insuring a perfect uniform movement of the mechanism upon each
side of the machine. This is important as very little variation in the length of
movement of the different levers would prevent exact time movements.
The various features of my invention are fully set forth in the description of the
accompanying drawings making a part of this Specification, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation.
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the needle bar and tripping mechanism.
Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the take-up devices.
Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the needle bars and needle engaging device.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the cam operating the feed mechanism.
Fig. 11 is the cam plate for operating the two takeup devices, and tripping the
needle.
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the cam for operating the needle bars.
Fig. 13 is a plan view of the cam for operating the foot.
Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of the threaded needle.
Fig. 15 is a diagram representing the threaded needle with the thong above the
table in the elevated position for presenting the thong to the upper takeup
device. Fig. 16 is a similar diagram representing the upper takeup disposing of
the thong.
Fig. 17 is a diagram representing the position of the needle bars in the act of
shifting the needle from the upper to the lower bar.
Fig. 18 is a diagram representing the reverse position of the parts shown
in Fig. 16.
Fig. 19 is a sectional diagram illustrating the stitch,
Fig. 20 is a plan of the awl operating cam.

page_text: Fig. 21 is a modification of the tripping takeup device in Fig. 7.
A represents the base of the machine. B, B, a hollow column upon which the
operating mechanism is mounted. C.represents the table on which the work is laid
for operation. D represents the top frame piece which projects forward and
hangs over the table as shown in Fig. 4. E represents the main driving shaft.
E' the driving pulley mounted thereon, which drives the several different sets of
mechanism employed in the machine.
The working devices consist, first, of the needle bars i, i, operated in unison on
opposite sides of the table, each one alternately receiving the needle from the
other, and on the next stroke re-delivering it to the other in time movements ;
second, two take-up arms K, K, are likewise employed; the upper take-up arm
takes the slack of the thong from the upward needle movement; the lower arm in
like manner takes up the slack from the downward needle movement; third, awl
bar u carrying an awl which punches the hole in advance of each needle thrust and
feeds the goods forward in position to receive the needle between the time movements
of the needle bar; and fourth, a foot 30 mounted on a bar which moves down in
advance of each needle movement and rises after the needle and thong have been
drawn through the goods. These several parts are operated in appropriate time
movements by the following mechanism:
E represents the main driving shaft. E¹ the driving pulley. F a spur gear on
the driving shaft E. G a transmitting gear meshing with gear H on shaft H', upon
which is mounted cam I, which operates the takeup mechanism. W₁ represents
a spur gear receiving motion from gear H upon the shaft W of which is mounted
cam 36 which operates the foot lift, and also cam X which operates the needle bar
mechanism. Upon the same shaft is likewise mounted the cam R' that operates
the awl driving mechanism. A cam V operates the feed moving mechanism.
Hence, by means of the cams 1, 36, X, V and R¹ the several mechanisms of the
machine are appropriately operated in time movements; the takeup shaft and cam
only make one revolution to two of the shaft operating the cams 36, X V
and R¹.
X represents the cam for operating the needle bars; said cam is provided with
the groove y. Z represents a bellcrank lever keyed upon rock shaft 9 which
journals on the frame of the machine; the inner end of said bellcrank lever is
provided with a friction roller 10 which travels in the groove y; the forward end
of said bellcrank lever is hinged to the connecting rod 11. Said rod is hinged to
the crank arm 12 of the rock shaft 13 which journals on the frame of the machine.
Shaft 9 operates the upper needle bar, and shaft 13 the lower needle bar by the
ordinary crank connection 14, and link 15, and clutch block 16; the needle bars
reciprocating in ears 17 of the main frame.
The needle catch and tripping mechanism is constructed as follows: 20 represents
a keeper pin engaging with the notch of the needle; this keeper pin is held in
contact with the needle normally by the spring 21 which is retracted by the point
of the needle pressing against the point of the keeper pin for the engagement of
the needle as it is passed from one needle bar to the other. The tripping
mechanism acts independent of this to release the needle at the appropriate
time.
The tripping mechanism for disengaging the needle is constructed as follows:
22 represents a slide reciprocating in a groove cut in the needle bar. It is operated
at each alternate movement of the needle bar for raising the keeper 20 and
disengaging the needle. 23 represents the needle rod which moves forward at each
alternate stroke of the needle into the position shown (see top rod) in Fig. 5, its
end projects under the tripping lug 24 which projecting from slide 22, as the needle
bar descends it engages with the end of rod 23 and the said lug 24 is fixed to the
slide 22, which lifts the slide; the forward end of said slide is provided with an
iucline 25 which fits a corresponding incline 26 of the keeper pin block, thus
moving the keeper block and pin up releasing the needle which is retracted by its
engagement with the opposite needle bar i. 27 represents a retractile spring

page_text: engaging with the pin 28 for retracting the slide 22; the spring 21 pressing the
keeper pin 20 back into position for holding the needle.
It is necessary to operate the tripping rods 23 to retract the slides and release
the needle at each alternate stroke of the needle bar, so that one rod moves forward
while the opposite rod is moved backward, as shown in Fig. 5. The reciprocation
of these rods in proper time movements to release the needle is accomplished by
the following mechanism :
I represents a lug on the face of cam I which oscillates the lever J; the outer
end of said lever carries the reciprocating tripping rods 23. 27 represents a
retractile spring coacting with the lug I' to cause a positive reciprocation of said
lever.
The mechanisms upon each side of the table are counterparts, both needle bars
being operated by the cam X, the crank arms 12 and Z, being set opposite each
other so that they operate to move the needle bars i, i, to and fro in unison. The
takeup arms K are operated by cam I, racks a, a, and pinions b, b, are adjusted so
that one is moved away from the needle while the other is approaching it, one
taking up slack of the thong, and the other returning to position for taking it to
draw the next stitch.
The takeup mechanisms are operated by cam I as follows: 1 represents a cam
lever provided with friction roller 2 which travels in the slot 3 of cam I ; one end
of which is journalled to the stud 4 on the frame. The forward end of said lever
is provided with the link 5 hinged at one end to the cam lever, and the opposite
end to the shank 6 of the reciprocating bar 7; said bar at each end is provided
with a rack a engaging respectively with pinions ; these pinious are each mounted
upon a shaft 8; upon the opposite end of each of said shafts is mounted a
travelling carrier shown as an arm K. L represents segmental grooved thong
guides, one above and the other below the table. In the groove M is mounted a
series of guards N; these guards are each mounted upon a spring arm N¹.
O represents a series of friction rollers journalled upon axles n spanning the groove
of the guides L. In Fig. 6 have shown an end view of said guide L opposite
the needle, the guards N being outside of the friction roller. The faces of these
guards are inclined so that the thong itself opens them as it passes between them
on to the rollers. A series of these is provided as shown in Fig. 3 at different
places around the segment. The friction rollers () support the thong as it is
drawn around the segment. The spring guards prevent the thong from flying out
until it is drawn out by the spring of the opposite takeup arm. Upon the carrier K
is mounted the thong takeup which is constructed as follows:
P represents a roller mounted upon the shaft P. P represents a spring for
holding it normally in position as shown Fig. 7; this spring controls the tension
of the thong. Q represents a drag spring which is attached to the lug Q; the
arm of the spring rests against one of the flanges of the grooved guide L; the
opposite end of this spring arm is inclined so that when the thong is pulled off of
the takeup roller P it strikes this drag spring and is pulled out between the spring
and flanger which prevents the whipping of the thong and causes it to be delivered
regularly to the takeup arm on the opposite side of the needle.
I prefer to employ an awl to punch the holes through the goods, and while in this
position to feed the material forward to be in line with the path of the needle, so
that the needle is readily passed through the hole punched as soon as the awl
has been retracted. For this purpose I provide the following mechanism :
R³ represents the cam for reciprocating the awl up and down in appropriate time
movements ahead of each needle thrust; motion is transmitted from cam R¹ to the
awl bar u by means of the cam lever T keyed to the rock shaft S, which
journals in the bearings S', as shown in Fig. 2. t represents a link hinged to the
crank T on the outer end of the shaft S. represents a clutch block connecting
the link t to the awl bar u. The cam R is adjusted relatively to the cam X so
that the awl reciprocates between the reciprocating movements of the needle bar.

page_text: In order to operate or move the awl bar u forward to effect the feeding of the
material I provide the following mechanism:
m represents the carrier head in which the awl bar is mounted; said head
moves in slides 33, as shown in Fig. 1; it is operated by means of the cam V,
and cam lever d keyed to the rock shaft c. e represents a crank arm keyed to
the outer end of the rock shaft c, carrying a stud 9 which engages in the slot of
the head m, and the parts are so adjusted that the head is reciprocated forward
while the awl is in the goods, and moves back as soon as the awl is raised,
making what is known as a positive awl feed. The awl bar, therefore, has two
motions, the up and down motion operated by cam R', and the feed motion operated
by the cam V and the slide head m.
The foot must be operated in time movement with the awl feed while the needle
bars and takeup arms are idle; the foot 30 is raised just in advance of the forward
movement of the head m. The time movement of the foot 30 is secured by. the
following devices: 31 represents a tilt bar (Fig. 4) journalled upon the pin 32, on
the forward end of which the foot bar is suspended; 33 represents a spring for
holding the foot bar normally down; 34 represents a link connecting the tilting
bar 31 with the crank arm 35; said crank arm is provided with a friction roller
moved in a slot on cam 36; the groove of the cain is of such form as to lift the
foot bar just in advance of the forward feed movement of the awl.
38 represents a retractile spring for taking up the lost motion and cushioning the
movements of the racks, thereby preventing shocks being transferred to the carrier
arm K at the end of the feed stroke of the takeup mechanism.
In order to prevent the thong from being twisted while the slack is being taken
up, and at the same time prevent the thong from whipping back on the needle
when it is released by the tension, 1 provide the following devices:
39 represents a friction roller. 40 represents an opposing friction roller loosely
journalled on shaft 42. 41 represents a retractile spring coiled around said shaft and
normally holding the frictional roller in place; the two frictional rolls 39, 40 act as
a split friction roller, and as the thong is drawn over the peripheries of said rollers
it moves the roller 40 away from the roller 39 far enough to allow it to pass
between their faces, and the rollers hold the stitch end of the inside loop of the
thong away from the needle while the thong is being fed backward for the next
stitch; and it is drawn out of engagement between said rollers by the strain of the
takeup device; there being duplicate parts on each side of the table opposite the
needle bars, the details of one of the parts being illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.
:
Mode of operation: In the diagrams Fig. 15 represents a piece of goods in the
act of being sewed with the thong drawn upward in position for the engagement of
the thong takeup or roller P with the thong to take up the slack. Fig. 16
represents one of the carriers K with the thong looped over it in the act of taking
up the slack; the carrier on the opposite side of the machine is shown in the proper
relative position in these two figures. Fig. 17 represents the thong as having been
pulled off of the roller P mounted on the tilting shaft P¹. The carrier K has moved
its full stroke, but the thong has been released by the strain of the thong on the
tilting shaft Plovercoming the resistance of the tension spring P" see Fig. 7. The
needle bars are shown in position for passing the needle from one to the other
through the goods for drawing the thong downward to take the next stitch.
Fig. 18 represents the reverse position of the parts above and below the table of
the machine shown in Fig. 16.
A very important feature of my invention is a thong carrier mounted upon a
travelling device, said thong carrier being governed by the tension device which
normally holds it in position for carrying the thong, but yields to the strain on the
thong, trips and releases the thong when the stitch is drawn taut. This may be
accomplished in very many ways. In the preferred form I have shown a tilting
shaft P which is held in place by the tension spring. Other means of providing
the tension trip may be employed; in Fig. 21 I have shown one modification of

page_text: such tension; it consists of four rotating arms p mounted upon an axis 45 projecting
from carrier K. 43 represents a spring pawl engaging consecutively in notches 44
in the hub or boss from which the arms p project. I prefer the spring tension to
the friction tension as it is more sensitive and better regulated, but I do not wish
to limit myself to any particular device unless specified as elements of claims herein,
as very many mechanical equivalents can be substituted in lieu of those herein
shown. I have shown a carrier K upon which the, automatic tripping tension
device is mounted. I do not wish to limit myself to a travelling arm, as any
travelling tension carrier of different form of construction would accomplish the
same result whether travelling in curved or in right lines; the principle being to
take up the slack of the thong and release it by the strain of the thong in
drawing the stitch taut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the combination of the needle bars i, i,
operating in unison on either side of the table, the cam X, and the lever connecting
mechanism driven by said cam and operating said needle bars in quison with
each other, and in time movements with the takemp device, substantially as
specified.
2. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and driving mechanism
for operating them in unison on each side of the work, in combination with
take-up devices and driving mechanism for operating the same alternately with
the unison movements of the needle bars, and air awl punching and feeding device
provided with driving mechanism for operating the same between each movement
of said needle bars, substantially as specified.
3. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i. operating in unison on
either side of the work, in combination with take-up devices K and driving
mechanism operating the same alternately between each movement of the needle
bars and an awl punching and feeding device provided with driving mechanism
arranged in time movements with the take-up and needle bar mechanism, whereby
the hole is punched, the goods fed, and the needle passed through the goods alter-
nately from one needle bar to the other, substantially as specified.
4. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and mechanism for
operating the same in unison on each side of the work, in combination with driving
mechanism operating take-up devices each consisting of an arm K on which is
nounted a tripping thong carrier provided with a spring which holds the same in
normal position for taking up the slack and tripping under the strain of the thong
to release the same when the stitch is drawn, said take-up devices working
alternately between each unison movement of the needle bars, substantially as
specified.
5. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, in combination with the needle bars i, i, and
mechanism for operating the same in unison on each side of the table, the carriers K
operated by driving mechanism in time movements so that each carrier engages
with the thong slack as its associate needle bar draws the needle and thong
through the goods, and the awl punch, provided with driving and feeding mechanism
adapted to operate the same in time movements between each full movement of the
needle bars, substantially as described.
6. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the combination with needle bars i, i, take-up
arms K and awl bar ", of driving mechanism consisting of the shaft H and cam I,
and lever driving mechanism operating the take-up arms located upon the shaft H¹,
driven at a given speed, and the cams X, V, R', for operating the needle bar, awl,
and feeding mechanism mounted upon a separate shaft and driven two revolutions
to one of shaft H', whereby the said operating parts perform their respective
offices each in time movements with the other, substantially as described.
7. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the combination with the take-up arms K,

page_text: and needle bars i, i, operated in unison on opposite sides of the table of catch and
tripping mechanism applied to each of said needle bars, and consisting of the
keeper 20, keeper block 26, the slide 22, tripping lug 24, and tripping rods 23,
operating alternately upon each of said needle bars, whereby the needle is appro-
priately grasped in one needle bar, released from the other, and then drawn with
the thong through the goods, delivering the thong to its associate take-up arm
alternately on each side of the work in appropriate time movements, substantially
as specified.
8. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the combination of the take-up arms K, K,
operating alternately on each side of the work to take up the slack of the thong,
needle bars i, i, the thong needle, and its releasing mechanism consisting of the
keeper 20, keeper-block 26, slide 22, tripping lug 24, rods 23, retractile spring 27,
cam I mounted upon shaft H', and the lever J carrying said rods 23, whereby the
needle is released and grasped at each alternate movement of the needle bar in
appropriate time movements with the delivery of the thong and the movement of
the take-up arms, substantially as specified.
9. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the combination of needle bars i, i, mechanism
for operating the same in unison each side of the work, catch and releasing
mechanism, applied to each of said needle bars and adapted to grasp and release a
thong needle, the take-up devices, and driving mechanism operating the take-up
devices between each unison movement of the needle-bars, substantially as
described.
10. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and driving mechanism
for operating them in unison on each side of the work, the take-up devices and
driving mechanism for operating the same between the unison movements of the
needle bars, and catch and releasing mechanism applied to each of said needle bars,
and adapted to grasp and release the thong needle, in combination with the awl
punching and feeding device with driving mechanism for operating the same
between each movement of said needle bar, substantially as specified.
11. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, in combination with the needle bars i, i,
the needle catch and releasing mechanism, and a travelling tension carrier, a thong
take-up mounted thereon, and a tension device holding said take-up normally in
position for taking up the slack and yielding to the strain of the thong to release
the same when the stitch is drawn, substantially as specified.
12. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the combination with the needle bars i, i,
of catch and releasing mechanism operating in time movements to alternately
deliver a thong-needle from one bar to the other at each movement thereof, the
travelling carrier K, a tripping take-up and an adjustable tension spring for regu-
lating the tripping by the strain of said thong in drawing the stitch, without effecting
the movement of the carrier K, substantially as specified.
13. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and catch and delivering
mechanism adapted to pass the needle alternately through the goods, in combination
with the travelling carrier K, a tripping thong take-up, a tension device, and the
drag spring Q, interposed in the loop of the thong for retarding the return of the
loop under the strain of the needle, substantially as specified.
14. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and catch and delivering
mechanism adapted to pass the needle. alternately from one bar to the other, through
the goods, in combination with the travelling carrier K, the automatic tripping
thong take-up, segmental grooved guide L, and a series of friction rollers
journalled in the groove of said guide L, substantially as specified.
15. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and catch and delivering
mechanism adapted to force the needle from one to the other, through the goods,
in combination with the travelling carrier K, the grooved guide L, a series of
friction rollers O journalled in said groove, and the series of spring guards N, N,
mounted in front of said friction rollers O, substantially as specified.
16. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and catch and delivering
mechanism adapted to pass the needle alternately from one bar to the other,

page_text: through the goods, in combination with the travelling carrier K, the automatic
tripping thong take-up mounted thereon, and the split friction rollers 39, 40 adapted
to receive, guide and hold the thong loop, substantially as specified.
17. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, the needle bars i, i, and catch and delivering
mechanism adapted to pass the needle alternately through the goods, in combination
with the travelling carriers K, K, upon opposite sides of the work, the cam I, cam
lever 1, link 5, reciprocating bar 7 provided with rack a at each end, and gears b
mounted on the take-up shaft 8, whereby said carriers K are reciprocated in unison
with the needle bars i, i, and moved alternately in opposite directions to and from
the needle bars, substantially as specified.
18. In a pop-stitch sewing machine, in combination with the main frame B, the
overhanging head D, the needle bars i, i, with their needle catch and releasing
device, driving mechanism for operating the same in unison on opposite sides of the
work, the awl bar u, an awl and driving mechanism for operating it to pierce the
goods between each movement of the needle bars, whereby a hole is pierced through
the goods while the needle bars are idle and the goods fed forward for the operation
of the thong needle, substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of October 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.