Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, JOHN RICHARD ROBINSON, of Broomfield Crescent, Headingley, near Leeds, in
the County of York, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to combine in a novel and simple manner, such
mechanism as will enable me to construct a portable sewing machine, which when in
operation, in addition to sewing the fabric will travel upon the table or other support
at a speed equal to the feed; the fabric remaining stationery on the table or other
support whilst the machine sews, and travels on its support to give the feed.
accomplish my object in the following manner; the frame of the apparatus is
supported by a hollow roller forming the shuttle race and covered with india rubber
or other flexible material, and is partly enclosed within a light metal covering
attached to or forming part of machine frame. The frame is provided with suitable
lugs for supporting a rocking beam to one end of which is secured the needle, the
said beam being actuated from the opposite end by means of the operators thumb,
the hand having hold of a handle for assisting to guide the machine.
To the hollow roller is secured a ratchet wheel, which is caused to rotate at
intervals by one or more levers in connection with the rocking needle beam, so that
on each stroke of the latter a stitch is made, and when the needle is clear of the
fabric the ratchet wheel is operated, and the machine moved the length of a stitch,
thereby giving the requisite amount of feed.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1889.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, JOHN RICHARD ROBINSON, of Broomfield Crescent, Headingley, near Leeds, in
the County of York, Commercial Traveller, 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 object of this invention is to combine in a novel and simple manner,
certain mechanism by which I am enabled to construct a portable sewing machine
arranged in such a manner that when in operation, in addition to sewing the
fabric the machine may either remain stationary and the feed be operated
independently, or it may travel upon the table or other support at a speed equal
to the feed, in which case the fabric will remain stationary on the table or other
support whilst the machine sews and travels on its support: and the invention
consists in mounting the mechanism on a hollow skeleton framework or tube in
which is formed the shuttle race, and around some portion of the skeleton frame-
work or tube is another tube forming the roller on which the machine travels.
The feed collars are also mounted loosely on the first named tube to which is
secured a bracket or arm for supporting the rocking beam, needle slide and levers
for operating the shuttle, feed rollers and other mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1. represents a side elevation of a sewing
machine made according to my invention.
Fig. 2. is a view of the opposite side of the machine.

page_text: Fig. 3. a longitudinal section through the hollow tube and shuttle race, and
Fig. 4. an enlarged section through the same at line Z. Z.
The bracket or arm A. is attached to the hollow tube B. to one end of which is
secured a bar or handle C. and in the said tube towards the opposite end is formed
the shuttle race D. which is of the ordinary construction containing an ordinary 5
shuttle.
The centre roller or tube E. is free to rotate on the tube B. and by preference
is covered for a portion of its length with indiarubber or other flexible bands R.
placed somewhat in the position shown, and at each end of the centre tube or
roller E. is a short tube or collar F. to which a reciprocating circular motion is 1
imparted as hereinafter described.
To the bracket or arm A. is attached the operating arm G. by means of pins G¹
and to the said arm A. is mounted a rocking lever H. centred on fulcrum pin H¹.
One end of the rocking lever is connected to the operating arm G. by a pin engaging
with the slot hole J. of suitable shape, so as to allow the needle to remain stationary
for some time at the lower end of its traverse, the opposite end of the rocking
lever H. being connected by rod K. to the rocking beain L. centred on fulcrum
pin L' the opposite end of the beam being attached to the needle bar N. which
reciprocates in the guide tube P. attached to the bracket or arm A.
To the operating arın G. is attached a link I which is also connected to a lever L 2
centred on pin L an arm of this lever is extended by curved rod M. and jointed to
a rod M³ enclosed within the hollow tube B. the last named rod being jointed to the
lug N at the underside of shuttle carriage N the shuttle being of the ordinary
description and reciprocating in an ordinary shuttle race.
To another arm of the lever L' is attached a rod Q. the bottom end having a 2
slot hole cut there in through which passes a scrow into the horizontal bar Qin
such a manner that the rod Q. is free to slide thereon. The bar Q is attached to
the short tube or collars F. which are also further connected by a similar bar at the
opposite side.
The collar F. under the needle bar N. and pressure bar S. is serrated for some a
portion of its circumference for feeding or moving the cloth during the operation of
sewing, which is accomplished in the following manner-
The cloth is placed between the collar F. and the foot of pressure bar S. the india-
rubber or flexible bands R. resting on the table or other support, the operator
holding the machine by the handle C. and by placing the thumb on end of arm G. 3
at G and moving the same to and from the handle, the various levers and bars are
operated, the needle N piercing the cloth, and during the time the needle N
remains therein the rod Q. will have raised the horizontal bar Q¹ some distance,
causing the short tubes or collars F. to rotate a corresponding distance, where they
will remain until the withdrawal of the needle; so that when the needle is with- 4
drawn from the cloth by the spring S₁ raising the arm G. the horizontal bar Q1
and collars F. are moved by rod Q. in the direction of the arrow to their original
position, the serrated portion of the reciprocating collar causing the cloth to be fed
under the needle; and by the spring pawl T. secured to the horizontal bar Q
engaging with a ratchet or the indentations at U. in the central tube, on the said 4
tube returning to its original or normal position, the tube E. is caused to rotate for
some distance and the apparatus to travel a corresponding distance equal to the
length of a stitch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what IS
claim is :-
1. The combination of the operating arm G. with the lever H. rocking beam L.
"

page_text: 2. A sewing machine in which is combined the rocking beam L. with a recipro-
cating shuttle carried by carriage N and a horizontal bar Q having a spring
pawl T. attached, all substantially in the manner as arranged and hereinbefore set
forth.
Dated thi. 021 dan n£Onbahn- 1000
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.