Improvements in Apparatus for Securing Together by Means of Thread the Leaves of Pamphlets or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Securing Together by Means of
Thread the Leaves of Pamphlets or the like.
I, ALFRED GERLACII, of 33, Moor Lane, in the City of London, Engineer and
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Friedrich Rehwoldt, of Leipzig-Plagwitz, in
the German Empire, Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide simple and efficient apparatus for
securing together, by means of thread, the leaves of pamphlets, and the like,
the stitching being secured by knotting the thread.
--
In the accompanying drawings,,Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine
made in accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation and
Figure 3 is a plan (with the upper part removed) of the same. Figure 4 is a
plan of the top part. Figure 5 shews the cutting mechanism separately.
Figures 6 and 7 shew the grippers separately. Figures 8, 9 and 10 shew parts
in various positions illustrating the operation of the instruments employed in
effecting the stitching and knotting of the thread. Figures 11 to 16 shew the
way in which the thread is manipulated, and Figures 17 to 20 illustrate the in-
strument by which the knot is formed and its operation. I will describe the
invention as applied to a machine in which three needles are employed; but it
will be understood that two needles, or more than three needles, can also be
employed if desired.
The instruments for effecting the stitching and tieing the knot consist of a
fork-like device (I will refer to it as a fork), of peculiar shape as hereinafter
described, two, or more, needles with hooks, and two grippers, one above the
papers to be stitched, and one below; the fork and grippers moving longitu-
dinally at, or about, right angles to the lines of movement of the hook needles.
The invention also includes means whereby these instruments are operated at
the proper relative times. I will first describe the operations of the instruments
and then the mechanism by which these operations can be effected.
The upper gripper draws the thread along above the fold of the papers to be
secured and the needle II draws the thread through the papers and between the
prongs of the fork 3 as shewn in Figure 8; then the fork 3 turns upon its axis
so as to wind the thread around itself and form a loop through which the lower
gripper 13 passes (see Figure 9) it also passes through the loop drawn down by
the needle I and catching the thread drawn down by the needle III carries it back
through the loops as shown in Figure 12. (Figure 13 illustrates a case where
the needle I is dispensed with). The fork 3 then turns backwards and by a
longitudinal movement is withdrawn from the loop and then the thread ends
are pulled and the knot is tightened. The hook-needle II moves in a plane
different from that in which the gripper 13 moves, so that the said gripper and
needle do not come into contact, but the said gripper moves in the same plane as
the other needles in order to fetch the thread from the needle III and carry it

page_text: through the loop formed by the needle I. The formation of the horns of the
fork 3 is shewn in Figures 17 to 20. The fork is carried upon a stem 4, and
is formed at one side with a projection with wedge-shaped faces S at its side, and
a projecting nose 11 with grooves 7 leading to the sides of the wedge and at the
other side with two projections 9 and 10, the projection 9 having grooves, or
notches, 5 and 6, in it in the same planes as the grooves 7. After the upper
gripper b has pulled the thread beyond the needle II the said needle pierces the
papers from below and then the said gripper moves slightly sideways so as to
lay the thread close against the said needle so that when it moves down it will
catch the thread in its hook and pull it through the papers. The said gripper
continues its movement in a straight line until it has passed the needle I which
now rises, and the said gripper again makes a side movement to lay the thread
against the needle I, to insure its hook also catching the thread. In the mean-
time the needle II has reached its lowest position its thread having passed through
between the prongs of the fork 3 (Figures 8 and 17) which fork now rotates upon
its axis in the direction of the arrow, and the loop of thread engages, the grooves 5
and 6 another part of the loop engaging the groove 7, and the wedge part. 8
divides the loop as shewn in Figure 18 and, on the continued movement of the
fork 3, the divided loop leaves the wedge part 8, and slips back over the other
part of the fork, as shewn in Figure 19, and forms a loop, as shewn in Figure 20,
through which the lower gripper 13 can pass. The nose 9 on the fork is for the
purpose of making the opening of the loop as large as possible to facilitate the
passage of the gripper whilst the nose 11 is to prevent the thread from slipping
off. When this loop is so formed the gripper 13 enters it and passes towards
the needle I which meantime has arrived at its lowest position, and has turned
on its axis through an angle of 90°, or thereabouts, so that the loop of thread
is opened out for the passage of the gripper which proceeds therethrough towards
the needle III. The gripper 13, has a slide bar 91, working in a groove in the
gripper and confined by the straps 92 and a projection, is formed on the said
bar. The jaw 15 formed by the gripper end and the end of the bar 91 is normally
closed by a spring 14. In the motion of the gripper and just before it arrives
at the needle III the projection, comes against the bearing 16 (Figure 1), and
thereby the jaw is opened and the needle III passes the thread through the open
jaw. Whilst the needle III is descending the jaw of the upper gripper b
(Figure 6) lets the thread go, so that its end may be pulled down by the hook of
the needle III. The gripper 13 then moves backwards, its jaw closing at the
commencement of the movement, and the thread is carried, by the said gripper,
through the loops of thread e and f (Figure 9), whereupon the tightening of
the thread is effected to secure the knot, and the thread is cut off by scissors
secured to the upper part of the machine, and the plate a, which held the papers
down on the angle plate beneath, rises to allow of the removal of the stitched
papers and of the placement in position of other papers to be sewn.
The plate a
and angled table are of course perforated, or shaped, to allow of the passage of
the needles.
The upper gripper 6 moves back as soon as the thread has been released from
its jaws and this back movement can assist in the pulling tight of the knot.
The machine by which the various operations described are performed can be
arranged as follows:-
It may be regarded as consisting of two. main parts, an upper part above the
table, and a lower part below the table on which the papers to be sewn. are
placed, the upper mechanism including the upper gripper b, the scissors, or
cutting device, and the thread-feeding and tension devices, and the under
mechanism including the lower gripper and the means for effecting the forma-
tion of the knot. The latter receive their motion principally from the shaft 17,
but the fork 3 is turned from the shaft 18. The said two shafts, 17 and 18 are
at right angles to each other and are geared together by bevelled wheels (as shewn
in Figure 3) so that they have equal speeds. 19 and 20 are bearings for the said

page_text: shafts, carried on projections from the frame. The upper part of the machine
is carried by the arm 25 centred to the frame at 26 so as to form a lever which is
moved up and down by the rod 24 with a roller running in a cam groove 23. On
a centre on the short arm of the lever 25 is a bell-crank lever 28. one of the arms
of which has connected to it at 30 a connecting rod 31 with a roller running
in. a cam groove 32 whilst the other arm 28 has a ball shaped end 29 connected
by the link 35 with the bell-crank lever 34, 36, centred at 33. The arm 36, of
this lever, is connected, by the link 37, with the slide bar 38, so as to impart
thereto a sliding motion. The position of the arm 29 is such that the movement
of the lever 25 causes the least possiblé relative movement of the bar 38. The
slide bar 38 is guided by the parts 39 and 40 on the plate 41, secured to the
lever 25, and the said slide bar has, at 42, a pin carrying a roller acting in a slot
in a lever 43 which is centred at 44 on the lever 25. The rod 45 connects the
lever 43 with the gripper band imparts motion thereto. The said gripper 6 is
pivotted on the pin e, which is fastened to the dovetailed slide plate f, sliding
in the dovetailed guides g. The jaws c, of the gripper b, consist of two elastic
tongues (Figure 6) upon which are secured the projections h, h¹, the projec-
tions h, having wedge-shaped ends. Between the said projections is a moveable
collar i, which, when the gripper moves towards the right, comes against a
fixed part k, and, by slipping over the wedge ends of the projections ¹, closes
the jaws c.
The gripper b, is arranged as a lever, centered at ex to the slide f
the end opposite the gripping end being provided with a roller 7, guided in the
waved groove m (Figure 4), for the purpose of causing the gripper to place the
thread close to the needles, as herein before mentioned, for enabling the hooks of
the needles to engage the threads. On the sliding bar 38 is a bolt 44 for operating
the scissors, the said bolt engaging in a curved slot in the slide 45*, (Figures 2
and 5), which is guided in guides 46, and receives motion at right angles to the
slide 38, whereby the scissors, nn, are operated at the proper times. The part
of the scissors carries a pin o, upon which the part n¹ is centered, and the ends
of the arms of each part of the scissors carry two pins p, p, the pins, carry-
ing rollers running in slots q, whilst the pins p, are connected by links, to the
slide 45. As soon as the slide 38 moves, the slide 45 will be pushed forward,
so as to open the scissors and draw them backward, thus clearing the way for
the thread and needle II. A third roller 47, (Figure 4), fastened to the slide 38
gives tension to the thread by moving the slide 48, which is connected, by the
lever 49, with the bell-crank lever 50.. The thread passes through the eye 51
in the said lever 50, and through two stationary eyes 52. When the lever 50
is in its lowest position the three eyes 51, 52 are in line, but, when the lever 50
moves upwards, the thread is pulled up, and thus the slack of the thread, which
was required in forming the loops is drawn back and ultimately the knot
tightened. When the gripper b, moves backwards the lever 50, descends and
slackens the thread for the next stitching operation. The thread coming from
the spool 53 passes through a tension device before it passes through the eyes 51,
52, the said tension device consisting of two discs 55, on the rod 54, provided with
a hole for the passage of the thread through it, and between the said dises 55,
which are acted upon by the spring 56. Whilst the loops are being formed in
the thread as aforesaid, the thread must only have a slight tension put upon it,
and this is effected by the collar 57, and connections 58, and lever 59, operated
from the lever 50, by the connection at 60, so that, when the lever 50 descends,
the collar 57 is lifted and the tension of the spring 56, is reduced and vice versa.
61 (Figure 2) is a collar which can be set and fixed by a screw so as to adjust
the tension exercised by the spring.
The fork 3, which makes the loop in the thread as aforesaid, is carried in
bearings 62, and is rotated on its axis by means of the pinion 63, and toothed
sector 64, and levers and connections 65 66 and 67, from the cam 68, on the
shaft 18. The longitudinal movement of the fork 3 for the purpose of removing
the fork from the thread when it has done its work, is effected by the lever 69,

page_text: connected with a collar 72, on the shaft
of the fork, and operated by the
rod 70, from the cam 71, on the shaft 17. The up and down motions of the
needles, as hereinbefore described, are effected by the three cams 77, 78 and 79
(shewn in Figure 3 but not in the front and side elevations) through the rods 73,
74 and 75 and connections 80, 81 and 82 to the slides which carry the needles.
The axial turning of the needle I through 90°, as aforesaid, is produced by the
engagement of a helical groove, and a pin in the guides in which the needle bar
slides, and in the needle bar.
To permit this turning of the needle shaft, it is connected to the links 81,
(connected to the rod 74) by means of a collar 84 in which it can turn. The
lower gripper 13 is mounted in bearings 85 and 86, connected together and
capable of turning upon the pin 87. It is operated from the cam 88, on the
shaft 17, through the connecting link 90, and lever 89 centred to the framework,
and carrying a roller for engaging in the said cam. The gripper 13, consists of
two pieces (see Figure 7) one sliding in the other, as hereinbefore described. The
jaws are shewn open in Figure 7. Besides the gripper receiving longitudinal
movements its jaws, whilst the fork 3 is being shifted to the left, receive upward
movement so as to cause the thread to be pulled, (as shewn in Figure 10), after
the knot has been formed. This upward movement is effected by the cam 93,
(Figure 1) acting on a roller on the link 94, connected to a lever on the shaft 17,
and to a link 95, connected to the bearings 85 and 86. After the thread has been
released from the jaw of the gripper the bearings are moved downwards a part
of the way, and the final downward movement takes place at the starting of the
forward motion when the next stitching operation commences so that the jaw
may easily enter the loop.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for securing together, by means of thread, the leaves of
pamphlets, or the like, the herein before described fork-like device, provided
with prongs, and a wedge shaped piece, such that when the said fork-like device
has a movement of rotation imparted to it, it divides the thread at one part of the
loop and draws this part of the loop over another part of the loop so as to form
an eye for the passage of the thread end as hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for securing together, by means of thread, the leaves of
pamphlets, or the like, the fork-like device, referred to in the preceding claim,
in combination with a gripper which carries the thread along on one side of
the paper to be sewn, and two, or more, hook needles, which operate to draw the
thread through the papers, and a gripper for drawing the thread through the
said loop, or loops, formed in the thread; all substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In apparatus for the purposes described the combination of the fork-like
device referred to in the preceding first claim and the mechanism for giving
rotatory motion to the said fork-like device; substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for the purposes described the combination of the fork-like
device referred to in the preceding first claim, and the mechanism for imparting
rotatory and longitudinal movements to the said fork-like device; substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for the purposes described the construction of the upper
gripper and the means for operating it; substantially as hereinbefore described,
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In apparatus for the purposes described the construction of the lower gripper
and the means for operating it; substantially as herein before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In apparatus for the purposes described the construction of the scissors

page_text: and the means for operating them; substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In apparatus for the purposes described the arrangement of mechanism for
pulling and giving tension to the thread, and for relieving the tension; substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the machine
for securing together, by means of thread, the leaves of pamphlets, or the like;
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 4th day of Mov 1900
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.