IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Stillwell Lincoln and
William Anderson Rayer, both of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America.
Sealed the 21st March 1873, and dated the 25th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th September 1872.
I, WILLIAM BOBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
5 Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
In cotton mills, print works, bleacheries, hosiery mills, and the like,
it is desirable that the separate pieces of fabric manufactured should be

page_text: so stitched or sewed together, end to end, as to produce a long continuous
strip therefrom.
The present Invention is designed for such stitching or sewing, and it
consists,―
First. In arranging in connection with any of the well known sewing |
machines (the ordinary feed mechanism being dispensed with) an
annular frame to be continuously revolved. This frame is provided
with hooks, points, clamps, or other devices suitable for securing on it
the two pieces of cloth that are to be sewed together end to end. These
two pieces of cloth are laid flatwise one upon the other with their ends
even, and then the two pieces thus disposed one upon the other aro
set upon or fastened to the hooks of the annular frame, its location with
regard to the sewing mechanism being suitable therefor, and they are
carried continuously to be sewed together by the action of such
mechanism.
Secondly. In the use and arrangement of hooks or points upon the
aforesaid annular frame adapted to be adjusted or set to or for varying
widths of fabrics.
Third. In the arrangement of hooks or points either adjustable or not
upon the annular feed frame, to hold the goods at or near each side or
edge of the same, and in two lines parallel across the length of the
goods, one inside and one outside of the line of sewing or stitching.
The goods are thus so held upon four points or hooks that if lines were
drawn connecting one point with another, and all of them with each
other, the periphery or outline would be a parallelogram.
Fourth. In the adaptation and application to a sewing machine, more
particularly of the class to which this Invention relates, of cutters or
blades arranged to be suitably operated and located with respect to the
sewing mechanism proper and the said annular frame carrying the goods
to be sewed, so that as the goods pass out or away from the sewing :
mechanism, and by preference when the sewing of their ends together
is completed, the ends of the goods will be cut and trimmed in a line
outside of the line of stitches.
Fifth. In the adaptation and application to a sewing machine, more
particularly of the class to which this invention relates, of a device or
devices to automatically mark the goods sewed in the machine.

page_text: Sixth. In the arrangement in connection with the above described
annular feed frame of one or more armed wheels to act upon the goods
after they have been sewed and trimmed to automatically throw, force,
push, or detach the goods from the hooks or points of the frame, these
5 armed wheels being suitably revolved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Southampton
Buildings, London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES," a communication to me from
abroad by William Stillwell Lincoln and William Anderson Rayer,
both of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
In cotton mills, print works, bleacheries, hosiery mills, and the like, it
is desirable that the separate pieces of manufactured fabric should be
stitched or sewed together end to end, making a long continuous strip,
and it is essential in this sewing that the pieces of goods while being so
sewed together should be under an even and perfect stretch and tension
along and in the direction of the line of stitches.
The present improvements relate to a machine for the purpose stated,
and they consist,-
First. In connection with any of the well known sewing machines, the
ordinary feed mechanism being dispensed with, in arranging an annular
frame to be continuously revolved. This frame is provided with hooks,
points, clamps, or other devices suitable for securing on it the two pieces
of cloth to be sewed together end to end, the two pieces of cloth being
laid flatwise one upon the other, with their ends even, and then the
two pieces thus disposed upon upon the other, set upon or fastened to
the hooks of the annular frame, and by it carried continuously to be
sewed together by the action of such mechanism.
Second. In the use and arrangement of hooks or points or other
devices referred to in the preceding clause, as upon the annular feed
frame, that are adapted to be adjusted or set to or for varying widths of
fabrics.
Third. In the arrangement of hooks or points or the like, either
adjustable or not upon the annular feed frame to hold the goods at or
near each side or edge of the same, and in two lines across the length of
the goods, one within and one outside of the line of sewing or stitching.
The goods are thus held upon four points or hooks that if lines were
drawn connecting one with another and the several with each other the
periphery or outline would be a parallelogram.
Fourth. In the adaptation and arrangement of cutters or blades to be
suitably operated and located with respect to the sewing mechanism
proper and the annular frame carrying the goods to be sewed, and that
as the goods pass out or away from the sewing mechanism, and before
removal from and while in the machine, cut and trim the ends of the
picces sewed in a line outside of and parallel to the line of stitching.

page_text: Fifth. In the adaptation and application of a device or devices to
automatically mark the goods sewed in the machine.
Sixth. In the arrangement in connection with the aforesaid annular
feed frame, of one or more revolving armed wheels to act upon the
goods after passing from the sewing machine, and when completely
sewed thereby to automatically throw or force the goods off the hooks
or points to the wheel or frame by which the goods were fastened
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a side view of a machine
constructed according to these improvements; Figure 3 is a plan of the
same; Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detailed sectional views in the planes
of lines x, x, y, y, ≈, ≈, and w, w.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 are detailed views of one part of the said
machine herein-after referred to; Figure 11 is a view shewing the goods.
attached to the annular frame for being sewed, and Figure 12 a sec-
tional view of the goods.
A, A', represent the framework of the machine, consisting prin-
cipally of two parallel upright frames, secured together and braced
by horizontal cross rods B at suitable points; C is the driving shaft,
arranged horizontally and transversely to framework A, A, and turning
in suitable bearings thereof; D is a loose pulley on driving shaft C, and
E a sliding clutch on shaft C for connecting the pulley D with, or dis-
connecting it from, the driving shaft C. The clutch E is operated by
the lever handle F.
'
G is a worm gear wheel on driving shaft C, and H a horizontal gear
wheel engaging with worm G of driving shaft C; this gear wheel H is
at the lower end of a vertical shaft I that is arranged at each end to
turn in suitable bearings of the framework A, A³, and at its upper
end is provided with a horizontal bevel gear wheel J engaging with two
similar vertical gear wheels K and L of a common horizontal shaft M.
The shaft M is at the upper part of the framework A, A', and extends

page_text: from one frame to the other, turning in suitable bearings of each.
The bevel gear wheel K is adapted to be slid into and out of connection
with the gear wheel J by the lever handle N which is connected there-
with as shown.
O, O³, are two similar vertical gear wheels at the front end of
horizontal shafts M and outside of front frame A.
Each gear
wheel O, O³, is in position on horizontal shaft M to engage with the
interior toothed periphery P of similar rings or annular frames or
bands Q, Q; the gear wheel O with the annular frame Q and the gear
wheel O' with the annular frame Q. These frames Q, Q³, are arranged
in vertical positions outside of the upright frame A with the annular
frame Q' in front of the annular frame Q, leaving a space between them
closed by an annular frame or ring R. The peripheries of the several
annular frames Q, Q, and R horizontally correspond with cach other.
The annular frames Q, Q, are free to turn and are both supported upon
similar vertical friction rollers or wheels S arranged upon the front
frame A so as to bear and run upon the inner periphery of the annular
frames Q, Q', see more particularly Figure 7. The annular frame R is
fixed in position through stay arms T at suitable points that are secured
to the front frame A, see Figure 3. The frictional rollers or wheels S
and the stay arms T in their attachment to the front frame A are
adapted for adjustment by slots and set screws or bolts and nuts, as fully
shown in the Drawings, and needing no more particular description
herein. The annular frames Q, Q', are each provided along their
respective peripheries with radial projecting points a, b, and a³, b'. The
points a and a² of the two frames Q, Q', are fixed in position while the
points b, b, are attached to slides or clasps c, c, respectively, that in
their application to the annular frames Q, Q', are adapted, as shown in the
Drawings, to be slid or moved around the frames Q, Q³, to any position
desired and there firmly set by properly screwing the thumb or milled
head set screws d of the slides.
Tis the sewing machine proper, which in the present instance is what
is known as a "Wilcox's and Gibbs'" sewing machine. This sewing
machine in its construction and arrangement of parts is in every respect
similar to the ordinary sewing machines of the class stated, and therefore
needs no particular description herein, the only difference being in the
fact that the feed mechanism of the machine is dispensed with. The

page_text: sewing machine T is located at the upper part of the framework A, A³,
and is there firmly secured to a table or platform U of the frame-
work A, A', and in its location the needle fis in a position to pass
downward and upward through a hole in the fixed annular frame R,
between its two edges, and to produce the stitch as ordinarily by the
action of the looping mechanism h of the sewing machine, which
looping mechanism is under or within the annular frame R.
•
U is the driving pulley of the sewing machine; this pulley U
through an endless vertical belt V is connected to the pulley W of
the driving shaft C, and thus receives its motion; X is a pulley on
driving shaft C, connecting such shaft through the endless belt Y with
a pulley Z of a horizontal shaft A* at one side of the front frame A.
The horizontal shaft A³ turns in suitable bearings of the stirrup shaped
arm B³ of front frame A and it is extended forward through the annular
frames Q, Q, and R to the front of the machine. Within the
frames Q, Q³, and R the shaft A is armed with radial curvilinear
spokes or arms C² so projecting that as the shaft A' revolves they will
extend through the opening D³ of the fixed annular frame R, as shown,.
and beyond the outside of such frame R. Between the point of
location of the sewing machine T and the spoked or armed shaft A³
and within the plane of the fixed annular frame R, are arranged two
wheels E, E³, the one E³ within the annular frame R, and the other Es
without the same, with their centres in a corresponding radial line of the
frame R. The inner wheel E' is at one end of a horizontal shaft Fª,
and the outer wheel E is at one end of a horizontal shaft G³, and both
of these shafts F³ and G³ are arranged to turn in suitable bearings of
the. framework A, A, extending from one frame to the other, and
adapted to be driven with a uniform motion by means of the gear
wheels H connecting the one with the other and the shaft F with the
horizontal shaft M, herein-before referred to. The wheel E' is adapted
for the reception of type as shown, and for inking the same to adapt
them to give an impression there is arranged an ink-supplying roller I' to
bear therein as shown, this ink roller obtains its supply from the casing
or receptacle J* applied thereto, as more particularly. shown in Figures 8,
9, and 10. The wheel E³ has an elastic cushion of india-rubber or other
suitable material / surrounding its periphery, and for the one wheel E' to
bear upon the other wheel E' the fixed annular frame R is suitably cut
out. Both these wheels E³, E³, at their inner ends are provided with

page_text: projecting flanges m, m², respectively, which flanges in the location of
the wheels pass by each other, acting as the wheels turn liko a pair of
shears to cut or trim along such line any material passed between the
rollers or wheels E³, E³.
Under the above described arrangement and construction of parts
with power applied to the driving shaft C, the annular frames Q, Q³,
are made to turn, both moving similarly and equally; the sewing
machine T³ is driven; the type wheel E' and its cushion wheel E' and
the spoked or armed shaft A³ are revolved; the annular frames Q, Q', are
for the reception of the goods as will be hercin-after described, and 1
they turn from the sewing machine toward the type roller E' and its
mate roller E³, which rollers revolve in the proper direction for the
goods carried by annular frames Q, Q, to pass between them; the
spoked or armed shaft A³ revolves in a similar direction to the annular
frames Q, Q³.
In the use of a machine such as above described, two pieces of goods
to be sewed together end to end are first laid flatwise one upon the
other, so that their two ends correspond and then are fastened to the
frames Q, Q³, first upon the two nearest fixed pins or points a, aª, of
the frames Q, Q², of the sewing machine T³, and thence are stretched 2
transversely over the periphery of the combined annular frames Q, Q³,
and R, and by the adjustable pins or points b, &, properly adjusted
therefor are secured, as shown in Figure 11.
1
With the goods thus secured on the annular frame Q, Q³, extending
across the annular frame R, the machine is set in motion, when by the 2
movement of the annular frames Q, Q', the goods are carried gradually
along to the sewing machine, by which in a line between the inner and
outer points of their fastenings to the annular frames O, O³, they are
sewed or stitched together, and thence they pass to and between the
type and cushioned rollers E, E³, by which they are not only stamped or 3
marked, as in the present instance by the letters "RL" and the
figure "4," but are cut or trimmed outside of the line of stitches by
the action of the cutting or shear flanges m, m², of the rollers E³, E³.
From the rollers E³, E³, by the continued movement of the annular
frames Q, Q, the goods are carried forward to the spokes or arms of the 3
shaft A³, which acting thereon as the shaft revolves, force off the goods
from the points a, a³, b, b³, of the annular frames Q, Q, discharging them
from the machine. While two pieces of goods are thus being acted upon

page_text: in the machine, the annular frames Q, Q³, as they turn are being prepared
similarly with another set of pieces, so that when the sewing machine
has finished sewing the first set it will pass directly on to the next set;
and so on, the frames Q, Q³, being suitably provided with points or pins
a, a, b, b, therefor.
By suitably adjusting the slide points on the annular frame Q, Q', it
is obvious that goods of varying widths may be sewed in the machine.
In lieu of two annular frames Q, Q², in connection with the stationary
frame R, only the frame Q need be employed, but it is preferable to
have two, one inside and one outside of the line or plane of stitching,
and to hold the goods both inside and outside of the line of sewing, as
thereby a most perfect and even stretch of the goods is not only obtained
but maintained.
In lieu of using the "Wilcox and Gibbs'" sewing machines, other well
known sewing machines may be employed, but a single thread machine
is preferable as the sewing is more easily ripped when desired, but it is
not intended to limit these improvements to any particular arrangement
of mechanism for sewing the cloth.
By marking the goods as described with any particular characteristics
it is obvious where machines such as herein described are used for the
sewing of goods of different mills, all confusion as to which mill the
goods belong will be obviated, and by the described trimming of the
ends perfect and even seams and ends are produced, thus rendering
the operation of printing more perfect and uniform.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. An annular rotating frame or guide Q constructed and arranged
to turn with reference to the sewing machine T, as herein described.
Second. An annular rotating frame or guide constructed in two parts
or sections Q, Q³, in combination with the stationary frame R and a
sewing mechanism, as herein described, for operation as specified.
Third. The fixed or the adjustable points or pins a, a³, and b, b³, re-
spectively or both, in combination with either the first or second clause
of these claims, as herein described and for the purpose specified.
•

page_text: Fourth. The marking rollers E, E³, or equivalent contrivances in com-
bination with an annular rotating guide or frame and sewing mechanism,
as hercin described and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The knife or shear cutting edges m, m³, as and for the purposo
described.
Sixth. The armed or spoked shaft A³, or equivalent contrivance, as
and for the purpose described.
Seventh. The annular frame Q, either with or without the annular
frame O³, provided with a geared periphery P and a gear wheel or gear
wheels S, adapted to be driven in combination with a sewing machine,
as herein described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)