IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING-MACHINES
Year: 1886

page_text: We WILLIAM WALKER and JOSEPH GILL both of 11 Bute Street Luton, in the
county of Bedford, Sewing Machine Engineers, Machinists &c do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING-MACHINES" to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates more particularly to machines for sewing straw plait, but
our improvements are also applicable to sewing machines of other descriptions.
Our invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, of the
mechanism for operating the feed, whereby the feed bar is kept parallel with the
work throughout the feeding movement; also in improved means for regulating
the throw of an eccentric operating the feed, whereby the feed can be regulated to
lengthen or shorten the stitch as may be desired; and also in an improved adjustable
presser attachment by which the machine is adapted to sew plaits of any width
and thickness.
We will describe the application of our invention to a machine for sewing straw
plait in which both the needle and the rotating hook are operated by the main
shaft.
Our improved mechanism for operating the feed consists of a shaft mounted at
the side of the machine and parallel with the main shaft. The said shaft is
mounted in bearings in brackets or other suitable extensions of the frame of the
machine and carries on its forward end a single crank and crank-pin. To the said
crank-pin is fitted the end of an eccentric-rod and the strap or ring on the other
end of the said rod fits over an eccentric on the main shaft. The eccentric-rod has
a block or suitable enlargement to which the feed-bar is secured. The length of
the eccentric-rod must be in the proper proportion and the parts must be so
arranged that just before the eccentric causes the feed to rise, the crank is at its
lowest point and the centre of the end of the crank-pin and the centre of the end
of the main shaft are in a horizontal line. When the eccentric commences the
forward thrust of the eccentric-rod and the feed-bar carried thereon the end of the
crank-pin at once commences to describe the arc of a circle. The end of
the eccentric-rod is thus raised and the feeding surface is kept parallel with the
work throughout the feeding movement.
The second part of our invention relates to improved means for adjusting the
eccentric which operates the feed movement so as to vary its throw and thereby
regulate the extent of the feed movement and the length of the stitch. In
carrying out this portion of our invention, the main shaft, at the point where the
TD 017

page_text: eccentric is fitted thereon, is squared on three of its sides. The eccentric is formed
with a rectangular slot and fits upon the said squared portion of the shaft, the slot
being of such a length that when the inner end of the said slot is in contact with the
shaft the eccentric has the desired minimum throw. The eccentric has a projecting
pin or stud and on the shaft is fitted a milled-edged disc having a cam-slot. The
pin on the eccentric projects into the said slot, and when the eccentric is in position
on the shaft to give the minimum throw the said pin is at the lower end of the
said slot, or that end nearest the shaft. As the disc is turned upon the shaft in
the proper direction the pin is gradually brought from the lower to the upper end
of the cam-slot thus moving the eccentric upon the shaft and increasing the throw
of the said eccentric, the cam-slot being so arranged that when the pin is at the
outer end of the said slot the desired maximum throw is imparted to the eccentric.
It will thus be seen that by turning the milled disc the throw of the eccentric and
consequently the length of stitch can be regulated as desired. To prevent friction
between the faces of the eccentric and milled disc we interpose a disc fixed on the
shaft, the said disc having a slot through which the pin on the eccentric passes and
in which it works as it is acted upon by the cam-slot in the milled disc. The
milled disc is held upon the shaft against the fixed disc by means of a nut screwed
upon the shaft, or by other suitable means.
"
The third part of our invention relates to an improved attachment whereby the
machine is adapted to sewing plaits of various widths and thicknesses. In
carrying out this part of our invention a frame is attached to the presser-bar, the
said frame carrying a spindle parallel with the work-plate and main shaft and
directly above the feed surface. The said spindle carries two rollers differing
slightly in their diameter, the outer one being the smaller to allow for the lap of the
plaits and the equalization of the pressure of the presser-bar. Between the two
rollers and extending in front of and behind them is a plate forming a guide for the
edge of one of the plaits or the top plait, and on this guide, at the end nearest the
operator another thin plate is arranged lying flat upon the work, called the divider
plate. This divider plate lies between the two plaits to be sewn, and, with its
counterpart the guide, regulates the lap of the plaita. The guide is made adjustable
backward and forward transversely to the spindle and rollers, to allow of different
thicknesses of plaits being cleared. To permit of this adjustment the portion of
the said guide between the rollers is slotted, and the guide is carried beyond the
rollers and immediately below the presser-bar. In the end of the, said guide a
screwed pin is placed; this pin passes through a slot in the frame and is fastened
by a nut or otherwise in any desired position in the said slot after the necessary
adjustment is made. The rollers with the guide between them can also be adjusted
in any desired place along the spindle, to allow for the different sized "heads" of
plaits, or adjustment in the lap of the plaits to be sewn. This adjustment may be
effected by a nut screwing upon a threaded portion of the spindle, the rollers being
carried on an extension of the said nut; or by other suitable means. The rollers
presenting no sharp edges for contact with the plaits allow of all kinds of plaits
being sewn.

page_text: Improvements in Sewing-machines.
We WILLIAM WALKER and JOSEPH GILL both of 11 Bute Street, Luton in the
County of Bedford 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; reference being had to the accompanying drawing
forming a part of this specification :-
Our invention relates more particularly to machines for sewing straw plait, but.
our improvements are also applicable to sewing-machines of other descriptions.
Our invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts of the
mechanism for operating the feed, whereby the feed-bar is kept parallel with the
work throughout the feeding movement, and in improved means whereby the feed
can be regulated to lengthen or shorten the stitch as may be desired. Also in an
improved adjustable presser attachment for straw-plait sewing-machines by which
any width or thickness of plait can be sewn.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine showing our improvements; the work-
plate being removed.
Figure 2 is a plan of the lower portion of the machine showing our improved
feed-operating and regulating mechanism.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same.
.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views showing details of our improvements.
Figures 9, 10.and 11 are respectively a side elevation, front elevation and plan
of our improved adjustable presser attachment.
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
The drawing illustrates the application of our invention to a machine for sewing
straw plait, in which both the needle and the rotating hook are operated by the
main shaft a.
Our improved mechanism for operating the feed consists of a shaft b mounted at
the side of the machine, and parallel with the main shaft a. The shaft b is mounted
in bearings in the projecting arms or brackets cc, or other suitable extensions of the
frame of the machine. The shaft b carries on its forward end a single crank d,
having a crank-pin d. To the crank-pin d' is fitted the end of an eccentric rod e,
extending under the work-plate, and the strap or ring f on the other end of the
said rod fits over the eccentric g on the main shaft a. The eccentric rod e forms
the feed-carrier, à block or suitable enlargement e¹ being formed thereon, to which
the feed-bar h is secured in any suitable manner which will permit of its vertical
adjustment. The length of the eccentric rod e should be in the proportion shown
in the drawing, and the parts must be so arranged that just before the eccentric
causes the feed to rise, the crank is at its lowest point (the web d' of the crank
being then vertical) and the centre of the end of the crank-pin & and the centre of
the end of the main shaft a are in a horizontal line. When the eccentric commences
the forward thrust of the rod e and feed-bar carried thereon, the end of the crank-
'

page_text: pin d¹ at once commences to describe the arc of a circle. The end e¹¹ of the eccentric
rod e is thus raised and the feeding surface h¹ is kept parallel with the work
throughout the forward thrust or feeding movement. Thus by the above-described
arrangement we secure the feed being kept parallel with the work while in contact
therewith, and a drop or fall of the feeding surface h¹ clear of the work as soon as
the forward thrust or feed movement is completed.
The second part of our invention relates to improved means for adjusting the
eccentric which operates the feed movement so as to vary its throw and thereby
regulate the extent of the feed movement and the length of the stitch. In carrying
out this portion of our invention the main shaft a at the point a¹ where the
eccentric g is fitted thereon, is squared on three of its sides as shown in figures 4
and 5. The eccentric g is formed with a rectangular slot as shown at g¹ and fits
upon the said squared portion a¹ of the shaft a, the slot g¹ being of such a length
that when the inner end of the said slot is in contact with the shaft the eccentric
has the desired minimum throw. The outer face of the eccentric g has a projecting
pin or stud g¹, and on the portion all of the shaft a is fitted a milled-edged disc i
(Figure 8) having a cam slot i, the said slot forming an arc of a circle eccentric
to the shaft a. The pin g projects into the slot i, and when the eccentric is in
position on the shaft to give the minimum throw (as shown in figure 5) the said
pin is at the lower end of the said slot, or that end nearest the shaft. As the
disc i is turned upon the shaft in the proper direction, the pin g" is gradually
brought from the lower to the upper end of the cam slot it, thus moving the
eccentric g upon the shaft a and increasing the throw of the said eccentric, the cam
slot being so arranged that when the pin g¹¹ is at the outer end of the said slot,
the desired maximum throw is imparted to the eccentric. It will thus be seen that
by turning the milled disc i the throw of the eccentric and consequently the
forward thrust of the feed movement can be regulated from the minimum to the
maximum as may be desired. To prevent friction between the eccentric strap f
and the disc i, and also to give rigidity to the eccentric, we construct a collar j
(see figure 7) on the shaft a between the eccentric and the cam disc i, the said
collar; having a radial slot 1 through which the pin g₁ projects and in which it
works as it is acted upon by the cam alot in the disc i.
The disc is held upon
the shaft a against the collar j by means of a nut k (figure 6) screwed upon the
shaft at a
Although the drawing shows the application of our invention to a machine for
sewing straw plait, it will be readily understood that our improvements for
operating and regulating the feed are applicable to other sewing-machines.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 show our improved adjustable presser attachment for
straw-plait sewing-machines whereby the said machines are adapted to sew plaits
of various widths and thicknesses.
A is the presser-bar or foot which is secured to the socket B by which it is
attached to the presser-rod. Upon the inner side of the presser-bar A revolving
parallel therewith and over the feeding surface, is mounted a friction roller C, the
periphery of the said roller being flush with the under edge of the presser-bar A.
Projecting from the inner side of the socket B and at right angles to the presser-
bar is a bar or plate D, having its outer end D1 bent downward at right angles.
A bar or plate E channelled on its upper surface to receive the plate D works
freely against the underside of the said plate. From the forward end of the
plate E, or that end which is nearest the presser-bar A, a plate or bar F extends
forward at right angles to the plate E towards the operator, and beyond the
forward end of the presser-bar A, as shown in Figure 11. This plate or bar F
forms a guide for the edge of one of the plaits, or the top plait, and it resta edge-
1. wise on or at right angles to the work-plate and carries on its outer side, at its
forward end a small dividing plate F1 parallel to and lying flat upon the said
work-plate. This divider plate F1 lies between the two plaits to be sewn, and
with the plate F acting as guide regulates the lap of the plaits. On the inner side
of the plate F, and having its axis in line with that of the friction roller C, is

page_text: mounted a friction roller G turning freely on a pin G¹ passing through a pro-
jection H from the under side of the plate E, and through the roller G into the
plate F. The diameter of the said roller G is slightly larger than that of the
roller C. The roller C is made of smaller diameter to allow for the lap of
the plaits and the equalization of the pressure of the presser-bar A.
The adjust-
ment of the attachment is effected by means of a screw I the stem of which passes
through a vertical slot in the end D₁ of the plate D and the thread of which works
through a lug or projection Et on the underside of the plate E. The stem of the
screw I has a collar I¹ between which and the head of the screw the end D¹ of the
plate D is inserted. Thus the position of the plate F, dividing plate Fl and roller G
in relation to the presser-bar A can be adjusted laterally, as desired, by turning
the screw I. The bar D has a longitudinal vertical slot D' through which a set
screw D³ passes into the bar E so as to clamp the attachment when adjusted to
the desired position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First In a sewing-machine feed-mechanism, the combination and arrangement
of the shaft b, crank and crank-pin d d' and eccentric rod e having strap or ring f
with an eccentric on the shaft operating the said mechanism, and with the feed
bar, whereby the feeding surface h¹ is maintained parallel with the work while in
contact therewith substantially as set forth.
Second-The feed-regulating device, consisting of the combination of the shaft
having squared portion a', the eccentric g slotted to fit upon the said portion a¹
and having a pin gl, and the cam-slotted disc i substantially as herein set forth.
Third: In an attachment for straw-plait sewing-machines, the combination
with the presser-bar A having friction roller C, of the plate or bar F, carrying
divider plate F and friction roller G, and means for the lateral adjustment of the
said plate or bar, divider plate and friction roller in relation to the presser-bar A
and its roller C, substantially as herein set forth.
1000