IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David McConnel Smyth, of Orange, in the State
of New Jersey, United States of America, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.”
Sealed the 16th April 1872, and dated the 22nd November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David M Connel Smyth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 22nd November 1871.
I, DAVID Mº CONNEL SMYTH, of Orange, in the State of New Jersey,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to mechanism for giving to the material
operated upon a lateral as well as a progressive movement, so that
the sewing can be automatically accomplished in a waving or zig-zag
line; this is especially designed for ornamental stitching, such as upon
boots, shoes, or gloves.

page_text: A pattern cam is revolved progressively by a ratchet and pawl, or step-
by-step movement, and the number of ratchet teeth corresponds to the
number of stitches in the complete pattern or design stitched. The
pattern cam operates upon the feeding mechanism to give the same a
lateral movement while in contact with the material being sewn. The
progressive feeding movement of the sewing machine is not materially
changed from the device ordinarily in use, only such feeding mechanism
is mounted so that the said lateral movement may be given by the

page_text: With some patterns of stitching it may become necessary for the
pattern cam to arrest the ordinary feed movement for one or more
stitches so as to feed the fabric by the action of the pattern cam
only in a lateral direction, and then again liberate the ordinary feed
movement.
My Invention is available as aforesaid with the feeding mechanism
now in use, and I remark that the progressive movement to the feeding
device might be given by an electro-magnet instead of the usual
mechanism, and that my said pattern cam might be used with the
same to give the lateral movement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David M° Connel Smyth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
M° CONNEL SMYTH, of Orange, in the State of New Jersey, United
States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said David Mc Connel Smyth, Her special
licence that I, the said David Mc Connel Smyth, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David M° Connel Smyth,
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
FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said David Mc Connel Smyth, 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

page_text: be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Mc Connel Smyth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 made to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
This Invention relates to mechanism for giving to the material 1
operated upon a lateral as well as a progressive movement, so that
the sewing can be automatically accomplished in a waving or zig-zag
line; this is especially designed for ornamental stitching, such as upon
boots, shoes, gloves, &c.
A pattern cam is revolved progressively by a ratchet and pawl, or step-
by-step movement, and the number of ratchet teeth correspond to the
number of stitches in the complete pattern or design stitched. The
pattern cam operates upon the feeding mechanism to give the same a
lateral movement while in contact with the material being sewed. The
progressive feeding movement of the sewing machine is not materially
changed from the device ordinarily in use, only such feeding mechanism
is mounted so that the said lateral movement may be given by the

page_text: roughened portion of the feed bar, and the space where this feed bar
slides is made with reference to allowing of this lateral motion. I have
shown the feed bar a as actuated by a cam d on the main shaft e of the
sewing machine, which cam d is made so as to give in connection with
the spring the ordinary four motions, viz., down, back, up and forward
to feed; but if this movement is applied to a reciprocating feeding bar or
foot acting in the manner heretofore usual, my improvement hereafter
described can be applied to the same when mounted so as to allow of
lateral motion as well as the progressive feeding movement. Upon the
feeding bar a is a pin e¹ entering a groove i in the hub of the cylindrical
pattern cam 7. This groove being in the direction of the ordinary feed
movement of the bar does not obstruct the feed, whether the stitch is
long or short. It becomes necessary therefore only to rotate the pattern
cylinder progressively, and employ the pattern cam and fixed pin to
give to the cylinder an endwise movement at the proper time to carry
both the feed bar and the fabric laterally while said feed bar is in
contact with the cloth. The progressive movement-is-communicated
to the pattern cylinder / by a ratchet wheel 3 and pawl n, such pawl n
being moved by the link o and crank pin 4 on the shaft e, or otherwise.
r is a holding pawl. The bearing block 8, in which is the pattern
cylinder 1, is made so as to support the said cylinder and allow it to
be rotated or to move endwise, and the periphery of this cylinder is
made with a cam rib or groove ', preferably a groove, shaped to
produce the desired end movement as the cylinder is turned, and for
this purpose the screw 5 is inserted with the point in the groove.
It will be evident that the pin entering the pattern groove might be
mounted on a lever so as to be easily withdrawn, and allow the feeding
devices to act in performing straight sewing, or the link o might be
disconnected with the same object in view.
The cam cylinder might be mounted upon a fixed gudgeon, and have
the pattern cam at one end instead of in the periphery.
When this pattern cam is employed in connection with a wheel feed,
the axis of the wheel may pass through this pattern cam, or the pattern
cam may be mounted upon the same shaft as the feeding wheel; in this
case the feeding wheel will occupy the position shown by dotted lines
at v, Fig. 3, and the operation of the pattern cam and feed wheel, and
also of the said pattern cam with other characters of feeding devices, will
be apparent from the foregoing description.

page_text: ULAIMS.
What I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,
is a pattern cam actuated by a ratchet and pawl or progressive step-by-
step movement, in combination with the feeding mechanism of a sewing
machine, for communicating a lateral motion to perform undulating or
zig-zag sewing, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Mc Connel Smyth, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Tenth day of April, A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witnesses,
GEO. W. GLAZIER,
E. P. FOSTER.
DAVID Mº CONNELL SMYTH. (L.S.)