Improvements in Filled Sack Sewing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Filled Sack Sewing Machines.
I, ARTHUR THOMAS TIMEWELL, of 3236 Lake Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to machines for sewing filled sacks.
The object of my invention is to provide a machine of a simple and durable
construction and efficient in operation, by means of which filled sacks may be
very rapidly and cheaply sewed as they pass continuously through the machine.
To this end my invention consists essentially in connection with a sewing
mechanism, of any suitable construction, of an endless traveling sack-holder,
comprising a pair of opening and closing continuous endless flexible clamps,
preferably chains, traveling on suitable pulleys or sprocket wheels, and between
which the mouth edges of the filled sacks are fed, and by which the same are
clamped and held closed in position for sewing as the continuously traveling
chains carry the sacks, one after another, past the sewing mechanism. Suitable
guides in or along which the chains travel cause their opposing or parallel
portions to properly clamp the sacks between them. The pulley at the front
end of the machine around which the chains pass, or rather, the curved portions
of the chains on these pulleys, serve to feed the mouth edges of the sacks in
and between the chains as soon as the front edge of the sack-mouth is placed
in the bite thereof, just as a sheet, for example, passes between rollers revolv-
ing together. A conveyor is, or may be, employed to convey the filled sacks
to this endless traveling sack-holder. In cases where the material of which the
sacks are made is not strong enough to safely sustain the weight of the filled
sack by suspension by its mouth edge from the endless traveling sack-holder, I
employ a traveling sack-conveyor for the filled sacks to rest upon while being
conveyed through the machine; and this same conveyor may be extended so as
to serve also as the means for conveying the filled sacks to the machine and for
delivering them from it after being sewed. The backs or meeting faces of the
links of the endless chains, comprising the endless traveling sack-conveyor, are
provided the one with a groove and the other with a rib or tongue fitting in the
groove to increase their clamping or holding action upon the mouth edges of
the sacks. The filled sacks should be delivered to the machine one after another
and continuously passed through the machine with intervals of only a few inches,
preferably five or six, between the successive sacks, and the chain of stitching or
thread, uniting the successive sacks, is cut by a suitable knife or cutter, which
is, or may be, operated by each sack as it passes, by a movable lever projecting
in the path of the sack. At the front end of the machine I provide a guide
over which the mouth edge of the filled sack may be folded prior to its entering
between the two opposing endless sack clamping chains, so that the sewing
mechanism may form the seam through the folds of the sack mouth.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is

page_text: a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view;
Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail
plan view of a portion of the chain; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2
and Fig. 6 is a detail of the knife or cutter. Figure 7 is a detail.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
In said drawings A represents the frame of the machine. The bed-plate A
upon which the sewing mechanism B is mounted, is provided with a longitu-
dinal slot a for the mouth edges of the sacks to project through as they are
being conveyed past the sewing mechanism.
The continuous endless flexible opening and closing traveling sack-holder D
consists, preferably, of two endless chains d d, each traveling on suitable pulleys
or sprocket wheels d¹ d', and guided at their opposing parallel portions by suit-
able guides C C, extending along the slot a, one on each side thereof, so as to
cause them to properly clamp and hold the mouth edges of the filled sacks
between them. The links of the two chains d d of the endless traveling sack
conveyor are provided at their backs or meeting faces, the one with a groove d
and the other with an interfitting tongue or rib d³ to increase their clamping
action upon the mouths of the sacks. The two chains of the endless traveling
sack-holder are propelled or driven continuously by power applied to the shaft d
of one of the pulleys or sprockets d', preferably by means of a gear on said
shaft meshing with a worm do on the shaft d², which is provided with a bevel
gear, that meshes with a gear B₁ on the driving pulley B3 of the sewing
mechanism; the two chains d d being also preferably geared together by the
intermeshing gears 10, the former being on shaft d of the sprocket wheel of
one chain and the latter on the shaft d" of the sprocket wheel of the other chain.
The guides C C for the chains d d should be shaped to fit the inner faces of said
chains so as to properly guide or hold them in position, especially in cases where
the weight of the filled sack is designed to be suspended or supported from and
by the endless traveling sack-holder, as may be readily done in operating upon
small sacks, such for example as ten or twenty-five pound sacks, or upon larger
sacks composed of strong fabric, such as are commonly used for bagging grain.
Bridges A2 A2 spanning the slot unite the two portions of the bed-plate A¹ of
the frame on each side of said slot.
F is a carrier, consisting preferably of an endless traveling platform running
upon rollers or sprockets F upon which the filled sacks X are placed and by
which they are conveyed to the machine in position to have their mouth-
edges inserted between the front pulleys & d¹ and sack-holder chains d d.
This same conveyor F is also preferably extended through the machine, under
the straight or parallel portions of the sack-holding chains d d, so that in cases
where necessary, the weight of the filled sacks may be in whole or in part sup-
ported by this conveyor while the sacks are being conveyed through the machine.
By this means the endless traveling sack-holder D is or may be relieved from the
weight of the filled sack. The conveyor F is also preferably further extended
at the rear of the machine so that it may also serve as the means for conveying
or delivering the filled and sewed sacks out of or from the machine.
To readily adapt the same machine to operate upon filled sacks of different
sizes, heights or lengths, the bed plate A¹ upon which the sewing mechanism B
and endless traveling sack holder I) are mounted, is provided with telescopic
or extension legs or supports A4 A³, so that the heighth of the bed plate A¹
above the conveyor F may be adjusted as required. Set screws A6 serve to fix
the movable legs A' in any position desired in respect to the stationary legs A5.
The sewing mechanism B may be of any suitable construction known to those
skilled in the art, and requires no detailed description, as my invention does not
consist in, nor is it dependent upon any particular construction of sewing
mechanism. The particular form of sewing mechanism which I have illustrated,
for convenience, in the drawing, comprises a frame or arm B³, attached to the
bed plate A¹ of the frame at one side of the slot a, and overhanging said slot

page_text: and the guides C C and parallel portions of the sack holder chains d d, and a
needle b, looper b', and presser feet 62, and suitable gearing or mechanism for
communicating motion to the needle and looper.
From the continuously rotating driving pulley B2, motion is communicated
to the sewing mechanism through a friction clutch B4 B5.
G is the knife or cutter by which the chain of stitching or thread r¹ uniting
the sewed sacks is cut as each sack passes. The cutter is mounted upon and
operated by a lever G¹, the free end of which projects normally in the path
of the sack and which is caused to move in and carry the knife G against the
chain of stitching a the moment the sack passes by a spring Ga. Opposing
cutters or pins g g projecting downwardly from the table A facilitate the action
of the knife G in cutting the thread or chain of stitching.
One of the guides CC is adjustably secured to the bed plate A¹ so that it
may be moved or adjusted to or from its fellow for the purpose of regulating
the gripping or clamping action of the opposing sack holder chains upon the
sacks. It is so
adjustably fixed in position by adjusting screws (in connection
with bolts C, which latter pass through the guide Cand the table A¹, slots
being provided in the one or the other to permit of the adjustment.
<
"
"
While I have called the two opposing endless parts of the endless traveling
sack holder chains and have illustrated them in the drawing as being com-
posed of links, I wish it to be understood that by use of the word
"
chains I
mean to include any form of endless flexible belts or connections suitable for
use in my combination.
The conveyor F may be driven by any suitable mechanism, it should, however,
be driven at the same speed as that of the traveling sack holder chains d d.
This may preferably be done by connecting it directly with the shaft d through
which motion is imparted to the chains d d. It may be so connected by any
suitable connecting mechanism or gearing, such for example as that indicated
in the drawing, Figure 1.
H is a belt shifter for starting and stopping the machine by shifting the
driving belt from the loose pulley E¹, which is not connected to the machine,
to the pulley 12 which is connected to the machine.
His a clutch rod for operating the friction clutch B4 13 by which the driving
shaft of the sewing mechanism is connected to the driving pulley B². By means
of these two clutch rods H and H¹ the sewing mechanism may be started or
stopped independently of the sack holder chains d d.
L is a guide at the front end of the machine over which the mouth of the
filled sack may be folded prior to entering between the sack gripping and feed-
ing devices or chains d d. This guide may be of any suitable construction
adapted to facilitate the folding of the mouth of the sack. It may preferably
consist of a thin flat bar, as illustrated in the drawing. It may be supported in
position in any suitable manner, preferably, by a bracket M, attached to the
frame of the machine, as the guide L may be stationary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is:
1st. In a machine for sewing filled sacks, the combination with a sewing
mechanism of an endless traveling sack-holder comprising a pair of opening
and closing endless flexible clamps for receiving and feeding the mouth edges
of the filled sacks and holding the same closed in position for sewing, and con-
veying the same past the sewing mechanism, substantially as specified.
2d. A filled sack sewing machine, comprising in combination a sewing
mechanism and an endless traveling sack-holder, comprising a pair of opening
and closing endless flexible clamps, substantially as specified.
3d. A filled sack sewing machine, comprising in combination a sewing
mechanism and an endless traveling sack-holder consisting of a pair of endless

page_text: chains having opposing parallel portions between and by which the mouth
edges of the sack are received, fed, clamped and held, substantially as specified.
4th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the combination with a sewing mechanism,
of a pair of endless chains having opposing parallel portions between and by
which the sacks are received, fed and clamped, the backs or meeting faces of said
chains having the one a groove and the other an interfitting tongue to increase
the clamping or holding action of the chains upon the sacks, substantially as
specified.
5th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the combination with a sewing mechanism,
of an endless traveling sack-holder, comprising a pair of opening and closing
continuous endless flexible clamps, and a conveyor for delivering the filled sacks
to the endless traveling sack-holder, substantially as specified.
6th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the combination with a sewing mechanism
of an endless traveling sack-holder, comprising a pair of opening and closing
continuous endless flexible clamps, and a conveyor for supporting the weight of
the filled sacks as they are carried through the machine past the sewing mech-
anism, substantially as specified.
7th. In a filled sack sewing machine, an endless traveling opening and closing
continuous sack holder consisting of a pair of endless chains having parallel
opposing portions traveling together and between which the sacks are clamped,
substantially as specified.
8th. In a filled sack sewing machine, an endless traveling opening and closing
continuous sack holder consisting of a pair of endless chains having parallel
opposing portions traveling together and between which the sacks are clamped,
and guides for the parallel portions of said chains, substantially as specified.
9th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the combination with a bed plate having
a longitudinal slot a, of a sewing mechanism, and a pair of endless traveling
sack holder chains, guides C C, and pulleys or sprocket wheels upon which said
endless chains travel, whereby the filled sacks are automatically received, fed
and clamped between and delivered from said chains, substantially as specified.
10th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the combination with the sewing
mechanism, of an endless traveling sack holder comprising a pair of opening
and closing continuous endless flexible clamps, and a knife or cutter for sever-
ing the chain of stitching or thread uniting the sewed sacks as they pass
successively through the machine, substantially as specified.
11th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the combination with the sewing
mechanism, of an endless traveling sack holder, a knife or cutter for severing
the chain of stitching or thread uniting the sewed sacks as they pass successively
through the machine, and an arm or lever projecting in the path of the filled
sack for operating said knife or cutter, substantially as specified.
12th. The combination with a sewing mechanism, of a pair of endless travel-
ing sack holder chains adapted to receive and feed the mouth edges of the sack
between them, and a conveyor for delivering the sewed sacks from the machine,
substantially as specified.
13th. A filled sack sewing machine, comprising in combination a sewing
mechanism and an endless traveling sack holder consisting of a pair of endless
chains having opposing parallel portions between and by which the mouth edges
of the sack are fed, clamped and held, and guides for the parallel portions of said
chains, substantially as specified.
14th. In a filled sack sewing machine, comprising in combination a sewing
mechanism and an endless traveling sack holder consisting of a pair of endless
chains having opposing parallel portions between and. by which the mouth edges
of the, sack are fed, clamped and held, and guides for the parallel portions of said
chains, one of said guides being adjustable to and from its fellow, substantiaily
as specified.
15th. In a filled sack sewing machine, the, combination with the sewing
mechanism, of an endless traveling sack holder, a knife or cutter for severing the

page_text: chain of stitching or thread uniting the sewed sacks, as they pass successively
through the machine, and an arm or lever projecting in the path of the filled
sack for operating said knife or cutter by engagement with the filled sack as
it passes, substantially as specified.
16th. The combination in a filled sack sewing machine, of opposing traveling,
gripping and feeding devices for laterally gripping the mouth of the sack and
feeding and conveying it to the sewing mechanism, and a guide over which the
mouth of the sack may be folded and presented to the gripping and feeding
devices in position to ensure stitching through both the folded and unfolded
part of the mouth, substantially as specified.
17th. The combination in a filled sack sewing machine, of sewing mechanism,
a carrier for the filled sacks, a bar or guide over which the mouths of the sacks
may be folded, and opposing traveling sack mouth gripping and feeding mech-
anism for laterally gripping, feeding and conveying the folded mouth of the sack
from the bar to the sewing mechanism, substantially as described.
18th. The combination in a filled sack sewing machine, of sewing mechanism,
a carrier for the filled sacks, a bar or guide over which the mouths of the sacks
may be folded, and opposing traveling endless gripping and feeding mechanism
for feeding, gripping and conveying the folded mouth of the sack from the bar
to the sewing mechanism, substantially as specified.
Otago, os, .D.A., March Inru
μονο.
ARTHUR THOMAS TIMEWELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.