Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan.. 1891
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
1, NATHANIEL WHEELER, of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield, Connecticut, United
States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to sewing-machines for simultaneously sewing parallel
seams.
Prior to the invention hereinafter described it has been customary to sew parallel
lock stitch seams by sewing machines using two eye-pointed needles each carried by
its own needle bar and two shuttles; and also two loops of thread carried by two-eye-
pointed needles have been entered by one shuttle containing a thread, the shuttle
moving in a plane at right angles to the line of stitching.
To improve this class of sewing machinery for stitching parallel seams I have
devised and produced a machine containing one needle-bar provided with two eye-
pointed needles located or set in a line diagonal with relation both to the line of feed
and to the line of the centre of the main shaft of the machine and with the same
I have arranged a loop-taker provided with a bobbin containing an underthread, the
said loop-taker being moved in a circular path and casting the loops of thread carried
by both needles over a bobbin, the vertical plane in which the loop-taker moves being
oblique both to the vertical plane in which the feed moves and to a horizontal line
drawn through the centre of the main shaft of the machine.
I have also provided a moving cam-surface or needle deflector connected preferably
with the loop-taker driver to act against one or both needles and ensure the placing
of the said needles in such position that the loops of thread thrown out from the eyes
of the said needles may be entered by the point of the loop-taker.
In the improved machine the loop-taker driver moves in a vertical plane parallel
to a vertical plane drawn through the line of stitching but the vertical plane
in which the loop-taker moves is oblique to the vertical plane in which the said
driver moves.
The means employed to deflect the needle or needles and place them in line to have
the loops of thread carried by them correctly entered by the point of the loop-taker,
acts upon the said needle or needles at a point between the lower extremity of
the needle and its eye, thus avoiding any interference of the deflecting means
with the loops of thread and so also obviating any wearing of the grooves in the
needles.
My invention may be used in connection with the class of machine known aș
the Wheeler and Wilson, there being separate tension devices and preferably
clamping devices for each of the threads going to the needles, a single take up
controlling both of the needle threads.
The feeding device employed may be either a wheel or a four motioned recipro-
cating bar. If a feed wheel is used the presser-foot will be of the roller form.
One part of my invention therefore consists in a sewing machine containing a
needle bar, two eye-pointed needles carried thereby and set in a line diagonal with
relation to the feed and to the length of the main shaft of the machine; a main shaft,
a suitable feeding device to feed the material at right angles to the main shaft, and a
bobbin and bobbin case, a loop-taker and means to move the loop-taker in a circular.
path in a vertical plane oblique to the vertical plane in which the feed moves and
oblique to the axis of motion of the main shaft.
My invention also consists in a sewing machine containing a circularly moving
loop-taker, a driver therefor, and means to impart to the said driver and loop-taker,
a variable movement, combined with a needle bar having two needles placed

page_text: diagonally with relation to the direction of the feed and of the centre of the main
shaft of the machine, and with means to act upon and deflect one or both of the said
needles in order that they may be placed in such position with relation to the point
of the loop-taker as to enable the said point to correctly enter both loops of needle
thread.
My invention also consists in a sewing machine containing a needle bar having
two eye-pointed needles carried thereby and set in a line diagonal with relation to
the feed and to the length of the main shaft of the machine; a main shaft; and an
adjustable needle guard to support that one of the needles which is most remote from
the usual presser-foot or roll and prevent the said needle from being drawn toward the
presser-foot or roll by reason of strain upon the needle thread or when feeding the
material to stitch a curved seam.
My invention in a sewing machine moreover consists in a needle-bar having two
eye-pointed needles set in a line diagonal with relation to the line of feed and to the
line of the main shaft ; feeding devices; a loop-taker moved in a circular path in
a vertical plane oblique to the vertical plane in which the feed moves and to the axis
of rotation of the main shaft; and a loop-taker driver having means to insure the
placing of one or both of the said needles in such position with relation to the plane
in which the loop-taker moves as to enable the point of the loop-taker to enter the
loops of thread carried by the said needles to thus sew parallel seams.
Dated this 11th day of January 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, NATHANIEL WHEELER of Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, 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 :—
This invention relates to sewing machines for simultaneously sewing parallel seams.
Prior to the present invention it has been customary to sew parallel lock stitch
seams by sewing machines in which two eye-pointed needles, each carried by its own
needle-bar, and two shuttles are employed also two loops of thread carried by two eye-
pointed needles have been entered by one shuttle containing a thread, the shuttle
moving in a plane at right angles to the line of stitching.
The object of this invention is to improve this class of sewing machinery for stitching
parallel seans and for this purpose I have devised and produced a machine containing
one needle-bar provided with two eye-pointed needles located or set in a line diagonal
with relation both to the line of feed and to the centre line of the main shaft of the
machine, and with the same I have arranged a loop-taker provided with a bobbin
containing an under-thread the said loop-taker being moved in a circular path and
casting the loops of threads carried by both needles over a bobbin the vertical plane in
which the loop-taker moves being oblique both to the vertical plane in which the feed
moves and to a horizontal line drawn through the centre of the main shaft of the
machine.
I have moreover provided a moving cam surface or needle deflector connected
preferably with the loop-taker driver to act against one or both needles and ensure
the placing of the said needles in such position, that the loops of thread thrown out
from the eyes of the said needles may be entered by the point of the loop-taker.
In the improved machine hereinafter described the loop-taker driver moves in a
vertical plane parallel to a vertical plane drawn through the line of stitching, but the
vertical plane in which the loop-taker moves is oblique to the vertical plane in which
the said driver moves.
The means employed to deflect the needle or needles and place them in line to have

page_text: the loops of thread carried by them correctly entered by the point of the loop-taker,
acts upon the said needle or needles at a point between the lower extremity of the
needle and its eye, thus avoiding any interference of the deflecting means with the loops
of thread, and so also obviating any wearing of the grooves in the needles.
My improvements are shown embodied in a machine of the class known as the
Wheeler and Wilson, there being separate tension devices and preferably clamping
devices for each of the threads going to the needles a single take-up controlling both
the needle threads.
The feeding device employed may be either a wheel or a four-motioned reciprocating
If a feed wheel is used the presser-foot will be of the roller form.
bar.
One part of my invention therefore consists in a sewing machine containing a
needle bar, two eye-pointed needles carried thereby and set in a line diagonal with
relation to the feed and to the length of the main shaft of the machine, a main shaft, a
suitable feeding device to feed the material at right angles to the main shaft, and a
bobbin and bobbin case, a loop-taker and means to move the loop-taker in a circular
path in a vertical plane oblique to the vertical plane in which the feed moves and
oblique to the axis of motion of the main shaft.
Also in a sewing machine containing a circularly moving loop-taker, a driver
therefor, and means to impart to the said driver and loop-taker a variable movement,
combined with a needle-bar having two needles placed diagonally with relation to the
direction of the feed and of the centre line of the inain shaft of the machine, and with
means to act upon and deflect one or both of the said needles in order that they may
be placed in such position with relation to the point of the loop-taker as to enable the
said point to correctly enter both loops of needle thread.
Also in a sewing machine containing a needle-bar having two eye-pointed needles
carried thereby and set in a line diagonal with relation to the feed and to the length
of the main shaft of the machine; a main shaft; and an adjustable needle-guard to
support that one of the needles most remote from the usual presser-foot or roll and
prevent the said needle from being drawn toward the presser-foot or roll by reason of
strain upon the needle thread or when feeding the material to stitch a curved seam.
My invention also consists in a needle-bar having two-eyed pointed needles set in a
line diagonal with relation to the line of feed and to the line of the main shaft; feeding
devices, a loop-taker moved in a circular path in a vertical plane oblique to the vertical
plane in which the feed moves and to the axis of rotation of the main shaft, and a
loop-taker driver having means to insure the placing of one or both of the said needles
in such position with relation to the plane in which the loop-taker moves as to enable
the point of the loop-taker to enter the loops of thread carried by the said needles to
sew parallel seams.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is an end elevation below bed plate, of a sufficient portion of a sewing
machine to enable the invention to be understood, showing part of the needle bar with
ts two needles and part of the presser-bar the presser-foot and devices common to
the Wheeler and Wilson system of machine being omitted, a portion of the upright
part of the usual overhanging arm being shown.
Figure 2 shows the loop-taker detached.
Figure 3 shows in front elevation and plan view, the loop-taker driver detached.
Figure 4 a detail of the lower end of the needle-bar its two needles the presser-foot
rm being broken off the presser-foot being shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5 is a detail showing the inner side of the presser with the needles and
eedle guide.
Figure 6 is a detail of the end of the needle guide.
Figure 7 is a plan view of part of the bed of the machine with the usual cover
ides removed, and
Figure 8 a detail of the loop-taker guide, loop-taker and loop-taker driver in a
ifferent position.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
e drawing.

page_text: A is the bed plate having the upright A' to support the usual overhanging arm
containing the usual presser-har H, A is the needle bar and Cx the main under
shaft, Be the short shaft to actuate the loop-taker driver hereinafter described. The
variable speed device between the said two shafts, consists as shown of the disc B³
fast on the shaft Cx, the arm B fast on the shaft B6 and the link B* connecting the
said disc and arm; the bobbin case a and the holder D' are connected to prevent the
said case from rotating with the loop-taker G and the disc bobbin 7 shown in
Figure 1 by breaking out the bobbin case. All the above mentioned parts are made
as in the Wheeler and Wilson machine constructed substantially in accordance with
British Patent No. 8448 of 1887.
The needle-bar A* has connected to it by a screw a³ a needle holding block a*
provided with two needles 2, 3 set in a line diagonal both to the direction of the
movement of the feed and to the centre of the main shaft Cx see Figures 1, 4 and 7
so that the said needles may penetrate the material close to each other and which
enables the said two needles, each properly supplied with thread, to have their loops
cast about the bobbin containing an under thread for the formation of parallel lines of
lock stitches.
The needles are held in the holding block at each by its own screw 24. As the
needles 2, 3 are set diagonally, as stated the loop-taker G has to be rotated in a
vertical plane oblique to the vertical plane intersecting the line of the feed and also
oblique to the centre line of the main shaft C* and in order to enable the point w of
the loop-taker to enter the loops of thread thrown out from the two needles I have
shown the loop-taker as adapted to be moved in a guide F, the said guide being
arranged to occupy a position in a vertical plane oblique to a horizontal line drawn at
right angles to the centre line of the main shaft Cx, best shown in Figure 7 and also
oblique to a horizontal line parallel to the line of feed.
The loop-taker driver C has a projection to engage the heel of the loop-taker,
and an engaging device 2 to enter the space back of the point w of the loop-
taker, see Figure 2, as in said Patent and in order to ensure the placing of one or
both needles in the oblique line in which the point of the loop-taker travels, the said
driver has been provided with an outwardly extended finger t shaped to leave a
space e in advance of the point w of the loop-taker in the direction of its rotation,
and when the point w is about to enter the loops of thread of the two needles 2, 3,
(the said needles after passing below the usual throat-plate entering said space and
then rising to throw out loops of their thread in usual manner,) the said loops being
entered by the point of the loop taker.
Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the two needles 2, 3, are set diagonally
with relation not only to the line y, y parallel to the line of feed movement, but also
to the line y which designates the centre of the shaft (*.
The loop-taker G has a circular movement in a vertical plane in the line y²-y², said
line being oblique to the lines y-y and y¹.
The needles 2 and 3, are shown as set at opposite sides of the line 2-y², and hence
the loop-taker moving in a vertical plane designated by the oblique line y-y², would
not enter the loops of thread carried by the said needle, and to place these needles in
the said obliqué line the finger t has been provided with a cam surface 4 and the
driver with a cam surface 5, said surfaces pushing or deflecting the needles from the
position Figure 7 into the position shown in Figure 8, both needles being acted upon
between their points and eyes so as not to chafe or break the needle thread, the said
needles being guided or positioned by the substantially parallel walls 6, 7, as the
point w of the loop-taker enters the loops of thread carried by the said needles.
The lines of stitching at the surface of the fabric are parallel but close
together.
The bed of the machine at its underside has suitable lugs to sustain an annular
curb which serves as a bearing for the feed device go, herein shown as a toothed
ring having an annular rib 8 which is engaged by a forked stud 10, on a curved
arm ho, one end of which is jointed by link to an arm 8 of the rock shaft y' used
to actuate the feed.

page_text: The arm near its other end has a stud 70 to which is connected a spring hºº
attached at its other end to a fixed part of the machine.
As the arm is lifted by the link ', the forked stud 10 is made to grasp the
rib 8 and in the further rise of the link h', the arm is moved longitudinally and
takes the feed wheel with it in the direction of the arrow thereon to effect the feeding
of the material in the line y-y at right angles to the line y¹.
The spring draws the arm / back and slides the dog or stud 10 on the rim 8 as
the link his lowered, the notched dog or detent 10 acted upon by the spring 12 at
such time aiding in preventing any retrograde movement of the feeding device ge.
Instead of the feeding device g shown as a wheel I may use the feeding device
shown in the aforesaid Patent.
A spring 25, shown in dotted lines Figure 1 and in plan view in Figure 7, is
attached by a screw 26 to the curb g and bears on the ring 9 to prevent any
over-throw movement of the ring.
To co-operate with the wheel-like feeding device, the presser-bar is herein shown as
having a roller presser of usual construction, but instead I might use any other
usual form of presser, especially if the feeding device was a bar having four
motions.
The presser-bar has attached to it a guide n, shaped as best shown in Figures 5
and 6, wherein it will be seen that the guide has a notch between two pro-
jections 14, 15, the needle 2 most remote laterally from the roller presser entering
the said notch, the guide being chiefly to prevent the needle 2 from being drawn
aside by strain on the thread in the said needle 2.
As far as I am aware the machine herein described is the first devised to simul-
taneously stitch parallel lock stitch seams by the use of two needles, set diagonally,
as described, in one needle bar, and by one loop-taker rotated in a plane oblique to
the vertical plane of the feed and in a vertical plane oblique to the longitudinal
centre line of the main shaft, the said loop-taker casting both loops of needle thread
about one bobbin. The present invention is not therefore limited to the exact form
of loop-taker to enter the loops of needle-thread and cast them both about a bobbin
containing the under-thread; nor to the exact means for moving the loop-taker in a
circular path; nor to the exact construction of the loop-taker, as the invention will
include any known equivalent.
The finger t is shown as provided with a pull-off portion 20, it acting on the
bobbin thread between the bobbin and the under side of the work to draw from the
bobbin sufficient thread for another stitch, the said pull-off portion being connected
to the finger by a screw 22 so that when the screw is loosened, the pull-off may be
adjusted toward or from the needle to adapt it to pull off more or less thread from
the bobbin according to the particular work to be done or width of seam.
This part of my invention is not however limited to the particular means shown
for effecting the said adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
First. A sewing machine containing a needle-bar; two eye-pointed needles carried
thereby and set in a line diagonal with relation to the feed and to the length of the
main shaft of the machine; a main shaft; a suitable feeding device to feed the
material at right angles to the main shaft; and a bobbin and bobbin case; a loop-
taker, and means to move the loop-taker in a circular path in a vertical plane oblique
to the vertical plane in which the feed moves, and oblique to the axis of motion of
the main shaft, substantially as described.
Second. A sewing machine containing a circularly moving loop-taker, a driver
therefor, and means to impart to the said driver and loop-taker, a variable movement,
combined with a needle-bar having two needles placed diagonally with relation to
the direction of the feed and of the centre of the main shaft of the machine, and
with means to act upon and deflect one or both of the said needles in order that they

page_text: may be placed in such position with relation to the point of the loop-taker as to
enable the said point to correctly enter both loops of needle-thread, substantially as
described.
Third. A sewing-machine containing a needle-bar having two eye-pointed needles
carried thereby and set in a line diagonal with relation to the feed and to the length
of the main shaft of the machine; a main shaft; and an adjustable needle guard to
support that one of the needles most remote from the usual presser-foot or roll and
prevent the said needle from being drawn toward the presser-foot or roll by reason
of strain upon the needle thread or when feeding the material to stitch a curved seam,
substantially as described.
Fourth. In a sewing machine, a needle-bar having two eye-pointed needles set in
a line diagonal with relation to the line of feed and to the line of the main shaft ;
feeding devices; a loop-taker moved in a circular path in a vertical plane oblique
to the vertical plane in which the feed moves and to the axis of rotation of the main
shaft, and a loop-taker driver having means to insure the placing of one or both of
the said needles in such position with relation to the plane in which the loop-taker
moves as to enable the point of the loop-taker to enter the loops of thread carried by
the said needles to thus sew parallel seains, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of November 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.