Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, NATHANIEL WHEELER of Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to sewing machines and has for its object the construction
of a machine by which a great variety of different stitches can be produced for the
purpose of ornamentation.
The gist of the present invention consists in imparting to a reciprocating needle
bar an intermittent vibratory motion under the control of a pattern, whereby the
needle may be maile to descend and rise and then descend again either in the same
spot or another spot at will, according to the particular stitch to be made, these
vibrations to the right or to the left depending upon the pattern, which is pre-
ferably in the form of a wheel, which, derives its motion from a shaft or from the
devices by which the reciprocation of the needle is produced.
Co-operating with this needle-bar is a feed bar, which is also intermittent in its
movement, and in addition to this intermittent movement the feed bar may be so
controlled that it will engage the material as it rises and feed it either forward or
backward, the said feed bar however does not receive any lateral motion.
The kind of stitch-forming device is immaterial to the present invention, that is
to say, it is of no consequence whether a shuttle or other under-thread cairier, or
device be used to co-operate with the needle in the formation of the stitch.
In the form in which my invention is herein embodied, the pattern for controlling
the lateral vibrations of the needle has two throw-points, and is so arranged as to
speed that it rotates once while the needle-actuating shaft moves six times for the
formation of six stitches; and the pattern for controlling the feeding.movement
has, one throw-point, and it is arranged to rotate once to each three movements of
the under shaft which imparts motion to the feed-bar.
The pattern device controlling the needle's vibrations is consequently so
arranged that it may move the needle to form any ornamental stitch made by
repeating a three-stitch figuré.
In the production of a three-stitch figure by means of the pattern wheels
referred to, the needle makes two movements laterally, say one to the left and the
other to the right, thus making two stitches, while the material remains at rest,
and then the needle rises and remains out of the material while the feeding
mechanism operates to feed the material in the direction of the length of the seam
or line of stitching, and the needle then descends and rises vertically or without
lateral movement for the third stitch.
By altering the shape of the pattern to control the intermittent action of the
feed-bar, the machine may, with the same pattern controlling the needle-bar, be
made to make a variety of three-stitch figures, and the particular shape of the
pattern for controlling the lateral movements of the needle-bar may be varied
according to the figure to be made, and by changing the relative speeds of the
pattern which controls the vibrations of the needle-bar, with relation to the move-
ments of the needle-bar actuating-shaft, ornamental stitches made up of figures
produced by 2, 3, 4 or more separate stitches, may be made.
In the production of all these varieties of stitches, care must be taken that the
time of the action of the feed and of the needle be so controlled, that their
movements together or in opposition are such as to make each stitch in the desired
direction.
The feed-bar may be so onerated as to remain at rest during any two consecutive.

page_text: stitches, or it may be moved backward or forward between any consecutive stitches,
such provision enabling a great variety of stitchies to be formed.
One part of my invention consists in a sewing machine containing the following
instrumentalities, viz. a needle bar having an eye-pointed needle; a needle-bar
frame; means for reciprocating the said needle-bar vertically in the said frame;
complemental mechanism co-operating, with the needle and its thread to form a
stitch; a pattern surface connections between it and the said needle-bar frame to
move the latter intermittently in a lateral direction; means to move the said
pattern surface; and a' feed-bar actuating mechanism therefor; and a second.
pattern surface and actuating mechanism therefor, whereby the movement of the
feed-bar may be suspended between some stitches and be operative between other
stitches, thus enabling a variety of stitches to be made.
Also a sewing machine consisting of a pivoted needle-bar frame; a vibrating
segment; connections between the said segment and needle-bar frame; and a
needle-bar actuating-shaft; combined with a pattern surface and intermediate
gearing to intermittently move the said segment and vibrate the needle-bar frame
intermittently.
#1
My invention also consists in a feed-bar; a rock-shaft; and devices between it
and 'the said feed-bar to reciprocate the same to feed the material; combined with
a pattern surface; a rotating shaft; gearing between it and the pattern surface;
and nicans actuated by the said pattern surface to rock the said rock-shaft inter-
mittently whereby the longitudinal movement of the feed-bar may be suspended at
intervals, notwithstanding the continued movement of the rotating shaft.
My said invention moreover consists of the combination in a
sewing machine
with a laterally vibrating needle-bar having an eye-pointed needle, and a pattern
surface controlling the lateral movements of the needle-bar, of feeding devices, and
a pattern surface to effect the intermitting suspension of, the operation of the
feed-bar.
i.
"
Dated this 17th dow of t
1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, NATHANIEL WHEELER of Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut,
U.S.A., 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:
f.
1.
1
This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to those capable
of making an ornamental or fancy stitching.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, in side elevation partially broken out, shews a sewing machine
embodying my present invention.
Figure 2, an underside view thereof.
Figure 3, a detail illustrating part of the feeding mechanism.
41
+
Figure 4, a view of the pattern surface for controlling the intermitting motion of,
the feed bar through, its usual actuating mechanism.
Figure 5, a left-hand end view of the machine shown in Figure 1.
Figure 6, a detail illustrating the needle bar frame and needle bar and needle.
Figure 7, a cross section in the line № a Figure 6.
Figures 8, 9, 10 details of the feed bar.
Figure 11, represents a three-stitch figure, such as will, be made by the cams
herein shown, when adjusted as represented in the drawing.
"Figure 12, shows a variety of three and four-stitch" figures, which may be made
by changing the pattern surfaces shown for others.
LA
.

page_text: Referring to the drawings, A. represents the bed place and A' an over-hanging
arm having a head A
The over-hanging arm supports a rotating shaft A³ which at its front end has a
suitable link and crank which is connected in usual manner with a collar on and so
as to reciprocate the needle-bar A provided with an eye-pointed thread-carrying
needle As, the said needle-bar in this invention being however mounted in suitable
bearings, see Figure 6 in a gate C³, mounted to oscillate about vertically arranged
pivot studs C, as commonly done in zig-zag and button-hole sewing machines.
A represents a presser-bar A7 a presser-foot B, a take-up made as a lever, and
in practice operated by a suitable cam on the shaft A³, not shown.
The shaft A is a power shaft, and it is provided, in practice, with suitable cranks
or equivalents, which by one or more connecting rods or links, as B2, B³, embracing
cranks on the under shaft B', rotate the same.
The parts so far described, are substantially such as employed in the Wheeler
and Wilson class of machines.
The shaft B' has at its front end a suitable disc, as B10, which is pivotally joined
by a link B, with a crank B¹³, fast on a short shaft a, which corresponds with the
usual hook-shaft of the Wheeler and Wilson machine, it having a variable motion,
or a motion faster and slower during each rotation, with relation to the speed of
the shaft B¹.
The shaft a has a bevel pinion a', which engages a bevel pinion a², mounted on a
suitable stud, the said pinion being an intermediate pinion and engaging a third
bevel pinion a³ on a hook shaft a', the said shaft carrying a loop-taker-driver which
rotates a loop taker in a suitable race way, as a³.
The particular construction of the loop taker is not herein shown, as it is common
to the Wheeler and Wilson form of machine, and is represented in British Patent
No. 55800.
In this present machine, the loop taker shaft a' is arranged 90° distant, or at
right angles, from the loop taker shaft in the ordinary Wheeler and Wilson machine,
wherein the loop taker in the form of a shuttle has imparted to it a variable
movement.
C represents a feed bar having suitable feed points C¹; is a rock shaft having
a forked arm C to embrace a suitable feed cam on the shaft B', the opposite end
of the rock shaft having a suitable arm which acts to raise and lower the feed
bar at the proper times.
D is a rock shaft having a suitable arm at its front end which is jointed to the
feed bar to reciprocate the same.
At its rear end the rock shaft D has an arm D¹ to which is jointed a connection D2,
provided at its opposite end with a stud D13, having loose on it a slide block D₁
which enters a curved guide-way in a vibrating feed-actuating segment D*, fast on
a short shaft D, mounted in suitable bearings De at the under side of the bed-
plate.
The connection D2 has a link D' attached to a suitable crank or eccentric on a
shaft controlled by a handle D10, movement of which enables the block D" to-be
raised or lowered in the vibrating segment D', movement of the block in the said
segment varying the length of the feed stroke of the feed bar.
This oscillating or vibrating segment D', the connection D³, the link D³, its
actuating means, and the rock shaft D to move the feed bar, are not herein
claimed broadly, as they are of usual construction in the Wheeler and Wilson
machine.
I have however, provided the rock shaft D' with an arm f, having a pin f',
which enters a groove f of a pattern cam or device ³, herein represented as a
toothed gear attached to a short shaft 30, and deriving its rotation from a pinion ƒª,
fast on the shaft B¹.
The needle bar frame has a projection 4 which receives a stud screw 3 on which is
mounted loosely a block C, to which is jointed by pin 2, a connecting rod C³,

page_text: herein represented as made of two parts, one part being adjustable longitudinally
on the other by or through suitable screws 5.
The rear end of the connecting rod C³ receives through it a screw stud 12,
having a shaped head which is fitted to slide in a slot 13 of a vibrator E,
having its pivot in a bearing on the upper side of the over-hanging arm, the said
bearing being represented in Figure 1 by dotted lines.
The stud 12 receives upon it a thumb-nut 14 which when turned down, fastens
the stud at a point more or less distant from the fulcrum of the vibrator E.
This vibrator at its lower end has a suitable roller or other stud d represented by
dotted lines Figure 1, which enters a suitable cam groove e forming part of a
pattern surface or pattern, the groove being made as herein represented in a
. toothed gear e.
The wheel or pattern surface e is engaged by the teeth of a pinion e¹, shown
partially in Figure 1 mounted upon a suitable stud as e², and being attached to or
having as part of it a beveled gear e³, which is engaged and. rotated by a bevel
gear, fast on the shaft A³.
As the pattern surface e is rotated, it, through the connecting rod C³, vibrates
the needle bar frame laterally, so that the needle bar in its vertical reciprocation
causes the needle to penetrate the material as for fancy or zig-zag stitching, the
adjustment of the screw 12 in the vibrator E altering the extent of lateral throw
of the needle bar.
As herein represented, the cam groove e' in the pattern surface has two throw-
points, and the gears referred to are of such size with relation to each other, and to
the rotation of the shaft A, that the pattern surface rotates once while the needle
bar actuating-shaft rotates six times, and as a result thereof the needle bar frame
is moved laterally intermittingly, thus enabling the needle to penetrate the material
at such points as to make an ornamental stitch, the stitch produced being that
represented enlarged, see Figure 11, wherein 20 designates, it may be considered,
the starting point of the ornamental stitch 21 22 and 23 in their order representing
the steps taken by the needle.
In accordance with my invention instead of vibrating the rock shaft D³ having
the segmental arm D' at cach rotation of the shaft B₁ as in British Letters Patent
No. 8448 A.D. 1887 I have attached to the said rock-shaft D³ an arm ƒ provided
with a suitable roller or other stud which is actuated by the feed controlling
pattern surface, herein represented as a cam having a groove which is entered
by the said roiler or other stud, the said cam groove being in a wheel 3 toothed at
its periphery and engaged by a pinion fast on the shaft B'.
The pattern surface last described is such and the gearing for actuating it is
such as to cause the rotation of the pattern surface once during each three rotations
of the under shaft, the said pattern surface having one throw-point and consequently
the feed bar is moved longitudinally or to effect the feed of the cloth once for each
three stitches, it being understood as long as the roller or other stud referred to is
travelling in the part of the cam groove which is substantially circular, that the
radius bar D is not vibrated to cause the feed to move the material longitudinally,
but as soon as the roller or other stud approaches the depression 30 of the pattern
surface, then in going into and out of said depression the segment D' is vibrated to
move the feed bar and cause it to move the material in the direction in which the
feed bar is moved after being raised in contact with the cloth.
From the foregoing it will be understood that by changing the pattern surfaces
for others having pattern surfaces of other shape, a great variety of ornamental
stitches may be automatically produced.
The machine herein shown has pivoted upon the face plate g at 31, a lever g',
the upper end of which is adapted to be thrown forward between the usual tension
disks of the needle thread tension device, to thus separate the said discs and relieve
the needle thread from tension, as when the material is to be taken out of the
machine, at which time it is desired that the needle thread rend freely through the

page_text: eye of the needle, which it could not do without straining, the needle, if the tension
device produced tension thereon.
This lever g has a shoulder 32 which is engaged by a pin or projection. 33
attached to the presser bar and extended through a slot in the face. plate when the
said presser bar is lifted in usual manner by the usual presser-foot lifting lever 34
to lift the presser foot from the work prior to its removal.
The needle bar has applied to it a collar 35 having a stud 36 extended outwardly.
through, the slot 37 in the face plate, so that when the machine is again. started, the
material having been properly put below the presser foot the pin 36 in the first
descent of the needle bar far enough to make a stitch, strikes the spring 38. con-
nected to the lever g' and turns the said lever in the direction to remove its upper
end from between or from contact with the tension device, so as to let the tension
device act upon the needle thread.
Referring to,Figure 12, s¹, s2, s³, », represent a variety of stitches which may be
made on the machine shown by changing the shape of the pattern surfaces and the
relative speed of their rotation.
The action of the feed is as follows:-The feed point is raised and lowered at
every revolution of the shaft B' and whether, when raised, it moves forward or
backward taking the material with it, or remains at a standstill for the needle to
make a stitch laterally at right angles to the line of feed depends upon the
configuration of the pattern surface which conforms to the design of the figure
to be formed by the stitches.
This invention is not limited to the employment of the exact mechanism shown
between the pattern surface f³ and the feed bar by which to control its movement
as it is intended to include the use of any well known equivalent devices capable
of like operation under control of the pattern surface.
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 the following instrumentalitics viz. :-a
needle-bar having an eye-pointed needle; a needle-bar frame; means to reciprocate
the said needle-bar vertically in said frame; complemental mechanism co-operating
with the needle and its thread to form a stitch; a pattern surface; connections
between it and the said needle-bar frame to move the latter intermittingly in a
lateral direction; means to move the said pattern surface; and a feed-bar actuating
mechanism therefor; and a second pattern surface and actuating mechanism
therefor, whereby the movement of the feed-bar may be suspended between some
stitches and be operative between other stitches this enabling a variety of stitches
to be made, substantially as described.
Second. A sewing machine having a pivotted needle-bar frame; a vibrating
segment; connections between the said segment and needle-bar frame; and a
needle-bar actuating shaft, combined with a pattern surface and intermediate
gearing to intermittingly move the said segment and vibrate the needle-bar frame
intermittingly, substantially as described.
Third. A sewing machine provided with a feed-bar; a rock-shaft; and devices
between it and the said feed-bar to reciprocate the same to feed the material;
combined with a pattern surface; a rotating shaft; gearing between it and the
pattern surface; and means actuated by the said pattern surface to rock the said
rock-shaft intermittingly, whereby the longitudinal movement of the feed-bar may
be suspended at intervals, notwithstanding the continued movement of the rotating
shaft.
Fourth. In a sewing machine, the combination with a laterally vibrating needle-
bar having an eye-pointed needle, and a pattern surface controlling the lateral
movements of the needle-bar; of feeding devices, and a pattern surface to effect
the intermitting suspension of the operation of the feed-bar substantially as
described.

page_text: Fifth. A sewing machine provided with a feed-bar; a rock shaft; and devices
between it and the said feed-bar to reciprocate the same to feed the material;
combined with a pattern surface; a rotating shaft gearing between it and the
pattern surface; means actuated by the said pattern surface to rock the said rock-
shaft intermittingly, whereby the longitudinal movement of the feed-bar may be
suspended at intervals, notwithstanding the continued movement of the rotating
shaft, a needle-bar provided with a projection, a tension device, a presser bar
having a collar provided with a projection, and a tension releasing lever actuated
in one direction by the presser bar, and in its opposite direction by the needle bar
substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.