IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SEWING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Thomas William
Morrison and Elias Ackerson Wilkinson, both of the City of Newark, State of
New Jersey, United States of America.
Sealed the 5th August 1879, and dated the 4th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Thomas William Morrison and Elias Ackerson Wilkinson, both of the
City of Newark, State of New Jersey, United States of America.
This Invention relates chiefly to a sewing machine adapted to sew both a straight
and a zig zag seam, changing from the one to the other at will. Some portions of
the improvements, viet, those relating to the shuttle actuating mechanism, the
reversible feed, and to the stitch regulating devices, are however applicable not
only to zig zag sewing machines, but also to those intended to sew only a straight
seam.
The object of the Invention is to produce a machine adapted for family as well as
general use which shall be simple, positive in action, and capable of being adjusted
whether at rest or while in motion, to change instantly from a straight seam to a
zig zag seam, or vice versa, and also to vary or graduate the size of the zig zag seam
gradually or rapidly, as may be required.
In carrying out this Invention as applied to a lock stitch sewing machine, the
machine is provided with a vertically reciprocating needle bar and a horizontally
reciprocating shuttle moving at right angles with the line of feed, and, except as
hereinafter described, is of usual construction.
The needle bar has its bearings in a head which is movable laterally, that is to
say, transversely to the line of feed. It is provided at the top and bottom with
horizontal flanges, which are seated in the front part of the goose neck or machine
frame, and are adapted to slide back and forth in guides or ways therein. It is an
object of this Invention to impart to this head positive movement laterally in both

page_text: directions, and at the same time to provide means by which the said reciprocating
movement may be either varied or entirely suppressed, at pleasure.
On the driving shaft is provided a cross groove cam, the grooves of which approach
and cross one another at one point in the periphery of the cam. The cam is engaged
by a stud swivelled in the vibratory lever pivotted to the machine frame. When
the cam revolves it imparts through the grooves and the stud a vibratory movement
to the lever. A carrier or shifter arm is connected at its front end to the needle
head, and supported in one or more suitable bearings so as to be capable of horizontal
reciprocation, as, for example, the bearing may be in a bracket fixed to the machine
frame. The arm is connected to the lever through the medium of a pin or stud
which is carried by the arm and projects into a vertical groove in the lever. Under
this arrangement the vibratory lever will, through the instrumentality of the arm,
communicate a movement of positive reciprocation to the needle head, the movement
being so timed with relation to the movement of the stitch forming mechanism that
when the machine is in operation a zig zag seam will be formed. In order to vary
the seam the connecting pin is attached to a slide bar vertically movable in a socket
in the arm,
The pin can thus be moved nearer to or further from the fulcrum,
thereby correspondingly decreasing or increasing the throw of the arin. The slide
may be moved by any suitable means, as, for example, by a lever pivotted to the
arm, and having a slotted end which engages with the pin. By this means the
throw of the needle head may be varied gradually or rapidly as required, or its
lateral movement may be entirely arrested by sliding the pin down in the groove
to a sufficient distance to bring it in a line with or on the prolongation of the axis
or fulcrum.
The cam and lever arrangement above described may be attached to the rear part
of the machine or be located in any other suitable or convenient part of the machine,
as, for example, it may be placed at the front, within the compass of the head or
front end of the goose neck or frame of the machine.
The arrangement of devices may be rendered more compact in the following
manner:-
The vertically reciprocating needle bar is employed as before, and the needle head
is laterally movable in suitable guides or ways in the goose neck. The needle bar
receives its vertical movement through the instrumentality of the usual slotted
yoke, which is engaged by the crank pin of the driving shaft in the usual manner.
The crank pin may be carried by the cam which is fixed to the driving shaft. The
cam is double grooved, the two grooves passing into one at a suitable point, where
they form a single broader groove, with sides converging towards the point where
a switch is situate. This switch is a fin or rib which projects from a cylindrical
hub seated and adapted to rotate or oscillate on its axis in the peripheral portion of
the cam, being there held by a key which enters a cross slot in the hub in such a
manner as to permit the hub to rotate the requisite distance in either direction.
The can is engaged by a roller stud fast to a sliding sleeve on a cylindrical rod.
Assuming the parts to occupy the position with the point of switch deflected to the
right, the movement of the cam will bring the stud into the part where it will travel
along the right hand inclined side of the said groove, and thence will be deflected
by the switch into the left hand groove; but in passing into that groove it will act
upon the enlarged rear end of the switch, which will thus be tilted or swung over,
in which position it will act when it again comes round to deflect the stud from the
left hand groove back into the right hand groove. Thus the switch is set each
time by the object which deflects and guides. The roller stud and its carrying
sleeve have thus a movement of positive reciprocation which may be transmitted
to the needle head in any suitable manner. The following is a convenient
arrangement for this purpose, it being one which permits the mechanism to be
brought into small compass, and to be contained in the head or front end of the
goose neck. The rod screws at one end into a socket in the needle head, and at its
other end engages, by means of one or more longitudinal splines, a correspondingly
grooved regulating sleeve, which is supported so as to be capable of rotary, but not

page_text: of longitudinal, movement in the gooseneck. Its outer end projects from the goose-
neck, and has a milled head by which it may be turned. The rod hereinbefore
referred to extends through the regulator, and can move back and forth therein.
By turning the regulator the rod will be rotated, and so will be screwed into or out
from the socket more or less, according to the direction and extent of movement of
the regulator, thus varying the distance between a collar on the rod and the part of
the needle head into which the front end of the rod screws. This distance deter-
mines the length of lateral reciprocation of the needle head. The slido sleeve plays
back and forth on the rod coming in contact with the shoulders alternately. When
these shoulders are brought nearer together the lateral movement of the head
increases, when they are separated the movement diminishes. Sound deadening
washers of leather, rubber, or the like may be interposed between the slide and the
shoulders.
In order to arrest instantaneously the lateral movement of the needle head the
stud can be arranged to be thrown into and out of engagement with the cam. This
result is attained by the employment of what may be termed a throw off, consisting,
for example, of a lever or handle fast to the sleeve, and projecting through the goose
neck so that its exposed end may serve as a handle. It projects through a horizontal
slot in the side of the goose neck, which slot at one end communicates with a vertical
slot. The handle moves with the sleeve, and consequently traverses the horizontal
slot following the reciprocation of the sleeve. If it be desired to disengage the stud
from the cam, the handle, when it comes opposite the vertical slot, can be lifted,
which will have the effect of rotating the sleeve to a sufficient extent to tilt back
the roller stud out of engagement with the cam, when all lateral motion will cease.
A pivotted notched plate may be employed to prevent the handle from accidental
catching in or entering the vertical groove while the machine is sewing a zig zag
seam, or to engage and uphold the handle when it is raised into the vertical
groove.
Although but one form of the cam arrangement has been described yet the
principle involved therein can be applied in various ways. The characteristic being
that the switch is set each time by the object which it guides or deflects whether
the can be movable or stationary, and whether it be a flat plate or cylindrical.
Another part of the Invention has reference to improvements relating to the
shuttle actuating mechanism, the feed, and the stitch regulator, which, while
designed with reference to the requirements of a zig zag sewing machine, are
nevertheless applicable to other kinds of sewing machines.
One object of this part of the Invention is to obtain a simple yet effective shuttle
actuating mechanism without the use of jointed connecting rods, countershafts, or
gearing such as heretofore used. To this end there is combined with the driving
shaft a bell crank or elbow lever provided at its upper end with a laterally
projecting fork or arms which straddle a crank on the driving shaft, and connected
at its lower end to the shuttle rod or carrier. The pivot of the lever is preferably
alongside of and in the plane or thereabouts of the axis of the driving shaft, and
that portion of the crank straddled by the fork is made bulging or convex longi-
tudinally so as to provide for the play requisite to permit the fork or arms to move
over it freely and without bending. The fork is of a length at least equal to the
throw of the crank. The rod is attached to or forms part of the shuttle carrier
which is supported to slide in or on a suitable bearing or on the floor of the base of
the sewing machine frame.
One of the bearings of the driving shaft, say, for example, the rear bearing,
opens into a lateral slot in the frame which has a width less than the diameter of
the bearing. This slot extends to the outside of the frame. A sufficient portion of
the shaft is made of reduced size so that it may pass through the slot. The shaft
can be easily inserted by introducing the reduced part into the slot leading to the
bearing. The shaft, as soon as it fairly enters the bearing, can be pushed forward
to its proper position. This arrangement admits of the crank and shaft being cast
in one piece together with such other appurtenances, for example, the double

page_text: grooved cam herein before referred to, as it may be found desirable to form solidly
with the shaft and then to fit the whole into the frame. Both the front and rear
shaft bearings may be constructed in this manner.
The shuttle carrier is used to give the up and forward movements to the feed
bar, and the parts are arranged in such manner that the carrier will thus act in
whichever direction the feed takes place.
The feed bar is provided on its underside with two flaring lugs, between which
passes a friction roller fixed to the reciprocating shuttle carrier at the summit of a
bevel formed on the said carrier. On the return motion of the shuttle carrier the
bevel passes under the lugs and lifts the feed bar, after which a roller stud acts
upon the inclined face of that one of the lugs which may, by the spring hereinafter
described, be pushed across its path, thus giving to the feed bar a positive forward
movement. The carrier is widened at one point, the widened part forming a bridge
which upholds the feed bar against the work until the latter has been pierced by
the descending needle. The narrower part of the carrier that follows permits the
feed bar to drop, after which the said bar is returned to its first position by a
spring.
When the carrier moves in the direction to pass the shuttle through the loop of
needle thread the bridge part of the carrier is permitted to pass the feed bar without
actuating it by reason of longitudinal grooves formed in the inner faces of the lugs,
the said grooves being of a size to allow the free passage of the bridge part of the
carrier.
The lugs are counterparts of one another. If one of them be brought in the
path of the stud the feed will be in one direction, if the other be brought in the
path of the stud the feed will be in the reverse direction.
The device by means of which the feed bar can be moved to thus bring one or
the other of the lugs into position is a spring which is used also to give the back
and down movements to the feed bar. The spring is attached at one end to the
machine frame, at its opposite end it is attached to the feed bar in such a manner
as to tend always to depress the bar, and at a point intermediate it engages an
annular groove in a thumb screw which can be screwed into or out from the
machine frame, and is the adjuster of the spring. By moving the adjuster out the
spring will be caused to move outwardly at its centre, and consequently its tendency
in that position will be to draw the feed bar in a corresponding direction. When
on the contrary the adjuster is screwed into the other side of the position normally
occupied by the spring it will draw the centre of the spring over into this position
and consequently will cause the spring to exert its energy or stress in a reverse
direction. Thus by a slight movement of the adjuster the feed may be reversed
without reference to the direction in which the machine is running, for the moment
the stress of the spring is reversed that one of the two lugs which before was out
of action is now brought into the path of the carrier.
Various means may be employed to reverse the spring, and the form and arrange-
ment of the spring itself may be varied considerably. A coiled spring, for example,
may be employed, the upper end of the coil extending through a horizontal slot in
the side of the machine frame, and the coil itself extending downwards, whilst its
opposite end is suitably connected with the feed bar. Two notches are provided,
with which the end of the spring engages. When the end of the spring is in one
notch the stress of the spring will be in one direction, whilst the direction of the
stress of the spring will be reversed, when the end is changed to the other
notch.
With a reversible feed of this character it is desirable to have a stitch regulator,
which when once set will give the same length of stitch in either direction.
One form of regulator having this characteristic is constructed in the following
manner: It consists of a jawed or V plate, between whose slanting or inclined
jaws enters a finger or projection attached to the feed bar. The two jaws are
counterparts of one another, and only one is in action at a time. The one that is
n action serves to limit the extent of back motion of the feed, this being deter-

page_text: mined by the extent to which the finger enters the jaws; the farther it enters the
shorter will be the stitch. When the feed is in one direction one of the jaws limits
the back movement of the feed bar, the moment the feed is reversed the other
jaw serves the same purpose, and acts to give the same length of stitch.
The regulator may be moved or adjusted in various ways, as, for example, it may
be held by a set or thumb screw, which passes through a slot in the plate. By
means of the thumb screw the regulator plate can be adjusted to and from the feed
bar, and held in any desired position of adjustment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
December 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN SEWING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Thomas William Morrison and Elias Ackerson Wilkinson, both of the
City of Newark, State of New Jersey, United States of America.
The said Invention relates chiefly to a sewing machine adapted to sew both a
straight and a zig-zag seam, changing from the one to the other at will. Some
portions of the Invention, videlicet, those relating to the shuttle actuating
mechanism, the reversible feed, and to the stitch regulating devices, as hereinafter
described, are however applicable not only to zig-zag sewing machines, but also to
those intended to sew only a straight seam.
The object of the Invention is to produce a machine adapted for family as well
as general use, which shall be simple, positive in action, and capable of being
adjusted, whether at rest or while in motion, to change instantly from a straight
seam to a zig-zag seam, or vice versa, and also to vary or graduate the size of the
zig-zag scam gradually or rapidly, as may be required.
One mode of accomplishing this result is indicated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 being a sectional elevation of a lock stitch
sewing machine having some of the improvements which form the subject of the
said Invention applied thereto, Figure 2 being a plan of the rear part of the machine
with the frame or standard partly removed; Figure 3, a section taken along the
line 1-2, Figure 1, of the needle head actuating mechanism; and Figure 4, a view
of the vibratory lever hereinafter referred to.
A is the ordinary vertically reciprocating needle-bar, and B is the horizontally
reciprocating shuttle moving at right angles with the line of feed. The machine,
except as hereinafter explained, is of usual construction, and requires no detail
description.
The needle bar A has its bearings in a head C, which is moveable laterally, that
is to say, transversely to the line of feed. It is provided at the top and bottom

page_text: with horizontal flanges, which are scated in the front part of the goose neck or
machine frame, and are adapted to slide to and fro in guides or ways therein. It
is an object of this Invention to impart to this head positive movement laterally in
both directions, and at the same time to provide means by which the said recipro-
catory movement may be either varied or entirely suppressed at pleasure.
D is a cross groove cam on the driving shaft E; the grooves a, a, approach and
cross one another at one point in the periphery of the cam, as shewn. The cam is
engaged by a stud b swivelled in the vibratory lever E', pivotted at e¹ to the
machine frame. When the cam revolves it imparts through the grooves a and the
stud b a vibratory movement to the lever. F is a carrier or shifter arm, connected
at its front end to the needle head C, and supported in one or more suitable
bearings so as to be capable of horizontal reciprocation. In the example illustrated
the bearing is in the bracket G, which is fixed to the machine frame. The arm F
is connected to the lever E through the medium of a pin or stud d, which is
carried by the arm F and projects into a vertical groove e in the lever. Under this
arrangement the vibratory lever will through the instrumentality of the arm F
communicate a movement of positive reciprocation to the needle-head C, the move-
ment being so timed with relation to the movement of the stitch forming mechanism
that when the machine is in operation a zig-zag seam will be formed. In order to
admit of the seam being varied as required the connecting pin d is attached to a
slide bar f, vertically moveable in a socket in the arm F. The pin can thus be
moved nearer to or further from the fulcrum e', thereby correspondingly decreasing
or increasing the throw of the arm F. The slide ƒ may be moved by any suitable
means, as, for example, by a lever G¹, pivotted at g to the arm F, and having a
slotted end which engages with the pin d. By this means the throw of the needle
head C may be varied gradually or rapidly as required, or its lateral movement may
be entirely arrested by sliding the pin d down in the groove e to a sufficient distance
to bring it in a line with or on the prolongation of the axis or fulcrum e¹.
The cam and lever arrangement above described is shown attached to the rear
part of the machine. It may however be located in any other suitable or con-
venient part of the machine, as, for example, it may be placed at the front within
the compass of the head or front end of the goose-neck or frame of the machine.
In Figures 5 to 11 inclusive is shewn an arrangement of devices which is more
compact than, and in some respects to be preferred to, that herein before described
with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 5 is a front view of so much of the head
or overhanging front end of the goose-neck of the machine as is necessary to
illustrate this modification; Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical central section of the
same; Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, represent detached parts which will be herein-
after referred to.
a is the vertically reciprocating needle bar, and F the needle head (shown detached
in Figure 8), laterally moveable in suitable guides or ways in the gooseneck b. The
needle bar receives its vertical movement through the instrumentality of the usual
slotted yoke, which is engaged by the crank pin N of the driving shaft N¹ in the
usual manner. The crank pin in this instance is carried by the cam S (shown
detached in Figure 7), which is fixed to the driving shaft N'. The cam is double
grooved, the two grooves R, R, passing into one at R', where they form a single
broader groove with sides converging towards the point where the switch c is
situate. This switch is a fin or rib which projects from a cylindrical hub, seated
and adapted to rotate or oscillate on its axis in the peripheral portion of the cam,
being there held by a key P which enters a cross slot in the hub in such a manner
as to permit the hub to rotate the requisite distance in either direction. The cam
is engaged by a roller stud d fast to a sliding sleeve C on the cylindrical rod B,
which latter is shewn detached in Figure 9. Assuming the parts to occupy the
position shown in Figure 6, and the cam to be revolution in the direction of the
arrow with the point of the switch c deflected to the right, the movement of
the cam will bring the stud d into the part R', where it will travel along the right

page_text: A
hand inclined side of the said groove, and thence will be deflected by the switch
into the left hand groove, but in passing into that groove it will act upon the
enlarged rear end of the switch, which will thus be tilted or swung over to occupy
the position indicated by dotted lines, in which position it will act when it again
comes round to deflect the stud from the left hand groove back into the right hand
groove. Thus the switch is set each time by the object which it deflects and guides.
The roller stud and its carrying sleeve have thus a movement of positive reciproca-
tion, which may be transmitted to the needle head in any suitable manner.
convenient arrangement for this purpose is shown in the Drawing, it being one
which permits the mechanism to be brought into a small compass, and to be con-
tained in the head or front end of the goose neck. The rod B screws at one end
into a socket e in the needle head F, and at its other end engages by means of one
or more longitudinal splines 1, 1, a correspondingly grooved regulating sleeve A
(shown detached in longitudinal and in transverse section in Figure 10), which is
supported so as to be capable of rotary but not of longitudinal movement in the
goose-neck b. Its outer end projects from the goose next, and has a milled head by
which it may be turned. The rod B extends through the regulator A, and is capable
of moving to and fro therein. By turning the regulator the rod B will be rotated,
and so will be screwed into or out from the socket e, more or less according to the
direction and extent of movement of the regulator, thus varying the distance between
the collar T on the rod B and the part e of the needle head into which the front
end of the rod screws. This distance determines the length of lateral reciprocation
of the needle head. The slide sleeve C plays to and fro on the rod, coming in
contact with the shoulders e, T, alternately; when these shoulders are brought nearer
together the lateral movement of the head increases, when they are separated the
movement diminishes. Sound deadening washers of leather, rubber, or the like
may be interposed between the slide and the shoulders e, T.
In order to arrest instantaneously the lateral movement of the needle head, the
stud & may be arranged to be thrown into and out of engagement with the cam.
This result is attained by the employment of what may be designated a throw off,
consisting in the present example of a lever or handle G fast to the sleeve C, and
projecting through the goose neck, so that its exposed end may serve as a handle.
It projects through a horizontal slot. H in the side of the gooseneck (see Figure 11),
which slot at one end communicates with a vertical slot H'. The handle Ġ moves
with the sleeve, and consequently traverses the horizontal alot, following the reci-
procation of the sleeve, so that when it comes opposite the vertical slot H¹ it can be
lifted. It it be desired to disengage the stud from the cam, the handle G is lifted
when it comes opposite the vertical slot H¹, and this action has the effect of
rotating the sleeve to a sufficient extent to tilt back the roller stud out of engage-
ment with the cam, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5, when all lateral motion
will cease.
A pivotted notched plate V (Figure 11) may be employed in order to prevent the
linndle from accidentally catching in or entering the vertical groove H while the
machine is sewing a zig zag seam, or to engage and uphold the handle when it is
raised into the vertical groove.
Although but one form of the cam arrangement has been here shown, it should
be observed that the principle involved therein may be applied in various ways, the
characteristic being that the switch is set each time by the object which it guides or
deflects, whether the cam be moveable or stationary, and whether it be a flat plate
or cylindrical.
In Figures 12 to 17 inclusive are represented certain improvements relating to
the shuttle actuating mechanism, the feed, and the stitch regulator, which while
designed with reference to the requirements of a zig zag sewing machine, are never-
theless applicable to other kinds of sewing machines.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of so much of a sewing machine as is required to
illustrate the said improvements; Figure 13 is a plan of the base with the top plate

page_text: V removed; Figure 14 is a plan of the underside of the feed bar detached; Figure
15 is a tranverse vertical section through the upper part of the rear portion of the
standard or gooseneck of the machine with the driving shaft removed.
Figure 16 is a plan of a modified form of feed mechanism.
Figure 17 is a section taken along the line 3-4, Figure 16.
In Figures 12 and 13 the feed operating mechanism is outside, and in Figures 16
and 17 it is arranged wholly within the base of the machine. In Figures 12 to 17
inclusive the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
One object of this part of the said Invention is to obtain a simple yet effective
shuttle actuating mechanism without the use of jointed connecting rods, counter-
shafts, or gearing, such as heretofore used. To this end there is combined with the
driving shaft D a bell crank or elbow lever B, which is provided at its upper end
with a laterally projecting fork or arms B1, B¹, straddling a crank A on the driving
shaft, and is connected at its lower end to the shuutle rod or carrier E. The pivot
C of the lever is preferably alongside of and in the plane or thereabouts of the axis
of the driving shaft, and that portion of the crank straddled by the fork is made
bulging or convex longitudinally, so as to provide for the play requisite to permit
the fork or arms to move over it freely and without binding. The fork B', B', is of
a length at least equal to the throw of the crank, as shown in Figure 15. The
rod E is attached to or forms part of the shuttle carrier U, which is supported to
slide in or on a suitable bearing or on the floor G of the base of the sewing machine
frame.
One of the bearings of the driving shaft, in this instance the rear bearing, opens
into a lateral slot a in the frame, which has a width less than the diameter of the
bearing. This slot extends to the outside of the frame. A sufficient portion b of
the shaft is made of reduced size, so that it may pass through the slot a. The shaft
can be readily inserted by introducing the reduced part b into the slot a, leading to
the bearing, and then, as soon as it fairly enters the bearing, pushing the shaft for-
ward to its proper position. This arrangement admits of the crank and shaft being
cast in one piece, together with such other appurtenances (for example, the double
grooved cam herein before referred to) as it may be found desirable to form solidly
with the shaft, and then to fit the whole into the frame. Both the front and rear
shaft bearings may be constructed in this manner.
The shuttle carrier is used to give the up and forward movements to the feed bar
H, and the parts are arranged in such a manner that the carrier will thus act in
whichever direction the feed takes place.
The feed bar H is provided on its underside with two flaring lugs J, between
which passes the friction roller K fixed to the reciprocating shuttle carrier U at the
summit of the bevel P, formed on the said carrier; on the return motion of the
shuttle carrier the bevel P passes under the lugs J and lifts the feed bar, after
which the roller stud K acts upon the inclined face of that one of the lugs J, which
may, by the spring hereinafter described, be pushed across its path, thus giving to
the feed bar a positive forward movement. The carrier is widened at the point K¹,
the widened part forming a bridge, which upholds the feed bar against the work
until the latter has been pierced by the descending needle. The narrower part of
the carrier which follows permits the feed bar to drop, after which the said bar is
returned to its first position by a spring.
When the carrier moves in the direction to pass the shuttle through the loop of
needle thread, the bridge K¹ is permitted to pass the feed bar without actuating it
by reason of longitudinal grooves formed in the inner faces of the lugs J, the said
grooves being of a size to allow the free passage of the bridge part K' of the
carrier.
The lugs J are counterparts of one another. If one of them be brought in the
path of the stud K the feed will be in one direction; if the other be brought in
the path of the stud the feed will be in the reverse direction.
The device, by means of which the feed bar can be moved to thus bring one or

page_text: the other of the lugs into position, is the spring L, which is used also to give the
back and down movements to the feed bar. The spring is attached at one end c
to the machine frame; at its opposite end it is attached to the feed bar in such a
manner as to tend always to depress the bar, and at a point intermediate it engages
an annular groove d in a thumb screw R, which can be screwed into or out from
the machine frame, and is the adjuster of the spring. By moving the adjustor out
the spring will be caused to move outwardly at its centre, and consequently its
tendency in that position will be to draw the feed bar in a corresponding direction.
When on the contrary the adjuster is screwed into the other side of the position
normally occupied by the spring it will draw the centre of the spring over into
this position, and consequently will cause the spring to exert its energy or stress
in a reverse direction.
Thus by a slight movement of the adjuster the feed may be reversed without
reference to the direction in which the machine is running. For the moment the
stress of the spring is reversed that one of the two lugs J, which before was out of
action, is now brought into the path of the carrier.
Various means may be employed to reverse the spring, and the form and arrange-
ment of the spring itself may be varied considerably.
A coiled spring, for example, may be employed as shewn in Figures 16 and 17.
In the arrangement here shown the upper end L' of the coil extends through a
horizontal slot in the side of the machine frame, and the coil itself extends down-
wards, whilst its opposite end is suitably connected with the feed bar. At one end
of the slot is the notch O, and at the other end the notch O'. When the end L'
of the spring is in the notch O' the stress of the spring will be in the direction
indicated by the lower dotted line c, Figure 16. The upper dotted line f indicatos
the direction of the stress of the spring when the end L is changed from 01 to 0.
With a reversible feed of this character it is desirable to have a stitch regulator,
which when once set will give the same length of stitch in either direction.
One form of regulator having this characteristic is shewn in Figures 12 and 13.
It consists of a jawed or V plate M, between whose slanting or inclined jaws h, h',
enters a finger or projection S attached to the feed bar H. The two jaws are
counterparts of one another, and only one is in action at a time. The one that is
in action serves to limit the extent of back motion of the feed, this being deter-
mined by the extent to which the finger S enters the jaws. The farther it enters
the shorter will be the stitch.
When the feed is in one direction one of the jaws, for example the jaw h, limits
the back movement of the feed bar; the moment the feed is reversed, the other
jaw h' serves the same purpose, and acts to give the same length of stitch.
The regulator may be moved or adjusted in various ways. In the present
example it is held by a set or thumbscrew N, which passes through a slot in the
plate V. By means of the thumbscrew the regulator plate can be moved to and
from the feed bar and held in any desired adjusted position.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The improvements in sewing machines for sewing straight and zig-zag
seams, substantially as herein before described.
Second. The combination of the feed bar and reversing spring adapted to reverse
the direction of the feed at will without reference to the direction in which the
machine is running, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The combination of the reversible feed with the stitch regulator, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
Fourth. The combination of the bell crank or elbow lever and its fork or laterally

page_text: projecting arms with the driving shaft and crank and the shuttle carrier or rods,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, the First day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (LS.)