Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I RICHARD BIRD, of Clanna in the County of Gloucester, Gardener, 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 a sewing machine the mechanism of which is actuated by
means of drawing the material to be sewn under the driving shaft.
The advantage of this system of actuating the distributing mechanism of a sewing
machine is considerable as it not only dispenses with the difficult means of manipu-
lation of the hand machine but also the costly method of employing a treadle. Con-
sequently the work can be executed with greater ease and care.
The object therefore of my said invention is to dispense with both handle and
treadle as used in such machines hitherto made.
In order that my invention and the manner of operating the same may be clearly
understood I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation taken upon the line A B Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the entire machine.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 upon the line C, D
Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 1 upon the line E F.
The drawings not being made to any particular scale the sizes of the several parts
are, where necessary described in the following Specification.
My invention consists of a casting or hollow arm A connected by any suitable
means to a base board B. A horizontal driving spindle C, carrying a roller C",
revolves at one end within a suitable bearing D and at the opposite end within a
pivotted lever E¹ connected to the bearing E, D and E working in vertical slots F
and G within A, and regulated by springs H and I. Upon one end of CI provide
a bevel wheel J in gear with a smaller bevel wheel K, which revolves within the
bearing E and is held in position and in connection with E by means of a screw a
passing through the side of E into an annular groove formed in the hollow vertical
spindle of K. A vertical spindle L revolves within a bearing L' formed in the
upper part of A and a hole in the base board B and passes freely through a
vertical hole in E and the hollow shaft of K, and is connected to K by means
of a sliding sleeve, so that while K may slide up and down L they must revolve
together. The number of teeth in K being one sixth of the number in J it follows
that one revolution of J causes six revolutions of K. Upon the upper end of L
is fixed a level wheel M in gear with a smaller bevel wlicel N, upon the end of
The
the shaft of which is a circular disc which carries an adjustable screw c.
spindle of N is borne at one end by A, and at the opposite end by a projection d
attached to A, which is so arranged as to form at d' a guide for the vertical
movement of the needle holder e in conjunction with a vertical hole ƒ formed in A.
The screw e works freely within a slotted projection formed one so that each
revolution of b raises and lowers the needle holder e to the extent of the desired
travel thereof. The number of teeth in M being six times that of N it follows
that N revolves six times to one revolution of M and thirty six times to once of J.
Upon the lower end of L I fix a spur wheel O geared with a smaller wheel P
which revolves upon a stud h. The number of teeth upon O being identical with
that of M and six times that of P it follows that P revolves six times to the once
of 0 or thirty six times to the once of J and that the revolutions of P are identical
with that of N since both are actuated through similar gearing by the wheel J
upon C. The wheel P has an adjustable screw upon its upper face which works
within a slot formed in a projection Q upon the shuttle carrier R. The shuttle

page_text: carrier R is borne at one end by passing through an opening in the base board B
and at the opposite end by a screw passing through a slot in R into B. Each
revolution of P gives an horizontal movement to R sufficient to bring the shuttle S
immediately under the needle m and by the proper adjustment of the gearing this
would occur at such a time as to pass through the loop formed by the cotton in m
when m was about to rise in the usual way. The construction of the shuttle S
forming no part of my invention I may use in my improved sewing machine any of
the types of shuttles in general use suitable for the purpose.
Referring again to the roller C, this is corrugated longitudinally and coated with
india rubber, as may also be any or all of the mechanism forming my said invention
to reduce the noise when working. The space between (1 and B receives the cloth or
other material to be sewn and the space between (and B accommodates itself to
any thickness of material by reason of the springs H and I, and the tension or
pressure of the said springs tend to always keep C¹ pressing upon said material, so
that when the material is drawn towards the operator, C₁ is caused to revolve thereby,
and consequently the wheel J, which, actuating K and M and their accessories, gives
movement to the needle m, and the shuttle S at an equal rate of speed, so that one
revolution of C will give thirty six identical movements to mand S, and so make
thirty six stitches in the material to be sewn.
The tension of the springs H and I are regulated by adjustable screws T and U and
the cotton reel V for the needle m placed in any suitable position and conveyed over
tension bearings in the usual way.
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 For improvements in sewing machines the construction and use of the entire
apparatus as herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second-In an improved sewing machine the method and means of actuating the
mechanism herein described by the feed of the material to be sewn substantially as
herein set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of November 1900.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.