US1998587A - Universal work holder for button sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

M. M CANN 1,998,587

UNIVERSAL WORK HOLDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES April 23, 1935.

Filed NOV. 1, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ozI///////////////////// I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIII 'OUDUBUAUDVDK'OVIIUAUBVAUDU:

April 23, 1935. M. McCANN 1,998,537

, UNIVERSAL WORK HOLDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 23, 1935. M McCANN 1 1,998,587

UNIVERSAL WORK HOLDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' jaw/ 22 02 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNIVERSAL WORK HOLDER FOR BUTTON SEWING MACHINES Michael McCann, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabethport, N.

tion of New Jersey J a corpora- Application November 1, 1990, Serial No. 492,718 10 Claims. (01.112-111) In sewing buttons to work it may be desired that the stitches pass entirely through the cloth or that the stitch be blind so that the threads do not show on the back-face of the work. It may also be desired to sew the buttonv close to the face of the work either when the stitch is through and through or blind", or it may be desired that the stitch be loose to form a neck of threads between the button and the work. Where through and through stitching is desired, whether close or loose, it may be desired to reinforce the work with a stay button secured by the button securing stitches on the back face of the work.

Heretofore a separate button clamp and cloth ,plate for supporting the button and the work in proper relation to each other and sometimes other special parts have been commonly required for each of these various methods of attaching the button. This has required that a considerable number of work holding mechanisms be kept in stock when a large range of work has been handled by a single machine and the selection of its'proper mechanism and its substitution for another in the machine is troublesome and time consuming.

An object of the present invention is to provide a single work holder having parts which may be used selectively to hold a button and work in proper relation to secure the button to the work in any of the various ways hereinbefore mentioned.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a button sewing machine, parts being broken away, the machine being equipped with a work holder embodying this invention and the work holder being adapted for through and through close sewing and with a stay button.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 22 of Figure 1, portions of a guard plate being broken away.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail sections, each showing a button sewed close through and through, Figure 4 showing a stay button on the back of the work.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the machine, the work holder being in side elevation and adjusted for through and through loose sewing with a stay button.

Figure 6 is a perspective of a spacer for the button and work used in the adjustment of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the work holder of Figure 5 in front elevation.

Figures 8 and 9 are detail sections showing a button sewed loose and through and through. Figure 9 showing the use of a stay button.

Figures 10 and 11 are top plans of the cloth support of the holder adjusted for through and through stitching employing a stay button, and blind stitching, respectively.

Figure 121s a view similar to Figures 10 and 11, but showing the cloth support adjusted for through and through stitching without a stay button, either close or loose and partly overlying the throat. 1

Figure 13 is a perspective of a spacer for the button and work for loose blind stitching.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary front view showing the work holder in front elevation as adjusted for loose blind stitching. v

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 but showing the parts adjusted for close blind stitching.

Figures 16 and 17 are cross sections through the work showing a button stitched blind, close and loose, respectively.

is shown a button sewing machine of a well known type having a needle bar I pivoted at 2 in the machine head 3 for lateral vibration as well as axial movement during the stitching operation so as to place stitches alternately through the two holes of a pair in the button. As shown the lateral motion of the needle bar is produced by means of a lever 5 fulcrumed as at 6 to the sewing arm 4 of the machine, this lever being actuated by suitable mechanism within the machine. Axial reciprocations of the needle bar are shown as effected by a rock shaft I provided with a crank arm 8 at one end, which is connected through a link 9 to a collar III fixed to the needle bar below the sleeve I I through which the needle bar slides and which is provided with the pivot 2. At I5 is shown a looper of conventional type for taking the loops of thread presented alternately through two holes of a pair in the button by a needle IE to form chain stitches.

Where a four hole button is to be stitched provision is made in machines of this type for moving the button and usually also the work transversely to the line of lateral vibration of the needle to cause the needle to stitch first through one pair of holes and then through the other 2 in which a cam shown at 20 acts a cam Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 pair. A mechanism for imparting such motions to the work holder means is illustrated in Figure follower 2| on a rock arm 22. This rock arm is fixed to a shaft 23 at the upper end of which is a longitudinally grooved lever 24 which is oscillated by the action of the cam on the cam follower 2| which is held against the cam as by a spring (not shown). Adjustable along this groove is a pin 25 supported in a transverse slot of a carriage 26 (see Figure 1) mounted to slide between ways 27 (see Figures 1 and 2) on the work table 28 of the machine. To the forward end of this carriage 26 is attached a cloth support indicated generally at 29 on which the cloth lies and to the rear end of this carriage is pivoted an arm 30 to the forward end of which is fixed a button clamp indicated generally at 3|. The button clamp and cloth support together constitute the work holder of the machine. The

, cloth support is movable on the upper face of the usual throat plate 32 secured to the bed of the machine as by screws l3.

The present invention relates more particularly to the construction of this work holder by which buttons of various sizes may be held in proper relation to the cloth for effecting any de-' sired of the various types of stitches hereinbefore enumerated. The cloth support 29, according to this invention, is provided with a lower or cloth plate member 35 which is secured to the forward extremity of the carriage 26 as by means of screws 36 (see Figures 10, 11 and 12). The forward end of the plate member 35 is provided with a throat 31 through which the needle may pass in its sewing and retracting strokes, and adjacent thereto its upper face may be roughened as shown at 38 to prevent slippage of the cloth which may be placed thereon as will later appear.

A plate member 40 is shown as pivoted at 4| to the cloth plate .35 on its upper face so as to be movable with relation thereto. At one end this plate 40 is shown as provided with an opening 43 which may be brought into coaxial relation with the throat 31 of the cloth plate, as shown in Figure 10, to form therewith a seat to receive a stay button such as 45 (see Figures 4 and 9). The plate member 40 may be held automatically latched in this angular position by means of a pin 48 extending upwardly from the throat plate 32 through an elongated hole 33 in the cloth plate 35 and engaging in a slot 50 in the plate member 40. The cloth plate is sufficiently flexible to permit its end being sprung upward sufiiciently to bring the under surface of the plate 40 clear of the upper end of the pin 48 whereupon the plate member 40 may be turned.

The plate member 40 may also be latched auto-- matically in the angular position shown in Figure 12, then extending at substantially right angles to the direction of the cloth plate 35. It is yieldingly latched in this position by means of the pin 48 engaged in a notch 5| The end of the plate member 40 opposite to the opening 43 is formed of reduced width as shown at 52 and may have adjustably secured thereto an edge gage member 53. This edge gage member is shown as secured to the plate 40 at I opposite ends as by screws 54 and 55, one of these as 55, being passed through a slot 56 in the gage member to permit adjustment of this member about the screw 54. In one edge this member 53 is provided with a notch 60, which as shown in Figure 11, may be brought .into registry with one side of the throat 31 of the cloth plate, the plate 43 being automatically opening 43. The cloth is then positioned on the plate 40 above the stay button and the button having been placed in the button clamp thereabove in the usual manner, the stitching is effected. The stay button is then secured to the lower face of the work by the stitches which secure the button thereto. As will later appear this may be done as shown by Figure 4 at 10 with the button close to the upper face of the work, or the button 10 may be loosely stitched on the upper face of the work as shown in Figure 9 to form a neck of thread H which may be wound about to form a shank, spacing the button from the face of the work as is often desired where the button must be passed through a button hole in relatively thick cloth such as overcoating fabric or the like. Whether or not close or loose stitching is to be effected may be determined by button clamp mechanism which will later be described.

Where no stay button is required but the stitching is to be passed entirely through the cloth, the plate 40 is turned into the position shown in Figure 12 and automatically latched therein and the cloth is placed directly on the roughened face 38 of the cloth plate 35.

When it is desired that the button be secured by blind stitching, that is, where the stitching does not show on theback face of the work, the plate 40 is turned to the latched position shown in Figure 11 and the work in folded condition as shown in Figures 14 or 15, is presented with its folded edge against the notched edge of the member 53 and partly overlying the throat. When the button is then stitched to the work, the stitches pass through the folded edge and with the parts properly adjusted does not pass through the work so as to show on the rear face thereof. The adjustment of the gage member 53 about the screw 54 determines the distance to which the folded edge of-work to be blind stitched may be inserted relative to the needle path of descent nearer thereto and thus determines the distance in from the folded edge of the work that the stitching thread is passed therethrough. The greater this distance, the more of the work is engaged by the stitch, but as this distance for blind stitching must be less than the work thickness in order that the stitching may not show on the back face of the work, this adjustment provides for work of different thicknesses, the thicker the work the further out from the needle it being possible to position the gaging edge. Gages having different thicknesses of work-engaging portions may be provided for special work, and for this reason, as well as to secure simple and effective adjustment for the varying thicknesses of cloth, the gage is detachably secured to the plate 40. With blind stitching alsothe button may be sewed tight against the face of the work as shown in Figure 16, or loose as shown in Figure 17, to form a neck of threads II which may be wound to form a shank as previously described.

The button clamp shown generally at 3| may itself be of any desired type. As shown it is provided with a pair of jaws which may be spaced apart to receive and clamp a button therebetween and a rear jaw 8| cooperating with the jaws 80 and, as usual with such clamps, the three clamp.

jaws may be retracted from each other as by pres sure exerted rearwardly on members 82 extending outwardly on either side as shown in Figure 2, or by pressure exerted on a lever 83 pivoted at 84 to the upper face of the button clamp and having a portion 85 engaging the upper end of a screw 86 which is threaded into the rear jaw 8|. Button'clamps of this general type are well known in the art and further description thereof in the present application is believed to be unnecessary. This clamp may be raised from the work when it is desired to insert or remove work, as through rocking of a rock shaft 90 of the machine having a crank arm 9| connected as by means of a chain 92 with the member 30 at 94. This clamp is normally held down against the work as by means of a plunger 95 spring pressed downwardly as by a spring 96 carried within a tubular guide por tion 91 of the machine, the tension of this spring being adjustable by means of a screw 98. When close stitching, either blind or through and through is desired, this clamp may be of the usual type herein illustrated without any modification whatever. When it is desired to stitch the button loose, means for spacing the button from the upper face of the cloth during the stitching operation is employed.

In Figure 6 a button spacing means particularly suitable for stitching through and through is illustrated. This means comprises a forked member I provided with a rearwardly extending portion IUI at its upper end slotted as at I02. This portion is adapted to be secured to the upper face of the button clamp as by means of a thumb screw I03 threaded in a suitable portion of the wardly and then downwardly in position to underlie the side clamping jaws 80 and its lower ends are turned downwardly to form spaced feet I05 which underlie the button and hold the button clamp positioned above the work to the desired distance to form the neck of threads H. These feet portions I05 are spaced a fixed distance apart to form a proper support for the button closely adjacent to the threads ll so that the cloth may not be permitted to be pulled upwardly toward the button when the stitching is effected as might be the case if the feet portions I05 were movable with the clamping jaws and widely spaced when these clamping jaws are widely spaced to receive a button of relatively large diameter. This member I00 may be used for all loose through and through stitching, whether or not a stay button is used as is shown in Figures 8 and 9. When it is desired to blind stitch a button loosely, a spacing member having but a single foot, as illustrated in Figure 13, is preferably substituted for the member shown in Figure 6. This member is provided with a rearward slotted extension H0 similar to the extension llli of the form shown in Figure 6 and is provided with but a single forwardly extending downwardly turned portion Ill provided with a foot H2 at its forward extremity. This member when placed in position and secured to the button clamp positions the foot H2 beneath one of the jaws 80, as shownin Figures 14 and 15, and holds the button above the folded edge of the work which is presented against the gage member 53. Thus the stitching is effected blind but with a loose neck of thread as shown in Figure 17.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing The forked portion I00 is extended for- 1. In a sewing machine, a cloth support having a plurality of work engaging portions of different types, means for movably carrying said support on said machine with capability of presenting by movement of said support to one of a plurality of definite positions any selected of said portions into operative position, and means for automatically latching said support in any of said positions.

2. In a sewing machine, a cloth support comprising a cloth plate having a throat therethrough, and an upper plate movably carried on the upper face of said cloth plate and provided with a stay button holding opening which may be brought into and out of operative relation to said throat by movement of said upper plate.

3. In a button sewing machine,a cloth support comprising a lower cloth plate portion having a throat therethrough, an upper plate pivoted to said cloth plate and having a plurality of work engaging portions of different types, and means for selectively retaining said upper plate in any of a plurality of angular positionsin each of which one or another of said work engaging portions is in operative relation to said throat.

4. In a button sewing machine, a cloth support comprising a lower cloth plate portion having a throat therethrough, an upper plate pivoted to said cloth plate and having a plurality of work engaging portions of different types, and means for automatically latching said upper plate selectively in any of a plurality of determined positions in one of which all of said work engaging portions are out of operative relation to said throat and in each of the others of which one ,or another of said work engaging portions are in operative relation to said throat.

5. In a button sewing machine, a cloth support comprising a lower cloth plate portion having a throat therethrough, an upper plate pivoted to said cloth plate and having a plurality of workengaging portions of different types, and means for selectively retaining said upper plate in any of a plurality of angular positions in one of which none of said work-engaging portions is in operative relation to said throat and in each of the others of which one or another of said work-en- 'gaging portions is in operative relation to said throat.

6. In a button sewing machine, a cloth support having a lower cloth plate having a throat therethrough, an upper plate movably supported by said cloth plate, and a member having a notch in one edge in registry with one side of said throat in one position of said upper plate.

7. In a sewing machine, a cloth support comprising a cloth plate having a throat, a member movably carried by said cloth plate, means for fixing said member to said cloth plate in any of a plurality of determined positions, and a gage carried by said member, said gage in one of the positions of said member being positioned at one side of said throat in cooperative relation thereto and being adjustable relative to said member to provide for blind stitching work 01' different thicknesses having a folded edge presented thereto.

8. A button clamp having jaws for grasping the edges of a button and presenting said button in attaching relation to the face of work to which said .button is to be secured, and an element attachable to said clamp and having a single foot underlying one of said jaws and at one side only of the center of a button carried by said clamp for holding said button a predetermined distance spaced from the work to provide a neck of thread therebetween during the stitching of the button to the work.

9. A button clamp having spaced button engaging jaws for engagement with the edge of a button and movable toward and from each other to clamp and release buttons of various sizes therebetween, an element having a forked extremity overlying said clamp and a single foot underlying one of said jaws and at one side only of the center of the button to space the button from the work, and a thumb screw passing through the slot of said element and threaded into said clamp for releasably fixing said element thereto.

10. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate having a. throat, a gage member at one side of said throat and against which the folded edge oi! cloth may be presented partly overlying said throat, and a button clamp for supporting a buttoh above said throat and having a foot engageable with the folded cloth on the opposite side 01' said throat from said gage to retain a button held by said clamp spaced from the work during a stitching operation thereby to form a neck 01 sewing threads therebetween during blind stitch sewing of the button to the cloth.

- MICHAEL McCANN.

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