US2043749A - Feeding mechanism for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1936. H. 'HACKLAND ER 2,043,749

' FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1 936. H. I-{ACKLANDER 2,043,749 I FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 20, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jams, 1936; H. HA KLANDE V 2,043,749

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 20, 1954 5 sheet -sheet 4 Jung 9, 1936.

H. HACKLANDER FEEDING MEcgANxm FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fiied July 20, 1954 FEEDING MECHANISM non MACHINES sswmc Hans Hacklander, Tinley Park, Ill., assignor to .Union Special Machine Company, Chicago.

' Illga corporation of Illinois 7 Application July 20, 1934, sei'lal No. 736,269

28 Claims. (01.112-18) fli'he invention'relates to new and useful improvements in the feeding mechanism for sewing machines, and more particularly to a feeding mechanism including feeding devices located exteriorly of a supporting housing or casing which encloses the actuating parts of the machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine of the above type wherein the feeding devices are arranged exteriorly of an enclosed housing through which the main actuating shaft extends and wherein said feeding devices are operated by members extending through a wall of the housing having a tight connection therewith so that dust and lint cannot pass through and contact with the operating parts and so lubricant for the actuating parts cannot pass through the wall and contact with the material being stitched. it i i The invention has particular advantage in connection with a cup feed type of machine, and another object of the .lnventionis to provide means whereby the feed cups are operated from shafts rotating about fixed axes extending through a wall in the enclosed housing and wherein oneof H vide a feeding mechanism for a cupfeedmachine V of the above type wherein thefeed shaft sup-,

said feed cups is so mounted'that it maybe moved toward and from the other feed cup. V

A still further object'of theinvention is to proporting one of said feed cups is sectional andthe sections. joined ,by universal connection so that the section thereof passing through a wall of the 1 enclosed housing may rotate abouta fixed axis while the other sectionmay be moved for'separap ingthe feedcups. i r i p .A still further object oftheinvehtion is to my:

vide means accessible from theoutside of the housing for controlling Jtheextent of movement imparted to the feed cups fromthemechanism located within the enclosed housing."

Astill'further objectof the invention is to provide a machine of .theabove type wherein one of the feed cups is moved toward theyother by spring means andthe movement limited by {adjustable stops and wherein said feed cups may be separated by a treadle controlled means.

'A still further object of the invention'is'to provide a machinewherein the means for senaratingthe feed cups'and controlling the position thereof during the feeding of the fabric is all substantially housedwithin a chamber so as to .prevent the fabric from contacting therewith.

v These and other objectswill in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter-more fully disclosed.

showing some of the parts associated with the shaft in side elevation and some in section;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing in particular the treadlecontrolled means for separating the feedcups;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the machine; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of the machine and the overhanging portion of the housing, and showing in top plan view the means for operating the clutch drum and the lever means for separating the feed cups;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the operating elements for imparting intermittent movement to the clutchidrum with the rocking member which regulates thethrow of the feeding I means in one set position;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the rocking member for regulating the feed in a set position so that substantially no movement is imparted to the clutch drum; 3

Fig. 8 is a detail in top plan showing the clutch drum and its connection to the inner feed shaft for operating the same;

Fig. 9 is a view in plan showing the arrangement of the feed cups and the axes thereof relative to the path of reciprocation of the needle, and

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view through the housing and showing themeans for adjusting the stroke of the feed. i

The invention is directed to a feeding mecha- 40.

of operating shafts therefor. There is anopeny ing in the wall of the housing for each shaft and a bushing fitting the shaft closes the opening so that when the shafts are in place, the wall is completely cldsed. This prevents any dust or dirt passing through the openings formed for the feed shafts to the interior of the enclosing housing. These bushings also prevent any lubricating oil passing out through these openings for the shafts. The shafts within the housing are geared together for movement in unison. They turn, however, in opposite directions. One of the feed shafts is made in sections which have a universal joint connection which permits one of the feed cups to be moved away from the other. There is a treadle controlled means for separating the feed cups, and a spring means for pressing the movable cup into contact with the fabric sections. There are also adjustable stops for limiting the pressure of the feed cup on the fabric sections being stitched. One of the shafts is driven by an intermittently operating clutch which is actuated by a train of mechanism consisting of few parts,-

from the actuating shaft in the main housing. Attached to the main housing is a rocker member which is free to swing. A link connects this rocker member to the clutch for operating the same. The eccentric strap cooperating with the eccentric on the main shaft is attached to the rocker member for oscillating the same. This constitutes the operating mechanism for the clutch. The rocker member is pivotally supported, and the pivotal support thereof is adapted to beshifted from one set position to another for varying the throw imparted by the eccentric to the link, and thus the extent of the oscillating movement given the feed cups and the length of the stitch.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine which includes a main housing I having an integral supporting base 2 with a lateral partition 3 forming an oil well in which lubricating oil may be placed. Extending through the main housing is an actuating shaft 4. Said main housing is provided with a laterally extending portion 5. Mounted in a bushing 6 in the laterally extending portion 5 of the housing is a shaft, to the lower end of which is attached afeed cup 1. Mounted in a bushing 8 is a shaft 9. The outer feed cup I0 is carried by a shaft mounted in a sleeve bushing II, which in turn is clamped to a sleeve l2 by means of a screw I3. This sleeve I2 is carried at the outer end of a. bracket arm l4 which is fixed to a shaft I5 mounted for oscillation about a horizontal axis in the extension 5 of the housing. The axis of the shaft I5 lies in a vertical plane cutting a line containing the path of the needle at right angles and therefore the feed cup is free to be moved toward and away from the plane of the fabric being stitched. The shaft which isattached to the feed cup carries a coupling head IS. The shaft 9 carries a coupling head I'I. These coupling heads are connected by a member l8 which provides a universal connection between the two shafts, thus permitting the feed cup III to be moved away from the feed cup 1 without interferlng with the driving connection therefor.

At the upper end of the shaft 6 is a-gear wheel is. At the upper end of the shaft 91s a gear wheel 20. These gear wheels mesh with each other, and thus it is that the two feed cups will be moved in synchronism. Of course, the feed cups turn in opposite directions so as to clamp therebetween and feed the fabric sections being stitched. The shaft 6 is actuated by a clutch mechanism which includes an outer drum 2| at tached to the shaft carrying the feed cup 1. Within this outer clutch drum is the usual clutch mechanism which, as shown in Fig. 8, more or less diagrammatically, includes a block 23 having cam faces, one of which is indicated at 24. A roller 25 contacting with the cam face is adapted to grip the inner face of the clutch drum for the rotating of the same. A spring 26 bearing on the roller 25, holds the roller in contact with the surfaces referred to, so that when the block 23 is given an oscillation in one direction, it will cause the rollers 25 to contact with the clutch drum and impart a step movement thereto. This is the feeding movement which is imparted to the feed cups. This particular'type of clutch forms no part of the present invention. It is essential, however, that there shall be some means for imparting a forward step by step movement to the feed shafts carrying the feed cups. At the lower side of the clutch drum is a plate 21, and this plate is attached to similar clutch members reversely arranged, which prevent the retrograde movement of the clutch drum when the clutch actuating members are returned for a new grip on the clutch drum. This is also of the usual construction.

Attached to the block 23 of the clutch operating mechanism is a, plate carrying an arm 28 provided with aball stud 29 on its outer end. Attached to the ball stud 29 isa link 30. The link 30 is in turn connected to a ball stud 3| on the outer end of a pin 32. This pin 32 is fixed to a collar 33 by a set screw 34. The collar 33 is carried at the outer end of an arm 35. Said arm 35 is provided with a sleeve 36 which is pivotally supported on an arm 31. A headed stud screw 38 is passed through the sleeve 36 and is threaded into the arm 3'1. The arm 31 is held in a set position, and serves as a supporting member on which the arm 35 is free to oscillate. Attached to the pin 32 between the ball stud and the collar 33 is the outer end of an eccentric strap 39 which cooperates with an eccentric 40 on the main actuating shaft 4. As the main actuating shaft rotates, it will impart oscillating movements to the arm 35, and the oscillating movements of the arm 35 will impart endwise movement to the link 30, as will be referred to more fully hereinafter.

The .arm 31 is integrally formed with a sleeve member 4|. This sleeve member'4l is mounted in an opening 42 formed in the wall of the main housing so that it may be shifted to different set positions in the housing. Said member is fixed to a plate 43 by screws. The plate 43 is secured in a set position by means of a thumb screw 43 which passes through an arcuate slot in the plate 43 and is threaded into the housing. The thumb screw has a shoulder which bears against the plate and locks it'in a set position. When released the plate may be shifted to different set positions by means of the finger piece 45. The plate carries a scale 4'! indicating stitch lengths and there is an arrow 48 on the housing which cooperates therewith.

In Figures 6 and 7, there is shown diagrammatically the movable parts of the clutch actuating mechanism. The eccentric is diagrammatically illustrated at 40. The eccentric strap is illus-- clutch plate is indicated at 29. In the full line position in Fig. 6, the eccentric is at the end of its full throw, the arm 35 has been raised, and the link 30 lifted to its extreme upper position. In the dotted line position, the eccentric is turned through one hundred and eighty degrees, which has lowered the arm 3 5to theposition indicated at 35a. The end of the arm movesin a circle about the center a. The are of movement isindicated at b, b. Therefore, the-point of connection between the links 36 and 3|,is notonly moved downward, but is moved endwise, and this shifts the ball stud 29 to the position 29a. As the eccentric continuesits movement, the parts return to their full line position. 1'

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, the sleeve 36 isshow-n asshifted. This is accomplished, asnoted above, byzloosening the screw46 and the shifting of the plate 43. It is shown shifted tosuchan extent 1 that no movemntwill be imparted to the clutch The center of .the sleevein this fig member. ure is indicated at a, and when in thisposi'tion, then the arc of movement of the ball stud 3| is indicated at b, b. This are of movement is about I the center a", andthelink 36 moves from a position at one side thereof to aposition at theother side thereof. There may be a slight endwise movement of the link, but it is very slight, so

.that'the link will move out and ,backagainto the initial point. It will be obvious that by matter what the length of arc movem nt ofthe clutch block maybe, it will always clutch the drum and shift the drum to the same extent that the block is turned. It is noted that the entire train of actuating devices forthe clutch mechanism is all located in the main housing, andlikewise, the means for varying the length of the feed stroke, although this means is, in part, accessible from the outf sideof the housing.- All of theparts whichmove during the impartingof feeding movements to the clutch are completely housed. In this typev of 4 machine, means is provided for throwing the oil from thebathat the bottom of the housing in the form of a spray throughout the casing. In Fig, 2 there is shown a disk 46a mounted on the main actuating shaft 4 which extends into the oil bath at the bottom ofthe casing, and as this disk rotates, it will take small quantities of oil through the adhering of theoil to' the surface of the disk, andbycentrifugal force willthrow the oil throughout the entirehousing, including the. extension thereof which opens into the main housing, and thus all of the parts will be thoroughly lubricated. Inasmuch asthe shafts which support the feed-cups are mounted in bushings which close the openings throughthe lowerwall of the housing, no oil can es apees to thefabric from the chamber within the houSihgQjNither will dust or lint from the handling of the fabric being stitched work through into t enclosed housing. Furthermore, it will be noted that the clutch is" actuated by a link connected to a mov-1 able member whichin turn is directly connected to the eccentric strap cooperating with the cc: centriconthe main shaft. We have, therefore, only three moving parts betwe'enthe main actu-;

ating shaft and the clutch. This is a very ,sim-

ple form of actuating mechanism for the clutchv which may, of course, be driven athigh speed with little resulting vibratiomfFurthermore,

there are few parts to lubricate andthese are,

which said needle bar extends.

endofthe lever 55 andis provided with a pin and claimedin an application filed by George Sauer, April 3, 1934,Serial No. 718,855.

It will be noted that the needle bar which is indicated at 49 is mounted for horizontal reciprocation in a bushing 50 which closes the opening in the front wall of the housing through 10 Likewise, the thread carrying looper indicated at 5| is mounted for oscillation and endwise movement in a bushing 52 which closes the opening through the front,

wall through which the bar carrying the looper extends. The spreader 53 is likewise mounted for oscillationin a bushing 54 whichextends through thewall and closes the front 'wall of the'housing.

The needle bar, thelooper bar, and thespreader bar, the mounting thereof, and the means for actuating the same, .form no part of the present invention, and have only been shown in a fragmentary way. The present invention is directed particularly to the means for operatingthe feed 1 cups which may be used in other types of stitch 25,

forming devices. I

The means for separating the feed cups will now be described. Attached to the shaft 15 is an arm 55. The extension of the housing 5 has a recess 56 formed therein which is open at the lower side. The shaft l5 terminates in this recess 56, and the arm 55 is located in said recess. The left-hand end of the arm, as viewedin Figures 3 and 5, is forked asindicated at 51. The front face of the main casing has an extension 56a of this recess 56. Projecting into the recess 5611' is alug 58. Extending through this lug is a sleeve 59 which has aknurled head 60 at the upper end thereof. Threaded on to this sleeve is a collar 6| which also has a knurled head. The sleeve 59 is alsothreaded into the lug 58 so that it may be adjusted insaid lug. The purpose of the collar 6| is to lock the sleeve in this adjusted position.

Extending through the sleeve and slidable freely therein is a rod 62 provided with an eye at the lower end 63, to which a flexible means may be connected leading to a knee shift or treadle so that the rod may bepulled down. The

rod atthe upper end extends through the yoke 64 which rests on the end of the arm 55. Surrounding the rod is a compression spring 65.

This compression spring 65 bears against the washer which in turn'bears against the lower end of. the yoke arms'atflthe upper end of the rod, R'Ihe spring also bears against the head of the collar 59. The spring. normally urges the arm ina clockwise .direction,fand this will force the outer feed cup toward the inner feed cup and cause it to clamp the fabric between the feed cups.: When it isdesired to change the tension of the spring and the pressure of the feed cup;on the fabric,:the collar 6| is loosened, and the sleeve is shifted so as to increase or decrease the tension of the spring as desired. The collar 65 is then turned up against the lug for holding the sleeve in a set position. This sleeve serves. as a guide for thejrod which-moves freely therethrough. This stop mechanism includes an arm 66which is flxed'topthe shaft l5. As herein 70 shown, it is formed integral'with the arm 55. The upper end of this arm 66 liesbetweenan eccentric member 61 and an eccentric member 68. The eccentric member 61 is secured to a shaft, by means of'a set screw 10. Said shaft .moved to different set positions.

69 has a head H formed thereon which is provided with a slot to receive a tool whereby said shaft 69 may be turned. A dished spring washer .12 between the eccentric 'member 6! and the bearing lug of the housing in which the shaft is mounted will hold the shaft in a set position. The head is preferably graduated to indicate the extent of adjustment that'may be imparted to the shaft 69. The eccentric member 68 is carried by a shaft 73 and is secured thereto by a set screw 14. This shaft is provided with a head 15 which is also similarly slotted and provided with graduations. There is a dished spring washer 16 which holds this shaft in set positions. By shifting the shafts, the eccentrics may be It is the adjacent faces of the two eccentrics that serve as limiting stops that determines the extent of fmovement that can be imparted to the arm 66 and also the extent of movement that the feed cups may move toward each other and be moved away from each other when the treadle is depressed. By shifting these eccentrics, the set position of the outer feed cup under the action of the spring may be varied, and also the extent to which the outer feed cup is shifted when the treadle is depressed may. be varied. It is noted that all of these parts for moving the feed cups toward and from each other from a point below the feed cups to the upper end of the housing are all housed within recesses so that the fabric cannot be caused to contact therewith through any movement of they fabric across the housing. In other words, the-inner wall of the housing, thatis, the Wall nearest the feed-cups. lies substantially between the feed cups and all of the e actuating parts.

, It will be noted in Fig. 9 of. the drawings that a line passing through the center of the device supporting the feed cups 1 and I 0 cuts the line containing the path of the needle at an acute angle. This greatly facilitates the handling of the work, as the material as it-moves through the machine is toward the housing and this makes an easy position for the operator to sit in the handling of the work. Furthermore, when the feed cups are set in a line inclined relative to the needle bar, as noted above, then the inner feed cup can be mounted on a shaft suspended from above and not interfere with the reciprocation of the needle, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 of thedrawings. The outer feed cup as noted above is mounted on a shaft the axis of which lies in a vertical plane at right angles to a line containing the path of reciprocation of the needle. This enables the outer feed cup to be moved away from the inner feed cup -in the direction of the reciprocation of the needle. The "outer'feed cup however is moved toward and from the inner feed cup in a path disposed at an acute angle to a plane containing the axis of 'both feed cups and also about an, axis disposed at an acute angle to the line of feed. In this figure the needle bar is indicated at 49, the needle at 18 and the stitch finger at 71. The needle guide and-the parts associated therewith form no part of the present invention but are shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 730,135, filed June 11, 1954. This arrangement of the feed cups relative to the path ofmovement of the needle bar forms no part of thepresent invention per se, but is shown, described and claimed in the application of Norman V. Christensen, Serial No. 549,787, filed July 9, 1931.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to securev by Letters- Patent, is-

1. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposedshafts mounted in and depending from said laterally projecting portion, inner and outer feed cups carried by the respective shafts at the lower ends thereof, a clutch mechanism at the upper end of the inner shaft for imparting feed movements to the feed cups, a main shaft in said housing, a rockable member'mounted in the housing, an eccentric strap connected to the rockable member and cooperating with an eccentric member on the main shaft, and a link connecting said rockable member to said clutch mechanism.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and depending from said projecting portion, inner and outer feed cups mounted respectively at the lower end of said shafts, means for supporting the outer shaft whereby the outer feed cup may be, moved toward and away from the inner feed cup,a shaft section in alignment with the outer feed shaft and mounted in bearings in the overhanging portion, a gear carried by said lastnamed shaft and meshing with a gear carried by the shaft supporting the inner feed cup, a clutch drum attached to the shaft carrying the innerfeed cup, a clutch mechanism for cooperating with the drum for intermittently rotating the same, a main actuating shaft in the housing, and means operated by the main actuating shaft for oscillating said clutch mechanism.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and depending from said projecting portion, inner and outer feed cups mounted respectively at the lower end of said shafts, means for supporting the outer shaft whereby the outer feed cup may be moved toward and away from the inner feed cup, a shaft section in alignment with the outer feed shaft and mounted in bearings in the overhanging portion, a gear carried by said last-named shaft and meshing with a gear carried by the shaft supporting the inner feed cup, a clutch drum attached to the shaft carrying the inner feed cup, a clutch mechaism for cooperating with the drum for intermittently rotating the same, a main actuating shaft in the housing, a rockable member located in said housing, an eccentric strap connected to the rockable member and cooperating with an eccentric member on the main shaft, and a link connecting said rockable member to said clutch mechanism.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and depending from said overhanging portion, inner and outer'feed cups carried by the respective shafts at the lower ends thereof, one of said shafts being mounted in a fixed support, amovable support for the other shaft whereby the feed cups may be moved toward and from each other, a shaft section in alignment with the movable shaft and having a universal connection therewith, means for connecting said shaft section to said shaft mounted in the fixed support, and 5 means for jintermittently rotating one of said tion, inner and outer feed cups carried by the respective shafts at the lower ends thereof one of said shafts being mounted in a fixedsupport,

a movable support for the other shaft whereby the feed cups may be moved toward and from each other, ashaft section in alignment with the movable shaft andhaving a universalconnection therewith, means for connecting said shaft sec tion to said shaft mounted in thefixed support, 1 means for intermittently rotating one of saidshafts, a spring means for yieldinglymoving the with, the other feed cup being mounted at the a other, and a stop fabric between the same. i

6. In a sewing machinega housing having a laterally projecting portion anda feedingmechanism suspended from said laterally projecting a portion and including cooperating inner and outer feed cups, a shaft mounted in said laterally projecting portion and dependingtherefrom and carrying one of said feed cups at the lower end thereof, an upper shaft section mounted insaid laterally projecting portion and depending there from, a lower shaft section in alignment therewithand having a universal connection therelower end of said last-named shaft section, and

means for supportingsaid last-named shaft section whereby the feed cup carried thereby may be moved toward and from the other feed cup.

- 7. In a sewingmachine, a housing having a lat erally projecting portion and afeeding mechanism suspended fromsaid laterallyprojecting portion and including cooperating inner and outer; feed cups, a shaft mounted in said laterally projectlng portion and depending therefrom and carrying one ofsaid feedcupsat the lower end thereof, an upper'shaft section mounted in said laterally projecting portion and depending therefrom, a lower shaft section in alignment therei with and having a universalconnection therewith,

ment..

the other feed cup beingniounted at the lower end of said lastenamed shaft section, means for supporting said last-named shaft'section whereby the feed cup carried thereby may be moved toward and from vthe other feed cup, yielding means for urging the feed cups toward each other, e

and an adjustable stop for limiting said move:

8. In a sewing machine, a housing having 5. laterally projecting portion and a feeding mecha'- nism suspended from said laterally projecting portion and including cooperating inner and outer feed cups, a shaft mounted in said laterally projecting portion and depending therefrom and carrying one of said feed cups at the lower end thereof, an upper shaft sectionmounted in said laterally projecting portion and dependingtherefrom, alower shaft section in alignment therewith and having a universal connection therewith, the other feed cup being mounted at the lower end of saidlast-named shaft section, means for supporting said last-named shaft section whereby the feed cup carried thereby may be moved toward and from the other feed cup, Yielding meansforurging the feed cups toward each other, an adjustable stop'for limiting said movement, and manually controlled means for shiftto aplane containing the, axes .of both feed cups.

ing said lower shaft section for separating the feed cups.

9; In a sewing machine, a frame comprising a base,-a standard and a bracket member projecting laterally from said standard, and a feeding mech- 5 anism suspended from said bracketincluding cooperating inner and outer feed cups, the outer 'feedcup being movable toward and from the inner feed cup in a path disposed at an acute angle toward and away from the inner feed cup about u feed cups intooperative position relative to each for limiting the movement of the feed cups toward each other when there is no an axis'disposed atan acuteangle to the .line of 1l.-In"a sewing machine, a supportingfframe having a laterally projecting portion, a feeding I mechanism comprising cooperating rotatable feed cups suspended from said laterally projecting por- 1 tion, means for imparting a step by stepfeeding movement to the inner feed cup including a clutch member directly connected to the shaft carrying the feed cup, means for imparting a movement to the outer feed cup from the movements given to the inner feed cup, and means for bodily mov- I ing said outer feed cup toward and from the inner feed cup in a direction at an acute angle to a vertical plane containing the axesof both feed cups. i I e 12. Ina sewing machine, the combination of a r housing having a laterally-projecting overhang ing portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion ofthehousing, feed cups in alignment with said shafts and connected respec I tively thereto for actuation thereby; bushings for 40 said shafts extending through the bottom wall of .ing portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting throughthe bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed'cups in alignment with the shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereb bushings for said shafts extending through the bottom wall of the housing for closingthe openings through which the shafts project, and means for intermittently rotating said feed cups. i

14. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projectingportion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with the shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereby, bushings for said shafts extending through the bottom wall of the housing for closing the opening through which the shafts project, means for intermit tently rotating said feed cups, one of said shafts being formed with an upper and lower section, the lower section being located wholly below the laterally projecting portion and connected to the upper. section by a universal joint, and means for supportingsaid lower section whereby it may be moved to separate the feed cups.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with the shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereby, bushings for said shafts extending through the bottom wall of the housing for closing the opening through which the shafts project, means for intermittently rotating said feed cups, ont of said shafts being formed with an upper and lower section, the lower section being located wholly below the laterally projecting portion and connected to the upper section by a universal joint,

means for supporting said lower section whereby it may be moved to separate the feed cups, yielding means for operating on said lower shaft secl tion support for moving the feed cups toward each other, a stop for limiting the movement of the yielding means, and manual means for separating said feed cups.

16. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with the shaftsand connectedrespectively thereto for actuation thereby, busha housing having a laterally projecting over-' hanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted. in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with the shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereby, bushings for said shafts extending through the bottom wall of the housing, for closing the openings through which the shafts project, means for gearing the shafts together, a clutch mechanism connected to one of said shafts for rotating the feed cups, a rocking member mounted within said housing, a link connecting said rocking member to said clutch for operating the same, a main actuating shaft, an eccentric strap cooperating with an eccentric thereon and connected to said rocking member for oscillating the same, and means for shifting the pivotal support of the rocking member for varying the effective endwise movement of the link and the length of the feed.

18. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with the shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereby, bushings for said shafts extending through the bottom wall of the housing for closing the openings her to said clutch for operating the same, a main actuating shaft, an eccentric strap cooperating with an eccentric thereon and connected to said rocking member for oscillating the same, a shiftable support carried by the housing, an arm attached thereto on which said rockable member is pivotally supported, and means accessible from the outside of the housing for shifting said arm to different set positions and for locking the same in a selected set position.

19. In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with said shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereby, one of said shafts being formed with an upper and lower section having a universal connection, means for supporting said lower section whereby the feed cup associated therewith may be moved toward and from the other feed cup, said supporting means including an arm housed in a recess in the under face of said laterally projecting portion, a rod housed in the recess in the front wall of the housing connected to said arm, a compression spring surrounding the rod and bearing against the arm, an adjustable abutment for said spring, and manual means connected to the rod whereby said arm may be moved against the tension of the spring for separating said feed cups.

20 In a sewing machine, the combination of a housing having a laterally projecting overhanging portion, vertically disposed shafts mounted in and projecting through the bottom wall of said projecting portion of the housing, feed cups in alignment with said shafts and connected respectively thereto for actuation thereby, one of said shafts being formed with an upper and lower section having a universal connection, means for supporting said lower section whereby the feed cup associated therewith may be moved toward and from the other feed cup, said supporting means including an arm housed in a recess in the under face of said laterally projecting portion, a rod housed in the recess in the front wall of the housing connected to said arm, a compression spring surrounding the rod and bearing against the arm, an adjustable abutment for said spring, manual means connected to the rod whereby said arm may be moved against the tension of the spring for separating said feed cups, and stops for limiting the movement of the arm, said stops including manually shiftable members which may be set so as to determine the position of the feed cups relative to each other under the action of the spring when there is no fabric to be stitched, and for limiting the movement of the feed cups away from each other.

21. In a sewing machine, a frame comprising a base, a standard and a bracket member projecting laterally from said standard, and a feeding mechanism including cooperating inner and outer feed cups located wholly beneath said bracket member and suspended therefrom, said outer feed cup being movable toward and from said inner feed cup, and yielding means for urging said outer feed cup toward said inner feed cup.

22. In a sewing machine, a frame comprising a base, a standard and a bracket member projecting laterally from said standard, and a feeding mechanism including cooperating inner and outer feed cups located wholly beneath said bracket member and suspended therefrom, said outer feed cup being movable toward and from said inner feed cup, yielding means for urging said outer feed cup toward said inner feed cup, and a manually operable device for moving said outer feed cup away from said inner feed cup.

23. In a sewing machine, a frame comprising a base, a standard and a bracket member projecting laterally from said standard, and a feeding mechanism including cooperating inner and outer feed cups located wholly beneath said bracket member and suspended therefrom, said outer feed cup being movable toward and from said inner feed cup, yielding means for urging said outer feed cup toward said inner feed cup, an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the outer feed cup toward the inner feed cup, and manually operable devices for moving said outer feed cup away from said inner feed cup.

24. In a sewing machine, the combination of an enclosed housing including a laterally projecting portion, work supporting and feeding devices disposed exteriorly of the housing, a main actuating shaft extending through said enclosed housing, supporting members for said feeding devices extending through the wall of said projecting portion to the interior thereof and having an oil tight connection therewith, and actuating devices located within said housing and connected to said respective members for operating the same.

25. In a sewing machine, the combination of an enclosed housing, inner and outer feed cups located exteriorly of said housing, a shaft secured to and supporting each feed cup, said shafts extending through the wall of the housing to the interior thereof and having an oil tight connection therewith, one of said shafts including sections connected by a universal joint whereby the feed cup carried by the lowermost section can be moved away from the other feed cup, said connectionbeing outside of the housing, an actuating shaft within the housing, and devices operated thereby and connected to said shafts within the housing for operating the same.

26. In a sewing machine, the combination of an enclosed housing having a laterally projecting portion, vertically disposed shafts extending. through the wall of said laterally projecting portion, a feed cup mounted at the lower end of each shaft, one of said shafts being formed in sections and having a universal joint connection disposed beneath said laterally projecting portion, each shaft having an oiltight connection with the wall through which it extends, gears carried at the upper ends of said shafts and meshing with each other and disposed within said housing, a clutch drum located within said housing and connected to one of said shafts, a main actuating shaft extending through the housing, and devices operated thereby for operating said clutch drum. I

27. In a sewing machine, the combination of an enclosed housing including a laterally projecting portion and a feed mechanism including inner and outer feed cups-each located wholly beneath said laterally projecting portion and suspended therefrom, said outer feed cup being movable toward and from said inner feed cup and yielding means for moving said feed cups toward each other.

28. In a sewing machine, the combination of an enclosed housing including a laterally projecting portion, a feed mechanism including cooperating inner and outer feed cups located wholly beneath said laterally projecting portion, supporting members for the feed cups extending through the lower wall of said laterally projecting portion and having an oil-tight connection therewith.

HANS HACKLANDER.

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