US2544549A - Top feed and presser means for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1951 F. w. BECK ET AL TOP FEED AND'PRESSER MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 50, 1949 INVENTORS. FREDERICK W. BECK RICHARD J. BABKA RICHARD H. LUKINS ATTORNEY.

March 6, 1951 F. w. BECK ET AL TOP FEED AND PRESSER MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1949 FIG.2

INVENTORS. FREDERICK W. BECK ATTORNEY.

RICHARD J. BABKA RICHARD H. LUKINS March 6, 1951 F. w. BECK ET AL 2,544,549

TOP FEED AND PRESSER MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 30, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. FREDERICK W. BECK RICHARD J. BABKA RICHARD H. LUKINS ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F. W. BECK ET AL TOP FEED AND PRESSER MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES March 6, 1951 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS. FREDERICK W. BECK ATTORNEY.

RICHARD J. BABKA RICHARD H. LUKINS arch 6, 1951 F. w. BECK ET AL TOP FEED AND PRESSER' MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1949 INVENTORE FREDERICK W. BECK RICHARD J. BABKA RICHARD H. LUKINS ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOP FEED ANT) PRESSER MEANS FOR SEWING "MACHINE 8 Frederick W. Beck; Webster Grove, and Richard John Babka, St.-Louis, Mo., and Richard H. Lukins, Chicago, 111., assignorsto Union Special Machine Company, Qhicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 30, 1949' Serial No.-135,-968

12 Claims. 7 (Cl. 112-214) This invention relates to a top roller feed mechanism .and associated presser foot mounting for sewing machines. More particularly it relates to an arrangement in which a driven feed roller is provided as an auxiliary feeding means for a portion of the work being fed by the action of a four motion feeddog. It is especially suited for the handling of workwhich presents an extrathickness of material in a portion being fed past the stitchin point, as'in the stitching down of waist band curtains on pants, run stitching and top stitching of collars and cuffs on shirts, attaching collar bands to the collars of shirts, and the like. The invention may, however, ,be' used advantageously for other purposes.

A primary object of the invention has been to provide presser means and top feeding means which are of simple and inexpensive construction but reliable in their operations and which will insure proper and uniform feeding of work involving different thicknesses of material in different regions.

One feature of the inventionis an improved mounting for a top feed roller andapresser foot, by which each is capable of independent upward and downward movement in riding over work of different thicknesses. The construction is such that lateral adjustment of the presser means in relation to the roller feed means is-readily effected. This may be used, for example, to eliminate the necessity of-fine tolerances in the formation of the parts andto permit'easy compensation for wear of the parts.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of simple but eifectlve means for preventing relative turning between independently slidable members which support the roller feed means and the presser means and for maintaining these parts in proper alinement with the direction of seam formation.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of simple and readily adjustable means for limiting the relative bodily movement between the roller feed means and the presser means, whereby the desired independent bodily movement of these parts is permitted and their bodily movement in unison is brought about after a predetermined extent of independent movement.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of simple but efiectivemeans for applying sprin pressures of diiferentmagnitudeto a plurality of presser members and a roller feed member, the arrangement being such that the eifectof the severalpressure applying means may b p r ssive y exe ted upon-one 'f themembers 2 I after the latter has partaken of different extents of movement in relation to another .or-the.mem hers.

In attaining the foregoing objects and advantages the invention contemplates the provision of a unitary assembly in which rollerfeed-means and one or more presser membersare separately e l d, h ess m mbe o memb s b in connected with a rod .or bar which is concentric wit a pre era ly te esc ed w th, a p esse bar which carries the feed roller.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will appear from the detailed descript o o an illustrative o m o the inveniienwhiq will now be given in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which;

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine, as seen from the left in Fig. 1, with the cover plate for the needle headremoved;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in vertical section through the driving means'for the .top feed roller;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in transverse vertical section through a portion of the roller driving mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view alongthe line 6+5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly, in elevationand partlyjin vertical section, showing the unitary assembly including a top rollerfeed means and presser means together with supportingand retaining means therefor;

Fig. 8 is a detail view, in, side elevation, of a portion of the parts shown inFig. 7 and is taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. .7;

Fig. 9 is a similar elevational view taken in" the opposite direction, along the line 9- 9 .of Fig. {7, a portion of the presser foot being' broken away to illustrate a detail of the construction; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showings. modified form of presser foot which may be employed.

Referring now to the drawings, .the invention has been shown applied to lock stitch machine of the type disclosed in the patent to Sauer .et al., No. 2,035,508, granted Ma -ch31, 1936, and the patent to Christensen et al., No. 2,ll3,5 72 granted April 12, 1938. It embodies a frame'having a base portion ill a vertical standard H rising from one end of the base, an overhanging arm'lZ, extending laterally from the upper end of'the vertical standard, and a needle head I; provided 1 tion. 1 erably a four motion feed dog 2! (Fig. 2) mount- 3 at the free end of the overhanging arm. As disclosed in said Sauer et al. and Christensen et al. patents the machine is provided with two main rotary shafts i i (Fig. 2) and 55 (Fig. 3) extending longitudinally of the overhanging arm and of the base, respectively. These shafts are interconnected by suitable gearing or the like (not shown) within the standard ll. shaft is arranged to be driven from any suitable source through a combined hand-wheel and pulley Hia mounted on the outer end thereof. Within the needle head there is mounted, for vertical reciprocation, a needle bar l5 arranged to be driven by a crank, carried by the upper main shaft, through a link H connected with a collar 58 secured to the needle bar. Cooperating with the needle in stitch formation is a rotary hook H) which, as explained in said Sauer et al. and Christensen et a1. patents, has a rotary component adapted to be rotated at twice the angular speed of the main shaft l5 of the machine, through suitable gearing in a housing 20. Means, of any appropriate character, are provided for feeding the work in the course of stitch forma- The primary work feeding means is prefed on a feed bar 22 adapted to be lifted and lowered by means of an eccentric, at the end of the shaft 15, cooperating with a strap portion of a link'23 connected with a downwardl extending arm of the feed bar. The latter is rockably mounted on a feed rocker 24 (Figs. 2 and3) arranged to be rocked by an eccentric on the shaft i5 cooperating with a strap 25 of a telescoping pitman 26, connected at its opposite end with the feed rocker. Feed and return movements are imparted to the feed dog through these connections, in the manner more fully explained in the Sauer et al. patent above mentioned. Means are also provided for adjusting the length of the feed stroke in accordance with the disclosure of said patent, such means including an adjustable rock shaft connected with the pitman 26 through a pair of arms 28-. For further explanation as to the construction and operation of the foregoing parts of'the machine, reference may be had to saidSauer et a1. and Christensen et a1. patents.

Cooperating with the work on the upper side, to assist the action of the feed dog in advancing the work, is a presser foot 29 (Figs. 1, 2, '7 and 9) pivotally mounted, in a manner to be explained, on a shank 35 secured by a set-screw 'e'l to the 'lower end of a vertically disposed and slidable rod 32. Also cooperating with the work above the feed dog, adjacent the presser foot 29 and at one side thereof, is a feed wheel 33 mounted for rotation in a yoke 35 having forked extensions 35 and 36 arranged to be clamped together by a screw 3? about the lower end of a hollow presser bar 38. The latter surrounds and serves to guide the up and down movements of the rod 32. Presser bar 3% is mounted for vertical sliding "movement in suitable bearings carried by the needle head l3. The upper bearing is preferably in the form of a screw threaded leeve 39 adapted to be rotated, through a knurled head 58, to adjust its vertical position in relation to the top of the needle head. A spring 4| surrounding the presser bar is compressed between the lower end of the sleeve 35 and a collar Q2 secured, by a set screw 43, to the presser bar. Spring M thus serves to urge the presser bar downwardly under a spring pressure determined by the adjustment of the sleeve 39. A lateral extension id of the collar 33 cooperates with a The upper main slot in the rear wall of the needle head to prevent turning of the needle bar in a manner well known. A screw threaded plug 45, cooperating with internal threads at the upper end of the presser bar, may be adjusted to any desired vertical position in relation to the bar to vary the tension of a spring 45 within the presser bar. This spring is compressed between the lower end of the plug and the top of the rod 32 and thus serves to urge the rod and the connected presser foot downwardly under a pressure determined by the adjustment of plug 45, regardless of the pressure exerted by the spring 4|. It should be understood, however, that the force applied by spring M is substantially greater than that applied by the spring 45.

For supporting the feed wheel 33, the yoke 34 has a forked lower end providing branches 4? and 48 adapted to receive and clamp a bearing sleeve 49. A screw 50 is provided to impart the desired clamping force to the extensions 4'! and 48. A shaft 5i, journaled in the bearing 59, has an enlarged head 52 to which is secured the feed wheel 33 in any suitable manner. t its opposite end the shaft 5i carries a member 53 (Fig. 4) forming part of a universal coupling. A stud 54 is rockably mounted in spaced arms of the member 53 and is connected by a pin 55 with a complemental member 56 of the universal coupling. Member 55 is formed integral with, or otherwise connected with, a shaft extension 5'! which carries a similar universal coupling member 58 at its opposite end. The latter is pivotally connected by means of a pin 59 with a stud 65 rockably mounted in spaced arms of another complemental member 6| of the universal coupling. Member 5! is secured to a shaft 52 mounted in a bearing extension 83 of a clutch housing 64. Within the clutch housing, the shaft 52 has secured thereto a pinion 55 which meshes with a gear 66 secured to a shaft 6'! journaled in the housing. Intermediate its ends, the shaft 61 has secured thereto a clutch sleeve 68 having a cup shaped portion arranged to receive driving rollers 65 of a one-way cl-utch unit. These rollers cooperate with a plate 18 secured to a disc ll rcckably mounted on the shaft 61. A laterally extending arm 12 of the disc has an elongated slot to receive, adjustably, a ball pin 73 connected by a p-itman M with an eccentric on the shaft I5. Pitman M has a strap portion 75 surrounding the eccentric. It will be apparent that upon rotation of the shaft l5, the arm 12, and hence the disc ii and plate 15, will be oscillated through an angular distance which may be varied by clamping the pin 13 at any desired point along the elongated slot. As will be understood, the movement of the parts in one direction will impart a corre: sponding movement to the sleeve 68 through the rollers 59. Movement of the sleeve in the opposite direction is prevented by rollers similar to the rollers 69 cooperating with the inner surface of another cup-like portion of the sleeve 58 and with a plate l6, similar to the plate 16. Plate 16 is secured to a disc T! which is held against rotation by engagement of a pin 18, fixedly mounted in the housing 64, with a notch 19 in the periphery of the disc.

Housing 64 may be secured to the upper or work supporting surface of the base portion ll] of the frame in any suitable way, but it is preferably mounted for slight tilting movement by means of an adjusting screw so that the the work supporting surface of the base may age harm be vari'edaslightlwal: The universalscouplingmeansz (parts 53 -too6l V inclusive) are preferably; en-. closed by a sleeve 8i. Thislimayssuitably :be formed of a flexible and-stretchable; material, such aswrubberoraza suitable plastic, 'so.as .to closely surroundxth'eo parts without, however,1 interfering withfithe necessary relative angular, movement of the partsa. It lmay,. 1ho.w.ever,. be formed of metal, if desired, in which casezadequate =clearance must be provided, :in relation to-the enclosed coupling parts,.:to permit the necessaryrelative angular movementsals Yoke- 34 is 1 provided; withsa' horizontallym'extending "guide channel or groove 82 in. its rear wardly facing surface; to-receive 'an'd guide the inner end of a horizontallyextending arm ttof an angle member: Arm83. may be adjustedalong the channel 82 to :any desired position, within suitable limits; and then clamped in'set position by a screw B t -which passes through an elongated or enlargedppening 85 in-the arm 83*and' is threadedinto a hole in the yoke 34. A vertically disposedarm 86*of the angle-memberis rabbeted to provide a'guide ridge or flange 81 arranged to cooperate-with one edge-ofa vertically adjustable member 88; The--latter.is provided with an elongated slot 89 arranged-to receive a screw 99*, the inner end of which is threaded-into a hole-in-the arm 83. Member 88- has an inwardly bent finger 9| at its lower endarranged tounderlie'one'of the-forked end portions 92 of a member'93 formed integral with; or-otherv/ise'securedto, the-rod'-32. The forked extensions 92-cooperatewith the opposite faces of the" arm 89 to prevent turning of" the rod 32 while permitting up and down movement of the latter; Finger 9| cooperates with theforked extension 92 to limit the downwardmovementof the rod 32 in relationto presser bar 38 when the latter 'is 'lifted'from' thework in' the manner to be explained. The'extent of this downward relative movement may be adjusted; to suit the particular requirementsof "the Work; by-raising or lowering theposition of the member 88'-on the arm 83. It mayalso be varied by-changing thevertical position oftheyoke 34 in relation to the presser bar 38." Thehorizontaladjust ment' of the arm'83 in the channel 82 eliminates the necessity-of extreme tolerancesin'the forma-' tion'of the parts. It'also permits'take-up for wear. Moreover, the separate formation I of the angle member-allows "it to ""be' readily replaced when worn excessively, without the necessity of discarding the entire yoke member.

Presser foot 29, as bestshown in Fig. 9, has a forward, upwardly curved portion, which is solid across the width of the foot,and in rearof this it is formed with a pair of spaced'vertical walls- 29a which cooperate with opposite side faces of the yoke 39; The'foot is pivotallymounted on the yoke'by a pin 29b extending through'the walls 29a and through a lug 30a in the'yoke positioned between the arms 2911-. Within the space between the walls 2900 there is mounted a small auxiliary presser foot 94 which is carried at the lower end of a rod 95 that is slidable vertically in an openingthrough a portion of the yoke 39. A pin' 96 extendingthrough the rod 95, adjacent its upper end; cooperates with slots 97 in the yoke to prevent rotation of the foot 94 and to limit its downward movement, in relation to the yoke and'the presser" foot 29. A spring 98 surrounding the rod 95; in asocket' formed in the lower'portion'of the'yoke, 'urges the section- 94 downwardly;

It :will; :ben'apparent :that awhemthe'zroller feed and presserlrfootz,-assembly is urgeddownwardly into: engagement with l the .work ether-section .94 will firstiengagethe work and will .bea-forcedupwardly," against therelatively= light" resistance: of the'spring 98, until the'aunder surfacepf sece tion 94 is flush .withl the 1 under surface of the feed dog 29, or, under some circumstances, until the --upper surface. of seetionh94 engages the undersurface of the lug-39a of the yoke. 1Wherr the presser -foot 2 9 engages lthe work lit will be forcedi upwardly i and the rad 321will 'compress spring 4 9 until the i roller 33 is finally brought intoengagement with the work.'--The roller will then be urged against the work under: the force of thespring 4|; while'presser. f00t-29 Wi-11 be' urged against the work the force of the partially :compressed spring 46 and section :94 will be urged against-the work-bythe force ofthe spring 98. Thus, normally three difi'e'rent pressures are exerted-'uponthe work Should some partof the work of extra thickness pass beneath the section 94- wh-ile a thinner section ofthe-work is beneath the foot 29-, so that the section94 is brought-into engagement with the lugsea, the "pressure"exerted-'- on" section-94 will be" derived from the spring '46; Moreover it is possible," by appropriate adjustment of theyoke 34-inrelation to the presserbar-38i to-so reducethe relatively upwa-rd movementbetween the rod 32"an'cl' bar "38 that anextra thickness" of work passing beneath thesection' 94*will cause-lifting of the'latter firstlyto' engagetheshaink-Sfi of the presser footi'and lift this 'againstthe'action of'spring 46; and then .to lift the presser bar "99 against the i action of spring 4 l 1 due to engage ment'of the member'93" with the lower end'of the presser bar. 'Iherefore,"while the 'feed' wheel and 'twopresser foot members 'or sections are normally subjected. to three different" pressures; it is possible, under some circumstances, toexert the pressure'of -the spring'4l on'any'one or more of'these members? Onefadvantage of providing the independently movable section 94, with its relatively light down ward pressure, is that this enables the lifting of the .feed wheel and presser foot assembly; in the manner to'be explained,"tojust a sufficient extent 'toraise the 'feed wheel and presser foot 29""from the surface of the work Whilesection 94 still engages the work. This facilitates tacking' operations an'd'th'e' like;

In'.Fig..10"there is showna simplerform of presser foot H10 which is of ihtegralconstruction and simply attached to the lower end of the rod 32'by means of a screw lfll; In other respects the. modified construction of Fig. 10may be the same as that of Figs. 7, 8 and 9;

I For lifting the combined feed wheel and presserfoot unit, a collar I02 is slidably mounted on the presser bar 38 (Fig. 2) this collar having a laterally extending arm lll3at its upper end adapted to be engaged by a cam formed on a hand'lever I94. This hand lever will ordinarily be used only whenit is'desired' to retain the unitelevated for a substantial period of time. For lifting the feed wheel and presser assembly momentarilyin the course of operation of the machine, connections are preferably provided to a kneepress or foot treadle; These 'may'include a link I05 connected'at its lower end with the collar I02 and at its upper endwith the forward endof a lever I 06. The latter is pivoted, intermediate its ends, within-thehollow arm of the-machine. Atits rearward end-'(Fig; 2)-the 7 lever carries a stud I01 which projects outwardly from the rear face of the overhanging arm and is connected by a rod I08 with suitable means operated by a knee press or foot treadle. For a fuller disclosure of a suitable arrangement of this character, reference may be had to the patent to Rubel No. 2,373,418, granted April 10, 1945.

When the presser bar 38 is lifted in either of the ways explained it will first raise the feed wheel from the surface of the work, or the work support While spring 46 will still keep the presser foot in engagement with the work. However, when the finger 9| engages the under surface of member 93 the rod 32 will also be lifted, upon the continued upward movement of the presser bar, to raise the presser foot from the work. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the section 94 will still engage the work as the main presser foot 29 is lifted from it but when the pin 96 reaches the bottom of the slot 91, the section 94 will be raised from the Work on the continued upward movement of the bar 38.

It should be noted that the presser bar 38, rod 32, feed wheel 33, presser foot 29, section 94 and the various related parts constitute a separate assembly of simple, compact and relatively inexpensive construction. This unit may be readily applied to the needle head to provide the desired presser action and top feed on the work in the region of stitch formation. The arrangement is preferably such that the path of the needle intersects the axis of rotation of the feed wheel, and the needle passes through a suitable opening provided in or between the rearward edge of the upwardly curved portion of the main presser foot member 29 and the forward edge of the section 94. These edges of the presser foot elements may simply be notched to provide complemental parts of a suitable needle opening. As explained, the feed Wheel 33 preferably overlies and coacts with a portion of the under feed-dog but, if desired, it may coact simply with the surface of the throat plate or with a special spring element or flexible tongue of the type disclosed in said patent to Kucera No. 2,265,605.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail and several modifications have been suggested,

it will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, vertically movable presser means arranged to engage the upper surface of the work in opposition to said feed dog, a vertically movable feed wheel adjacent said presser means also arranged to engage the upper surface of the work, supporting means including a spring urged presser bar rigidly connected with said feed wheel for retainin the same and urging it against the work, said presser means being mounted for relative sliding movement on said supporting means, spring means reacting between said presser bar and said presser means for urging the latter against the work independently of the force applied to said presser bar, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, and means carried by said presser means cooperating with said supporting means for guiding said presser means and preventing turning thereof in its movements relative to said supporting means.

2. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, vertically movable presser means arranged to engage the upper surface of the work in opposition to said feed dog, a vertically movable feed wheel adjacent said presser means also arranged to engage the upper surface of the work, supporting means including a sprin urged presser bar rigidly connected with said feed wheel for retaining the same and urging it against the work, said presser means being mounted for relative sliding movement on said supporting means, spring means reacting between said presser bar and said presser means for'urging the latter against the work independently of the force applied to said presser bar, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a vertically disposed guide member adjustably mounted on said supporting means, and means carried by said presser means cooperating with said guide member to prevent turning of said presser means.

3. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage theunder surface of the work and intermittently advance the same vertically movable presser means arranged to engage the upper surface of the work in opposition to said feed dog, a vertically movable feed wheel adjacent said presser means also arranged to engage the upper surface of the work, supporting means including a spring urged presser bar rigidly connected with said feed wheel for retaining the same and urging it against the work, said presser means being mounted for relative sliding movement on said supporting means, spring means reacting between said presser bar and said presser means for urging the latter against the work independently of the force applied to said presser bar, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a vertically disposed guide member mounted for lateral adjustment on said supporting means, a stop member mounted for vertical adjustment on said supporting means, and means carried by said presser means cooperating with said guide member and said stop member for preventing turning of said presser means and limiting the movement thereof in relation to said supporting means.

4. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined topfeed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presserbar, a spring urging said bar toward the work, means for lifting said bar away from the work, a support secured to said presser bar, a feed wheel journaled on said support, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidably mounted within said bar, spring means for urging said rod downwardly within said bar, a presser foot carried by said rod, and relatively adjustable means on said support and rod for preventing turning of the latter within said bar.

5. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined topfeed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presser bar,

a springurging"saidibarrtowardithenworkrmeans';

for. .liftingrsaid barraway; from the1work, arsupport secured ;to saidcrpresserlbar; a: feed 'rwheel journaled on said support, means for. rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidably mounted .within'saidi'bar; spring means for ur ing said'rodidownwardly within said bar, adjustable means for variably limiting the downward movement of said: rd;:..a.:presser;-foot carried by said rod, and relatively adjustable means on said support and rod for preventing turning of the latter within said bar.

6. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined topfeed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presser bar, a spring urging said bar toward the work, means for lifting said bar away from the work, a support secured to said presser bar, a feed wheel j ournaled on said support, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidably mounted within said bar, spring means for urging said rod downwardly within said bar, a presser foot carried by said rod, and a member mounted on said support and adjustable laterally of the axis of said rod, and cooperating guide means carried by said member and rod, respectively, for preventing relative turning between said rod and bar.

'7. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined topfeed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presser bar, a spring urging said bar toward the work, means for lifting said bar away from the work, a support secured to said presser bar, a feed wheel j ournaled on said support, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidablymounted within said bar, spring means for urging said rod downwardly within said bar, a presser foot carried by said rod, and a member mounted on said support and adjustable laterally of the axis of said rod, means mounted for vertical adjustment on said member and providing a stop for variably limiting the downward movement of said rod relative to said bar, and cooperating guide means carried by said member and rod, respectively, for preventing relative turning between said rod and bar.

8. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined topfeed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presser bar, a spring urging said bar toward the work, means for lifting said bar away from the work, a support secured to said presser bar, a' feed wheel journaled on said support, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidably mounted within said bar, spring means for urging said rod downwardly within said bar, a presser foot shank secured to said rod, a presser foot pivotally mounted on said shank, a presser element slidably mounted on said shank, and a spring coacting between said element and shank for urging said element downwardly in relation to said shank.

9. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined top feedxand-presser unit-.- cooperating :with said feed dog, said unitecomprising a hollow presser bar, .a

journaled on said support, means for rotating said Y feediwheel intermittently, a rod slidablyjmounted within: said .bar; spring meansfor urging. said rod downwardly withinsaid'bar, a presser foot shank securedto. said rod; a presser foot pivotally mounted on said shank, a presser element slidably mounted on said shank, a spring coacting between said element and shank for urging said element downwardly in relation to said shank, and stop means for limiting the downward movement of said rod in relation to said bar and of said element in relation to said shank, the relation being such that when said bar is lifted the work engaging portion of said element is lower than that of said presserfoot and the work engaging portion of said presser foot is lower than that of said feed wheel.

10. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined top-feed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presser bar, a spring urging said bar toward the work, means for lifting said bar away from the work, a support secured to said presser bar, a feed wheel journaled on said support, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidably mounted within said bar, spring means for urging said rod downwardly within said bar, a presser foot shank secured to said rod, a presser foot pivotally mounted on said shank, a presser element slidably mounted on said shank, a spring coacting between said element and shank for urging said element downwardly in relation to said shank, and stop means for limiting the downward movement of said rod in relation to said bar and of said element in relation to said shank, a part of said stop means being adjustable vertically to vary the lower limit of said rod in relation to said bar, the relation being such that when said bar is lifted the work engaging portion of said element is lower than that of said presser foot and the work engaging portion of said presser foot is lower than that of said feed wheel.

11. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, and a combined top-feed and presser unit cooperating with said feed dog, said unit comprising a hollow presser bar, a spring surrounding said bar urging said bar toward the work, means for lifting said bar away from the work, a support secured to said presser bar, a feed wheel journaled on said support, means for rotating said feed wheel intermittently, a rod slidably mounted within said bar, a spring within said bar urging said rod downwardly, means for adjusting the tension of said springs independently of each other, a presser foot carried by said rod, and adjustable means on said support for variably limiting the downward movement of said rod in relation to said bar.

12. In a sewing machine, work feeding devices comprising a four motion feed dog arranged to engage the under surface of the work and intermittently advance the same, a top feed roller and presser means arranged to engage the upper surface of the work to assist in advancing the same, a pair of concentric bars telescopically arfor preventing relative rotation thereof, said 10 guide members being adjustable laterally in relation to each other, and means for limiting relative axial movement between said bars in both directions.

FREDERICK W. BECK. RICHARD JOHN BABKA. RICHARD H. LUICINS.

No references cited.

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