US2977910A - Sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES April 4, 1961 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES April 4, 1961 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apri14, 1961 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES April 4, 1961 l5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 April 4, 1961 J. N. covERT SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1956 `15 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.5

April 4, 1961 J, N COVER-r 2,977,910

SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 1'7, 1956 l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 J. N. COVER-r SEWING MACHINES April 4, 1961 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 April 4, 1961 J, N, COVER-|- 2,977,910

SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1956 l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. I2

/O 2l\` I I4 uw I NIMH April 4, 1961 J. N. covERT SEWING MACHINES l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 FIG. I5

April 4, 1961 J. N. COVERT 2,977,910

SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 1'?, 1956 l5 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. I6

J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES pril 4, 1961 l5 Sheets-Shee'c l1 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 FIG .22 |02 2 Alu J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES April 4, 1961 l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 J. N. covERT 2,977,910 SEWING MACHINES l5 Sheets-Sheet 14 April 4, 1961 Filed Jan. 17, 195e J. N. COVERT SEWING MACHINES April 4, 1961 l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan. 17, 1956 United States 2,977,910 SEWING MACHINES John N. Covert, Lombard, Ill., assigner to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinols Filed Jan. 17, 1956, Ser. No. 559,694

24 Claims. (Cl. IIL-255) This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines by virtue of which such machines may be operated more eiciently and at higher speeds than has heretofore been possible.

Toward the foregoing end, the machine embodies improved means for insuring proper lubrication of the bearing surfaces of various relatively moving parts. The machine to which the invention is directed is provided with a hollow frame having a work supporting base, a vertical standard, an overhanging arm and a needle bar carrying hollow head at the end of said arm. The invention is particularly concerned with a lockstitch machine of this character provided with a horizontal axis rotary hook in the base.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a single, relatively large lubricant reservoir in the base of the frame from which lubricant is supplied to all of the important bearing surfaces in the machine. This reservoir extends beneath a substantial portion of the work supporting surface of the base and beneath the vertical standard of the frame. In the preferred construction the machine is provided with a rotary drive shaft extending longitudinally of the base and another rotary drive shaft extending longitudinally of the overhanging arm, these shafts being interconnected by a ribbed or toothed belt within the vertical standard cooperating with a toothed pulley or sprocket on each of the shafts. Power is preferably supplied to the machine through a pulley secured to the upper shaft outside of the machine frame.

One aspect of the invention involves the provision of means adjacent the top of the vertical standard for collecting oil dispersed as a -mist by the rapid movement of the above mentioned belt through the body of oil contained in the lubricant reservoir. A portion of the oil so collected is delivered through a special conduit extending longitudinally of the overhanging arm into the needle head and to bearing means for the upper drive shaft. A wick member is provided in the conduit to serve as a lubricant storing means so that lubricant is available for immediate delivery to parts within the head and a beating for the upper shaft as the machine is put into operation. The arrangement is such as to insure the delivery of an adequate but not excessive amount of lubricant to the shaft bearing and to the parts requiring lubri cation within the needle head at all times. Provision is also made for the return to the main reservoir of any excess lubricant delivered through the special conduit.

Such return of excess lubricant is accomplished in part from the conduit itself, prior to delivery to the surfaces to be lubricated, and in part by special means for returning some of the oily actually delivered to the parts requiring lubrication. Various expedients are employed for the latterpu'r'pos'e', including'an automatic self-priming syplion for returning excess lubricant from a sump at the bottom of the needle head and anV arrangement for re-V turning` directly to the reservoir certain of the lubricant 2,977,911) Patented Apr. 4, 1961 2 which seeks to escape through a'necessary opening in the front wall of the needle head through which a thread takeup arm extends.` i

Another special feature involves the provision of lubricant collecting means within the needle head adapted'to deliver to certain parts within the head some of the lubri` cant dispersed as a mist within the head. This collecting means, moreover, is so constructed and arranged as to prevent the discharge of lubricant mist through certain openings necessarily provided in the Walls of the needle head.

As another feature of the invention there is provided in the needle head, as a part of a rotary member therein, a device for collecting some of the lubricant mist within said head and directing the same away fromthe above mentioned thread take-up arm and toward the means in said head for delivery of lubricant to points requiring lubrication.

A further special feature is the provision of readily accessible means for stopping the automatic delivery of lubricant into the needle head while continuing the delivery of lubricant to other surfaces Within the machine) This is desirabl'eto guard against the soiling' of certain special types of work as the result of the lubricant Imist normally created within the needle head.

Specilcally the improved cut-oit means comprises a plurality of lubricant conducting wick elements in series and means for disengaging one of the wick elements from another. The arrangement is such, moreover, that the main wick in the conduit within the overhanging arm still continues to deliver lubricant to the shaft bearing, through a Y branch, when delivery to operating parts within the head is cut off. When the control means is operated to shut off the automatic delivery of lubricant into the needle head a normally closed passage for the introduction of a small amount of oil by hand from an oil can is rendered accessible for this purpose. p

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of improved means for delivery of an accuratelyy controlled amount of lubricant from the main reservoir t'o the raceway of the rotary hook of the lockstitch machine. The arrangement is such that the quantity of lubricant supplied to the raceway may be quickly changed, to provide just the right amount of lubricant to meet the requirements of the hook, by the adjustment of a member which is readily accessible. Determination of the rate of delivery of oil from the main reservoir is in accordance with the effective length of a capillary conduit through which the oil is passed, the length of said conduit being determined by the relative positions of two rotary but normally stationary members of capillary char# acter.V The angular adjustment' of one of said members predetermines the length of the capillary conduit and thereby regulates the quantity of oil delivered. Onev of the' rotary members is partially immersed in the oil in the reservoir and the arrangement is such that oil picked up by said member is delivered to a selected point' on the other. Due to the rotary character of the two mem'-v bers Wear of the contacting surfaces, upon relative ad justment, is eliminated. Simple means'forming part of the devices for adjusting'at least one of said members serve to limit the extent of relative adjustment of said members. Certain parts within the reservoir serve to create a lubricant mist therein for the lubrication of various parts. Provision is made, however, for vpreventing delivery of this -mist to the capillary member which controls the quantity of lubricant delivered to the hook raceway. y

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of an illustrative `form of the same whichv will now be given in conjunction with the' accompanying drawings, in whichz' Fig. l is a view, largely in longitudinal, vertical section but partly in elevation, of a machine embodying the in- 'Figi 2 is an end elevationalviewiof the machinev as seen; from the left in Fig. .1, withfacover plate removed and a hood shown in section; i` I Fig.A 3 is 'a' transverse sectional viewthrough the machine, taken along the line 3,-3 of Fig. l, certain parts being removed or broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a' view largely in plan'but partly in horizontal section through the overhanging arm of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in end elevation, as seen from the right in Fig. 1, and partly in vertical section; i

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan viewv of the machine with abot- -tom plate ,for the reservoir removed;

view through portion of the overhanging arm of the Fig. 7V is an enlarged vertical sectionalv the head and a machine; Y

Fig, 8 is a detail view illustrating certain lubricating means for the needle bar;

Fig. 9 is -a detail view in vertical section through the crank and a portion of the pitman for operating the needle bar; 1

, Fig.' 10 is a transverse sectional Yview through a. por- .tion of the crank and pitman shown in Fig. 9;

' Fig. 1l is a perspective view of a wick retaining clamp; Fig. 12 .is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the needle head and a portion of the overhanging arm;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a bottom closure member for the main reservoir;

Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing cer- ;lainddetails of lubricant collecting means in the needle ea g Y Fig. 1 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along different planes through the needle head and a portion of the overhanging arm;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view through the needle head looking toward the front of the machine;

Fig. 17 is a detail view, in side elevation, of a wick retaining element within the head;

Fig. 18 is a view of the wick retaining element of Fig. 17 as seen from the right;

Fig. 19 is a detail view, in vertical section, of a por- Vtion of the needle head and shows certain Wick elements within the head; Fig. 2O isav detail view showing. largely in bottom plan but partly in section, means for delivering lubricant into the needle head;

Fig. 21 Ais a View, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, showing al portion of the needle thread take-up operating means, a wick element being shown removed ffrom said operating means and spaced slightly thererom;

Fig. 22 is an elevational view of a device for controllingthe automatic flow of lubricant to parts in the needle hea w Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 22;Y

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 23, with the control member omitted and its shank shown in section; Y

' Fig. 25 is a horizontal section through the needle head;

Figs. 26 and 27 are vertical sectional views through the device Vof Fig. 23 with `the control member shown in two different positions in thetwo views;

Figsl 2 8 and Y29 are plan views of the controlmember shown in relation to the frame in two dierent positions with respect thereto; Y

l Fig. 30 is a longitudinal sectional View through the hook shaft anda portion of the llubricant reservoir;

Fig. 31 Vis Aa transverse vertical section through the reservoir, taken along the-Aline `31-731 of Fig. 3G, showing control means for regulating the supply of lubricant to the hook;

Y standard 11, and an overhanging arm 12 terminating in a needle head 13. A-closure plate 14 is provided across a major portion of the bottom of the machine, including that part beneath the vertical standard and a substantial part beneath the work supporting surface of the base.

' This closure plate, in conjunction with vertical walls of the frame and the work supporting top of the base, provides a relatively large lubricant reservoir 15 adapted to retain a body of lubricant as shown in Fig. 1. The closure plate is secured to the bottom of the frame by means of a pair of Yscrews 16 which pass through upwardly extending bosses 17 on the plate.V One of the screws is threaded into a downwardly extending, intermediate wall 18 of the base of theframe, while the other screw is threaded into another intermediate, downwardly extending wall 19 of the frame. The arrangement of the Walls and vbosses is such that the lubricant reservoir is divided into several sections, but the walls 18 and 19 have passages therethrough so that the lubricant may iiow freely from one section to tl'ie'other to maintain the same level in all. Around the periphery of the plate 14 is an upstanding flange 20 (Figs. 1 and 13) having a groove 21 in its upper surface. `This Vgroove is arranged to receive and n retain a continuous band-like gasket 22, preferably formed of neoprene and preferably of circular cross-section. This gasket is squeezed against the bottom surfaces of the walls of the frame which surround and serve to enclose the lubricant reservoir 15; Gasket 22 thus provides an oil tight seal between the main body of the reservoir and the closure plate 14. As best shown in Fig. 1, the bottom wall of the closure plate 14 ispreferably curved slightly and, as shown in Fig. 13, is provided with upstanding ribs 23. Foot elements 24 extend downwardly from the plate 14 to permit the machine to rest firmly ona table top or the like. The formation of the closure plate 14 is such that a minimum area of its top surface requires machining in order to cooperate properly with the bottom surfaces of the walls of the main portion of Y the machine frame. Extending longitudinally of the overhanging arm 12 is Y' i. a rotary drive shaft 25 suitably journaled at its right end in a bearing sleeve 26 carried by the end wall of vertical standard 11 and journaled adjacent its left end in a bearing sleeve 27 carried by a partition wall 27a which serves to separate the needle head from the chamber within the i overhanging arm. At its right end the shaft 25 has secured thereto a combined handwheel and pulley 28 through which theV shaft may be turned by hand and also driven from a suitable power source. At its left end shaft 25 extends into the needle head and within the latter carries a crank member 29 of suitable construction, such as that disclosed inthe patent to Sauer, No. 2,324,- 598, granted July 20, 1943. This crank member carries a crank pin 31 (Fig. 2) cooperating with a strap at the upper end of a pitman or link 32., A needle bearing unit is preferably provided between the crank pin and the strap of the link 32. At its lower end the link 32 `is pivotally connected with --a block 33 clamped.V upon aA the machine. Another crank pin 3S carried by the crank member 29 is arranged to receive the strap portion of a lever 39 having an outwardly extending arm 40 which passes through a slot in the forward wall of the needle head and is provided with an eyelet to receive the needle thread. Arm 40 is a take-up member for the needle thread. A needle bearing unit is preferably provided between the crank pin 38 and the strap of lever 39. At v about its mid-point the lever 39 is pivotally connected with an arm 41 rockably mounted on a stud 42 carried by the needle head. The arrangement is such as to provide the desired up and down movements of the take-up arm 40 as the crank element 38 is carried around a circular path by rotation of shaft 25.

Cooperating with the needle in stitch formation, beneath the work supporting surface of the base of the machine, is a rotary hook having a rotary component 43 and a stationary bobbin retaining member 44. The rotary component is secured to a shaft 45 journaled in a bearing sleeve 46 carried by a downwardly extending wall 47 of the base and also by the left wall (Fig. 1) of the lubricant reservoir. Shaft 45 extends into the reservoir and within the latter carries a pinion 48 which meshes with a gear 49 secured to a rotarydrive shaft 50 which extends longitudinally of the base of the frame. Pinion 48 and gear 49 are such as to impart two revolutions to the rotary component 43 of the hook for each revolution of the shaft 50. This shaft is journaled in suitable bearings provided in the base of the frame, one of these being shown at 51 in Fig. l. Within the base of the vertical standard there is secured to the shaft 50 a pulley 52 which is connected by a belt 53 with a pulley 54 secured to the shaft 25. To insure a positive drive connection between the two shafts the belt 53 is provided with ribs or teeth on its inner face arranged to cooperate with grooves or teeth in the surfaces of the pulleys 52 and S4. Moreover, the belt 53 is formed of an oil resistant material, such as neoprene, so that it is not adversely' affected by the lubricant in the reservoir 15.

Suitable work feeding devices are embodied in the machine and, as illustrated, these may include a four motion feed dog 55 (Fig. 2) having a shank 56 by which it may be adjustably secured to the forward end of a feed bar 57 pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 58 on a feed rocker 59 rockably mounted in the base of the frame about the axis of a pivot 60. Adjacent its forward end the feed bar has a downwardly extending arm 61 with which is pivotally connected a pitman 62 having, at its upper end, a strap portion arranged to cooperate with an eccentric or crank pin at the end of the drive shaft 50 adjacent the point of stitch formation. Rocking movements are imparted to the feed rocker 59 by connections shown in Fig. 3. A stud or rock shaft 63 carried by the feed rocker 59 provides a pivotal connection between the latter and a pitman 64 having at its forward end a strap cooperating with an adjustable eccentric 65. Preferably, as shown, a needle bearing unit is provided between the eccentric 65 and the strap of the pitman 64. The adjustable eccentric may suitably be of the general type disclosed in the patent to Arthur N, H-ale, No. 2,718,- S60, granted September 27, 1955.

Cooperating with the feed dog in advancing the work is a presser foot 66 pivotally mounted upon a shank member 67 secured by a screw 68 to a presser bar 69. The latter, as best shown in Fig. 2, is mounted for vertical movement in a bearing sleeve 70 extending through the bottom wall of the needle head. Adjacent its upper end the presser bar is provided with a laterally extending arm 71 arranged to cooperate with a vertically extending guide slot in the rear wall of the needle head to prevent turning of the presser bar. Means are provided for lifting the presser bar and the presser foot from the work or the work supporting surface of the base whenever desired. This comprises a manually operable lever 72 having a cam formation arranged to cooperate with an arm 73a extending laterally from a collar 73 slidably mounted on the presser bar. As therk rearwardly extending arm of the lever 72 is lifted bythe operator, the arm 73a will be lifted into engagement with the arm 71 and will then lift the latter together with the presser bar. Another arm 73b extending laterally from the collar 73 (Fig. 25) serves to cam outwardly a pin 73e, as the collar is lifted, and releases the tension applied to the needle thread by a conventional type of thread tensioning device mounted in the front wall of the needle head. A neoprene gasket 73d surrounding a reduced portion of the barrel of the thread tensioning device provides a lubricant-tight seal for the latter. As best shown in Figs 2 and 15, a thread guiding element 74, carried by the arm 71 extends through a slot in the forward face of the needle head and is arranged to be lifted and lowered with the up and down movements of the presser bar. A spring 75 normally urges the presser bar downwardly, this spring having its lower end in engagement with the upper surface of arm 71 and its upper end in engagement with a shoulder on a threaded sleeve 76. The latter is provided with a knurled head 77 at the top of the frame by which the tension of the spring may be varied as desired.

Means are also provided for lifting the presser bar by connections from a foot treadle or knee-press. For this purpose a link 78 is pivotally connected at its lower end with the arm 73b and is pivotally connected at its upper end with a lever 79 which extends longitudinally of the overhanging arm and into the needle head. This lever is pivotally mounted by means of a screw stud S0 (Figs. l and 4') within a passage 12a in the overhanging arm which communicates with the needle head. Passage 12a is in rear of an enclosed chamber 12b Within the overhanging arm, which is in direct communication with the hollow of the vertical standard but is substantially sealed off from the needle head. At its right end the lever 79 has a laterally extending pin 81 which projects outwardly through an opening 12C in the rear wall ofthe overhanging arm. A link 82 cooperating with a groove adjacent the outer end of the pin 81 receives the upper end of a chain 83, the lower end of which is connected with a hook 84 (Figs. 2 and 5) which extends downwardly through an opening in a lateral extension of the base of the frame and at its lower end is connected with a rock member 85 (Figs. 5 and 6). This r'ock member is arranged to be rocked by suitable connections from a kneepress or treadle to bring about a rocking movement of the lever 79 which results in the lifting of the presser bar andpresser foot.

The machine in accordance with the present invention embodies-certain novel and particularly effective devices for insuring proper lubrication of all of the wear receiving surfaces within the overhanging arm and needle head. For this purpose lubricant is withdrawn or impelled from the main reservoir and delivered into the head. As shown in Fig. l, the pulley 52 and belt 53 are partially immersed in the lubricant within the reservoir 15, i.e. that part which extends below the vertical standard, and upon movement of these parts in the course of operation of the machine there is created a lubricant mist or spray within the vertical standard. A portion of this mist is collected by ribs extending downwardly from the top wall of the standard. Thus a rib 86 is arranged to collect lubricant from the mist and deliver a portion of it to a pocket 87 communicating with the bearing sleeve 26C A felt plug 87a, or the like, is preferably provided in a passage extending through the sleeve 26 rand a retainer 26a for the same. This serves to deliver a desirable amount of lubricant to the bearing surface of the sleeve 26. Another portionY of the lubricant collected by the rib 86 is delivered by a downwardly extending projection 86a into a trough 88l (Fig. 4) connected with a conduit 89 which extends through the chamber 12b of the overhanging arm to a hollow fitting 90. The latter is txedly mounted in the wall 27a which separatesV the space within the needle head from that within the chamber 12b of the overhainging arm. Within the fitting 904 and extending into the conduitv 89 is a wick element'91 which serves as a storage means for a suitable amount of lubricant; This insures immediate supply of lubricantrto certain parts on thecommencement of operation of the machine after it has been idle.` The arrangement, however, is -such that the delivery'oi ran excessive amount of lubricant into the needle head is prevented. For this purpose the litting 90 is provided with arprojection'92 which extends upwardly from the bottom wall of the opening through the tting. This projection forms aY wall `orrdam which servesjto prevent the direct delivery of lubricant'fromrthe conduit into a pocket 94 at the opposite side of the projection; The only lubricant delivered tothe pocket 94 is that conveyed bycapillary action through wicking 91. Excess lubricant which may be delivered through the conduit 89 is discharged through an opening 93 in the wall of the iitting 90 whichV serves-to return such "excess lubricant to the'chamber V12h of the overhangng arm from whichit is returned by gravity to the reservoir 15.V

VReferring now particularly to Figs. 7 and 20, there is provided within the pocket 94 a felt disc 95 which is held against a downwardly bent portion of the wick 91. In engagement with the opposite side of the disc 95 is a loop of a felt element 96 which is retained bya bracket member 97. This bracket member has a vertically extending portion positioned across the end of the fitting 90 and secured to the latter by means of screws 98. Member 97 also has a horizontally extending portion 99 having `a downwardly and outwardly extending branch 100 (Figs. 20 to 24). To the latter is secured, by screws or the like, a spring blade 101 which serves to support the upper oprtion of the felt element 96. 4On the top of the portion 99 of the bracket is mounted a felt strip 102 having a looped portion extending through the partV 99 and into engagement with the top surface of the element 96 in the region thereof carried by the plate 101. Normally the latter retainsthe felt elements 96 and 102 in firm but yielding engagement. Through the wick system described lubricant is delivered from the storage wick 91 into the needle head for distribution to various parts requiring lubrication within the head. Also it will be noted that a downwardly extending portion'91a (Fig.

4 7) of the wick 91 passes through aligned openings in the tting 90, the wall 27a and bearing sleeve 27 into engagement with the surface of the shaft for lubricating the latter. Such lubricant is not excessive since it is delivered only through the capillary action of the wick 91 and therefore little or no lubricant is delivered along the shaft 25 into the needle head. 7 For the delivery of lubricant from the felt pad 102 to various parts within the needle head, 'the horizontal portion 99 of the bracket 97 is provided with vdownwardly extending tubes 104, 105 and 106 through which extend loops of a wick element 107 (Fig. 22). The latter has portions resting upon the upper surface of the pad 102 and picks up lubricant from the'latter for delivery to the loops at the lower ends'of the tubes. That portion of the wick which extends through the tube 105 is arranged to cooperate with a groove 108 (Figs. 9 and l0) in the top of the strap ofthe pitman 32 as the latter is carried around by the crack element 31. The bottom of the groove 108 is at, as shown in Fig.l 10,` and communicates with a felt plug 109 which extends through the wall of the strap to the roller bearing which cooperates with the crank pin. The Wick loop projecting from the tube 10-4l cooperates in a similar manner with a groovein the strap of the lever 39 which surrounds the crank pin 38. In this way both of the roller bearing units are well lubricated. Similarlyrthe pivot 42 of the arm 41 is lubricated by oil delivered through the wick in tube 106 (Fig.'2). The loop =at`the lower endY ofthis wick cooperates with a groove 110 (Fig, 21) 4intheilutb 4of thelever 41 and de- Y S livers the lubricant to the bearing surface through an opening 111 which may, if desired, be provided with a felt' plug. 'Excess lubricant delivered along the pivot stud 42 forthe lever 41`is picked up by a section of' wicking 112 `which, is Vlooped around the stud adjacent the end of the hub and thiswick section serves to deliverlubricant to a cavity 114 in a pivot stud 115 at the opposite end of the Aarm 41 into which the wicking tits. From this cavity Vthe lubricant is delivered through an opening 1151i to thebearing surface .of the stud 115 about which the take-up lever 39, 40 is rocked.

`Provision'is made for shutting olf the automatic delivery of llubricant into the needle head in the manner described. This, as best shown in Figs. 2O to 24 and 42.6 to 29, comprises a disc 116 which is accessible at the top of the needle head. This'disc has a downwardly extending shank 117, the'lower endV of which carries a face cam 118 (Figs. 26 and 27) arranged to cooperate with an upwardly extending projection 119 on the spring" plate 101. When the disc 116 is in the position indicated in Fig. 27 the spring plate 101 is permitted to lift the felt strip 96 into contact with the loop of the felt pad 102 so Vthat automatic delivery of lubricant to the parts in the needle head is'brought about. VHowever, when the disc 116 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 26 the spring plate 101 is depressed to disengage the elements 96 Iand 102 and thus interrupt the flow of lubricant between these capillary members. At this time a desired amount of lubricant may be delivered into the needle head from an oil can through an opening 120 in the disc which is then aligned with a wick element 121 mounted in an opening through the top of the needle head. The lower end or" this element is directly above a portion of the felt pad 102 and serves to deliver a limited amount of lubricant to the latter. On the other hand, when the disc is turned into the position shown in Fig. 27 a small portion of the disc covers the top of the wick 121 to prevent hand oiling. To facilitate turning of the disc 116 it is preferably provided with a diametrically extending rib 122.

The movement of various parts receiving lubricant in the automatic manner described above serves to create a spray or mist within the needle head and some of the lubricant descends to a pocket at the bottom of the head. Means are provided for utilizing certain of this lubricant Vto lubricate other parts within the head, including the l such lubricant byrcapillary action for delivery to certain parts in the manner to be explained. The upper end of the strip 123 is held by a clamp element 124 which is secured against the inner face of the front wall of the head by means of a bolt 125 and a nut 126. On theroutside ofthe needle head the bolt 125 serves also to carry a thread guiding element 127. An opening 128 (Fig, 16) is provided through the felt strip 123 to permit the necessary movement of the thread guide 74 which, as previously indicated, is lifted and lowered with the up and down movements of the presser bar. Adjacent the inner face of -the strip 123 there is provided a bracket 129 having an upper portion provided with an opening 131 by which the -bracket may be secured by a screw (not shown) to the forward wall of the needle head. Bracket 129 has a shelf-like portion 132 which is inclined downwardly from the end of portion 130 both in the direction away from the'inner surface of the front wall of the head and in a direction along said wall. This shelf extends over lthe opening 12S in the strip 123 which it will be under- Y stood is aligned with a corresponding opening in the Wall of the head. It serves to prevent the direct discharge of lubricant through' said opening. At the lower end of the shelt` 132there is provided'a relatively thin linger 133 which extends downwardly along the inner face of the strip 123 xto hold the latter against the forward wall of the needle head. On the shelf 132 there is provided a felt strip 134 one edge of which is in engagement with the strip 123 and receives lubricant from the latter. Such lubricant includes that collected by the strip 123 from the spray or mist within the needle head and also that which is elevated by the capillary action of strip 123. Tue strip 134 has a portion thereof looped to provide a downwardly extending part 134a which is held by a spring clamp 135 (Figs. 7, 8, l1 and 16) against the lower portion of the bearing sleeve 36 for the needle bar. It is held by the clamp 135 against a felt block 136 carried within an opening extending through the lower reduced portion of sleeve 36 and thus serves to deliver lubricant to the surface of the needle bar 34.

As shown in Fig. 12 the front wall of the needle head is provided with a vertically extending slot 137 through which the take-up arm 40 extends and is moved up and down. Means are provided for collecting any lubricant which may be thrown through this slot upon movement of the parts within the head. This means comprises a hood 138 secured to the outer surface of the front wall of the head by means of screws 139. Hood 138 extends outwardly from the head, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

be thrown outwardly through the opening 137 in the manner explained. At its inner end the felt strip 140 is folded over and a portion at the bend thereof engages a portion of a wick element 141 which extends through an opening in the top wall of the needle head, through the partition wall 27a and into chamber 12b within the overhanging arm. Wick element 141 is preferably L-shaped as best shown in Fig. l2. It serves to return directly to the main reservoir the lubricant which is collected by the felt pad 140. The amount of lubricant which is thrown through the opening 137 is greatly reduced by the provision of an oil slinger 116:1 (Figs. 7 and 9) at the outer end of the crank element 31. It is secured to the crank element by a screw 31a and has a conical periphery which tends to throw oil collected by it toward the right, away from the opening 137.

Means are also provided for returning to the main reservoir excess lubricant which accumulates in a pocket 142 in the Ibottom of the needle head. For this purpose a Siphon tube 143 has its lower end immersed in the lubricant `within the pocket 142 (Fig. 15). Tube 143 passes through the partition wall 27a and then longitudinally v of the chamber 12a in the overhanging arm 12 (see Fig.

4). At its right end (Fig. 1) the tube 143 is connected into a fitting 144 which also has connected thereto a downwardly extending tube 145 forming the opposite leg of the siphon. This Siphon is of an automatic priming type and may suitably be of the character disclosed in the application of John G. Attwood, Serial No. 472,488, tiled December 1, 1954, now Paten-t No. 2,780,192, granted February 5, 1957. 1t includes a cup 146 carried at the upper end of a vertical tube forming an extension of the leg 145 above the fitting 144. This cup is arranged to receive lubricant which is collected by a rib, similar to the rib 86 shown in Fig. 1, at the top of the vertical standard. The construction of the Siphon as a whole is such, as explained in said Attwood application, as to insure prompt and automatic priming thereof whenever the machine is put into operation. By appropriate restriction of the passages at the various points of the Siphon which have access to air, i-t is prevented from becoming airlocked and serves to retain the siphon tube appropriately filled with lubricant to insure its proper operation, even though the lubricant in the pocket of the needle head may drop below the inlet of the siphon.

To enable the operator to determine vat all times the 10 level of the lubricant lwithin the reservoir 15', an oil gauge 147 is provided at a suitable height along the front wall 0f the Vertical standard 11. This oil gauge is controlled by a float 148, preferably formed of cork, mounted onl the end of a horizontally extending arm of a lever 149, as best shown in Figs. l, 5, and ,6. Lever 149 is rockably mounted upon a pin 149a which extends inwardly from a disc 149b having a screw stud 149C by which it is secured to the forward wall of the reservoir. Pin 14951 extends from the disc 149 at a point eccentric to the axis of the screw stud 149e and thus enables appropriate ad- 152 carried by the arm 151 adjacent its pivot cooperates with suitable indicia on the face of the gauge to indicate the height of the lubricant within the reservoir 15. When the level of the lubricant is low additional lubricant may be supplied through a fitting 153 at the top of the overhanging arm 12, which is normally closed by -a cover 154 suitably attached to the fitting for pivotal movement thereon. The lubricant so introduced passes through the chamber 12b of the overhanging arm and descends into the reservoir at the bottom of the frame.

Means are provided for delivering lubricant from the supply in Vthe main reservoir 15 to various bearing surfaces within the base of the machine. For the purpose of lubricating the bearings for the main shaft 50, and certain parts driven thereby, this shaft is hollow and provided with a bore (Fig. 6) into which is fitted, at the end of the shaft within the vertical standard, a plug 161 having a tapered opening. Some of the lubricant mist within the vertical standard, on dripping back to the main reservoir, is caught by a member 162 secured to the bottom plate 14 of the reservoir by screws 163 (Figs. 1 and 32). -Member 162 has a laterally extending portion which collects the lubricant and delivers it to a downwardly extending point 164 which is disposed adjacent to the opening in the plug 161. The collected lubricant thus drips into the bore of the shaft 50 and, by virtue of the tapered opening in the plug 161, is forced toward the left (Fig. 1) along the bore. Radial openings in the shaft 50 aligned with various bearing surfaces to be lubricated serve to deliver the lubricant to those surfaces.

The gears 48 and 49, through which the hook shaft 45 is driven, are lubricated by virtue of the fact that gear 49 is partially immersed in the lubricant within the main reservoir. The hook shaft as shown in Fig. 30 extends through the left wall of the reservoir and projects into the reservoir to a substantial extent. Adjacent its inner end it is journaled in a bushing 165 carried by a wall or partition 166 which extends downwardly from the work supporting surface of the base. This wall or partition does not extend completely across the width of the reservoir, but is of sufficient width to confine any spray generated by the gear 49 to the region at the left of the partition. This prevents the undesirable delivery of lubricant to the devices, now to be described, which serve to supply lubricant to the raceway of the hook.

The means for delivering lubricant to the hook raceway involves a capillary delivery path of variable length. In this respect it operates on the same principle as the arrangement disclosed in the Attwood et al. application, Serial No. 474,142, filed December 9, 1954, now Patent No. 2,863,412, granted December 9, 1958. However, in accordance with the present invention certain improvements have been incorporated in the system. The irnproved construction utilizes a disc-like wick member 167 which is at all times partially immersed in the lubricant within the reservoir 15. Element 167 is formed of felt or other suitable capillary material and carries a metal

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