US485176A - Sewing-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Smetssheet 1. A; A. CUMING. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. l, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. A. CUMING. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. l, 1892.

a im a 12 a? wf -sal m? (No Model.) I 4 sheetssheen 3. A. A. GUMING.

SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

wr/asses. Zaznow immagJ/m @M (No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 4. A A CUMING SEWING MACHINE.

No. 485,176. Patented Nov. l, 1892.

@gered 05. Cunt/rg 5gg/My@ f77 mega Urt-WED STATES PATENT EErcE.

ALFRED A. CUMING, OF HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,176, dated November 1, 1892. Application filed January 11, 1892. Serial No.`417,669. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED A. CUMING, of Ilingham, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing-Machines,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

The machine herein to be described has been devised for the production of a stitch substantially as described in United States Patent No. 413,647, granted to me October 29, 1889. The stitch referred to is composed of three threads, one at one and two at the other side or face of the material. For the mechanical production of said three-threaded stitch I have devised an organization comprehending an eye-pointed penetrating-needle to carry a thread through the material, supported, preferably, upon a horn, a looper carrying a second thread and working in the arc of a circle about a substantially-vertical pivot, said looper entering and pulling aloop of looper-thread in the loop of needle-thread, an under or third thread-carrier resembling a needle and actuated to enter the loop of looper-thread, and a thread-catcher to enter and hold the loop of third thread after the latter has been passed through the loop of looper-thread. As the stitch is drawn up, set, and finished the loop of needle-thread acts to draw into the material a doubled part of the looper-thread, together with a doubled part of the third thread, the loop of third thread, not itself locked by the passage of another thread through it, serving by being bent through and aboutabight of thelooperthread to keep the latter in the loop of needle-thread. The stitch referred to shows at one side staple-like stitches from one thread and at its other side staple-like stitches from two threads, the latter in practice being of the same or diiferent sizes or materials. The stitch when in the material resemblesalockstitch, and while it has all the advantages of a lock-stitch it is stronger and possesses greater elasticity, the loops of thread filling the hole made by the awl to a greater extent than is possible with a lock or shuttle stitch or with an ordinary chain-stitch, and consequently the stitch is especially advantageous enable the looper referred to to work equally well with whatever diametered needle is employed I have mounted the looper-pivot on a feeler-block, which prior to the entrance of the looper into the loop of needle-thread feels' for and takes a bearing in the needle then in the material, the feeler feeling the needle below the work-support. In this Way the center of motion of the looper is always correct, whatever the diameter of the needle.

Prior to myinvention l am aware that three threads have been used in a stitch; but I am not aware that any machine has ever had below the cloth-support and co-operating with an eye-pointed thread-carrying penetratingneedle two independently-actuated threadcarriers, such as the looper and needle referred to, the former leaving a loop in the loop of needle-thread and the latter leaving an unlocked loop in a loop of looper-thread, but not being itself locked.

This invention in sewing-machines does not seek to cover two eye-pointed threadfcarryin g needles above the material and a thread-carrying looper below the material to, by its thread, engage and lock the loops of needle-thread and in turn have its loop locked by the needlc-thread, as such devices have been used for buttonhole and overseaming work, (see United States Patent No. 25,692, October et, 1859,) the stitch made showing threads enchained at the lower' side of4 the material. I am also aware that two diagonally-placed eyepointed thread-carrying needles have penetrated the material from its upper side one after the other for successive stitches, and that a third needle, also penetrating the upper side of the material and having a hook, has taken the thread from each of said nee-` dles in succession and drawn loops thereof up through the material, enchaining a loop of thread taken from one needle with a loop of thread taken from the other needle, the

chain being between the parallel rows of stitches made by the eye-pointed needles, as in United States Patent No. 250,990.

' Figure l in right-hand side elevation repre- IOO sents a sewing-machine embodying my invention, the feeding-sleeve being represented as broken out to illustrate its co-operation with the needle-bar; Fig. l, a detail of part of the needle-bar and needle. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation thereof. Fig. 2a shows the oscillating yokevdetached. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation with the framework broken away,

so as to show the operative parts otherwise concealed by the framework. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cam B5. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cam G', Fig. 6, an enlarged view of part of the work support or horn containing the stitch-forming devices which co-operate with the eye-pointed needle partially shown directly above it. Figs. 'Z--and S show different positions of the stitch-forming devices in the production of the stitch'. Figs. 9 and 10 are details to be referred to, Fig. lO being an under side view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 9.

The framework consists, essentially, of a base or column A,'having an overhanging neck or arm A2, to the forward end of which is adjustably con nected, by bolts or set-screws A3, a carriage A4, in the front end of which are suitableebearings for the needle-bar A5, it having at its lower end a suitable needle A6. Loosening the bolts or screws A3, their shanks being of less diameter than the holes of the overhanging arm` through which they are extended, enables the needle bar and needle to be adjusted to place the latter correctly with relation to the throat of the worksupport.

The framework referred to has suitable bearings for the main shaft B of the machine, it having, as shown, arsuitable iiy or drive Ywheel YB" and a series of cams, to be described,

which operate the various parts of the machine. In this present instance of my invention the work-support A7 is made in the shape of a horn, the said work-support being attached to the framework by suitable screws A8.

Heretofore great difficulty has been experienced in attempts to use a narrow smallended horn` in connection with a sewing-machine making a stitch with more than a single thread; but by experiment I have devised stitch forming devices, which I shall presently describe, which take up but very little room, are capable of being operated within the practical limitations of the tip of a horn, leaving the latter `of such small size as to readily reach any part of the interior of a shoe which is to be stitched.

The needle-bar A5 in the present embodiment of my invention has at one side a loose block d, (represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and'by full lines in Fig. 1,) which block is embraced by theV slotted end of a needle-baractuating lever ]32, pivoted at B3, and having at itsother end a suitable roller or other stud a,which enters a groove B4 in a cam B5, fast on the shaft B, the said cam having at its opposite side a groove B6, (see Fig. 4,) in which enters a roller or other stud a?, (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2,) attached to one end ofV a looper-actuating lever 0.3, having its fulcrum at a4 and connected by a link a5 with a lever a, to be described. The cam B5 has a roller or other stud b, (shown by dottedlines, Fig. 2,) which acts on a lever B7, pivoted at BS and connected'in suitable manner, as by a link B9, with a foot-lifting lever B10 (represented as pivoted at B12) on a suitable stand. The foot-lifting lever B10 has at its outer end a swivel-post C, to which is adj ustably connected by a screw C a stud C2, which by a link C3 is attached in suitable manner to the upper end of the foot-carrying bar C4, the connection shown in the present instance being by a loop injthe lower end of theY link, which embraces a set-screw of a collar fast upon the said bar C4 by a set-screw.

The feed-carrying bar is extended through suitable bearings of a frame C5, pivoted at CG upper and lower ends of the outer portion of the carriage A4, so that the said oscillating yoke may be moved about the needle-bar in any direction, the pivot C6, referred to, being substantiallyin line with the longitudinal center of the needle-bar, the yoke referred to being capable of being rotated partially to the right or left about the' needle-bar, according to the direction it is desired to feed the material by or through the action of the foot C8 at the lower end of the bar C4. One of the bearings for the bar C4 is marked 2, and said bar is surrounded by a strong spring 3, one end of which rests against the said bearing and its :other end against an adjustable.col-V lar 4 on the bar, the spring acting normally to keep the foot down upon the material.

The upper end of the frame C5 has a feedregulating device,(shown as a screw a5,)the inner end of which or a block at the said inner end contacts with a feed-cone D, and by the said cone the said frame C5 is caused to vibrate in one or another direction when the foot is rising upon the material to thus feed the said material on the horn, the operator controlling the direction of feed by turning the yoke andframe C5 more or less about the longitudinal center of the bearing for the needle-bar.

The feeding-cone is represented as a sleeve having a cam-shaped or beveled lower end d and a closed upper end d, the sleeve deriving its vertical movements by the contact of the upper end of t-he needle-bar with the said cap d, the sleeve being guided in its vertical movements by a portion of the bearing through which the needle-bar Works.

The frame C5 has a beveled shoulder r, against which the beveled part c Z of the feeding-sleeve acts as the sleeve is lifted, the screw a5, referred to, contacting with the body of the sleeve as the latter descends, and by turning the screw in or out the feed may be shortened or lengthened. It is obvious ICO that the foot and bar perform not only the functions of a presser foot and bar, but also of a feed foot and bar.

In the feeding apparatus above described the frame C5 is free to vibrate by or through the action of the feeding-cone about a center substantially in line with the longitudinal center of the needle-bar, as thereby when the foot is moved to feed the material the spring also acts to keep the foot down upon the material and the feed of the material is always toward the needle, or from the operator toward the needle, or the feed is toward the throat in the work-support. This feeding mechanism, however, is not hereinclaimed, but forms subject-matter of another application, Serial No. 417,659. The needle is supplied with a thread 5, taken from a suitable spool or support and led, preferably, first through a guide 6, thence about a suitable tension device 7, which may be a pulley, thence through a guide 8 and a take-up 9, thence through a suitable guide 10 and through a slot in the needle-bar, (see Fig. 1a, where the lower end of the needle-bar is represented as enlarged,) and then through the Veye of the needle.

The take-np device 9 is represented as a rod guided at 12 in a suitable loop or bearing `and extended through a swivel-block 13, (see Fig. 1,) attached to the upper end of a lever 14,pivoted at l5, and having a suitable roller or other stud, which enters a cam-groove (the shape of which is best shown in Fig. 1) in a cam F., fast on the shaft B. The shaft has B fast upon ittwocamsGH. The cam G (see Fig. 5) has a groove G', which receives a roller or other stud projecting from onearm ofalever G2, having its fulcrum upon the rod a4, the opposite end of the said lever being attached by a suitable link or connection, as G3, to one end of a thread-carrier G4, which carries the third thread marked t. In order to adjust the position of the thread-carrier G4 correctly with relation to the other parts, it is preferred to and the junction of the connection G3 with the lever G2 is made in an adjustable manner, as by a small plate or block G6, it having a slot through which is extended a suitable screw 18. The cam H has in its inner side a groove, the shape of which is best shown by the dotted lines H in Fig. 2, said groove receiving a roller or other stud h at the upper end of a lever H2, having its fulcrum on the rod a4, the opposite end of the said lever being adjustably joined, as described, with relation to the lever G2 with a connection H3, operatively joined with the loop detainer or holder h', pivoted at h2 upon the work-support or horn, the point of the said loop-detainer being projected upwardly, the connection being attached to it between its fulcrum and its free end. The looper d6, the shape of which is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, has an eye, through which is extended a looper or second thread Z, taken from some suitable spool or bobbin. (Not shown.) This looper has" its fulcrum upon a stud al, erected upon a feeler a", in this present instance of my invention slotted at its under side, as atcg, to receive and be guided by suitable studs, as d10, (represented by dotted lines in Fig. 6,) said studs or projections guiding the said feeler in its movements. The front end 19 of the feeler is so shaped or arranged as to contact with the rear side of the needle when the latter is down through the material and preparatory to the passage of the point of, the looper through the loop of needle-thread drawn out from the eye-pointed needle A6. A spring cl2, suitably supported in the horn or worksupport acts against a portion of the said feeler andV serves normally to push the feeler toward the tip of the horn, the said spring operating to move the feeler in that direction whenever the connection af is moved in the direction of the arrow near it win Fig. 6, preparatory to and as the looper d6 commences to move in the direction to pass through the loop of needle-thread, the movement of the feeler, however, taking place, and the point 19 thereof coming in Vcontact with the needle, as stated before, the point of the looper arrives in position to enter the loop of needle-thread. This feature of mounting the looper upon a movable carriage or feeler the position of which is registered with relation to the needle preparatory to the passage of the looperwith its thread through the loop of needle-thread constitutes a novel feature of my invention, and by itit is possible for the looper to properly co-operate with a needle of any usual diameter without adjustment of parts.

Prior to my invention I am not aware that a looper of any form has ever been mounted upon a feeler so that the pivotal point of the looper might be automatically put into cor rect operating position with relation to a nee dle whatever may be the diameter thereof, so this part of my invention is not limited to the exact form of devices shown. In other words, the employment of the feeler preceding the action of the looper' insures always the correct entrance of the looper into the loop of needlethread. The connection a5 in this present embodiment of my invention is represented as a wire, one end of which is bent up and enters a slot 2l in the looper.

I will now brieiiy describe the operation of the stitch-forming devices, it being supposed that a stitch has already been made. The needle A6 will be made to penetrate the material. The camgroove B6, acting on the lever A3, will start the looper forward after the needle reaches its lowest position, and at the same time the spring @12 will cause the feeler to contact with the side of the needle and immediately thereafter the point of the looper a6 will enter the loop of needle-thread. The needle A6 will penetrate the material, and by the time that the needle reaches substantiallyits lowest position the feeler, by or through the IOO action of the 'spring cl2, permitted by the cain B6, controlling the looper a, will come against the rear side of the needle.v The looper, being then in correct position with relation to the needle, will be moved about its fulcrum to enter the loop of needle-thread, the carrier G4 for the third thread will instantly be thrust forward through the loop of looper-thread, and the thread catcher or detainer h will rise and enter the loop of third thread, the parts being then. substantially as in Fig. '7. Now the carrier for the third thread starts back, leaving its loop in the loop of looper-thread and held by the thread-catcher h', and as or about as the third thread-carrier is so being retracted the needle rises through the work, the looper retaining the loop of needle-thread until the eye of the needle A6 is substantially out of the work, when the looper is retracted, leaving the threads substantially as in Fig. 8. The needle now continues to rise, drawing the loop of looper-thread yet in it and in doubled 1 form into the work, and just before the needle linishes its upper stroke to set the stitch and actuate the feed the loop catcher or detain er retires from theloop of looper-thread, so that the needle as it completes and draws the loop of looper-thread into the material Will also draw the bent or doubled end of the third thread t into the hole in the stock made by the needle.

- seam. During this operation of forming the stitch the take-up is actuated to aid in setting the stitch, and the needle-bar as it is completing its upward movement lifts the conical feeding-sleeve and effects the feeding of the material for a new stitch. It will be noticed that the foot U8 never draws the material away from the needle after a stitch or draws it vfrom the needle toward the operator; but, on the contrary, the footwhen it acts to feed the material pushes the material from a circle outside the needle hole of the ma-l may be variously modified without departing from my invention, and it. will alsobe obvious that the shape and direction of movementof the 'actuating parts of the devices referred to, especially those contained in the` horn, would have to be modified in order to adapt the stitch-forming mechanism to a machine having a flat bed.

I claiml. A sewing-machine containing the following instrumentalities, viz: an eye-pointed thread-carrying needle to penetrate the material, a work-support, a thread-carryinglooper located below the material and co-operating with the said needle, a thread-carrier to contain and present a third thread, and a loopdetainer to enter and detain temporarily the loop of third thread, whereby the latter is retained in doubled form in the loop of looperthread during the time that the needle-bar rises to draw the loop of looper-thread into the material, substantially as described.

2.V The Work-support, a needle, and a feeler to Contact with the needle, combined with a looper having its fulcrum on said feeler and adapted to co-operate with the needle, substantially as' described.

3. The reciprocating eye-pointed needle, a thread-carrying looper adapted to put a loop of its thread through the loop of needlethread, and a third thread-carrier adapted to enter the loop of looper-thread, combined with a loop-catcher to hold the loop of third thread andcause the latter to hold the loop of looper-thread while the said loop of looperthread is being drawn into and concealed in the work by the loop ot' needle-thread, substantially as described.

4. The horn constituting a work support, the movable carriage or feeler thereon, the circularly moving thread carrying looper having its fulcrum on the said carriage, and

an eye-pointed needle and needle-bar, combined with devices to actuate the said needle, looper, and carriage, substantially as described.

v5. The overhanging arm, the carriage 'adjustable thereon and having bearings for the needle bar, .the needle bar therein, its attached needle, means to actuate 'the needlebar, and the horn-like work-support, combined with the feeler and the circularly-movable thread-carryin g looper mounted thereon, a carrier for athird thread, and devices to move the said feeler-looper and third threadcarrier, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED A. CUMING.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT.

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