US613474A

US613474A - Thread-controlling device for sewing-machines

Info

Publication number: US613474A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1915-11-01

Description

N0. 6|3,4 74. Patented Nov. I, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.

THREAD CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1 896. Renewed Mar. 26, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

-Wi6nesses: $92M TNE NDRRX; PETERS co.. Mauro-m0" WASHINGTON. 0.1:.

FRANCIS HFRICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

THREAD-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,474, dated November 1, 1898. Application fil d September 30, 1896. Renewed March 26, 1898. Serial No. 675,335. N m d L To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, Farmers H. RICHARDS,a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thread-controlling means for the needle-thread of a sewing-machine, the object thereof being to provide an improved device of this character adapted to be placed in such position that it will preferably be in close proximity to the needle and operable to permit the freeadvance of the thread, but effectually prevent the premature backward movement or retraction thereof during the first part of the upstroke of the needle, whereby in that class of machines in which it is necessary to form a loop for the looper or shuttle and which loop is formed on the downward movement of the-needle and expanded on the upward movement of the needle by the friction of its thread with the fabric the thread will be held against premature retraction, due to its taut or stretched condition,by this improved controlling means, and the proper loop will thus be formed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front view of a part of a machine-head, together with a presser-foot, needlebar, and needle,with one form of this improved threadcontrolling means in position adjacent to the lower end of said needle-bar. Fig. 2 is a side view looking toward the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in line a a, Fig. 2, and thus illustrates a top view of this form of controlling means. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side viewof this thread-controlling device, a part thereof being broken away. Fig.' 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken in line 6 e, Fig. 4, and shows one form of fastening means for securing the controlling means to the needle-bar. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken in line b b, Fig. 4, and looking toward the left; and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another form of bracket having therein a coiled-spring controller of a different contour from that shown in Fig. 4.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

While this improved thread controlling means can beused in connection with various sewing-machines, it is, however, more especially adapted for that class of machines in which it is necessary to form a loop from the needle-thread for the looper or shuttle to engage and which loop is expanded on the inauguration of the upstroke of the needle by the friction of the needle-thread with the fabric or work and in which it has been found in practice that on such upstroke of the needlethe thread, being taut or under tension, is somewhat drawn backward or retracted and slipsthrough the eye of the needle, thus oftentimes preventing the proper formation of a loop below the work, and therefore in order to prevent this premature backward movement or retraction of the thread I have provided improved thread-controlling means adapted to be secured to aneedle-bar, preferably adjacent to the lower end thereof, whereby it will bein close proximity to the needle, and consequently in close proximity to the upper side of the fabric when the needle has passed through the same and is about to commence its upstroke, and operable effectually to prevent the premature retraction of the thread and thus prevent the proper loop to be formed.

It will be understood that the construction v or disposition of the controlling means,where= by it will be operablein close proximity to the needle, and consequently in as close proximity to the upper side of the fabric at the inauguration of the upstroke of the needle as the presser-foot will permit or it is deemed de sirable, is somewhat important, as it will thus be in position to operate effectively on the thread comparatively close to the needle-eye, and thus hold the slack portion of the thread, which is necessary to form the loop, from slip ping backward on the upward movement of the needle.

This improved thread-controlling means comprises in a general way a supporting means or bracket having a thread guide or guides and a thread-controller disposed in position to permit the free advance of the thread, but prevent the premature backward movement or retraction thereof, such controlling means being preferably and as herein shown so dis-- posed that it will be in position at a compara tively short distance above the fabric or work when the needle commences its upward movement, and in the preferred form thereof, herein shown and described, it comprises supporting means in the nature of a bracket 10, terminating at one end thereof in a sleeve or hub 12, having an interiorly-threaded projection 13 at one side thereof, and which sleeve or hub is adapted to encircle the needle-bar m and be removably secured thereto by any suitable or desired fastening means. In the structure shown, however, said sleeve or hub is secured to the needle-bar by a set or thumb screw 14, the threads 15 of which, howey er, are in position to engage the threads of said projection 13, whereby the inner end 16 of said thumb-screw can be left unthreaded to project into a smooth-bored aperture 17 of the needle-bar, thus obviating the necessity of forming a screw-threaded aperture in the needle-bar. This improved fastening means can also be used, if desired, to secure the needle 0: in position by simply extending the bore 17 so as to communicate with the needle-slot, whereby the needle will be held in position by the end of such fastening device and can be released without releasing the controlling means from its position. This fastening device is shown provided with a squared or T- shaped knurled head 18, whereby it cannot only be used as a thumb-screw, but can also be manipulated by means of a wrench, if desired.

The bracket 10 in one form thereof embodies a pair of extending

arms

21 and 22, one, as 21, projecting upward and being provided at its outer end with a guide device (shown in the nature of a querl or spiral loop 23) for the passage of the thread, while the other arm, as 22, extends downward with its lower end below the hub or sleeve 12 and adjacent to the needle w, and is likewise provided with a thread-guide device, also in the nature of a querl or spiral loop 24L,which may be shaped or bent around said needle 00 or disposed at one side thereof, as in the form shown. in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. The bracket intermediate the inner ends of these

arms

21 and 22 is formed to obtain a thread support or bed, and said bracket is therefore in one form thereof shown having a curved rear wall 20, terminating at its under side in a laterally extending transversely curved thread support or bed 25, which is also preferably longitudinally curved for guiding the thread intermediate the guide devices 23 and 2t, and terminating at its upper side in aparallel laterally-extendin g transversely-curved flange 26.

Secured to the bracket in any suitable or desired way is a thread-controller adapted to permit the forward passage or advance of the thread at all times, but absolutely prevent the premature backward movement or retraction of the same 011 the inauguration of the upward movement of the needle, and which thread-controller may be of various forms and constructions; but in one preferred form thereof shown it comprises a series of parallel members, each member of which may be in the nature of a coil, whereby the whole forms a coiled spring 30. This spring is secured intermediate the curved thread-bed 25 and the curved flange 26, which is provided on its under side with a series of transversely-extending grooves 27, one for each coil of the spring, whereby such coil has a pivotal bearing engagement with its groove. This spring may be held in place in any desired way, but is herein shown secured in position by means of a member 33, extending through the coils thereof and having its ends bent over the outer side of the flange 26. From the foregoing it will thus be seen that the upper portion of each coil acts as a pivot for the move ment of the lower portion thereof, whereby as the needle on its downstroke draws the thread forward the coils will be actuated in a longitudinal direction therewith to permit the thread to pass freely beneath the same; but when the needle commences its upstroke the coils swing in the opposite direction and firmly engage or clamp the thread on the bed 25, thus preventing the premature backward movement or retraction of such thread. The spring of course is constantly under tension, whereby it will always prevent the backward movement of the thread beneath the same, this being preferably obtained by having said spring of substantially the same diameter as the distance between the bed 25 and flange 26, whereby when the thread is in position the spring will be forced out of its normal position and the coils thus always held in inclined position and under tension. The same result might also be accomplished by forming the coils of slightly-larger diameter than the distance between said flange and threadbed.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the spring is shown having its coils provided with flat top and under faces, the thread bed or support 25 and the flange 26 being shown flat transversely thereof, in this instance-to conform to the contour of the spring.

In the construction shown it will be seen that the under face of each bracket is preferably longitudinally curved and also transversely curved, whereby injury to the hand of the operator is avoided should the bracket strike the same during the operation of the machine.

In threading the machine it will be seen that the thread can be quickly and easily drawn beneath the controller by drawing such thread from the outer edge of the bed 25 inward toward the side wall of the bracket and that once in position the controller automatically operates to always permit the advance thereof, but effectively prevents the premature retraction of the same.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. Thread-controlling means comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a needle-bar and having a support or bed for the thread and a flange above said bed, and a threadcontroller disposed on said bracket and comprising a coiled spring located between said flange and bed and operable to permit the forward passage of the thread but prevent retraction thereof.

2. The combination, with a needle-bar, of a bracket provided with thread-guides one of which surrounds the needle, and a threadcontroller located between said guides.

3. Thread-controlling means for a sewingmachine, comprising a bracket, having a thread support or bed and a pair of extending arms, each provided with a thread-guide, and a thread -controller disposed on said bracket and comprising a coiled spring having fiat upper and lower faces and operable to engage the thread on its passage over said bed,to thereby prevent the retraction thereof.

4. The combination,with a sewing-machine needle-bar and its needle, of thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a thread support or bed and also having an extending arm provided with a guide device encircling the needle, and a thread-controller supported in position on said bracket to engage the thread on its passage over said bed and operable to prevent the retraction of the same.

5. Thread-controlling means for a sewingmachine, comprising a bracket having a thread support or bed and a laterally-extending flange provided on its under side with transversely-extending grooves, and a threadcontroller comprising a spring seated in said grooves, whereby said controller is in position to engage the thread on its passage over the bed and prevent the retraction thereof.

6. Thread-controlling means for a sewingmachine, comprising a bracket having a laterally-extending transversely-curved thread support or bed and a pair of extending arms, each of said arms being provided with a guide device adjacent to one end thereof, said bracket also having a laterally-extending transversely-curved flange provided with a series of grooves on its under side, and a thread-controller comprising a coiled spring secured in position with a coil resting in each of said grooves, respectively, whereby the controller is operable to engage the thread on its passage over said bed and prevent the retraction thereof.

7. In combination, with a sewing-machine needle-bar carrying a needle, thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a hub or sleeve encircling said needle-bar, Y

and fastening means for securing the same in position, said bracket having a thread support or bed and a pair of extending arms, each provided with a thread-guide adjacent to one end thereof, and a controller comprising a coiled spring secured to said bracket and operable to prevent the retraction of the thread.

8. In combination, with a sewing-machine needle-bar having a transversely-extending smooth-bored aperture and carrying a needle intersecting said aperture, thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a thread support or bed and a hub or sleeve encircling said bar and provided with an interiorlythreaded projection; fastening means therefor comprising a screw having threaded and non-threaded portions, the former engaging the threads of the projection and the latter extending into the transverselyextending bore of the needle-bar and adapted to engage the needle to clamp the same in position; and a thread-controller secured to said bracket and operable to engage the thread on its passage over said bed and prevent the retraction of the same.

'. 9. Thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a thread support or bed and a thread controller consisting of a coiled spring having the coils thereof extending transversely of the plane of movement of the thread, whereby the controller is operable to prevent the retraction of said thread.

10. In combination, with a sewing-machine needle-bar and its needle, thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a hub or sleeve encircling said bar and secured thereto adjacent to the lower end thereof, said bracket comprising an arm at its-upper end provided with a guide device, an arm at its lower end projecting in close proximity to the needle and also provided with a guide device encircling said needle, a laterallyextending longitudinally and transversely curved thread support or bed, and a laterally-extending transversely-curved parallel flange intermediate said arms, said flange having a series of transversely-extending grooves on its under side; and a thread-controller comprising a spring having a series of coils, each coil thereof having a pivotal engagement in one of said grooves, respectively, whereby the controller is operable to engage the needle-thread on its passage over the bed and prevent retraction thereof.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, HENRY BISSELL.