US623098A

US623098A - Shoe-sewing machine

Info

Publication number: US623098A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1916-04-11

Description

No. 623,098. Patented Apr. Il, |899. F. A. MILLS.

SHOE SEWING MACHINE. (App-licaton tiled Sept. 9,1896. Renewed Feb. 8, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

IN l mun-rml, D. c.

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No. 623,098. V Patented Apr. Il, |899.

F. A. MILLS.

SHOE SEWING MACHINE. (A'ppliction filed. Sept. 9, 1896. Renewed Feb. 8,1899.) (No Model.)

No. 623,098. Patented Apr. II,- I899.

F. A. MILLS.

SHOE SEWING MACHINE. (Applcaton filed Sept. 9, 1 8'96. Rnawed Feb. B, 1899.)

4 SheetS--Sheet 3 (No Model.)

ATTO Eyf lm. 623,098.l Patented Apr. ||,'|899. F. A. MlLLS.

SHOE SEWING MACHINE. (Application filed Sept. 9, 1896. Renewed Feb. 8, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(N0 Model.)

By W

. WIM/8858.'

` Arrofys PATENT rrrcn.

FRANCIS ARTHUR MILLS, OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-SEWING MACHINE.

' SPECIFICATION forming pere ef Letters Patent No. 623,098, dated April 11, 1899. Application filed September 9, l896. Renewed February 8, 189.9.v Serial No. 704.986. (No model.)

These improvements consist of certain' novel parts and combinations of parts, which are particularly.designated in the claims.

rlhe features to which my improvements are specially ldirected are the work-supporting parts, and particularly the back-gage, to obtain a more satisfactory working thereof in supporting the shoe while the stitch is being set and tightened and a more sensitive yielding function in the contact of the back-gage with the shoe; also, in the combination with the stitch-forming mechanism, comprising a needle and an independent stitch-tightening device, the work-supporting mechanism comprising a back-gage consisting of a lever and balanced springs engaging with said lever and acting oppositelyon one end thereof, whereby a yielding pressure is imposed upon the work during the penetration of the needle, and means for locking the said lever during the retraction of the needle and the pulling action of the stitch-tightening device, whereby the pull of said stitch-tightening device upon the work is opposed.

I have represented in the accompanying drawings so much of a shoe-sewing machine as will enable those skilled in the art to apply and use my said improvements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in elevation the right side of a shoe-sewing machine in which my improvements are embodied.'

Fig. 2 shows in side view the back-gage and its operating parts as they are applied to the left side of the machine. Fig. 3 shows in side view the ratchet-arm and rack, the springs, and the cam connecting parts of the backgage. Fig. 4 shows the back-gage and its rack attachment. Fig. 5 shows the ratchet-tooth carrying-arms in side and edge views for locking and releasing the back-gage. Fig. 6 shows the ratchet-tooth arm. Fig. 7 shows so much ofthe machine in longitudinal section as illustrates the adjustment of the needle-actuating parts in relation to the loop-opening device.

Fig. 8 shows the eccentric bearing for the needle-actuating lever. Fig. 9 shows in detail View the needle in its full backward move'- ment, the loop thereon having been opened in readiness to receive the stitch-tightening instrument, which is in its normal position. Fig. 10 shows the relation the loop-opener would have to the needle in the event 'of the extreme backward movement of the latter notbeing suicient to bring the loop in position to be engaged bythe opener' to open the loop to receive the stitch-tightening instrument, and it is for such a contingency that I have provided for increasing or diminishing the extent of the backward movement of the needle. Fig. ll shows the stitch-tightening instrument as having entered the loop, pulled it back of the needle, and tightened the stitch, and the loop-opener having returned to its normal position in line with the loop. Fig. I2 shows the relation of the cam and loc-king devices when the back-gage is locked.. Fig.

13 shows in longitudinal section the `slide-rest for the work and its relation to the sewing devices. Fig. 14 sho'wsthe locking and releasing device'for the slide-rest at lthe rear end of the machine, and Fig. 15 shows apartial front View of the sewing-head and the relation of the back-gage with the needle.

While I have shown my improvements embodied in the form of machine which I prefer, I wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the form shown or to the use of myimprovements in the particular machine shown, as it is obvious that my improvements can be used with other forms and constructions of machine for forming the well-known loopstitch in which a hook-needle is employed.

The sewing mechanism is contained within a sewing head or housing in position for the presentation and manipulation of the work to the devices for supporting and feeding it. The sewing-head is at the front of and over- Vhangs the frame, wherein are mounted the vhead to place the loop of the thread upon the IOC) needle. 4 is the needle-guide, 5 is the channel feed-lever, 6 is the slide-rest for the work, and 7 is the tension device, all of which have operating connections for imparting to them their proper functions in the operation of sew-4 ing the shoe.

In the operation of the needle I have made provision for increasing or diminishing the extent of its backward movement to render certain its proper working relation to coperating devices or members-one a loop-opener and the other a stitch-t-ightenerwhich operate separately and conjointly, as I shall presently state.

The function of the back-gage is to hold the shoe firmly in position to permit the needle to pull out of the work and the stitch to be tightened and set by the pulling of the loop, and in the construction and operation of the back-gage I have made provision for its better working with the shoe, as I shall presently state.

'The needle-operating lever 8 is mounted upon an eccentric fulcrum 9, Figs. 7 and 8, in the rear of the frame and is connected to the needle-carrier by a link 10, and between the link and the said fulcrum the lever is engaged by a cam-groove 11, preferably formed in the face of a cylinder 12, such engagement being made by a roll 13, placed about mediately of the lever. I prefer to curve the lever downward between its cam-engaging roll and fulcrum the better to give an easy movement to the needle-carrier and to permit of the arrangement of the pendent arm 14, which by means of a suitable face-cam (not shown) is adapted to operate the looper.

In Figs. 1, 9, and 1l I have shown the cooperative. relation of the needle, the loopopener, and the stitch-tightener, and referring to the loop-opener 15 it is seen in Figs. l and 11 in the position in which it has engaged and opened the loop on the needle, while the stitch-tightener 16 is shown in the position in which it has entered and engaged the loop after it has been spread or opened.

The loop-opener consists of an'arm arranged to operate upon the loop between the needle and the work 17 within the circle of the needle and is adapted to engage one strand or part 1S of the loop and open it to one side on the needle to allow the stitch-tightening instrument 16 to enter within the loop to perform its function. rIhe loop-openeris mounted upon a shaft 19, Fig. 1, supported in horizontal position in the sewing-head, and is by suitable connections caused to vibrate vin pendent relation above and at right angles to the line of the loop. The connections may be a lever 20,11avinga roll 2l and a suitable cam 22, engaging the roll to actuate said lever at the proper time for the purpose stated. This lever has its fulcrum 23 preferably at the rear ofthe machine and at its front end is adjustably connected to the loop-opener shaft 19 byan arm 24, whereby the loopopening finger can be timed to engage and Aopening-finger.

open the loop in proper relation to the movements of the needle. The means shown for making this adjustment is a pivotally-connected right-and-left screw-coupling 25, having jam-nuts v26, whereby the coupling is Alengthened and shortened to cause the loopopening finger to engage the loop sooner or later to correspond with the movements of the needle. The cam 22 for operating the loop-opening-iinger connections is so formed and timed as to cause said finger to engage and open the loop after the needle'has pulled the loop, so that it can be engaged by the During the engagement of the stitch-tightening finger with the loop the needle will start to move slightly forward and will continue such movement to assist the tightener in taking the loop from the eye of the needle, which will be prior to tightening the stitch, after which the needle will remain at rest long enough to permit the feed of the shoe. At the time the stitch is about to be tightened'the action of said cam will cause the loop-opener to return in line with the needle While thestitch is being tightened. The loop-opening finger will then move to its starting position to allow the needle, needleguide, and needle-carrier to move forward.

The Stitch-tightening instrument consists of an arm or finger 16, arranged to enter within the open loop, and is constructed to engage the loop at the side of the needle and to pull the loop in an oblique direction from the needle and from the Work to tighten and set the stitch. This stitch-tightening device is mounted upon a horizontal shaft 27, Fig. 1, supported iu position in the sewing-head, and is by suitable connections caused to vibrate parallel with the line of movement of the needle. These connections may be a crank-arm 28 and a link 29, connecting a lever 30, which is fulcrumed at 31 upon the frame, and a suitable cam 32, engaging a roll 33 of said lever to actuate the lever at the proper time for engaging the loop in proper relation to the movements of the needle. The cam .32 for operating the stitch-tightening finger is so formed and timed as to cause the said finger device to enter within the loop after the needle has pulled the loop through the work and the loop-opening finger has performed its function. Having entered the loop, the stitch-tightening finger will be caused to engage the loop and pull upon it, so as to carry it back of the needle, as in Fig.,11, and by such pulling action upon the loop to tighten and set the stitch. During this stitch-tightening operation the loopopening finger 15 will be caused to return after its opening action on the loop to allow a more effective pull upon the loop by the tightening-finger. The stitch having been tightened, the tightening-finger will be caused to move forward to give a sufficient slack in the loop to permit of the feed of the shoe the length of a stitch, and in this position said finger 16 will remain at rest until the loop- IOO IIO

opener has moved back to its starting position to permit the needle, the needle-guide, and the needle-carrier to move forward to the work. Then the needle commences to move forward, the stitch-tightener will also coinmence to move forward to give up the loopv to permit the formation of the next stitch.

For adjusting the stroke of the stitch-tightening instrument in its function of tightening the stitch by a longer or shorter pull upon y the loop back of the needle I connect the stitchtightening instru ment with its cam-actuating lever by means of an adjustable connectionsuch as a right-and-left screw-coupling stem 29, havin gj arn-nuts-whereby the connection may be lengthened and shortened to cause the stitch-tightening instrument to have a longer or shorter pull upon the loop to tighten and set the stitch or to come in contact with the loop sooner or later in relation to the loopopener and needle movements, which are all made adjustable in relation to each other in the formation of a stitch and in tightening the same. l Y

I prefer to arrange the loo p-opener as shown.

The provision for adjusting the backward movement of the needle in relation to the loop-opener is important, because it is very likely to happen that in iitting the parts together the stroke of the needle would fail to pull the loop back far and 'high enough,'so that the opening-finger would not engage it, as shown in Fig. lO, Sheet 3, whereas by giving the needle greater backward movement it would pull the loop so that it would be engaged by theopening-inger, as shown in Fig. 9. Therefore by adjusting the eccentric fulcrum of the needle-actuating lever so that it will move the latter to the front it will give a longer backward movement to the needle, and thereby cause it to pull a longer loop and present it for engagement by the openingiinger. By reversing the adjustment of the eccentric fulcrum of the needle-actuating le-l ver the needle will be caused to pull a shorter loop if required to effect the engagement of the opening-linger with the loop. This adjustment also compensates for any wear in the working connection of the needle. As seen in Fig. 8, this adjustment is made by fitting the eccentric fulcrum-pin E) loosely in its bearing in the frame and by iitting the needle-actuating lever loosely upon said fulcrum-pin, so that the latter can be turned as a screw by its nicked end and fastened by jam-screws 9.

The loop-opening linger can be adjusted for timing its contact with the loop in relation for all wear of the parts. This adjustment for the stitch-tightening instrument is to time its stroke longer and shorter in its pull upon the loop as Well as its time of engagement with the loop. When the stroke of the needle is varied, the stroke of the stitch-tightener can be correspondingly varied.

The back-gage as now used in shoe-sewing machines in coming in contact with the shoe thrusts it against the feed-lip of the channelguide or feed-lever device 5 with great force and causes the lip tocut into and through the between substance of the shoe, and particularly if the shoe-sole is of inferior or soft leather. My improved back-gage obviates this objection.

I prefer to use the back-gage 35 in the form of a bell-crank lever mediately mounted upon a pivot 36, preferably at the left side of the sewing-head, so that its acting arm will stand downward and`eXtend beneath the sewinghead and present a supporting-bearing 37 for the shoe against the 'edge of the sole in the line of the needle, as in Fig` 15. The other arm 38 of the backgage extends rearward horizontally and has a cushioned connection adapted to impart to its work-supporting arm a movement toward and from the work. This cushioned connection has the novel function of giving a balanced or equalized support to the back-gage, whereby its end 37 is caused to strike the shoe with a gentle blow and prevent the feed-lip from .being forced into the between substance. In the rear of its pivot the back-gage is connected to and between two springs of equal tension adapted to pull in opposite directions and maintain a balanced resistance to the shoe without regard to' any difference there may be in the thickness of the between substance against which the feed-channel lip acts. This balancing action gives a gentleyielding pressureagainst the shoe in coming in contact with it.

The inner end of the back-gage terminates in an eye 3S', through which passes a vertical rod 39, which at its lower end is pivotally connected to a cam-actuated lever 40, which is fulcrumed at the rear of the frame and which engages by a roll 4l a cani-path 42 in the side of a cylinder, so as tovibrate the lever and thereby raise and lower the rod. Two springs 43 and 44 are each connected to this rod-the lower spring by its lower end and the upper spring by its upper end-and at Vt-he meeting ends ofl these springs they are connected to the eyed end of the back-gage, so

as to pull equally thereon in opposite directions to operate the gage to and from the work with a balanced action which is self-adj usting to the thickness of the work. The springs are connected to the rod by collars and nuts 45 and at 4G with the eyed end of the backgage. By adjusting the collars and nuts on the rod the tension of the springs can be regulated, as may be desired. By adjusting the nuts 47 on the rod the stroke of the back-gage is regulated with reference to the feed-lip,

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and for effecting these adjustments I make the rod 39 screw-threaded.

When the back-gage is supporting the work, 4it must be locked to resist the pulling of the needle out of the work and allow the stitch to be tightened and set. For this purpose I have provided a locking and releasing device. On the eyed end of the back-gage is iixed a ratchet-rack 4S, the teeth-of which stand upward,and in pendent relation thereto hangs an arm 49 on pivot 5l, the lower end of which has a ratchet-tooth 50, adapted to engage the teeth of the rack 4S, hanging for that purpose in front of and in horizontal relation to the rack. On the pivot 5l of the hanging arm is also an arm 52, provided with a roll 53, which engages a circumferential cam 54 on the cylinder and which cam acts to release the locking function of the ratchettooth. the ratchet-tooth arm 49 by a coupling which permits the two arms to have a limited move'- ment upon their pivot 5l independent of each other. This coupling is preferably made by a pin 55 on the arm of the ratchet-tooth and a slotted or forked part 56 on the arm 52, the pin being a little smaller than the slot to allow such independent movement, as seen in Fig. 5. A spring 57 connects by a pin 5S the ratchet-tooth arm 49 and frame and acts to maintain the locking action of the ratchettooth when the cam 54 is not acting to pull the ratchet-tooth away from the rack,as seen in Fig. 12. This spring holds the ratchetarm 49 in locked position with the rack so long as theback-gage rests against the shoe, and so long as the thickness of the work does not vary the ratchet-arm will engage the same tooth of the rack. When, however, the thickness of the substance being sewed varies, the ratchet-arm will be caused to lock in any other tooth of the rack. After the needle has pulled out of the work and the stitch set and tightened the ratchet-arm will be released froin its engagement with the rack by the action of the raised portion of the cam 54 raising the roll 53, which swings its arm upon its pivot and causes the slotted part of said arm by its connection with the pin 55 on the ratchet-tooth arm to pull the latter away from the rack, thereby releasing the lock. This release permits the back-gage to be drawn or pulled away from the work by the action of the cam upon the lever which connects the balanced springs, so as to raise by a positive action the spring-connected arm 3S of the back-gage. This raising of said arm is effected by the nuts 47 on the vertical spring-connected rod, which latter is raised by said lever, and when the back-gage is so withdrawn the shoeis fcd for the next stitch. The back-gage is then moved forward in advance of the needle against the work and the ratchet-arm will be drawn by its spring 57 into engagement with the rack. The coupling causes the ratchet-arm to strike the rack 4S by a gentle contact and avoids the jam- This cam-actuated arm 52 engages- -place it.

ming and destroying of the rack-teeth and ratchet-tooth and at the same-time allows the roll 53 to maintain a bearing contact upon the cam 54. In this way the work is supported by the back-gage while the needle is piercing it, and just before the needle starts to pull out of the work the back-gage will be locked to repeat the operation of forming the next stitch.

Referring to Fig. 2, the arrow 59 shows the cam to turn to the left and the roll 53 upon the highest part, which extends between the points 60 6l, and it is during the travel of the roll between these points that the ratchettooth arm is held out of engagement with the rack of the back-gage, while in Fig. l2 the roll is seen upon the lowest part of the cam and the ratchet-tooth arm to be held in engagement with the rack of the back-gage during the travel of the roll upon the lower part of the cam.

The slide-rest 6 is arranged below the backgage, and its function is to assist in supporting the work under the operation of sewing. As shown in Fig. 13, I make the slide-rest preferably of cylindrical form and seat it so as to slide in guideways or boxes 62.63 in the lower part of the frame, so that it extends beyond the rear end thereof to receive the action of a locking and releasing device, as I shall presently state, The slide-rest part, which is seated in the frame, is tubular to receive a coiled spring 64, which is connected to the rear end of the slide-rest, the other end of said spring being connected to the front box by a pin or screw 65, passing through a slot 6G in the lower side of the slide-rest, so that the spring constantly tends to force the latter forward. The limit of the forward movement of the slide-rest is determined by a iin 67 on the slide abutting against the box G2, which is iixed in the frame. This iin lits and slides in a recess 68 in the frame to hold the slide-rest in its working position and give it a free and easy movement. The placing of the spring within the chamber of the sliderest and securing it to the front box gives the advantage ot' allowing the slide-rest to be removed fromthe machine with its connected front bearing-box 62 and without disturbing any other part of the machine. The bearing-boxes are tubular, and each is secured in its seat by a jam-screw 69, so that by loosening the screw of the front box the sliderest, with its front box, can be pulled out at the front of the machine when from any cause it may be found necessary to remove and re- The placing of the spring within the chamber of the slide-rest gives the advantage of using a ver37 long spring, and thereby gives a more regular pressure of the rest against the shoe, whether the slide-rest be all the way in or all the way out. For

locking and releasing the slide-rest I utilize the cam-lever 40, which actuates Athe backgage. This is shown in Figs. 2 and l4,wherein the said lever is seen as having at its pivoted ICO IIO

end an adjustable connection with an arm or latch 70, adapted to engage a friction-block 71,Which partly embraces and conforms to the circumference of the slide-rest. This frictionblock is preferably made a section of the bearing-box (see Fig. 14) and is loosely seated in the frame at the rear end of said box, so that itwill have a slight vertical play beneath the sliderest upon the locking-arm 70. This'locking arm or latch is pivoted upon the rear end of the machine at 72, extendsbeneath and engages a notch, Fig. 13, in the friction-block, and is seated at its outer end upon aspring75,which constantly tends to lift its connected end of said arm 70 and to maintain the pressure of said arm upon the friction-block when the lever is in the position as shown in Fig. 2. This spring is seated upon a screw 74 in the frame, by which the tension of the spring can be increased or diminished. The spring-sustained end ot' the locking arm or latch 70 abuts by means of a screw 75 with a locked screw 76 in an extension 77 of the lever 40, whereby the latter-is caused by the action of the cam 42 to depress the spring-sustained end of said arm 70 to release its upward pressure upon the friction-block 7l, and thereby release the gripping action of the friction-block upon the sliderest to unlock it. In the position of the lever 40 in Fig. 2 in relation to its actuating-cam path it will be seen that the locking-arm 70 is relieved from downward pressure and locked by the spring 73 with the slide-rest, and thislocking action Will be maintained by the concentric part of the cam-path 42, while the unlocking of the slide-rest is effected by that part of the cam-path out of the circle.

I claim- 1. In combination in a shoe-sewing machine, a pivoted back-gage forming the Work-support, a pair of balanced springs connecting with and pulling upon one end of said backgage in opposite directions, actuating mechanism for said backgage connected to its spring-connected end and means for locking and unlocking the back-gage in its supporting function.

2. In a shoe-sewing machine, a back-gage for supporting the work, in combination With a cam-actuated lever, a pairof springs connecting said cam-actuated lever and backgage and adapted to pull with a balanced force in opposite directions upon said backadapted to be engaged and released from the rack of the back-gage in the Way and for the purpose stated. A

4. In a shoe-sewing machine, a back-gage having an eyed arm, a vertical screw-threaded rod loosely connecting said arm and having nuts upon .which said gage-arm rests, a pair of springs connecting said arm and rod and adapted to pull equally upon the said arm in opposite directions, a lever connected to said rod, a cam for actuating said lever to impart a vertical movement to said rod, and a locking and unlocking device for the back-gage consisting of a rack on the eyed arm and a tooth-engaging device consisting of a pivoted hanging tooth-carrying arm, a spring acting to constantly pull said tooth-arm into engagement with said rack, a pivoted roll-carrying arm, a coupling for the said arm adapted to give a cushioned engagement to the toothed arm and rack, and a camv for actuating said roll-arm for disengaging the locking device substantially in the way and for the purpose stated.

5. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination, with a back-gage pivoted and having a rearward-extending arm, a vertical rod having an adjustable support for said arm, a spring above-said arm and a spring below said arm both adjustably connecting said rod and arm and pulling upon said arm in opposite directions, a cam-actuated lever connecting said rod and suitable means whereby said back-gage is locked and unlocked.

(i. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination with the back-gage having a rearwardextending arm terminating in a vertical rack, a vertical rod having a support for said arm, a pair of springs on said rod connected to pull in opposite directions upon said arm, a camactuated lever connected to said rod, and a device for locking and unlocking the backgage consisting of a hanging arm having a horizont-al tooth adapted to engage said rack, a spring constantly tending to effect such engagement and a roll-carrying arm having a pin-and-slot connection with the tooth-carrying arm and a cain for actuating said rollcarrying arm, for operation substantially as described. l

7. In a'shoe-sewing machine and in combination with the needle and actuating mechanism therefor, a pivoted back-gage,balanced. springs connected to and acting in opposite directions upon said gage, a ratchet-rack car ried by said back-gage, a spring-controlled ratchet-arm adapted to engage said rack, a cam-controlled arm engaging said tooth-arm, and a cam-controlled lever connected to and actuating said pivoted back-gage, substantially as described.

8. In a shoe-sewing machine, and in cornbination Withthe stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle and an independent stitch-tightenin g device, the Work-supportin g mechanism comprising a back-gage consisting of a lever and balanced springs connect- IOO ing with said lever and acting oppositely ontration of the needlefand means for lockingthe said lever dnring'the retraction of the needle and the pulling action of the stitchtightening device, whereby the pull of Said stitch-tightening device upon the work is opposed as set forth.

9. In a shoe-sewing machine, a hollow worksupporting slide-rest a Spring contained within said slide-rest and having a connection at one end with the slide-rest and a fixed frame' part to which said spring is connected at its other end, for the purpose stated.

10. In a-shoe-sewing machine, a work-snpporting slide-rest, a work-'supporting backgage and a cam-actuated lever connecting and controlling both the slide-rest and the back-gage, the said lever having a 'clamping action upon the rear end of the slide-rest and a spring-cushioned connection with the leverarm of the back-gage.

ll. Ina shoese\vingmachine,ahollowsliderest havinga slot and a box-bearing having a projection passing through said slot, into the cham ber of the slide-rest, in combination with a coil-spring within the chamber of the sliderest, said spring connecting one end of the latter and the said box projection, for the purpose stared.

12. ln a slice-sewing machine and in combination with a frame having a recess, ot' a slide-rest having a circular shank provided with a fin adapted to engage said recess for keeping the slide-rest in proper position in relation to the work, a spring connected to `constantly force the slide-rest forward and a fixed stop to engage lthe said in to limit the forward movement of the slide-rest.

porting slide-rest and a pivotally-mounted back-gage in combination with the lever LO its actuating-cam the locking arm or latch 70 and its actuating-spring 73, and means of Y connection between the lever 4-0 and the balanced springs, whereby one end of said lever is caused to have a releasing action npon the slide-rest, and a pair of balanced springs connected to a lever-arm of the back-gage for operation in the way described.

FRANCIS ARTHR MILLS.

Witnesses:

JOHN GRADY, PATRICK DEMPsEv.