US781187A - Comforter or mattress tufting machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JANL`31, 1905.

Y l "P..J.COYNE.` f y kCOMFORTER 0R .MATTRESSV TUETTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00129.. 1 903.

'i SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qin/asses:

PATENTED JANgsl, 1905.

. P. J. COYNE. l COMFORTER 0R MATTRESS-TUNING MACHINE.'

`PPL'ICJATIQN FILED 00T.29.1903. l

7 SHEETS-SHEET a.

WneS-Ses:

. 'I SHEETS-SHEET y5.

PATENTED JAN. v31, 1905. P". J. G'OYNE. COMFORTER 0R MATTRESS TUIITING MACHINE.

- AP'PL'IOATIQN FILED 00T. 29. 19o3.

Witness-es:

y WL

10.781.181 PATENTBO JAN. s1, 1905.

P. J.. OOYNE.

COMFORTER ORMATTRESS TUPTING MACHINE.

vAPPLIOATION BILBO OOT.'29.19O3. v

' l 'ISHBBTs-SHEBT e.

.Winessegy. lucen/Zinn i, f A

-TATBNTEDz JAN. 31,1905.

P.YJ. ooYNE. v COMFORTER 0R MATTRESS TUFTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIONMPILBD- 00T. 29.1903. n

I, MENTS-SHEET 7.

.out such button or fastener.

atented January 1905.

- :UNiT'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. cofY'NE,"oFjcAMBRIDGE, MAssAcHsETTs.

COMFORTER OR MATTRESS TUFTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,187, dated. January 31, 1905.

A Appiication inea oototer 29,1903. serial N6. 179,114.

'To LZZ whom, t Wtcty concern:

" Be it known that I', PirrRIcKy J. COYNE, of Cambridge, vin-the county'of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new .and useful Improvement in Comforter or Mattress Tufting Machines, of which vthe following is a specification. v My invention relates to that class of machines used particularly in making comforters, mattresses, and the like, where the two ends of a thread are drawn through the material at isolated points and then tied either through a suitable button or other fastener or else with- My machine comprises tying units arranged in gangs, so that the comforter or otherv articlev is tufted or tiedV at a number of points at once, these points being, say, Vsix inches or more apart. The goods are then fed, say, six inches or so and then another'row of tying is made. The thread is drawn up by needles which pass down through the material; and my invention relates especially to the means for threading the needles, andzas'itdoes not relate to the means for tying the ends of the threads I have omitted from the'drawings for purposes of simplification the parts of such machine as would accomplish the tying of the threads and. also the means for feeding the material, such parts being old and well known and being easy of arrangement by those skilled in the art with the part of the machine which I have shown, I have alsoomitted the connections of the various shafts and sources of power with the main shaft by which the machine is p operated, as the connections are not of my inp source of power. It is'evident that any numv vention 'and are withinl the province of any mechanic to make.

My invention consists mainly in means for threading the needle, as herein after described, and in the mea-ns whereby the thread is gripped and pulledV through the, tension, so as to be carried' tothe needle-eye, and also in means f whereby the thread is cut into suitable lengths for each stitch. Y

It also consists in other details of construction more specifically claimed below. I have 'shown in the drawings portions of twotying machines or units combined together to operate simultaneously froml the same being arranged on a line and each capable ofv drawing'up a thread at the same time with all the others, so that the comforter or `other article being worked upon will'be stitched or tufted at a number of places in rows across the comforter at once. My invention will be understood by refer- 1 ence to the drawings, inl which- Figurel is a vertical section taken on line l l of Fig.l 2, showing also the operating mechanism at one end of the machine. Fig. 2 is'a front elevation showing two .units arranged side by side adapted to drawthrough the material two threads to be acted upon by the tying mechanism. Figs. 3 and 4C are details of a clutch mechanism to be described below. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan of one of the units shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 6 being an enlarged section of one of the units corresponding so far as it goes to Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a front yelevation of one of the units. Figs. 8, 9, l0, and

1l are details.

- A. is the table, which is suitably supported and on which are mounted the various bearings and supports for the moving parts. Projectingkupward at each end ofthe machine is a side plate A', (see Fig. 1,) these side plates being connected by a suitable cross-bar A2. Similar intermediate plates may be used, if necessary, to support the shafts, &c. It will be understood, as has been indicated above,

that the machine'to be described contains,

A is also arranged the mechanism for tyingl the thread. This mechanism, as is stated above, is notshown, norare the means for operating the feed-table shown, `these both being well known in the art.

. B is a shaft running the length of the machine and carrying at oneend anintermittent gear t, provided with teeth extendingvabout IOO one-third of its circumference and adapted to mesh with an intermittent pinion b', mounted on a crank-shaft B'. Thercrank-arm b2 on its crank-shaft B is connected thereto by the crank-pin b2 and connecting-rod Z22, which connects with the rocker-arm b5.

B2 is a rock-shaft supported in bearings B3, projecting from the cross-bar A2 and carrying said rocker-arm b2 and upon its opposite side a series of rocker-arms L, each forked and slotted at its outer end to'straddle a needlebar 52, to which it is attached by the pin 712. The needle-bar b2 carries at its lower end two needles b2. These needle-bars bs are thus reciprocated intermittently through bearings in the cross-bar A2, formed by suitable slots covered by straps Z210. C represents compressionrings located upon the lower side of across-bar C, which is operated by means of rack-rods c, each of which engages with a pinion c'. Each pinion is mounted upon a horizontal shaft C2, carried in bearings A2, projecting from the cross-bar A2, its ends being suitably supported in the side plates A. This shaft C2 is given an oscillating movement by suitable means so as to reciprocate the compressionrings vertically, these rings serving to compress the material just before the needles pass down through it and hold the material under compression until after the needles have been withdrawn from it and the tying operation has taken place.

The compression-ring bar C is guided in its movement by guides C3 upon the side plates. The construction and means for operating the compression-ring and its bar need not be more fully shown, as they are well known in the art and form no part of this invention.

The peculiar features of this invention lie principally in the means whereby the thread is laid into the eyes of the needles. I have shown in the drawings needles 212 having an open eye. In practice it is desirable that during the passage of the needle through the material the opening in the eye shall be closed, but that at other times it shall be open in order that the thread may be carried into the eye and its ends removed therefrom. Such a needle is well known in the art, as well as its Inode of operation, and therefore I shall not describe it, but shall describe my invention as though the needles were as shown in the drawings-wiz., with an opening bx, into which the thread may be carried by suitable mechanism, and the mechanism for this purpose will now be described.

The means by which the thread is supported and fed to the needles I term a threadwheel. It comprises a hub D, having at one end a gear d and at the other end the threadwheel proper, which comprises siX segments, arranged in three pairs, one segment of each pair being lettered DQ the other D2. Between these segments are openings lettered in like shaft E, which is mounted in bearings El E' -and has an endwise play which is limited in one direction by the set-screw a, mounted in a su pport e', projecting from one of the bearings E.

Upon the shaft E is a collar E2, which is slotted on one side at e", this collar also earrying a releasing-segment or releascr E2. In the slot e2 is a crank-pin e, which is mounted on the end of a crank-arm E2, carried by a crank-shaft E5, mounted in suitable bearings and having at its other end a crank-arm E, connected by a link E7 with the horizontal reciprocating bar E2.

e" is a spring which lies between the collar E2 and the end of the hub D, this construction being such that the reciprocation of the bar E2` will cause a -corresponding parallel reciprocation of the hub D, gear d, and the threadwheel until the shaft E, on which the hub is mounted, abuts against the set-screw c, which is adjusted so that this motion of the threadwheel stops when one of the openings (Z' in the thread-wheel is in the path of the needles. In fact, however, the range of motion of the collar E2 is greater than the motion given to the shaftE, and this further motion of the collar E2 compresses the spring e and causes the engagement of the releaser E3 with the thread-gripping mechanism now to be described. This movement of the thread-wheel is given when the needles are down, and hence lays the thread in the eyes of the needles.

Each segment D carries a pair of grippingjaws, one of which, d2, is fast to the segment, the other, cl2, being pivoted thereto, the outer ends of the jaws being held together normally by means of the spring (Z5. The thread-wheel is grooved, as shown at (Z2, to receive the threads, and the location and shape of the releaser E'2 on the collar E2 is such that it will open one of the jaws d2 and hold it open during about one-sixth of a revolution of the thread-wheel, opening it in the first instance to release the outer end of the thread and holding it open until the jaws have passed over the incoming thread af, which is fed to it through a suitable eye Z7 and tension (Z8.

The normal position of the thread-wheelthat is, the position of the thread-wheel when the needle is up out of the material-is indicated in Fig. 7 more especially, where it will be noted that the thread lying in the groove Z2 is in a plane slightly to the right of the needle shown in suspension above the machine. l'n the operation of the machine, to be more fully described in detail below, the thread-wheel is given its lateral movelnent by the crank-shaft E2, as above described, as the needle reaches the bottom of its stroke, so that the thread, which, as indicated at m, is carried into the eye of the needles which lie in one of the openings d. Thereafter, as above described, the collar E2 and its segment manner d d2. The hub D is mounted on a l projection E3 are moved to release the end of 'l OO IOS IIO

vIO

the thread so that the needle may immediately withdraw it. Later the parts resume their original position, a set-screw e2 lpassing through an ear e3, attached to the end of the shaft,`serving as a stop to the return movement of the collar E2.

rlfhe thread must be cut into lengths after vit is placed in the needles and before the needles rise. For this purpose 1 prefer to provide shears F, which operate in one of the openings cl2,- as indicated in Fig. 6.

The cutting mechanism is shown more especially .in Figs. 5 and 6 and comprises the shears F, suitably mounted above the table,

the handles of the shears being connected by links f with the lever f', the end of which is connected by a link f2 with a connecting-rod f3, which in turn is connected with the crankarm f4, mounted on a crankshaftf5, carried in bearings f6 on the table'A, this crank-arm f4 being also connected with a horizontalreciprocating rod F from which it gets its motion. This mechanism allows the shears F to be opened suiiiciently wide not` to interfere with the lateral movement of the threadwheel, and its movements are so timed as not to cut the thread until the thread-wheel has been moved into threading position and the needles have been threaded, and the cutting.

then takes place at about the time the gripper (Z4 releasesthe end of the thread, so that at that .instant a piece of vthread of predetermined length lies within the eyes of the two needles, which are ready to withdraw them through the material. The next feature of the machine is the thread-holder, by means of which the thread is gripped against the under side of the feedtable during the operation of the tying mechanism. The feed -table is provided with a somewhat crescent-shaped opening or throat at', `(see Fig. 11,)y the extremities of. the crescent being of sufficient size to allow the needles to pass therethrough and the intermediate portion of the feed-table a2 serving as a bearing against which the thread is held by the thread-holder, this projection pointing in the same direction as that of the feeding movement of the feed-table,-so that upon the withdrawal of the feed-table after the feeding has takenplace this ybearing a2 will slip out from under the thread. V A j The thread-holder is lettered G, and 'it and its operation will be understood especially from Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9. The thread-holder G is pivotally mounted in a block G', which slides vertically in ways G2, supported on the table A. The thread-holder is a lever havinga long upwardlyprojecting arm g, the upper surface 'of 'which engages with the under surface of .the thread after the thread has been placed in the hook of the needle, its other arm g extending rearward and -being pivotally connected by a connecting-rod G3 with a lever G4, which is fulcrumed in a suitable support G5,

' tion.

mounted on the-table A. The lever G4 is pivotally connected by a connecting-rod G6 with a rocker-arm G7 upon the rock-shaft G8. The throw of this crank-arm G7 is longer than that required to carry the upper surface of the arm g of the thread-holder into engagement with the under surface of the thread m, and its further movement is utilized in lifting the block Gl in the ways G2 to lift the thread against the projection a2 in the feed-table, and in order that these movements may be properly timed the friction of the block G in its ways G2 is greater than the friction ofthe thread, holder G about itspivot in said block, so that the iirst portion of the movement of the crankarm G 7is occupied with placing the upper surface of the thread-holder under the thread and the rest of the motion with lifting the threadholder and thread bodily against the under surface of the projection a2. Motion is given to the rock-shaft G8 by means of a cam-shaft G9, carrying a cam G10, having a suitable groove therein, by means of the rocker-arm G11. I preferto provide means like a stop g wherebythe under surface g2. of the armig may be thrown out of the way when the block G" falls. I also provide an adjusting-screw g3 to limit-the upward movement ofthe threadholderG. (See Fig. 9.)

rlhe thread-wheel is rotated intermittently a third of a revolution at each operation where the wheel comprises six segments, as is shown in the present drawings, this being accomplished by means of a gear H on the shaft H and in mesh with the gear d. The shaft H is given an. intermittent motion proper underl the circumstances by any suitable means. `In the machine shown in the drawings the gear H has one hundred teeth, while the gear d has sixty teeth, so that by giving the shaft H one-fifth of a revolution the hub, with itsv thread-wheel', isv given one-third of a revolu- The general operation of the machine may now be in full described. The parts of the machine being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the compression-ring first descends, and with it the needles which passy through the material and into threading position.

Referring to Fig. 8, thev portion there. marked 4L of the collar E2 is normally in plane with the dotted line connected with the arrow 1, and the thread-wheel is in such position that the walls of one of its openings d may pass by' the needles. Endwise motion is then given to the hub D and its shaft E by means of the crank-shaft Ei and its arm Ff, and portion 4 of the collar E2 is moved during this Ioo of line2. When the shaft E strikes the setscrew e, this carries the wheel into or slightly pastthe plane in which the needlesreciprocate, and as they are then substantially at their lowermost position andthe periphery of the thread-wheel .is properly located with relation thereto the thread carried by the thread-Wheel is laid in the eyes of the needles without their stopping. The crank-shaft continues its movement and pushes the collar, with its segment E3, against the force of the spring e against the gripping-jaw df, so that the jaw opens and releases the end of the thread a", the portion 4L of the collar E2 being then in the plane of line 3. At the same instant the shears operate to cut ed the length of thread required and the thread-holder and needles start up, the thread-holder binding the thread against the bearing-surface of the projection A2, While the needles pass up through the material, carrying the ends of the thread into position to be acted upon by the tying mechanism, which ties the knot or other- Wise fastens the ends in any one of the wellknown Ways. The thread-holder then descends and the shears open. The thread- Wheel is then turned a third of a revolution, while the segment E3 still engages the gripping-jaw df, and while these parts are still in engagement the gripping-jaws move into position to grip the incoming thread, which winds into the groove ZG in the wheel and between the open jaw if and its matewhen the movable jaw Z4 is released or slips off from the segment and grips the thread again. T he thread-wheel continues until it has completed its third of a revolution, and the hub is then carried into its normal position, the wheel being then again in the position indicated in Fig. 6 and ready for the neXt cycle of operations, the goods being in the meantime fed. The main shaft moves the needle-bar down and back, thus occupying perhaps a quarter or a third of a revolution. Then it causes the making of the knot, then lifts the compression-bar, feeds the goods, and drops the compression-bar again, when the needle-bars again descend.

It is evident that a machine of this character should have a stop-motion to be utilized in case a thread breaks, and such stop-motion is old and well known in the art; but in addition it is evident that it should be possible to disconnect each unit temporarily from the driving mechanism, so that it may be worked by hand. In order, therefore, to disconnect one unit from its motive power--viz., the shaft H/ I have shown in Figs.` 3 and t aconvenient form of clutch. The gear H is loose upon the shaft H and is held from sliding along the shaft by two fixed collars z/ 7L. The gear is provided with a series of holes LZ, corresponding in number to the fraction of a revolution through which the gear is intended to accomplish the threading of the needle once.

It will be noted from Figs. l and 2 that the parts'in the several units are all cennected with the same source of power, so that they Will all move in unison.

H2 is a' hub keyed to the shaft H', so that it will rotate therewith and slide thereon, and it is held normally against the gear H by means of the spring 7a3, one end of which presses against thehub H2 and the other against a bearing H, projecting from the under side of the table A. Connecting the hub .H2 with the gear H is a pin L", fast to the hub H2 and adapted to iit into the holes le?, and the amount of slide which may be given to the hub H2 is sufficient to allow the pin to be withdrawn from the hole 7b2, in which it happens to be, and clear the gear H, so that the gcar may be rotated independently of the clutch and shaft H'. In order to withdraw the hub Hi, Iliave shown a hand-lever Hf, pivotally mounted in a hanger H5 iro'ectinO` from the bearing H.

Thus when the machine stops by reason of the breaking of the thread the particular unit at which the breakage has occurred is disconnected from its source of power by withdrawing the hub H2 and holding it out of engagement with the gear H. The thread-wheel is then threaded and the unit is moved by hand into the same position with the other units, so that when the machine is started up the units will operate uniformly. This may'ne cessitate the omitting of one stitch, but such an omission is readily corrected, whereas unless some such means were provided it might be necessary to lose two or three stitches in line before the machine could be stopped and the parts brought into working order again.

I have shown herein the simplest and best form of my invention now occurring to me; but it will be evident that certain details of the mechanism may be altered without departing from my invention. It has proved simple and operative in practice, and the threading mechanism referred to is such that it is not necessary to delay or give a special dwell to the needles when they have reached their lowest position in order to insure the needles being properly threaded.

Another feature of my machine is the use of a gang of threaders all of which operate simultaneously to thread a corresponding number of needles or pairs of needles.

In using the term tufting herein I mean to include any form of stitch in which the two ends of a threadare carried through the material and then fastened, so as to tie the upper and under surfaces of the material approximately together.

I do not herein claim, broadly, a means for clamping the thread d u ringthe upward movement ofthe needles comprising a thread-holder located below the table and means for moving` it to carry and clamp the thread against the under surface of the table, as such a means, broadly speaking, was not my invention.

What I clai'm as my invention is'- 1. In a machine of the kind described, a work-support, a needle, and means for operating the needle through the support, a threadsupply and means for measuring and supporting successive lengths of thread to be fed to lOO i ing means laterally to thread the needle, as

4the' needle, and mechanism formoving said measurlng and supporting means laterally to thread the needle.

2. In a' machine of Ithe kind described, a

movement adapted during such movement to.

draw successive lengths of thread from said supply, and mechanlsm for moving said drawset forth.

4.. In a machin@ of the kind described,

work-support, a needle supported above said support, means forforcing the needle-point through the work upon the support, athreadsupply, and means ,-for ymeasuring and supporting successive lengths of thread to be fed to the needle, and mechanism for moving said measuring and supporting means laterally to thread the needle.

5., In a machine of the kind described, a work-support, a needlesupportedabove said support, means for forcing the needle-point through thework upon the support, .the thread-supply, and'means locatedbelow the support for .measuring and'supporting successive lengths of thread to be fed to the needle, and mechanism for moving said measuringand supporting means laterally to thread the needle. c

6. In a machine of the kind described,` a

vwork-support, a needle supported abovesaidv support, means for forcing the needle-point throughl the work upon the support, the thread-supply, means located below the supportffor measuring and supporting successive lengths of thread to be fed to the needle, and means for moving said measuring and suplporting meanslaterally to thread the needle, land means located belowv the support for cutting the lengths of thread.

'7. Ina machine of the kind described, a work-support, a needle operated through the same, a thread-supply, and thread-supporting meanslocated below said support acting vto draw the thread from the supply and means for moving said supporting means laterally to thread the needle.

.' 8.l In amachine of the kind described, a

'- Vworksupport,.a needle operated through the same, a thread-supply and means located below said support operating intermittently to d raw successive lengths of thread from said supply, said means having an endless path of movement, and means for moving said threaddrawing mechanism laterally to thread the needle.

9. In a machine of the kind described, means for supporting the material to be tufted, neeagainst the under side of said material-support, as and for the purposes described.

lO. means for supporting the material to be tufted, needles having a continuous movement downward through the material and upward out of the material, means whereby thread is fed to said needles while said needles are still in motion,'and means whereby a portion of said thread which has been lifted by said needles is clamped against the under side of said material-support,as and for the purposes described.

l1. In a machine of the kind described, means for supportingthe material to be tufted,

' needles having a continuous movement downward through the material and upward out of the material, means whereby thread is fed to said needles while said needles are still in motion, and means whereby a portion of said threadv which has been lifted by said needles is clamped temporarily against the under side of said material-support, and means whereby said thread is thereafter released, as and for the purposes described.

12. v In a machine of the kind described in combination,needles, means whereby they are reciprocated vertically, a thread -wheel and means whereby said thread-wheel is rotated step bystep to-draw thread and is moved laterally to lay the thread within the eyes -of said needles, as described. Y

13. In a machine of the kind described,iny combination with one or more needles, means whereby they are given a downward movement without any dwell, a thread-wheel, and means whereby said thread-,wheel isrotated step by step to draw the thread and is moved laterally to lay the thread within the eyes of the needles while said needles are in motion,` as described.

In. a machine of the kind described,

IOO

I'Io

material-support,'one or moreA needles, means lwhereby they are given a movement through the material carried on said support, and immediately out of the material, athread-wheel Vlocated below said support, means -whereby said thread-'wheel is rotated step by step and poses described. Y c i 15. In a machine of the kind described hav- .is also moved laterally, as and for the puring meansfor supporting the material to be tufted, needles, means whereby they are reciprocatedk through and out of the material, a thread-wheel, means whereby said threadwheel is moved laterally, said thread-wheel `being provided with one or more openings whereby it may pass into theplane in which said needles are being reciprocated and carry the thread to said needles when in their downward position, as described.

16. In a machine of the kind described provided with means for supporting the material to be tufted, needles, means whereby they are i reciprocated through the material and out therefrom, a thread-wheel having a lateral movement and provided with openings whereby it will lie in the plane with said needles when said needles are in their downward position, means whereby said thread-wheel is given its lateral movement, means for clamping the thread in said thread-wheel, and means for releasing the thread from its clamp, as described. l

17. In a machine of the kind described provided with means for supporting the material to be tufted, needles, and means whereby they are given a reciprocating movement through the material and out therefrom, a threadwheel, means for clamping the thread therein, means for moving said thread-wheel laterally into a plane with said needles when in their downward position, means for cutting the thread and releasing it from said clamping position operative when said thread-wheel is in its thread-delivering position, as described.

18. In a machine of the kind described provided with'means for supporting the material to be tufted, reciprocating needles, a threadwheel, means for holding the thread in said thread-wheel, means for moving said threadwheel laterally into a plane with said needles when in their downward position whereby said thread will be laid into the eyes of the needles while clamped on both sides thereof, means for releasing the clamped end of said thread and means for cutting said thread between the needles and the next clamp in series, as described.

19. In a machine of the kind described, a thread-wheel, and means whereby it is given a lateral movement comprising a grooved collar, a rocker-arm connected with said collar, means whereby said rocker-arm is rocked, in combination with one or more needles having a reciprocating movement in a plane at right angles to the line of movement of said threadwheel, said thread-wheel being provided with openings adapted to-allow said thread-wheel to be moved laterally into the vertical plane with said needles when said needles are in their lowest position.

20. In a machine of the kind described, in combination with one or more needles and means whereby they are reciprocated,a threadwheel mounted to slide in the direction of its axis, and carrying one or more thread-clamps, means for moving said thread-wheel in thedirection of its axis, a stop adapted to limit the motion of said thread-wheel, and means for releasing one of said thread-clamps adapted to operate after said thread-wheel has been moved against said stop, as set forth.

21. In a machine of the kind described, in-

combination with reciprocating needles, a thread-wheel mounted to slide in a direction across the path of said needles, said threadwheel carrying one or more Ithread-clamps, means for moving said thread-wheel toward and from the path of said needles, a stop to limit its motion toward the path of said needles, clamp-releasing means adapted to move toward and from said thread-wheel, and means whereby it is so moved, all as and for the purposes set forth.-

22. In a machine of the kind described, in combination with vertical reciprocating needles, a thread-wheel mounted to slide in the direction of its axis and carrying one or more thread-clam ps, means for moving said threadwheel in the direction of its axis comprising a shaft, a collar located to slide on said shaft, a spring located between said collar and said thread-wheel, a stop adapted to limit the endwise movement of said shaft, and means whereby said collar is moved upon said shaft, the collar being provided with means to engage said thread-clamps, as described.

23. In a machine of the kind described, in combination with vertically-reciprocating needles, a thread-wheel comprising two or more segments and having a lateral movement and being provided with an opening whereby it may be moved into the plane with said needles while said needles are in their lower position, a clamp located upon one of said segments upon one side of said needles, and shears suitably supported and adapted to cut the thread upon the other side of said needles from said clamp, as and for the purposes described.

24. In a tufting-machine, in combination with one or more needles and means for reci procating them, a needle-threading device comprising a thread-wheel, means for clamping an end of the thread, means for cutting a piece from said thread comprising shears, the blad es of which extend on each side of said threadwheel, whereby said thread -wheel may be moved laterally when said shears are in open position, and means whereby said shears are closed, as set forth.

25. In a machine of the kind described, in combination with one or more needles and means whereby they are operated, a threadwheel carrying one or more thread-clamps, means whereby thread will be laid into each th read-clamp in turn and when open, and means whereby the movable arm of each clamp may be moved to release the thread and held open until a new portion of the thread is received therein, and is then allowed to close, as described.

26. In a machine of the kind described, in combination with one or more needles and means whereby they are reciprocated,a threadwheel, means whereby the thread is clamped therein, comprising astationary jaw and movable jaw, means whereby said movable jaw is IOC IIO

, ing comprised of two or more pairs of secsegmental projection is caused to engage or disengage said movable jaw, as described.

27. A machine of the kind described hav-- ing vertically-reciprocating needles, a threadwheel adapted to be reciprocated laterally and to be rotated, and means whereby itis so reciprocated and rotated, said thread-wheel betions, each pair of sections being separated from every other pair by an opening, and each section being separated from the other section of its own pair by an opening, one of the sections of each pair having a thread-clamp located thereon, means whereby each clamp may be opened and closed, said needles being adapted to be reciprocated into the opening between two sections of each pair in turn, in combination with shears adapted to be operated in an opening in advance of one of said clamps and next to the opening which is receiving the needles and means whereby said shears are so operated, as and forthe purposes described.

28. In a machine of the kind described, a material-supporting table, a pair`of needles passing down through said table, a threadholder and a slotted thread-wheel adapted to move into and out of operative relation with said needles, and means whereby said threadholder is caused to pass under the thread and is thereupon caused to lift said thread against a portion of said feed-table, as described.

29. In a machine of the kinddescribed, having a feed-table, needles, and means whereby said needles are reciprocated down through said feed-table and up and out therefrom, means for clamping the thread against the under surface of said feed-table, comprising a pivoted thread-holder, and means whereby it is turned about its axis, a block containing the axis of said thread-holder, and means whereby said block is given a vertical reciprocating movement, as set forth.

30. In a tufting-machine, in combination with a feed-table, a 'series of compressionrings, a series of pairs of needles, a series of thread feeding and cutting mechanisms, and

a'series of clutches adapted to connect the operating means of the thread feeding and cutting mechanism with the source of power, whereby any threading and cutting mechanism may be disconnected from the other threading and cutting mechanisms, and operated independently of the other like parts, as set forth.

3l. A tufting-machine comprising armaterial-supporting table, means in close proximity to the points to be punctured by the needles for compressing the material against said ltable, a series of pairs of needles adapted to move vertically through vvsaid material, and j means whereby they are operated, and a series of needle threading mechanisms and means whereby they are operated to thread said needles, and means whereby said needlemoving mechanism and said needle-threading mechanism are operated from the same source of power.

32. In a tufting-machine, in combination withfa feed-table, means for compressing the material against said feed-table, a series 'of pairs of needles, a series of thread feeding and cutting mechanisms, and a series of clutches each adapted to connect and disconnect the operating means of the thread feeding and cutting mechanism with the source of power, whereby any threading and cutting mechanism may be l disconnected from. the other threading and cutting mechanisms, and operated independently of the other like parts, as set forth.

33. In a machine of the kind described having oneor more needles, athread-wheel, means whereby thread is led thereto on one side thereof and is thereupon carried substantially round said wheel and clamped therein, and means whereby a length of said thread so held in said wheel is cut and unclamped and delivered to said needle or needles, while said thread-wheel continues to 4carry the rest of said thread and draws oif more thereof from the source of supply, as described.

34. In a tying-machine, in combination with a feed-table having a series of openings, a series of pairs of needles and means whereby each pair of needles-is reciprocated through the material to' be tufted andv through the openings in said table, and aseries of thread feeding and cutting, mechanisms and `said thread feeding and cutting mechanisms being located below said table and connected with the same power-shaft and each provided with a separate clutch adapted to disconnect it therefrom whereby in case of accident any thread feeding and cutting mechanism may be disconnected from the common source of ed vvto be moved laterally to lay the threadl within the eyes of the needles, a thread-clamp lOO IIO

normally lying outof the plane in which the needles reciprocate, and adapted to-be moved upward and into said Aplane to clamp said thread, as described. f

PATRICK J. COYNE.

Witnesses: Y

GEORGE O. G. COALE, M. E. vFLAI-Hinter.

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