US970733A - Stitch-removing device. - Google Patents

Description

B. B. MOGILVARY.

I STITCH REMOVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.30, mos.

970,733, Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

1/ A ze ferred embodiment as and presenting UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVANDER B. MGGILVARY, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCGILVARY COMPANY, OF MADISON, 'WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

' STITCH-REMOVING DEVICE.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application'filed April 30, 1909. Serial No. 498,181.

specification.

My invention relates particularly to means for use in removing or unraveling stitches or threadsjas where it is. desired to remove a scam in a fabric or garment; and my primary object is to provide a device of the character indicated which may sewing-machine or be constructed as an 1ndependent machine, and which will render thehitherto tedious operation of removing stitchesfrom cloth a comparatively easy and rapid operation, atthe same time removing the cut threads from'the cloth-a thing which has been impossible of accomplishment when a lock-stitch seam has been ripped by a cuttin blade playing between the materials sewed together.

Ihe invention is illustrated in its prean attachment'to a Singer sewing machine, but it will be understoodthat it may be adapted for use with any sewing-machine, or it may be constructedas an independent machine, with suitable means for actuating the operative parts or the device.

It' may be stated preliminarily that my invention involves the use of a shoe, guard, or cloth-guiding member, adapted to lie above the plies of material of the. seam and carrying a thread-guide; shears, or clippers, so related to said thread-guide as to be adapted to clip. or curtail the end of one (the lower) thread when the other (the upper) thread is drawn through said guide, thereby pulling the lock-stitches progressively from the plies of material and freeing the extremity of the lower thread from the lock-stitch after each curtailing operation the same to the progressive curtailing action of. said clippers; and means serving to actuate said clippers or shears with a continuous clippin operation, whereby the progressive" curtai ing of the lower thre'adroceeds practically continuw ousl although, Inft e preferred construction, said shoe is a fikapresser foot, carried by the :presser-foot either be applied as an attachment to a -to use to actuate the lever of course, intermittently.

' ner. The feed-device E com bar of a sewing-machine, and the shears or clipper is operated by the needle-bar, of the sewing-machine.

In the accompanying drawingFigure l is a broken sectional view of a sewing-machine equipped with, my im roved stitchunrav'eling and clipping device; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of my improved device in the form of a sewing-machine attachment, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 3 Fig. 3, a plan view of said device or attachment; sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2, with the movable parts of the attachment removed; Fig. 5, a broken perspective view'showing the preferred form of clipper and the actuating member therefor; Fig. (3, a broken sectional perspective view illustrating the manner in which the upper thread of a lock-stitch seam may be employed for progressively pulling the lockstitches from the seam and subjecting the extremity ping or curtailing actlon of the clipper the plies of sewed material being omitted from the view, however; Fig. 7, a broken sectional view illustratin the manner of operation of foot is lowered and the cloth-feeding mechanism of the sewin -machine depended upon to advance the clot moving the seam; and Fig. 8, a perspective view showing a modification of the clipper.

In the construction illustrated A represents the bed-plate of the head of a sewin machine; B, the arm of the machine; the. needle-baryD, the resser-foot bar; E, a cloth-feeding device of well known construction and operation; and F, my improved stitch unraveling and clip ing attachment carried by the presseroot bar and having a movable blade, or clipper, actuated by the needle-bar. t

The regular parts of the sewing-machine are of well-known construction and o eration and need not be described in detai It may be stated, however, that the needle-bar isusually equipped with a collar 1 having a ,lug,stud, or projection 2, which I prefer which actuates the movable shear-member. The presser foot bar D may be raised and lowered with relation to the bed-plate A in the usual manpriscs a toothed reciprocating-member 3 which moves reap Fig. 4, a plan of'the lower thread to the clipthe device w en the false presser- I i in the operation of re-,

wardly while in the elevated position and which -1S depressed during its return movement to enable it to takea fresh hold on, the cloth in the usual manner. I v

The attachment 'F comprises 'what may be termed a false resser-foot 4 having a hori-- zontallydisposed shoe, or cloth engaging member, 5 and equipped with an-attaching shank 6' by-means of which the attachment may be secured to the resser-foot bar, which is equipped with :a screw 7 a stationary shear-member, or clipper-me1nber, 8, having its front edge disposed adjacent to a 1 thread-admitting preferably transverse slot 9 with which theshoe is provided at one lateral edge, said shear-member 8 having a rearwardly-extending slot 10 intersecting the transverse slot 9, thus affording shearedges 11 and l2,'said slot 10. beingopposite a groove, or'guide-slot 13 with which the shoe 5 is provided at the inner end of .the slot 9, and said shoe 5 being provided with a slot lt which registerswith the slot 10: of

the shear-member 8; a pivoted, oscillatory shear-member, or clipper-member, 15, mounted on' the shoe *5 and equipped with forwardly-projecting double-edged cutter-teeth,

or blades, 16 which co-act with the shoulders 11 and 12 of the stationary shear-member 8, said member having a fork, or

slotted portion, 17 through the medium of which it is actuated a pivot screw 18 and spring-washer 19 by means of which the shear-member 15 is connected with the shoe 5; a slide20 equipped with a forwardly and downwardly extending I arm 21 carrying a cam-stud 22, which engages the fork 17 of theelipper-member -15, -said slide 20- having,

a guide-slot 23 connected by screws 24: which serve to attach the slide to a vertical member 25 with which the false presser-foot is equipped; and an actuating lever 26 which is connected by a pivot 27 with the' member 25 and which is equipped with a fork or slotted arm 28 which engages the s'tud 2 carried by the needle-bar. The lever 26 has a fork, or slotted portion, 29 which engages an upwardly-extending member 30 carried by the slide/20.

lhe shoe 5 of'the false presser-foot is adapted to co-act with the member 8 of the cloth-feeding mechanism of the sewing-machine and' is carried by a vertical shank 31 depending from the front portion of a ho'ri-- zontalane'mber 32 with which the attaching shank 6 is detachably connected, as by means of screws 33. Thus, any desired form of attachingshank may be substituted for the shank 6 to adapt the attachment for connection with the presser-foot bar of any sewingmachiue. The shoe 5, shank 31, horizontal member 32 and member 25 may be integrally formed from sheet metal by a suitable stamping operation. The front edge portion of the shoe 5 is curved or beritep wardly, as indicated Jat34. The metal .thin as practicable at the shearing-slot .either as of the shoe 5 is swaged,"ground .or beveled. lndlcated at 35, to render the material the device, and the stationaryblade,

.sheanmember, 8 is formed of very thin mm 'terlal. The stationary blade lies on the upper surface of the shoe 5 and is provided at its rear edge with a lug 36 which engages a slot 37 with which the shank 31 is provided.- The member 8 virtually forms a part of the shoe, being formed separately merely for the purpose'of tempering, and for-renewal, lf'worir- The screw 18 which serves to connect the upper shear-member,

' may, also, serve to connect the lower shearmember to the shoe 5', the screw being suit ably shouldered for the purpose. According to the form illustrated, the lower, or stationary, shear-member 8 inclines forwardly and downwardly somewhat, so that the shear-member l5 lies in a somewhat inclined plane. Accordingly, the screws 24, which connect the slide 20 with the member 25, are

-so' disposed as to cause the slide to move in an inclined plane parallel with the inclined plane'in which the shear-member l5 lies. The shoe 5 is equippedon its upper surface near the lateral edge'which is opposite the slot 9, with a lug 38, which carries a pair of horizontally-disposed studs 39 and 40 which are provided, respectively, with threadgrooves 41 and 42. -When the device is used with-the false presser-foot in the lowered position and co-acting with the-feed-mechanism of the machine, it is preferred'to pass the rear of the guide 40, that is between the guide-40 and the guide 89. Then, however, it is desired to rely upon the\use of the upper thread to feed the sewed material rearwardly in the operation of removing the seam, asymay be done-for the most ex'pes ditiousresults in the-case of all but light materials, it is preferred to pass the upper thread over the rear'most guide-member 39, as shown in 2, so that the thread will operate to drawthe sewed material rear the upperthread of the lock-stitch seam inv wardly as the operation progresses. In

case, the pulling thread passes" through the guide-slot 13 which has 111 ad Vance of. the shearing-slot 10, and the lateral; 'walls, of the guide-slot 13 serve to prevent 5, in position to engage the shank 30 of the slide. The slot 43 of the fork 29 is purposely made wide with relation to the shank 30, so that the oscillating clipper will not be oscillated through an unnecessarily large .10 are in the clipping operation.

In Fig. 8, 44 represents an oscillating clipper-member of practically the same form as the clipper-member 15, but provided with one cutting-tooth 45 instead of a plurality 15 of cutting-teeth. It is preferred to use a plurality of cutting-teeth, however, and to give to the movable clipper-member a wide enough range of oscillation to carry the several cutting-teeth or blades transversely across the shearmg-slot 10 of the stationary shear-member in both directions in every complete reciprocation of the needle-bar C. In Figs. 2 and 7, 46 and 47 represent the ples of material in a seam in which the materials are joined by lock stitches of false presser-foot occupies threads 48 and 49. In Fig. .6, the same threads are shown with the plies of material removed.

Fig. 2 represents the operation when the the elevated position and the upper thread 48 is depended upon, not only to dislodge the extremity of the lower thread and present it to the curtailing operation of the clippers, but also to feed the sewed plies of material reareration prowardly as the seam-removing o erstood that gresses. Thus, it will -be un when the false presser-foot occupies the ele-- vated position, the feed-mechanism E of the machine is not depended upon for feedingv the plies of material rearwardly. This is the preferred method of operating the device where the plies of material are suflioiently firm to enable the operation to be carried on without danger of drawing the material into the shearing-slot 10 and subjecting the material to the cutting action of the clipper.- Only in cases of very delicate -fabr1cs, such as thin silks, is there 50 danger of the material being drawn into the slot 10 and cut by the clipper; and where stitches are to be removed from such delicate materials, it is preferred to employ the false resser-foot in the depressed position and .5 depend upon the operation of the mechanand enter the slot 10. The operation, d

threa ism E to feed the material. Thus, the ma-' terial is held somewhat closely confined between the member 3 and the shoe 5, so that no opportunity is afforded for it to wrinkle epending on the feed of device E approximately adjusted to the length of stitch to be removed, will be slower than when the false resser-foot is raised and the ulling then depended upon '48 depended upon to feed t e ma- Q terial but the danger of injuring the delicate fabrics will be obviated.

The operation may be stated briefly. When it is desired to rely upon the feedmechanism E to feed the plies of material, the resser-foot bar D is lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and the material is fed beneath the shoe 5 in the same manner that materials arefed beneath the presser-foot of a sewing-machine in the operation of sewing. The upper thread 48 of the seam is entered through the lateral slot 9 of the shoe and engaged in the guideslot 13 of the shoe and the thread is also 'entered between the ends of the laterally projecting studs 39 and 40 and engaged in the groove 42 of the stud 40. The machine is then operated, and as the needle-bar O reci rocates, it serves, through the medium of the lever 26 and slide 20, to oscillate the clipper-member I 15. The operator pulls gently upon the upper thread 48, thereby progressively pulling the lock-stitches from the seam and presenting the successive endportions of the'lower thread in the shearingslot 10, where the thread is subjected to the clipping or curtailing action of the clipper. In the operation, the upper thread 48 is drawn wholly from the seam, and as only the successive end ortions of the lower thread are clip ed, 1t follows that the lower thread is who ly removed from'the seam,

so that it is unnecessary to pick any portions of the threads from the plies of material after the seam has been subjected to the operation of my improved device.

Where the plies of material are sutliciently firm, the resser-foot bar D is left in the elevated position, and the upper thread is to not only dislodge the end-portions of the-lower thread and subject t e same to the curtailing action of the clipper, but is also depended u on to feed the plies of material rearward y. In any case, the guide-slot with which the shoe 0f the false resser-foot is equipped serves to keep the seam in alinement with the shearing-slot 10 of the stationary shearmember, so that the successive end-portions of the progressively curtailed lower thread will be caused to enter with certainty the shearing-slot 10. It is observed that the bottom of' the guide-slot '13 serves as a. shoulder ada ted to prevent undue unraveling of the ock-stitches as the operation rogresses, so that the projectin end of the ower thread which is presente in the slot 10 will always besufliciently' short to insure themequisite resilient action of the thread in causin the extremity to pass-into the slot 10. t is noted that the resilient washer 19 serves as a springyvhich alwa s keeps-the movable shear memb erylb in 0 08a engage mentfwith the stationary shear-membe'ru While, in the construction illustrated, the

" forthe sole purpose of removing stitchesor I pulling thread 48- i'sdrawn upon by hand length of the seam.

' for the purpose of progressively pulling out the lock-stitches of the scam, the invention isnot limited to such operation. Inthe species of the invention disclosed in my application No. 399,806, filed October 30,1907,

' there is employed mechanism for exerting a pulling force upon one thread of the seam,

thereby to dislodge the successive end-portions of the other thread and present'the same to the curtailing action of the shears.

The gist of the invention lies in providing thread-clipping means adapted to WOIkon one side of the seam, or sewed plies of material, as distinguished from thread-cutting means adapted to work between the plies of the seam; and, in practice, it is essentialfto provide thread-guiding -means of suitable character and so related to the thread-clip ping means as to permit one thread to be employed to progressivelyopull the lock stitchesfrom the plies of material and bring the successive endportions of the other thread within the range of the cutting action.

of the clipper. It is important to provide in association With such means,-'means forfeeding the seam withrelation to the threadclip'ping means, so that in operating upon delicate fabrics the dangerof cutting the fabric may, with greater certainty,- be-obv'iated.

It is noteworthy that the shears work continuously so as to enable them to efiect curtailing ot'the successively presented endportions of the thread as fast as the same are presented in the shearing-slot in the operation of the machine. WVhenthe feedinechanism vE isemployed, it operates, of

course,.'- to' feed the plies progressively through spaces corresponding with thestitchllhe invention hasbeen illustratedand described in detail for clearness of underart; For illustration, it maybe stated that while it is convenient to provide the device standing only. Hence, no undue limitation sh0uld be understood therefrom, but the 'appended clain-is should be construed as broadly as permlssibl'e inview of the prior in the, form of a sewing-machine attach-- ment, thereby adapt ing the device to householdjuse, it willbe at once understood that practically the same construction and operaand various accessories of a sewing-machinetion may be obtainedin a special machine seams, in which the needle, bobbin, shuttle,

are omitted. qln'ja'ny case, it -is convenient to employ a vertically adjustable bar in the natureof a presser foot ba r, and a vertically reciprocating barin the nature of a needleb'ai'. Any suitable shear-actuating and shoe-adjusting devices may be employed,

h0Wever.-' i

It is to beobserved thatin c'ertainoir the by Letters Patent, is-

appended claims I. employ the term clothfeeding means or an equivalent expression, meaning therebyto include means for feeding piles of any material which are sewed together to form a seam. The cloth is preferably fed-in'a horizontal plane,'and the thread-clipping means is preferably located at theupper side of said plane. v

, The device may be constructed to-remove any threads or strands employed to sew materials together, regardless of the material of the threads or strands. The word seam is employedto include any line of stitching of .the. lock-stitch type,

whether the ordinary seam compris ng plain relation thereto as to enable one thread of I the seam, when drawn through said threadgulde, to. disengage the extremity of the,

other thread from the lock-stitch and present i said extremity to the curtailing actionof said shears, and shear-actuating means.

'2. -In-v a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie in contact with the sewed'material on one side of the plies thereof, a thread-guide carried thereby adapted to receive the upper thread, of the seam, and of such character that said thread may be drawn therethrough and caused to dislodge the extremity of the lowerthread', and suit- 5 ably actuated shears receiving said dislodged extremity and effecting curtailing thereof.

3. In a seam-remover, the comblnation of a shoe carrying a stationary shearing-shoul- -.der, a movable shear-member having a for- Witl'(lly 1)()I]ltI'11g blade which moves transversely to meet said stationary shearingshoulder, and means permitting one'thread to be drawn upwardly slightly in front of-Q the -cuttlug-members, While confined in proper relation to-pro, ;resslvely- Pull out the-lock-stitches from a seam lying beneath said shoe,' dislodge the successive end por-r,

tions of the otherthread and interpose the same between said shear-members.

4. Ina seam-remover, the combination with "thread-clipping means and supporting means therefor, of a thread-guide of such character as 'to'enable-one thread ofa seam\ to be drawn therethrough under tension and v 4 through the medium thereof'to maintain the scam in alinemcnt' with the thread clipping means, anditlH'ead Qonfinin'g means in advance of said shears serving to prevent undue unraveling, whereby said thread opertionary shear-member provi oscillating shear member surmountin said first-named shear-member and equippec with pa. dolible-edged cutting-tooth, a spring confining said movable shear-member in close contact with said stationary shear-member,

means for oscillating said movable shearmember, and means for guiding a thread adacent to but slightly out of range of said shear-members.

24:. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a. shoe equi ped with a staded with a shear- -ing-slot,-an oscillating shear-member pro- -"shan'k',"'a forwardly extending shoe and a vertical member located atone side of said shank, a stationary shear-member carried by said shoe and provided with a shearingslot, an oscillating shear-member, a forwardly and rearwardly movable slide connected with said vertical member and serving to actuate said oscillating shear-men'lber,

, and a lever pivotally supported on said vertical member and serving to actuate said slide, said lever having a forwardly extending arm adapted for actuation by the needle-bar of a sewing-machine.

26. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a shoe adapted to lie above the seam to be operated upon and carrying a stationary shearing-shoulder, a movable shear-member surmounting the said shoe, and a pair of thread-guides located one in advance of the other above said shoe, and adapted to be separately used for guiding one thread of the seam in the seamremoving operation.

27. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a shoe carrying a stationary shearing-shoulder, a movable shearmember surmoun'ting said shoe and co-acting with said shearing-shoulder, means for supporting said shoe above the plies of a seam, a thread-guide on said shoe in substantially the plane thereof, and a threadguide above said shoe in the rear of said first-named thread-guide, whereby one thread of the seam, when pulled throu 'h said guides, will serve to progressivdly draw 'the lock-stitches from the seam and subject the successive end-portions of the other thread to the clipping action of said shear-members.

28. In a device of the character set forth, an attachment comprising an attachingshank, a shoe supported thereby and having a rearwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, --a stationary inclined shear-member lying adjacent to. said upper surface and provided with a shearing-slot, an oscillating shear-member surmounting said first-named shear-member and lying in a plane parallel therewith and having a forwardly directed cutting-tooth adapted ,to move across said shearing-slot, and an actuating slide for said second-named shear-member mounted to move on an inclined way parallel with the plane of said shear-members.

' '29. In means of the character set forth,

the combination of a shoe having an upturned front end and rovided with a shearing-slot with a latera shearing-shoulder, a thread-guide in advance of said shearingslot, a movable shear-member having a blade adapted to point forwardly and move transversely across said shearing-slot and means for actuating said movable shear-member.

30. In a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie on one side of the piles of sewed material and carrying a thread-guide disposed close to the seam, and continuously working shears disposed near said thread-guide and in such relation thereto as to enable one thread of the seam, when drawn through said guide, to disengage the extremity of theother thread from the lock- 7 stitch and resent said extremity'to the curtailing action of said shears.

31. In a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie in contact with the sewed material on one side of the plies thereof, a thread-guide carried thereby adapted to receive the upper thread of the seam, whereby said thread may be drawn therethrough and caused to dislodge the extremity of the lower thread, and continuously-working shears receiving said dislodged extremity and effecting curtailing thereof.

32. In a seam-remover, the combination of a shoe carrying a stationary shearingshoulder, a continuously-working shearmember which moves transversely to meet said stationary shearing-shoalder, and means permitting one thread to be drawn upwardly slightly in front of the-cutting-members, thereby to progressively pull out the lockstitches from a seam lying beneath said shoe, dislodge the successive end-portions of the other thread and interpose the same between said shear-members.

33. In a seam-remover, the combination with continuously-working thread-clipping means and supporting means therefor, of a thread-guide servingto receive one thread of a. seam and through the medium thereof to maintain the scam in alinement with the thread-clipping means, and thread-confining means in advance of said shears serving to prevent undue unraveling, 'whereby said thread operates, when pulled, to successively pull the lock-stitches from the seam, dislodge the successive" end-portions of the other threadandsubject the same to the curtailing action of 'said clipping means.

- ing with said stationary shear-member,

whereby one thread of a seam-may be drawn -through said thread-guide and-caused -to progressively pull the lock-stitcl1es-from the seam and subject the successive end portions vof the other thread to-thecutting action of said shears.

35. In means of the character set forth,-

the combination with a stationary shearmember and means-for supporting the same above the plies of the seam, said stationary shear-member having a forwardly-extendlng shearing-slot, of a thread-guide serving to direct one thread of the seam slightlyin advance of said shearing-slot, whereby one thread otthe seam may be employed to proemployed to progressively pull the stitches from the seam and present the suc-;

gressivel'y draw the lockstitches from the seam and dislodge the successive end-portions of the other thread and cause'the same to. enter said shearing-slot, and a continuously-workmg shear-member equlpped with a blade adapted to point forwardly and. move transversely across said shearing-slot,

for the purpose set forth.

,36. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a bed adapted to support fabrics, a shoe supported above-said bed and in such relation thereto as to enable the tab rics to bepassed between said shoeand bed, continuously-working thread-clipping means carried bysaidshoe and thread-guiding means adapted to guide one thread of the seam slightly in advance of the thread-clipping means, whereby said thread may ie cessive end-portions of the other thread to the curtailing action of said thread-clipping means.

' '37. In means of, the character set-forth, the combination of a bed adapted to support plies of material, a shoe disposed above said v bed vertically-adjustable means carrying ear clipping means mounted on said shoe, and means for guiding'a thread slightly in advance of said thread-clipping means, whereby one thread ofa seam may be employed to progressively .,pull the lock stitch es from the seam and subject the successive endportions of the. other thread to the curtailing action of said thread-clipping means.

shoe, continuously-working thread 38. In a seam-remover, the combination of amembef adapted to lie on one side of'the plies of sewed material andcarrying a thread-guide disposed close to the seam, said guide communicating with aslot "opening. out-ward, and shears disposed near said thread-guide and in such relation thereto as to enable one thread ofthe seam, when drawn through said thread-guide, to disengage the extremity of the other thread from the lock-stitchand present said extremity to the curtailing action of said shears, and shear-actuating means. 'i

39. In a seam-remover, the combination of a member adapted to lie in contact with the sewed material on one side of the plies thereof, a thread guide carried thereby adapted to receive the upper thread of the seam through an opening communicating with said thread-guide, wherethrough said thread may be drawn and placed inposition in said thread-guide and caused to dislodge the ex te'mity of the lower thread, and suitably actuated shears receiving said dislodged extremity and eifecting curtailing thereof.

40. In aseam-remover, the combination of a shoe carrying a stationary shearing-shout der, a movable shear-member having a blade which moves transt'ersely to meet said stationary shearing-shoulder, and means permitting one thread to be drawnnpwardly' slightly in front of the cutting-members,

said meanscommunicating'with means for admitting the thread thereto, thereby to progressively. pull outfthe lock-stitches from aseam lying beneath said shoe, dislodge the successive end-portions of the other thread members. i

41. In a seamremover, the comblnation and interpose the same between said shearwith thread-clipping means and supporting means therefor, of a thread-guide serving to receive one thread of a seam through any;

opening communicating therewith and to' maintain the scam in alinement' with the thread-clipping means, and thread-confining means in advance of said shears serving to prevent undue unraveling, whereby said thread operates, when pulled. to successively pull the lock-stitches from'the seam, dis- ;lodge the successive end-portions of the other thread and subject the same tofthe curtailing action of said clipping means.

42. In a seam-remover,thecombination of a a stationary'shear-member and means for supportingthe same at one side of theplies ofa seam, a thread-guide inadvance of said stationary shear-member having lateral thread-confining walls and a front threadconfining wall and communicating with an opening outward, said thread-gui her, a movable shear-member. in the rearof said thread-guide and coac ting with said stationary shear-member, and means for ac-.

de being disposed close to said stationary shear-mem tuating saidin'ovable shear-member, where'- by one thread of a seam may be drawn through said' thread-guide and caused to progressively pulL the lock-stitches from the seam and subject the successive end-portions of the other thread to the cutting action of said shears. 1

43. In means of the character set forth,

"the combination with a stationary shearmember and means for supporting thesame.

above the plies of the seam, said stationary shear-member-having a forwardly-extending shearing-slot, a thread-guide serving to di-' rect one thread of the seam slightly in' ad'- shearing-slot, a movable shear-member equipped with a blade adapted to, move transversely across said shearing-slot, and

means for continuously working said m0v-' Vance of said shearing-slot, and an opening communicating therewith serving for the admission ofthe thread, whereby one thread'of the seam may be employed to progressively draw the lock-stitches from the seam and dislodge the successive end-portions of the other thread and cause the same to enter said able shear-member.

44. Inmeans of the character set forth, the combination of a bed adapted to so port fabrics, a shoe supported above said bed and in such relation thereto as to enable the fabrics to'be passed between said shoe and bed,

thread-clipping means carried by said shoe, thread-guiding means ada ted to 'ide one thread of the seam slightly in a Vance of the thread-clipping means, and thread-introducing means communicating with said thread-guiding means, whereby said thread. I may be employed to progressively pull the lock-stitches from the seam and I successive end-pprtions of the ot er thread to the curtailing action of said thread-clip ping means. a t

5. In means of the character set forth,

the combination of a bed adapted to sup:

port plies ofmaterial, a shoe disposed above said bed, vertically-adjustable means carrying said shoe thread-clipping means mounted onsaid shoe, and means for guiding a thread slightly in advance of said threadclipping means, said/thread-guiding means communicating with thread-introducing means, whereby one thread of a seam may be employed toprogressively all the lockstit'chcs from the seam and subject the sucresent the cessive end-portions of the'other thread to the curtailing action of said thread-clipping means. a y

46. In means of the/character set forth, cloth-feeding means, a shoe disposed above the same, vertically adjustable means carry- 'ring. said. shoe, a vertically reciprocating member, a stationary shear-member carried mounting said shoe and coacting with said ber carrying said shoe, a stationary shearmember carried by said. shoe, a movable cally reciprocating actuating member, and operative connections between said lastnamed member and said movable shear- .ated .with each reciprocation of said actuatoccupies the e evated position or the depressed position. j

48. In means of the'character set forth, the combination with means for feeding the seam pro ressively step by step, the feed seam, thread-clipping means, means enabling one thread of the seam to progressively present the successive end-portion of the other thread to the curtailing action of said thread-cli ping means, and. means for actu ating sai thread-clippin means continuously, at a .rapid rate, w ereby they will serve to erform the curtailing action as the seam' a vances through successive stitchlengths.

In presence of- J. GQANDERSON,

R. A. SGHAEFER.

stationary shear-member, connections be-- tween sald vertically reciprocating member shear-member carried by said'shoe, a vertimember, whereby said shear-member is actu-' 'in'g member re ardless of .whether said shoe' correspon ing with'the stitch-length of the.

"EVAND'E'R: B. MoGILVARY.

by said shoe, a movable shear-member sur- 3 feeding means,fa vertically adjustable mem- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

arnx'annnn M cLENNAN, or 'LoNnon, nuorann TREATMENT LEATHER WITH INDIA-RUBBER.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters retest. rat n'temsept. 20, 1910. "Application filed SeptemberfiB, 1909. Serial No. 519,981..

To all whom it may comerm' Be it.-known that I, ALEXANDER MLEN- NAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of Leather with India-Rubber, ofwhichthe followin is a specification.

ThlS invention r ates to an improved processfor the treatmentof leather with rubber.

In carrying the invention into efi'et the leather is first subjected to any well known v fat liquoring process which has the effect of not only softening it so that it can be more conveniently handled or worked, butat the same time should the leather be dry causes the pores of the leather, which have contracted to expand. The hides after the liquoring treatment are secured to tlie dry-- are removed ing frames from which the whendry and bufi'ed upon t e flesh side in order toraise-the fiber.- After the latter treatment the hides are, treated with a so lution, designed to kill the fats or oils in the leather-and hereinafter referred to as a. clarifying solution, in which they may be immersed, or which solution may be s rayed or otherwise ap lied to them, and a ter the about 48 hours. The clari application of t e solution they are laced in a hermetically closed vessel in whic they r'emaln for a suitable period accordin to the weight and character of the hide,-w ich period with hides of averaggweight will be ing solution to which the hide is first su jected' may be composed of thefollowin ingredients in about the proportions speci ed, the said proportions and ingredients however being modified to suit the quantity or character of'the hides. The proportions 'ven below are however such as I have foun to be suit able for .lchrome tanned hides of average I weight and ,would be suflicient in quantity to treat from 15 to 20 of such hides :-'-powdered sulfur, 1 1b., carbon bisulfid 4 lbs. The mixture is allowed to stand for a period of 48 hours with occasional agitation, at the end of which eriod it is strained, and to the liquid resi us is added a second mixture adapted to precipitate the undissolved sulfur and also. kill or dissolve out fats. The'following mixture is one which I have found verysultable for this pur ose, but I do not confine myself to its use. ulfuric ether 12 oz., benzol 10 oz. to 12 oz., coal tar naphtha 10 oz., petroleum benzin 6 oz., kerosene 4 oz.,rect1fied spirit of turpentine 4 oz. These quantities are those suitable for addition to 5 lbs. of the carbon bi-sulfid solution for the treatment of average hides.-

held in suspension int e liquid so that the pores of the hide shall not become choked up, the liquid may be a ain subjected to the straining operation. fter. th1s treatment thehides are removed and dried by heat,

and when dry and while still warm are treated with a solution containing rubber.

While the: preparation of the aforesaid rubber solutions may be effected in any convenient manner I find in practice that it is convenient to prepare a stock solution of the rubber which may be prepared by dissolving 1 lb. of Para rubber m from 1 gal. to

2 or more gals. of naphtha according to the condition or purity of the rubber. Obviouslyjother rubber than Para rubber may be employed but when such other rubber isused it ay be necessary to increase either the proportion of the rubber or of the naphtha. Instead of naphtha any other suitable rubber solvent may be used, such for example, as carbon bisulfid or benzol.

In pre arlng the first bath from the stock solution ordmaril takeequal parts of the rubber solution an benzin, the hide being treated therewith as aforesaid; the roportions of the rubber'and benzin wil however, depend upon the condition of the stock solution.- 1 I .The hides while in the rubber solution are heated and with this object the vessel may be jacketed so that steam, water, or-other means may be employed and the temperature of the said vesse' perature may range from 80 to 100 'Fahr. and the period of treatment may extend from 2 .to 5 days in eachbath. .It will, however, be evident that the weight, nature'and ori in of the hides must in all cases be consi ered and the treatment modified accordin ly.

The hides during the foregoing treatment regulated. The tem-

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