US1414625A - Feeding mechanism for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

H. CORRALL AND B. A. STEVENS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, I919- Patented May 2, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHED I.

I N N N WITNESSES:

INVENTORS ATTORNEY H. CORRALL AND B. A. STEVENS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT, 27, I919- WITNESSES:

Paterited May 2, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

ATTORNEY UM? s'rrs an ease,

ERIK. CORRALL, OF HELEN SIBURG-H, AND BERTRAM A. STEVENS, F CLYDEB n11 SCOTLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

TION OF NEW JERSEY.

1 CORPORA= FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922..

Application filed October 27, 1919. serial No. 333,697.

' to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanisms for sewing machines and more particularly to the wheel-feed class of these mechanisms.

The primary object of the present invention is to insure the formation of uniform stitch-lengths without relative slip" in the plies being stitched by providing a feeding mechanism wherein, a feed-wheel receives acontinuous rotary movement both when the needle is in the work and when the needle is out of the work, combined with positive means, operating independently of any action of the work, for imparting bodily lateral movements to the needle in the line of feed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuously rotating work-engaging feed-wheel operatlng in conjunction with a needle of which the bodily lateral movements are adjustable to-insure the feeding of the work a uniform amount for each reci rocation of the needle. 7

T e invention has for a further object to provide a continuouslyeffective wheel-feed mechanism includin simple means, readily vaccessible to an operator, for changing the level of the feed-wheel for differentclasses ofwork.

' A still further object of the invention .is to embody a wheel-feed mechanism of the character referred toin a sewing machine embodying a loop-taker rotating about a vertical axis for cooperation with.

. the needle. in the formation of stitches,

-bobbin-case carrying the lower thread.

whereby. readyaccess may be had to' the Another object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism for continuously actuating the feed-wheel readily permitting the changin of the speed .of rotation of thez feed-wheel relative'to the speed of Wheel actuating shaft.

rotation of the main-shaft of the machine and adapted to run smoothly and quietly at high speed.

To the attainment of the several objects of the present invention, the wheel-feed 'mechanism in its preferred embodiment is adapted to a sewing machine havin supporting and actuating mechanism or an endwise reciprocating and laterally vibrating needle substantially as disclosed in the U. S. patent to. C. F. Gray, No. 929,761, August 3, 1909.

The feed-wheel is journalled in a frame adapted to be swung on an axis substantially parallel with the axis of the feeda wheel and coincident with the axis of an actuating shaft having operative connec tions by means of interchangeable gears with the feed-wheel; The purposeof swinging the feed-wheel is primarily to obtain the correct level for vdifierent classes of work and may be accomplished by means accessible from above the cloth-plate of the machine.

The feed-wheel actuating shaft mentioned is connected by means of a worm and wormwheel fwith a vertical shaft journaled in the. machine standard, suitably driven from the'main-shaft and havin ear connections adjacent the worm an .wormwheel with .a shaft transmittin rotary movements to vthe loop-taker. his construction. is preferred as it obtains a positive drive for the feed-wheel without loss in the speed of the machine, permits the use of a minimum number of operating parts, and'permits the transmitting gearing .for the feed-wheel and 'rotar loop-' takel. to be enclosed in a single ousing which may be packed with lubricant for both sets of gears.

The loop-taker employed may be ofany well known type rotatable upon a vertical axis and carrying amass of under thread 1 around which the loop-taker casts the needle-thread loops. The loop-taker is car-- ried by a vertical shaft operatively con 7 'nected to thetransmitting shaft before referred togby means of gears which together with the vertical loop-taker shaft are enclosed in a lubricant housing affording a bearing for the forward In the accompanying drawings, Figs 1r end ofthe feedis a sectional view in elevation of a sewing machine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front end view of a portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially on the line 02-00 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machine shown is provided with the bedplate 1, the upper surface of which serves as a cloth-plate. Rising from the bed plate is the hollow standard 2, curving laterally into the overhanging arm 3 terminating in the head 4. Suitably journaled in the overhanging arm is the main or driving shaft 5 carrying at one end the belt-wheel 6 and at its opposite end the shaft-flange 7 provided with the crank-pin 8. Embracing the crank-pin 8 is the aper; tured and'laterally ofiset end of the link 9 of which the opposite end is connected in a like manner with the stud 10 projecting from the collar 11 suitably secured to the needle-bar 12.

The needle-bar 12 carries the needle 12' and is journaled for vertical reciprocation in spaced bearings, as 13, provided in the swinging frame 14 pivotally supported at its upper end upon the stud 15 projecting from the head 4. In order to impart swinging movements to the frame 14, the lower of the spaced bearings 13 is suitably connected with the crank-arm 16 on one end of the rock-shaft 17, journaled in bearings provided in the overhanging arm. The rock-shaft 17 extends substantially parallel to the driving shaft 5 and has secured thereupon the forked-arm 18 actuated by the eccentric 19 adjustable in a well-known manner to vary the throw of the arm 18. Through the described operating mechanism the needle-bar 12 evidently receives endwise reciprocating and laterally vibratory movements, the extent of lateral movement being adjustable. The needle-thread take-up employed may be of any suitable construction and need not be described herein.

Adjacent the eccentric 19, the driving shaft 5 carries a bevel gear 20 meshing with a bevel-gear 21, carried by the upper end of a vertical, intermediate shaft 22 journaled at its upper end in a bearing provided in a bracket 23 projecting from the standard 2. The bevel-gears 20, 21 are of a ratio whereby shaft 22 receives two rotations to each rotation of the driving shaft 5. At its lower end, the shaft 22 is journaled in a bearing 24 formed in the frame of a housing 25 having a laterally projecting securing plate 26 attached by screws, as 27, to the under side of the bed-plate 1. Within the opening 28 afforded by the frame of the housing 25. the shaft 22 carries a worm 29 and a bevel-gear 30. The worm 29 drives a worm-wheel 31 secured upon a substantially horizontal feed-wheel actuating shaft 32 journaled at its rearward end in a bushing 33 suitably secured in an apertureprovided in the frame of the housing 25. The bevel-gear meshes with a similar gear 34 carried by the rearward end of a, looptaker actuating shaft 35 journaled in a bushing 36 suitably secured in an aperture provided for the purpose in the housing 25. The opening 28 of the housing 25 may be packed with lubricant and is closed by a detachable plate 37 secured by screws, as 38, upon the frame of the housing.

The loop-taker actuating-shaft 35 extends substantially parallel to the driving shaft 5 and is journaled at its forward end in a bushing 39 secured by a set-screw 40 in a suitable aperture provided in a second housing 41. A bevel-gear 42, carried by the forward end of the shaft 35 and located in an opening 43 afforded by the housing 41, meshes with a similar gear 44 secured by a set-screw 45 upon a vertical loop taker carrying shaft 46. The shaft 46 is journaled in a bushing 47 suitably secured in an aperture of a web 48 (shown in dotted lines only) provided inthe housing 41. At its upper end the shaft 46 carries a loop-taker 49 of a well known type containing a mass of under thread around which the loop of needle-thread is cast. The loop-taker 49. through the described connections, evidently receives two rotations to each reciprocation of the needle 12. The opening 43 in the housing is closed by a detachable plate 50 secured by screws as 51 upon the frame 41 of the housing, therebyproviding means for suitably lubricating the enclosed mechanism.

The loop-taker shaft housing 41 is secured by screws, as 52, upon the underside of the bed-plate 1 and affords a bearing for the feed-wheel actuating shaft 32 by the provision of an aperture into which is fitted a bushing 53. Adjacent the front end of the housing 41 there is journaled upon the bushing 53, i. e., coaxially with shaft 32,

an apertured boss of a feed-wheel supporting frame 54. A feed-wheel 55 is suitably secured upon a shaft 56 journaled in the frame 54 and projects upwardly through a suitable slot provided in the throat-plate 57, Where it coa'cts with a roller-presser 58 of any well-known construction. In order to establish driving connections for rotating the feed-wheel to continuously feed the work being operated upon, there is secured upon the shaft 56 by means of set-screws, as 59, a spur-gear 60. meshing with a driving spur-gear 61 secured by set-screws, as 62, upon the feed-wheel actuating shaft 32. The spur-gears 60 and 61 are situated so as to be readily interchangeable with other gears of different ratios, whereby the stitchlength may be in iaeat varied. When these gears are changed, it is essential to adjust the eccentric 19 in the usual manner to correspondingly alter the lateral throw of the needle. n

For different classes of work it is desirable to change the extent that'the feedwheel projects above the throat-plate 57 and tothis end it is important that the means for effecting this adjustment be accessibly presented to the operator from above the cloth-plate. present construction the free end of the feed-wheel supporting frame 54 is sustained by an adjusting screw 63 threaded into a cross-piece 64 bridging the forked end of the frame, with the head screw 63 resting upon the bed-plate 1 under. the action of a cpiled spring 65; It is apparent that by turning the screw 63 either to the right or left, the frame 54: will be correspondingly raised or lowered about the axis of the shaft 32, carrying the feed-wheel therewith.

The described construction obviates the difiiculty of obtaining uniform stitchlengths heretofore experienced in intermittently driven feed-wheels due to relative slip and overthrow, whilejmposing no drag upon the work during the penetration thereof by the needle. The stitching operation therefore requires less attention on the part of an operator, with neverthelessa decided gain in speed and uniformity of work.-

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is-; 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a cloth-plate, an overhanging arm, a

needle carrying bar j ournaled upon said overhanging arm above said cloth-plate, means. for imparting work penetrating movements to said needle, and means for imparting positive lateral movements to the needle sub: stantiallyin the line of feed of the work, of

continuousl feeding work feeding means ineluding a eed-wheel journaled beneath the.

cloth-plate upon a substantially horizontal axis and acting upon the work substantially at the point of penetration thereof "by the needle, and a thread-mass carrying looptaker journaled for rotarywmovement bee neath the cloth-plate upon a substantially vertical axis and coacting with the needle in the formation of lock stitches.

2. In a sewing machine, thecombination with a needle, a driving shaft, means .for endwise reciprocating and laterally vibrating the needle from said driving shaft, and a thread-mass carrying looptaker cooperating with said needle in the formation -of lock stitches, of a rotatable feed-wheel, an intermediate shaft actuated vfrom said driving shaft, and individual driving elements carried by said intermediate shaft for con-- tinuously rotating said loop-taker and said According to the of the adjusting feed-wheel duringthe operation of the machine.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a cloth-plate, a needle, a driving shaft, and means for imparting work-penetrating and work-feeding movements to said needle from said driving shaft, of a feed-wheel and a thread-mass carrying loop-taker journaled-beneath the cloth-plate for rotation upon substantially transverse axes, an intermediate shaft, and driving elements carried by said intermediate shaft for continuously rotating said loop-taker and said feed-wheel during the operation of the machine.

4. lln a sewing machine, the combination with a cloth-plate, a needle, and means for reciprocating'said'needle, of a work engaging feed-wheel, a rotary feed-wheel actuating shaft, a swinging rame fulcrumed be-' neath the cloth-plate substantially coaxially with said actuating shaft upon which frame said feed-wheel is journaled, and'a driving gear carried by said actuating shaft at a free end thereof having driving connections with said feed-wheel.

5. lln a se'wingmachine, the combination with an actuating shaft, a needle, and looper mechanism complemental to said needle in v the formation of stitches, of a continuously feeding work-feed wheel, interengaging driving elements intermediate said actuat-- With a cloth-plate, a needle and complemental stitch-forming mechanism, of a continuously rotatable work-engaging feedwheel journaled-on one 'side of said clothplate, means for rotating'said feed-wheel, and eans located on the side of the clothplate opposite to that upon which the feedwheel is journaled for effecting adjustment of the level of the feed-wheel.

'1 lin a sewing machine,'the combination with a cloth-plate, an endwise reciprocating and laterally vibrating needle, and complemental stitch-forming mechanism, of a rdtatable work-engaging feed-wheel journaled beneath the cloth-plate, meansfor rotating said feed-wheel to continuously feed the work, and means accessible from above the cloth-plate for effecting adjustment of the level of the feed-wheel.

iae

chines, comprising a rotatable work-engaging feed-Wheel, a rotary feed-wheel actuating shaft, a frame affording a journal for said feed-wheel and fulcrumed coaxially with said shaft, and driving connections between said shaft and said feed-wheel.

10. A feeding mechanism for sewing machines comprising a rotatable work-engaging feed-wheel, a rotary feed-wheel actuating shaft, a frame upon which said feed-wheel is journaled adapted to be swung on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said feed-wheel actuating shaft, and means for swinging said frame to effect adjustment of the level of the feed-wheel.

11. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle, a driving shaft, means for reciprocating said needle from said driving shaft, a rotary loop-taker complemental to said needle in the formation of stitches, a continuously rotatable feed-wheel, an intermediate shaft actuated from said driving shaft, gears rovided upon said intermediate shaft for actuating both the looptaker and the feed-wheel, and a lubricant housing enclosing said gears. v

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle and a loop-taker, of a feed-wheel, an actuating shaft, means including adjacent spur and worm gears carried by said shaft for transmitting operative movements to said loop-taker and feed-wheel, and a single housing enclosing said gears.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT CORRALL. BERTRAM A. STEVENS. Witnesses:

HENRY MAsoN, PETER MURDOOK.

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