(No Model.) W. L. HEBERLING. 2. Sheets-Sheet 1. MACHINE, No. 343,992, Patented June 22, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 2. W. L. HEBERLING, , No. 343,992. Patented June 22, 1886,

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N, PETERs, photo-Lithographor, Washington, D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. HEBERLING, OF BATH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WARREN HEBERLING, OF HAVANA, ILLINOIS. SEWING-MACHINE. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,992, dated June 22, 1886. Application filed September 30, 1885. Serial No. 178,666. (No model.) To all whom it may concern: or hook rotates, or to a line drawn straight Be it known that I, WILLIAM. L. HEBER across the work-plate. The arm C of the LING, a citizen of the United States, residing -retaining lever is provided with a cam at Bath, in the county of Mason and State of portion adapted to be engaged by d on Illinois, have invented certain new and useful the shuttle-operating shaft D if my invention Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which be applied to an oscillating-shuttle machine, the following is a specification, reference be or by a face-cam, d, Fig. 3, if my invention ing had therein to the accompanying draw. be applied to a rotating-shuttle machine. To lingS. the arm C is attached a spring, c, which is Io As is well-known to those familiar with ro connected with some stationary part of the tary and oscillating-shuttle and revolving-hook machine, as to the bracket E, in which the sewing-machines, in which a large loop of nee shaft D has its front bearing, said spring Serv dle-thread is taken below the work-plate in ing to hold the arm c of the thread-retaining forming stitches, the operator is frequently an lever against a bearing-surface afforded by an noyed when commencing to sew by having inclined projection, b, on the under side of the the end of the needle-thread pulled below the throat-plate B, adjacent to the needle-hole, as work-plate when the first loop is expanded by in Figs. 1 and 2, or a similar surface at the the shuttle or revolving hook. To obviate side of an inclined recess, a, in the work- . this difficulty it is the usual practice to secure plate, as in Fig. 3. The outer end of the arm 20 the end of the needle-thread by placing it be. c of the retaining-lever extends adjacent to the neath the presser-foot, but even then it some line in which the needle reciprocates, but does times escapes and becomes entangled in the not reach outside of this line. shuttle-race or in the rotary hook, and trouble In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is thus occasioned. the shaft D is a rotating shaft, and is provided 75 25 The object of my invention is to obviate this with a cam, d, having its acting portion at its difficulty by providing an automatic thread periphery. The thread-retaining lever C is retainer which will securely hold the end of pivoted in a recess in the bracket E, and is the needle-thread by a proper spring-pressure provided at its rear end with a yoke, c', em while the loop is being expanded, so that the bracing the cam d, said yoke being connected thread will draw properly through the eye of by the retracting-spring c with a depending the needle, and which will be operated at proper or post, a”, on the bed-plate A. The lever intervals to release the thread when the feed C is straight, excepting for two offset bends to and take-up are to act. bring its forward end up close to the under . In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, side of the throat-plate B, so that said end 35 with the work-plate partially broken away, of may work in a recess in the under side of said a part of a Singer oscillating-shuttle sewing plate and impinge against the projection b to machine with my invention applied thereto. hold the thread at intervals. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. The operation of my invention is as follows: Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of my inven When the machine is started to begin to sew, 9O tion in connection with a rotary-shuttle ma the threaded needle descends, carrying with it chine. Fig. 4 shows another modification, and a loop of thread, the inner limb of which, when Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation looking from the the loop is engaged by the point of the shuttle, left of Fig. 4. is forced laterally between the forward arm of A denotes the work-plate of a sewing-ma the retaining-lever and the bearing-surface on 95 45 chine, and B the throat-plate thereof. the side of the projection b, or the side of the C c indicate the thread-retainer, which is recess at in the work-plate against which said pivoted by a pin, a, to the work-plate A, and arm is normally held by the spring c. is preferably made in the form of an elbow In the form of my invention shown in Figs. lever, the thread-pressing arm c of which is 1 and 2 the pins d on the shaft D are so placed IOO SO inclined to extend at an angle of about forty that as soon as the inner shorter limb of the five degrees to the plane in which the shuttle thread-loop has been forced by the point of

343,992 the shuttle between the arm, c and its bearing easily operated, the continued action thereof 55 surface the end of the thread will be caught will not appreciably increase the power re and held between said arm and bearing quired to run the machine, while the automatic Surface while the shuttle passes through the operation of my invention, which is always in 5 loop, which will be enlarged in the proper readiness to perform its function, will enable manner by drawing the thread through the the operator to begin to sew at any time with eye of the needle. The thread will then be out taking the trouble to secure the end of the released by the action of one or the other of needle-thread. It will also be apparent that the pins d on the arm C of the retaining-lever, the pins d (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) are the IO the action of the pins being to force the lever equivalents for the cams d and d', (shown in in the direction opposite to the action of the Figs. 3, 4, and 5,) said pins on the Oscillating spring c'. Thus the thread will be held against shuttle-shaft performing the same functions as 65 a bearing-surface by spring-pressure when the the cams on the rotating shafts. shuttle first catches the needle-loop, and will Having thus described my invention, Iclaim be released at intervals to enable the feed and and desire to secure by Letters Patent take-up to work properly. 1. In a sewing-machine, the combination, In the forms of my invention shown in Figs. with a vibrating thread-retaining lever, of a 3, 4, and 5 the cams d and d will operate on throat-plate provided on its under side adja the thread-retaining levers to hold their for cent to the needle-hole with a bearing-surface, Ward ends away from their co-operating bear against which one arm of said lever impinges ing-surfaces during about one-third of the rev at intervals, substantially as set forth. olutions of the shuttle-operating shafts, the 2. In a sewing-machine, the combination, parts being so timed that the thread-retainers with a vibrating thread-retaining lever having Will catch the thread at the moment the shut an inclined arm, of an inclined bearing-sur 25 tle or rotary hook begins to expand the loop, face adjacent to the vertical line in which the and will hold it until the loop is entirely ex needle reciprocates, against which the outer panded, releasing it in time for the take-up end of said arm impinges at intervals, sub and feed to perform their proper functions in stantially as set forth. the usual manner. 3. In a sewing-machine, the combination, I prefer to form the bearing-surface for my with a thread-retaining lever having an in thread-retainers at the sides of recesses in the clined arm, of a throat-plate provided on its under sides of the throat-plates, as indicated under side inside of the needle-hole with an in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, as this will bring the for inclined bearing-surface, a spring for holding ward end of the thread-retaining arm quite said arm against said bearing-surface, and a 35 near to the upper surface of the throat-plate, shaft having a device for moving said lever in and thus permit the shuttle or revolving hook opposition to the action to said spring at in to be as high or as near to the needle as possi tervals, substantially as set forth. 90 ble. I also prefer to arrange the working-arm 4. In a sewing-machine, the combination, or bearing portion of the thread-retainer at an with the work-plate, of a bell-crank or elbow 40 inclination to the plane in which the shuttle thread-retaining lever pivoted to said work or hook rotates, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, as plate, and having a cam-surface on one of its this arrangement of said arm enables it to arms, a co-operating bearing-surface against 95 catch the loop of the needle-thread better or With more certainty than it could if extended which the other arm of said lever impinges, 45 at a right angle to the plane of rotation of the a spring for holding the bearing-arm against shuttle, or as in Fig. 4. said surface, and a shaft having a device for It will of course be understood that my de moving said lever in opposition to the action IOO vice serves a useful purpose only at the first of said spring, substantially as set forth. . when beginning to sew with a thread In testimony whereof I affix my signature the short end of which is not secured to the in presence of two witnesses. work, and that its operation is idle thereafter WILLIAM L. HEBERLING. until a new piece of work is commenced or the Witnesses: needle is again newly threaded; but as the HENRY CALVER, parts are constructed so as to be very light and CLARENCE E. DOYLE.