Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 6.djvu/196

 184 FEDEBAli RBPOBTBB. �of a number of pieces already stitched together, is to be in- troduced under the presser-foot, (see fig. 2,) and another piece of braid is to be passed under the bar, e', and thence over and under roUer e. If e be properly set with reference to the needb [Jhe latter] it will pass into the upper braid, out of it again on the same side that it entered, and thence through the lower one, (see fig. 3,) and its thread may appear on the upper surface, as in fig. 6, at w,- or, if the braid be thick or the roller further from the needle, the thread n?.ay not appear at ail on the upper surface, but assume a position as shown at w, fig. 4 [.] ; and when [When] the loop [of needle-thread] has been secured below the lower braid, and the needle bas risen out of both pieces, then the feed will advance both braids, and in so doing will oarry the upper one over the bond- ing roller, so that it may be pierced at a different spot on the next descent of the needle, the feed and roller, by their com- bined action, presenting the upper braid properly. The oper- ation would not, however, be as certain as desirable, owing to the springing of the needle [by the glancing of its point from the bent surface of the braid.] I therefora aet the needle so that it will not pierce the upper piece of braid at ail, unless it is bent or sprvng over towards the roller on its descent, and apply to the presser-foot, or other convenient support, a guide, such as /, which springs the needle over towards the roUer when the needle point enters the guide. A bent pioce of metal, with a conical hole in it, or a simple surface standing nearly upright, but inclining away from the needle at its upper edge, anawers the purpose [of such guide] will. The guide [/] shown in the drawings has two surfaces meeting at an angle or apex through which the needle passes. By means of this addition the needle is forced to pierce in the desired line, and the operation of sewing is rendered certain. The loops of needle- thread passed through the lower braid are to be confined by a shuttle-thread, as shown in the drawings, or by a looped thread, as in the Grover & Baker stitch machines, or by a loop of the upper thread, as in crochet machines, and the stitch is drawn tight when it bas passed, or just as it is passing away, from the roller. As the seam is stronger when the needle- ��� �