Driving Mechanisms Patents (Class 112/220)
  • Patent number: 11243096
    Abstract: Provided is an encoder apparatus capable of reducing frequency of maintenance of a battery. An encoder apparatus includes: a position detection system including a detector that detects position information on a mover; an electric signal generator that generates an electric signal in response to movement of the mover; and a battery that supplies at least a part of power consumed by the position detection system in accordance with the electric signal generated by the electric signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiko Goto
  • Patent number: 11111991
    Abstract: An input cam having a recessed track for establishing a desired dwell time for a plurality of rotatable permanent magnets and an output cam having a recessed track for maximizing the harnessing of linear motion energy and to apply the harnessed energy to a rotary output are provided to improve the efficiency of a magnetic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MagnaMotor, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Herrin, Sean R. Khant
  • Patent number: 11050381
    Abstract: A motor control device includes: a first communication unit that transmits or receives data to or from a motor; a communication disconnection determination unit that determines that the motor and the motor control device are in a disconnection state based on a fact that there is no reply from the motor within a prescribed period, and that determines that the motor and the motor control device have been restored to a connection state based on a fact that a reply from the motor to the motor control device has been restarted; and a replacement determination unit that obtains identification information from an identification information storage of the motor via the first communication unit and determines that the motor has been replaced, when it is determined that the motor and the motor control device have been restored to the connection state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ikeuchi, Mitsutaka Okura
  • Patent number: 10260187
    Abstract: A foot controller includes: a pedal portion that is to be depressed by a foot thereon; a pedal stand on which one end of the pedal portion is supported so that the pedal portion freely pivots about a pivot portion; a speed control member that controls an operation speed of a sewing machine; and a depression suppression member that regulates and controls a depressing operation of the pedal portion in accordance with the depression speed of the pedal portion. In response to a depressing operation which does not involve an abrupt speed change of the pedal portion, the depression suppression member is not operated and the operation speed of the sewing machine is controlled according to an amount of depression of the pedal portion. In response to a depressing operation which involves an abrupt speed change of the pedal portion, the depression suppression member is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 10072367
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a needle bar release mechanism, a drive portion, a contact member, and a switching mechanism. The needle bar is configured to move up and down. The needle bar release mechanism is configured to connect and disconnect the transmission of the driving force between the drive shaft and the needle bar. The drive portion is configured to drive the needle bar release mechanism. The contact member is configured to come into contact with the needle bar in a case where the needle bar is positioned at a top dead point of the range within which the needle bar is able to move up and down. The switching mechanism is configured to switch the position of the contact member between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 9724032
    Abstract: A lancing device and a method for using the lancing device includes a plunger mechanism having a permanent magnet housed therein. The lancing device includes a movable element having at least one attracting object and at least one repelling object. The attracting object attracts the permanent magnet to move the plunger into a retracted position. The repelling object repels the permanent magnet to move the plunger into a lancing position to pierce the skin of a test subject. The use of the permanent magnet in the plunger mechanism reduces or eliminates multiple punctures due to plunger bounce or oscillation that can occur while a body fluid sample is being drawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventor: Allen J. Brenneman
  • Patent number: 8919270
    Abstract: An apparatus for stitching an interior component is disclosed herein. The component having an outer skin layer and the apparatus is a single needle chain stitch machine with a rotary looper and wherein a needle of the apparatus descends through the interior component and a hook of the rotary looper engages a thread loop formed during retraction of the needle after it has descended through the interior component; and wherein the apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the interior component relative to the needle and looper to establish a stitch length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Inteva Products LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Wenzel, Joseph Anthony Massetti
  • Patent number: 8695517
    Abstract: An improved quilting machine, with a housing made by a C-shaped frame that has upper and lower arms, wherein the needle structure at the front end of the upper arm have conventional design (as used in commercial sewing machines) and the bobbin is placed to an elevated height by providing an upwardly extended end portion of the lower arm, wherein an offset shaft transmission means is be provided in the upwardly extended portion that acts as a power transmission towards the bobbin driving axle from the lower driving axle extending in the lower arm, wherein the upper and lower driving axles comprise of hollow drive shafts connected via flexible coupling means to half-shafts mounted on plates that are integral parts of the C-frame by dual ball bearing mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Zoltan Kasa
  • Publication number: 20140090586
    Abstract: An upper feed device is configured to be arranged above a bed of a sewing machine and feed a work cloth. The upper feed device includes a feed portion, a mechanism arrangement portion, and a drive portion. The feed portion includes a first feed mechanism and a second feed mechanism and is configured to feed the work cloth in a feed direction. The first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism are arranged side by side in a first direction, which is parallel to a top surface of the bed and orthogonal to the feed direction. The mechanism arrangement portion is configured to arrange the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism in different positions in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the top surface of the bed. The drive portion is configured to drive the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism in synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki IHIRA, Midori MAGARA
  • Patent number: 8677916
    Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine is provided with a common drive that drives the needles and loopers. It may also drive the presser foot assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor drives a rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft has an off-center drive assembly connected to it that rocks a needle rocker shaft as well as looper rocker shafts, and also a presser foot shaft. The off-center drive includes a pair of eccentrics on the drive shaft at each side of the machine. Each eccentric oscillates a linkage plate that is fixed to a shaft such as the needle rocker shaft and is also linked to the looper rocker shafts and the presser foot shaft. The eccentric thereby reciprocates the needles and oscillates the loopers, as well as reciprocates the presser foot plate, in permanent synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Michael A. James, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
  • Publication number: 20130291774
    Abstract: A sewing direction control apparatus for sewing machine, comprising: a base plate (10), a circular ring-shaped transmission element (20) dispose on the base plate (10) and a driving element (50) with a driving unit (52). During sewing, the driving unit (52) drives the transmission element (20), rotating a sewing product (A) placed at the center of the transmission element (20) with the driving element (52), thereby controlling the sewing direction of the sewing product (A), and thus improving the sewing accuracy. The direction control apparatus has low cost, and is suitable for various types of automatic sewing machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jakov Makover, Bar Cochva Mardix, Yaacov Sadeh
  • Publication number: 20130255555
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar base, a support shaft, an adjustment member, and an urging portion. The needle bar base has a through hole on an upper end portion. The support shaft is inserted through the through hole and pivotably supports the needle bar base. The support shaft includes a leading end portion. The leading end portion includes a first screw portion. The adjustment member is provided on the support shaft and is configured to move along an axial direction of the support shaft. The adjustment member includes a second screw portion and a first contact portion. The second screw portion is screwed into the first screw portion. The first contact portion is in contact with the needle bar base. The urging portion urges the needle bar base toward the first contact portion of the adjustment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Katsuhisa HASEGAWA, Shin OTA, Kenichi MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20130255556
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a needle bar base, a base frame, a guide member, and a fixing member. A sewing needle is attachable to a lower end portion of the needle bar. The needle bar base is configured to support the needle bar to allow the needle bar to be moved in an up-down direction. A first engagement portion is provided to a lower end portion of the needle bar base. The base frame is configured to swingably support an upper end portion of the needle bar base. A second engagement portion is provided to a lower end portion the base frame. A guide member includes a third engagement portion configured to engage with the first engagement portion and guide movement of the first engagement portion in a predetermined direction and a fourth engagement portion configured to engage with the second engagement portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Katsuhisa HASEGAWA, Shin OTA, Kenichi MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20120318181
    Abstract: An improved quilting machine, with a housing made by a C-shaped frame that has upper and lower arms, wherein the needle structure at the front end of the upper arm have conventional design (as used in commercial sewing machines) and the bobbin is placed to an elevated height by providing an upwardly extended end portion of the lower arm, wherein an offset shaft transmission means is be provided in the upwardly extended portion that acts as a power transmission towards the bobbin driving axle from the lower driving axle extending in the lower arm, wherein the upper and lower driving axles comprise of hollow drive shafts connected via flexible coupling means to half-shafts mounted on plates that are integral parts of the C-frame by dual ball bearing mounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Zoltan Kasa
  • Publication number: 20120291683
    Abstract: A sewing machine having a rotatable head portion includes a sewing machine frame shaped in a box using supporting posts and supporting bars to hold the sewing machine; a sewing machine main body mounted on the sewing machine frame; a head portion disposed at the front end of the sewing machine main body and rotatably installed through head portion rotating means; a bed portion rotatably installed under the head portion through bed portion rotating means; X-axis transporting means moving the sewing machine main body mounted on the sewing machine frame in X direction; Y-axis transporting means moving the sewing machine main body mounted on the sewing machine frame in Y direction; and a sewing object fixing frame provided at the front part of the sewing machine frame where the sewing object is held. The head portion and the bed portion are rotated to sew the sewing object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SunStar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Gyu LEE
  • Patent number: 8297212
    Abstract: A travel beginning/end adjusting positioning structure for a sewing machine motor drive mechanism comprises a fixed holder, a positioning holder and an adjusting apparatus. By adjusting the relative position of the center of the rotating element of the motor and the control shaft using the adjusting apparatus, the control element on one end of the control shaft will rotate synchronously, and a mechanism connected to the other end of the control shaft will also rotate to a beginning and an end points of a different travel. By such arrangements, when the control element is driven by the motor, the mechanism connected to the control shaft will operate according to different travels, thus achieving the objective of adjusting travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Hsien-Chang Tseng
  • Publication number: 20120222606
    Abstract: A method for using a tufting machine to produce athletic turf bearing precise graphic tuft patterns at a high throughput rate is disclosed. The utilized machine includes tenter frame and a series of tufting frames upon which tufting head components are mounted. The entire length of a piece of backing material is wrapped around the tenter frame, and the tenter frame circulates the backing past the tufting frames, and the tufting head components are shifted as may be necessary to form a desired graphic tuft pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: John H. Bearden
  • Publication number: 20120216733
    Abstract: A travel beginning/end adjusting positioning structure for a sewing machine motor drive mechanism comprises a fixed holder, a positioning holder and an adjusting apparatus. By adjusting the relative position of the center of the rotating element of the motor and the control shaft using the adjusting apparatus, the control element on one end of the control shaft will rotate synchronously, and a mechanism connected to the other end of the control shaft will also rotate to a beginning and an end points of a different travel. By such arrangements, when the control element is driven by the motor, the mechanism connected to the control shaft will operate according to different travels, thus achieving the objective of adjusting travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Hsien-Chang TSENG
  • Patent number: 8225728
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a needle-bar case transfer mechanism transferring a needle-bar case relative to a sewing machine body and a first wiring and a second wiring each connected to an electrical component provided at the needle-bar case and that is extended across the sewing machine body and the needle-bar case. The first and the second wiring are held such that the first wiring and the second wiring are separated in a direction of transfer of the needle-bar case and a first intermediate portion of the first wiring and a second intermediate portion of the second wiring are curved so as to either cross over or proximate one another to allow the first wiring and the second wiring to be moved relative to one another at the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Fujihara
  • Publication number: 20120145061
    Abstract: A head unit fixed sewing machine is provided, which includes a table, support posts, an upper beam, a head unit and a bed unit. An object is placed on the table. The support posts are provided on opposite sides of the table. The upper beam connects the support posts to each other and is coupled to upper ends of the support posts. The head unit is fastened to the upper beam and has a head-unit-rotating means for rotating a sewing head within a predetermined range. The bed unit is provided below the head unit and has a bed-unit-rotating means for rotating a sewing bed within a predetermined range. Because the head unit and the bed unit can be rotated while sewing, the orientation of a sewn thread can be maintained constant. Hence, a perfect stitch can be realized over the entirety of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SUNSTAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Gyu LEE
  • Publication number: 20120145060
    Abstract: A sewing machine is provided, which includes a table, support posts, upper and lower frames, a head unit, a bed unit, an X-axial head-unit-transport means and an X-axial bed-unit-transport means. An object is placed on the table. The support posts are provided on opposite sides of the table. The upper and lower frames connect the support posts to each other. The head unit is provided on the upper frame so as to be movable in an X-axis direction. The head unit has a head-unit-rotating means for rotating a sewing head. The bed unit is provided on the lower frame so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The bed unit has a bed-unit-rotating means for rotating a sewing bed. The X-axial head-unit-transport means moves the head unit on the upper frame horizontally. The X-axial bed-unit-transport means moves the bed unit on the upper frame horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SUNSTAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Gyu LEE
  • Publication number: 20120097083
    Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine is provided with a common drive that drives the needles and loopers. It may also drive the presser foot assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor drives a rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft has an off-center drive assembly connected to it that rocks a needle rocker shaft as well as looper rocker shafts, and also a presser foot shaft. The off-center drive includes a pair of eccentrics on the drive shaft at each side of the machine. Each eccentric oscillates a linkage plate that is fixed to a shaft such as the needle rocker shaft and is also linked to the looper rocker shafts and the presser foot shaft. The eccentric thereby reciprocates the needles and oscillates the loopers, as well as reciprocates the presser foot plate, in permanent synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael A. James, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
  • Patent number: 8146522
    Abstract: Forward and backward movement apparatus for main body of sewing machine according to this invention comprises, in sewing machine comprising Main Body movable forward and backward and supported on both sides of a Base and Heads movable left and right and supported on the Main Body; Frame mounted on the Base; Timing Gears installed in the front and rear Fixed Frame of the Frame in multiple rows; Connecting Shat which connects Timing Gears beneath Front Fixed Frame; Forward and Backward Movement Frames is movable forward and backward on the Frame and connected to the Main Body; Rollers are installed in the Forward and Backward Movement Frames in multiple rows to correspond to the Timing Gears; Timing Belt which zigzags through Timing Gear and Roller and Timing Gear and Roller, and both ends of which are connected to the top of Front and Rear Fixed Frames; and electric motor which drives the Connecting Shat in forward and reverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Dae Hung Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoo Kun Lee, Yong Kyun Jang
  • Patent number: 8051788
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes upper and lower beams. A thread hooking mechanism is mounted in the lower beam. A needle plate base is mounted to an end of the lower beam. A transmission shaft rotatably extends in the lower beam and has an end extending into the needle plate base. The transmission shaft can be driven by a power source. A driving device is mounted to the end of the lower beam and includes a transmission gear fixed on the end of the transmission shaft, a driven shaft rotatably received in the needle plate base and having an end coupled to the thread hooking mechanism, and a driven gear fixed on the driven shaft and connected to the transmission gear, with the driven shaft and the thread hooking mechanism rotating at a speed higher than the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sewtech Corporation
    Inventor: Hsien-Chin Chang
  • Publication number: 20110083596
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sewing machine that can perform zigzag sewing a cylindrical sewn article. A sewing machine 1 includes an approximately cylindrical guide member 11 that guides a sewn article A, a sewing needle 99 that sews the cylindrical sewn article A, a holding member 71 that holds the sewing needle 99 approximately vertically, a vertical hook 21 provided in the guide member 11 so that the direction of rotation is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction C of the guide member 11 and that catches the upper thread loop of the sewing needle 99, a rotary shaft 22 that rotates the vertical hook 21, and an operating means 50 that moves the holding member 71 and the rotary shaft 22 reciprocatingly at approximately the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Hideo Asao, Nobuhiro Nishi
  • Patent number: 7845295
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sewing arm mechanism of an embroidery machine. Within the sewing arm mechanism, there are provided a needle bar vertical drive unit and cloth pressing member vertical drive unit for vertically moving a needle bar and a cloth pressing member, respectively, by using the rotational driving force of an upper shaft. The sewing arm mechanism is configured in such a manner that the needle bar drive reaction force exerted on the upper shaft by the driving the needle bar vertical drive unit, and the cloth pressing member drive reaction force exerted on the upper shaft by the driving of the cloth pressing member vertical drive unit act in opposite directions of each other, whereby the magnitudes of the reaction forces exerted on the upper shaft can be cancelled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sunstar Precision Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chan Soo Park
  • Patent number: 7836836
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cam follower bracket that is used in conjunction with textile tufting machines. Typically, the present invention is used with shifting tufting machines used to produce carpet and rugs. The cam follower bracket utilizes a floating lug design that self-regulates the amount of pressure that the cam follower bearings apply against the shifter block of the tufting machine. Because the bracket is able to self-regulate the pressure, the bracket generally lasts longer and does not need to be periodically monitored and/or tightened. Therefore, less user interaction is required and less machine downtime is needed when operating a tufting machine utilizing a bracket according to the present invention in comparison with known cam follower brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Stephanie Brewer
  • Patent number: 7836838
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar that is equipped with a sewing needle at a lower end of the needle bar, a presser bar that is equipped with a presser foot at a lower end of the presser bar, which holds down a work cloth, a sewing machine motor which is a driving source that drives the needle bar in an up and down direction, and a switching device that switches between a normal mode in which the needle bar is driven in the up and down direction to form stitches and a practice mode in which the sewing machine is operated in a condition where at least the needle bar is not driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Makino, Hirokazu Hirose, Yoshio Nishimura, Masaki Shimizu, Akie Ukai, Yoshinori Nakamura, Kazumi Sai
  • Patent number: 7814850
    Abstract: A tufting machine capable of producing individual articles of athletic turf bearing precise graphic patterns is disclosed. The machine includes a support frame to which a backing material is statically held, a tufting frame that spans above and below the backing and is computer-controlled to travel along the support frame, a yarn-inserting needle carriage disposed above the backing along the tufting frame and a yarn-catching looper carriage disposed below the backing along the tufting frame. The carriages are computer-controlled to asynchronously shift relative to each other as may be necessary for their individual yarn-inserting components and yarn-catching components to cooperate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Partner's Royalties, LLC
    Inventor: John H. Bearden
  • Publication number: 20100242821
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a needle-bar case transfer mechanism transferring a needle-bar case relative to a sewing machine body and a first wiring and a second wiring each connected to an electrical component provided at the needle-bar case and that is extended across the sewing machine body and the needle-bar case. The first and the second wiring are held such that the first wiring and the second wiring are separated in a direction of transfer of the needle-bar case and a first intermediate portion of the first wiring and a second intermediate portion of the second wiring are curved so as to either cross over or proximate one another to allow the first wiring and the second wiring to be moved relative to one another at the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Fujihara
  • Publication number: 20100229771
    Abstract: Forward and backward movement apparatus for main body of sewing machine according to this invention comprises, in sewing machine comprising Main Body movable forward and backward and supported on both sides of a Base and Heads movable left and right and supported on the Main Body; Frame mounted on the Base; Timing Gears installed in the front and rear Fixed Frame of the Frame in multiple rows; Connecting Shat which connects Timing Gears beneath Front Fixed Frame; Forward and Backward Movement Frames is movable forward and backward on the Frame and connected to the Main Body; Rollers are installed in the Forward and Backward Movement Frames in multiple rows to correspond to the Timing Gears; Timing Belt which zigzags through Timing Gear and Roller and Timing Gear and Roller, and both ends of which are connected to the top of Front and Rear Fixed Frames; and electric motor which drives the Connecting Shat in forward and reverse directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Kyoo Kun Lee, Yong Kyun Jang
  • Patent number: 7789028
    Abstract: A chain-stitch multi-needle quilting machine and method provide for driving needles and loopers independently or out of phase, particularly during the starting of stitching sequences. Separate drive motors drive needles separately from their loopers. Alternatively, a single motor drives needles and loopers linked through a differential drive or variably-controllable linkage. At the beginning of a stitch sequence, needles and loopers are separately driven in a split start manner by which stitches can be reliably formed by advancing the loopers ahead of the needles so the looper enters a needle thread loop before the needle enters a looper thread loop. Then the needle and looper can be brought into phase later in the first stitch cycle. The split drive can solve other stitch or thread control problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Michael James, Jeff Kaetterhenry, David Brian Scott
  • Publication number: 20100212562
    Abstract: A workpiece processing attachment detachably attached to a sewing machine including a presser foot, a presser bar having the presser foot detachably attached to its lower end, a presser bar vertically moving mechanism, a sewing needle, a needle clamp having the sewing needle detachably attached thereto, a needle bar having the needle clamp attached thereto, and a needle bar vertically moving mechanism, the workpiece processing attachment, including a body detachably attached to the lower end of the presser bar; a connecting element capable of being connected to the needle clamp and movable up and down with the needle bar being moved up and down by the needle bar vertically moving mechanism; a needle penetrating the workpiece to form a hole in the workpiece; and a needle vertically moving mechanism moving the needle up and down by the up and down movement of the connecting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akifumi Nakashima, Daisuke Ueda
  • Publication number: 20100199900
    Abstract: A holding device (3) for a tool, e.g., a textile marker (5), for the processing of a textile or non-textile sheet material (44) is attached to the presser foot bar (23) of a sewing machine (1). The tool is supported by a tool holder (15) so that it can move on a base part (19) of the holding device (3) and can be changed in its position or activation through movements of the needle bar (9) of the sewing machine (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: BERNINA-INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Severin Brunner, Dusan Dunjic, Markus Müller
  • Patent number: 7654209
    Abstract: An embroidery machine includes a sewing arm having an upper shaft for providing a driving force, a needle bar support case, which is assembled to a front portion of the sewing arm so as to be laterally movable, a needle bar provided in a needle bar support case, the needle bar having a needle at a lower end thereof and vertically carrying the needle using a rotation driving force of the upper shaft, and a presser foot, which is provided in the needle bar support case so as to be vertically movable, characterized in that each of the needle bar and the presser foot is operated by an individual drive mechanism. The presser foot is separately driven by its own drive source, independent of the drive source of the needle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sunstar Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Soo Park
  • Patent number: 7600481
    Abstract: An upper looper driving device of a sewing machine is provided. The device includes an upper looper driving shaft which is rotatable around an axis thereof, an upper looper holder having an upper end portion at which the upper looper is held, an upper looper swinging arm having one end portion supported by the upper looper driving shaft such that a position of the upper looper swinging arm is adjustable along an axial direction of the upper looper driving shaft and the other end portion to which the upper looper holder is rotatably coupled, and an upper looper guide slidably holding the upper looper holder. The upper looper guide is supported by a frame of the sewing machine such that a position of the upper looper guide is adjustable along a direction parallel to the axial direction of the upper looper driving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Shuuji Fujita
  • Publication number: 20090249990
    Abstract: A presser foot drive structure of an embroidery machine, by which a vertically movable presser foot for preventing a sheet of cloth to be sewn from rising in a sewing operation is vertically moved inside a sewing head. The presser foot drive structure includes a presser foot drive holder, which is vertically slidable and is mounted on the outer circumference of a needle bar, which is vertically driven; a presser foot drive shaft, which is disposed parallel to the needle bar via the presser foot drive holder; and the presser foot, which is disposed at the lower end of the presser foot drive shaft and vertically reciprocates. It is possible to reduce the stroke of a presser foot so that it is smaller than that of a needle bar, enhance the supporting force for a needle bar, and reduce the shaking of a presser foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: SUNSTAR MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chan Soo Park
  • Patent number: 7597058
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a timing of a needle and a looptaker of a sewing machine provided at a zigzag sewing machine having an upper shaft for driving a needle bar, a lower shaft for driving a looptaker, a machine frame, and a timing belt for connecting and synchronizing the shafts includes a cam member including a first cam surface and a second cam surface, a first arm member and a second arm member supported by the machine frame and a first pulley and a second pulley mounted to the first arm member and the second arm member respectively and always contacting the timing belt, the first pulley following the first cam surface and the second pulley following the second cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishikawa, Tatsunori Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7565873
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a rotating hook, a lower shaft rotating the rotating hook in synchronization with vertical movement of the needlebar, a lower shaft gear including a helical gear and slidably mounted on the lower shaft, a hook gear including a helical gear capable of mesh engagement with the lower shaft gear and mounted on the rotating hook, a drive force transmission mechanism supporting the lower shaft gear so that the lower shaft gear is axially moveable and transmits rotation of the lower shaft to the lower shaft gear, a cam mechanism axially moving the lower shaft gear to adjust at least one of a left encounter timing for seizure of the needle thread loop by the hook beak when the needle occupies a left needle location and a right encounter timing for seizure of the needle thread loop by the hook beak when the needle occupies a right needle location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7523712
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a looper formed with a thread hole, a looper shaft holding the looper, and a thread pipe fixed to the looper shaft. The thread pipe includes a thread inserting port at one end and a thread discharging port at the other end. The sewing machine further includes a nozzle from which air is sprayed toward the thread inserting port, a switching mechanism operable to disconnect the looper from the looper shaft when the looper is at a front position, and a moving member which moves the looper to a rear position when the looper is disconnected from the looper shaft by the switching mechanism. When the looper is disconnected from the looper shaft and is moved to the rear position, the thread discharging port matches the thread hole, and the thread inserting port becomes close to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Sadasue
  • Patent number: 7458326
    Abstract: An overlock sewing machine including a main shaft rotated by a sewing machine motor; a vertically moving sewing needle and an overlooper and an underlooper respectively driven by the rotation of the main shaft; a single looper drive shaft forming overlock stitches in cooperation with the overlooper, the underlooper and the sewing needle and rotated by the rotation of the main shaft, shaft line thereof being arranged perpendicularly to the main shaft; and a swing generating member having first and second swing generating portions fixed to the looper drive shaft for swinging the overlooper and the underlooper respectively; a first and second swing link mechanisms, both of which extend perpendicularly to the looper drive shaft, swinging the overlooper and the underlooper by conveying the drive force generated by the first and second sewing generating portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Matsuo Yamaguchi, Hiroki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7370592
    Abstract: Sewing machine includes a tension detection section (26) for detecting tension acting on a sewn material (A) paid out from a rotary holder member, and a drive section for driving the rotary holder member, and the driving operation of the drive section (14) is controlled on the basis of the detection by the tension detection section. Once the tension acting on the sewn material has increased, the rotary holder member is driven to rotate by the drive section, so that the sewn material can be paid out smoothly from the rotary holder member. The sewing machine is particularly useful in a case where the rotary holder member is constructed into an increased size so that an increased amount of the sewn material can be wound thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Tajima, Tetsurou Kondou
  • Publication number: 20070261621
    Abstract: Individual motors in a sewing machine of the invention are provided, for each of a plurality of machine heads, for individually driving respective mechanical components, such as a needle bar driving mechanism, thread take-up lever and presser foot mechanism. A plurality of rotary hooks are driven by a common motor. Even in a case where embroidering workpieces set on the individual machine heads differ in material between the heads and upper threads used for the machine heads differ in characteristic between the heads, the sewing machine can make, in a concurrent, parallel fashion, embroidery products of different texture suited for the respective materials, characteristics, etc., by setting independent stitch formation per machine head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru SUZUKI, Yuichiro SUZUKI, Katsuharu YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7290493
    Abstract: Sewing machine includes: a needle bar driven to move up and down to perform sewing operation; a jump mechanism electrically controlled to bring the needle bar to a jump sewing state; a holder member controlled to move, in synchronism with the up-and-down movement of the needle bar, for holding a sewing workpiece from above when the holder member is in its lowered position; and a holder mechanism for, when the sewing operation is to be stopped, moving the holder member upward to a predetermined evacuating position and mechanically retaining the holder member in the evacuating position; and an interlocking mechanism for mechanically retaining the needle bar in the jump sewing state in interlocked relation to the holder member being mechanically retained in the evacuating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Takashi Shibata
  • Publication number: 20070227423
    Abstract: A sewing machine including a needle bar that has a sewing needle attached in a lower end thereof; a needle-bar vertical drive mechanism that vertically moves the needle bar by a sewing machine motor via a sewing machine motor main shaft; an imaging unit that captures image of at least the sewing needle and a moving object that is in close proximity of the sewing needle; a distance calculating portion that calculates a distance between the sewing needle and the moving object based on image data captured by the imaging unit; a judging portion that makes a judgment that the distance calculated by the distance calculating portion is equal to or less than a predetermined distance; and a control portion that controls execution of a predetermined safety operation based on a judgment result of the judging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chikahisa Noguchi, Toshihiro Hanai, Eiichi Hamajima, Yoshio Nishimura, Eiichi Ito
  • Patent number: 6997124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for generating a loop or a file used in an embroidery frame and the device comprises a fore-back driving part including a fore-back driving motor, a first gear driven with said motor, a second gear driven by a means coupling with said first gear, a third gear driven by a co-axis of rotation with said second gear, a first stop bar to switch said motor positioned at the lower part of said co-axis and cam-shaped stoppers placed within the area covered by the rotation of said first stop bar; a left-right driving part including a left-right rotating motor, a fourth gear driven with said motor, and a shaft having a fifth gear associated with said forth gear at the one end and a worm gear at the other; and a lead arm part connect to said shaft and including a lead arm to generate a loop, a lead arm body to joint said lead arm, lever stoppers to suppress the rotation of the motor and a second stop bars placed with the area covered by the rotation of the lead arm wherein said ea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Chung-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 6904853
    Abstract: A take-up cam phase adjustment structure of looper thread take-up apparatus of a sewing machine includes a rotary shaft rotatablly mounted in the sewing machine. A thread-guiding plate mounted on the housing for correspondingly pressing a stitching thread against the rim of the take-up cam. A transmission mechanism connected between the lower driving shaft and the rotary shaft. The transmission mechanism includes a driven wheel rotatablly mounted on the rotary shaft. The take-up cam phase adjustment structure includes a locking member for locking the driven wheel on the rotary shaft and a turning section disposed at one end of the rotary shaft. After the second locking member is unscrewed and loosened, by means of rotating the turning section, the relative radial positions between the take-up cam and the lower driving shaft is drivingly adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Ching Chi Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 6865995
    Abstract: A structure of a motor driven driving mechanism of a sewing machine comprises a motor mounted on one side of the sewing machine and a driving mechanism disposed inside the frame of the sewing machine driven by the motor. A rotor shaft extends out of the cover, the rotor shaft comprises a connecting portion for connecting with the driving mechanism, and at least one resilient element is disposed on two sides of the connecting portion for connecting the connecting portion with the driving mechanism. Since the rotor shaft rotatably drives the driving mechanism, therefore frictional or ramming effects among the assembly parts can be eliminated or at least substantially reduced. Thus noise during operation and the damage to the mechanical parts can be effectively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Jui-Jung Chuo
  • Patent number: 6843188
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a mounting member, a needle bar driving mechanism, and a needle thread take-up driving mechanism. The mounting member has two sides mounted on the left and right of the needle bar driving mechanism and the needle thread take-up driving mechanism, respectively. The mounting member is supported on one of the sides by the main shaft, a rotating shaft rotated with the main shaft or a bearing member for the main shaft or the rotating shaft so that the mounting member is rotated relative to the machine frame and the main shaft or rotating shaft. The mounting member is supported on the other side by the main shaft or a supporting shaft substantially concentric with the rotating shaft and extending in a same direction as the rotating shaft so that the mounting member is rotated relative to the machine frame and the main shaft or rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Sakakibara, Masayuki Hori
  • Publication number: 20040154503
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for generating a loop or a file used in an embroidery frame and the device comprises a fore-back driving part including a fore-back driving motor, a first gear driven with said motor, a second gear driven by a means coupling with said first gear, a third gear driven by a co-axis of rotation with said second gear, a first stop bar to switch said motor positioned at the lower part of said co-axis and cam-shaped stoppers placed within the area covered by the rotation of said first stop bar; a left-right driving part including a left-right rotating motor, a fourth gear driven with said motor, and a shaft having a fifth gear associated with said forth gear at the one end and a worm gear at the other; and a lead arm part connect to said shaft and including a lead arm to generate a loop, a lead arm body to joint said lead arm, lever stoppers to suppress the rotation of the motor and a second stop bars placed with the area covered by the rotation of the lead arm wherein said ea
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Chung-Sik Kim