Needle Patents (Class 112/221)
  • Patent number: 5056444
    Abstract: A chenille type embroidery machine (10) has an apparatus for rotational steering and height adjustment of a needle (22). An actuator (24) locks or unlocks a locking clip (92) to allow the needle (22) to rotate with a needle height adjuster assembly (46) or to be moved vertically up or down. The needle assembly (46) comprises the needle (22), a needle bar 23, a bar clamp (70), a height adjuster locking block (84), an internal needle height adjuster (88), the locking clip (92) and springs (108a-d). When the actuator (24) is in its "unactuated" condition, the height adjuster locking block (84) is locked to the internal needle height adjuster (88) by the locking clip (92) for rotation therewith. In the unactuated condition, the needle (22) is rotationally steered with the assembly (46). In the "actuated" condition, the actuator (24) extends a shaft (126) to move the locking clip ( 92) and disengage the locking block (84) from the internal adjuster (88).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Melco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Lowry, Ronald C. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 5007355
    Abstract: A sewing machine for leather or the like is provided with a flat needle holding bar supported for up/down movement. The needle holding bar is further supported for rotational movement and a control motor is provided to rotate the needle as required to cause the flat surface of the needle to be parallel to the direction in which the thread runs. To this end the needle is rotated after the needle penetrates the leather but before it reaches bottom dead center to a position in which the flat portion is in its normal position for the thread running direction and upper and lower threads are twisted together whereafter the needle is rotated again to be parallel to the thread running direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Iida
    Inventor: Gennai Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 5005499
    Abstract: A device for disabling and enabling one or more needles in a quilting machine, a multi-needle embroidery machine, or the like, is described.The device comprises a linear actuator (24) adapted to carry a needle (22) and to keep the latter, for a predetermined time, in a raised position relative to fabric (10) to be sewn.The device includes stitching yarn (44) return means (38) being actuated when needle (22) is disabled, in order to subject to a limited tension the portion of stitching yarn located between the disabled needle and the fabric to be sewn, to prevent the yarn from becoming tangled and from breaking.Furthermore, during the entire operating stage as mentioned above, the known yarn tensioning device (48) through which the stitching yarn is led before arriving at the needle, is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: Giannino Landoni
  • Patent number: 5003898
    Abstract: An improved driving structure for a mini-sewing machine, includes an elongated frame body having a front end and a rear end, a sewing needle which may be rigidly connected to the front end of the elongated frame body, and is arranged to operatively point downwards. A sliding block is pivotably connected to the rear end of the elongated frame body, and is formed with an elongated slot near its lower end. A driving gear and a cap are disposed on respective opposite sides of the sliding block. A coupling mechanism couples the driving gear to the cap; first and second portions of a guiding mechanism are eccentrically located on the driving gear and on the cap, respectively, and are coupled to one another through the elongated slot of the sliding block for operatively imparting a reciprocal movement to the sliding block, and thereby also to the sewing needle. A driving mechanism operatively rotates the driving gear, and is adapted to be driven by a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Inventor: Dennis Huang
  • Patent number: 5003899
    Abstract: In a device for disconnecting a needle bar from a needle-bar connecting stud on a sewing machine, a drive source drives a moving board. The moving board lowers a predetermined distance until a threading hook goes through an eye in a needle. A disconnecting member rotates a clutch click and disconnects the clutch click from a needle-bar connecting stud. The needle bar thus disengages from the needle-bar connecting stud. The moving board further lowers, an actuating rod lowers, the actuating rod in turn lowers a threading rod, the threading rod further rotates, and the threading hook goes through the eye. The needle is thus threaded. The disconnecting operation and the threading operation are carried out by using the drive source in common. Consequently, the device is simple in structure and compact in size. Since the needle bar only rises to disengage from the needle-bar connecting stud, no scratches are given on the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Ogawa
  • Patent number: 4981093
    Abstract: A sewing machine has a needle bar, which is mounted in a frame, a continuously operating feed device for the workpiece, a looper which reciprocates transversely to the workpiece feed direction, a spindle which is mounted in the sewing machine arm, and a cam, which is disposed on the arm spindle in order to swing the frame in the workpiece feed direction. The frame is driven in dependence upon the movement of the arm spindle by way of a positively connected transmission. Two cams permit optimum adaptation of the swinging movement of the frame to the continuously moving workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Union Special G.m.b.H.
    Inventor: Karl-Dieter Schopf
  • Patent number: 4967677
    Abstract: A composite sewing machine has a lock stitch mechanism and an over-lock stitch mechanism. A switching mechanism is connected to the stitching mechanisms for switching the operation of the sewing machine between a lock stitch operation and an over-lock stitch operation. The machine has a single needle carrying element, a needle position converter for changing the position of the needle carrying element laterally of the stitching direction and including a needle bar connecting stud engaging the needle carrying element and a fulcrum shaft on which the stud is rotatably mounted for pivotal movement to change the vertical orientation of the needle carrying element between a lock stitch position and an over-lock stitch position which are adjacent to each other and juxtaposed laterally on the sewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Hosei Mishin Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Matsuzo Seiriki, Shogo Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4915044
    Abstract: A cloth presser mechanism comprises a cloth presser vertically movably supported by an arm of a sewing machine. A needle bar is vertically movably supported by the arm of the sewing machine and has a needle at the lower end thereof. The mechanism further includes a rack fixed to the needle bar, a pinion rotatably supported by the arm of the sewing machine and engaged with the rack, a cam integral with the pinion, a first link having an end pivotally supported by the arm of the sewing machine and a middle portion connected to a roller which rides on the surface of the cam, and a second link having an end pivotally supported by the cloth presser. The other end of the second link is pivotally connected to the other end of the first link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: SSMC Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kambara, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Masao Tajima
  • Patent number: 4913072
    Abstract: An embroidery lace machine has a plurality of mechanisms which can be brought into and out of operation by connection to and disconnection from a main drive shaft using electrically operated coupling devices 33. A single signal generating means (15) generates a reference pulse each time the driving shaft is in a reference rotational position and a train of angular position pulses indicating the rotational displacement of the shaft. Counting means (20) counts the number of angular position pulses following receipt of the reference pulse and generates a timing control signal via a one-shot device (31) and amplifier (32) to actuate each coupling device (33) when the number of angular position pulses counted by the counting means coincides with a respective preset count associated with the respective mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Hiraoka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ohkawa, Itaru Nagoshi, Shunji Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 4895090
    Abstract: A zig zag sewing machine needle bar gate mounted to accommodate thermal expansion on spaced bearings of which one comprises a spherical bearing arranged in a cylindrical bushing bore and with a spring clip biasing the spherical bearing against the bushing bore to compensate for lost motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: SSMC Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Adams, John Blackwood
  • Patent number: 4883008
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling the sewing rate in a sewing machine is disclosed that comprises a reciprocally and vertically movable needle, a motor for driving the needle and a throat plate on which a work is to be placed having a needle hole through which the needle moves reciprocally and vertically. The sewing machine is adapted to repeatedly perform a cycle in which the needle moves downwardly from the upper dead center to the bottom dead center passing through the needle hole and then upwardly from the bottom dead center to the upper dead center passing through the needle hole and the cycle is adapted to take place in such a manner that while the needle is below the throat plate the needle is moved at a rate higher than that at which the needle is moved while the needle is above the throat plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Tohru Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 4875422
    Abstract: A sewing machine has a bed housing having a needle penetrating hole at one end thereof, an arm housing rising from the other end of the bed housing and extending to the one end of the bed housing over the bed housing, a laterally-long needle bar arm rotatably held in the arm housing and having a needle at the front end thereof, and a drive unit for swinging the needle bar arm with respect to the bed housing accommodated in the bed housing. The arrangement of the laterally-long needle bar arm and the drive unit accommodated in the bed housing, can effectively reduce the overall height of the sewing machine. It further reduces the weight and cost of the sewing machine, since no conventional material, such as cast iron having a heavy weight is used and die cast aluminum associating with a higher cost, may be employed for producing the arm housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 4867084
    Abstract: In a sewing machine with a needle bar executing transverse motions and with a pressing arrangement whose foot can be lowered onto the work piece laterally with regard to its central position when the needle bar executes lateral movements, the presser arrangement and its drive connection to the needle bar is executed so that a minimal moment of inertia is exerted on the needle bar when driving the pressure arrangement and so that the pressure foot always generates a load evenly spread over the pressed surface, independent of the width of its lateral movements. For this purpose the presser foot is movable in transverse direction relative to the other parts of the pressing arrangement and it is guided parallel to the work piece surface by a guiding arrangement. The transverse movement of the presser arrangement is taken from the transverse movement of the needle bar by a driving connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: G. M. Pfaff Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Oskar Braun
  • Patent number: 4867083
    Abstract: A sewing machine comprises a bed 3 on which a work-supporting table 3a is defined and from which a post 4 carrying a cantilevered support arm 5 provided with a needle-holding head 6 at its free end, rises up. An upper shaft 9 performing a rotating motion is housed within the arm 5 and it imparts a reciprocating movement, through a connecting rod-crank linkage 10, to a needle bar 11 vertically slidable in the head 6. Along the upper shaft 9 a plurality of eccentrics 19, 20, 21 are distributed to which auxiliary sewing operation devices 22, 32, 39 detachably associated with the sewing machine 1 are operativley engageable through respective connecting rods 23, 33, 50 and transferring motion mechanisms. A preformed opening 5 is formed in the support arm 5, through which connecting rod 50 is mounted to eccentric 21. An opening 36 is formed in support arm 5 through which stem 37 passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Rimoldi S.r.l.
    Inventors: Emilio Fietta, Ezio Maggi, Franco Marchesi
  • Patent number: 4858548
    Abstract: A sewing machine is with stepper motors which work alternately in one direction or another to greatly reduce the number of parts for achieving the movement desired in the internal mechanisms of zig-zag sewing machines. The zig-zag mechanism for moving the sewing needle consists of a single, main driving element, formed by a stepper motor. The mechanism has a radial cogged spur gear at its outlet which engages a rack or linear gear formed by two adjoining bodies each having meshing teeth that engage the spur gear to eliminate any play between the spur gear and the two rack bodies. The rack is connected to a lever mechanism including an elongated, cambered,--shaped lever with a curved end. The curved end of the lever is connected to a needle bar support which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the sewing machine. A needle bar is connected to the needle bar support to enable the lever mechanism to impart a to and fro rocking motion to the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Maquinas de Coser Alfa, S.A.
    Inventor: Fernando C. Echeverria
  • Patent number: 4848253
    Abstract: An embroidery machine equipped with plural sets of needles and take-up levers, one set of which is thrown into stitching operation, and with a plurality of spangle cases each equipped with a spangle feeding device respectively and in which is shiftably accommodated a blank consisting of series of unfinished spangles, one selected spangle case being shifted laterally and vertically to be thrown into a position whereat the blank is cut off by a cutting means of the spangle feeding device to produce a single spangle and the single spangle is sewn on fabric by means of two threads supplied through a needle and a bobbin case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Tokai Industrial Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuo Tajima
  • Patent number: 4846086
    Abstract: A device for operating and orientating a pair of automatic sewing machine needles have two needles which are locked to the lower ends of two equal rods, located beside one another in the vertical plane. These needles change over position during stitching without requiring reorientation of the needles themselves. The device has a cylindrical element movable in the vertical plane, which has the needles and rods therein. The device also includes a sleeve and guides for guiding the vertical movement of the cylinder, with driving means for driving the sleeve and cylinder such that the orientation of the rods is unaltered when they change over position. This enables the needles to operate in conjunction with the looper of an automatic sewing machine to which the device is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Mario Ciucani
  • Patent number: 4815404
    Abstract: A servo device for a multineedle sewing machine which includes two needle bars; driving and steop devices for said needle bars; devices for engaging and disengaging the two needle bars relative to the driving and stop devices; a feed-length adjustment device associated with at least one feed dog for the transport of the material being sewn; an adjustable thread tensioning device for the needle threads; devices for locking each needle bar selectively in its highest position; a positioning drive for the multineedle sewing machine; and a device including a position indicator attached to an arm shaft of the multineedle sewing machine, for adjusting the speed of rotation and positioning of the needle bars in predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Durkoppwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Ellermann, Wilhelm Stapel, Gunter Droste
  • Patent number: 4791344
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a sewing machine comprising a stop device for generating a stop signal instructing stoppage of an alternating current motor, a sensor for sensing a predetermined position of a needle and outputting a position signal thereof, and a stop control responsive to the stop device and the sensor means for controlling a rotating field of an alternating current motor to stop in response to the stop position of the needle when the stop signal and the position signal are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Yoshida, Toshiaki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 4790253
    Abstract: A needle driving apparatus for a sewing machine for allowing oscillatory movement of a needle bar through the motion of a lever which oscillates up and down interlocking with a main shaft, wherein a rectangular slider is rotatably supported by a fork provided on the end of the oscillating lever. On the upper end of the needle bar is fixed a guide member having a guide groove which is orthogonal with the needle bar and slidably fitted to the fork of the oscillating lever, and the rectangular slider is fitted in the guide groove of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Pegasus Sewing Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kasuda
  • Patent number: 4776291
    Abstract: This multi-head type embroidering machine comprises a setting device for setting a combination of operation/non-operation of heads to be in operation and heads to be out of operation in correspondence to a desired one or more steps in an embroidering pattern stitching program. This setting device consists, for example, of a memory storing such combination data of the respective heads. If, in a process of carrying out embroidering, a step in which the operation/non-operation combination of heads should be changed has arrived, combination data set in correspondence to this step is supplied. A needle bar drive mechanism for each head is enabled or disabled independently in accordance with this combination data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Tokai Mishin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Tajima, Atsushi Ishihara, Hideo Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4768452
    Abstract: The needle bar (1) engaged in a pivoting cradle (2) is integral with a journal (3) connected by a connecting member (8) to a link (4) driven from the drive shaft (12) of the machine. In order to permit the head (23) of a loop holding member (25), mounted in the pedestal of the sewing machine, to engage in a loop (29) of the needle thread (27) during the ascending course of the needle (22), whatever may be its decentration, the connecting member (8) is formed by a bent extension of the crank pin of the link (4) engaged in a bore (7) of the journal (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Inventors: Olindo Baruffa, Antonio Jimenez, Francis Plomb
  • Patent number: 4757775
    Abstract: Apparatus for reinforcing or attaching composite structural materials by chain-stitching. A reciprocating head is powered to alternate between outward and return motions. A needle is mounted for outward and return movement with the head, the needle having a material piercing end and a notch adjacent the material piercing end. A cast off has a first portion configured to overlie the notch, to maintain a thread within a notch, and a second portion configured to expand a loop in the thread on release of the thread from the notch. The needle pierces the material on outward motion of the head and withdraws through the material, with the thread in the needle notch, during the return motion of the head. The cast off first portion overlies the needle notch during a part of the needle return movement and moves in trailing relation to the needle during a part of the needle outward movement. A pressure foot may also be commonly driven, with the needle and cast off, by the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Paul J. Leska, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4748917
    Abstract: A sewing machine in which the bed shaft and the arm shaft have been replaced by a synchronous belt and the plane of rotation of the synchronous belt is perpendicular to the cloth feeding direction. All function units which drive or are driven by the synchronous belt and the belt itself are mounted on the same side of the sewing machine body. A number of backing rollers guide the synchronous belt in the plane of rotation. These backing rollers are on shafts which are either stationary or driving. The shafts are supported by the sewing machine body in rotation or stationary manners. The backing rollers can be smooth or toothed wheels which drive or are driven by the synchronous belt. Some toothed wheels can drive several function units of the sewing machine. By changing the diameter of the toothed wheels in relation to each other the time relation between the several function units of the sewing machine can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Husquarna Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Kenneth O. E. Skogward
  • Patent number: 4736699
    Abstract: A method of sewing the corners of a double seam, employing a two-needle machine the two needle rods of which each may be mutually independently engaged and disengaged. The method uses control means to arrive at the corner point of the inner seam, disengaging the internal needle rod, furthersewing to the corner point of the outer seam, stopping the sewing machine with the outer needle penetrating the workpiece, then rotating the workpiece, sewing the thus rotated outer seam, and engaging the inner needle rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Pfaff Industriemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Dobner, Walter Hager
  • Patent number: 4722290
    Abstract: A sewing machine with a workpiece alignment device for the automatic stitching of workpieces with convex edge sections has a stepwise feed mechanism and an alignment tool operating alternately with the feed mechanism. The tool rotates the workpiece around the axis of the needle when the needle pierces the material, and holds it resting against a guide rule. The alignment tool is driven by drive mechanisms positively connected to one another, because of which the sewing machine can be operated at a relatively high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Pfaff Industriemaschinen AG
    Inventors: Karl-Ludwig Manuel, Werner Striegler
  • Patent number: 4719865
    Abstract: A sewing machine with thread take-up mechanism is so constructed as to vertically move a take-up member, supported on a needle bar in such a manner as to be vertically movable at a timing which is different from that of the movement of the needle bar on which the take-up member is moved. The take-up member has a hole through which a thread being lead to the sewing needle is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono, Koji Hayashi, Miho Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 4714037
    Abstract: A needle looper assembly for a lockstitch sewing machine wherein the upper thread is retrieved by a sewing needle extending through a work material, which sewing needle has an extensible hook portion for catching an upper thread and drawing the same down through the work material to a looptaker in the bed of the sewing machine. The needle looper assembly is supported on the end of a lever pivotally carried in the sewing machine bed to extend transversely thereof. The lever has the needle looper assembly attached to one end thereof, and may be actuated by a cam so as to drive the needle looper assembly to an elevated thread catching position or to a retracted thread releasing position. Retaining means are provided associated with the needle looper to permit an upper thread to be caught and held during passage through a work material and to be released when in a retracted position adjacent the looptaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventors: Ralph E. Johnson, Donald Rodda
  • Patent number: 4690081
    Abstract: A sewing system is proposed, which has a sewing head with thread tightener, a presser foot, a lower thread roll with a shuttle for guiding the lower thread and transport or transfer means for the further transporting of the workpiece to be processed. Separate drives are associated with these individual elements and these drives are synchronously controlled by a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: awfi Arbeitswissenschaffliches Forschungsinstitut GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Castagna, Jochen Krankenhagen, Heinz Ortwein, Klaus Weertz
  • Patent number: 4677926
    Abstract: A drive device for positioning a sewing machine main shaft and driven by a positioning motor into a needle-up position when it is stopped for example, after the thread is cut comprises a removable drive lever member which has a tappet portion which engages wtih the shoulder of a cam which is mounted on the main shaft for rotation therewith. The drive lever is driven by a device such as a fluid pressure operated piston cylinder combination and when it moves the tappet engages the cam face and rotates the cam with the main shaft to a second position which is predetermined. The mechanism also includes a stop which is effected between a face of the cam and a lever member which is shifted by the drive lever to stop the backward movement of the cam with the main shaft at a precise second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Pfaff Industrie Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Dusch, Erich Willenbacher
  • Patent number: 4665845
    Abstract: The head of a tufting machine frame journals a plurality of transversely spaced push rods, the lower end of which carries a needle bar and its needles. The upper end of each push rod has an individual drive assembly which includes a sidewise extending drive pin pivotally connected to a connecting rod reciprocated by an eccentrically mounted pivot pin protruding from the face of a crank member which is removeably mounted on a driven wheel carried by a stub shaft. A timing belt, connected over the driven sprocket, is itself driven by one of a plurality of drive wheels on a main drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Card-Monroe Corporation
    Inventors: Roy T. Card, Joseph L. Card
  • Patent number: 4638752
    Abstract: A sewing machine has an electronic control for the production of at least one stitch pattern consisting of a plurality of different single stitches, with a read-and-write memory RAM for storing in memory at least the single stitches of the stitch pattern and with a feed mechanism whose feed adjustment occurs by a step motor controlled in accordance with the stored data of the read-and-write memory within the inactive phase of the feed mechanism. To carry out a feed variation exceeding the maximum number of steps of the step motor between two predetermined sewing stitches, the control unit contains a comparator which compares the magnitude of the displacement amount of the step motor before the next displacing movement is carried out with a given maximum displacement amount, in order to prevent a stitch formation between the point of insertion of the previous stitch and the desired point of insertion of the next following stitch when the maximum displacement amount is exceded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Pfaff Haushaltmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Jurgen Hartwig
  • Patent number: 4616585
    Abstract: A needle bar actuating device for double chain stitch and/or overlock sewing machines provided with a driving crank, one crank pin of which has three angularly differentiated reference surfaces in order to define an equal number of positions and lengths for said driving crank with respect to its axis of rotation; to each of said positions and lengths corresponding a different predetermined stroke length of the needle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Rockwell-Rimoldi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Ulderico Marcandalli
  • Patent number: 4608937
    Abstract: A device for stabilizing stitches in a sewing machine comprises a feed adjuster and a transmission mechanism imparting a turning movement to the needle in the plane normal to the elongation of the needle such that uniform and stable stitches are made in forward stitching and in backward stitching as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasukata Eguchi
  • Patent number: 4597344
    Abstract: A sewing machine, particularly a multi-needle sewing machine, includes at least one sewing arrangement which includes a reciprocating needle mounted on a needle holding arrangement and a gripper mounted on a gripper holding arrangement for angular displacement along a displacement plane and operative for engaging a thread delivered by the needle through the material being sewn to a predetermined region beyond the material. As the material is advanced, especially transversely of the displacement plane, during the sewing stroke of the needle, it acts on the needle and deviates the same from its initial course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Naehmaschinenfabrik Emil Stutznaecker GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventor: Klaus Stutznacker
  • Patent number: 4594952
    Abstract: A relatively great number of embroidering locations with the appropriate embroidering implements are arranged in at least one row. The embroidering implements are capable of being coupled to and uncoupled from the embroidering implement drive of the embroidering machine according to a predetermined repetition and color-change program by electromagnetic actuation devices. Therefore, according to the invention, a so-called group-switching of the embroidering locations, respectively of their electromagnets, is performed such that groups of a few embroidering locations, respectively their electromagnetic actuation devices, form switching groups or units. The electromagnetic actuation devices of each switching unit are connected in parallel at their input sides. An input conductor common to the switching unit connects them to the embroidering location control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Aktiengesellschaft Adolph Saurer
    Inventors: Georg Comploi, Arthur Loacker, Kurt Huber, Wilhelm Hutter, Hans Wallimann
  • Patent number: 4592296
    Abstract: The sewing head comprises at least a cylindrical sector (2) mounted to rotate in a cradle (1) and exhibiting tubular housings inside each of which a tool holder bar (3) is guided.The tools of this sewing head can be coupled to the mechanism of an ordinary embroidery machine. It makes possible a simplification of the handlings required during the changing of embroidery patterns to be made and for the replacement of damaged tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Marcel Fresard
  • Patent number: 4582008
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, needle bar and take-up motion is timed to feed dog motion through a constant breadth cam and gear in predetermined angular positions on the arm shaft, a gear on a vertical shaft in mesh with the arm shaft gear according to timing marks on the gears, and a lift cam in a predetermined angular position on the vertical shaft relative to the gear thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventors: Walter H. W. Marsh, John Patricia
  • Patent number: 4582007
    Abstract: In a needle bar transfer device for a multi-needle sewing machine, a depressing member is secured to a needle bar descending lever for aligning entire needle bars in an equal height at the time of transferring the needle bars, while a needle bar holding member is extended from the needle bar descending lever. Holding portions which are engageable with recessed portions provided at the upper ends of inoperative needle bars and an escape portion which receives an operative needle bar in an interference preventing manner are provided in the needle bar holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamazawa, Hiroshi Shinoda
  • Patent number: 4580515
    Abstract: A multiple needle sewing machine is provided with two needles which are mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a block which may be laterally shifted between a first position and an second position wherein the first and second needles will be selectively engaged with a vertically reciprocating drive member. A first solenoid is energized to lower a needle bar holding member which is engaged with the inoperative needle to lower the inoperative needle to a position corresponding to the operative needle prior to the lateral shifting of the needles by means of a second solenoid. Subsequent to the lateral shifting of the needle bars to engage the vertical reciprocating member with the previously inoperative needle bar, the previously operative bar will be raised upwardly by the needle bar holding device upon deenergization of the solenoid by a suitable spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shinoda
  • Patent number: 4580511
    Abstract: A relatively great number of embroidering locations with the appropriate embroidering implements are arranged in at least one row. The embroidering implements are capable of being coupled to and uncoupled from the embroidering implement drive of the embroidering machine according to a predetermined repetition and color-change program by electromagnetic actuation devices. The pattern and machine-function control of the embroidering machine is performed via a data carrier whose reading and evaluation unit controls a pattern and machine-function control device. Data for the repetition and color-change program are also placed on this data carrier for pattern and machine-function control. Suitable further data are also placed on this data carrier for actuating a switch associated with the reading and evaluation unit for transmitting the repetition and color-change program to an embroidering location control device connected to the electromagnetic actuation devices of the embroidering implements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Aktiengesellschaft Adolph Saurer
    Inventors: Georg Comploi, Arthur Loacker, Kurt Huber, Wilhelm Hutter, Hans Wallimann
  • Patent number: 4577569
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a plurality of needle bars of an embroidery machine which includes a support upon which the needle bars are reciprocably mounted; a moving block connected to each of the needle bars for advancement and retraction thereof and including a stopper extending therefrom at a right angle to a direction of movement of the moving block; a driving band connected to the moving block and which includes a locating plate; and a plurality of L-shaped operating levers corresponding to the needle bars, each of the levers including an inclined surface positioned at a front portion thereof and supported on the support so as to be freely rotatable and which includes a mechanism for fixing the needles in an idle position. A plurality of solenoids are also provided which have operation bars attached thereto and which are respectively rotated by the solenoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Hiraoka Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Okugawa
  • Patent number: 4569297
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for connecting a drive shaft of a sewing machine to a plurality of reciprocatable needle bars which are advantageously mounted in a single guide frame for reciprocation in the machine includes a link connection for each bar. The link connection includes an oscillatable two armed lever for each bar. It has an input arm driven by a shaft mounted in the machine for oscillation about a fixed axis and an output arm connected to a first link of a cooperative pivotally interconnected first and second link pair. An actuator shaft for each bar carries a respective actuator crank which in turn is connected through a link of relatively short length to the upper ends of the needle bars by a pivotal connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Pfaff Industriemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Albert Dusch
  • Patent number: 4567837
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a stud carried by a journal surrounding a tubular needle bar having a lateral opening. A link connected to the journal normally drives the needle bar when the stud is engaged within the needle bar opening. A disconnecting rod within the tubular needle bar is axially displaceable and includes a ramp engageable with a control member, also within the needle bar, to drive the stud from the needle bar opening and thereby disengage the journal from the needle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Olindo Baruffa, Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: 4546712
    Abstract: A thread changing mechanism for sewing machines includes a magazine in which a plurality of needle holders is received, to be positively coupled to the sewing machine needle bar by a vertical motion of the magazine. Upon effecting a coupling, the magazine is retracted into a starting position remote from the needle bar, so that the needle bar with the needle holder can unobstructedly move during the sewing operation. The thread changing mechanism is mounted on a sewing machine as an attachment later, without particular adjustments. When the needle holders are held in the magazine the thread is engaged with each needle and held out of the way of the operating needle thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Pfaff Industriemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Erich Willenbacher
  • Patent number: 4543897
    Abstract: In a shuttle embroidering machine a plurality of needle carriers and drill carriers are arranged to be displaced at approximately right angles relative to the plane of an embroidery frame. Each needle carrier has a needle inserted into one end and each drill carrier has a drill inserted into one end. A generally horizontally extending arm is attached to the opposite end of each needle carrier and drill carrier. The arms are pivotally displaceable about a horizontal axis. One end of each arm is connected to a needle carrier or a drill carrier and the other end is displaceable along a path due to the pivotal displaceability of the arms about horizontal axes. A drive element provides the operative displacement of the needle carriers and drill carriers. The arms are shaped for selective form-locking engagement with the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Inventor: August Heinzle
  • Patent number: 4542707
    Abstract: An auxiliary needle is supported by a shiftable and rotatable slide rod which extends in a slightly inclined position relative to the vertical and is guided by an extension in a guide slot. The upper portion of the guide slot extends at an angle relative to the slide rod. Therefore, if moved from its rest position downwardly into its working position, the auxiliary needle performs first a combined rotary and translational motion, and then, upon penetrating a workpiece, only a straight longitudinal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Pfaff Industriemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Balzer, Walter Hager
  • Patent number: 4541349
    Abstract: A sewing machine and method wherein a needle carrying a thread is axially reciprocated into and through a sewable material moving relative to the axis of the needle to stitch the material, and high-frequency mechanical oscillations are imparted to the reciprocating needle in the direction of its axis to facilitate the stitching of the material which may be thick and/or hard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Inoue-Japax Research Incorporated
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 4539922
    Abstract: The needle bar drive of a counterbalanced sewing machine comprises, in addition to a counterbalance weight connected to the driving crank, a second counterbalance weight which is driven in opposition thereto through a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism comprises an intermediate shaft which rotates at a double speed relative to the armshaft and carries and drives a third counterbalance weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: G.M. Pfaff AG
    Inventor: Kurt Klundt
  • Patent number: 4535709
    Abstract: The needle of an individual embroidery location of a multitude or row of linearly arranged embroidery locations in an embroidery machine is mounted at an axially displaceably guided needle carrier. According to a programmed control and by means of a related switching lever the needle can be individually coupled to or decoupled from an oscillating drive rail which is common to all the needles of the row. A thread guiding roller which is journaled for free rotation at a roller supporting lever and associated with a related one of the needles supplies a thread to the related needle. Simultaneously with the coupling or decoupling of the needle to the oscillating drive rail the roller supporting lever is pivoted between an operative position and an inoperative position in which the thread guiding roller is respectively coupled to or decoupled from a braking member which is common to all embroidery locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Aktiengesellschaft Adolph Saurer
    Inventors: Ernst Kuhnis, Armin Kobler, Max Schreiber, Hans Wallimann