Bobbin Winding Patents (Class 112/279)
  • Patent number: 11326285
    Abstract: In a lower thread winding device, a motor rotates a thread winding shaft on which a bobbin is mounted. A sensor lever includes a contact portion contactable with a lower thread wound on the bobbin, and a cam piece. A contact includes a pin configured to contact the cam piece and rotates between a first position at which the pin contacts a first outer peripheral portion of the cam piece, and a second position at which the pin contacts a second outer peripheral portion of the cam piece. A lever shifts a position of the pin located when the contact is at the first position. The controller drives the motor when the contact is at the first position and stops driving the motor upon receipt of a detection result, by the detector, indicating that the contact is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Naoki Kawamoto, Nobuhiko Funato
  • Patent number: 10947655
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed portion, a pillar, an arm portion, a cover, and a thread spool device. The cover is provided on the arm portion and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. The closed position is a position in which a base surface faces an upper side of the arm portion and the base surface covers the upper side of the arm portion. The open position is a position in which the base surface is directed upward and the base surface does not cover the upper side of the arm portion. The thread spool device is provided on the base surface and including at least one thread spool pin, the thread spool device being capable of holding a thread spool on each of the at least one thread spool pin in a state in which the cover is disposed in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouji Makiyama, Fumihiro Nonobe, Nobuhiko Funato, Yasuhiko Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10096421
    Abstract: A coil device includes a bobbin, a first winding part, and a second winding part. A partition portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the bobbin. The first winding part is wound around the outer peripheral surface at one side of the partition portion. The second winding part is wound around the outer peripheral surface at the other side of the partition portion and has an inner winding layer and an outer winding layer located farther to the outer peripheral surface at the other side than the inner winding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Iwakura, Katsuhiro Ishigaki, Hiroshi Maeda, Satoshi Shinbo, Nobuo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 10081895
    Abstract: Provided is a horizontal rotary hook including: an inner rotary hook including an attracted member made of metal in an outer lower surface portion; a permanent magnet that attracts the inner rotary hook; a magnet plate accommodating the permanent magnet and provided with a mounting hole at a center of a diameter thereof; a non-metallic outer rotary hook accommodating the magnet plate and having a shaft hole at a center of a diameter of an inner bottom portion thereof; and a hook supporting shaft that is inserted through the hole of the magnet plate and the shaft hole of the outer rotary hook and includes, at an upper end thereof, a flange for rotatably supporting the outer rotary hook and the magnet plate. A friction coefficient of a contact surface of the magnet plate that comes into contact with the outer rotary hook is set to be larger than a friction coefficient of the flange of the hook supporting shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Koike, Yasuhiro Osanai, Yasuhiko Komiya
  • Publication number: 20130087086
    Abstract: A bobbin thread monitor includes a rotatable thread pulley together with a rotation sensing counter and numeric count display. During bobbin loading, the thread supply is looped about the pulley in a first direction resulting in rotation of the thread pulley in a corresponding first direction. The rotation of the thread pulley in the first direction produces an accumulated account within the rotation sensing and display apparatus. During sewing operations, the thread supply is looped about the thread pulley in a second opposite direction loop resulting in opposite direction rotation of the thread pulley during the sewing process. The opposite direction rotation of the thread pulley during the sewing process produces a downcount of the number accumulated during the bobbin loading process. This down count is indicative of bobbin supply remaining and may be used to activate additional alarm apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Jerry R. Lizaso
  • Publication number: 20120234223
    Abstract: A sewing bobbin assembly and method that provides access of a sewing machine, and particularly a bobbin in the sewing machine, to a larger supply of thread with automatic reloading of the bobbin during use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Geoff McCue
  • Patent number: 8082864
    Abstract: A sewing thread spool having thread locking and cutting functions is disclosed. The sewing thread spool comprises a winding core having an outer rim at one end and a bobbin at one end of the core, with a thread cutting plate arranged on an end plane of the bobbin. The bobbin comprises a thread-passing notch arranged at the end with the thread cutting plate. The thread cutting plate comprises a first and a second bayonet sockets separated from each other, the first bayonet socket cooperating with the thread-passing notch to produce a tension in a thread, and the second bayonet socket being used for cutting the thread and fixing the thread end. The thread spool is beneficial in that it cuts the thread and locks it to the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Jem Nich
  • Patent number: 8074589
    Abstract: A thread winder includes a thread winding shaft into which a bobbin shaft is inserted so that a bobbin is detachably attached to the thread winding shaft, a rotating mechanism rotating the thread winding shaft to wind a thread on the bobbin, a thread winding shaft switching mechanism switching the thread winding shaft between a preparatory position and a winding position, a guiding member guiding the thread from a thread spool to the bobbin, a guiding member position switching mechanism switching the guiding member between a guide position and a retreat position, and a link mechanism links both switching mechanisms so that the guiding member is located at the guide position when the thread winding shaft assumes the preparatory position and so that the guide member is located at the retreat position when the thread winding shaft assumes the winding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Fukao
  • Publication number: 20110113998
    Abstract: A guide member is moved in interlocked relation to a rotary member rotating about the axis of a needle bar, so that a string-shaped material paid out from a bobbin is guided to a needle drop position of a sewing needle. The bobbin having the string-shaped material wound thereon is supported by a support member that is rotatable generally about the axis of the needle bar and disposed over a machine table in such a manner as to not hamper movement of an embroidery frame. The bobbin can be positioned at a distance from a machine head; thus, bobbins of increased sizes can be used. The support member is controlled in orientation, by means of a drive source, in accordance with rotation of the rotary member. The bobbin itself revolves around the machine head, which allows the string-shaped material to be constantly appropriately guided to the needle drop position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsurou KONDOU
  • Patent number: 7905189
    Abstract: A bobbin thread winder for sewing machine includes a thread winding shaft to which a bobbin is detachably set, a thread winding shaft gear attached to the shaft and having a gear portion, a gear mounted integrally on a timing pulley so as to be mesh-engageable with the gear portion, and a torque limiter mechanism transmitting rotation of the shaft gear to the shaft when load exerted on the shaft is below a predetermined value. The mechanism cuts off transmission of shaft gear rotation so that the shaft gear rotation is prevented from transmission to the shaft when the load is not less than the value. The mechanism includes a closely wound portion on a shaft periphery and a coil spring engaged with the shaft gear. The shaft gear rotation is transmitted to the shaft by frictional force of the closely wound portion when the load is below the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Munehiro Wakazono
  • Publication number: 20090229502
    Abstract: A sewing thread spool having thread locking and cutting functions is disclosed. The sewing thread spool comprises a winding core having an outer rim at one end and a bobbin at one end of the core, with a thread cutting plate arranged on an end plane of the bobbin. The bobbin comprises a thread-passing notch arranged at the end with the thread cutting plate. The thread cutting plate comprises a first and a second bayonet sockets separated from each other, the first bayonet socket cooperating with the thread-passing notch to produce a tension in a thread, and the second bayonet socket being used for cutting the thread and fixing the thread end. The thread spool is beneficial in that it cuts the thread and locks it to the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Jem Nich
  • Publication number: 20090050039
    Abstract: A bobbin thread winder mounted in an arm of a sewing machine to wind thread from thread supply onto a bobbin includes a thread winding shaft to which the bobbin is set and which is rotated by a timing pulley, a thread winding shaft gear attached to an end side of the shaft and having a first gear portion rotatable coaxially with the shaft, a second gear portion formed integrally on the timing pulley so as to be mesh-engageable with the first gear portion, and a torque limiter mechanism transmitting rotation of the shaft gear to the shaft when load exerted on the shaft is below a predetermined value, the torque limiter mechanism cutting off transmission of rotation of the shaft gear so that rotation of the shaft gear is prevented from being transmitted to the shaft when load exerted on the shaft is not less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Munehiro Wakazono
  • Patent number: 6729252
    Abstract: A thread winder unit, which is capable of winding thread of spools set on spool bars, is removably attached to a machine body. The sewing machine includes a feed motor for feeding the thread during sewing, an upper thread state detecting sensor disposed between the feed motor and the thread winder unit for detecting tensed thread, and a CPU for controlling thread winding operations based on a signal from the upper thread state detecting sensor. The sewing machine intermittently drives the feed motor in a reverse direction to that in the sewing to feed the thread toward the thread winder unit, every time the upper thread state detecting sensor detects the tensed thread, and the thread winder unit winds the fed thread around the spool. The CPU, recognizing the thread wound by a given amount, stops winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Wada, Hiroyuki Kotaki
  • Patent number: 6725793
    Abstract: A bobbin for a sewing machine which is rotatably disposed in a rotary shell device of the machine to supply and under thread when performing a sewing operation, comprises of winding shaft separately inserted onto a fixed shaft of the rotary shuttle and on which the under thread is substantially wound, a first flange integrally formed at one end of the winding shaft, a second flange integrally formed at the other end of the winding shaft, and a partition flange forming a first winding portion between the first flange and the partition flange and forming a second winding portion between the second flange and the partition flange, a plurality of saw-toothed protrusions being formed at an entire outer circumference of the partition flange, and the protrusions having a linear sidewall that is oriented in a radial direction of the partition flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kobest Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Cheol Lee, Sung Il Lee
  • Patent number: 6640734
    Abstract: There are provided an upper shaft clutch mechanism 140, a bobbin 22 including a slit 39, a horizontal holder 4 including an inner holder 18 and a blade tip 42, a bobbin driving member 11, bobbin driving member moving means 94 for moving the bobbin driving member 11 to freely advance or retreat between two positions having a separating position and a connecting position, a thread holding and catching member 48 including an upper thread holding portion 59, an upper thread engaging portion 60 and a thread position regulating portion 58 which are always set in a retreat position and are set in an entry position during a thread winding operation, thread holding and catching member moving means 53 for moving the thread holding and catching member 48 to freely advance or retreat between two positions having a retreat position and an entry position, and a thread winding operation control portion 193 for controlling the operation of each portion during the thread winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Juji Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Hayashi, Kiyoshi Matsuzawa, Fumio Wada, Naofumi Fukuba, Hiroyuki Kotaki
  • Patent number: 6578503
    Abstract: In an embroidery sewing machine having a lower thread winding device, when the non-lower thread state of the bobbin is detected by a residual amount sensor, a sewing machine motor is stopped to detect and recognize the size of the embroidering frame of an embroidering device by means of a frame size sensor and the embroidering frame is moved corresponding to the size to position the corner of a workpiece held in the embroidering frame under a needle. Then, an extra sewing operation is carried out over the corner to consume the lower thread remaining in the bobbin, and subsequently, it is decided whether or not the embroidering frame is moved by a distance required for completely extracting the lower thread from the bobbin (an amount of the residual lower thread is detected when the non-thread state is detected by the residual amount sensor).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Matsuzawa, Minoru Hayashi, Fumio Wada, Yuichi Sukegawa
  • Publication number: 20030010270
    Abstract: There are provided an upper shaft clutch mechanism 140, a bobbin 22 including a slit 39, a horizontal holder 4 including an inner holder 18 and a blade tip 42, a bobbin driving member 11, bobbin driving member moving means 94 for moving the bobbin driving member 11 to freely advance or retreat between two positions having a separating position and a connecting position, a thread holding and catching member 48 including an upper thread holding portion 59, an upper thread engaging portion 60 and a thread position regulating portion 58 which are always set in a retreat position and are set in an entry position during a thread winding operation, thread holding and catching member moving means 53 for moving the thread holding and catching member 48 to freely advance or retreat between two positions having a retreat position and an entry position, and a thread winding operation control portion 193 for controlling the operation of each portion during the thread winding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Hayashi, Kiyoshi Matsuzawa, Fumio Wada, Naofumi Fukuba, Hiroyuki Kotaki
  • Patent number: 6311912
    Abstract: A shuttle bobbin (1) for sewing machines having a first (11) and second (12) disc-shaped end walls concentrically and integrally formed at both ends of a hub. The diameter of the first end wall (11) being larger than that of the second end wall (12). A partition wall (13) is concentrically and integrally formed at an intermediate portion of the hub, thus partitioning the hub into firsts and second winding parts (15a, 15b). The partition wall (13) is smoothly toothed (13a, 13b) at its outside edges, thus having rounded teeth and rounded roots at the outside edges. The diameter of the addendum circle of the toothed partition wall (13) is equal to the diameter of the first end wall (11) while the diameter of the deddendum circle is equal to the second end wall (12). The second winding part (15b), defined by the second end wall and the partition wall, is positioned just under the lowest position of a sewing needle when the bobbin is installed in a sewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kosap Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steve Chang
  • Patent number: 6286444
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a bobbin case on a quilting machine having a hook drive operatively supporting the bobbin case during a stitching operation. The apparatus includes a staging station adapted to support at least one bobbin case normally having a full spool of thread, and a carriage movable between the staging station and the hook drive. A finger is movably mounted on the carriage, and the finger moves a release lever on the bobbin to an unlock position and clamps the release lever at the unlock position. A method of using the above apparatus in an automatic bobbin changing operation is also provided. A controller determines the need for a bobbin change, for example, by counting stitches and calculating the thread remaining on the bobbin. The bobbin change can be carried out between patterns or during a pattern by cutting the bobbin thread or both the top and bottom threads. The sewing of tacking stitches may also be done in sequence with the thread cutting and bobbin changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Raymond D. Swaney
  • Patent number: 6182918
    Abstract: A lower thread winding device is structured such that it comprises: lower thread supply means for guiding a lower thread out from a lower thread supply source and also for supplying the lower thread to a bobbin through an opening formed in a bobbin case; bobbin rotate means including a rotary body disposed on a bobbin within the bobbin case in such a manner as to be contactable with and separatable from the bobbin, the bobbin rotate means being capable of rotating the bobbin due to mutual contact between the rotary body and bobbin to thereby wind the lower thread around the bobbin; and, a thread handling member, after completion of winding of the lower thread around the bobbin, for handling a lower thread extended from the bobbin case to the lower thread supply source to thereby guide the lower thread from the opening of the bobbin case up to a slit formed in the peripheral side surface of the bobbin case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinobu Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 6170418
    Abstract: Method for transmitting thread-specific data in re-reeling operations for the manufacture of two-thread lock stitch seams which have to be documented comprising the following steps: the bobbin taking over the thread, in particular the under-thread bobbin (10) is provided with a definite bobbin identification, in a reeling station (28), in which thread material for the under-thread is reeled from a thread stock (30) onto the under-thread bobbin (10), the bobbin identification is detected and is stored in a data storage medium (24) together with a first data record characterizing the thread material and the reeling operation, after inserting the under-thread bobbin (10) into a sewing machine (18) the bobbin identification is detected, from the bobbin identification the first data record stored therewith is determined and is assigned to a second data record concerning the sewing operation and/or the sewn product, whereupon the data set so formed is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: KSL Keilmann Sondermaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Jaeger
  • Patent number: 6170416
    Abstract: The invention is a removable attachment to the bobbin winder of a conventional sewing machine. It installs on a bobbin winder in lieu of a bobbin at one end and connects to a conventional spool at the opposite end. It provides for continuous winding of thread or yarn onto the spool by preventing disengagement of the bobbin winder. The invention consists of a flanged post which installs onto the bobbin winder's spindle. The post is long and narrow enough to avoid the bobbin winder's disengagement mechanism. This function eliminates the need for hand winding of spools. Once full, said spool may be used normally with any conventional sewing machine, serger, or knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Alma Johnson Gulsby
  • Patent number: 6138594
    Abstract: An electronically controlled sewing machine indicates which of the basic operations for the machine is possible or impossible in a readily identifiable manner to a user, thereby improving the ease of operation of the machine. A start/stop button is illuminated with steady green light, that is, a first illuminated state, when a presser foot is at a pressing position and a needle bar is within a threading possible range. When the presser foot is at a withdrawn position and the needle bar is within the threading possible range, the start/stop button is illuminated with red flicker, that is, a second illuminated state. When the presser foot is at the pressing position and the needle bar is out of the threading possible range, the start/stop button is illuminated with green flicker, that is, a third illuminated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshige Kito
  • Patent number: 5839679
    Abstract: A bobbin thread winding apparatus which can reliably twine a bobbin thread around the bobbin within the bobbin case. With the reliable twining of the thread, the thread is not cut and also will never be forced out of the bobbin case, thereby forming a good seam. Since the thread is not wound around a shaft other than the bobbin shaft, no manual operation is required for resetting the thread to the clamping mechanism, improving the reliability of the bobbin thread winding apparatus. The bobbin thread winding apparatus can accurately detect an effective thread winding amount of the bobbin thread irrespective of the yarn count of the thread used, and does not apply an excessive load to the thread winding mechanism, causing any adverse effect on the stitching quality. The bobbin thread winding apparatus allows a lower thread to be drawn out of the thread supply source and is then securely twisted around the bobbin shaft without a thread draw-out mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Katayama, Hiroyuki Tomioka, Toshinobu Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 5816512
    Abstract: A bobbin thread winding mechanism includes: a rotating member capable of rotating and to which a bobbin can be mounted; a supporter provided to the rotating member and that supports an end of a bobbin thread to be wound around the bobbin; and a positioner that positions the rotating member so that the supporter stops at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akifumi Nakashima, Masao Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5769016
    Abstract: A residual thread removing device detects an amount of thread left in a bobbin of a sewing machine. The bobbin exchange time setting means sets a time to exchange a bobbin set in the sewing machine with a new one to a bobbin exchange time at which an amount of thread providing a minimum of unusable thread is left in the bobbin, on the basis of the detected thread amount. With such an arrangement, a bobbin exchange time can be set to an optimal time at which a waste of the thread in a bobbin is minimized, irrespective of a kind of thread and/or thread count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinobu Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 5769343
    Abstract: An automatic lower-thread winder for use with a sewing machine which automatically rewinds lower thread around a bobbin loaded into the bobbin case, strings the bobbin case with the lower thread, and cuts the lower thread after the bobbin case is strung. The lower-thread winder removes slacks of the lower thread created during the stringing operation. The lower-thread winder is programmed to retry a predetermined number of automatic retrials of the stringing operation, and checks if it has succeeded in the stringing operation. As a consequence, even if it fails in the stringing operation, it repeats the stringing operation automatically or warns the operator. Thus, the lower-thread winder effectively prevents malfunctions caused by defective stringing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tomioka, Toshinobu Shinozuka
  • Patent number: 5718181
    Abstract: An automatic bobbin exchanger, to be incorporated into a sewing machine, automatically replaces a bobbin case having a bobbin with a small amount of remaining lower thread, with a bobbin case having a fully wound lower-thread bobbin. The automatic bobbin exchanger includes a pair of two dummy shafts and a rotary arm having a grip mechanism for releasably holding a bobbin case. The dummy shafts are provided at positions opposable to a moving path of the rotary arm. One of the dummy shaft holds a fully wound bobbin and the other holds a bobbin with a small amount of the remaining lower thread. Preferably, a remaining-thread mover unit which completely removes the small amount of remaining lower thread around the bobbin and a lower-thread winder which winds lower thread around the empty bobbin may be provided at positions opposable to a moving path of the rotary arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinobu Shinozuka, Tsutomu Okubo
  • Patent number: 5622127
    Abstract: An automatic dual bobbin mechanism is provided. A housing containing two unique bobbin casings and bobbins therein oriented side-by-side with the sewing needle and thread passing between the bobbin casing pair replaces the convention single bobbin configuration. The bobbin pair acts in a tag-team operation whereby one bobbin supplies thread to be stitched into a fabric while the second bobbin is simultaneously filled with thread from an external source. When the first bobbin is emptied, the bobbin pair is rotated 180.degree. inside the housing. The second bobbin, now full, supplies thread for continued stitching while the first bobbin is refilled with thread supplied by the external source. The specially designed bobbins and bobbin casings allow for automatic rethreading of the empty bobbin and cutting of the bobbin thread from external source, thus eliminating the need to manually remove the empty bobbin and assembly, replace with a full bobbin and rethread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventor: Steven Chang
  • Patent number: 5603273
    Abstract: An under thread supply apparatus for a sewing machine comprises a bobbin case, a bobbin exchange device, a thread removal device and a winding device. The bobbin case is removably set to a shuttle of the sewing machine and accommodates a bobbin with the thread wound thereon. The bobbin exchange device takes the bobbin case out of the shuttle, and sets the bobbin case accommodating the bobbin with the thread wound anew therearound to the shuttle. The thread removal device removes the thread from the bobbin accommodated in the bobbin case which is taken out. The winding device winds a preset amount of thread around the bobbin after the thread is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nakamura, Sumio Goto, Hiroyuki Tomioka, Takayoshi Mori, Nozomi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5584257
    Abstract: An under thread supply apparatus for a sewing machine comprises a bobbin case, a bobbin exchange device, a thread removal device and a winding device. The bobbin case is removably set to a shuttle of the sewing machine and accommodates a bobbin with the thread wound thereon. The bobbin exchange device takes the bobbin case out of the shuttle, and sets the bobbin case accommodating the bobbin with the thread wound anew therearound to the shuttle. The thread removal device removes the thread from the bobbin accommodated in the bobbin case which is taken out. The winding device winds a preset amount of thread around the bobbin after the thread is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Nakamura, Hiroyuki Tomioka, Takayoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 5400730
    Abstract: A sewing device (13) consists of a basic unit (13) comprising the main motor, the needle bar (27), and the take-up lever (31), and a shuttle block (24) detachably mounted thereto which comprises the shuttle (35) with the thread bobbin (36) for the lower thread. For changing an empty thread bobbin, the sewing machine mounted to a robot arm is inserted into a reception unit (21) in which the shuttle block (24) remains, whereas the basic unit (23) is moved to another shuttle block with full thread bobbin (36a) and receives it. The sewing machine does not require a time-consuming manual change of the thread bobbin for the lower thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Moll Automatische Naehsystems GmbH i.g.
    Inventors: Philipp Moll, Norbert Laschet
  • Patent number: 5350127
    Abstract: A process and device for monitoring the bobbin thread on stitch-forming machines, on the bobbin of which a residual amount of thread is wound in a winding direction opposite the direction of winding of the principal amount of thread, is to ensure that a first control function will be generated at the beginning of consumption of the residual amount of thread, and a second control function is generated nearly without delay in the case of thread end or thread break. To achieve this, two signal patterns are received with a phase shift from a bobbin acting as a signal generator, and the first signal function is generated in the case of a deviation of the actual phase shift from the desired phase shift. If only one signal pattern is received, this first control function is also generated if its signal sequence deviates from a reference signal sequence. The second control function is generated if a stoppage of the bobbin lasts longer than a predeterminable number of stitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: G.M. Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kurt Arnold, Wolfgang Hauck, Reiner Klein, Bernhard Mertel, Karl-Heinz Walther, Horst Zinssmeister
  • Patent number: 5063866
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, a thread-draw lever is driven in an oscillating movement, in synchronism with a needle bar, and carries a gripping hook for the thread, the thread being brought within reach of this hook by passing it into a longitudinal channel formed on an upper face of an upper arm of the casing of the machine.The arrangement permits the threading operation in a sewing machine to take place by simple insertion of the thread into the channel, without having to pass the thread through eyelets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 4771714
    Abstract: An electric sewing machine with computerized control in which the speed of rotation of the central control motor (M) is brought under the control of a regulating circuit (O, C.sub.1, C.sub.s) comprising a control tacho generator (G), has a mechanism for driving a support for a bobbin (C) to be wound, comprising all the structural elements of the generator (G), a double action clutch (E.sub.A) allowing the rotor of the generator (G) to be connected mechanically either to said central motor (M) or to the bobbin support, electrical switching means (I.sub.E, I.sub.G) allowing, in the last case, the armature of the generator (G) to be connected to an electrical supply source (A) while preventing the central control motor (M) of the machine from being supplied with current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Olindo Baruffa, Claude Buchilly
  • Patent number: 4733622
    Abstract: A needle thread end holder for a sewing machine having bobbin thread replenishing mechanism in which an annular groove formed in the presser securing screw accomodates a stretched rubber "O" ring so as to apply only a limited frictional resistance to a thread introduced beneath the "O" ring insufficient to abort a bobbin thread replenishing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: SSMC Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Larsen, Jan Szostak
  • Patent number: 4700646
    Abstract: A sewing machine has a retractable handwheel which is always biased toward the outside of the frame by a resilient member. When pushed into the frame against the biasing action of the resilient member, the handwheel is locked in a retracted position in the frame by an actuating member. The handwheel is released in conjunction with operation for opening a cover covering the spool chamber of the sewing machine to allow the handwheel to be projected outwardly of the frame, so that the manual rotation of the handwheel may be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Kamiya
  • Patent number: 4667612
    Abstract: In the invention, the sewing machine carries out winding of the thread by operating separately a thread winding mechanism and a clutch mechanism. A speed detector is provided to measure actual rotary speed of a mechanism which is related with rotation of an upper shaft. If the thread winding were carried out, while said mechanism is left as engaged with a power source of the sewing machine, the speed detector would detect the rotation of said mechanism to stop a machine motor instantaneously, so that the thread winding cannot be performed when said relative mechansim is not released from the power source, and the needle bar is not actuated at winding the thread for safety in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Hyodo, Toru Kakubari
  • Patent number: 4646982
    Abstract: A self-sustaining bobbin winding device for use in a sewing machine has a driving unit which carries the bobbin during winding of a thread onto its core, and such unit is driven by an electric motor which can be arrested in response to actuating of an electric switch. The switch is actuated by one arm of a three-armed lever another arm of which is caused to bear against the roll of convoluted thread on the rotating bobbin and initiates a stoppage of the motor when the bobbin has collected a preselected length of thread. The third arm of the lever can be depressed by hand to disengage the other arm from the convoluted thread and to actuate the switch at the will of the operator. A first thread cutting tool is provided on the third arm of the lever, and a second thread cutting tool is provided on the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: F. Gegauf AG Bernina-Nahmaschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Andreas Spring
  • Patent number: 4606507
    Abstract: The winder shaft for a sewing machine, fashioned as a support for a thread bobbin, is positioned directly on the shaft of a low-voltage motor, independent of the drive motor for the sewing mechanism of the sewing machine. An on/off switch for this motor is operable by means of a three-armed switching lever, with the first arm being adapted to scan the package of wound thread forming on the bobbin. A trigger cam disposed on the third arm slides, during this operation, over a first surface of a spring-biased dual ramp. Once the thread bobbin is full, the trigger cam surpasses the apex of the dual ramp, and the switching lever flips into a disconnect position and cuts off the motor by way of a switching cam disposed on the second arm. All of the elements of the spooling device are mounted to a common support so that the spooling device, which is independent of the drive mechanism of the sewing machine, can be attached as a composite unit at any desired location on the sewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Fritz Gegauf Aktiengesellschaft Bernina-Nahmaschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Lerch, Willi Oberholzer
  • Patent number: 4527496
    Abstract: A sewing machine with spooling equipment. For a spooling operation, an armshaft of the sewing machine can be disconnected from a motor drive of the machine. Through a pulse generator for delivering pulses, the armshaft is coupled to a circuit for controlling the speed of the sewing motor. The circuit comprises an operational amplifier designed with a feedback network. To permit an automatic switching of the operational amplifier to regulation or control sewing and spooling, the feedback network of the operational amplifier comprises two resistance members connected in parallel, of which one can be disconnected by a switch which is controlled by the pulse generator. To simplify the switching, the switch is designed as an analog switch whose control line is connected to the output of a control circuit having one end connected to a starter resistor to which the operational amplifier is responsive, and its other input connected to the pulse generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Pfaff Haushaltmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Patrice J. Kemmel
  • Patent number: 4522140
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, a stop-motion mechanism is provided for selectively performing stitching operation and thread winding operation. The stop-motion mechanism has a pulley secured to one end of a main drive shaft, which is driven by an electric motor, and a transmission disc for transmitting rotation of the pulley to a loop taker. To the pulley is detachably connected an operating member having a pair of engaging pins adapted to extend through the pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Koide
  • Patent number: 4519328
    Abstract: An electronic sewing machine includes at least two pulse motors, in which a control detecting device detects all individual operations of the movable members in response to a plurality of functions performed by independent driving sources, such that in each of these functions the machine operates normally. The control detecting device includes two screen interrupting elements each associated with the respective pulse motor and a single photoelectric sensor cooperating with each interrupting element for producing electric signals for operating a microcomputer of the sewing machine to set each of the pulse motors to an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Takenoya, Eiichi Shomura
  • Patent number: 4515099
    Abstract: An axially movable plunger in a bobbin, and a cam for disposing the plunger in a position resulting in rotation of the bobbin for bobbin winding are formed with engageable planar surfaces, one of which includes a sharp edge hole, and the other of which includes an elongate slot to provide for the cutting of thread between the edges of the hole and slot at the outset of a bobbin winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Gerald J. Creed
  • Patent number: 4503793
    Abstract: A method for implementing winding of a lower thread bobbin in place in a looptaker of a sewing machine from an upper thread supply. A buttonhole pattern in which at least one initial stitch is effected at one end of the buttonhole prior to holding needle bar reciprocation in abeyance while feeding the work material to the other end of the buttonhole, is selected but is utilized without a traveling buttonhole foot which would reinitiate stitching and feeding of the work material. Instead, any other presser foot, or no presser foot, is used so that bobbin winding may proceed after upper thread is initially brought to the lower bobbin, without having thread flow interferred with by needle bar reciprocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Charles R. Odermann
  • Patent number: 4481897
    Abstract: A clutch which is engaged to rotate and wind thread on a sewing machine bobbin is provided with clutch parts that include a single bladed paddle, and a member with a pair of crossed paddle receiving through slots, one of which has a chamfered upper edge that substantially widens the mouth of the slot and the other of which is without such chamfered edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Odermann, Robert H. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4462324
    Abstract: A one-piece plunger with a control button at one end and a driving paddle at the other end is located in a one-piece sewing machine bobbin. The bobbin is provided with crossed slots, one of which normally has the paddle therein and which is dead ended to provide a stop limiting spring biased upward movement of the plunger in the bobbin, the other slot being open ended to permit the paddle to be moved therethrough during assembly of the plunger in the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Robert H. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4457245
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing bobbin winding in place in a looptaker of a sewing machine. When a presser foot lift lever is manipulated to elevate a presser foot, and the sewing machine motor is activated, a series of two or three endwise reciprocations of the sewing machine is effected to bring an upper thread to the lower thread carrying bobbin, after which further endwise reciprocation of the sewing needle is held in abeyance while actuation of the sewing machine motor is continued, to provide the least disturbance of upper thread passage to the lower thread bobbin. No other bobbin winding signaling steps are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Charles R. Odermann
  • Patent number: 4442785
    Abstract: A sewing machine bobbin for a vertical axis hook is provided with a top and a bottom flanged section, and a fastener which both holds the sections together and is the driven member of a clutch through which the bobbin may be driven for bobbin winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Odermann, Thaddeus J. Zylbert
  • Patent number: 4434880
    Abstract: A handwheel clutch for a sewing machine having a bistable tiltable element for engaging or disengaging the clutch thereby coupling or decoupling the handwheel from the arm shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Boleslaw Kornatowski