EP0371919A1 - Sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

This assembly comprises a thread-pulling lever (23) driven in a pendulous movement in synchronism with the needle bar (5) of the sewing machine and carrying a hook (23c) for grasping the thread f guided within reach of this hook by being passed through a longitudinal channel (12) formed on the upper face of the upper arm of the machine housing. It makes it possible to carry out the operation of threading a sewing machine, without having to pass the thread through eyelets, simply by inserting the thread into the channel (12). <IMAGE> <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a sewing machine comprising a housing having a lower arm, an upper arm, a column uniting these arms and in the upper arm of which a needle bar is slidably mounted and a thread-pulling lever is mounted oscillating, means for driving this needle bar and this thread-pulling lever according to respective synchronous reciprocating movements and means for guiding the thread between a supply spool and a needle carried by the needle bar, defining a trajectory of this thread which cuts a portion of the trajectory of the thread-pulling lever to allow the drive of said thread in at least one direction of movement of the thread-pulling lever.

In JP-U-61-151681, a threading system has already been proposed in which the thread puller comprises a thread gripping opening and a ramp adjacent to an inlet channel of this gripping opening. This thread puller is driven in an oscillating movement in synchronism with the reciprocating sliding movement of the needle bar. A passage containing the trajectory of the wire puller is provided in the upper arm of the machine housing to allow the wire gripping opening to exit the housing. Thread guiding means are used to maintain a section of this thread through the outlet passage of the thread guide, in the path of the ramp adjacent to the inlet channel, so that when the thread puller is moved towards the wire, the ramp meets it and slides it over it, moving it away from its path until it enters the grip opening through the inlet channel. An extension located opposite the inlet channel of the gripping opening prevents the untimely exit of the wire. This thread puller therefore allows the automatic introduction of the thread by the simple fact that it is guided through the outlet passage of the thread guide and therefore extends transversely to its path.

If the introduction of the thread into the grip opening of the thread puller is automatic, it is not the same for the thread guiding means, leading the thread from the feed reel to the needle bar needle. Indeed, several thread guides are arranged along the passage of the thread and in particular at the place where the thread changes direction to descend towards the needle. After being guided in a horizontal guide groove along which a wire clamp is arranged, the wire leaves the groove and must be introduced into a retaining guide before being brought into a vertical groove comprising guide members in which this wire must be introduced. Consequently, threading the thread, apart from that which relates to the thread puller, remains fairly traditional and therefore remains meticulous work requiring in particular good vision on the part of the operator. This addition of this threading also constitutes a source of frequent errors.

A simplified threading system has also been proposed in US Pat. No. 3,347,195 in which the wire feed spool is arranged against the rear face of the machine and the upper face of the machine housing is crossed by a transverse groove allowing the wire to be brought towards the front face, the wire clamp being housed along this transverse groove. The rest of the threading is traditional, the thread in particular having to be introduced into an opening of the thread-pulling lever.

It has also been proposed to drive the wire by a wire puller without the latter grabbing it. Thanks to this thread drive mode, a simple lever is sufficient and it is therefore no longer necessary to introduce the thread into the opening of the thread guide lever. Mechanisms of this kind are described in DE-A-1 809 863 as well as in EP-A1-0 251 633. As in the case of the other solutions mentioned above, the thread must still be passed through thread guides due sudden changes in direction of the wire path.

The object of the present invention is to further simplify this threading operation.

To this end, the subject of this invention is a sewing machine according to claim 1.

• Les figures 1 à 4 montrent une machine à coudre selon l'invention respectivement en élévation, en plan et, dans des vues latérales, droite et gauche en se référant à la figure 1.
• La figure 5 est une vue partielle, correspondant à celle de la figure 1, dans une autre position de certains éléments.
• La figure 6 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 4, à plus grande échelle et avec arrachement partiel du boîtier de la machine.
• La figure 7 est une vue, à plus grande échelle, d'un détail de la partie gauche de la figure 2.
• La figure 8 est une coupe selon VIII-VIII de la figure 7.
• Les figures 9a à 9d montrent le tire-fil dans quatre positions de travail (capture et tirage du fil).

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, a embodiment of the two objects of the present invention.

• Figures 1 to 4 show a sewing machine according to the invention respectively in elevation, in plan and, in side views, right and left with reference to Figure 1.
• Figure 5 is a partial view, corresponding to that of Figure 1, in another position of certain elements.
• Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, on a larger scale and with partial cutaway of the machine housing.
• FIG. 7 is a view, on a larger scale, of a detail of the left part of FIG. 2.
• Figure 8 is a section along VIII-VIII of Figure 7.
• Figures 9a to 9d show the wire puller in four working positions (catching and pulling the wire).

The machine shown in the drawing (Figures 1 to 4) has a base 1 on the right part of which stands a column 2 carrying two arms 3 and 4, including the one occupying the lower position, 3, contains in particular a loop sensor and its control mechanism, both not shown, and whose upper arm, 4, carries a needle bar 5 and its drive mechanism 6, partially shown, a thread tensioner assembly 7, the structural features of which will be illustrated in detail by below, a device 8 for adjusting the tension of the wire f and its control wheel 9 (FIG. 2), a flywheel 10 and a bobbin winder 11 associated with this flywheel (FIG. 3).

The structure and the possibilities of implementing a device such as that indicated by the reference 8, making it possible to adjust the tension of the thread, are described for example in the Swiss patent No (application No 3454 / 88-5) to which one refer for more details.

Similarly, reference is made to Swiss patent No (application No. 4024/88) of the applicant for the mode of driving the flywheel 10 and the bobbin winder 11.

The upper and left lateral faces (FIGS. 2 and 4) of the machine housing are provided with a rectilinear channel 12, extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing, approximately in the median plane of the arm 4.

As can be seen clearly in FIG. 8, this channel has a section having the general shape of a V whose shape is partially circular. It will be noted, moreover, that the device for adjusting the tension of the wire 8 is partially disposed inside this channel 12, more precisely by the active portion of the wire tightening plates that it comprises.

The machine housing shown also has a second channel, 13, extending in a transverse plane and communicating with the channel 12, at the right end of the latter (FIG. 2), hollowed out both on part of the face upper of column 2 of the housing than on the rear face thereof, up to the vicinity of the flywheel 10 and of the winder 11 already mentioned. The section of the channel 13 is similar in shape to that of the channel 12.

The channels 12 and 13 serve in fact for the passage of the thread taken from a supply spool 14 to the needle 5a fixed at the end of the needle bar 5, respectively to the winder 11 depending on which one wishes to use the machine shown for sewing or, on the contrary, for winding a bobbin 11.

To this end, the column 2 comprises a housing 2a, accessible through an opening 2b (Figures 3 and 5), along the lower edge of which is hinged a door 15 capable of being driven manually in two limit positions , one, tilted, shown in solid lines in Figure 5, providing access to the housing 2a of the column 2, the other, of rest in which the gate closes the opening 2b. A pawl 16, fixed along the upper edge of the door 15, ensures that the latter is in the closed position of the housing 2a, in cooperation with a lug, not shown, fixed near the upper edge of the opening 2b.

The gate 15 is integral with a base 17 for a coil support 18 standing parallel to the gate 15. A removable disc 19, fixed to the upper end of the support 18, ensures regular cutting of the coil wire 14 when sewing or winding a bobbin. During operation of the machine, the gate 15 is in vertical position for closing the housing 2a of the column 2; it is driven in its tilted position (Figure 5) only when it comes to replacing the coil 14 for example.

In its upper part, the wall of the housing 2a has an opening 2c, putting this housing in communication with the bottom of the channel 12, respectively 13, and on the edges of which are fixed two wire references 20a, 20b respectively.

Other similar references 20c and 20d (FIG. 1), respectively 20th and 20f (FIG. 3), make it possible to ensure correct guiding of the wire f taken from the coil 14 inside the channel 12, respectively of the channel 13, up to a needle flange 21, in the first case, and to any bobbin which would be placed on the winder 11, in the second.

As regards the passage of the wire f in the channel 12, this wire must first of all be led between the clamping plates of the tensioning device 8, at a level making it possible to ensure the best possible operation of its plates. It must, moreover, be presented to the right of an opening 22 made at the left end, in the drawing (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) of the channel 12 so as to be able to be grasped in passing, by the tensioning assembly of wire 7.

The wire tensioning assembly 7 comprises a wire pulling lever 23 that forms the left arm (FIG. 1) of a bent U-shaped rod, articulated by its intermediate portion 24 in two bearings 25a and 25b secured to the frame of the machine. The right branch 26 of this rod is slidably engaged in a corresponding opening that has a stud 27 pivoted at the end of an arm 28 cabled on a shaft 29. This shaft is that intended for controlling the alternating axial movement of the needle bar 5, movement obtained by the mechanism 6.

The two branches 23 and 16 of the wire tensioner assembly are not coplanar, the branch 23 occupying, seen from the front face of the machine, a position set back relative to the branch 26 such that, when the latter occupies its most forward tilted position, the branch 23 is placed as shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. The axis 23 * corresponds to the maximum rear position in which can be driven branch 23: in this case, at the same time, branch 26 will occupy an angular position corresponding substantially to the maximum forward position of branch 23 (in solid lines in the drawing).

At its free end, the wire puller that constitutes the branch 23 is bent so as to form a sort of eyelet 23a which is followed by a straight portion 23b, itself followed by a bent portion 23c, forming a "hook", the end of which follows a portion 23d, forming a "ramp", comprising three sections, one of which, starting from the edge of the opening of the hook 23c, substantially parallel to the terminal portion of the eyelet 23a, delimits therewith a channel 23e, a second section of which extends parallel to the upper branch of the hook, and the third of which goes, away from this hook, to a level lower than that of the branch of the hook secured to the part 23b of the hook.

It should be noted that the length of the space enveloped by the branches of the hook is several times greater than the diameter of the largest thread capable of being used by the sewing machine described. It can for example be five to seven times this diameter. In addition, the length of the hook, the distance separating the open end of the hook and the part 23b mentioned above, as well as the spacing of the access channel delimited by this part and by the "ramp" 23d are substantially equal. and also a function of the maximum diameter of the sewing thread.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, it can be seen that, on either side of the opening 22, the machine shown is provided with two leaf springs 28a and 28b fixed by one end to the right edge, in the drawing, channel 12 and the other end of which is inserted into the bottom of the circular section of this channel, in contact with the latter.

The blade 28a and the blade 28b are flexible enough to obtain flexion by simply applying the wire on their upper face and by exerting, with fingers, a slight vertical thrust on the wire.

They are essentially used to ensure that, once the wire f inserted in the channel 12, at least the portion of this wire located, at all times, in line with the opening 22 cannot escape from this channel.

It is indeed essential that this condition is fulfilled so that, whenever a thread is unwound from the spool 14 to be brought to the needle flange 21 by passing it through the channel 12, through the tensioning device 8 -9, to the right of the opening 22, then around the references 20c and 20d, the wire puller 23 is able to grasp, by itself, this wire in the manner described below with reference to the figures 9a to 9c, by making it penetrate inside the hook 23c.

Indeed, and as can be clearly seen in FIG. 6, the length of the wire puller 23 and the dimension of its parts 23a to 23d are chosen such that the distance separating the mean longitudinal axis from the body of the hook 23c and the axis of articulation of the thread puller are spaced from each other by a value corresponding substantially to the average distance separating the part of the channel 12 of circular section and the same axis of articulation above. Furthermore, the stroke of the thread puller 23 is chosen such that, at the right end thereof, in which this thread puller is shown in solid lines, the hook of the thread puller occupies practically a centered position relative to the axis of translation of the wire f.

It should be noted that the hook 23c of the thread puller can penetrate the channel 12 to reach this centered position thanks to the presence of the opening 22 already mentioned.

The four figures 9a to 9d show, in detail, how the wire puller proceeds to grasp the wire 7 and pass it through the opening of its hook.

When the thread puller is tilted in direction F (FIG. 9a), from its extreme left position to its extreme right position, the wire which has just been introduced into the channel 12 occupies a position corresponding substantially to that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Before reaching the extreme right position of the thread puller, the ramp 23d comes into contact with the thread f and pushes it upwards, in the drawing, by sliding on the ramp itself as the lever continues to move in the direction F to go beyond the portion occupied in FIG. 9a.

As the thread f is in a stretched state, between the device 8 and the needle flange 21, the fact of moving it away from its equilibrium position causes this thread to be lifted by the ramp 23d associated with the hook 23c of the thread puller , the wire exerting on it a slight thrust directed towards the bottom of the channel 12. Thus, when at the end of its sliding on the ramp 23d, the wire f comes to be in front of the channel 23e delimited by this ramp and by the 'eyelet 23a, (Figure 9b) this wire naturally penetrates into this channel and, from there, into the opening of the hook 23c, so as to return to its initial, resting position (Figure 8). The wire puller 23 then occupies a position corresponding to its extreme right position (Figure 6).

As soon as this thread puller begins to return to its extreme left position (Figure 9c), the thread f is then placed at the bottom of the hook of the thread puller and the latter only has to continue its running in the opposite direction to F: the sewing machine is then ready for sewing (figure 9d).

Of course, an identical result could be obtained by replacing the wire puller described by a rod comprising, at its end, a hook and a ramp associated with it coming in one piece with the rod, for example by stamping d 'a brochure.

In addition, the assembly described allows the production of a sewing machine in which it is no longer necessary to thread the thread through an eyelet of the thread puller before passing it through the needle flange.

As a result, the actual threading of the thread delivered from a mother reel is limited, with the sewing machine described, to passing the thread in the channel 12, by introducing it between the clamping plates of the tensioning device of the thread 8, and under the elastic blades 28a and 28b, in the manner already described, then by leading it around the references 20c and 20d towards the needle flange 21, to then be threaded into the eye of the needle. This operation is at the same time simple, fast and safe: it does not require any particular threading through eyelets.

It will also be noted that, in the machine described, the thread puller always moves inside the housing of the machine, hence a more secure and rational operation of this thread puller.

The invention is, of course, not limited to what has been shown or described: in particular, it will be understood that the channel 12 need not necessarily be located on the upper face of the upper arm of the machine. It could very well be formed on the anterior or posterior face of this arm, for example, or extend only over part of the length of the arm.

Furthermore, when the housing of the machine described is produced by assembling two or more shells, the channel or channels described could be obtained by juxtaposition of the junction edges of these shells, to which the profile of one half of the channel would be given individually. longed for.

Claims (5)

1. Sewing machine comprising a housing having a lower arm (3), an upper arm (4), a column (2) joining these arms and in the upper arm (4) of which a needle bar (5) is slidably mounted and a thread-pulling lever is mounted oscillating, means (26, 27, 28, 29) for driving this needle bar (5) and this thread-pulling lever (23) according to respective synchronous reciprocating movements, and means for guiding the thread (12) between a supply spool (14) and a needle (5a) carried by the needle bar (5), defining a trajectory of this thread (f) which cuts a portion of the trajectory of the lever -wire to allow the driving of said wire in at least one direction of movement of the wire-drawing lever (22), characterized in that said guide means are constituted by a continuous channel extending over at least part of the upper face and the side face of the upper arm (4) adjacent to the needle bar ( 5), on either side of an opening (22) opening into said channel. 2. Sewing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing comprises at least two front and rear shells which, once assembled, provide a junction line whose adjacent portions of said shells conform so as to delimit said channel (12). 3. Sewing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that elastic retaining tabs (28a, 28b) of the thread are arranged in said channel, on either side of the opening traversed by the thread-pulling lever , these tabs being integral with one side of the channel (12) by one of their ends and extending through the latter, means cooperating with their free end to allow their bending under the effect of a stress directed towards the bottom of the channel but opposes a bias directed in the opposite direction. 4. Sewing machine according to claim 1, character laughed at by the fact that one end of said guide channel (12) is adjacent to a communication opening (2c) with a housing (2a) formed in the housing and intended to receive the wire supply coil (14 ). 5. Sewing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the housing has a thread guide channel (13) extending between the housing (2a) intended to receive the thread feed spool (14) and a bobbin winding device (11).

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