EP2381023B1 - Multi-needle sewing machine and method for operating same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-needle head embroidery machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of claim 12.

According to the book "Embroidery Techniques" by Friedrich Schöner and Klaus Freier (VEB Fachbuchverlag Leipzig, 1982, 1st edition), the embroidery machines can be subdivided according to different aspects: A first classification is based on the number of thread systems involved in the embroidery process the embroidery only produced by a thread system, other machines require two thread systems, namely in addition to a second bottom, rear, Spulchen-, shuttle or Bobinenfaden.

A second type of classification is based on the number of needles working at the same time: The one-needle embroidery machines include the Singer, Eagle and Crank embroidery machines. Multi-needle or rapport embroidery machines are shuttle embroidery machines and the hand embroidery machine.

In addition to these two groups, there is still the multi-head embroidery machine, which can be assigned to neither of the above two groups. The principle of this machine is based on the fact that mounted on a large table top 3, 4, 6, 10 or 12 Singer embroidery machine heads, which are set by a common drive shaft in motion. The synchronization of the heads thus achieved is necessary so that all needles simultaneously pierce or are out of the embroidery ground. In this case, the embroidery bottom can be clamped individually for each head in an embroidery hoop. These hoops are fastened by means of screw connections to a gate-like structure, which is controlled by a small automaton in the horizontal plane. For an embroidery machine with 6 heads, the embroidery field is approx. 240 x 200 mm. The stitch formation organs and the stitch formation process are identical to those of the Singer embroidery machine. The only difference to these is that on each needle still a presser is provided which holds the embroidery bottom during stitch formation. The presser foot is raised whenever the hoop moves. In addition, individual embroidery heads are usually equipped with a thread monitor system, which automatically shuts off the machine when the thread breaks.

The present invention relates, inter alia, to multihead needle embroidery sewing machines in which each embroidery head is provided with a plurality of needle locations. Hereinafter, these multi-head multi-needle embroidery sewing machines are also referred to as multi-needle or multi-head embroidery machines in the description. As a rule, each needle point comprises a thread monitor (optional), a thread guide (also referred to in the literature as thread take-up lever), thread guide devices, including stitch-compensating thread tension parts, for the upper thread and a needle arranged on a needle plunger which moved up and down and from a drive unit is driven. The aforementioned stitch-forming components are also referred to in the present description as an upper thread unit. The embroidery heads of the multi-head embroidery machines are mounted laterally displaceable on a support arm. Below each embroidery head is a throat plate in which a needle hole is provided for the needle and which the embroidery resp. Stichstelle defined locally. Each needle of an embroidery head is displaceable laterally to the mentioned stitching point, on which in operation the embroidery material spanned in a clamping frame which is displaceable in the x- and y-direction rests. The needle, which is located at the stitching point, penetrates through the embroidery material and into the needle hole during the needle movement. In this case, the upper thread is passed through the embroidery material and formed by a corresponding needle movement, a loop on the back of the embroidery material. Through this loop then the lower thread is guided. When retracting the needle, the upper thread is tightened and formed in the embroidery a so-called stitch. When embroidering only one of the needle points is active, namely the one which is located at the stitching point. The embroidery heads of the mentioned multi-head embroidery machines are arranged in a known manner in a specific Rapportverhältnis along the support arm.

A characteristic of these multi-head multi-needle embroidery sewing machines is therefore that there are a plurality of needle locations per embroidery head. This has the advantage that each needle point can be equipped with a different thread and therefore buntings can be performed by always only the corresponding needle is put into action.

The needle plunger and their associated thread levers of a needle group are usually stored in a needle housing or carrier, for the purpose of Thread change by moving the selected needle tappet and the associated thread lever in front of a stationary mounted drive brings.

A conventional multi-head multi-needle embroidery sewing machine is exemplary in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown. This comprises a frame 201, an embroidery table 203 arranged on the frame 201 and a plurality of embroidery heads 205 arranged in series above the embroidery table FIG. 2 it can be seen, each embroidery head 205 has a plurality of needle points equipped with a needle 215 each. Each needle point comprises stationary thread guide elements 207 or thread brakes, an up and down movable thread receiving lever resp. Thread guide 209, Fadenumlenkteile 211 and one on a needle cancer 213 with needle tappet 214 arranged needle 215. As out FIG. 2 Further, each needle plunger 214 is equipped with a presser 217. Below the embroidery heads 205 hoop 219 are provided, in which a embroidery ground to be embroidered is aufspannbar. The embroidery frames 219 can be inserted into a large clamping frame 221 which extends across the width of the embroidery table 203. The clamping frame 221 is displaceable in a known manner in the x and y directions. As already mentioned above, the embroidery heads are arranged on a linear guide 223 and displaceable along it in the x-direction.

For needle replacement, the embroidery head must be lateral, i. in the x direction, to be moved. The active needle point is decoupled from the drive and another needle point is coupled to the drive. Known switching devices to couple the needle points resp. To decouple are usually complicated and expensive to manufacture. Another disadvantage is that in conventional multi-head multi-needle embroidery machine for drilling the needle head with needle cancer must be replaced with a drill. This is very time consuming and causes a longer machine downtime. A disadvantage of conventional small stitching machines is also to be considered that for drilling must first be moved to the converted needle / Bohrstelle, i. it must be a so-called needle change performed. The embroidery head is moved away laterally and moved back to the original needle position after drilling. Another disadvantage is that the drilling depth is not adjustable, but is determined by the stroke of the needle tappet.

The EP-A-0 911 437 discloses an embroidery machine having a plurality of individually switchable on and off embroidery sites. In this case, a movable thread guide as one of Stitch forming organs. This embroidery machine is characterized in that the respective embroidery point has an individual thread switch which can be switched on and off. Incidentally, the embroidery machine has separate drive shafts for the drill and the needle plunger, wherein the reciprocating movement of the needle plunger is generated by seated on the main drive shaft cams. Between the cam lever of the fabric presser and the drive shaft for the drill drive a coupling is provided, which is shown only schematically in the figures. In embroidery operation of the embroidery machine, that is, when the needle tappet is reciprocated, the cam lever of the presser foot and the drive shaft of the drill are decoupled because an embroidery site can not be bored and embroidered at the same time. In drilling operation, however, the cam lever of the fabric pusher is coupled to the drive shaft of the drill, because the embroidery ground must also be held during drilling analogous to embroidery. That is, the drill drive is used to move the presser foot while drilling.

The CH Patent No. 691,688 describes a two-story embroidery machine in which one or more drive shafts are arranged in the so-called needle carriage. Incidentally, there is also at CH No. 691 688 analogous to the embroidery machine EP-A-0 911 437 a coupling between the drill drive and the presser lever to move the presser foot by means of the drill drive.

The DE-OS-30 23 160 discloses a shuttle embroidery machine with needle carriers and drill carriers displaceable approximately at right angles to the plane of the embroidery frame, and drive elements for the displacement thereof. The needle carrier and the drill carrier are held displaceably in horizontal guides a fixed rail. At the Nadelträgem and Bohrerträgem pivotable arms are mounted about a horizontal axis, which have cuts, projections or the like for a positive operative connection with a drive element. The arms are operatively connected to mechanical, electrical or pneumatic controls to couple or decouple the arms with the drive member. An advantage of the shuttle embroidery machine described is that a common drive element is provided for the drive of the needle carrier and the drill carrier, whereby substantial mechanical parts can be saved.

The EP-A-0 634 512 refers to an embroidery point drive for an embroidery machine with a large number in one or more rows equidistant embroidery sites with the associated tools such as needle, drill, thread guide and thread brake. The embroidery tools of each embroidery point can be connected to or disconnected from their respective drive means. For this, two or more actuators are arranged per embroidery site, each of which couple or decouple one or more embroidery tools with their respective drives. The special feature of the embroidery drive described is that only one switching element is provided per embroidery point, which switches all actuators of the embroidery point together. Otherwise, the needles and drills of all embroidery sites are driven by a separate shaft in a conventional manner.

Object of the present invention is to propose a multi-head multi-needle embroidery machine, hereafter also called multi-needle head embroidery machine, with which can be drilled without tedious conversion and which is inexpensive to produce. Another goal is to propose a multi-head multi-needle embroidery machine with which you can also drill without the need for retrofitting.

According to the invention the object is achieved in an embroidery machine according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that a second coupling is provided to the drilling device, respectively. To couple the drill with the drive of one of the stitch-forming organs or to decouple from this. The inventive multi-needle head embroidery machine has the great advantage that no separate drive shaft is required for the drill, but an existing drive shaft, the drive shaft for driving the needle ram or the drive shaft for the large thread guide, used for driving the axially movable guided drill becomes. This simplification makes the machine much cheaper to manufacture. Hereinafter, a concrete embodiment of the invention will be exemplified with reference to the needle drive, wherein instead of the needle drive and the drive for the large thread guide or another existing drive could be used.

A great advantage of the inventive solution is that can be drilled in multi-head multi-needle embroidery machines of any color without a cumbersome change would be necessary. In particular, the thread does not have to cut this and to be re-embroidered after drilling.

According to a preferred embodiment, the stitch-forming member is an axially movable guided needle ram or an oscillating, in particular pivotable or reciprocable yarn guide, which are each driven by a separate drive shaft. The reciprocating movement of the needle pusher resp. of the large thread guide generated by a cam or coupling gear in a known manner. Preferably, the mentioned separate drive shafts are in operative connection with a main drive shaft and are driven synchronously by this.

Advantageously, the first clutch has a first actuator to couple the stitch-forming member to the drive member or to decouple therefrom. The second clutch preferably has a second actuator to couple the drill bit to the drive member or to decouple therefrom. In this way, two different stitch-forming organs can be driven with one and the same drive. It is also conceivable, however, to use only one instead of two actuators, which can actuate two actuators.

According to a preferred embodiment, the drive comprises a pivotable about an axis drive member, which can be driven by a shaft or driven. is driven. The drive member may be part of a multi-head multi-needle embroidery machine. Conveniently, the stitch-forming member communicates with a first coupling lever and the drill plunger with a second coupling lever, and first and second coupling levers are coupled to one and the same drive member. At the drive member, a first and a second coupling element may be present. These coupling elements can be brought into engagement with the first or the second coupling lever. This is a simple and robust design. Advantageously, the coupling elements are provided on the same or opposite sides of the drive member. In this way, a space-saving arrangement is possible.

Preferably, the first and second coupling levers are pivotable about an axis and biased by a spring member against the drive member. This facilitates the coupling process, since the coupling lever can automatically get into engagement with the drive member and there remains without further action. The coupling can be achieved for example by a positive connection.

In a preferred embodiment, a further lever is provided between the drill plunger and the second coupling lever, which is articulated with a first end on the drill bit and with the second end on the machine frame. The further intermediate lever has the advantage that with this the stroke of the drilling tool is customizable. Conveniently, the second coupling lever is articulated approximately in the middle third of the intermediate lever.

Advantageously, the second end of the intermediate lever communicates with an adjusting device. The adjusting device allows to adjust the starting position of the drilling tool.

The subject matter of the present invention is also a method for operating a multi-needle head embroidery machine having at least one embroidery head with a plurality of embroidery resp. Needle points in which method according to an embroidery program embroidered patterns in a stitching and holes can be drilled. In embroidery operation, a desired needle position is brought into an active position by displacement of the embroidery head relative to the support structure, and the stitch-forming members are coupled to an associated stationary drive. The new method is characterized in that for drilling the stitch-forming member is decoupled from the associated drive and the Bohrstössel is coupled to this drive. This has the advantage that only one drive is required for two tools. Another advantage is that it is possible to dispense with a separate drive shaft for the drill. Advantageously - when the needle tappet drive is used for driving the drill tappet - are additionally shut down for drilling the thread guide. This has the advantage that the upper thread is not pulled out unnecessarily during drilling. This would have the disadvantage that when sewing too much thread and thus no thread tension would be present.

A preferred variant of the method provides that, as a stitch-forming member which drives the drill bit, the drive for the needle punch is used and the drilling movement is carried out in reverse. This has the advantage that the substantially rectilinear backward movement is easier to subdivide into drill stages, and deactivating the drill requires only a short distance to the zero position.

Another object of the present invention is an embroidery machine with a plurality of juxtaposed on a machine frame needle locations, with multiple embroidery resp. Needle points are combined to form an embroidery head and are arranged laterally displaceable on a carrier. Each needle point comprises an axially movable needle ram and a needle drive for the needle ram. The needle drive ensures a reciprocating movement of the needle ram. By means of a first coupling, the needle drive can be coupled to the needle tappet and decoupled. According to the invention, a drill is provided in the mentioned multi-needle multi-needle embroidery machine per embroidery head, which has a separate axially movable drill plunger. For driving the drill, a second coupling is provided to couple the drill to the needle drive or to decouple therefrom. In contrast to the known multi-head multi-needle embroidery machines a fixed drill is provided. This has the advantage over the known machines that no tedious and time-consuming replacement of the needle head against a drill is needed. Further advantages of the multi-needle multi-needle embroidery machine according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims, which have already been described in detail above.

Fig. 1

Eine herkömmliche Mehrkopf-Mehrnadel-Sticknähmaschine mit mehreren Stickköpfen in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 2

Ein einzelner Stickkopf einer bekannten Mehrkopf-Mehrnadel-Sticknähmaschine mit mehreren Nadelstellen in einer Frontansicht;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines einzelnen, mehrere Nadelstellen aufweisenden Stickkopfes, welcher lateral verschiebbar an Tragschienen angeordnet ist;

Fig. 4

den Stickkopf von Fig. 3 in Seitenansicht;

Fig. 5

den Stickkopf von Fig. 3 in Frontansicht;

Fig. 6

eine Schalteinheit für den Nadelstössel einer einzelnen Nadelstelle mit einem Antriebsglied und einem Aktuator in Seitenansicht, wobei der Aktuator sich in der Aktivstellung befindet ;

Fig. 7

die Schalteinheit mit Antriebsglied und Aktuator von Fig. 6 mit dem Nadelstössel in einer angehobenen und vom Antriebsglied entkoppelten Position;

Fig. 8

die Schalteinheit von Fig. 6, wobei der Aktuator sich in der Passivstellung befindet Fig. 9 und der Nadelstössel auf einer Parkhilfe ruht; in perspektivischer Ansicht eine Reihe von Fadenleitern, von denen einer sich in der Arbeitsposition und die anderen in der Park- oder Ruheposition befinden;

Fig. 10

die Fadenleiter von Fig. 9 in Seitenansicht;

Fig. 11

Die Schalteinheit für den Nadelstössel zusammen mit einem Bohrertrieb in Seitenansicht, wobei die Nadelstelle sich in der Aktivposition und der Bohrer in der Passivposition befindet;

Fig. 12

Wie Fig. 11, jedoch in perspektivischer Ansicht;

Fig. 13

Die Schalteinheit für den Nadelstössel zusammen mit dem Bohrertrieb in Seitenansicht, wobei die Nadelstelle sich in der Passivposition und der Bohrer in der Aktivposition befindet;

Fig. 14

Wie Fig. 13, jedoch in perspektivischer Ansicht; und

Fig. 15

Die Tragkonstruktion mit daran angeordnetem Nadel- und Bohrertrieb in Seitenansicht.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the figures. It shows:

Fig. 1

A conventional multi-needle embroidery sewing machine with multiple embroidery heads in a perspective view;

Fig. 2

A single embroidery head of a known multi-needle multi-needle embroidery sewing machine with multiple needle locations in a front view;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a single, multiple needle points having embroidery head, which is arranged laterally displaceable on support rails;

Fig. 4

the embroidery head of Fig. 3 in side view;

Fig. 5

the embroidery head of Fig. 3 in front view;

Fig. 6

a switching unit for the needle plunger of a single needle point with a drive member and an actuator in side view, wherein the actuator is in the active position;

Fig. 7

the switching unit with drive member and actuator of Fig. 6 with the needle plunger in a raised and decoupled from the drive member position;

Fig. 8

the switching unit of Fig. 6 , wherein the actuator is in the passive position Fig. 9 and the tappet rests on a parking aid; in perspective view, a series of thread guides, one of which is in the working position and the other in the park or rest position;

Fig. 10

the thread guides of Fig. 9 in side view;

Fig. 11

The switching unit for the needle tappet together with a drill drive in side view, wherein the needle point is in the active position and the drill in the passive position;

Fig. 12

As Fig. 11 but in perspective view;

Fig. 13

The switching unit for the needle plunger together with the drill drive in side view, wherein the needle point is in the passive position and the drill in the active position;

Fig. 14

As Fig. 13 but in perspective view; and

Fig. 15

The supporting structure with arranged needle and drill drive in side view.

A conventional multi-head multi-needle embroidery sewing machine is exemplary in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown. This comprises a frame 201, an embroidery table 203 arranged on the frame 201 and a plurality of embroidery heads 205 arranged in series above the embroidery table, which are designed as so-called multi-needle heads. How out FIG. 2 it can be seen, each embroidery head 205 has a plurality of needle points equipped with a needle 215 each. Each needle point comprises stationary thread guide elements 207 or thread brakes, an up and down movable thread receiving lever resp. Thread guide 209, Fadenumlenkteile 211 and one on a needle cancer 213 with needle tappet 214 arranged needle 215. As out FIG. 2 Further, each needle plunger 214 is equipped with a presser 217. Below the embroidery heads 205 hoop 219 are provided, in which a embroidery ground to be embroidered is aufspannbar. The embroidery frames 219 can be inserted into a large clamping frame 221 which extends across the width of the embroidery table 203. The clamping frame 221 is displaceable in a known manner in the x and y directions. As already mentioned above, the embroidery heads are arranged on a linear guide 223 and displaceable along it in the x-direction.

The FIGS. 3 to 5 show a single embroidery head 11 of a multi-needle head embroidery machine, with a plurality, in the present case six, of juxtaposed needle points 13th

The essential components of each needle point 13 are thread guide means 15a, 15b, 15c, a movable thread guide 17 and a needle tappet 19 (in the FIGS. 3 to 5 not seen) with needle cancer 21 arranged thereon for attachment of a needle. The thread guide devices 15a, 15b, 15c, the thread guide 17 and the needle tappet 19 with needle cancer 21 arranged thereon are fixed to a frame 23. The frame 23 is laterally displaceably arranged on carrier rails 25, 27 by means of guide means 29 formed by guide rail 29 and slide 31 ( Fig. 4 ). The support rails 25,27 are part of a stationary support structure, respectively. Supporting structure 33 of a machine frame.

On the support structure 33 movable drive members 35 and 37 are provided for driving each of a needle tappet 19 and a thread guide 17, which will be described in more detail below (s. FIGS. 6 to 10 ). The drive members 35,37 are each driven by a gear not shown in detail. These transmissions are preferably through in the FIGS. 3 to 5 not shown separate drive shafts driven, which extend for example through holes 47, 49 in the side plates 53 of the support structure 33. The individual drive shafts are preferably in operative connection with a main drive shaft which synchronously drives them in the manner known to those skilled in the art. The drive shafts usually extend over the entire length of the multi-head embroidery machine, so that a plurality of embroidery sites are driven synchronously.

In addition to the movable drive links and the gears, for example parking aids 55, 57 for the needle pusher and the thread guide are provided on the support structure 33. The parking aids 55, 57 are latching elements, e.g. Rods on which the needle rams and thread guides of each not in operation located needle points "parked" and are laterally displaceable. The function of the parking aid is apparent from the following exemplary description of the needle drive.

The in the FIGS. 6 to 9 The switching unit 61a for a needle tappet 19 shown by way of example consists essentially of the drive member 35 movable up and down, a coupling lever 65a pivotable about an axis 63 and an actuator 67a. The actuator 67a may cooperate with the proximal end 69a of the coupling lever 65a to move it from a working position in which the drive member 35 is engaged with the coupling lever 65a to a rest position in which the drive member 35 out of engagement with the coupling lever 65a. For this purpose, the actuator 67 is of a passive position ( Fig. 8 ) into an active position ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) movable. The actuator 67 may be driven electrically, magnetically or pneumatically. It has a movable actuator 71, which a lever, hereinafter referred to as catch lever 73, can pivot about a pivot axis 75. In the active position of the actuator 67, the catch lever 73 is in the movement path of the coupling lever 65a, so that it is moved in the movement from bottom to top of the working position in the rest position (see. FIGS. 6 to 9 ).

According to the in the FIGS. 6 to 9 shown preferred embodiment, the catch lever 73 has at the distal end of a ramp 77, which serves in the active position of the actuator 65 as a guide for the proximal end 69a of the coupling lever 65a. Advantageously, a nose 79 is formed at the proximal end 69a of the coupling lever 65a, which abut the ramp 77, respectively. can slide along. At the end of the ramp 77, a recess 81 is provided, in which the coupling lever 65 a with the nose 79 can engage. In this position, the coupling lever 65a is disengaged from the drive member 35.

The detachable operative connection between the coupling lever 65a and the drive member 35 is preferably realized by a positive connection. At the proximal end 69a, a recess 83a (FIG. Fig. 7 ), in which the drive member 35 can engage. The drive member has at the end a preferably cylindrical coupling element 85 a, which in the receptacle respectively. Dent 83 can engage with complementary shape. The coupling element 85a may be formed, for example, by a pipe section or dome which extends perpendicular to a plane defined by the movement path of the drive member 35. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling element is designed as a roller bearing to accommodate the relative rotation between coupling lever 65a and drive member 35,37. In the upper extreme position of the drive member, the coupling element 85a is aligned with the parking aid 55, which extends on both sides of the movable drive member. In this position, a needle change can be made by the embroidery head 11 is laterally displaced relative to the stationary support structure. In this case, the coupling lever 65a is parked on one of the two parking aids 55, which extends on both sides of the active needle point.

Conveniently, the coupling lever 65a is biased by suitable spring means, such as a leaf spring 70 or a leg spring 72 in the direction of the drive member 35. This has the advantage on the one hand that the coupling lever 65a is securely held either on the parking aid 55 or on the drive member 35 during operation, depending on the position of the embroidery head 11. On the other hand, can also be dispensed with a detent. In FIG. 8 the switching unit 61a is shown in a position in which a coupling lever 65a is parked on the parking aid 55.

The drive member 35 may by a cam gear or an eccentric gear, respectively. Be driven coupling gear in a known manner. In a cam mechanism preferably used two cam disks are preferably mounted rotationally fixed on a drive shaft. These can cooperate for the purpose of generating an oscillating movement with the rollers 95,97 of a drive member 35, which is arranged at a distance from the drive shaft, not shown. In the present case, the drive member 35 is arranged pivotably about an axis of rotation 89 on the stationary support structure. To generate the pivoting movement 91,93 rollers 95,97 are arranged on arms, which can cooperate with not shown in the figures cams or cams of a drive shaft. During the rotation of the drive shaft, an oscillating movement of the drive member 35 can be generated in a known manner by means of cam disks mounted on the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner.

The switching unit 61b of FIGS. 9 and 10 is different from the one of FIGS. 6 to 9 essentially only in that instead of a needle tappet 19, a thread guide 17 is driven, which is also referred to as a large thread guide. The thread guide 17 is pivotable about an axis of rotation 99 and hinged at the machine end to the coupling lever 65b. The coupling lever 65b can - analogous to the coupling lever 65a - by means of the actuator 67b are brought into and out of engagement with the drive member 37. According to this embodiment, the coupling element 85b in the lower extreme position of the drive member is coaxial with the parking aid 57 for the thread guide. In the lowermost position of the embroidery head 11 can be moved laterally, whereby another of the plurality of embroidery sites is activated and the remaining are deactivated.

In the FIGS. 11 to 15 is a switching unit for a drilling device resp. Drill 101 exemplified. The special feature of this switching unit is that the drill 101 can be driven by the drive member 35 for the needle tappet 19. Incidentally, the switching unit for the Bohrstössel essentially the same structure as the switching units already described above for the needle ram or the large thread guide. Therefore, in the following description, only the differences will be described in more detail.

The switching unit for the drill 101 consists essentially of the Bohrstössel 103, a Bohrstössel 103 arranged Bohrspitze 105, a coupling lever 65c and an actuator 67c. The coupling lever 65c is biased by means of the leg spring 72 against the provided on the drive member 35 coupling element 85c. The actuator 67c has in the manner already described a catch lever 73c, which is pivotable between two positions, namely an active position and a passive position. A recess 81 c of the catch lever 73 c can interact positively in the active position of the actuator 67 c with a nose 79 c of the clutch lever 65 c and couple the coupling lever 65 c with the catch lever 73 c ( Fig. 11 ). In the passive position of the actuator 67c, however, the coupling element 85c passes in the upper extreme pivot position of the drive member 35 in the receptacle 83c of the coupling lever 65c.

In order to set the stroke of the drill 101 to a desired value, an intermediate lever 107 is preferably provided. This intermediate lever 107 provides for a translation of the pivotal movement of the drive member 35 in a particular stroke of the drill 101. The intermediate lever 107 is articulated to a first end of the drill tappet 103 (first pivot point 109) and with a second end to the support structure (second pivot point 111) , Between the two articulation points 109,111 of the coupling lever 65c is articulated on the intermediate lever 107. The exact position of the articulation point of the coupling lever 65c depends inter alia on where the coupling element 85c is provided on the drive member 35. If space permits, the use of an intermediate lever 107 can also be dispensed with. In this case, the lever 65c could also be articulated directly on the drill plunger 103.

Since the drill plunger 103 by means of a guide 113 ( Fig. 15 ) is guided axially movable, the intermediate lever 107 is articulated with its second end to a compensating element. This compensating element is realized, for example, by a compensating lever 115, which is hinged at its first end to the second end of the intermediate lever 107 and at its second end to the supporting structure 33 (articulation point 119 in FIG FIG. 13 ). By means of the compensation lever 115, the rotatable intermediate lever 107 can follow the axially movable drill tappet 103 during operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second end of the compensating element 115 is connected to the supporting structure 33 by means of an adjusting device 117 (FIG. Fig. 15 ). The adjustment device 117 has the function to adjust the position of the drill bit 105 relative to the embroidery ground. As a result, inaccuracies or tolerances caused by the assembly or manufacture of the individual components can be corrected. By the aforementioned adjusting device 117, it is possible to set all drill tips 105 on an embroidery machine at exactly the same distance from the embroidery base.

In the present case, the adjusting device 117 is formed by an eccentric with which the position of the articulation point 119 on the supporting structure 33 can be adjusted. The eccentric device comprises an axle 121 to which the compensating lever 115 is articulated. In the FIG. 15 is the eccentric in the one extreme position in which the drill bit is raised maximum. In the in the Figures 11 and 13 shown position is the eccentric in an intermediate position.

In FIG. 15 It can be seen that the needle tappet is guided by means of guide means 123 axially movable.

To drill a hole in the embroidery base, the procedure is as follows: By means of the main shaft, with which the drive member 35 is driven, the drive member 35 is moved to the switching position (upper extreme position). Before the drive member reaches the upper extreme position, the actuator 67a for the needle plunger is brought into the active position. Thereby, the coupling lever 65a is removed by the catch lever 73a from the coupling member 85a. In the switching position, the nose 79a engages in the recess 81a. Then, the actuator 67c is switched to the passive position so that the tappet coupling lever 65c engages with the second coupling member 85c. At the same time advantageously also the large thread guide is shut down for drilling. Now, the main shaft can be operated preferably in the return pass the drill. If the hole drilled, the main shaft is rotated in forward gear back to the starting position. Now the embroidery ground can be repositioned and the next hole drilled in reverse. When drilling is finished, it will Drive member moved back to the switching position, brought the drill in the park position and the needle tappet coupled again.

As already mentioned above, in principle, the drive member 37 of the large thread guide can be used for generating the axial drilling movement of the drill bit, wherein the coupling mechanism for the drill would have to be adjusted accordingly. The drive members 35, 37 and associated actuators 67a, 67b and 67c are fixed to the support structure 33, i. stationary. For a needle change, the needle housing with the embroidery resp. Needles laterally shifted to couple the desired needle point with the associated large thread guide 17 to the drive.

A multi-needle head embroidery machine has a plurality of needle points arranged side by side on a machine frame. Each needle point has an axially movable needle plunger, which is in communication with a needle drive. The needle drive is designed to move the needle plunger in operation back and forth. It comprises a drive member to which via a first coupling of the needle plunger is coupled and decoupled. For operating a separate drilling tool with an axially movable drill tappet, the same drive member can be used. For this purpose, a second clutch is provided to couple the drill with the needle drive or to decouple from this, is fundamentally conceivable to use the needle drive of the drive of the thread guide for the drilling operation.

Legend

11

Stick head

13

needle point

15 a-c

Yarn guides

17

thread guide

19

needle plunger

21

needle cancer

23

frame

25

upper support rail

27

lower mounting rails

29

guide rail

31

carriage

33

supporting structure

35

Drive member for needle plunger

37

Drive member for thread guide

47.49

Drill holes for drive shafts

53

Side plates of the supporting structure

55

Parking aid for needle

57

Parking aid for thread guides

61 a

switching unit

63

Pivot axis of the pivotable coupling lever

65a, 65b, 65c

clutch lever

67a, 67b, 67c

actuator

69a, 69b, 69c

proximal end of the clutch lever

70

leaf spring

71

Actuator of the actuator

72

Leg spring

73a, 73b, 73c

catch lever

75

Swivel axis of the catch lever

77

ramp

79a, 79b, 79c

nose

81a, 81b, 81c

Recess in the catch lever

83a, 83b, 83c

indentation

85a, 85b, 85c

coupling element

89

Rotary axis of the drive member

91.93

Arms of the drive member 35

95.97

Roll on the arms 91,93

99

Axis (swivel axis thread guide)

101

drill

103

Bohrstössel

105

drill

107

intermediate lever

109.111

First and second articulation points of the intermediate lever

113

Guide for drill plunger

115

compensation element

117

adjusting

119

Articulation point of the compensating element

121

axis

123

Guide means for needle plunger

Claims (15)

1. Multi-needle head embroidery machine with at least one multi-needle head (11), which multi-needle head (11) has

   - a plurality of needle locations (13) that are placed laterally displaceable on a supporting structure (59) and each needle location (13) has

   - respectively one needle stem (19) and

   - one thread guide (17) that are also designated below respectively as stitch forming organs (17, 19),

   - per embroidery head (11) respectively one individual driving element (35) for a needle stem (19) and one individual drive (37) for a thread guide (17) for producing a to-and-fro movement of the respective stitch forming organs (17, 19),

   - first couplings (67a, 73a, 65a; 67b, 73b, 65b) to mesh in an active position respectively with a certain of the associated stitch forming organs (17, 19), characterized in

   - that one individual piercing device (101) is provided per embroidery head (11),

   - that the piercing device (101) has an axially movable piercing stem (103) and

   - that a second coupling (67c, 73c, 65c) is provided to couple the piercing device (101) with the driving device (35, 37) of one of the stitching forming organs (17, 19) or to uncouple therefrom.
2. Embroidery machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive comprises a driving element (35, 37), swivellable around an axis (89), that can be driven by a shaft.
3. Embroidery machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive comprises a cam gear or a coupling gear.
4. Embroidery machine according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first coupling has a first actuator (67a, 67b) in order to couple the stitch forming organ (17, 19) to the driving element (35, 37) or to uncouple therefrom and the second coupling has a second actuator (67c) to couple the piercing stem (19) to the driving element (35, 37) or to uncouple therefrom.
5. Embroidery machine according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stich forming organ (17, 19) is connected to a first coupling lever (65a, 65b) and the piercing stem (19) to a second coupling lever (65c), which first and second coupling levers (65a, 65c; 65b, 65c) can be coupled to the driving element (35, 37).
6. Embroidery machine according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a first and a second coupling element (85a, 85c) exist on the driving element (35, 37), which coupling elements (85a, 85c) can engage with the first or the second coupling lever.
7. Embroidery machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling elements (85a, 85c; 85b, 85c) are provided spaced from each other and preferably on the same or on opposite sides of the driving element (35, 37).
8. Embroidery machine according to one of the claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the first and the second coupling levers are swivellable around an axis (63) and are preloaded by means of a spring element (70, 72) against the driving element (35, 37).
9. Embroidery machine according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a second intermediate lever (107) is provided between the piercing stem (19) and the second coupling lever (65c), intermediate lever which is articulated with a first end to the piercing stem (19) and with the second end to the supporting structure (33) of the embroidery machine.
10. Embroidery machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the second coupling lever (65c) is articulated on the intermediate lever (107).
11. Embroidery machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the second end of the intermediate lever (107) is connected to an adjusting device (117).
12. Method for operating a multi-needle head embroidery machine with at least one embroidery head (11) with a plurality of needle locations (13) that are placed laterally displaceable on a supporting structure (33), whereby in stitching mode a desired needle location is brought into an active position by a displacement of the embroidery head (11) with respect to the supporting structure (33) and the stitch forming organs (17, 19) are coupled with an associated stationary drive, characterized in that one individual piercing device (101) is provided per embroidery head (11) and the stitch forming organs are uncoupled respectively from their drive for piercing and the piercing stem is coupled to the drive of a stitch forming organ.
13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the drive for the needle stem (19) is implemented as stitch forming organ which drives the piercing stem, and the piercing movement is carried out in reverse.
14. Multi-needle head embroidery machine with a plurality of needle locations placed besides one another on a machine frame, whereby several needle locations are grouped to a embroidery head (11) and are placed laterally displaceable on a support, with

    - an axially movable needle stem (19),

    - a needle drive for the needle stem (19) for producing a to-and-fro movement of the needle stem (19) and

    - a first coupling (67a, 73a, 65a) to couple and uncouple the needle drive with the needle stem (19),

    characterized in

    - that one individual piercing device (101) is provided per embroidery head (11),

    - that the piercing device (101) has an axially movable piercing stem (103) and

    - that a second coupling (67c, 73c, 65c) is provided to couple the piercing stem (103) with the driving device or to uncouple therefrom.
15. Embroidery machine according to claim 14 and to one of the claims 2 to 11.

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