US1086470A - Thread-holding device for embroidering-machines. - Google Patents

Description

M. EGHOENFELD. THREAD HOLDING DEVICE FOR EMBROIDEBING MACHINES.

Patented Feb. 10

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1912 LUSGAFQ.

IIIIIIIIIIII(II4 T MORRIS SCHO'ENFELD, OF HORSCHACH, SWITZERLAND.

THREAD-HOLDING DEVICE FOR EMBBOIDERING-MACHINES.

Application filed February 2, 1912.

T0 cZZ whom 2'25 may concern 2 Be it known that I, Mourns SCHOENFELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rorschach, in the Canton of St. Gall, Switzerland, have invented a certain new and useful Thread l'lolding Device for Embroidering-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for temporarily holding the many threads in large embroidering machines wherein a great many stitching devices simultaneously produce a design in multiple upon a fabric.

My present device is primarily for the purpose of grippii'ig the threads when the fabric is moved from one stitch position to another as when one row of embroidery has been completed by a row of stitching elements and before another row is commenced at a diiferent point; or where the threads are carried over from one part of a design to another in such a manner that the threads between two such stitches have to be removed from the fabric by being cut away. lVhere these usually long stitches are made and the intermediate threads have to be removed, the threads are usually termed jump threads. The purpose of my present device is to engage and hold such threads in such a manner that the threads may be easily and quickly severed close to the fabric and the ends of the threads coming from the stitching elements (such as the needles) may be properly held until a stitch is made in the new position of the fabric, in order that the threads will not pull out of the needle eyes and in order that the free ends of the threads remaining after the new stitch is made may be severed from the fabric.

The object of my present invention is to provide a very simple device suitable for a large number of threads wherein cooperating elements will grip the threads between them. In my copending application Serial Number 562,600 and filed May 21, 1910, I showed a device of this kind wherein a number of gripping elements were arranged upon a common support and wherein a number of elements for cooperating with the gripping elements were mounted upon a different common support and the support-s were relatively movable in order that the elements on the latter support would cause the threads to be brought into locking engagement with the gripping elements. It is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 675,016.

difficult to arrange a large number of such elements upon common supports to extend substantially the length of the machine and to so move the supports as to cause each en gaging finger to properly grip the thread between them and the gripping members, because, while one or a number of fingers may properly hold their threads in proper manner with their gripping elements others will fail to so closely grip the threads as to obtain the desired results. One or several fingers may be bent slightly and cause this finger or some other fingers to improperly hold their thread. It is necessary in the large embroidering machines to mount a number of the different elements on a c0mmon support as otherwise the device would become too complex; and in mounting a number upon a common support it is diflicult to cause all the engaging fingers to accurately cooperate with their respective gripping elements which are mounted upon another common support, which is movable relatively to the first support. A slight bending action of a finger will cause it to make improper contact with the thread. In the present device I mount the engaging fingore and the gripping members each upon a common bar and provide means for retaining the bars in proper relation with each other. In addition I connect the several engaging fingers in such a manner that they will be guided relatively to their gripping elements so that they will always enter between them properly and grip the threads.

In addition to the above my present in vention embodies a device which, with but a few parts, performs several different functions. For instance I have arranged the thread holding device in such a way that the members operate as detents for pressing the fabric in the manner that ordinary detents operate; and in addition the thread holding elements are so formed and operated that they also serve as festoon hooks with which scallop stitches are formed; thus reducing the number of elements upon the embroidering machine.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1, is an elevation, showing my invention, with the thread elements .in the open or thread receiving position,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, partly broken away, of the thread holdlng members, in the position of holding the threads,

Fig. 3, is a horizontal section thereof showing the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, is a cross section thereof,which also shows the device for operating the elements as detents.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown several of the thread devices arranged in a row, from which the application of my invention to actual practice will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the thread elements are multiplied throughout the length of. the machine so that there willbe a clamping member and a cooperating finger for each of the many threads of the embroidering machine. I have shown a longitudinally disposed bar 1, which may be of any desired cross section, but which I prefer to make semicircular, disposed lengthwise of the machine and supported by means of shafts 2, upon the standards 3, which constitute part of the stationary frame of the embroidery machine. The standard 3, has a bracket 4, which serves as a journal for the shaft 2, and surrounding the shaft I have arranged a coiled spring 5, which lies in the opening 6, in the bracket and presses on its upper end against the latter and at its lower end against the pin 7, in the shaft. The bracket 4, guides the shaft 2, and through this connection supports the longitudinal bar 1, and the tendency of the spring 5, is to keep the bar 1, in the lower position shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 2, and the bracket 4, are duplicated as many times along the machine as the length and weight of the bar 1, may require. Upon the bracket 8, also supported upon the standard 3, I have shown a lever fulcrumed at the point 9; and one arm 10 of this lever engages under the hub 11, on the bar 1, and the purpose of this arm, and as many others as may be used along the machine, is to raise the bar 1, to carry out certain operations to be hereinafter referred to.

The downwardly extending arm 12 of this lever connects with a link 13, which is guided in a guide 15, preferably upon another standard 14. The bracket 16, on the standard 14, supports an angle lever 17, to one arm 18 of which the link 13, is fulcrumed and to the other arm 19 of which an operating rod 20, is fulcrumed. By means of cam 21, acting upon the roller 22, of the rod 20, the reciprocating motion is transmitted through the device just described for the purpose of raising the bar 1. I also impart a longitudinal movement to the bar 1, by means of an angle lever 23, which is fulcrumed upon a bracket 24. One arm 25, of th s lever is connected with the bar 1, by a pin and slot connection to permit of the up and down movement of the bar 1, referred to; and another arm 26, of this lever is connected with an operating rod 27. By

means of a suitable cam 28, acting upon the roller 29, of this operating rod, a reciproeating motion is imparted through the lever 23, to the bar 1, and the motion is imparted in the direction of the length of the bar.

At intervals along the bar 1, I provide supporting members which are here shown as plates 30, bolted upon the flat side of the bar andextending upwardly; and at their upper free ends they are curved preferably in a semi-circle to form supporting and guiding means for second longitudinally disposed bar 32; and the latter is firmly held and guided by the several members 31, but is movable longitudinally in relation thereto. The bar 1, carries a longitudinal plate 33, from which extend upwardly a number of arms 34, which at their upper ends are 6?!- tended laterally to form a part of a gripping device for gripping the sewing thread. The arms 34, are preferably turned outwardly at their upper ends 35, or away from the fabric 36. These arms 34, are so arranged in relation to the fabric that their upper plates 37, will lie in close proximity and. parallel to, the plane of the fabric. The upper plate 37, of each of these arms is pro vided with a spring plate 38, having a free resilient end 39, arranged to cooperate with a portion of the plate 37; and the plates 38, are preferably secured to plates 37 by means of rivets 40. These spring plates are shown curved outwardly at 41, and they are provided with longitudinally disposed openings 42, for the purpose of receiving a part of the cooperating devices.

The bar 32, has a plate 44, extending along the same and at intervals I provide upwardly extending arms 43, preferably equal in number to the several arms 34. The upper end of each arm 43, has a plate 45 which is arranged in line with the opening between the resilient plate 39 and the member 37, and between which members the plate 45 is adapted to be moved in the operation of engaging and holding the sewing thread. In order that all of the several plates 45, will always be guided so as to enter between the spring 39, and the plate 3'7. and in order that they will properly cooperate therewith to hold the threads I have connected the several plates 45, with each other by means of a longitudinally disposed connecting bar 46 which reciprocates between the spring 39, and plate 37 and moves in the recesses 42.

It will be understood from the description herein that the bars 1 and 32 are relatively movable in order that the thread holding plates may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig. 2. I preferably arrange means for moving the bar 32, longitudinally in relation to the bar 1, when the several threads are to be gripped. For this purpose I have arranged on a bracket 47, on the standard 14, a lever 48, which is preferably operated by hand and the link 49 which connects with the lower end of this lever, is connected with the bar 32, and is adapted to reciprocate the latter in the direction of its length. The reciprocation of the bar 32 will cause all of the several arms 43, to move there with and in relation to the plates 37 and 39. I preferably provide means for rocking the bar 1, toward and from the fabric 36 in order that the upper ends or plates 37, of the arms 34, will operate as detents and per form the usual function of the detent-s. That is, they will press the fabric at a point near the needle and at a time when the needle is being withdrawn from the fabric during the formation of a stitch. F or this purpose there is an arm 51 extending from the bar 1, and it carries a roller 57, which contacts with a cam 53 on a shaft 59. Whenever the shaft 59 and cam 53 are operated, they 7 cause the rocking of arm 51, and therefore the oscillation of the bar 1. The oscillations of the latter will cause the plates 37 of the arms 34 to contact with the fabric and operate thereon similar to ordinary detents.

The upper portion of each plate 45, is preferably arranged to act as a festoon hook and to perform the usual function of such a hook. I have shown the upper end divided into two parts 54 and 55 the former eXtending slightly above the latter and forming an intermediate opening 56 between them.

Operation: If after the production of a row of embroidery or after the production of a part of the design it is desired to proceed at a somewhat distant point with the stitching operation and it is desired to have no thread passing from the last stitch of the one design or portion of design, to the new design or portion of design, the operation will be as followsz liet it be assumed that the last stitch made by each needle 57 is at the point x in Fig. 1. If the arms 43 are not in the position shown in Fig. 1, then the hand lever 48, will be moved in order to reciprocate the bar 32, to bring the arms 43, in the position shown in Fig. 1. That is to say, the plates 45 are each to be separated from the cooperating plates 39, 37 The fabric will then be moved downwardly in the usual manner and this will bring the thread which is now running from the point an to the respective needle 57 across the open space 58, the plates. and 37 and 39. \Vhile in this position the lever 48, will be rocked sufliciently to move the plates 45 between the spring plate 39 and the plate 37, and, in moving, the plate 45 will carry the thread 59 therewith. The resilient plate 39, plate 37 and the plate 45, cotiperate to firmly hold the sewing thread which lies between the point 0: at which the last stitch was formed, and the needle. The lip 35, will insure the proper guiding of the thread as it is carried by the plate 45. The position of the parts at the time the threads are gripped is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The operator now proceeds to out the threads between the stitch a2 and the gripping plates. For this purpose a knife may be passed along close to the fabric so that all the threads of a row may be quickly severed close to the fabric. With the parts still in the position shown in Fig. 2, and holding the end of the thread coming from the several needles, the fabric may be moved to any desired position relative to the needles and a new design or new portion of design may then be started at any desired distance. from the stitch a". As soon as one or more stitches have been made by the needles in this new operation the machine will be temporarily stopped and the operator will again pass the knife between the fabric and the gripping plates and this time the thread running from the latter to the fabric will be severed close to the latter. The gripping plates serve not only to hold the thread while it is being cut from the stitch m, but also serve to hold the free ends of the threads coming from the stitching elements while the latter is making one or more stitches in the commencement of the new design so that the thread will not be withdrawn from the stitching elements.

The principal feature of the present invention is in the means for guiding the several thread engaging plates relatively to their cotiperating plates so that it is possible to provide a large number of gripping plates upon a common support and a large number of coiiperating plates also upon a common support and to preserve both of these in proper cooperative relation. It will be observed that the bar 32 is carried by the bar 1, and is uided relatively thereto by the members 31. It will also be observed that the several arms 43, are connected with each other by the plate 46, and that the latter guide the plates 45, relatively to the plates 37, 39. Each of the plates 45, are therefore caused to properly pass be tween the gripping plates upon their reciprocating movement. \Vhile the gripping plates are arranged primarily to grip the threads they may, when constructed as herein shown, perform the function of festoon members. That is to say the thread may be passed over the projections 54 and 55 to cast a loop in the usual manner and a stitch may then be formed by passing the needle through the opening 56 thereby forming a button hole stitch in the usual manner. For this purpose the lever 10, imparts the up and down movement to the bar and the lever 23, imparts a longitudinal movement thereto for the purpose of causing the plates 45 to move relatively to the needles in the op eration of casting a loop over the needle.

As the operation of festoon members is in such cooperative relation that they will properly hold the several threads. It is also apparent that a device embodying all the features herein shown may be used not only for gripping the threads but also for performing the function of a detent device and a festoon mechanism with no more parts in front of the fabric than would be required for the gripping device alone.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanism, a plurality of members mounted upon a common support, a plurality of resilient members cooperating therewith to form gripping devices, a plurality of plates, mounted upon a common support, and arranged to move between the members of the gripping devices, and means for guiding said plates between the members of the gripping devices, said supports being relatively movable.

2. In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, a plurality of thread gripping elements comprising plates and springs, carried upon a common support, a plurality of plates adapted to enter between the said first plates and springs for the purpose of holding the sewing threads, a longitudinal member guided between said first plates and springs and connecting the several second mentioned plates for the purpose of guiding the latter in cooperative relation with said first plates and springs, said second plates being mounted upon a common support, said supports being relatively movable.

3. In an embroidering machine, stitch ing mechanisms, a plurality of thread gripping members comprising plates and at. In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, arms provided with thread gripping members and mounted upon a common rocking support, cooperating plates mounted upon a common support, said latter support being carried upon said first support, said arms being arranged to operate as detents, and means for rocking said supports.

In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, thread gripping members mounted upon a common support, festoon forming members comprising plates mounted upon a common support and adapted to cooperate with the gripping elements to grip the sewing threads, said supports being relatively movable.

6. In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, arms mounted upon a common rocking support and provided with gripping elements, said arms being arranged to operate as detents, festoon forming member comp ising plates adapted to cooperate with the gripping elements to hold the sewing threads, said plates being mounted upon a common support, said supports being relatively movable and means for rocking said supports and means for reciprocating said supports.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 29th day of January 1912.

MORRIS SCHOENFELD.

lVitnesses ARTHUR K. KUi-rn, CHAS. J. GAVANAGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

Images