US1264585A - Looper mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

l. WEIS.

LOOPER MECHANISM,

APPLICATION man APR. 25. mm.

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LOOPER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25. I91?- Patented Apr. 30, 1918;

2 SHEETS'SHEE T 2.

mien ra r rad i JOHN P. WEIS, OF NYACKgNJEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 METROPOLITAN SEWING MACHINE CORPORATION, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Loornn MECHANISM.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, TOTO.

Application filed April 25, 1917. Serial No. 164.317.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN P. Wrus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nyack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looper Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to sewing machines, more particularly, however, to the looper and thread controlling mechanism thereof, the object of the invention being to provide improved looper mechanism and driving means therefor capable of high speed with a minimum amount of vibration and noise and to operate it directly from the bottom shaft of the machine and todo this by reducing to a minimum the number of reciprocating parts and avoiding as far as possible the multiplied movements, thereby to prolong the life of the mechanism.

Another object is to have the mechanism for imparting all the movements to the looper located below the cloth plate and in close proximity to the loop taking position.

Heretofore machines commonly used for making the two thread 'cha-in stitch, were of the needle lever variety having one arm of the needle lever operating the looper to and fro while the other arm of the lever operated the needle, other means operated from the main shaft being used to vibrate the loopers from front, to rearof the needles. Tn machines of a later design, where the needle lever just referred to is entirely eliminated and where a top and bottom rotary shaft with multi le connections to transmit power from one s aft to the other is used it is expensive and undesirable to operate the looper mechanism from the top shaft because it entails many connections which require attention, oiling and adjustments and they are expensive to maintain in operation. It is therefore desirable to have all of the looper driving mechanism derive its movement from the bottom shaft and close to the.

stitching position because not only are the connections shorter but the moving parts can be 1i hter and can operate at higher speed wit out vibration or noise, and such an organization offers better facilities for oiling, while it is cleaner in operation because the main operating mechanism requiring oil is located below thecloth plate and is less apt to result in damaged work due to the flying of oil from the rapidly moving parts.

In connection with the foregoing improved looper mechanism, an improved thread controlling means for the looper threads thereof is provided comprising an improved thread take up and nipper located in front of the machine instead of at the usual position in the rear, whereby itis directly in front of the operator at all times, is therefore more accessible for threading and it is easy to oil or adjust the operating parts, and moreover is in a more direct line of travel of the threads.

In the drawings accompanying and form ing a part of this specification Figure 1 is a top plan view of the base of a sewing machine showing the looper and its'operating mechanism, the looper thread handling mechanism and a portion of the feed operating mechanism, other parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows the gearing which operates the looper driving shaft and also the adjusting means for properly meshing the teeth of the gears. Fig. 3 is a sec tional detail of the thread tension for the looper threads. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1 and illustrates the construction of the machine base, the looper slide and the gearing for drivin the loopers. Fig. 5 is a front elevation 0 Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail of the thread nipper parts. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the looper holders; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the looper carrier and shows the curved surface to which the looper holder is adjustably secured.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The machine base l is provided with a rib 2 which extends all around the outer edge of the base to form a proper support to secure the machine to the table in a satisfactory manner, suitable projections or feet 4 being formed integral with the rib. The rib 2 thus forms a chamber or space 3 under the base or top 1 and this top has an opening 5 formed therein provided with angular side walls 6 forming a pocket. At the front end of the base 1 is a bearing 7 (see v Fig. 1) for the bottom shaftand at the rear end is a bearing 8 for this shaft 56. Bearings 9 and 10 (see Fig. 1) are cast integral with the base to support the feed rocker frame shaft 11 carrying the feed rocker frame 12. The top portion of this rocker frame 12 carries a shaft 13 which is secured to a connection 14 by a screw 15. The usual stitch regulating adjustable crank pin 16 has secured thereto and operates this connection 14 to give movement to the feed bar 17 and the feed dog 18 carried by the feed bar (see Fig. 5). The vertical rise and fall movement is imparted to the feed bar by an eccentric 19 and eccentric strap 20 in the usual manner located on the shaft 56. Adjacent to the feed lift eccentric 19 is located a looper vibrating eccentric 21 having a flange 22. This eccentric 21 has operating thereon a block 23 (see Fig. 1) which operates in a fork 24 of a looper slide 25 to reciprocate it in a guideway 26 between gibs 27, so arranged as to take up wear. This looper slide carries at its forward end a bearing 28 (see Fig. 1) and also has a similar bearing 29 spaced therefrom, both tapped to receive conical adjusting screws 30 which are secured therein by set screws 31. The looper carrier 32 (see Fig. 8) operates on these conical screws and by means of this construction its position in relation to the needle may be adjusted quickly with exactness. This looper carrier 32 has an arm 33 provided at its upper end with a stud such as a, ball stud. The top 35 of the looper carrier is shaped or curved in the arc of a circle the radius of which is struck from the center or axis of the conical screws, and this curved portion affords a seat for the looper holders 36 (see Figs. '5 and 8). The looper holders carry the loopers 37 which are provided with the usual thread eyes and thread grooves and are secured 1n the-sockets ofthe holders by screws 38, while screws 39 clamp the looper-holders ad ustably on the curved surface 35 of the carrier. To maintain the side alinement of the looper holders parallel ribs 40 (see Fig. 8) are formed on the top of the curved surface 35, while each looper holder is provlded with a groove 41 to fit over its rib and, this enables the loopers to be adjusted to and fro with respect to their length of travel and also enables the loopers to be adjusted one independently of the other. This adustment is especially useful in a machine for two line stitching and is found a great convenience in machines where it is necessary to change the needle gages frequently, as for instance in stitching the tips of shoes and the like, where, by leaving out needles or placlng them in different positions in the needle holders, changes in the spacing between the rows of stitches is .to be made. Heretofore it has been necessary to substitute a difi'erent gage of looper drivers for others to meet such requirements. The ball stud has pivotally fitted thereto a ball joint or connection 42. An adjustable rod 43 forms a. connection between this ball joint 42 and ball joint 44 which operates on a ball stud 45, which may be part of a transverse shaft 46 provided with a flange 47 (see Fig. 2) and a threaded end 48 to receive a nut and lock nut 49 and thrust collar 50. These parts regulate the end movement of the shaft 46. The shaft 46 operates in -bearings 51 and 52, forming the lower half bearing for the shaft and a space 53 is provided between the hearings to receive oil to lubricate the spiral gear 54 fixed to the shaft 46 and its companion gear 55 carried by the bottom shaft 56. This gear 55 is covered by a two part casing one part as 57 of which forms the top half as at 58 of the bearing 51. while the other part 59 forms the top half as at 60 of the bearing 52. Each section or part is held in position by suitable screws 61. The casing has an oil receiving projection 62 extending up close to the cloth plate 63 shown by dotted lines, (see Fig. 5). It will be seen from this construction that an efficient right angle gear drive is provided to operate the loopers at right angles to the line of feed, which has ample lubricating facilities as the gears practically run in oil, thus insuring long life and quiet action.

In the manufacture of gears that must operate at a speed of 4000 R. P. M. without lost motion to its operated mechanism, it is necessary that the gears be set very close so that the teeth will mesh and not shake, yet they must operate freely without binding or heating. To maintain interchangeability of the gears and such accuracy makes these parts very expensive and to overcome these difiiculties, I have provided means for adjusting the bottom gear 54 with respect to the gear 55 and thereby avoid expensive fitting as this improvement takes care of the variation in the manufacture of the gears. The base 1 is provided with 2. lug 64 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which receives a stud 65 secured therein by a pin 66. This stud is screw threaded to receive adjusting nuts 67 and conical washers 68 which are seated in conical seats 69 at the meeting ends of arms 70 extending from the bearing for the car 54. The end of the bearing 52 is provided with lugs 71 which project upwardand receive conical screws 7 2 which are tapped into lugs 73 carried by the base 1. Locks nuts 74 are provided to lock these screws in a fixed position. The conical screws form a pivotal support for the driving shaft bearing while the adjusting means 64 et seq. above described forms the third support and securely holds the gears in proper working position while permitting the gear 54 to be adjusted toward and from gear 55 by adjusting the I actose bearings therefor. To enable free access to adjust the end thrust of the shaft. 46 an opening 75 (see Fig. 1) is provided in the bottom bearing bracket while the arms .70 are so shaped and proportioned as to give rigidityto the mechanism.

The looper thread controlling mechanism consists of a bracket 76 secured as hereinbefore stated at the front of the machine and therefore to the front side of base 1 by screws f7 (see Fig. 5). This bracket has a bearing 78 for a shaft 79 and also has a vertical post 80 to receive the rocking nipper plate 81 which is pivoted on screw stud 82.- The plate 81 has. depending ears 83 slotted at 8 1 so that it may be adjusted verticall and is secured in position by a nut and 100' shaft 56. This eccentric operates between a lower jaw 90 of the rocker and a spring jaw 91 secured to the top thereof by screws 92. A nipper 93 is also secured thereto by said screws 92 and extends outward to cooperate with the nipper plate .81 to clamp the looper threads as desired. An eccentric 94 secured to the bottom shaft 56 (see Fi 4) operates the connection 95 (see Fig. 1

which is connected as at 96 to a crank arm 97 secured to the shaft 79 for rocking it in its, bearing 78. A thread take up finger 98 secured as at 99 to this shaft 79 and rocks to and fro between the thread guides 100 (see Fig. 5). This finger 98 carries a supplementary take up Wire 101 adjustably secured thereto as at 102 and acts on the looper thread between the thread guide 100 and a tension 103 (see Figs. 1 and 5). Thistension comprises a plate 104 having its ends bentup as at 106 to freely permitthe threads to pass thereunder. This plate is secured to a stud 105. Holes are provided in the plate to freely receive pins 107. A spring 108'encircles the end of the stud 105 and an adjusting nut 109' is provided for adjusting the tension thereof.

' Thistension is carried by an arm extending from the bracket 76.. At the rear end of the machine thread guides 111 are provided to receive the looper threads 112 as they lead from the sup ly to these guides from which .the threa extends up over the pivoted nipper plate 81 and underneath the loopers come forward to receive the needle loops, the nip er opens for the free passage of the threa 112 and as the loopers are moving forward the thread is drawn from the supply through the Various thread guides and tension until the forward position of the looper is reached, at which time the nipper clamps the thread. The take up finger 98 moves forward as the loopers are moving backward to pick up the thread until the needles are near the loopers at which time the supplementary thread wire 101 will engage the thread and give an additional take up action thereto to draw taut the thread extending from the front eye of the looper to the preceding stitch sufficient to insure the proper positioning thereof while the thread tension comprising the parts 104: et seq. keeps the thread from forming about the looper points at the completion of the stitch.

The various details may be more or less changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the present improvement.

ll claim as my invention:

1. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of a .shaft supported by said base, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured to the slide, means carried by the shaft fhr reciprocating the slide transversely of said shaft, a shaft extending transversely of said first shaft, and connected with the looper carrier for shifting the carrier transversely of the slide, and gearing carried by said shafts and located between the ends of said transverse shaft for transmitting motion to said transvere shaft.

2. The construction described in claim 1, in which the set of gears are formed as spiral gears.

3. The construction described in claim 1, in which the pivotal connection for the loopers is an adjustable one.

a. The construction described in claim 1, in which the transverse shaft and the gear carried thereby are supported by an adjustable bearing, and means for adjusting said bearing.

5. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of a shaft supported by said base, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured to the slide, means carried by the shaft for reciprocating the slide transversely of said shaft, a shaft extending transversely of said first shaft and connected with the looper carrier for shifting the carrier transversely of theslide, gearing carried by said shafts for transmitting motion to said transverse shaft, an adjustable bearing for supporting said transverse shaft and its er, and means for adjusting said bearing laterall and also in a direction transversely to sai first shaft. 6. The construction described in claim 1, in which the transverse shaft and its gear are supported by. an adjustable bearing supported only at three oints.

7. Ina sewing mac ine having a base, the combination of a shaft supported by-sa1d base, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured to the slide, means carried by the shaft for reciprocating the slide transversely of said shaft, a shaft extending transversely of said first shaft and connected with the looper carrier for shifting the carrier transversely of the slide, gearing carried by said shafts for transmitting motion to said transverse shaft, and a swingingly' adjustable bearing pivotally supported at one end and adjustable at the opposite end for supporting said transverse shaft and its gear.

8. The construction described in claim 7, in which the pivotal supports are adjustable to laterally adjust the bearing.

9. The construction described in claim 1, in which the loopers are pivotally supported by adjustable conical pivots.

10. In a sewing machine having a. base, the combination of a shaft supported by said base, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured to the slide, means carried by the shaft for reciprocating the slide transversely of saidshaft, a shaft extending transversely of said first shaft and connected with the looper carrier for shifting the carrier transversely of the slide, and gearing carried by said shafts for transmitting motion to said transverse shaft, said transverse shaft and its gear being adjustably supported by adjustable conical pivots.

11. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination'of a shaft supported by said base, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured to the slide, means carried by the shaft for reci rocating the slide transversely of said sha t, a shaft extending transversely of said first shaft and connected with the looper carrier for shifting the carrier transversely of the slide, and gearing carried by said shafts for transmitting motion to said transverse shaft, said looper carrier being adjustably supported by conical pivots and said transverse shaft and its 'gear being also adjustably supported by conical pivots. 12. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of a shaft supported by said base, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured to the slide, means carried by the shaft for reci rocating the slide transversely of said sha t, 'a shaft extending transversely of said first shaft and connected with the looper carrier for shifting the carrier transversely of the slide, gearing carried by said shafts for transmitting motion to said transverse shaft. and a casing inc'losing said gearing and having bearings for said transverse 13, in which the curved surface of the looper carrier is concentric with the axis of the pivots.

15. The construction described in claim 13, in which the looper carrier is pivotally supported by adjustable conical pivots.

16. The construction described in claim 13, iIrWhich the looper carrier is supported by a slide.

17. The construction described in claim 16, in which the slide is provided with adjustable conical pivots for the looper carrier and in which the curved surface of the carrier is provided with one or more ribs extending lengthwise'thereof, and a looper holder adjustable on each of said ribs.

18. In a sewing machine the combination of looper mechanism comprising aclooper carrier and means for supporting it, means for shifting the carrier in transverse directions, said carrier having a curved surface, one or more looper holders carried by said surface, the'curved surface of the looper carrier and of each of the looper holders having one a groove and the other a rib. 0 19. The construction described in claim 18, in which the looper carrier is supported by adjustable conical pivots, and a slide carrying said pivots.

20. In a sewing machine the combination of looper mechanism comprising a looper carrier and means for supporting it, a shaft and means connected therewith for shifting the looper carrier in one direction and means also connected with said shaft for shifting the looper carrier in a transverse direction and comprising gears, one carried by the shaft, a transverse shaft carrying the other gear between its ends; and an adjustable bearing for carrying said transverse shaft at each side of said last gear.

21. In a sewing machine the combination of looper mechanism comprising a looper carrier and means for supporting it, a shaft and means connected therewith for shifting the looper carrier in one direction, means also connected with said shaft for shifting the looper carrier in a transverse direction and comprising gears, one carried by the shaft, a transverse shaft for carrying the other gear, and an adjustable bearing for carrying said transverse shaft and supported at three points only.

22. In a sewing machine the combination nae-ates of looper mechanism comprisinga looper carrier and means for supporting it, a shaft and means connected therewith for shifting the looper carrier in one direction, means also connected with said shaft for shifting the looper carrier in a transverse direction and comprising gears, onecarried by the shaft, a transverse shaft carrying the other gear, and an adjustable bearing for carrying said transverse shaft, said adjustable bearing being pivotally supported at one end for swinging movement and provided at the other end with means for adjusting it.

23. The construction described in claim 22, in which the pivotal support for the ad'- justable bearing comprises adjustable conical pivots.

24. The construction described in claim 23, in which the means for adjusting the bearing on said conical pivots comprises means for raising andlowering the bearing transversely ofits pivotal axis.

2. 5. In a sewing machine the combination of looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally secured thereto, one or more adjustable looper holders secured to said carrier for movement transversely of the slide, a shaft,,means operated thereby for reciprocating the slide transversely of the shaft, spiral gearing for shifting the loopers transversely of the slide and comprising a gear fixed to said shaft and a gear thereunder, a transverse shaft. carrying said last gear, and means connecting it with the looper carrler. 1

26. The construction described in claim 25 in'which the said transverse shaft and the gear carried thereby are supported by a three-point adjustable bearing, pivotally supported at one end for swinging movement'and having means at its other end for swinging it toward and from the companion ear. g 27. A sewing machine having a base, a shaft supported thereby, looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper=carrier pivotally' secured to the slide,means carried by said shaft for reeciprocating the slide transversely of the shaft, spiral gears carried in the base of the machine for oscillating the loopers transversely of the slide, one carried by said shaft, a shaft extending transversely of said shaft for supporting the other spiral gear, supporting means carryin said last shaft and its spiral gear and a justableto shift said last gear toward and from its compamon gear to properly mesh the same, adjustable conical pivots for said supporting means, a casing inclosing said'gears and having an oil opening, looper thread controllingmeans located at the front side of the base carried by said thread take-up finger, and a tension device.

28. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of a shaft carried thereby, looper mechanism comprising a looper carrier and means for supporting it for movement in transverse directions, means operated by the shaft for shifting the said looper in transverse directions, and. looper thread controlling means attachedto the front edge of the base.

29. The construction described in claim 28, in which the looper thread controlling means comprises a take-up finger also operated from said shaft.

30. In a sewing machine having a base, the combinatiton of a shaft carried thereby, looper mechanism comprising a looper carrier and means for supporting it-for movement in transverse directions, means operated by the shaft for shifting said looper in transverse directions, and looper thread controlling means located at the front side of the base, said looper thread controllingmeans comprising a take-up finger also operated from saidshaft, said take-up finger being provided with a supplementary take-up finger.

31. The construction described in claim 28, in which the looper thread controlling means comprises nipper mechanism also operated from said shaft.

32. The construction described in claim 31', in which the nipper mechanism comprises an adjustable nipper plate, a nipper co operating with said plate, and means for operatingthe nipper relatively to the plate and including a rocking device and an eccentric carried by said shaft. I 33. The construction describedin claim 28, in which .the looper thread controlling means comprises a take-up finger and nipper mechanism.

34. The construction described in claim 33, in which the take-up finger is provided with a supplementary take-up finger.

35.- In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of a shaft carried thereby, looper mechanism comprising a looper carrier and means for supporting it for movement in transverse directions, means operated by the shaft for shifting said looper in transverse directions, looper thread controllin means located at the front. side of the base, said looper thread controlling means comprising a bracket secured to the front side of the base of the machine, a rock shaft therein, a take-up finger secured to the'rock shaft, and means secured to said first shaft for rocking said shaft and thereby the takeup finger.

36. The construction described in claim 35, in which the said take-up finger is provided with a supplementary take-up finger.

37. The construction described in claim 36, in which the thread controlling'means also comprises nipper mechanism consisting of an adjustable nlpper plate, a nipper cooperating with said plate, means for operating the nipper relatively to the plate and comprising a rocking device pivotally secured to the bracket, and an eccentric on said first shaftfor rocking said device and thereby the nippeiz,

38. The construction described in claim 37, in which the thread controlling means also comprises an adjustable tension device secured to the bracket to one side of the supplementary take-up finger.

39. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of looper mechanism located at the front side of the base, and looper thread controlling means located forwardly of the looper mechanism and secured tothe front edge of the base and comprising a plurality of movable parts, and means for shifting said parts.

40. In a sewing machine havin a base the combination of looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally supported thereby, a shaft carried by the base, means carried thereby for operating the looper carrier in transverse directions, looper thread controlling means secured to the front edge of the'base, and means also operated from said shaft for operating the looper thread controlling means.

41. In a sewing machine having a base, the combination of looper mechanism comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally supported thereby, a shaft carried by the base, means carried thereby for operating the looper carrier in transverse directions, looper thread controlling means sup orted by said base, and means also operate from said'shaft for operating the looper thread controlling means, one of said looper operating means comprising a pair of spiral gears and a transverse shaft for supporting one of said. gears between its ends.

42. In a sewing machine havin a base, the combination of looper mechamsm comprising a slide, a looper carrier pivotally supported thereby, a shaft carried by the base, means carried thereby for operating the looper carrier in transverse directions, l00per thread controlling means supported by said base, and means also operated from said shaft for operating the looper thread controlling means, one of said looper operating means comprising a pair of spiral gears and a transverse. shaft for supporting one of said gears, said shaft extending transversely of said first shaft, an adjustable bearing for supporting said transverse shaft, said bearing being pivotally supported at one end for lateral adjustment, and means at the opposite end for adjusting it transversely of its pivotal axis.

.43. In a sewing machine having a base, a shaft carried thereby, looper mechanism and means for operating the looper mechanism and including a pair of gears, one carried b said shaft, a shaft extending transverse y of said first shaft for carrying the other gear, means for supporting said transverse shaft and its gear and c0mprising an adjustable bearing pivotally supported for swinging movement, and means for adjusting said-bearing 44. The construction described in claim 43, in which the pivotal supports for said bearing are adjustable thereby to adjust the bearing laterally.

'Signed at Nyack, New York, this 18th day of April, one thousand nine hundred seventeen.

JOHN P. Wars

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