US1378668A - Automatic embroidering-machine - Google Patents

Description

O. FAHRNI. AYUTOM ATIC EMBROIIDERING MACHINE. -.APPLICATION FILED NQ-V.17, 1920.

1,378,668; PatentedM y 17, 1921.

27SHEETS-SHEET ,1.

vokmmmlx AUTOMATIC EMBROIDERINGMACHINE. APPLICATION msn'flpi fn, 1 920, I 1 ,378,668. Patented- May 17, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v UNITED STATES RATE-NT orricE...

o'r'r'o FAHRNI, or "rHoU'NE, SWITZERLAND, AssIe'no'n T0 WALTER GERBER, or

THOUNE, HOFSTETTEN, SWITZERLAND, nn (ERNS SCHNEIDER, or Bioni- MA'ITE, THOUNE, SWITZERLAND.

AUTOMATIC EMBROIDERING-MIACHINE.

Specification of Letters la tent. .Pat' t 'd 313 17,

Application filed. November 17, 1920. Serial Nol 424,758.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, O'r:ro FAHRNI, a citizen of the Swiss Confederation, and residing at Thoune, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Embroidering- Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

The subject-matter of the present invention. is an automatic embroidering-machine wherein the needle-holders are arranged on slides that are moved to and fro at rightanglcs to the plane of the frame along a constant path, and members arranged at both sides of the frame for tightening the threads on that side of the frame'on which the needles are situated are combined with a device which is influenced in such a manner by a pattern-card controlling the movement of the frame that the distance moved through by the said members when tighteniug the threads becomes less each stitch corresponding to the amount of thread used. -Preferably, the thread-tightening members are suspended from vertically guided members which are driven by partsthat rotate alternately to and fro, the movement of which "isdiminished at each stitch from a predetermined starting position, corresponding to the amount of thread used, by means of stops adjusted by a feed device,

Conveniently, the thread-tightening members have the form of plates. 1

Other features of the invention will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims. I l

One embodiment of the invention is illus- V trated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein: V v I Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line II in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a planpar-tly ingthose parts of one form of machine according to the invention which'are necessary for its understanding;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line IIIIII in Fig. 2, and i r Fig. 4 is an end levation showing part of the machine as seen looking in the direction of the arrow IV in Fig, 2

Fig. 4; is a side elevation of some of the parts sho n in Flg 4t, and

broken away show- 7 Figs. 5,6, and 7 are detail views referred to hereinafter. i

Like reference numerals designate. like partsthroughout the several views.

Referring-to the drawing, ina machine framework 1, whereof only part is shown,

an embroideringframeQ is mounted to be horizontally and vertically displaceable in' the manner known in automatic shuttle embroidering-machines, and is controlled by a patterncard 3 by means of a controlling device that is also not illustrated and that may be OfflllyiCOIlVBIllGIll? construction.

Two slides 7 and 8, consisting each of two forked end pieces-5 anda beam 6 con: necting the same, are guidedto move; at

right-anglestothe plane of the embroider- I nected by links 15 with the slide 7 while the levers 13 are pivotally connected directly to the slide 8. g F

The beam 6 of eachslide carries a row of needle-holders 16 that extend laterally beyond the inner longitudinalside thereof, that is the side nearer the frame 2, which holders are arranged in; pairs, one exactly opposite another, on the two beams. l

Each of these needle-holders 16 comprises a mandrel 17 (Figs. 6 and 7) which has its one end fast on the beam 6, and on which is rotatable a sleeve 18 that has a slot or recess 19 at its end flush with-the free end of the mandrel, through which slot projects a plate 20 extending laterally from the mandrel. A needle-abutment 21 is arranged on each sleeve 18 below the plate 20. This abutment or'stop 21 is provided in its upper face with a longitudinal channel 21'' serving for receiving an embroidering needle 23. By suitably turning the sleeve 18 by means of an arm 22 on its rear end, a needle 23 inserted into the channel 21 betweenthe plate released.

In order to prevent the needle turning about its own axis, which is important when employing an automatic single-thread device, the channel 21' has projecting into it a lug 24 which, when the needle is fast in the holder, takes into a transverse recess in the needle.

For simultaneously clamping and releasin the needles of each row of needle-holders, a rod 25 is passed through the arms 22. Each of these rods 25 carries coil springs 26 and collars 27 between the arms 22, and has one end controlled by a tension spring 28, and its other end pivoted to one end of a two-armedlever 29. In Fig. 2, the springs 28 are, for the sake of clearness, shown broken off, but it will be understood that they are connected to the rods 25. The other end of each lever 29 is pivoted each to one end of a rod 30 which carries a block 31 at its other end. Each of these blocks has a lug 32 (Figs. 4 and 4) and a horizontal longitudinal slot 33 in which engages a pin 36 mounted on an angle- lever 34 and 35, respectively, when the slide in question is situated in its inner end position.

The angle-lever 35 allotted to the slide 8 is connected by a link 37 with a lever 40 fulcrumed at 38 and arranged to bear against a cam 39. The angle-lever 34 allotted to the slide 7 is connected by a link 41 with the one end of a two-armed lever 42 whose other end bears on the cam 39. This cam thus coacts with both angle- levers 34 and 35, so that that one of them whose pin 36 is in engagement with the slot 33 of the respective block 31 pulls the latter and the rod 30 connected therewith against the action of the respective spring 28 downward as seen in Fig. 2 and to the left as seen in Fig. 4 Consequently, the rod 25 in question is shifted in the opposite direction, whereby all its springs 26 are pressed against the arms 22 bearing against them. These arms 22 are consequently so turned with the needleholder sleeves 18 that needles inserted into the holders are clamped.

In order that these needles shall remain clamped until the next stitch or change of needle, that is to say during the time when the slide in question slides outward and inward, when the respective pin 36 is not in engagement with the block 31, each block 31. has allotted to it a pawl 43 that is provided with a finger 44 which extends over the same, and behind which the lug 32 lies when the block 31 is actuated by the pin 36 against the action of the spring 28. The finger 44 of the pawl 43 thus holds the block 31. in its end position shown at the left-hand of Fig. 2 until the pawl 43 is lifted by a vertically movable pusher 45 or 46.

The pusher 45 has its lower end pivotally connected with the lever 40 by means of a two-armed lever 47 and a link 48, while the pusher 46 is pivotally connected with the lever 42. Therefore the cam 39 actuates simultaneously the pusher 45 and the anglelever 35, the pusher 46 and the angle-lever 34. The levers 40 and 42 are moved alternately in such a manner by the cam 39 that the pawl 43 of the inwardly-moved slide is lifted and the respective needle-holders are opened by the action of the spring 28 whereby the needles are released, while at the same time the needle-holders of the other slide are so actuated that the released needles are gripped and held fast.

In order that the embroidery threads shall always be tightened on that side of the frame on which the needles on the outwardlymoved slide are situated, on each side of the frame there is arranged a thread-tightening member in the form of a longitudinal plate 49 and 50, respectively, consisting preferably of a light material, such as aluminiun, which is lowered by a device described here inafter from an upper end position of con stant elevation to a lower position corresponding to the amount of thread that is used. The use of plates as thread-tightening members has the advantage that when they rise, the parts of thread situated in front of and behind them cannot become entangled.

Each of the plates 49 and 50 is suspended at its ends on an endless band or tie 51 and 52, respectively, which are respectively guided by two pulleys 53, 54 and 55, 56 arranged one over another. The shaft 57 and 60 of the lower pulleys carry near their middle .each an intermediate pulley, not shown. That intermediate pulley which is onthe shaft 57 of the pulleys 54 is connected by a crossed belt 58 or the like with a pulley 59, while that on the shaft 60 of the pulleys 56 is connected by an uncrossed belt 61 or the like with a pulley 62. These pulleys 59 and 62 are freely rotatable on and slidable axially along the shaft 63, which carries between them a toothed Wheel 64, with which meshes a pinion 65. i Each of the pulleys 59 and 62 is provided on its inner face with a laterally projecting stop or pin 66 and 67:, respectively, while the wheel 64 is provided on each side with four pairs of pins 68 and 69 which are displaced relatively to one another, that is are spaced 90 apart. The inner pins 68 are the same distance from the axis of rotation as are the pins 66 and 67 of the pulleys 59 and 62, so that the pins 66 and 67 can bear against the pins 68, as shown in Fig. 1. The

In the lower until the threads in the needles are finally used up. w i

lThepurpose'of the pins 69 is that each time after new needles have been threaded afresh "with threads of a predetermined length, the play between the pins'66 and 67 shall 'be as large as aossible, for whieh reasonthe lattermust e moved out of reach of thepin '68 in "question. Thisis brought about by means. of two coaxial drivers or pins '69 c'oacting with upwardly beveled tongues 73 of'two levers 75 that are pulled toward one another by aspring 74c and engage with their free ends in peripheral grooves in the hubs of the pulleys 59 and 62; when the pins-69 bear on thetongues 73 the levers 75 move the pulleys apart. As soon as the pins 69 have moved "past the tongues, however, the levers 7 5 and the pulleys 59 and 62move together, so that-the pins 66'a11d 67 have their motion limited again by "the 'pins68 next in order tothe left'of them as seen in Fig; 1. 7

Provision is mad'e'thatthe wheel 64 shall be fed forwardbeforeeach stitch'to be made an amount corresponding to the length of thethread used inmaking the stitch. For this purpose the'shaft 76 of'the pinion carries a feed mechanism which comprises a ratchet-wheel 78 revented from moving backward by a catch 77, a' feed pawl 80 mounted on a lever 79, and a spring-0on trolled toothed sector 81 mounted beside the lever 79, on the hub 82 of which sector one end of a tie 83 is wound and attached. The tie 83 is led around two guide pulleys 84 and 85 to a device controlled by the pattern card 3. I

This device (Fig. 2) comprises five feeler pins '86 that coact with a corresponding number of rows of holes in the card 3,the upperends of which pins, when unable to enter ahole in the card, extend abovea plate 87, so that levers 88,89, 90, 91 and 92 mounted to swing about vertical pivots on the plate 87 abut against them. Each of'these leversearries a'pulley 93 rotatable aboutfa vertical pivot, and the tie-83 is led around these pulleys along "a zigzagco'urse as shown in Fig. 2, and attached at its other end to a pin 94: on the plate 87 When the pins 86 enter into holes in the pattern card 3 the alloted levers can rock inward a distance limited by a'pin 95 and a lug 96, one of each being allotted to each lever. The length of this distance, and the distance of the pulleys from the fulcrums of their levers is difi erent-ineach case; for example, when the 1ever88-is actuated thetie 83 moves thesec tor 81 one tooth, while the lever89 causes it to move twofthe lever 90 four, the lever 91 eight and the lever 92 fifteen teeth. Thus it isseen that the lever'92 causes a movement of the toothed sector 81 that is equal to that caused by an the four levers 88, '89, 90 and 91together. Asthetie 831 is led around all the levers 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 it .isobvious that jth'e movements ofallthese leversare addedtogether in their effect on the tie 83, so that when forexam'ple the levers 88, 90 and -91 are releasedby their allotted=feeler pins "86, the sector- 81, which aspring 97 tends to'rotate counter-clockwise, is shifted 1+4 8=133teeth in this direction.

On theside of the sector 81 facingthe lever 79 is mounted a pin 98 constituting a stop forthe latter. The lever 79 carrying the feedpawl 80 of the wheel 78 can be turned counter-clockwise by spring 99,

that coacts with it, only until it abuts against the pin 98i This causes the ratchetwheelf78to rotate a like distance in the same direction'and by means of the shaft 76 of the'ppinion 65 shifts the toothed wheel 64, which the path ofthe pins 66 and 67 is shortenedby 13 units and, consequently, that of the thread tightening plates 49 and'50 by alike-amount. It will thus be seen. that by suitably perforatingthe pattern card 3 the distance movedthrough by the thread-tightening plates canbe regulated. v

.In order that the tie 83 shall not be stressed injuriously when the lever'7 9 strikes against the pin 98, the toothed sector 81 is locked by fa detent 100 at a convenient moment. The lever7 9 is returned into its starting position by'a link 101 attached to it, a two-armed lever 102 connected with the latter, "and a cam'103 that is carried on the shaft 9 and coacts' with the lever 102. The toothed sector 81 and thelevers 88, 89, 90,91 and 92, operatively connected therewith are returned into theirstarting positions by two cams104 (whereof only one'is shown in the drawing; see Figs. 2 and'5) mounted on the shaft 9, "pairs of Y levers 105 that coact with these cams,"'r0ds]106 carried by the levers 105, and links 107 thatextend through these rods,*'are pivoted each to one o'fthelevers 88, 89, 90, 91' and 92 and carry outside the rods "106" collars '108 against which the rods 106 hear when the levers 105 rock outward,

with 'thelinks. These levers return the toothed sector'81 into itsjoriginal position by 7 means of the tie 83; l

Thefabove described andillustrated embroidering machine comprises only one row of needlesbutit is to be understoodthat Several. rows anged one above another couldbe employed with the same operating mechanism provided that suitable connectione 'Were prov ded. Further, the threadmovably mounted therein, of a slide mounted on the framework to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders carried by said slide, a thread-tighten+ ing member mounted in the framework at the same side of said frame as 'said needleholders, and means adapted to be controlled by a pattern card and arranged to move said member a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread, substantially as described.

2. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination. with a framework and an embroidering frame movably mounted therein, of a slide mounted on the framework to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders carried by said slide, guide members mounted to move vertically in said framework, :1. thread-tightening member suspended from said guide members at the sameside of said frame as said needle-holders, and oscillatory feed mechanism adapted to be controlled by a pattern card and arranged to move said guide members a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread, substantially as described. 7

3. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework and an embroidering frame movably mounted therein, of a slide mounted on the framework to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders carried by said slide, guide members mounted to move vertically in said framework, a thread-tightening member suspended from said guide members at the same side of said frame as said needle-holders, oscillatory feed mechanism comprising stops for vertically reciprocating said guide members and said thread-tightening member, and means adapted to be controlled by a pattern card for coacting with said stops and causing said guide members to move a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread, substantially as described.

4. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework, and an embroidering' frame movably mounted therein, of a slide mount ed on the framework to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders carried by said slide, a thread-tightening member in the form of a plate carried in the framework at the same side of said frame as said needle-holders, and means adapted to be controlled by a pattern card and arranged to move said member a shorter distance each stitch correspondin to the consumption of thread, substantially as described.

5. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework, a shaft journaled therein, and an embroidering frame movably mounted in the framework, of two slides, one at each side of said frame, mounted on the framework to move perpendicularly to said frame, means driven by said shaft for reciprocating said slides, needle-holders carried by each of said slides, two pairs of guide members, one pair at each side of said frame, mounted to move vertically in said framework, two thread-tightening members, one carried by each pair of guide members, arranged to move between the frame and said needle-holders, and oscillatory feed mechanism adapted to be controlled by a pattern card and arranged to move said guide members a shorter distance each stitch corresponding tothe consumption of thread, said feed mechanism comprising a wheel, means for rotating the latter step by step, two pulleys operatively connected each with one of said thread-tightening members and arranged coaxially one on each side of said wheel, stops on said pulleys, stops on said wheel arranged to coact with the former stops, means driven by said shaft for turning said pulleys, drivers on said wheel, and means arranged to be actuated by said drivers for moving said pulleys axially away from said wheel during the rotation thereof, substantially as described.

a 6. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework, a shaft journaled therein, and an embroidering frame movably mounted in the framework, of two slides, one at each side of said frame, mounted on the framework to move perpendicularly to said frame,

means driven by said shaft to reciprocate said slides, needle-holders carried by each of said slides, two pairs of guide members, one pair at each side of said frame, mounted to move vertically in said framework, two thread-tightening members, carried each by one pair of said guide members, arranged to move between said frame and said needleholders, and oscillatory mechanism arranged to move said guide members a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread, said mechanism comprising variable pawl-and-ratchet' feed mechanism operatively connected with said guide members and actuated by said shaft, and controlling mechanism comprising feeler-pins arranged to coact with a pattern card, a plurality of members movable various distances and controlled by said feeler-pins, and a tie attachedto said feed mechanism and operatively connected with the latter members, substantially as defscribedi 7. In an embroidering machineof theclass described, the combination with a framework, a shaft j ournaled therein, and an embroidering' frame *movably mounted in the framework, of two slides, one at each side of nism comprising step-by-step feed'mechanism' that comprises a ratchet-wheel rotatable in only one direction, a pawl actuated by said shaft for feeding said ratchet-whee, and a regulating member coaxial with said ratchet-wheel and arranged to limit "the stroke of said pawl, and controlling mechanism comprising feeler-pins arranged to coact with a pattern card, a plurality of members, each carrying a pulley, arranged to be moved various distances and to be controlled by said feeler-pins, and a tie thatis led around said pulleys and has one end attached to said regulating member and its other end attached to. saidfrarnework, substantially, as described. 7

8. In an embroide'ring machine'of the. class described, the combination with a 7 framework, ashaft; journaled therein, and anembroiderin rame movably mounted. in the A framework, of two slides, one at each side of said, frame, mounted on the framework to move perpendicularly to said frame, means; driven by said shaft to reciprocate said slides, needle holders mounted on each of said slides, two pairs of guide members, onepair at each side of said frame,mounted to move vertically in said framework, two thread-tightening members carried each by one pair of said guide members and arranged to move between said frame and said needle-holders, and oscillatory mecha-,

nism arranged to move said guide members a shorter distance each st tch corresponding to the consumption of thread,said mecha-' nism comprising step-by-step mechanism that comprises a ratchet-wheel rotatable in only one direction, a pawl actuated by said shaft for feeding said ratchet-wheel, anda regulating member coaxial with said ratchetwheel, and arranged to limit the stroke of said pawl, and controlling mechanism comprising feeler-pins arranged to coact with a pattern card, a plurality of levers of various lengths arranged to be rocked various distances and to be controlled each by one of said feeler pins, a1plurality'ofpulleys'carried each by one ofisaid-levers-andsituated in one plane, a tie, thatisled zigzag about said pulleys and has one end attachedto said regulating member and its other end attached to said framework, andmeans for returning said levers into their starting. position. v if 9. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework, a shaft journaled thereim anda n embroid'ering frame mova'bly mounted in the framework, of two slides, one at each sideof said frame, :mounted' on'the framework to move perpendicularly to saidframe, means driven by said shaft to reciprocate said slides, needle holders mounted on each of said slides,;two pairs of guide members, one pair at each side ofsaid frame, mounted to move vertically in said framework, two thread-tightening members carried each by one pair of said guide members and ar}, ranged to move between said frame andsaid needle-holders, and oscillatory mechanism arranged to move said guide members a shorter distance eachstitch corresponding to the consumption of thread, said mechan sm comprising step-by-step mechanism that omprise a, ratch wh el. ot a e n only one direction, a pawl actuatedby saidshaftv for feedingfsaid ratchet-wheel, and a regulating member coaxial with said ratchetwheel, and arranged to limit the stroke of said pawl, and controlling mechanism comprising feeler pinsarra nged to coactwitha pattern card, a pluralityof levers of various lengths arranged to berocked various distances and to, be controlled each by. one of said feeler pins, a plurality of pulleys carried each by one of said levers and situated in one plane, a tie that is led zigzag about said pulleys and has one end attachedto said regulating member and its other end at: tached to saidframework, and means for re: turning said levers into their starting position, said latter'means comprising acamjfast on said shaft, levers fulcrumed on 'said framework andarranged to coact withsaid earn, and links connecting said latter levers each with one of formerlevers, substantially as described. t 7 10- n a m r id r ngmach ne of h class" described,v the combinationlwithfl a framework, and an embroidering frame mov- I ably mounted therein, of a slide mounted on the framework to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders carried by said slide, a thread-tightening member mounted in the framework at thesame side of said frame as said needle-holders,

and means adapted to be controlled by apattern card and arranged to move said 130 a member a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread, each needle-holder comprising two cylindrical concentric members rotatable one in relation to the other, that are flush one with the other at one end. and are provided each with a lateral lug whereof the one lug has a lateral recess for receiving aneedle to be clamped by the other lug, substantially as described.

11. In an embroidering machine of "the class described, the combination with a framework, and an embroidering frame movably mounted therein, of a slide mounted on the frame work to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders mounted in a row on said slide, a thread- I tightening member mounted in the framework at the same side of said frame as said needle-holders between the latter and said frame, and means adapted to be controlled by a pattern card and arranged to move said member a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread; each needle-holder comprising two cylindrical concentric members whereof one is fixed and the other is rotatable about the same, and both are flush one with the other at one end and are provided at that end each with a laterallug, in one of which lugs is a recess for receiving a needle to be clamped by the other lug; and a longitudinally slidable rod common to all the needle-holders operatively connected to each rotatable member of said holders, substantially as described.

12. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework, and an embroidering frame movably mounted therein, of a slide mounted on the framework to move to and fro perpendicularly to said frame, needle-holders mounted in a row on said slide, a threadtightening member mounted in the framework to move vertically between said frame and said needle-holders, and means adapted to be controlled by a pattern card and arranged to move said member a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the consumption of thread; each needle-holder comprising two cylindrical concentric members whereof one is fixed and the other is rotatable about the same, and each is provided with. a lateral lug, in one of which lugs is a recess for receiving aneedle to be clamped by the other lug; a longitudinally slidable rod common to all the needle-holders operatively connected to each rotatable member of said holders and having at its oneend ablock, a driving shaft, lever mechanism driven by the latter and operatively connected with said slide, lever mechanism driven by said shaft and operatively connected withv said block, and means for holding said block in one of its end positions when said slide is in one of its end positions, substantially as described.

13. In an embroidering machine of the class described, the combination with a framework, a shaft journaled therein, and an embroidering frame movably mounted in the framework, of two slides, one at each side of said frame, mounted on the framework to move perpendicularly to said frame, means driven by said shaft to reciprocate said slides, two sets of needle-holders mounted one set in a row on each of said slides, two pairs of guide members, one pair at each side of said frame, mounted to move vertically in said framework, two threadtightening members carried each by one pair of said guide members arranged to'move each between said frame and a row of needleholders, and oscillatory mechanism arranged to move said guide members a shorter distance each stitch corresponding to the con sumption of thread; each needle-holder comprising two cylindrical concentric members whereof one is fixed and the other is rotatableabout the same and having lugs adapted to clamp a needle between them; two 1ongitudinally slidable spring-controlled rods common each to all the needle-holders in one of said rows and each operatively connected to each rotatable member of the needle-hold ers to which it is common, each of said rods having at one end a block, lever mechanisms driven by said shaft and operatively connected each with a block of said rods, pawls arranged to hold the blocks in one of their end positions, and means operatively connecting the latter lever mechanisms for actuating the blocks each with the pawl allotted to the other block respectively, substantially as described. a a

In. testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO FAHRNI. Witnesses R. HEINGARTNER, J. ALLEMEN.

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