US1950566A - Sewing machine looper mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1934 J. R OLlVER SEWING MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISM Original Filed June 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [MVENTOR dOhh RollvY BY MW,

A TTORNE Y8,

March 13, 1934. I J o v -jq 1,950,566

SEWING MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISM Original Filed June 4. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E a 'JAW; Rohm 5 wgw mmw mbell ATTORNEYS.

Mmh 13, 1934,

J. R. QLIVER' SEWiNG MACHINE LOOPER MECHANISM Original Filed, June 4, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

Ooh-n R. Oh ve BY NWM KMLM *MQnI/J ATTORNEYS enema Ma. 13, 1934 1 1,950,566 SEWING MACHINE LOOPERMECHANIISM John Roger Oliver, Mcdfield, Mass., assignor to Reece Shoe Machinery Company, Boston, Mass.,

a corporation of Maine Original application June 4, 1931, Serial No. 542,048. Divided and this application July 9,

1932, Serial No. 621,550

7 Claims. (oi. 112-55) This invention is a novel sewing machine looper mechanism, and relates more particularly to power driven types of machine for stitching leather or shoes, a typical instance of such machine being the so-called outsole stitcher by which the outsole and welt of a shoe are attached together by lock stitches formed by two threads, of which the upper thread is usually supplied from a shuttle.

The present application is a division of copending parent application Serial No. 542,048, filed June 4, 1931, to which reference may be made for various features not herein described.

One of the general objects of the present invention is to afiord a sewing machine of the power driven type referred to which 'will be highly emcient and convenient in action, and which'will possess easy running qualities, permitting it to be operated at higher speeds than heretofore customary. It is a particular object and feature hereof to afford easy and smooth running qualities of the looper.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will be "pointed out in the hereinafter following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, or will be understood to those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of such objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel sewing machine and the novel features of operation, combination and construction herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion or stitching head of a shoe outsole stitching machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, but with a number of parts omitted or broken away for purposes of better illustration.

Fig. 2 is a partial left elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a right elevation of the looper and the parts and connections for effecting its operative movements.

Fig. 4 is an inclined sectiontaken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a right elevation corresponding in part with Fig. 3, but with certain parts broken away for better disclosure of other parts.

Fig. 6 is a left elevation of the same parts as in Fig. 5 with certain of them broken-away.

Fig. '7 is an inclined view looking down upon the parts shown in Fig. 3 along the direction of the arrow 7 thereon.

Fig. 8 is a diagram indicating the approximate preferred motions of the several stitching instruments, as performed herein; with a timing line for each instrument showing its action in each cycle, and the diagram representing one complete stitch cycle or stitching shaft rotation, with subdivisions into angular degrees, and the zero point. representing the positions of the several instruments at the preferred stopping point of the M machine. a

Said figures correspond substantially with Figs. 1, a and 8 to 13 respectively of the parent application. I

Describing first some of the general machine parts and actuating elements, the fixed frame part or head 20 may be at the upper end of a tall post so that the operator may stand while handling the work. Bearings 21 give support to a drive shaft 22 which may be rotated for exm ample by a grooved pulley driven by belt from an electric motor at the base of the machine. Above the drive shaft is what will be termed the stitching shaft 23 turning in an outer bearing 24 at the left and in a first or left hand frame wall 25 and a right hand wall 26, upstanding from the base 20.

Instead of gears communicating rotation from one shaft to the other there is shown a system of driving cranks and rods as follows. At the left and right ends of drive shaft and stitching shaft 30 are crank pairs connected by rods 31 and 32 in a manner more fully described and claimed in copending divisional application Serial No. 609,373 filed May 5, 1932.

The stitching shaft 23 is shown provided at its left end with a hand wheel 34 used for rotating the shaft manually. Between the bearing 24 and the frame wall 25 the shaft 23 carries a first operating crank having connections for actuating the needle and needle guide, and preferably the thread mechanism. Inside, and between the two frame walls, the stitching shaft has a second operating crank connected for the actuation of the awl and feed motion, and a third crank 3'? connected for actuating the looper. 95

Referring next to the stitching instruments,

with which are included not only the-needle and other movable instruments acting directly upon the thread or the work, but certain auxiliary parts or instruments having a special function or motion in the formation of the stitches, these will be designated by letters of the alphabet for purposes of distinction.

Thus the work support A is a stationary part in the form of a bracket attached to the left frame 1 wall 25, its forward extremity arranged to support the work in proper relation to the other instruments and being apertured for the alternate passage of the needle and the awl through the work and support. As well understood the shoe 6 control means, tension, thread lock etc.

Above and opposed to the work support is the presser foot B, released to permit each feed movement of the work, and thereafter depressed and locked or clamped upon the work, until the succeeding feed movement, to resist the tendencies of the needle and awl to lift the work.

The needle C is curved, as usual, and with a barbed point entering the work from above, be-

ing mounted on a carrier oscillating about a point to the rear of and higher than the stitching point or work support.

Cooperating with the needle is a needle guide D mounted on an oscillating carrier turning on the same axis or center as the needle so as to move concentrically therewith.

The needle and the needle guide and their mountings are carried bodily upon a slide or block E arranged and fitted to be shifted to a slight extent at a forward and upward slant,

. while the needle is retracting or ascending after emergence from the work, so that the needle barb will stand somewhat further forward and upward than usual.

The awl F, which also serves as a feed point, is a memberwhich oscillates like the needle, but entering the work support and work from be heath.

The feed slide G is an auxiliary stitching instrument of irregular extension which functions to shift left and right, the leftward movement being the feed movement, while the awl is in the work, the return movement following the extraction of the awl.

The looper H, below the work, is mounted rigidly on a carrying arm H formed with an enlarged hub H and therebeyond a guiding extension H as will be further described. The function of the looper is to feed or supply the under thread, which may be waxed or unwaxed,

to the advanced needle, the looper cooperating with the thread hook I to lay.the thread in the barb of the needle, and having a movement advancing it rightward to the needle for this purpose and retracting it to a removed position,,as shown on the diagram.

The take-up device J acts upon the under thread to let out the thread while passing over the shuttle and to take it up, preferably to an extent causing the upper thread to be drawn slightly into the work at the completion of each stitch.

The shuttle may be of the rotary type and isv represented by its shaft K The thread arm L cooperates with the needle and the shuttle above the work.

Inthe drawings the several stitching instruments are shown in the final positions which they would occupy upon the stoppage of the machine, to permit the removal and insertion of the work, the needle, needle guide, awl and feed slide being in their retracted positions; and there may be a stop motion giving definite final position, and releasing and lifting the pres's'er, to wholly free the work. With this fact in mind the relative positions, or angles. of the cranks etc. on the stitching and driving shafts are made clear by comparison of the respective views.

Thus, referring to Fig. 3 thecenter or axis of the shaft 23 is marked 23*, while on Fig. 3 the axis of the third operating crank 37 is marked 37*. The direction of rotation is clockwise in this right elevation.

The looper H which has a hollow terminus, through which the under thread is supplied for looping upon the needle, is mounted on a looper lever H of irregular shape, this in turn biing formed rigid with a circular hub H to the right and rear of the stitching point, the hub having an extension H by which it is properly guided. The purpose of the looper, as usual, is to advance rightward to bring the thread up to the advanced position of the needle barb, the looper and thread hook cooperating to place the thread on the barb, and the looper subsequently retracting leftward, all as indicated in the diagram Fig. 8.

The hub H of the looper turns freely upon a circular member 125. This member however is not stationary but is mounted to turn upon an axle 126 fixed in a bracket 127, as best seen in Fig. 3. The axle or stud 126 is eccentrically located in the member 125, so that the movements of the latter are eccentric, and effect movements of the hub H as well shown in the inclined view Fig. '7. The stud or axle \126 being at an incline, as seen in the right hand elevation Fig. 3, the movements of the looper parts H, H, H H will be in planes at right angles thereto, the oscillating movement of the looper, to be described, being in a corresponding plane, for effective cooperation with the needle and thread hook. The noun eccentric is intended to include a crank which is a particular form of eccentric.

The eccentric 125 is arranged to be oscillated through its underneath flange 128, which at one side has an extension carrying a sphere or a portion of a sphere 129, connected, as/will be described, for oscillation from the third operating crank 37. Adjustment of the position and throw of the eccentric with respect to its carrying flange 128 may be effected by a bolt and slot adjusting device 130, as seen in Fig. 7.

The extension H of the looper hub is for guiding purposes and is formed with an elongated slotoccupied by a block'131 turning upon a fixed stud 132 extending downwardly from a bracket 133, as best seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 7. When the eccentric oscillates in reverse directions the extension H reciprocates on the block 131 turning upon the fixed stud 132 as a center, so that the looper lever oscillates with respect to the stud 132 while movinglongitudinally, giving a resultant path 135 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. As shown on the diagram the advancing movement toward the needle is relatively rapid while the return or leftward movement is relatively slow.

Such actuation of the looper parts may be effected by connections from the crank 37 to the sphere 129 as will now be described.

On the crank 3'7 is a pitman 137 having two forward extensions which may be termed the left fork 138 and right fork 139. As shown in Fig. 4 an irregular shape stud member connects the forward ends of the forks 138 and 139, comprising a stud portion 141 engaging the fork 138, and adjacent the same a spherical portion 142, and therebeyond a stud portion 143 eccentric with 141 and engaging the fork 139. Engaged on the stud portion 141 is the hub of a radius arm 144 which at its upper end is mounted for swinging about a fixed stud or axle 145, thus determining the movements of the pitman as the crank revolves. Surrounding the stud portion 143 is shown a collar 14? flxed thereon, its periphery flattened at opposite sides to receive a fork 153 to be described.

Engaged on the spherical surface 142 is a head 149 correspondingly shaped, to constitute therewith a universal connection; this head being formed at the rear end of an inclined connecting rod 150, the forward end of which is provided with a head 151 engaging the sphere 129 extending from the eccentric flange 128 already described. Cooperating with the head 151 is a plate 152 confining the head upon the sphere thus constituting a universal joint at the forward end of the connecting rod 150. By this means the oscillating movement in a vertical plane of the pivotal connection between pitman 13'! and radius arm 144 is communicated as an oscillation in an inclined plane of the eccentric 125, which in turn delivers the looper movements already described.

A fork 153 is shown having two of its arms straddling the squared collar M7 of the stud 143, the outer end of the fork being attached by a threaded pin 154 with the connecting rod 150.

At the left side of the head 149 is shown a threaded collar 155 engaged within the head, and forming part of the spherical surface engaging the sphere 142. This permits assembly, and the collar 1551s held against rotation by attachment to the connecting rod 150 by the threaded pn 154. I

The sphere or head 142 is shown as formed with an extension 157 having a pair of lugs 158 straddling the left fork 138 of the pitman 137, thus preventing rotation of the head 142 and studs l-il, 143, relative to the pitman.

By the described looper mechanism the desired looper movements are produced. The crank 37 actuates the pitman 13''! and the free end of the pitman is guided by the radius arm 14.4, thus determinng movements of the pivotal connection between the pitman and radius arm forwardly and rea wardly at varying speeds, which movements are transmitted by the universal connection or link 150 to cause an extended oscillation of the eccentric or crank on which the looper carrier H is directly mounted. By this arrangement to and fro curvilinear movements will be given to the looper carrier, these being controlled longitudinally by the sliding device H 131, resulting in the arcuate looper path as shown in Figs. 3 and '7, this path as shown in Fig. 3 being substantially at right angles to the direction of the needle C or the movement of its barb at the time of takng the loop below the work. 1

Not only is a very effective looper movement thus accorded, but this is done by comparatively few parts, mainly the pitman, the radius arm, the link and the eccentric, all driven in harmonic motion by the stitching shaft crank 3'7.

Having thus described a sewing machine looper mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention, it is not intended to limit the invention to matters of operation, arrangement or structure except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, a barbed needle penetrating the work from above and oscillated from said shaft, and a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on the needle barb, a carrier for said looper, an eccentric at a middle part of and directly engaging the looper carrier to cause an arc-movement, thereof with both longitudinal and lateral components, a slide device cooperating with another part of the carrier to guide its longitudinal movements while permit ting rocking about a fixed axis, and connections for oscillating said eccentric to give a resultant arc-movement to'the looper along the same path in opposite directions in coordination with, the

' needle.

2. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, a barbed needle penetrating the work irom above and oscillated from said shaft, and a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on the needle barb, a carrier for said looper, an eccentric device engaging a middle part of the looper carrier to cause an arc movement thereto, a slide device cooperating with another part of the carrier to guide its longitu dinal movements, and connections for oscillating said eccentric device to give a resultant arcmovemerit to the looper in coordination with the needle; the eccentric device being arranged on an inclined axis approximately parallel to the path of the needle barb at its loop-taking point whereby the looper movements are in a plane at right angles thereto.

3. A machine as in claim 2 and wherein is crank on said shaft, 2. pitman on said crank, and

a link connecting said pitman and said eccentric,

with a universal joint at each end of said link.

4. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, a barbed needle penetrating the work from above and oscillated from said shaft, and a looper operating below the worir to lay a thread loop on the needle barb, a car rier for said looper, an eccentric device engaging a middle part of the looper carrier to cause an arc-movement thereto, a slide device cocperating with another part or the carrier to z;

its longitudinal movements, and connections for oscillating said eccentric device to give a re sultant arc-movement to the looper in coordinat tion with the needle, said connections including a crank on said shaft, a pitman on said crank,

and a link connecting said pitman and said ec centric, with a. universal joint at each end of said link.

5. In a power operated stitching machine, a shaft, a work support, a barbed needle penetrat- 1 ing the work from above and oscillated from said shaft, a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on the needle barb, and looper mechanism comprising a carrier for said looper,

an eccentric engaging one part of the looper can i rier to give an arc-movement to the carrier with components both longitudinal and lateral, a slide device co-operating with another part 02 the carrier to guide its longitudinal movements while permitting rocking about a fixed axis, and nections for oscillating said eccentric to give resultant arc-movement to the looper along same path in opposite directions in coordingnt... with the needle.

6. In a power operated stitching machine, shaft, a. work support, a barbed needle penetrei ing the work from above and oscillated ii said shaft, a' looper operating below the war to lay a thread loop on the needle barb, an looper mechanism comprising a carrier for looper, an eccentric device engaging one pr the looper carrier to give an arc-mover. the carrier, a guide device cooperating with other part of the carrier to guide it nal movements, and connections for cscii said eccentric device to give a resultant arc-movement to the looper in coordination with the needle; the eccentric device being arranged on an inclined axis approximately parallel to the path of the needle barb at its loop-taking position whereby the curved looper movements are approximately at right angles to the needle at such position.

7. In a power operated stitching machine. a shaft, a work support, a barbed needle penetrating the work from above and oscillated from said shaft, a looper operating below the work to lay a thread loop on the needle barb, and looper mechanism comprising a carrier for said looper, an

eccentric device engaging one part of the looper carrier to give an arc-movement to the carrier,

looper.

JOHN ROGER OLIVER.

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