US2470502A - Sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

H. J. LE: vr-:scoNTE ET Al.

May 17, 1949..

SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 20, 1945 May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vEscoNTE ET AL 2,470,502

SEWING MACHINE i Filed Oct. 20, 1945 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 79 lawn y IN VEN TORS` 'f M @dwf VEY

May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vEscoNTE ET AL 2,470,502

SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wfg (fw INVENTORS BY @alf 7474@ f/ May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vr-:scoNTE ET AL SEWING MACHINE Filed oct. 20, 1945 Y 5 sheets-sheet 4 May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vscoNTE Erm. 2,470,502

SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 yq 1 K Q Eg 5% l l 'l D l m g x if i i i hh. J

N INVENTORS BY "M/ Mv Patented May 17, 1949 SEWING MACHINE Harold J. Le Vesconte, Glendale, Calif., and Oscar Quist, Chicago, Ill., assgnors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,536

'7 Claims. l

This invention relates to improved work feeding mechanisms for sewing machines and more particularly to improved continuous wheel feed mechanisms. It is of special advantage when applied to a sewing machine of the needle feed type and one which is equipped with a rotary hook for the formation of lock stitches.

A primary object of the invention has been to provide a simple, sturdy7 and efcient mechanism of the character above'indicated, which is'inexpensive to construct.

It has been a further object of the'invention to provide a continuous wheel feed mechanism which is quiet and reliable in operation and which may readily haveits speed varied at ywill in relation to the speed of the main Vdrive shaft of the machine. This provides for appropriate variam tion of the feed in accordance with'the length of the stitch desired.

A special feature of theinvention-is the provision of a machine of the above indicated type with a completely sealed and eiiectively lubricated gear reduction unit which forms a part of the connection between the main drive shaft of the machine and the continuously driven feed wheel.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision of a change gear'mechanism capable of varying the speed of the feed wheel, and hence the length of the stitch, which is substantially noiseless in its operation. This is, in part, accomplished through the provision of an arrangement by which only two gears are in mesh -for any selected speedof operation of the feed wheel, In addition to reducing noise, this arrangement also reduces wear on the gears and thus lengthens the life of the mechanism.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a readily adjustable positive positioning means for varying the height of the feed wheel `in relation to the work supporting surface.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of an illustrative form of the same, which will now be given in conjunction with the accompaning drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through the illustrative machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in elevation and partly invvertical section, illustrating the feed wheel and associated presser means forming part of the invention;

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of the machine as seen from the left. end of Figure l;

Figure 4 isa vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line I-Aof Figure l;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the machine with a bottom cover plate, provided adjacent the rghthand end of the machine, removed'and with portions at the lefthand end broken away tomore clearly illustrate the construction;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section, taken along theline 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged View, partly in bottom plan and partly in section, of the lefthand end portion of the machine as shown'in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the needle head portion of the machine with the cover plate and certain thread takeup means removed.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrative machine comprises a frame having a base or work supporting portion I0, a Vertical standard I I, and an overhanging arm I2 terminating in a needle head I3. Power isV supplied to the machine through a combined handwheel and pulley I4 adapted to be connected by a belt with an electrical transmitter, or any other suitable source of power. This pulley is secured to a main drive shaft I'5 which extends through the end wall of the Vertical standard near its top and longitudinally through the overhanging arm I2 into the needle head. It is mounted in suitable bearings in a manner well known in the art. At its end within the needle head the shaft I5 carries an eccentric member I6, preferably of counter balanced construction, having an eccentric pin or crank connected by means of a link Il with a block i8 secured to a needle bar I9 which carries at its lower end one or more needles 20. The needle bar is mounted for vertical reciprocation within a yoke-like sleeve member 2l which is pivotally ,mounted for rocking about a pin 22 at its upper end. The yoke memberZI has an offset portion 23, in the region where the block I8 is connected to the needle bar, and below the oiiset portion member 2| carries a further bearing 24 for the needle bar. It will be apparent that upon each revolution of the shaft I5 the needle bar w-ll be reciprocated longitudinally within the yoke member 2i by means of the eccentric l. This will serve to carry the needle 20 downwardly through the work into cooperation with the complemental stitch forming means in the base and back to the position indicated in Figure l.

In the machine illustrated, provision is made for simultaneously imparting a rocking movement to the yoke member 2i so as to cause the needle to shift, while it is in cooperation with the work, in synchronism with the work feeding means. The mechanism for imparting this needle-feed movementto the needle bar may be similar to that disclosed in the patent to Quist No. 2,329,484, granted September 14, 1948, to which reference may be had for a full disclosure of this construction. For the purposes of the present invention it will be but briefly described. Projecting inwardly from the offset portion 23 of the yoke member 2| is a stud Z5 which is connected by a link 26 (Figures 1 and 8) with an arm 21 secured to a sleeve or hollow shaft 28 surrounding the shaft I and providing suitable bearings for the latter. Sleeve 2t is suitably journalled in bearings within the overhanging arm. At its right-hand end the sleeve 28 carries an arm 29 (Figures 1 and 4) which is pivotally connected at its lower end with a bearing block 30. The latter provides a bearing for a slidable rod 3| which at its upper end is also slidable within a yoke member 32 having an eccentric strap portion cooperating with an eccentric 33 secured to the shaft I5. Rod 3| carries a block S4 which is secured to the rod by means of set screws 35 and which is pivotally supported at 36 by a member 31 secured to a vertically shiftable rod 3S. The axial position of the rod 38 within its bearings may be varied as desired by turning a knob 39 carrying a screw threaded stem It cooperating with a threaded portion of the rod 33. In this manner the location of the pivot 3d about which rod 3| is rocked may be varied and thus the extent of rocking of the system including rod 3i and arm 29 may be varied. This rocking movement is imparted by the eccentric 33 which tends to carry the yoke 32 both up and down and toward the right and left in Figure 4. Its right and left movements are imparted to the rod 3| to rock the latter and this rod, in turn, through the connection 30 rocks the arm 29, sleeve 28, and yoke 2| by virtue of the connections described. In this manner needle feed movements of desired magnitude are imparted to the needle simultaneously with the reciprocation of the needle bar.

Within the vertical standard II, suitable gearing is provided for connecting the main shaft I5 with a shaft 4| within the base portion of the machine. This gearing comprises a pinion 42 secured to the shaft i5, an idler 43 mounted within the standard, and a pinion 44 secured to the shaft 4I. Shaft 4I is mounted in suitable bearings provided by downwardly extending walls 45 and 46 of the frame, which together with front and rear walls lil and 48 (Figure 4) form an enclosure constituting a continuation of the space within the hollow standard. A removable cover plate 49 secured in any suitable way to the lower ends of the walls 45, 46, 4l, and 48, serves to complete the enclosure. A lug 59 extending downwardly from the work supporting portion I6 of the frame provides a further bearing for the shaft 4I. At its outer end, this shaft carries a helical gear 5| meshing with a corresponding gear 52 on a vertical axis hook unit 53 of suitable construction. This may, for example, be of the type disclosed in the above mentioned Quist patent. It will be understood that the vertical hook cooperates with the needle 20 in stich formation upon operation of the machine. Due to the relative diameters of the gears 5I and 52 the hook will be driven at a to l speed in relation to the speed of the main shaft.

Secured to the shaft 4I within the enclosed chamber formed by the standard I I and the downward extension thereof, as above described, is a worm 54 which meshes with a worm wheel 55 secured to a shaft 56 (Figures 1 and 4) journalled in suitable bearings 51 and 58 in the front and rear walls of the frame. Also secured to the shaft 56 is a worm 59 which meshes with a worm wheel 68 secured to a shaft 6 I. This shaft extends from within the enclosed chamber, where it carries the worm wheel 60, outwardly through the wall 45 to the outer end of the Work support id. It is journalled in suitable lbearings 62 and 53 adjacent its outer end. Beyond the bearing lug 63 the shaft carried a plurality of gears 64, 65, and 5G having different numbers of teeth. One or another of these gears is adapted to mesh with its corresponding gear 61, 68, and 69 carried by and secured for rotation with, a sleeve 'lil slidably mounted and keyed for rotation with a shaft li. Shaft II terminates adjacent downwardly extending lug 12 at the outer end of the work supporting member. The shaft is journalled in a bearing sleeve 'I3 carried by an arm 'I4 rockably mounted by means of a sleeve or hub 'i5 carried by the shaft 6|. Sleeve or hub 'l5 is held against axial movement along shaft 6I by means of collars l at its opposite ends. Arm 14 is forked to straddle a screw TI having threaded engagement with an opening in the under side of the work support. The axial position of screw 'Il may be varied, as desired, by turning a knob 78. A spring i9 coacting beneath the underside of the work support and the top of the forked portion of the arm 'I4 serves to urge the latter downwardly until V-shaped projections on the forked portion cooperate with corresponding notches in the upper face of the knob 18. The coaction between the V-shaped members 80 and the notches serves to hold the knob 'I8 in any position to which it may be adjusted. Adjacent the righthand end of the bearing sleeve 'I3 the shaft II carries a feed wheel 8|, the periphery of which is preferably knurled or serrated to assist in the desired feeding action. This wheel may be secured to the shaft in any suitable way, as by means of a nut 82, as shown in Figure 5. Feed wheel 8| is adapted to project upwardly through a suitable opening 33 in a throat plate 84 carried by the work support. The extent to which the wheel 8| projects through the opening 83 and above the upper surface of the throat plate may be varied as desired by turning the knob 18. This knob, as will be seen, is readily accessible below the work support so that the desired adjustment may be effected with facility.

In the illustrative machine the reduction gearing, comprising the worm 54, worm wheel 55, worm 59, and worm wheel 60, is such as to effect a reduction of 200 to 1. For this purpose a reduction of 20 to 1 is effected between worm 54 and wheel 55 and a further reduction of 10 to 1 is effected between worm 59 and wheel 6. Thus for 200 revolutions of the shaft 4|, or of the main shaft I5, the shaft 6I will be given but a single revolution. While this has been found to be a desirable reduction for the purposes of the illustrative machine, it will be understood that it may be varied to suit the particular requirements of any machine.

A variation in the speed of rotation of the feed wheel 8| in relation to that of shaft 6| may be accomplished at will by simply sliding the sleeve 70 axially of the shaft 1I. When the parts are in the position indicated in Figure 5, in which gear 66 meshes with gear 69, the shaft 'II will be given its slowest speed; hence the rate of feed will be at the minimum. If sleeve I0 is shifted outwardly, i. e., toward the left in Figures 5 and 7,

r to engage gear 68 with gear 65, the shaft 1I, and

hence the feed wheel, will be given their fastest movement. If the sleeve is shifted to its outermost position, as shown in Figure '7, to mesh gears 64 and 61, the shaft 'H and the feed wheel will be given their intermediate speeds of movement. The end '58a (Fig. 1) of the sleeve 'le may suitably be knurled to facilitate grasping it by the fingers and shifting it as desired. For the purpose of retaining the sleeve 1B in a selected axial position in relation to the shaft 7i, a key 85 retained within a key slot in the shaft 1I has a centrally disposed teat 86 on its outer surface adapted to cooperate with any one of a series of three openings 8l in the sleeve li). Key 85 is urged outwardly by a leaf spring Si? to retain the teat 86 yeldingly in engagement with the selected opening B1. Key B5 may also form the driving connection between the shaft 'H and sleeve 10, it being adapted to slide along a keyway within sleeve ill during the adjustment of the latter.

It will be noted that the change gear mechanism provided by the gears 611i to 69 inclusive, provides for the meshing of only two gears at a time. All of the gears 64, t5, and 56 rotate together as do all of the gears Sl, 6B, and 69. However, only one gear of each set will be active at any particular time. This serves to eliminate considerable wear on the gears and noise incident to meshing of a greater number of gears.

Cooperating with the feed wheel 8l there is preferably provided a presser wheel 89, whichis carried by an arm Sil mounted in any suitable way upon the lower end of a vertically movable presser bar 9E. The latter, as best shown in Figure 8,

is vertically slidable in suitable bearings within z' the needle head. It is urged downwardly by a spring e2 acting at its lower end upon a lug 93 secured to the presser bar and acting at its upper end against the bottom of a screw threaded sleeve sli. The latter may be adjusted to any desired height within the needle head frame by rotation of the sleeve through the aid of a knob S55 at its upper end. Any suitable means may be provided for lifting the presser bar, thus raising the wheel 89 whenever desired for the introduction or removal of work, or the like. This lifting means may, for example, comprise a sleeve 96 slidably carried by the presser bar and attached to the lower end of a link il? depending from an arm 98 secured to a rock shaft 53. The latter may suitably extend longitudinally of the overhanging arm to a point adjacent the standard and there carry an arm Mid (Figure 3) connected by a link lill (see also Figures l and 5) with an arm HB2 of a rock member pivotally carried by the base of the machine. Another arm lili-i of this member may be connected in any suitable manner with a foot treadle or knee control member or the like, not shown. Lifting of the presser bar may also be manually accomplished, if desired, by means of a lever lili (Figure 3) arranged to cam the lug 93 upwardly in a conventional manner.

It will be understood that the machine embodying the present invention will be equipped with the usual adjuncts for supplying and controlling the thread for the needle or needles. The means for this purpose which has been partially illustrated, including a rotary take-up mechanism, need not be described since it does not form a part of the present invention.

In the operation of the machine the needle will be reciprocated once upon each rotation of the shaft I5 and it will ber oscillated in the manner explained to impart a needle feed action upon each such rotation. Atthe same time, through the gearing 42, 43, and 44 and the reduction gearing described in the foregoing, the complemental means within the base lwill be driven. The rotary hook, for example, will be driven directly by the shaft dlvbut at a Zito 1 ratio. The feed wheel 52 will be driven at a greatly reduced speed by virtue of the reduction gearing and at a selected specific speed determined by the axial adjustment of the sleeve lll in relation to the shaft li. The adjustment of the needle feed control member 39 and the adjustment of the sleeve 'lil should preferably coincide so that the continuous feed imparted by the wheels i i will correspond with the needle feed action. The wheel 8|, however, may be driven at a slightly greater peripheral speed than the feed movement imparted by the needles to allow for relative slippage between the feed wheel and the work.

In the operation of the gearing within the standard. and the downward extension of the base, oil retained within the sump formed by this downward extension, will be whipped into a spray both by the gear 4d and the worm wheel 68 to insure thorough lubrication of all of the relatively sliding surfaces within the enclosed portion of the frame. In this way the major lubrication problems of the machine, including 1ubrication of the speed reducing gearing, are taken care of.

While an illustrative machine has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts without .departing from the general principles and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base,

v;- a vertical standard and an overhanging arm,

said base and standard combining to provide a lubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into said housing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base, an operating shaft for said wheel which extends into said housing, and reduction gearing within said housing for interconnecting said power receiving shaft and said operating shaft, said gearing being arranged to disperse lubricant within said housing to lubricate the relatively moving surfaces therein including all of the gearing connecting said power receiving shaft with said operating shaft.

2. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide a lubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into said housing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base, asupporting shaft for sai-d wheel, stitch forming means including a rotary hook within said base, operating shafts for said wheel and for said hook, said operating shafts extending into said housing, connections from said power receiving shaft to the operating shaft for said hook for driving the latter, and reduction gearing within said housing for interconnecting said operating shafts to drive the operating shaft for said wheel through the operating shaft for said hook, the lubricant in said housing being dispersed therein by said connections and gearing.

3. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide a lubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into said housing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base, a supporting shaft for said wheel, stitch forming means including a rotary hook within said base, operating shafts for said wheel and for said hook, said operating shafts extending into said housing, connections from said power receiving shaft to the operating shaft for said hook for driving the latter, and reduction gearing within said housing for interconnecting said operating shafts to drive said wheel operating shaft from said hook operating shaft, said reduction gearing being arranged to disperse 1ubricant 'within said housing to lubricate the relatively moving surfaces therein.

4. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide a lubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into the upper portion of said housing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base, a supporting shaft for said wheel, stitch forming means including a rotary hook within said base, operating shafts for said wheel and for said hook, said operating shafts extending into said housing, change speed gearing directly connecting one of said operating shafts with said wheel supporting shaft, connections from said power receiving shaft to the operating shaft for said hook for driving the latter, and reduction gearing within said housing for interconnecting said operating shafts for driving the wheel operating shaft from said hook operating shaft, said connections serving to distribute the lubricant throughout said housing.

5. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide a lubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into said housing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base, a supporting shaft for said wheel wholly outside of said housing, stitch forming means including a rotary hook within said base, operating shafts for said wheel and for said hook, said operating shafts extending into said housing, change speed gearing outside of said housing directly connecting one of said operating shafts with said wheel supporting shaft, said gearing comprising a plurality of gears xed to said one of said operating shafts and a plurality of cooperating gears slidable on said supporting shaft for selective meshing with one of the gears on said operating shaft, connections within said housing from said power receiving shaft to the operating shaft for said hook for driving the latter,

and reduction gearing Within said housing for interconnecting said operating shafts and driving the wheel operating shaft from the hook operating shaft.

6. In a sewing machine having a work supporting base, a continuously rotatable feed wheel in said base and a main power receiving shaft, means for driving said wheel at different speeds which comprises a feed wheel operating shaft, reduction gearing connecting said shafts, a feed wheel supporting and driving shaft, a set of gears of different diameter mounted for rotation with said operating shaft, a set of gears of different diameter mounted for rotation with said Wheel supporting shaft, a sleeve carrying and rotatable with one of said sets of gears, said sleeve being keyed to but slidable axially of the shaft on which said set of gears is mounted to engage a selected one of said gears with a gear of the other set, and means coacting between said sleeve and said last mentioned shaft for retaining said sleeve in selected position on its shaft.

7. In a sewing machine having a work supporting base and a continuously rotatable feed wheel in said base, a shaft for supporting said wheel, an operating shaft, gearing connecting said operating and supporting shafts for rotation in synchronism, said gearing comprising a set of gears of different -diameters on each of said shafts, the gears of one set being shiftable axially in relation to the gears of the other set to selectively engage a gear of each set with a corresponding one of the other, a member carrying said supporting shaft, said member being rockably carried by said operating shaft, and means for turning said member about said operating shaft and retaining it in set position for adjustment of said feed wheel, said means being disposed forwardly of said supporting shaft and comprising a rotatable adjusting Screw and means for locking said screw in adjusted position.

HAROLD J. LE VESCONTE. OSCAR QUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 516,287 Watkins Mar. 13, 1894 1,168,536 Morley Jan. 1S, 1916 1,644,544 Ringe Oct. 4, 1927 2,061,225 Duvall Nov. 17, 1936 2,189,656 Sauer Feb. 6, 1940

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