US2545658A - Zigzag sewing machine attachment - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1951 A. GELLMAN ET AL ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1948 5 m w m 0 i N mp R ma m Vhw T man an March 20, 1951 A. GELLMAN ET AL 2,545,658

ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fidney Diesen/zauo March 20, 1951 T A. GELLMAN ET AL 2,545,658

ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1948 4 Shets-Sheet 3 1 E. 9 '1 H6 /00 IO lZO s 212 GeZZman z'dney ,Diesenhaus March 20, 1951 A. GELLMAN ET AL 2,545,658

ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .flkrcw'y r ggellman Sidney .Dwsenhaus 'ATTORNEY 7 Patented Mar. 20, 1951 .1:

255,652} ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Abraham Gel lman, New York, and Sidney Diesenhaus, Monsey, N. Y., assignors to Abe Gellman' & Company, New York,

New York r N. Y., a corporation of ;Application February 4, 1948, Serial No.:6,l2 8 V tdsewing machines and i a wide variety of patterns. It is another object the invention to provide an attachment for so 'coiitrollingvthe operation of such a machine as to .P-Ql'm various patterns to be sewed either with drf-withoutafiller thread. It is a further object Zpfthe invention to maintain a predetermined but adjustable'relation between the movement of the needle bar of such a machine and movement of a filIer thread in sewingsuch patterns. It is still another object of the invention to provide an at- 'tachinent for a'zigzag sewing machine to cause ,the machine to sew a zigzag stitch in an undulating-pattern. It is a still further objectfof the invention to provide an attachment of thistype that canbeieasily'adjusted to vary such variables as the width of the zigzag stitch and the .shape, amplitude andfreduency of -the un'dula tions of the .undulat in 'g patterns Other objects .of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed. outhereafter.

tures af construction, combinationsof elements darrangement of parts as will beexemplified ,in the structure to behereinafter described, and

-:1'zhe $00pe'of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. W p r The many objects and advantages of thepres- 'ent invention may best be understood and appreciated by'reference to the accompanying drawingswhich show apparatus incorporating aprefe'rreitiembodim'ent of the invention and Whereini 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a conventtional zigzag sewing machine having an attachment incorporating the present invention mounted in operative position thereon; l

. Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure taken on the'line 22 as shown in Figure Figure 3 is asectiontaken on the line 33 of Figure 1 and showing the cross-headand the '*manner in which the difierent links are connected thereto; I I} s i 'eewne i n mine-111164 o he invention accordingly consists in the feaibetween the presser foot and throat plate.

. The I end of arm 26 that extends through ln ackets 21 and 28 is fixed to a lever 34, the upper Figure 1 showing themounting of the filler thread feed nozzle and its relationship to the needle bar; Figures 5 and 5a show respectivelya particular cam construction adapted to be. used in the present attachment and the stitch pattern that is produced when this cam structure is employed Y Figures 6 to 9 and 6a to-9a show respectively various modified cam structures and the corfresponding stitch patterns that are produced hen such cam-constructions are used in the present attachment. 1 Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- -Referring initially to Figures 1 and 4, the nu 'meral' l0 designates the main frame of a conventional zigzag sewing machine which, as best shown in- Figure 4, supports a conventional presser foot l2 mounted on a presser foot bar 13 and adapted to cooperate in the usual manner with a throat plate M and feed-dog's [6 to cause the material to be sewed to pass A needle bar i8 carrying the needle 20 is mounted in the usual manner on the frame lfi for oscillationperpendicular to the direction of movement -'-of the material tobe sewed to cause the machine to produce a zigzag stitch. Mounted adjacent. to presser foot l2 there is a filler thread feed nozzle 22 through which the filler thread 24 is fed. The nozz1e22 is fixed to a ill-shaped arm 26 which (see Fig. 1) is rotatably isupported ina pair of brackets 21 .and 28 on the ifiller thread ,bar. 3.6.. The arm 26 passes through and fixed to arm 26 by set screw 3! in such man;-

;n'erthatarm 26 can rotate in the brackets but :cannot move transversely thereof. The bar 3D-i s pivotally mounted on the frame If] at 32.

end of which is connected by a spring 36 to the bar 30 .The construction is such that thespri ng 36urges arm 26 and lever 34in a counterclockiwisedirection (as shown in Fig. 4). The rotation .lof farm 28 and lever 35 under the influence of spring 36 .is' limited by a screw 38 which is :threaded' through lever34 and bears .againstthe bar 310. The position of filler thread'feed nozzle :22 with respect to presser foot. l2 and needle 2O 'can be adjusted by adjustment of thejscrew. 38. LIn. itslowermostposition, arm 26 bears against ;a rod it supported in a bracket 42 on the press'er {foot bar, l3,-and'tl 1us as the presser foot bar-{and 3 presser foot l2 are raised, the feed nozzle 22 is also raised against the action of spring 36.

The filler thread is supplied in the usual manner from a filler thread take-up 33 mounted on the frame It and passes through tension discs 35 to the nozzle 22.

The mechanism now to be described produces a controlled movement of the needle bar I8 and filler thread feed nozzle 22 to cause the machine to sew a zigzag stitch in an undulating pattern. The needle bar I8 is given a relatively rapid scillatory movement of relatively small magnitude substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the material to be sewed to cause the machine to sew a zigza stitch, and there is superposed on this rapid oscillatory movement a slower transverse movement of larger magnitude to produce the desired undulatory pattern. The filler thread feed nozzle 22 is likewise given a rapid oscillatory movement which is substantial- 1y perpendicular to the direction of movement of the materiaLand which corresponds to the rapid movement of the needle bar I8 but is 180 out of phase therewith and is of somewhat greater amplitude than the movement of the needle bar.

superposed on this rapid oscillation of the nozzle 22, there is a relatively slower movement of larger amplitude that corresponds with and is in phase with the slower movement of the needle bar I8. These combined movements cause the machin to sew a filled zigzag stitch in an undulating pattern.

Referring now to Figure 2, power to operate the mechanism of the present attachment is taken from a power or transverse shaft 46 which is a part of a conventional sewing machine. Near one of its ends the shaft 46 is provided with an eccentric 48 having a bearing surface that cooperates with a. similar surface of a bearing ring 50 of. a link 52. The construction is such that the rotation of shaft 46 causes eccentric 48 to rctate to give link 52 a relatively rapid horizontal reciprocatory motion. The shaft 46 normally rotates revolution per stitch. The amplitude of the movement of link 52 may be adjusted by :changing the eccentricity of eccentric 48 in known manner.

Referrin now to Figure 3 of the drawings, .the link 52 is provided at its other end with a bearin ring 54 that cooperates with a frustospherical bearing 56 of a cross-head generally designated as 58. The cross-head 58 includes a shaft 60 rotatably mounted in the arms BI and 62 of a U-shaped bracket 63, and adapted to oscillate about a substantially vertical axis; a bearing support 64 fixed to shaft 66 between the arms 6! and'62 by a set screw 66, and supporting the bearing 56; and a block 68 fixed to the bottom of shaft 60. The reciprocatory movement of link 52 is transmitted through bearing support 64 to shaft 66 to cause the shaft to oscillate about its axis.

.The block 68 is internally bored to receive a ratio rod III that is held in place with respect to block 68 by a set screw I2 in such manner that the position of the rod III with respect to block 68 may be adjusted. At its opposite ends the ratio rod I0 is provided with the frustospherical bearings I4 and 16 that cooperate respectively with the bearing rings-18 and 80 of the .links 82 and 84 respectively. As shown in Figure 2 and l, the link 82 is connected to the filler connected to the needle bar I8 through bearing ring 96 and frusto-spherical bearin 92.

As pointed out above the link 52 is given a reciprocatory motion by the eccentric 48 and this motion of link 52 causes the cross-head 58 to oscillate, about a vertical axis. The ratio rod 10 which is fixed to cross-head 58 is given an oscillatory movement in a horizontal plane, and this oscillatory movement is transmitted through links 82 and 84 to the filler thread bar 30 and needle'barv I8 respectively. Thus the filler thread nozzle 22 and needle 2|] are simultaneously oscillated at a relatively rapid rate but in opposite sense. The relative magnitude of the movement of the filler thread and the needle is determined by the position of ratio rod I0 with respect to block 68 and may be adjusted by means of set frusto-spherical bearing 88, and the link 84 is 'k screw I2, Ordinarily the rod I0 is so positioned with respect to block Bil-as to give the filler thread nozzle a movement of substantially greater amplitude'than that of the needle 20. Referring again to Figure 3,.the cross-head 58 is oscillatable not only around a vertical axis but also around a horizontal axis. The bracket 63 is secured by a pin 94 to a shaft 96 that passes through and is rotatably supported in a supporting plate 98 and a journal bearing 99 fixed to the plate 98. A spacing collar 91 is provided on shaft 96 between plate 98 and bracket 63 to main tain proper spacing of the bracket and plate.

The plate 98 is mounted on the main frame I0. in any suitable manner such as, by the stud bolts I96. Referring toFigure 2, the bolts I00 may be, for example, the. bolts that in a conventional machine support the. presser foot lever I02, and the plate 98 may be spaced from the lever 102 by the spacer. nuts I04. j The shaft 96 is iven a relatively slow controlled oscillatory movement by a mechanism now to be described, and thi oscillation of shaft 96 is transmitted to cross-head 58 and, through ratio rod ID, to the needle bar. I8 and filler thread feed nozzle 22. Thus the movement of the needle bar and filler thread feed'bar produced by'movement of shaft 96 is effectively'superposed on the rapid oscillatory movementpreviously described. The slow movement is applied in the same sense to 'boththe needle bar and filler thread bar.

' Still referrin to Figure 2, the power shaft 45 extends through plate 98 andis provided beyond the plate with a pinion I96 which, through a reducing gear train generally designated as I08,

drives a cam III) mounted for rotation on plate 98. The cam III) (see Fig. 1) is provided with a track: H2 that cooperates with acam follower I I4 on a cam follower lever I I6-pivotally mounted on plate 98. The cam follower lever H6 has a slot H8 through which-it is connected by means of a boltI2Il with the slot I22iofalever I24. The arrangement is such that the relationship between levers I I6. and I24 may be. varied .asdersired by adjustment of bolt I20 in slots H8 and Referring to Figured as .wellas to Figure l, the lever I24 is fixed. by screws I26 to a cap I28 which is in turn fixed to the end of shaft 96by the set screw I36. I The. cap 128 abuts the end of bearing 99 and'thus. prevents axial movement of shaft 96. Thus oscillatory motion of cam fol.- lower II 4 produced by rotation of cam I I0; causes the shaft 96 to oscillate in. a. controlled manner and'this oscillation of shaft-96 istransmitted to the cross-head 58. 7' The operation. of the attachment Of: the present invention should be largely apparent from the 5 roee bing description thereof. Referring to Figure--2-the power shaft 46 rotates at a relatively 'i'apld rate to produce relatively rapid reciprocatory motion of the link 52. This rapid oscillation of link 52- is transmitted through crosshead 58 to the links 82 and 84 and thus produces rapid oscillationof the filler thread and needle bar respectively. The movement of the filler thread and needle is in opposite sense and the filler" thread moves a substantially'greater distancethanthe needle.

superposed on this relatively rapid oscillation ofthe needle and filler thread, there is .a' slower reciprocatorymovement" The power shaft. 45 throughpinion 06 and reduction gearing IE8 drives cam H at a relatively slow rate. .Referringito' Figure 1 the track IIZ-Iof cam H0. causes theifollower I l4 and lever M6 to move. inla controlled manner.-.Motion of lever l 16 is transmittedto lever I24 and thence by shaft 516 tothe bracket and cross-head 58. Thus the cam. H0 and its follower H'kcooperate to produce a relatively slow oscillation of the cross -head 58 about -a--. horizontal axis, and this slow oscillation is :transmitted to both the filler thread. and needle inethe same sense. The-resultant motion of the needle, and filler. thread causes, the machine to Isew-av filled zigzag stitch in anundulating pattern..

..The,.ch,aracter of the pattern that issewed may be varied by varying the construction of ,the cam MB. Figures5-9 show various camtrack constructions and Figures Zia-9a show respectively. the patterns'that are obtained with the several cams shown in Figures 5- 9. -It willbe apparent that a wide variety of patterns can be achieved with t; present apparatus. v t

I Certainof the characteristics of the pattern may be changed without modifying the construction of the cam or substituting a, different cam structure. For example, the frequency of recurrence of the pattern for a given machine. speed may be varied by substituting for the pinion Hit a pinion having a different number of teeth. Also the amplitude of the pattern may be varied by adjusting the bolt 20 in the slots l l8, and ,j 22 to vary the relationship between lever I Hi and lever I24. The amplitude of-the pattern may be reducedjto zero, i. e; the cam may be made inoperative, by moving bolt L20 until it registers with thelaxis of lever IIB. In order to preserve "the symmetry of the pattern and of the operation of the needle, this adjustment should be made when the needle is in its central position, and the parts are so positioned that the needle is in its central position when the levers H6 and H8 are in alignment. The ratio of filler thread movement to amplitude of the zigzag stitch may be varied by adjustment of ratio bar H! in block 68 of the cross-head 58, and the amplitude of the zigzag stitchmay be adjusted, and also reduced to zero, by changing the eccentricity of eccentric 48.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the present structure permits attainment of the several objectives referred to above. The attachment may be easily applied to a conventional zigzag sewing machine and when so applied is capable of controlling the operation of the machine to produce a wide variety of patterns.

' It is, of course, to be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative only and that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. The attachment is particularly useful in its application to zigzag ma,- chines and has been described as applied to such a 'machine,'although it is'ev'ident' that the at tachment'may also be used with machines other than zigzag machines. Also the filler thread and its control-mechanism may be omitted and an unfilled zigzag stitch produced in accordance with a predetermined pattern; The cam Hi! is,

-in'effect, a template and other types of templates may be substituted therefor, I

zontal axis arranged at right angles with respect .needle bar the oscillations of said cross-head about both said vertical and horizontal axes to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching in-a pattern bearing a predetermined relation to sai predetermined pattern of said cam. a 2. An attachment for a sewing machine'having .a transverse shaft and a needle bar mounted for lateral oscillation by said shaft to cause said ma- .chine to sew zigzagstitching, said attachment comprising a cross head mounted-for rotative osfhead about said verticalaxis, a cam having a predetermined pattern, linkage mechanism conn'ected to saidcross-head and having a cam follower cooperating with said cam to cause oscillation of said cross-head about said horizontal axis to be controlled by said cam, driving mechanism causing said cam to oscillate said cross-head about said horizontal axis, and further linkage mechanism connected to said cross-head and to said needle bar to transmit to said needle bar the oscillations of said cross-head about both said vertical and horizontal axes to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching in a pattern bearing a predetermined relation to the configuration of said cam.

3. An attachment for a sewing machine having transverse shaft and aneedle bar mounted for lateral oscillation to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching and having filler thread feeding means mounted thereon, said attachment comprising a cross-head mounted for rotative oscilla-. tion about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis arranged at right angles with respect to one another, driving mechanism actuated by said transverse shaft for oscillating said crossrhead about said vertical axis, a cam having a predetermined pattern; linkage mechanism inithe rear ofsaid sewing machine interconnecting said cam and said cross-head to cause the oscillations of said cross-head about said horizontal axis to be controlled. by said cam, linkage mechanism in the front of said machine connected to said cross-head and to said needle bar to transmit to said needle bar oscillations of said cross-head about both said verticaland horizontal axes to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching in a pattern that bears a predetermined relation to said predetermined pattern of said cam, and further linkage mechanism in the rear of said sewing machine connected to said cross-head'and to said filler thread feeding means to transmit 'to said lfill'er thread feeding means oscillations of said fcross-head to cause said filler thread feeding means'to rnove in predetermined relation tothe movement'of said needle bar.

a 4, Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said cross-head includes a ratio rod swingable about said vertical axis and said needle bar linkage and said filler thread linkage mechanisms are connected to-opposite ends of said ratio rod.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said oross-head includes a ratio rod swingable about said vertical axis and said needle bar. linkage and said filler thread linkage mechanisms are connected to oppositeends of said ratio rod, and said ratio rod is adjustable to adjust therela- .tionship between movement of said needle bar and movement of said filler. thread feeding means.

6. An attachment for asewing machine having a transverse shaft and a needle bar mounted for lateral oscillation to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching and having filler thread feeding means mounted thereon, said attachment vcomprising a cross-head mounted for rotative oscillation about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis arranged at right angles with respect to one another, driving mechanism actuated by said transverse shaft for oscillating said cross-head about said vertical axis, a cam, linkage mechanism connected to said cross-head and having a cam follower cooperating with said cam to cause said cam to control oscillations of said cross-head about said horizontal am's, driving means for driving said cam to oscillate said crosshead about said horizontal axis, linkage mechanismin the front of said machine and connected to said cross-head and vto said needle bar to transmit to said needle bar oscillationsof said crossh'eadabout bothsaid vertical and horizcntalaxes to cause-said machine to sew zigzagfstitchingin a pattern bearing a predetermined relation to the configuration of said cam, and linkage mechanism in the rear of said machine and connected to said cross-head and to saidfiller thread feed-: ing means to transmit to said feeding means 05: cillations of said cross-head to cause said filler thread feeding means to move in predetermined relation to the movement of said needle bar. .i

7. Apparatus as defined inpclaim' 6, wherein said cross-head includesa ratio rod swingable about said vertical axis and said needle bar link age and said filler thread linkage mechanisms are connected toopposite ends of said ratio rod.

'8: Apparatus asdefinedin claim 6, wherein said cross-head includes a ratio rod swingable about said vertical axis and said needle bar lininage and said'filler thread linkage mechanisms are .connected'to opposite'end's-of said ratio rod,and said ratio rod is adjustable. to adjust therelatiorr-i ship between movement of said needle bar and movement of said filler thread feeding means. 9. An attachment for a sewing machine haviing a needle bar mounted for lateral oscillation to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching, said attachment comprising a cam, a cam follower cooperating with said cam and including a slotted member, a linkage mechanism including a-fur ther slotted member connected to the slotted member of said cam, said further slotted member being connected to said needle bar, means for oscillating said needlebar to cause said machine to sew zigzag stitching, and driving mechanism for driving said cam to cause said linkage mecha nism and needle bar to be moved'by said cam and thereby cause said machine to sew Zi -zag stitching in a pattern conforming with the configuration of saidearn, the connection between said two slotted members being adjustable to' a'd just the width of said pattern. ABRAHAM GELLMAN. If;

SIDNEY ,DIESENHAUSJ":

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sigoda Dec. 19,194;

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