US2623485A - Sewing machine and attachment therefor - Google Patents

Description

Dec; so, 195'"? R. H. VAN WAGENER SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACK-WENT THEREFOR Filed Feb. 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l RaymofiJEVblW r Dec. 30, 1952 R. H. VAN WAGENER SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed Feb. -27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Raymond H. Van Wagener, Stamford, Conn., as-

signor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 27, 1950, Serial N 0. 202,828

14 Claims. (Cl. 112-101) This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines and, more particularly, to a mechanism for periodically indenting an edge of the work being stitched, thereby to produce in the work a shell-edge effect, and at the same time laying a cord along the indented work edge so that the cord will be secured to the work by means of these stitches.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a sewing machine with a combined workedge indenting and cord-laying mechanism which may be inexpensively manufactured and readily applied to existing type sewing machines.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a front side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of a portion of a sewing machine containing the improved Work-surging and cord-laying mechanism.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged fragmentary top plan view partly in section, along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.,

Fig. 5 represents a detail view showin the presser-foot and feed-dog in side elevation and the throat-plate in section.

Fig. 6 represents a bottom plan view of the presser-foot of the machine.

Fig. 7 represents a sectional view taken substantially along the line 'l-'! of Fig. 2.

The present improvements have been embodied in a lock-stitch sewing machine of the class disclosed in the United States patent of F. W. Breul, No. 2,424,793, July 29, 1947. The sewing machine has a frame including a bedplate ill, from one end of which rises a hollow standard II of a bracket-arm terminating in an overhanging head I2. Journaled for vertical reciprocation in the head I2 is a needle-bar I3 carrying at its lower end a needle I4. Also mounted in the head I2 is the usual sprin biased presser-bar l5 carrying at its lower end portion a presser-foot I6.

The needle I4 operates through. a suitably apertured throat-plate ll, secured upon and forming with the bed-plate In a work-support. ,Disposed below the throat-plate I! and complemental to the needle I4 in the formation of lock-stitches, is a rotary loop-taker I8 of the rotary hook type and having a thread-loop seizing beak Is. The rotary loop-taker I8: rotates twice for each needle reciprocation and casts the needle-thread-loops about a mass of under thread contained in a thread-case 20 journaled in th loop-taker and restrained against rotation therewith.

The loop-taker I8 is suitably secured upon one end of a horizontal loop-taker shaft 2|, which is rotatably journaled in spaced bushings 22, 22. The bushings 22, 22 are suitably secured in a wall 23 depending from the bedplate I 0; said wall 23 forming a portion of a gear casing providing a lubricant chamber 24. At its end opposite the loop-taker I8, the loop taker shaft 2! carries a spur gear 25 disposed within the lubricant chamber 24.

In mesh with the spur gear 25 are teeth 26 provided internally of a flange 2! of a driving gear wheel 28; said gear wheel 28 being disposed in the lubricant chamber 24 and adapted to dip into a supply of lubricant contained in said chamber. The driving gear wheel 28 is secured in a suitable manner upon one end of a horizontally disposed bed-shaft 29, which rotates once for each needle reciprocation. The bed-shaft 29 is journaled adjacent the gear 28 in a bearing-bushing 30 secured in another gear casin wall 3| depending from the bed-plate l0.

Suitably secured upon the outboard end of the bed-shaft 29 is a peripherally grooved pulley 32 engaged by a driving belt 33 of the sewing machine in the usual manner.

Th Work is intermittently advanced across the Work-support by a differential feeding mechanism including feed- dogs 34 and 35, both of which feed-dogs operate through suitable feed slots 36 provided in the throat-plate ll.

The feed-advance and -return movements are imparted to the feed-dogs 34 and 3-5 by means of suitable mechanism including a pair of eccentrics 31 and 38, while the feed lift movements are imparted to the feed-dogs by means of a third eccentric 39. The eccentrics 37 and 38 are disposed adjacent each other upon the bedshaft 29 and are generally similar in construction to the feed-advance eccentric construction disclosed more fully in the United States patent of W. Myers, No. 2,128,031, August 23, 1938. The feed-lift eccentric 39 is also mounted upon the shaft 29 and thus, from the foregoing description, it will be understood that the four-motion feed movements are imparted to the feed-dogs 3t and by the eccentrics 3?, 38 and 39 through the medium of conventional mechanism which is not disclosed herein. By adjustment of the respective eccentrics 3i and 33, the feed- dogs 34 and 35 may be caused to have unison workadvancing movements, or either to full or stretch the work by imparting differential movements to the feed-dogs all in a manner as described in the above noted Breul Patent No. 2,424,793.

The flange 27 of the loop-taker driving gearwheel 28 is provided externally with spiral threads it to form a worm in driving engagement with the teeth of a worm wheel t! which extends downwardly through an opening t2 in the bed-plate Hi.

This worm wheel i! is suitably secured upon a cross-shaft 23 extending transversely of the bedshaft 29 and disposed above the bed-plate it. The cross-shaft 53 is suitably journaled in a generally rectangular housing bracket i l; the bracket M rising from the bed-plate ill and being suitably secured thereon by screws M. The top portion of the bracket 44 is closed by a cover-plate 45 secured by screws as at (it.

Secured upon and for rotation with the crossshaft 53, within the bracket M3 is an eccentric i'i embraced by a strap at one end of a pi-tman 38. At its other end, the pitman 48 is pivotally connected by a pivot bolt 9 to a crank-arm 5b journaled intermediate i-ts ends upon a stub-shaft 5| which is suitably secured in the front and rear walls of the bracket 3 The lower end portion of the crank-arm 5b is pivotally secured, as by means of a bolt 52, to a connecting link 53 which, in turn, is pivotally connected by means of a pin 56 to an endwise reciprocatory slide-bar 55. The slide-bar 55 is slidably mounted in an internal bracket lug 56 and an external bracket boss 5? for reciprocation transversely of the line of seam formation of the machine; said slide-bar 55 being disposed above the bed-plate i ii and substantially parallel to the bed-shaft 29.

For a more complete disclosure of the mechanism for reciprocating the slide-bar 55, reference may be had to the above noted Breul Patent No. 2,424,793.

In accordance with the present invention, the distal end portion of the slide-bar 55 is provided with a reduced shank 58 which is adapted to receive thereon a boss member 59 which is provided with a suitably shaped hole 68 for receiving the member 53. For locking the boss 59 upon the member 58, the boss is provided with a suitable set screw 6i. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the boss 59 is provided with a cylindrical aperture 62 in which is slidably mounted a cylindrical plunger 63. The forward end portion of the plunger 63 is provided with a lug 6d and by referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it is to be understood that the lug fi l, as well as its plunger 63, is provided with a vertically disposed slot 65 for receiving therein an edgewise vertically disposed work-edge indenting element or hemdeflecting blade 66. This blade is provided with an aperture 67 for receiving therein a screw 63 which is threaded directly into the lug 64 for looking the blade 65 in its proper position. By referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the boss 59 is provided with a vertical slot 69 for receiving therein a rear finger portion B8 of the blade E58, which finger portion enters the slot 56 so as to prevent the plunger 63 and the blade 56 from turning within the aperture 62. In this connection, it will be noted from Fig. 4 that the boss 59 is provided at its under side with a flat face it which is disposed in substantial contact 4 with the throat-plate ll thereby to prevent the slide-bar 55 from turning about its longitudinal axis. Still referring to Fig. 4, the lower forward edge portion '62 of the blade 86 is substantially in contact with the throat-plate H and the upper edge of the blade is downwardly inclined, as at 73, thereby to provide a narrow work-engaging edge.

The forward portion of the blade 56 is provided with a cord-guiding eye l'li, the function of which will be hereinafter described in more detail. The rear end of the plunger 53 is provided with a central threaded aperture l5 which receives therein a threaded stud it having a head portion "H. For locking the head '5'! in selective positions of adjustment relative to the plunger 63, there is provided on the stud 76 a threaded nut F8 which, when abutted against the end portion of the plunger 63, locks the stud within the plunger. Surrounding the plunger 63 and disposed between the boss 5d and the nut "E8 is a coil spring 19 which functions to bias the plunger crosswise of the direction of seam formation and away from the stitching area.

The feed-dogs and 35 are opposed by the bottom or sole-plate portion of the presser-foot l6 which is provided with a combined needleand blade-clearance slot 33 which is disposed in alignment with the blade 63 and the needle I i. Formed within the sole-plate of the presser-foot is a workclearance notch M which extends transversely of the presser-foot to communicate with the combined needle and blade notch or slot 80. This slot Si divides the sole-plate into a forward workengaging portion 32 and a rearward work-engaging portion 83. The sole-plate is pivotally attached to the presser-foot shank 84 by means of a conventional pivot pin 85 which is, in turn, secured to the lower end of the presser-bar I5 which is endwise movable in the bracket-arm head 12 and spring depressed in a conventional manner.

Disposed in front of the presser-foot it is a conventional scroll hemmer 86 having its shank 81 secured to the bed-plate It in a suitable manner. The delivery end of the hemmer 86 is located to direct the hem fold H, formed by the hemmer in the work W, under the sole-plate of the presser-foot ina conventional manner.

Suitably secured upon the bed-plate Ill at a location forwardly of the bracket i4 is an elongated arm 88 having a plurality of apertures 89, 89 therein which function as cord-guidin eyes for the purpose of directing a cord C from a source of supply to the stitching area in a manner as will hereinafter be described.

' In the operation of the present machine, the slide-bar 55 and, consequently, the blade 66 perform one complete reciprocation during the formation of a plurality of stitches, as for example, six stitches. During its advancing movement, the blade 6t enters the presser-foot slot 8! and deflects the edge of the hem fold H inwardly sufi iciently far to cause the needle 54 to descend outside the hem fold and thereby form a stitch extending over the edge of the work. The forward feed of thework, in conjunction with the action of the presser-foct it, the return movement of the blade 66 and the resiliency of the material being stitched results. in the needle again penetrating the work in its subsequent descent and until the hem fold is again deflected by the blade (it. Consequently, the

stitched work presents a scalloped or shell. edge.

34 which is disposed beneath the presser-foot.

Thus, the feed-dog is effective to feed the work beneath the presser-foot and away from the stitching area. In utilizing the present machine for both work-edge scalloping as well as for cord laying, a cord 0 is directed from a source of cord supply through one or more of the apertures 89 in the guide 838 and thereafter this cord is led through the cord-guiding means '14 of the blade 66 and then is directed beneath the presserfoot 16. The operation of the machine itself is substantially the same as hereinabove described with the blade 66 performing one complete reciprocation durin the formation of a plurality of stitches, as for example six stitches. During its advancing movement, the blade to enters the press'er-foot slot at and deflects the edge of'the hem fold H inwardly sufficiently far to cause the needle Hi to descend outside the hem fold and at the same time the cord-guiding means positions the cord on the left-hand side of the needle so that the needle will descend on the outside of the cord thereby to form a stitch extending both over the edge of the work as well as over the cord so as to secure the cord to the edge portion of the work. Thereafter, the blade 66 withdraws from the work and the feeding mechanism advances the work which is stitched in the usual manner until the blade again functions to indent the Work and present the cord to the stitching mechanism. Thus, the cord during the normal stitching operation will be laid alongside the scalloped edge of the work to produce work of the type which is illustrated in Fig. 2.

From the above it will be appreciated that the present cord-guidin means functions not only to present the cord to the work but, at the same time, it functions to lay the cord along the edge of the work. In order to perform these functions properly, the cord-guiding means must, on its backward movement, shift sufliciently far away from the presser-foot so as to gather a sufficient quantity of slack cord to enable the cordguiding means to lay an optimum amount of cord about the scalloped edge, as above noted. In this connection, it is to be understood that a portion of the cord is disposed between the presserfoot 16 and the feed-dogs and whenever the feeddogs function to feed the work away from the stitching area they, at the same time, function to draw the cord through the cord-guiding means. However, as the feeding operation continues, the blade 65 with its cord-guidin means withdraws from the stitching area and this action, of course, provides the cord-guiding means, between the latter element and the presser-foot, with a predetermined length of slack cord, which amount depends upon the amplitude of backward movement of the cord-guiding means. In other words, the further the cord-guiding means moves away from the presser-foot the greater will be the amount of slack cord disposed between the cordguidin means and the presser-foot, which cord is to be laid alongside of the successive scallops.

In order to insure that an optimum quantity of slack cord will be provided between the presserfoot and the cord-guiding means, the present invention contemplates a provision of a cord-guiding means which will have an amplitude of movement which is not necessarily equal to the amplitude of movement of the slide-bar 55. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be understood that as the slide-bar 55 reciprocates back and forth crosswise of the line of scam formation and toward and away from the presser-foot, the plunger head Tl will contact the forward portion of the external lug 51 on the withdrawal stroke of the slide-bar 55 and thus the rearward motion of the blade 66, together with that of the cord-guiding means, will be arrested to the end that the cord-guiding means will have a shorter amplitude of movement than the slidebar 55. In other words, the plunger head 11 engages the stationary lug 51, whereby the boss 59 moves relatively to the plunger 63 during the continued retracting stroke of the slide-bar 55. By backing off the nut 18 from the end portion of the plunger 63, the stud 16 may be adjusted relative to the plunger 63 so that the head 11 may be shifted away from or toward the plunger 63. This adjustment will, of course, either lengthen or shorten the amplitude of movement of the blade 66, together with its cord-guiding means. From this, it will be appreciated that the present device may be so adjusted as to provide a proper amount of cord so that the machine may produce different types of scalloped and corded Work.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the present boss 59, together with its plunger 63 and the work-indenting blade 65, as well as the cord-guiding means 74 are adapted to be applied to a sewing machine as a unitary device, and since the amplitude of movement of the blade 65 and its cord-guiding means may be adjusted, it will be clear that the present attachment may be applied to various machines irrespective of the throw of the slide-bar 55. Although the amplitude of movement of the plunger t3 may be varied, it is to be understood that the forward position which the blade 56 takes relative to the presser-foot is always the same for any one setting of the boss 59 upon the stem 58 of the slide-bar 55. In other words, even though the amplitude of backward movement of the plunger 63 is altered, the forward position which the blade 6% assumes relative to the presser-foot always remains the same. Thus, the present work-edge indenting and cord-laying mechanism comprises a substantially self-contained unit which may be readily applied to a standard type sewing machine without involving any great expense or undue effort.

Having thus set forth the nature of vention, What I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having stitch-form- 1 ng and work-feeding mechanism, an endwise reciprocatory member having a path of movement crosswise of the line of scam formation, means for reciprocating said member, a workedge indenting and cord-guiding element carried by said member for movement with and relatively to said member, and stop-means limiting the retracting movement of said element during the continued retracting movement of said member.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a work-indenting element and a cord-guiding ele-. ment each mounted for reciprocation crosswise the inof the. line seam formation, means including a pair of members shiftable. relative to eachv other in a straight line direction for operatively connecting said work-indenting and cord-guiding elements with said driving means, and means associated with one of said members for varying the amplitude of reciprocatory movement of said cord-guiding element.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a presserfoot, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming. and work-feeding mechanisms, of a work-indenting element and a cord-guiding element each mounted forreciprocation toward and away from said presser-foot, and crosswise of the line of seam formation, means including a pair of mem v bers shiftable relative to each other in a straight line direction for operatively connecting said driving means with said work-indenting and cord guiding elements for reciprocating each of said elements crosswise of the line of seam formation and to and from and entirely at one side of a predetermined line disposed adjacent said presser-foot and in parallelism with the line of seam formation, and means associated with one of said members for varying the amplitude of movement of said cord-guiding element to. and from its associated predetermined line.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a presserfoot, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming and workfeeding mechanisms, of a work-indenting element mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said presser-foot and crosswise of the line of seam formation, cord-guiding means carried by said element, means including a pair of members shiftable relative to each other in a straight line direction for operatively connecting said driving means with said work-indenting element for reciprocating said element crosswise of the line of seam formation and to and from and entirely at one side of a predetermined line disposed adjacent said presser-foot and in parallelism with the line of seam formation, and means associated with one of said members for varying the amplitude of movement of said element to and from the predetermined line.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of scam formation, said driving means being connected with said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a workedge indenting element carried by said member, cord-guiding means carried by said member, and means responsive to the movements of said member for periodically shifting said cord-guiding means relative to said member so as to cause said cord-guiding means to have an amplitude of movement relative to the line of seam formation substantially different from that of said member.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means being connected with said member for recipro:

e ing t e lat n med rela ion w th said stitch-forming and. work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a workedge indenting element carried by said member, cord-guiding means carried by said member, means responsive to the movements of said member for periodically shifting said cord-guiding means relative to said member so as to cause said cord-guiding means to have an amplitude of movement relative to the line of scam formation substantially different from that of said member, and means for varying the amplitude of movement of said cord-guiding means relative t the line of seam formation.

'7. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, Work-feeding mech-. anism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means being connected with said member for reciproeating the latter in timed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a work-. edge indenting element carried by and mounted for movement lengthwise of said member, cordguiding means carried by said element, and means responsive to the movement of said member for periodically shifting said element length: wise of said member.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms. of a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means being connected with said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relation with said stitch-forming and vork-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a workedge indenting element carried by and mounted for movements lengthwise of said member, spring means associated with said element for biasing said element away from the line of seam formation, cord-guiding means carried by said element, and means responsive to the movements of said member for periodically shifting said element lengthwise of said member and in a direction in opposition to the action of said spring means.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame, stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted upon said frame for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means being connected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a work-edge indenting element carried by and mounted for movements lengthwise of said member, spring means associated with said element for biasing said element away from the line of seam formation, cord-guiding means carried by said element, and means carried by said frame and disposed adjacent said member for periodically shifting said element relative to said member and against the action of said spring means in response to the movements of said member.

10. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding. mechanism, driving means for actuating said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms, and a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means being connected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relation with said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude; the improvement which consists in the provision of a combined work-edge indenting and cord-laying device, said device comprising a boss removably mounted upon said member, a work-edge indenting element carried by and mounted for movement relative to said boss, cord-guiding means carried by said element, and means secured to said element for periodically engaging said frame in response to the movements of said member thereby periodically to shift said element relative to said boss and said member.

11. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, driving means for actuating said stitchforming and Work-feeding mechanisms, and a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of scam formation, said driving means being connected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude; the improvement which consists in the provision of a combined work-edge indenting and cord-laying device, said device comprising a boss removably mounted upon said member, a work-edge indenting element carried by and mounted for movement relative to said boss, cord-guiding means carried by said element, spring means for biasing said element in one direction, and means secured to said element for periodically engaging said frame in response to the movement of said member thereby peri-odically to shift said element relative to said boss and said member and in opposition to the action of said spring means.

12. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitch-forming mechanism, work-feeding mechanism, driving means for actuating said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms, and a member mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means being connected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relation with said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude; the improvement which consists in the provision of a combined work-edge indenting and cord-laying device, said device comprising a boss removably mounted upon said member, a plunger slidably mounted Within said boss, a work-edge indenting element carried by one end of said plunger, cordguiding means carried by said element, spring means for biasing said plunger lengthwise of itself and away from said stitch-forming mechanism, and means provided on the other end of said plunger for periodically engaging said frame in response to the movement of said member thereby periodically to shift said plunger relative to said boss and in opposition to the action of said spring.

13. A work-indenting attachment for sewing machines, comprising, a boss adapted to be reciprocated back and forth crosswise of the line of sewing machine seam formation, a work-indenting blade slidably mounted upon said boss, spring means for biasing said blade toward one end of said boss, and means connected with said blade for limiting the movement of said blade relative to said boss.

14. A work-indenting attachment for sewing machines, comprising, an apertured boss adapted to be reciprocated back and forth crosswise of the line of sewing machine seam formation, a plunger slidably mounted within said boss, a workindenting blade mounted upon one end portion of said plunger, a spring associated with said plunger for biasing said blade toward said boss, and a head member carried upon the other end of said plunger for engagement with the sewing machine thereby to produce a difierential movement between said boss and said plunger in response to the movements of said boss.

RAYMOND H. VAN WAGENER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,884,033 Maier Oct. 25, 1932

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