US2676558A - Ornamental stitching attachment for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1954 I J. P. mos 2 676,558

ORNAMENTAL STITCHING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 27, 1954 J os 2,676,558

ORNAMENTAL STITCHING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 ORNAMENTAL STITCHING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES John P. Enos, Union, N. .lL, assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,256

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to attachments for sewing machines and more particularly to attachments adapted to be applied to conventional family sewing machines to enable the machine to perform ornamental stitching operations.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified attachment of this nature which readily may be modified at will to cause the machine to produce any one of a considerable number of unlike ornamental seams.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ornamental stitching attachment for sewing machines, including a plurality of interchangeable pattern cams, each designed for production of an individual form of ornamental seam, and to produce a simple and efficient construction permitting ready interchange of the cams and for removably securing the selected cam in the attachment in connecting it to suitable actuating means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an attachment of this nature improved means whereby the work-shifting mechanism may have its amplitude of vibration altered by a manual manipulation.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and. illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings Fig. 1 represents a left side elevation of an ornamental stitching attachment embodying the present invention, showing it attached to the presser-bar of a sewing machine and actuated by the reciprocating needle-bar.

Fig. 2 represents a right side elevational view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a left end view of the device as disclosed in Fig. 2.

Fig. i represents a top plan view of the attachment and a portion of the sewing machine; the presser-bar and the casing member of the attachment being shown in section.

Fig. 5 represents a bottom View of the attachment with the work-shifting element thereof shown in full lines in its intermediate position and, in dotted lines in its two extreme lateral positions when the attachment is adjusted to produce the minimum lateral vibration of the work.

Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along the line 5'6 of Fig. 4, with the casing member removed from the attachment.

Fig. 7 represents a top plan view of the attachment with the work-shifting element thereof shown in full lines in its intermediate position and, in dotted lines in its two extreme lateral positions when the attachment is adjusted to produce the minimum lateral vibration of the work.

Fig. 8 represents a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;.

Fig. 9 represents a disassembled perspective view of the attachment.

Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 represent edge views of various forms of pattern cams which may be used interchangeably in the present attachment.

Figs. 10*, 11 12 13 14 and 15 represent plan views showing, respectively, the forms of ornamental seams which are produced by the sewing machine when the cams shown in Figs. 10 to 15 are embodied in the attachment.

Referring more specifically to the drawings;

the invention is shown as embodied in an attachment comprising a frame, including a base-plate ll, spaced upstanding side walls I8 and I9 and a bracket 29 adapted to be secured to a sewing machine presser-bar 2! by a thumb-screw 22. Referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, the side wall member I9 is provided with a substantially horizontally disposed lip member 23 which is provided with an aperture 2d for receiving a capscrew 25 which functions pivotally to support the end wall i9 upon the frame member by reason of the fact that the cap-screw is threaded into an aperture 25 provided within the frame member proper. Thus the side wall member I9 is pivotally secured to the frame member and about a vertically disposed axis for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

As hereinafter will be described in further detail, the attachment is designed to be actuated by a reciprocatory needle-bar 21 of a conventional sewing machine, which needle-bar carries an eye-pointed needle 28 held thereto by a needleclamp 29 having a laterally projecting lug 30 which receives the needle-clamp screw 3|. The attachment overlies the horizontal work-supporting plate 32 which carries the usual slide-plate 33 and throat-plate 3 1 of the sewing machine proper. A feed-dog 35, forming a part of a conventional four-motion work-feeding mechanism, operates through slots in the throat-plate and serves to advance the work step-by-step through the machine from front to rear independently of the sidewise movements given to the work by the ornamental stitching attachment.

Pivoted to move back and forth horizontally relative to the frame and transversely of the line of scam formation is a work-shifting member comprising a horizontally disposed shank or plate 36 carrying at its forward end a workshifting foot 31. This foot is serrated at its under side to provide work-engaging teeth 38 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, which teeth are adapted to shift the work laterally in opposite directions. The foot 37 is formed with a needle slot 39 which permits the foot to vibrate laterally without interference with the needle. The shank 36 is formed at one side thereof with a longitudinal slot 46 within which slides a shoulder screw threaded into an endwise adjustable vibration regulating member 42 having an upstanding lip or shoulder 43 carrying a locking thumb-screw 44. The rear portion of the shank 35 carries an upstanding cap-screw 45 which enters an arcuate slot 45 formed in the rear portion of the base-plate ll. Thus, the shank slot it with its cap-screw or pin 4!, and the slot 4% with its capscrew or pin d5 constitute a pair of pin-and-slot connections which function as pivot members for the work-shifting element, as later will be described in further detail. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and '7, it is to be understood that the cap-screw ll is provided with a head t? which overlaps the shank 36 while the cap-screw 45 has a head 38 which overlaps the base-plate I! for the purpose of securing the shank member 353 in sliding relation against the bottom portion of the base-plate or platform member ll. Also cooperating with these two screw members in maintaining the shank member 35 in intimate relation with the bottom of the platform H is an angle arm 49 which extends downwardly from the platform member ll so as to be positioned about the bottom face of the shank 36.

An intermediate portion of the shank 36 of the work-shifting member carries a stud 5!! which passes through an enlarged aperture 5! formed in the platform member H of the frame and carries a roller 52 which tracks a cam groove formed in the periphery of any one of the pattern cams which may be fitted into the attachment.

As above stated, the vibration regulating member i2 is adjustable longitudinally of the attachment to move the pivot pin or screw il lengthwise of the slot 40 in the shank 38 of the work-shifting member. Referring particularly to Fig. 7 it is to be understood that a similar longitudinally disposed slot 53 is provided in the platform member I! for guiding the pin back and forth in a longitudinal direction at all times. In other words, the pin 4! tracks the groove 53 in its back and forth movement. Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 9, the locking screw id of the adjusting member 42 passes through a slot 5% provided in an upturned ledge 56 of the shank member 36. Thus, the adjustment of the member 22 with its pin 4| is effected by manually pushing or pulling on the locking screw 44 whenever the same is loosened, and the shank of the locking screw will track the slot 54 thereby to cause the pin 4| to move lengthwise within its slot 53 so as to be positioned in various selected positions of adjustment relative to the slot W. The member 42 may be clamped in any of its adjusted positions by means of the screw 44 which may be tightened against the ledge 56 of the shank member 36.

Still referring to Fig. 7, it is to be noted that the slot 46 of the platform member I? extends arcuately crosswise of the line of feed, while the slot 40 is formed at one side of the shank member 36 and extends parallell to the line of feed. The pin 45 which engages the slot L 6 is fixed in the shank 36, while the pin il which engages the lengthwise slot 40 in the shank 36 is adjustably disposed in a similarly lengthwise slot 53 in the platform member and is secured to the slide or adjustment member 52 which is disposed to overlie the platform member proper. It will be thus appreciated from the foregoing that each of the slots 53 and 6% will confine the movements of their respective pins in different directions so that together these connections define a pivotal axis for the shank member 36. It will be also apparent that the arrangement of the adjustable pin-and-slot connection ll, All and 53 to one side of the attachment frame will permit adjustment of the pin ll to be made nearer to the presser-foot proper without conflicting with the presser-bar 2| or the attachment presser-foot, thus providing a great range of vibratory motion of the work-shifting foot. By reason of the adjustments of the pin 41 lengthwise of the work-shifting member 36, the work-shifting foot 31 may be given lateral vibrations of varying amplitudes from a given lateral movement of the stud 50 under the influence of the pattern cam. Figs. 5 and 7 each illustrate by dotted lines the minimum lateral vibrations given the foot 3'! from a unit lateral movement of the stud 50 due to the rotative movements of the pattern cam.

Important features of this invention, now to be described, are the means for selectively and removably supporting the work-shifting cams and the means for giving to the selected cam step-by-step rotary movements from the reciprocating motions of the needle-bar. As shown most clearly in Fig. 9, the upstanding side walls l8 and IQ of the frame are provided respectively with apertures 51 and 58 into which are designed to be journaled relatively large and small portions 59 and 59 of a multi-diameter drive shaft 80. This drive shaft 60 is, in effect, a single piece, but for convenience of manufacture it is preferably formed of two pieces, the part 59 of larger diameter being secured upon the part 59 by any suitable means such for example as by a set screw 6| shown in Fig. 6. One or more cam driving pins 62 are secured in the shaft portion 59 and project therefrom parallel to the axis of the shaft for entering engagement with complemental sockets 63 provided in each of the interchangeable cams as hereinafter will be described.

The shaft 60 and its driving means are preferably made as a sub-assembly of which the parts are permanently secured together to provide a unit which may be inserted into the frame and into driving relation with a cam inserted between the side walls l8 and I9 or removed therefrom without danger of the parts becoming disassembled. This unitary sub-assembly is designated by the numeral 64 in Fig. 9. An operating lever 65, designed to give to the shaft 60 stepby-step rotary motion from the reciprocatory movements of the needle-bar, has its rearward or hub end 66 journaled for oscillation on a portion 6'! of the shaft 60. Permanently and affixedly secured to one end portion of the shaft 60 is a ratchet wheel 68 which is engaged and actuated by a pawl 69 pivoted at 10 to the operating lever 65. The forward end of the lever 65 is bifurcated as at H and straddles the lug 38 carried by the needle-clamp 29. A spring it carried by the lever 55 bears upon the pawl 59 and normally maintains the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 68, whereupon oscillations of the lever 65, by the needle-bar, effect step-by-step rotations of the cam-driving shaft 60 and the cam secured thereto. Pivotally mounted upon the lever E55 by means of a screw M is an arm "25 having its one end portion ls disposed adjacent an intermediate portion of the pawl 69. The other end portion of the member 15 extends upwardly and is provided with a laterally extending finger piece ll and a lip 18 the form of which elements provides a means whereby the member 75 may be manually shifted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, for the purpose of lifting the pawl 58 from its operative engagement with the ratchet (-38. This action will discontinue the lateral work-shifting movements effected by the attachment, whereupon straightstitching may be performed without removing the attachment from the machine. When the pawl is so shifted out of its operative position, the lever 55 will maintain it in this inoperative position due to the friction set up by its pivot screw M. The lip 78 provided on the member l5 limits the extent of downward movement of the lever so that the spring 13 will not be urged beyond a predetermined position by the pawl 69.

Figs. to 15, inclusive, show various forms of pattern cams numbered 79 to St, inclusive, which cam may be used interchangeably in the present attachment to produce various forms of orna mental stitching as shown in Figs. 10 to respectively. Each of these cams comprises a cylindrical body portion 85 having a circumferentially peripheral cam groove 8t adapted to receive the roller stud 52 carried by the shank 353 or" the work-shifting member. Each cam groove affords active cam surfaces 8'! which serve to shift the roller stud 52 and the work-shifting member laterally, and inactive straight portions 33 which produce a dwell and hold the parts against movement while the needle is in the work. The extent and relative arrangement of the cam surfaces Bl and the straight portions 88 of the cam groove 86 determine the pattern of the ornamental seam to be produced.

The cams are of such width that they snugly lit between the upstanding walls l8 and E9 of the frame. Each cam is formed with a relatively small axial bore 39 adapted to fit upon an intermediate portion lZ of the drive shaft fill, and a larger aligned counter-bore 83 designed to fit upon the relatively large portion 59 of the shaft The radial wall connecting the bore 89 and the ccunterbore 9B is formed with a plurality of sockets 63, hereinbefore mentioned, to receive one or more cam-driving pins 52 carried by the shaft t8. This pin and socket arrangement affords one form of readily separable interengaging means for locking the cam and the shaft together against relative rotation, thereby permitting the interchange of cams without the use of tools of any kind. The sockets 53 are so arranged relaive to the cam groove 8t that when the cam and the drive-shaft are assembled the active cam surfaces 8'2 of the cam-groove may move the work-shifting foot 3i laterally only when the needle is out of the work, thereby protecting both the work and the needle against damage.

To prevent retrograde movement of the pattern :cam during the downstroke of the needle and when the pawl .69 is being retracted to engage the next tooth of the ratchet wheel 68, a leaf spring 9| is secured to the inner face of the pivoted wall I9 by means of a rivet 92, and from Figs. 1, 8 and 9 it will be observed that the upper end portion of this leaf spring is adapted to be bear against a slightly recessed portion 93 of the cam 19.

To place any one of the pattern cams into the attachment, the upstanding wall It is swung about its vertical pivot 25 from its normal position illustrated in Fig. '7 by solid lines, to a secondary position, illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 7, and a selected cam is placed edgewise above the attachment as shown in Fig. 9 and is lowered until the counterbore S0 is aligned with the bearing aperture 57 in the stationary side wall l8. The sub-assembly 64 is then moved axially into position relative to the frame and to the cam and the shaft Ell is inserted through the pattern cam to place the portion 59 into the bearing aperture El of the attachment frame. During the insertion of the shaft it may have to be turned one way or the other slightly to align one or more of the pins 62 with one or more of the apertures 63. in the cam. Thereafter, the movable end wall It) may be swung in a clockwise direction from its dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 7 until it reaches the position illustrated by the solid lines in Fig. 7, at which time the spring 8! will engage the face of the cam and the aperture 58 of the plate It will receive the distal end portion 59 of the sub-assembly shaft Ell thereby to support the remote end of said sub-assembly. Next a casing member or cover 9d of substantially inverted U-shape in vertical section and having the pending side walls 95 and 95 is moved downwardly over the pattern cam and the upstanding side walls l8 and H as well as the ratchet 68 until the forward portion 9'! of the casing rests upon the upper surface 98 of the bracket 2!] constituting a part of the frame. In order to lock both the subassembly :34 and the cover 94 in place, the remote end portion 59 of the shaft 50 is provided with a threaded aperture 99 which is adapted to receive the threaded shank of a thumb screw ltd. As may be best observed from Fig. 8 the cover plate is provided in its side wall 95 with an aperture Elli which is aligned with the threaded shaft aperture 99 whenever the casing is in its operative position. Thus, whenever the screw tilt? is threaded into the shaft bore, the head portion of the screw will abut against the wall 95 of the casing thereby to lock both the cover and the subassembly in position. With the parts in this position, the pattern cam is locked to the shaft iii] and the shaft is held against removal from the frame by means of the cover.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention provides a simple ornamental stitching attachment capable of producing a great number of ornamental seams, the number of variety of cams, and thereby the seams, being almost without limit. Also it will be apparent that the replacement of the cams may be readily effected and without the use of tools.

It will further be apparent that the two slot and pin connections provided in the present attachment permit a wide range range of adjust ments to be made in the amplitude of movement of the work-shifting foot 3? and shank 35.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar; a horizontally disposed shaft journaled in bearings in said frame; means actuated by the needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam secured to said shaft to be rotated thereby; a horizontally movable work-shifting member; means in the form of a pair of horizontally spaced slot-and-pin connections provided between said frame and said work-shifting member; means carried by said work-shifting member and horizontally spaced from said slot-and-pin connections for engagement with said cam so that said cam will oscillate said work-shifting member about said slot-and-pin connections and relative to said frame; and a manually operable means for shifting one of the pins of said slot and pin connections relative to said last mentioned means thereby to vary the amplitude of oscillation of said work-shifting member.

2. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar; said frame being provided with a pair of horizontally elongated slots disposed with their major axes substantially at right angles to each other; a horizontally disposed shaft journaled in bearings in said frame; means actuated by the needle-bar for giving to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam secured to said shaft to be rotated thereby; a horizontally movable work-shifting member; a pair of horizontally spaced pins carried by said work-shifting member with each of said pins being received within a respective one of said slots; means carried by said work-shifting member and horizontally spaced from said pins for engagement with said cam so that said cam will oscillate said work-shifting member relative to said frame, and means carried by said work-shifting member for shifting one of said pins relative to said last mentioned means thereby to vary the amplitude of oscillation of said work-shifting member.

3. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame including a vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein; a horizontally movable work-shifting member pivota-lly secured to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft having one end thereof journaled in said bearing aperture and removable therefrom; means actuated by said needle-bar for engaging the said one end of said shaft and imparting thereto step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam removably secured to an intermediate portion of said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said workshifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; a second vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein, said second wall member being pivotally mounted upon said frame so as to be disposed with its apertured portion in removable engagement with the other end portion of said shaft; and means for removably locking said second wall member in engagement with said shaft,

4. An attachment for a sewing machine having a pressure-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame including a vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein; a horizontally movable work-shifting member pivotally secured to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft having one end thereof journaled in said bearing aperture and removable therefrom; means actuated by said needle-bar for engaging the said one end of said shaft and imparting thereto step-bystep rotary motions; a pattern cam removably secured to an intermediate portion of said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; a second vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein, said second wall member being pivotally mounted upon said frame so as to be disposed with its aperture portion in removable engagement with the other end portion of said shaft; resilient means carried by one face of said second wall member for engagement with said cam whenever said second wall member is disposed in engagement with said shaft thereby to prevent retrograde movement of said cam; and means for removably locking said second wall member in engagement with said shaft.

5. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame including a vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein; a horizontally movable worlnshifting member pivotally secured to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft having one end portion thereof removably journaled in said bearing aperture; means actuated by said needle-bar for engaging the said one end of said shaft and imparting thereto step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam adapted to be removably received over the other end of said shaft for seating upon an intermediate portion of said shaft; means for separably securing said cam positively upon said shaft; means carried by said work shifting member for actuation by said cam thereby to shift the member horizontally; a second vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein, said second wall member being pivotally mounted upon said frame so as to be disposed with its apertured portion in removable engagement with the other end portion of said shaft; and a casing member removably positioned over said two wall members and said cam thereby to lock said second wall member in engagement with said shaft.

6. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar, said frame ineluding a vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein, a horizontally movable work-shifting member pivotally secured to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft having one end portion thereof removably journaled in said bearing aperture; an actuating lever having one end journaled on one end portion of said shaft and its other end designed to engage the needle-bar for oscillation thereby; a ratchet and pawl mechanism carried by said shaft for intermittently transferring motions from said lever to said shaft; an apertured pattern cam adapted to be removably received over the other end of said shaft for seating upon an intermediate portion of said shaft; means for separably securing said cam positively upon said shaft; means carried by said work-shifting member for actuation by said cam thereby to shift the member horizontally; a second vertically disposed wall member having a bearing aperture therein, said second Wall member being pivotally mounted upon said frame and about a vertically disposed axis so as to be disposed with its apertured portion in removable engagement with the other end portion of said shaft; and a casing member removably positioned over said two wall members and said cam thereby to lock said second wall member in engagement with said shaft.

7. An attachment for a sewing machine having a presser-bar and a reciprocating needle-bar, comprising a frame designed to be connected to and supported by the presser-bar; a horizontally movable work-shifting member pivotally secured to said frame; a horizontally disposed shaft journaled in bearings in said frame and removable therefrom; means including a ratchet-wheel actuated by said needle-bar and secured upon one end of said shaft outside the confines of said frame for imparting to said shaft step-by-step rotary motions; a pattern cam secured to an intermediate portion of said shaft to be rotated thereby; means carried by said work-shifting member and actuated by said cam to shift the member horizontally; a substantially U-shaped casing member fitted over said frame, shaft and ratchet-wheel; and means carried by said casing and removably engaging the other end of said shaft to prevent the removal of said shaft from said frame While said casing member is in its normal frame-covering position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,374,721 Bacon et a1 May 1, 1945 2,482,607 Almquist Sept. 20, 1949 2,592,653 Burgess et a1 Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 277,434 Italy Sept. 9, 1930

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