US2687703A - Apparatus in a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE Filed March 22, 1951 AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHNE -NEEDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet l BY 562@ g Aug. 31, 1954 N, SH01-SKY 2.687,703

APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-NEEDLE AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 V JNVENTOR. AMT/4N Sword/(V Aug. 31, 1954 N. sHoTsKY 2,687,703 APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-NEEDLE AUTOMATIC QUILTING Filed March 22, 1951 MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 N. sHo'TsKY 2,687,7031

NEEDLE AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHINE Aug. 3l, 1954 APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE- 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed 'March 22, 1951 INVENTOR.

f W .o ,4 MAA w Patented Aug. 31, 1954 APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-NEEDLE AUTO- MATIC QUILTING MACHINE Nathan Shotsky,

fourth to Hersch jamin Zauderer,

Brooklyn, N. Zauderer, and one-fourth to David H.

Y., assignor of one:- one-fourth to Ben- Turkel, all of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 22, 1951,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ap` paratus in a multiple-needle automatic quiltingr machine.

One object of the present invention is the proautomatic mechanism for securing superposed threads to the surface of traveling fabric which is ininite number to produce anI the use of a variety of threads.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel automatic mechanism for securing a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric by lock-stitching with the stitching embracing and frictionally engaging the superposed threads.

Otherobjects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the` description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: l

Fig. 1 is a front perspective View of a. multipleneedle automatic quilting machine embodying Serial No. 216,990

method of lock stitching the superposed thread to the fabric;

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross sectional View through the pressure plate showing the method of threading the superposed thread in the reciprocable bars;

Fig. 9l is an elevational View needle xcd to a handle;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a fabric segment havf ing superposed thereon threads in a pre-selected quilted pattern;

Fig. 11 is a plan View ofA a fabric segment having superposed thereon elastic threads to form shirred and quilted fabric;

Fig. l2 is a plan view of a fabric segment hav-Y ing superposed thereon shirred fabric; y

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view showing a pair of reciprocable needles and their driving means in both eXtreme positions Fig. 14 is a schematic illustration of the path of travel of the fabric from the supply roll to the processed fabric roll;

Fig. 15 is a partial plan View showing the path of fabric travel relative to the reciprocable needles;

Fig. 16 is a partial plan View showing the motor drive and transmission to the cam drive for the carriage;

Fig. 17 is a detail partial plan View showing the cam drive for the carriage;

Fig. 18 is a detailed view in side eleva-tion of the reciprocable needle driving means; and

of the threading ing fabric guiding apron.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 1A the multiple# ing the present invention, ing base IZ; a rest plate |16,

comprises a support-V4 reciprocating carriage hl, a fabric elastic threads to form.4

are fed to the surface of the traveling fabric II in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

With reference to Fig. 14 there is shown a schematic illustration of the path of travel of the fabric II from the supply roll 22 to the processed fabric roll 24. The traveling fabric II passes onto the guiding apron 36 from which it is fed between the fabric rest plate I6 and the pressure plate I8 by means of the feeding rollers 26. The feeding rollers 26 are driven intermittently at a constant speed from the main drive shaft 46 (Fig. 16). From the feeding rollers 26 the fabric is fed to the processed fabric roll 24.

, With reference to Fig. 1, the fabric rest plate I6 is xed to, and reciprocates with, the reciprocating carriage I4, whereas the pressure plate I8 is mounted on the automatic quilting machine If) independently of said carriage I4. The fabric rest plate I is fixed to the carriage I4 in any conventional manner and it is to be understood that said rest plate and carriage combination is conventional in all respects..

In a conventional multiple-needle automatic quilting machine the banks of needles 20 are adapted to bond or sew together a plurality of layers of cloth or other textile material by stitching them automatically in various decorative patterns. The present invention provides for an attachment for such a conventional multipleneedle automatic quilting machine for securing a superposed thread to the surface of the traveling fabric iI in any pre-selected decorative pattern.

With reference to Figs. 2 to 4 applicants attachment mechanism for securing the superposed thread 48 to the surface of the traveling fabric -II comprises a longitudinally slotted pressure plate I8 and a plurality of bars 52. The pressure plate i8 is longitudinally slotted at 54 and the bars 52 are adapted to mate with the slots 54. The pressure plate I8 has a plurality of spaced cut-out portions 5t which are used for a purpose to be described in detail hereinafter. Bridging the bars 52 is a transverse connector member 56 which is fixed to the bars 52 and which is adapted to synchronously reciprocate said bars relative to the pressure plate I8. In order to effect the reciprocation of the connector member 56 and thereby effect the reciprocation of bars 52, there is provided a rotating cam 58 which is driven from the main drive shaft 46 by means of the chain drive 6i) and gear 62. Rigidly secured to the connector member 5B is a cam follower 64 which is adapted to ride in the slot 66 of the rotating cam 5S to impart to the bars 52 an intermittent reciprocating motion, as will be evident from Figs. 2 and 3. There is provided in the plate it a plurality of spaced slots 68 which are adapted to cooperate with the posts 'I0 xed to the bars 52 for guiding the bars 52 during their reciprocation. In Fig. 2 the bars 52 are shown in their left extreme position Whereas in Fig. 3 the bars 52 are shown in their right extreme position, the reciprocating and positioning of said bars being effected by the previously described rotating cam 53 and follower 64. Bars 52 have a plurality of spaced integral protuberances i2 which are adapted to guide the superposed threads 43 relative tothe surface of the traveling fabric II. There are provided aligned, transverse apertures 14 passing through the bars 52 and protuberances l2, said apertures 14 being adapted to receive a superposed thread 43 from the feed source or supply roll 42. It will be readily apparent that the protuberances l2, being integral with the bars 52, mill intermittently reciprocate with said bars 52 between the extreme positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The exact shape and design of the protuberances 'I2 is not of controlling significance and any protuberances i?. may be utilised in the system to effect the proper positioning and guiding of the superposed thread 48 relative to the surface of the traveling fabric II. Spaced cut-out portions 50, of the pressure plate I6, are located complementary to the protuberances 'i2 and to the area adjacent to the transverse apertures 14, to provide clearance for said protuberances and the area adjacent to the transverse apertures 'I4 on the reciprocation of the bars 52. The cut-out portions 5c are also provided to effect clearance for threading the protuberances 12 and the transverse apertures 'i4 with a superposed thread 48 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The banks of needles 2li comprise a plurality of spaced needles I5 mounted in two rows with a predetermined number of needles in each row (Figs. 5 and 6). It will be readily understood that any number of rows of needles, and any number of needles in each row, may be used depending on the decorative pattern selected.

"With reference to Figs. 13 and 18, the needles I6 are adapted to reciprocate vertically in a xed path to lock-stitch the superposed threads 48 to the surface of the fabric II. All the needles 16 reciprocate in unison and both rows of needles are secured to the needle bracket 18 in any conventional manner as by screws S0. The needles 'I6 are reciprocated between the extreme positions shown in lig. 13 by means of eccentric 82, connecting link member 84, and arm 86 connected to theshaft 88. It will be understood that on the rotation of the main drive shaft 46, needles 'I6 are reciprocated intermittently in a predetermined sequence as more fully described below. The protuberances 'I2 of the reciprocable bars 52 are adapted to reciprocate across the fixed needle path sequentially whereby on one down stroke of the needles i6 the latter enters the travelling fabric II to stitch the superposed thread 4B, with the protuberances I2 positioned adjacent to and at one side of said needles, and on the next down stroke of said needles the latter again enters the' fabric II to stitch the superposed 'thread 48, with the protuberances 'I2 positioned adjacent to and at the other side of said needles, to complete a cycle. Thus it will be seen that the protuberances l2 are adapted to reciprocate across the paths of the needles in timed sequential relationship with respect to the needles 'le whereby on the down stroke of said needles the latter penetrates the traveling fabric II to stitch the superposed threads 48 to said fabric with the thread-bearing protuberances 'I2 positioned adjacent to and on alternate sides of said needles I6. The protuberances 12 thereby guide the superposed threads 48 relative to the surface of the traveling fabric ii and the path of the needles l5. The superposed threads 48 are lock-stitched to the fabric II by the needles 'i6 and it will be seen that each stitch will be in substantial alignment and on alternate sides of the superposed threads 43. It will be understood that the intermittent axial reciprocation of the bars .52 may be sequentially timed with the reciprocable needles i6 as described above in any conventional manner.

In operation, threads adapted to lock-stitch the superposed threads-4ii to the surface of the fabric il are fed from the spools 35 to the apertures 90 of the needles `16, whereas the superposed threads :I8 are fed from the supply roll superposed threads are, restralned straight by means of the lock-stitches |92 as shown in the fabric segment 94, illustrated in Fig. 10.

In order to allow the traveling fabric II to intermittently pass between the rest plate I6 and the pressure plate I 8, the pressure plate I8 is adapted to reciprocate intermittently, relative to the plate I6 of the machine I9, in a vertical path.

Si; to which is secured the pressure plate It.

The carriage I d reciprocates intermittently in a horizontal plane by means of cam plate |96 (Fig. 17) The carriage I4 is provided with frame structure H38 to which is attached horizontal members IIt outboard of said frame |68. A pair of spaced cam followers I I2 is secured to plate I I d which is in turn xed tothe members I It, the followers H2 being adapted to cooperate with the rotating cam plate IiII whereby on the rotation of said cam plate |06 the frame |08 and thel carn riage I4 will be intermittently reciprocated. With reference to Fig, 16, the cam plate It is driven from the main shaft 46 through the intermediary `of the gear case IIS and transmission `gears IIE and |29, the gear I2@ driving the cam shaft |22 and the cam plate |06. The main shaft 46 is driven from any suitable power source such as motor drive |24 and belt 26. `A hand wheel |28 is connected to main drive shaft46 to manually drive machine Iii. It -will be'` understood that the bars 52, the needles IE, the pressure plate I8 and the carriage I 4 are all driven from motor drive |25 with a constant speedintermittent motion and are all sequentially timed to properly coordi-` nate their relative movements.

In Fig. 7 there is shown the method of lockstitching the superposed threads 4t to the traveling fabric II. The superposed threads 38' rest on the surface of the traveling fabric I and the needle I6 bearing the front thread I 3d of the lockstitch penetrates the fabric II. This forms a loop from the thread I3@ at which time the shuttle I 32' bearing the rear thread |34 of the lock-stitch stitch` sewing machine principle which is used inl 75 a connected generally arcuate portion Ide, forming a generally obtuse angle with the shank |38, and a generally straight portion I 42 extending from the portion |60 inwardly toward the shank |38, the straight portion |42 forming an obtuse 52 and protuberances 'I2 comprises the steps of mounting the hooked threading needle M3 into a cut-out portion and through the transverse apertures 'I4 from the opposite side of said. apertures to the direction of thread travel from the feed source 42, hooking the thread itt, andv retracting or backing the threading needle Ili out of the transverse apertures le and the complementary cut-out portion 5t. It will be understood that the above threading method provides for the thread t8 being hooked at tilt of needle Idil in a doubled condition and being pulled through the apertures It to thread the bars 52. with the superposed thread 4B.

The above described apparatus also provides a method of shirring fabric by securing a superposed elastic thread to the surface of the travel* ing fabric II in any pre-selected decorative pattern. The method is carried out by supplying elastic threads 4a to the superposed thread feed source 42 and feeding said elastic' threads to the fabric I I under tension in any conventional manner. In other words, elastic threads are substituted for inesaltic threads at the thread supply source 42 and said elastic threads are under tension. In Fig. 12 there is shown a segment of shirred fabric IEc which is formed in accordance with the above method by superposing on the fabric an elastic thread #le and securing said thread to the surface of the fabric II under tension so that the thread is secured to the fabric in a pre-selected position, and on the tension release of the elastic thread 43, a shirred decorative surface pattern is formed in the fabric.

The above described method may also be used for shirring and quilting fabric by securing superposed elastic threads to the surface of traveling fabric II to form a quilted pattern in any preselected design by the use of superposed elastic threads G3. With reference to Fig. 11 there is shown a segment of shirred and quilted fabric |52 having superposed thereon a plurality of elastic threads 4.8 in a pre-selected decorative pattern with the elastic threads de being secured to the surface of the fabric under tension by lock It will be apparent that the loch-- stitching as previously described embraces and frictionally engages the threads 48 in a staggered path whereby said threads are secured to thel fabric in a pre-selected quilted pattern so that on the tension release of the elastic threads 4,23, a shirred and quilted decorative surface pattern is formed in the fabric. It will be readily under stood that the fabric segments |5t and E52 are formed by the use of the apparatus of the present invention with the superposed thread supply source 42 supplying elastic threads 48. `In Fig. 10'

a fabric segment 94 in which the superposed thread 48 is inelastic and is formed in a quilted pattern, Whereas in Fig. 11 there is shown a fabric segment |52 bearing the same superposed thread surface design in which the superposed thread 48 is elastic. In Fig. l5 there is shown the path of travel of the fabric I I relative to the reciprocable needles 16, it being understood that the needles IG reciprocate in a fixed vertical path Whereas the fabric I| reciprocates with the carriage I4 in a fixed horizontal path.

With reference to lig. 19 there is shown a front View of the fabric guiding apron 36, which is provided with a plurality of ribs 31, for guiding the travelling fabric II from the fabric supply roll 22 to the rest plate I6 and the pressure plate I8.

It will be readily understood that the traveling fabric II reciprocates with the carriage I4 in a predetermined sequence as described above to form various patterns in the fabric such as is shown in Fig. 10. The rate of feed of the travelling fabric may be varied to get any desired number of. stitches per inch or running length of the fabric. As is conventional in multipleneedle automatic quilting machines, the design or pattern to be sevved on the traveling fabric I I is governed by three factors, the cam plate |06, the gearing for the feed rollers 26 and the arrangement of the needles i6. By varying these three fact/ors in any combination a different design or pattern may be sewn on the traveling fabric II. With reference to Fig. l0, altering the cam plate H36 alters the Width |54 of the diamond |56 of fabric segment 9c. By changing the gears of the feed rollers 25, the length |53 of the diamond |56 is varied, and by changing the needle spacing arrangement on the needle bracket 18 the Width |54 of the diamond |56, relative to the length |58, is varied. From the above it will be seen that the number of variations of designs or patterns that may be formed on the surface of the traveling fabric I is practically unlimited. Continuous straight line stitching may be accomplished by using but a single rovv of needles and locking the carriage I4 against reciprocation.

Thus it will be seen that the above invention provides `for a novel mechanism, for securing superposed threads to the surface of traveling there is shown fabric, which is readily attachable to a conventional multiple-needle automatic quilting machine. It will also be seen that the above invention is readily adaptable to produce an infinite number of decorative surface patterns by a simple and relatively quick machine adjustment and by the use of a variety of threads. It will also be seen that the above invention also may be usedto produce shirred fabric and shirred and quilted fabric by a very simple, economical, and efficient means and method. There is also provided a new and novel threading needle for utilization in threading a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine embodying the mechanisrn of the present invention.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism for securing a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric in a decorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slotted plate vertically reciprocable relative to said machine and a bar adapted to mate with said slot in said plate, said bar being axially reciprocable relative to said plate, said bar having a plurality of spaced transverse apertures adapted for the reception of said superposed thread and said bar having a plurality of apertured protuberances in alignment With said transverse apertures and adapted to receive said thread from said transverse apertures and guide said thread relative to the surface of said traveling fabric for securement to the surface of said fabric, said plate having a plurality of spaced cutout portions complementary to said protuberances and the area adjacent to said transverse apertures of said bar to provide clearance for said protuberances and the area adjacent to said transverse apertures on reciprocation of said bar and to provide clearance for threading said protuberances and said transverse apertures, and means associated with said bar for the axial intermittent reciprocation thereof.

2. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism for securing a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric in a decorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slotted plate vertically reciprocable relative to said machine and a bar adapted vto mate with said slot in said plate, said bar being axially reciprocable relative to said plate, a vertically reciprocable needle operable in a fixed path and adapted to lock stitch said superposed thread to the surface of said fabric, said bar having a plurality of spaced protuberances with aligned transverse apertures passing through said bar and protuberances and adapted for the reception of said superposed thread, said protuberances of said bar being adapted to reciprocate across the needle path sequentially whereby on one downstroke of said needle, the latter enters said fabric to stitch said thread with said protuberances positioned adjacent to and at one side of said needle and on the next downstroke of said needle, the latter enters said fabric to stitch said thread with said protuberances positioned adjacent to and at the other side of said needle to complete a cycle, said protuberances thereby guiding said superposed thread relative to the surface of said traveling fabric and said needle path for securement to the surface of said fabric by said stitch.

3. in a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism foi1 securing a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric in a decorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slotted plate vertically reciprocable relative to said machine and a bar adapted to mate with said slot in said plate, said bar being axially reciprocable relative to said plate, a vertically reciprocable needle operable in a fixed path and adapted to lock stitch said superposed thread to the surface of said fabric, said bar having a plurality of spaced protuberances with aligned transverse apertures passing through said bar and protuberances and adapted for the reception of said superposed thread, said protuberances of said bar being adapted to reciprocate across the needle path sequentially whereby on one downstroke of said needle, the latter enters said fabric to stitch said thread with said protuberances positioned adjacent to and at one side of said needle and on the next downstroke of said needle, the latter enters said fabric to stitch said thread with said protuberances positioned adjacent to and at the other side of said needle fabric by said stitch. and means associated with said bar for the intermittent axial reciprocation thereof in sequentially timed relation with said reciprocable needle.

4. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism for securing superposed threads to the surface of traveling fabric in a decorative pattern, said mechanismcomprising a longitudinally slotted pressure plate intermittently reciprocable relative to said machine in a vertical path to allow said fabric to travel thereunder, a plurality of bars adapted to mate with said slots in said plate, said bars being axially reciprocable relative to said plate, a feed source for said superposed threads, and a plurality of vertically reciprocable spaced needles operable in a fixed path and adapted to stitch said superposed threads to said fabric in a preselected decorative pattern, said bars having a plurality of spaced integral protuberances with aligned transverse apertures passing through said bars and protuberances, said threads from said feed source adapted to be received in said apertures, said protuberances of said bars being adapted to reciprocate across said needle path in timed sequential relationship with said reciprocable needles whereby on the down-stroke of said needles, the latter penetrates said fabric to stitch said superposed threads to said fabric with said thread bearing protuberances positioned adjacent to and on alternate sides of said needles, said protuberances thereby guiding said superposed threads relative to the surface of said traveling fabric and said path of said needles whereby said superposed threads are stitched to said fabric by said needles with each stitch being in substantial alignment and on alternate sides of said threads. A

5. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism for securing superposed threads to the surface of traveling fabric in a decorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slotted pressure plate intermittently reciprocable relative to said machine in a vertical path to allow said fabric to travel thereunder, a plurality of bars adapted to mate 10 with said slots in said plate, said bars being axially reciprocable relative to said plate, a feed source for said superposed threads, and a plurality of vertically reciprocable spaced needles operable in needles whereby on the down-stroke of said needles, the latter penetrates said fabric to stitch said superposed threads to said fabric with said thread bearing protuberances positioned adjacent to and on alternate sides of said needles, said protuberances thereby'guiding said superposed threads relative to the surface of said traveling fabric and said path of said needles whereby said superposed threads are stitched to said fabric by said needles with each stitch being in substantial alignment and on alternate sides of said threads, said plate having a plurality of spaced cutout portions complementary to said protuberances and the area adjacent to said transverse apertures of said bars to provide clearance for said protuberances and the area adjacent to said transverse apertures on reciprocation of said bars and to provide clearance for threading said protuberances and said transverse apertures, means associated with said bars for `the axial intermittent reciprocation thereof, and

means connected to said needles for the intermittent reciprocation thereof in sequential relationship with the reciprocation of said! bars.

References cited in the nie of this' patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 379,478 Koch Mar. 13, 1888 1,024,891 Groebli Apr. 30, 1912 1,801,166 Maier Apr. 14, 1931 2,218,785 Boettcher Oct. 22, 1940 2,329,639 Milstein Sept. 14, 1943 2,418,347 Haag Apr. 1, 1947 2,476,602 Harpham July 19, 1949 2,500,211 Sigoda Mar. 14, 1950 2,525,312 Prazak et al. Oct. 10, 1950 2,538,395 Stinson Jan. 16, 1951 Schwartz et al Oct. 30, 1951

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