US2781011A

US2781011A - Sewing machine

Info

Publication number: US2781011A
Application number: US477782A
Authority: US
Inventors: Waldemar A Ayres
Original assignee: White Sewing Machine Corp
Current assignee: White Sewing Machine Corp
Priority date: 1954-12-27
Filing date: 1954-12-27
Publication date: 1957-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1974-02-12

Description

W. A. AYRES SEWING MACHINE Feb. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. 27, 1954 Feb. 12, 1957 w. A. AYREs SEWING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1954 INVENToR. Wave-MA@ A. /yREs 1 a Afro/@Nays United SEWING MACHINE Waldemar A. Ayres, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to White Sewing Machine Corporation, Lakewood, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 27, 1954, Serial No. 477,782

9 Claims. (Cl. 112-221) This invention relates to a sewing machine and more particularly to an improved drive mechanism for the needle bar of a sewing machine.

When sewing machines have been operated at high speeds excessive vibrations have been present and this draw-back has resulted in limiting successful high speed operation of sewing machines.

A large contributing factor to the creation of vibrations during high speed operation of sewing machines has been the arrangements utilized for actuating the reciprocating needle bar. The necessity of rapidly changing the direction of movement of the mass of the reciproeating needle bar contributes largely to the creation of vibrations in the sewing machine head during high speed operation. Also the mechanisms heretofore used for translating rotary motion into reciprocating motion of the needle bar have been inducive to the creation of vibrations at high speed operation.

An object of the invention is to provide in a sewing machine a needle bar construction and a mechanism for reciprocating the same which is of such character that the creation of vibrations will be held to a minimum and the mechanism will permit high speed operation of the machine substantially Without vibration.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sewing machine an improved mechanism for reciprocating the needle bar and which includes means for counterbalancing the reciprocating needle bar so as to substantially eliminate vibrations even at high speed operation and which mechanism is quiet in operation both at high and low speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a sewing machine an improved mechanism for reciprocating the needle bar at high speeds and substantially without vibration and which mechanism is so constructed as to readily lend itself to the inclusion therein as a part thereof of a rotary take-up for the upper or needle thread of the sewing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved needle bar supporting unit which mounts therein the actuating mechanism for the needle bar and the rotary take-up for the upper or needle thread and which unit with the parts referred to therein can as a unit be secured in and removed from the free end of the horizontal arm of the sewing machine head, thus facilitating the assembly of the sewing machine. v

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore specically referred tok will become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention which is to follow and which embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View through the sewing machine head and the bed plate thereof and is taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 but with a portion of the endless belt shown in elevation and illustrates the unit ,supporting the reciprocating needle bar and the actuating mechanism for the needle bar as well as the take-up for the upper or needle thread.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sewing machine head shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the take-up for the upper thread and is taken from line 4--4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an exploded sectional and partial elevational view of the parts of the wobble actuating mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view of an element of the wobble actuating mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevational view of another element of the wobble actuating mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. 8 is a detail end view of the element shown in Fig. 7 and is taken looking from the right hand side of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detached elevational View of the reciprocating needle bar.

Fig. l0 is a detached elevational View of the reciprocating needle bar turned from the position of the needle bar in Fig. 9.

Fig. ll is a detached elevational view of the needle bar counterbalancing plunger, and

Fig. l2 is a detached elevational view of the needle bar counterbalancing plunger shown in Fig. ll but with the plunger turned 99 from the position of Fig. ll.

Referring iirst to Figs. l and 2, the sewing machine head embodying the invention comprises the bed plate 15 beneath which is mounted the sewing mechanism as will oe well understood. The bed plate 15 of the sewing machine head has on its upper side either integral therewith or secured thereto a gooseneck consisting of a hollow vertically extending standard 16 which connects at its upper end with an integrally formed hollow horizontal arm 17 which overlies the bed plate 15. The horizontal arm 17 is provided interiorly with a partition or end wall 1S, the upper end 18a of which is oiset toward the standard 16, that is, otset toward the right as viewed in Fig. l.

The outer or free end of the horizontal arm 17 has secured to the wall 1S the supporting unit carrying the needle bar and its actuating mechanism. The unit is enclosed by a housing 19 the top or upper side of which is provided with an opening 21. The housing 19 forms a continuation of the horizontal arm 17 and is secured thereto by screws 26.

A supporting unit for the needle bar, the counterbalancing plunger and the actuating or driving mechanism for the needle bar and plunger is mounted on the outer end of the horizontal arm 17'and is secured to the partition or wall 18. This unit com-prises an attaching portion 22 which is secured to the partition 18 by suitable securing means such as screws or bolts and extends vertically of the partition from its lower end to the point thereof Where the offset upper end 18a commences, see Figs. l, 2 and 3. The portion 22 has integral outwardly extending vertically spaced upper and lower

horizontal walls

23 and 24. The

arms

23 and 24 at their outer ends are integral with the vertically extending portion 25 of the unit which mounts the needle bar, the counter balancing plunger and the usual presser foot rod as will later be explained.

The

walls

23 and 24 are provided with vertically aligned openings in which are mounted suitable bearing bushings 26 which rotatably support a vertically extending driveY shaft 27 forming part of the drive for the reciprocating needle bar and counterbalancing plunger. The shaft 27 271/ withitsimp erinlined end engaging the lowerV in- 'Clied en@ 23.1 of theY black 28.k 'Tne- `ring .32 mounts :on circumference 'the inner racer33vl9f all antifriction bedenke inter. rawfuhihjis indicated at 3a and the balls' at'35,V seeFigs. l and '5,' e

'Ifnewouter'Y orh actuating ri"n g3 6 is mounted, onV theV circleeiiereucth@ guter rese' laad this uns' 36 is -Oprativelyconnected to `the reciprocating needle vbar as will latergbe explained. Ablock `37.,identical with theblocli 2S," is vkeyed tolthe shaft 27 butin inveitedrelationship lo' thebl'o'cli 27S so that its inclined upper end 'that Vis complementary tothe inclined lower end 3i of the block.28 bears Yagainstthe ring 32, the inner and V`outer races of theoearing and the outer or yactuating ring 36.

A similar actuating mechanism to that just described is mounted on the shaft 27 adjacent the wallz24 and the parts of thisrmechanismrare identied Vbythe same referennce numerals as used'for'the first mentioned mechanism but with the exponent a.

The two mechanisms just referred to Willbe desig# 11a-ted herein aswobble actuating mechanisms,Y with the upper one being` the actuating'mechanism for the reciprocating needle bar and the lower one the actuating mechanism Y for the reciprocating actuatirigmechanism for the plunger engages the anged upper end -of the lower bushing v26 and'that said upper -and'l'oweractuating-mechanisms are mounted onthe shaft so vas torbelSD-Fout of phase. Y d rIfile shaft -27- above the wallrZS has xed toit a drive e pulley 38-eand above the drive pulley,38 there is fixed 'to 'the Vshaft 217 within the opening 421l of the top of the housing i9 a circular disk 39 forming a hand wheel.

Thelhousing 19 is open at its lower end'and 'theshaft 27 extends below the wall 24 and `Yhas'xed to it a disk O ferming partpf ay thread take-up for the needle thread (seeFigs. i and 4). The ldisk 40 radially outwardly from its center has `a headedrscrew or post 40a threadedly connected tO-itandlOCated inanpelongat'edslotfila of l'a.lev'erarrn d.- Thelever arm 41 is pivoted at `one end to Aalalocl:{1lb-secured to the walls24while the opposite end yotlthc lever arm is provided withl an opening4 441C Y through .whichpasses-the-needle thread.

callyextendingY portion 2S of the supporting unit is provided with a pair of parallel lvertically extendvingeboresil andft-.whichare aligned infthe longitudinal directionA oftheE horizontal arm if/. Also/the .portion 25 is, provided with a slot'44which'starts at-the-wall 24 land passes transversely-through thebores 42 fand 43 `to th.: outlforleft hand end of the portion 25. The slot Y fgestends verticaily from `the upper. end Yof the portion .2S downwardlyftothe .lower-sident. the .wa-ll 24 -.for a I^1 'xfhichfvillflater'beapparent.,

Sl/tdably mauntedin the boreAZgis- .thereciprocating lcounterha'lancing plungerd, .-the .uppenend lof which f is .bifurcatcd toprovi'detfspaced parallel gears .145 'and vwhich ears Aareprovided ...withl aligned-openings 47'." I The bore 43- s Almuniterlftfiferein' fadjagent its lown end ^va `ibuslii'ng .4S landxspaced'vertically :above tthe bushing A43 a :second bushing 149., :The 4bushings 48 .and-492areproyide'd-with Y wunterbalancins plunger. Yit willbe noted that the lower block 37g of the Y 43. It will be seen that the reciprocating needle bar is adequately guidedfor true vertical Vrecip'roca'tion`bythe spaced bushings 48 and 4 9 and by the sliding t of the enlarged upper end` 51 of the needle barin the bore 43.

The enlarged upper end 51 of the needle bar is bifurcated to provide a pair of upwardly extending spaced parallel ears 52 and saidLears'l are provided with horizontal aligned openingst. A rocker shoe 54 is Yrockably mounted between the ears'SZon a pivot pin 55. The lower end of the rocker shoefSflisrprovided withanopen- Y Vtuating ring 36a ofthe ylower wobble" actuating jme'ch# anism. Y

It will berecalledY thattheupperor needlejbar wobble actuating mechanism and4 the lower Vor .counterbalancing plunger wobble actuating 'rnechanismiare di sp osed`l 80 'out ofphase, wherefore when1the shaft 27 rotates the pins -57'k and l57a willicause 'oppositely yphased reciprocaf 'tion oftl;\e needleV bar andgof the Aconnterbalancing Yplunger-at 'the same'speeds.

ewinbe'notea'tjhat the slot 44 in the portion 2511i the supporting unit' accommodates gthe oscillating move ment of :thepinsSTalnd 57a andfthevrocking movements of the-shoes 5 4 V,and 54a. It will also begnotedthatwhen thefpinj? -is in its lowermorst position :and 'the pin 57a is in Vits uppermost position as indicated -byiash and dot lines in Fig. l there wil1 b e no. interference between Ytheseparts or-bctvveenithe rockingjshoes 54andg54a. As already Ystatedgtheglee'dle Ybar is hollow .or tubular and hence the -massgof thegneedlefbar can be "correlated to -the -mass of the icou'nterbalancing.dV plunger 45; even *thoughV lthe 'lattcr'is' Substantially shorter `in Ylengthv than the needle bar, it 4beingnoted'tliat-the''plunger'45 'is or" solid E cross sect-'ion g-andsubstantially Agreater in diameter than the diameter of the needleZY bar.. Y

Themassoffthe needle bar'and Athe needle Yclamping mechanism SSfat the lower end'lof fthe-'needle `bar and of-the needle 59? .:lzunpedl 1in sa'idgmechanism 58can be eqn-alito theemass'of-the plunger-45,'-wh`erefore the oppositel-yf phased reeiprocation of the 'needle bar Y`and plunger-*twill be fully fcounterbalanced; thereby eliminat- Ving vibrationsparticularlyat V`high', speeds. Als the opposit'ely .phased upper l andjlowervwobble actuating mechanismfon the--1shaft -27 'being identical counterball ance -eachlother andreduce to a minimumlan-y vibration which might occur during their operation;

' portion 25 of thesupportingunitis -provided with a -third Nertically extending VQbdreloc'a'ted behind'and parallel to -the bore :.43-:;andV .slidably' A.mounting .the Yusual `presser :foot rod 169,1 on -thelower-end of lwhich'- is ,mnuntcd the usual; presser, foot 61. e

Anfendlessbelt 52 .extends around Ythe 'pulley 38fand is connected `1 to. asdrive .source, not shown,Y and which source also is operatively connected Yuio-a se-wingfmechanisni,. not es hown, andllocated below-.ther-fbed, :it xbeing understoodlthat said f source Jand coittne'ctions cause the parts .to :be operatedlso-that;the-needle-barfwillrecipro- 4]; will; oscillate .the latter.:in-trnedarelationsliipfto Vthe avermi reciprocation of the needle bar. It will be understood that as the needle bar moves in its upward stroke the lever arm 41 will move in a direction such as to take up the slack in the needle thread which passes through the opening die in the arm 4l and through the eye of the needle. It will also be understood that when the needle moves in its downward stroke the lever arm 4l will move in a direction to slack od the needle thread and provide sufficient thread for the sewing operation. In addition, it will be understood that the needle thread passes from a suitable supply spool or bobbin mounted on the sewing machine head through a tensioning device, not shown, and through thread guiding elements from the spool or bobbin through the eye or opening 41e to the eye of the needle as will be well understood in the art.

From the foregoing detailed description of an embodiment of the invention it will be evident that an improved drive for the reciprocating needle bar has been provided and which drive enables quiet vibrationless highfspeed operation of the sewing machine and particularly of the reciprocation of the needle bar. ln addition, it will be noted that improved and eicient take-up for the upper 'or needle thread is provided and that said taire-up can be incorporated readily into the actuating mechanism for the needle bar and the counterbalancing plunger.

Although a prefered embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope lof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a head including a hollow vertical standard and a hollow horizontal arm projecting from said standard and mounting adjacent its outer end a vertically reciprocating needle bar and provided in its upper wall adjacent to its outer end with an opening, a vertically extending rotatable shaft in said arm adjacent and parallel to said needle bar and coaxial with said opening and extending into the same, means operatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar to effect reciprocation of the latter upon rotation of said shaft, a hand wheel disk fixed to the upper end of said shaft in said opening, thread take-up means operatively connected to the lower end of said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft to actuate said thread take-up and to reciprocate said needle bar.

2. In a sewing machine as dened in claim 1 and wherein said thread take-up means includes a disk fixed to the lower end of said shaft and provided on its lower side with a downwardly extending headed post spaced radially outwardly from the axis of said shaft, a lever arm pivoted at one end to a xed part of the head andl provided at its other end with an opening through which the needle thread is adapted to pass and having intermediate its ends an elongated slot in which said headed post is located.

3. In a sewing machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein the means operatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar to eect reciprocation of the latter upon rotation of said shaft includes a pair of block members secured to said shaft in axially spaced relationshipv and having their adjacent ends inclined to the axis of said shaft, a spacer ring of less diameter than said members on said shaft intermediate said members and having its opposite ends complementary to and contacting the inclined ends of said members, an antifriction bearing surrounding said ring with its inner race mounted on the circumference of said ring, an actuated ring mounted on the outer race of said bearing, and an operative connection between said actuating ring and said Vneedle bar.

4. In a sewing machine, a head including a hollow vertical standard and a hollowhorizontalarm projecting from said standard and mounting adjacent its outer or free end a vertically reciprocating needle bar and provided in its upper wall adjacent to its outer or free end with an opening, a vertically extending rotatable shaft in said arm adjacent and parallel to said needle bar and coaxial with said opening and extending into the same, a hand wheel disk fixed to the upper end of said shaft in said opening, thread take-up means operatively connected to the lower end of said shaft and located below the bottom wall o-f sm'd horizontal arm, a vertically reciprocating counterbarlancing plunger parallel to said needle bar and said shaft and located intermediate the same and having a mass which substantially equals the` mass of the needle bar, a pair of axially spaced oppositely phased wobble actuating mechanisms on and rotatable with said shaft, an operative connection between yone of said mechanisms and said needle bar and an operative connection between the other of said mechanisms and said plunger for translating rotation of said mechanisms into oppositely phased reciprocation of said needle bar ano plunger, and means for rotating said shaft to actuate said thread take-up and to reciprocate said needle bar and said plunger.

5. in a sewing machine, a head including a hollow vertical standard and a hollow horizontal arm projecting from said standard, a supporting unit secured to the free end of said horizontal arm, a vertically extending shaft rotatably supported in said unit in vertically spaced bearings, a hand wheel fixed to the upper end of said shaft above the upper of said bearings, a needle bar supported by said unit for vertical reciprocation and parallel to said shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar to effect reciprocation of the latter upon rotation of said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

6. In a sewing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein a counterbalancing plunger parallel to said needle bar and shaft and intermediate the same is supported by said unit for vertical reciprocation, and means is provided for operatively connecting said shaft with said plunger to edect reciprocation of the latter upon rotation of said shaft in opposite phase to the reciprocation of the needle bar.

7. in a sewing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein said shaft Vbelow the lower of said bearings has operatively connected to it a thread take-up means.

8. In a sewing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein a pulley is fixed to said shaft intermediate the upper of said bearings and said hand wheel, and a shaft rotating belt extends around saidy pulley.

9. In a sewing machine as dened in claim 6 and wherein the means operatively connecting said shaft with said needle bar includes a pair of block members secured to said shaft in axially spaced relationship intermediate said bearings and having their adjacent ends inclined to the horizontal, a spacer ring of less diameter than said members on said shaft intermediate said members and having its opposite ends complementary to and contacting the inclined ends of said members, an anti-friction bearing on said ring with the inner race thereof carried by the circumference of said ring, an actuating ring on the outer race of said'bearing, and an operative connection between said yactuating ring and said needle bar.

Refxences Cited in the file of vthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany '..e Feb.r 28, 1952