US2857865A - Spiral stitch attachment for sewing machines - Google Patents

Spiral stitch attachment for sewing machines Download PDF

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Publication number
US2857865A
US2857865A US463354A US46335454A US2857865A US 2857865 A US2857865 A US 2857865A US 463354 A US463354 A US 463354A US 46335454 A US46335454 A US 46335454A US 2857865 A US2857865 A US 2857865A
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cam
shaft
spiral
machine
guide
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US463354A
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Guide Anthony
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    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05BSEWING
    • D05B35/00Work-feeding or -handling elements not otherwise provided for
    • D05B35/10Edge guides
    • D05B35/107Fixed or adjustable pin holding the work, e.g. for circular or spiral stitching

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  • the invention comprises an attachment for a conventional sewing machine wherein means are provided to be fixed to the sewingmachine head and to be driven by the drive shaft therein in timed relation to the stitching mechanism.
  • the attachment includes a cam having a spiral periphery driven at a very low speed relative to the stitching mechanism and a cam follower actuated by the spiral cam to move continuously in one direction during the stitching operation, and at such a changing rate that the convolutions of the spiral seam are substantially equally spaced.
  • the cam follower is directly connected to a movable material control member having a pivot pin engageable with the material to continuously move the material laterally of the norms-.1 direction of stitching and the material feeding means of the sewing machine causes the material to pivot about the pivot pin to thereby produce a spiral seam.
  • the mechanism carrying the pivot pin is, as stated, driven directly by the cam follower so that it partakes directly of the cam follower movement, in the same direction and to the same extent.
  • the invention further includes means for releasing the cam from the driving means and for automatically returning the cam to a starting position for the commencement of a subsequent cycle of operation.
  • the invention further includes a modified form of spacing regulator involving a variable ratio transmission between the driving means and the cam.
  • the attachment according to the present invention lends itself readily to automatic operation and a further feature of the invention resides in an automatic stop mechanism arranged to automatically de-energize the driving'means when the cam has completed a predetermined cycle of operation.
  • the automatic stop means consists of an element movably positioned in the path of movement of the spiral cam to be engaged and moved thereby as the cam approaches the end of one cycle of operation.
  • the movable element is connected through suitable linkages to a drive means control whereby the drive means may be automatically stopped.
  • an operator may place a workpiece in the machine and energize the drive means whereupon the machine will automatically complete the stitching of a spiral pattern on the workpiece and thereafter shut itself ofi so the operator need not be in immediate attendance.
  • a single operator may tend several of the machines at the same time, without having to devote his or her full attention to one machine.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a spiral stitching attachment for sewing machines providing for adjustment of the radial spacing between convolutions and adjustment of the overall diameter of the spiral pattern.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a spiral stitching attachment wherein the stitching of the spiral pattern is automatic and wherein the machine shuts itself off when the pattern is completed.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a spiral stitching attachment including a cam drive for the material control member and a novel clutch arrangement for selectively connecting the cam to a drive means.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide such an attachment that is readily adaptable for use with different standard sewing machine heads.
  • An additional object or" this invention is to provide an automatic spiral stitching attachment for a sewing machine wherein the attachment may be set to produce a spiral pattern of stitching with or without inner and outer boundary circles of stitching.
  • Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a sewing machine provided with a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1 showing a workpiece in position therein;
  • Fig. 3 is an end elevational view as seen from the right hand side of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is an end elevational view as seen from the right end of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the left end portion of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-d of Fig. 5 but on a somewhat enlarged scale:
  • Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-$ of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line illlt) of Fig. 2;
  • Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views taken immediately above the novel clutch mechanism and showing the clutch with the parts thereof in different positions;
  • Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a cam follower element
  • Fig. 14 is a fragmentary and elevational view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified construction
  • Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 14;
  • Fig. 16 is a front end view, similar to Fig. 4, but show ing the attachment designed for use with a zigzag and fagoting machine;
  • Fig. 17 is a detailed view of the cam and cam follower showing the manner of providing indicia to indicate the adjustment for the spacing of the spiral convolutions;
  • Fig. 18 is a front elevational view of a sewing machine provided with the automatic stop mechanism of the present invention.
  • Figh. 19 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of Fig. 18;
  • Fig. 20 is an end elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 18;
  • ' '21 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2121 of Fig. 2() but with certain parts being omitted;
  • Figs. 22, 23., 24 and 25 are diagrammatic views illustrating various patterns of spiral stitching that may be produced with the attachment of the present invention
  • Fig. 26 is a fragmentary front elevation of a form of the invention employing a different form of material control member
  • Fig. 27 is 'a top plan view of Fig. 26.
  • Fig. 28 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the material control member of Fig. 26.
  • a conventional sewing machine head 2 having the usual reciprocating needle 4, presser foot 6 and material feeding means 3 arranged to feed material below the presser foot and needle in a direction normal to the plane of Fig. 2.
  • the sewing machine head 2 includes a base portion mounted on a table 12.
  • a guideway 14 of generally channel shape (see also Fig. 4) is mounted on the table 12 and extends in a direction generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sewing machinehead 2.
  • the upper surface of the channel web is substantially flush with the upper surface of the base It) and provides a guideway for a sliding material control member 16 positioned therein.
  • Suitable angle members 18, secured to the guideway 14, have flanges overlying the edges of the slide 16 to retain the slide in the guide channel.
  • the slide 16 is provided with a forwardly extending thin metal element 20 extending over the upper surface of the base 10 to a position closely adjacent the presser foot 6 when the slide is in its right hand position as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the element 29 Near its extremity the element 29 is provided with an upstanding pin 22 adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the needle 4 and adapted to move with slide 16 along a path transverse to the direction of feed of material by the feeding means 3.
  • the line along which pin 22 moves is slightly forwardly ofthe needle 4.
  • the material feeding means 8 feeds the material in a direction tangential to the pivot 22 and past, stitch forming needle 4.
  • the slide 16 is further provided with a block 23 on its upper surface, the block 23 having a pair of upstanding ears 2 4; between which a block element 26 is pivoted on a pin 28.
  • a spring 30 is carried by block 23 between the cars 24 and engages a cam surface 32 on the block 26.
  • the cam surface 32 is so configured and arranged that the spring 30 tends to hold the block in its full line or dotted line position shown in Fig. 2.
  • a generally U-shaped hold-down member 34 is fixed at one end to I the block 26 and is provided with a downwardly directed terminal end 36 having an axial opening 38 therein. Whenthe hold-down member 34 is moved tothe full line position of Fig. 2, the point of pivot pin 22 projects into the axial opening 38 and the spring 30 acting on cam surface 32 causes end 36 of the hold-down member 3-: to rest on and press lightly on the upper surface of the workpieceA, thus retaining the workpiece on the pivot pin.
  • a projection 4-42 extends forwardly from the block 23 below the ears 24 and is substantially rigid with the slide 16.
  • the projection 10 is provided with an up;
  • rod 42 wardly and rearwardly extending rod or pusher means 4-2 secured thereto in any suitable manner.
  • the functioning of rod 42 will be described later.
  • An electric motor, or other suitable power source may be mounted below table 12 or in any other convenient location and drives a belt 44 trained over a pulley 46 on the main drive shaft 48 of the sewing machine head.
  • the drive shaft 48 extends longitudinally-through the sewing machine head, which is hollow to accommodate the shaft, its bearings, and mechanisms for imparting the required movements to the needle, material advancing means and bobbing of the conventional sewing machine head.
  • the sewing machine head 2 is provided with an access opening through its rear wall.
  • This access opening is usually covered by a cover plate (not shown) secured to the head by bolts or thumb screws engaging threaded open-' ings 52 in the head frame.
  • a drive wheel 54 is secured to the shaft 48 within the hollow housing of the head 2 and laterally aligned with the opening 54).
  • the drive wheel 54 may be of any desired form for driving a sprocket chain or nonslip flexible belt 56.
  • a composite attachment housing 58 is secured to the machine head 2 in a position overlying the opening 50,
  • the attachment housing 58 is provided with a shaft 60 journalled therein having a driven wheel 62 aligned with the drive wheel 54 and over which the drive belt 56 is trained as clearly shown in Pig. 6.
  • the shaft 60 has a worm 64 fixed thereto (Fig. 8) and meshing with a worm wheel 66 fixed to a second shaft 68 journalled in the housing 58.
  • a third shaft 769 (Figs. 6 and 7) is journalled in suitable bearings 72 in the housing 58 and has fixed thereto a worm wheel 74- meshing with a worm 76 fixed to, the second shaft 68.
  • the shaft 70 also has a worm 7.8 keyed or otherwise fixed thereon, which worm 78 meshes with a worm wheel 8th fixed to a vertical shaft 82 journalled at 84 in the housing 53 and extending upwardly therefrom through the top of the housing 58.
  • the housing generally indicated by 5 8 is secured to the machine head 2 by bolts 85 engaging the threaded openings 52.
  • the shaft 82 extends upwardly through the upper wall of housing 58 through a slot 86 provided to facilitate assembly of the housing parts and permit accommodating mo ements of the shaft 82,.
  • a clutch hub member 38 is fixed to shaft 82 above the housing 555 and spaced therefrom a substantial distance.
  • the clutch hub member 83 may be secured to the shaft 82 by means of set screw 99 or other suitable means.
  • a cam hub 92 is rotatable on the shaft 82 and is provided with a cam portion 94 having a spiral.- ly configured outer periphery 96. provided with a cup-shaped drum 93 fixed thereto between the hub 92 and the clutch member 33 in a position to rotatably receive the clutch member therein.
  • Suitable washers or the like 1% are positioned about the shaft 82 and provide bearing surfaces against the housing 58 and the bottom of the cam hub 92 and also serve to hold the cam hub 92 at the proper elevation relative to clutch member 88.
  • a spiral spring 1% (see Figs. 1. and 6) is arranged around the cam hub 32 with its outer terminus fixed to the housing 58 at N2 (see Fig. 14) and with its inner terminus fixed to cam hub 92 by means of screw'103 or the like.
  • the spiral spring lfil is so stressed that it no e mally biases the cam 94 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above.
  • the cam 94v is also position on the bracket.
  • stud 108 is provided with a transverse threaded opening threadedly receiving a stop bolt 112 having a head 114 arranged in the path of movement of the stop lug 104 fixed to the cam 94.
  • the stop bolt 112 may be locked in adjusted position on the stud 108 by suitable lock nuts 116.
  • the spiral spring 101 normally tends to rotate the cam 94 in a counterclockwise direction relative to shaft 82 to the position shown wherein its stop lug 104 engages the head 114 of the stop bolt 112.
  • the stop bolt 112 may be adjusted to regalate or change the exact angular position at which the cam is brought to rest.
  • the clutch member 88 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 11 and 12, to which reference is now made.
  • the clutch member 88 comprises a hub fixed to the shaft 82 and an integral radial extension 116 joining the hub to a peripheral friction ring portion 118.
  • the friction ring portion 118 is separated from the hub throughout the major portion of its circumferential extent and on the side thereof opposite the integral extension 116, the friction ring 118 is split, as at 128, to provide free terminal end portions thereof.
  • a cam lever 122 is pivoted, at 124, near one of the terminal ends of the friction ring 118 and extends somewhat upwardly (see also Fig. 3) to position its'end 125 substantially above the clutch element 88.
  • the end 125 is provided with a radially extending adjustable stud 126.
  • the end of cam lever 122 adjacent the pivot 124 is provided with an angular end surface 128 terminating in a projection 134 at the outer edge of the lever.
  • the terminal end 130 of friction ring 118 extends axially upwardly a greater distance than the terminal end to which lever 122 is pivoted so that its end face 132 is in position to be engaged by the projection 134 of the lever 122.
  • the cam lever 122 When the cam lever 122 is positioned with its end 125 inwardly toward the aXis of shaft 82, the projection 134 of the cam lever 122 moves away-from the end surface 132 of the end 130 of friction ring 118, thus permitting the ring to resiliently contract with clearance between its outer periphery and the inner surface of the cup 98.
  • the cup 98 may rotate freely relative to the clutch ring and shaft 82.
  • Clutch-actuating member 136 (Fig. 6) is slidable on the shaft 82 immediately above clutch element 88 and is generally spool-shaped but is provided with a conical surface 138 adjacent its lower end and a peripheral groove 1.40 adjacent its upper end.
  • An axial counterbore 142 extends downwardly from the upper end of the member 136 and accommodates a compression spring 144 arranged to abut the bottom of the bore 142 at its lower end and to abut, at its upper end, a collar 146 fixed to the shaft 82.
  • the cone surface 138 is so positioned and arranged that when the element 136 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig.
  • the cone surface engages adjustable stud 126 of cam lever 122 to swing the cam lever outwardly to the position of Fig. 11, thus engaging the friction clutch as described.
  • the spring 144 is of sufiicient strength to force the actuator element 136 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and thus forcibly engage the clutch. This is the normal position of the clutch.
  • a bracket 148 is bolted or otherwise secured to an upper edge portion of the which a stub shaft 154 is journalled.
  • the tub shaft 1:34 projects laterallyfrom each end of the bore in the bracket 152.
  • arms 156 are fixed to the shaft 154 and project therefrom parallel to each other along opposite sides of the cintch actuator member 136 in the region of the peripheral groove 148.
  • Each of the arms 156 is provided With an inwardly directed pin 158 extending inwardly therefrom into the peripheral groove of member 136.
  • One end of the stub shaft 154 projects laterally of a greater distance than its other end and pr vrdes a mounting for a handle 160 rigidly fixed thereto.
  • the handle 168 projects forwardly of the machine and is long enough to extend forwardly past the sewing machine head where it is readily accessible to an ttor for manual disengagement of the clutch. It i be apparent that manual depression of the handle will cause the pins 158 to move upwardly and thereroe by slide clutch-actuating member 136 upwardly against the action of spring 144. This upwardly movement of member 136 withdraws the cone surface 138 from the region of the lever 122 and permits the resilient friction ring 118 to contract to the position of Fig. 12 wherein the clutch is disengaged and the cam 94 is free to rotate on shaft 82.
  • An elongated bracket 162 (Figs. 2 and. 3) is fixed to a portion of the housing 58 at its upper forward edge and extends from the housing toward the left the full length of the sewing machine head.
  • Each end of the bracket 162 is provided with an upstanding portion 164 and the portions 164 are provided with aligned openings receiving a guide tube 166.
  • the ends of the guide tube may be secured in the upstanding portions 164 by set screws or the like.
  • the guide tube is slotted substantially the full length thereof to provide a guide slot 168 through its upper wall. At its left hand end the guide slot is enlarged to form a generally circular enlarged opening 170.
  • An actuator 'rod 172 extends through and is guided by the guide tube 166. Near its right hand end the actuator rod 172 is provided with a threaded radial opening adapted to threadedly receive a cam follower 174.
  • the cam follower 174 is shown in detail in Fig. 13 and, as is evident from that figure, the cam follower is provided with a threaded stem portion 176 adapted to be threadedly received in the radial opening in actuator rod 172.
  • the other end of the cam follower element is provided with a roller 178.
  • the roller and threaded stem portions are joined by a neck of reduced diameter 180 having the opposite sides thereof cut away to provide spaced parallel substantially flat surfaces 182 (see Fig. 6 also).
  • the distance between the flat surfaces 182 is slightly less than the width of the guide slot 168 in tube 166 and the diameter of the threaded stem 176 is slightly less than the circular opening at the end of the guide slot 168.
  • the actuator rod 172 is first slidably positioned in the tube 166 with its threaded opening in registry with the circular opening 170 in the tube.
  • the threaded stem of the cam follower is then inserted through the opening 170 and threaded into the opening in the rod 172 to a position where the flat surfaces 182 on neck are parallel to the sides of the guide slots 168.
  • the actuator rod 172 may be moved to the right (Fig. 1) to position the roller 178 adjacent the periphery of spiral cam 94.
  • a connector block 184 (see Figs. 1 and 10) is provided with a bore 186 of a size to snugly receive actuator rod 172 and is clamped in adjusted position on the rod 172 by means of set screws 188.
  • a tube 190 is arranged in a second bore 192 in the block 184 and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to the rod 172.
  • the tube 190 is fixedly secured in the block 184 by means of set screw 194 and is provided with 7 sp'aedbti'shings 196"frictiona1ly”heldtherein at its-op- "pos-ite ends.
  • The-'bu'shings'196 slidably receive the rod "'42, previously described, which extendsupwardly and rearwardly from the material controlling slide member 16. 'By"this construc'tion it'will be apparent that sliding -movement of the rod'172 in its guide tube 166 will also '-movethe block 1'84-and tube min the same direction.
  • therod or pusher'rneans 42 and slide 16 will 'be forcedtoslide in the same direction and to the sameextent. It is 'contemplated that the guide 14'for slidelfi'be arranged as nearly parallel to tube loas possible, but obviously 'exactl parallelism is impractical to-attain. "For-"this reason-the bushings 196 are provided 'whereby'- to permit the'rod'42 to slide axially, to'a limited extent,'relat-ive to -the tube 1'90'and actuatorro'd172 to thus accommodate for differences in the distance between the center line'of the--guide'14'and rod 172.
  • the spiral periphery 96 of the cam 94 is-so designed -arid'configured' 'that it moves cam follower-174 to'the -'l'eft at aconstantlydecreasing rate. Since the radius of thespi'ral 'pattern of stitching isco-nstantly increasing, the length of" successive convolutions of the I seam 'pro gres- "sively increases. Since the numberof turns of shaft 48 "to produce a'prdetermined'length of stitched line remains constant;the cam' follower must necessarily 'move in response toicam action at-a constantly diminishing rate, since cam "94 itself rotates at a constant rate, to maintain uniform spacing between successive convolutions.
  • theinitial position of the fl cam may be adjusted so that thestarting point of contact betWeenWhe camand the follower may heat C, D, or
  • the guide.tube 166' may be'provided with suit-able indicia- 200 (Fig.' 17) to indicate the starting-position of the cam follower for'the production of -a"s'piral pattern having the indicated spacing between convolutions.
  • the'operator may permit the machine to operate until the outermost end'of the spiral periphery of cam 94" passesthe cam follower l74'whereupon both the cam and the sewing machine shaft 48 continue to'rotate but the actuator-rod 172 is-no longer driven'and-pin'22remains stationary while the'rnachine sews an outer boundary circle encompassing the spiral stitching. If .desired,;the machinemay be operated to produce a complete circle of stitching ncar'the center of the workpiece before starting to stitch the spiral pattern.
  • the operator sets the cam-follower oppositethe desired spacing indicia, as'previously described, then adjusts the cam stop'means so that the camis spaced a substantial distance from the follower 174.
  • Startting the machine under these conditions causes the-stitching mechanism to start sewing on the workpiece and the cam 94 begins to rotate but must rotate'through' a substantial angle before engaging the follower 174. .
  • the pin 22 remains stationaryand the machine can produce only a circular seam near the center ofthe workpiece.
  • the j periphery'ofthe cam 94' reaches the position ofthe' cam follower, it starts to impart 'motion' to the pin 22 and thereafter a spiral seam is produced.
  • spring lill acts to return the cam 94 to its starting position against stop 114.
  • Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25 illustrate different patterns that may be' produced by the operations heretofore described.
  • To' produce the pattern of Fig. 22 the machine is initially started with the cam periphery in contact with the cam follower and the operation of the entire machine is terminated when the line of. stitching reaches the position a.
  • the machine is permitted to operate automatically until stitching has reached the point d at which time the operator depresses handle 168 to disengage clutch 88 and step movement of pin 22 but without interrupting the sewing function of the sewing machine, whereupon the outer boundary circle a of stitching is produced.
  • the outer boundary circle may also be produced by permitting the outermost end of the cam periphery to pass the cam follower and continue to rotate thereafter. Such a method can be employed, however, only when the workpiece is of sufficiently large diameter.
  • the pattern of Fig. 25 includes both the inner circle of stitching b and the outer boundary circle of stitchis not affected by means extending through the opening 50. Instead, an adjusable pulley 292 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 48 in alignment with a second adjustable pulley 284 on a shaft 286 extending laterally outwardly from the housing 58.
  • the adjustable pulleys 2G2 and 284 may be of any conventional or well-known construction but are preferably such that their effective diameters can be changed so that belt 288 may drive shaft 206 at different selected speeds relative to the speed of shaft 48. Such adjustable drives are well know and need not be further described.
  • Fig. indicates schematically at 218 and 212 hand wheels or the like to effect adjustment of the pulleys 202 and 204.
  • the speed ratios between machine shaft 48 and cam shaft 82 may be adjusted at will to regulate and predetermine the spacing between succeeding convolutions of the spiral seam.
  • Fig. 16 merely indicates a modified form of housing 58 and a supporting bracket 214 therefore to adapt the present invention to a different type of sewing machine head. In all functional and operational respects, this modification is substantially identical to that previously described and may include the variable speed drive of Figs. 14 and 15.
  • the particular sewing machine head illustrated in Fig. 16 is of the type known a zigzag and fagoting machine in which the needle is given lateral movements in addition to its vertical reciprocation.
  • Figs. 18 through 21 illustrate automatic stopping mechanism which may be employed with any of the modifications heretofore described.
  • the sewing machine head 2 and all portions of the spiral stitching attachment are identical to corresponding elements heretofore described.
  • many of the spiral stitching attachment elements have been omitted from Figs. 18 through but it is to be understood that they are present.
  • Fig. 18 shows the table 12 previously described mounted on supporting legs 220.
  • an electric motor 222 is mounted below the table 12 and its shaft 224 is provided with a pulley 226 over which the drive belt 44 is trained.
  • a treadle device 228 is pivotally mounted on the base of the machine and through connections, not shown, is operative in the usual manner to control the motor 222.
  • the treadle 228 may operate a starting switch and/or rheostat to start and stop the motor 222 and regulate its speed.
  • the treadle 228 may be provided with a linkage connection to a clutch between the motor 222 and pulley 226 to mechanically disconnect the motor from the sewing machine without actually stopping rotation of the motor.
  • treadle 228 exercises its control of the drive means, but an arrangement is contemplated wherein a spring 238 biases the treadle 228 to swing upwardly to a first position and it is intended that the controls be so arranged that the motor is rendered inoperative to drive the machine when the treadle is in its upper or first position. Depression of the top portion of the treadle downwardly against the action of spring 230 effects the starting of the motor 222 or engages the clutch referred to, to initiate drive to the sewing machine head 2.
  • a mounting plate 232 is secured to the under surface of the table 12 and projects rearwardly therefrom.
  • the plate 232 may be fixed to the table 12 by means of bolts or the like.
  • a vertically extending rock shaft 236 is journailed in the rearwardly projecting portion of the plate 232 for oscillation about its vertical axis.
  • Collars 238 and 24(1) fixed to the shaft 236 on opposite sides of the plate 232, hold the shaft against vertical shifting or tliting and provide thrust bearing surfaces against the plate.
  • the shaft 236 At its upper end the shaft 236 is provided with a collar 242 fixed thereto. Projecting from the collar 242 is a generally radial arm 244 extending toward the spiral cam 94 previously described.
  • the arm 244 lies in a plane somewhat above the plane of cam 94 and is fixed to the shaft 236 for oscillation therewith.
  • the portion of the arm 244 which extends over the cam 94 is provided with an adjustable clamp 246 that may be adjustably fixed in any desired position therealong by means of thumb nut 248. Carried by but depending from clamp 246 is a cam engaging release element 250.
  • the element 254) is positioned in the plane of movement of the cam 94.
  • a forwardly extending handle 252 which extends forwardly over the machine head 2 to a position readily accessible by the operator of the machine.
  • the collar 238 (see Fig. 21) overlying the plate 232 has an integral arm 254 extending rearwardly therefrom to oscillate with shaft 236.
  • the arm 242 closely overlies the upper surface of plate 232 and is of substantial width.
  • a tension spring 256 has one end thereof fixed to the arm 254 at 258 and the other end thereof fixed to the plate 232 at 268.
  • a stop pin 262 is carried by the plate 232 in position to engage one edge of the arm 254 to limit oscillation of the shaft 236 under the influence of spring 256.
  • the plate 232 is provided with an opening 264, which opening is covered by the arm 254 when said arm engages the stop 262 as shown in Fig. 21.
  • a bushing 266 (see Fig. 20) is fixed to the under surface of the plate 282 and is provided with a bore of the same diameter as the opening 264 and in alignment therewith.
  • the bushing 266 and the opening 264 constitute a guide for a vertically slidable rod 268.
  • the rod 268 may comprise an additional lower section 270 adjustably clamped, at 272, to the upper section 268.
  • the section 270 is pivoted, through a ball and socket connection 274, to a laterally extending pin or arm 276 carried by the toe portion of the treadle 228.
  • The. operator may-.wilii'ullyswing the handle 252 to the right at any time during the cycle tostop the machine-without returning. the cam to its starting position.
  • FIGs.l.26, 27'.and. 28 illustratea form of material con- .trol-member that may be usedas part of the attachment .ofithe present invention in place of the slide 16, guides .18,:,and' hold-down member 34 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • a blockStN) is adjustably mounted on rod:172, which is: actuated by can194, and held in adjusted position there- 'on by. set screws 392.
  • A. generally vertically arranged guide .in the form of a tube 3M extends through block fitttkand is secured. rigidly. thereto by set. screw 3%.
  • a rod -398 extends slidably through the tube 3% and has a-hand knob 314 fixed to its upper end.
  • a pin 312 is fixed-*to rod'BOS. andextends radially from the rod through an elongated slot 314 in the rear side of tube 304.
  • a -pin are is fixed to tube 3&4 below the slot 314 and anchors one end of atension spring 318, the other end of which -is anchored to pin 312.
  • the spring 318 obviously urges .rod'308 to slide downwardly in tube 394 while knob 310 may be'manually' pulled upwardly to retractro-d' fititiagainst the'action of spring'3il8.
  • the tube 304 and rod3i98 extend downwardly and forwardly from block fititi-sothat the lower- 12 end of the rod ispositioned:1ateral1y;:0f:;fl16 needle
  • the tipportiqn of the rod is provided with a sharp pivot pin 322 projecting downwardly from its lower end.
  • the pivot pin 322 projects from the end of rod 308 a sufiicient distance to penetrate awork pieceA and position its sharp end in a guide groove--324;formed in a guide plate 326 secured to the tablezlZ-With. the .guide groove extendingzfrom a position close to,needle..4.-and g-- are Ely pendicular to :the. direction :xofi feedrofs-matcriai by the feeding means 8.
  • the rod 172 is. in its righthand position, as previously described, whereupon the operator lifts rod '308 sufficiently thigh -to-permit:;the work piece A to be positioned as shown. .
  • the rod's308 is then released and spring 318 moves-r0d?z3il8:dOWnwardly to project pin i322 :through the center ;;0f.- the work piece and into guide groove 324.
  • the operatorlifts rod 308 and'removes the completed work piece and the parts are thenreturnedto starting position.
  • An attachment for a sewing machine having a head, an overhanging arm, stitch; forming means including ;a needle, means for feeding material pastsaid needlein; a predetermined direction, and driving ,means for said needle and feeding means; said attachment comprising, a movable material control member, .means. for guiding said member for rectilinear movementon said machine in a direction transverse to saidpredetermined direction, a material-piercing pivot pin on said member for engaging and moving material in said transverse direction, aflat spiral cam mounted on saidiattachment for rotation and adapted to be mounted on said machine adjacent the upper portion of said overhanging arm and.
  • An attachment for a sewing machine havingstitch forming means including a-needle, means forfeedingmaterial past said needle in-a predetermined direction, and driving means-for. said. needle .and feeding:means;..said attachment comprising, a movable material control member, means for guiding-said member for rectilinear movement on said machine in aidirectionatransverseitoisaid predetermined i direction, amaterial-piercing pivot .-.pin
  • a flat spiral cam mounted on said attachment for rotation, and means on said attachment adapted to be driven by said driving means and including means for rotating said cam in one direction in timed relation and at a constant ratio to the operation of said material feeding means, a cam follower in engagement with said cam, means guiding said cam follower for rectilinear movement in said transverse direction, and means directly connecting said cam follower to said material control member whereby the move in unison in said transverse direction, said cam being shaped to move said cam follower at a constantly changing rate, said stop means being adjustable to preselect the portion of said cam to initially engage said follower after said clutch is released whereby re -engagement of said clutchcauses said cam to start moving said follower at a preselected starting rate.
  • a sewing machine as defined in claim 3 including indicia on said cam follower and guide means in the region occupied by said cam follower at the start of a cycle of operation.
  • a material control member for guiding said member for rectilinear movement in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction, driving means for moving said member along its guide means, said driving means comprising a drive element movable along a second guide means laterally spaced from but generally parallel to said first guide means, pusher means carried by said material control member and extending laterally there from toward said drive element, and laterally directed guide means on said drive element slidably receiving said pusher means whereby to compensate for differences in parallelism between said first and second guide means, and means for driving said drive element along said second guide means in timed relation to the operation of said material feeding means.
  • a material control member having material engaging means thereon, actuating means driven by said drive means for moving said material control member in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction in timed relation to the operation of said material feeding means, said actuating means including a rotary element having a cup-shaped hub portion rotatably mounted on a shaft driven by said drive means, a resiliently expansible clutch member fixed on said shaft within said cup-shaped hub portion, spring actuated means normally holding said clutch member in expanded condition and in frictional driving relation to said cup-shaped hub portion, and manually actnable means for rendering said spring actuated means inoperative whereby to permit said resilient clutch member to contract out of engagement with said cup-shaped hu'o portion.
  • said clutch member includes a peripheral portion in the form of a split ring, a lever pivoted to one end of said ring and having a camming portion engaging the other end thereof, said spring actuated means comprising a cam element slidable along said shaft and arranged to engage and swing said lever in a direction to cam the ends of said split ring apart into frictional engagement with said cupshaped hub portion.
  • a material control member having material engaging means thereon, actuating means driven by said drive means for moving said material control member in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction in timed relation to the operation of said material feeding means, said actuating means including a rotary cam and a cam follower, guide means for said cam follower comprising, an elongated tubular structure having a longitudinally extending slot therein, an actuating rod rectilinearly slidable in said tubular structure, and a stem fixed to said rod and extending laterally therefrom through said slot, said cam follower being mounted on said stem outside said tubular structure.
  • An attachment for a sewing machine having stitch forming means, means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; said attachment comprising, a material control member having a material piercing pivot pin thereon, a rectilinear guide extending transverse to said predetermined direction, actuating means movable along said guide and arranged to move said control member and pivot pin rectilinearly in the direction of said guide transverse to said predetermined direction and away from said stitch forming means, a cam follower on said actuating means engaging a rotary cam driven by said drive means, said cam being so configured that uniform rotation thereof moves said pivot pin at a constantly decreasing rate whereby said material is controlled so as to have a spiral line of stitching formed thereon with all convolutions of said stitching being substantially equally spaced apart, said actuating means comprising means directly connecting said cam follower and said material control member, said connecting means including relatively adjustable elements whereby said cam follower may be moved to different starting positions along its path
  • a sewing machine having stitch forming means, means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; a material control member having a material piercing pivot pin thereon, rectilinearly movable actuating means arranged to move said control member and pivot pin rectilinearly in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction and away from said stitch forming means, a cam follower on said actuating means engaging a rotary cam driven by said drive means, said stitch forming and material feeding means being carried by a sewing machine head having a main drive shaft therein, a driving wheel on said shaft, an opening in said head opposite said driving wheel, a housing secured to said head and overlying said opening and having a driven wheel journalled therein in alignment with said driving wheel, an endless flexible drive member extending through said opening and trained over said driving and driven wheels, speed reducing gearing in said housing driven by said driven wheel, a cam shaft journalled in said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom
  • gearing comprises a plurality of worm-and-gear pairs arranged in series driving relation whereby said cam shaft is driven at a Very much lower speed than said driven wheel.
  • A,machine as definedinclaim fi wherein said rotary element comprises-a cam having-a spiral periphery and , wherein said release meanscomprises a member positioned in the pathof movement-ofthat portion of said cam ofrgreatest radinsryvhereby.said cam engages said release-means to release said latch. means. nearthe endof each cycle of; operation of said cam.
  • a machine as-defined in claim .-13 including arod connected at one end thereof to said control-member,
  • a machine as defined in claim 15. wherein said rod comprises relatively adjustable portions so arranged that the overall length of :said rod may. be adjusted.
  • release means comprises .a. shaftsjournalledfor oscillation about its. axis arranged generally. parallel to the axis of said rotary element, a generally radialarm fixed to saidshaft, armember adjustable along ,said, radial, arm
  • cyclically, operable means for controlling aworkpiece to produce ,a predetermined pattern .of stitching thereon during one cycle of operation of said means
  • said, cyclically operable means including a rotarycam having a spiral peripheryand arranged to be driventhrough not more than one complete rotation during each cycle otoperation, driving means for, said machine, a control member for saiddrivingmeans, said .control member, being movable from a first position wherein said drive, means is rendered inoperative thereby to a second positionwherein said drive means is energized thereby, means normally urging said control member to said first position, a shaft journalled for oscillation about its axis arranged generally parallel to the axis of said cam, a generally radial arm fixed to said shaft, a release member adjustable along'said generally radial arm and having a portion positioned in the path of movement of a portion of the spiral periphery of said cam, means biasing said shaft in rotation in a
  • a machineyas defined in claim 18 including manually, operable. means-connected to said shaft for moving said second armout of said path, independently of said 21.'A,machine as defi ned in claim,1 8 including a cam follower engagingthespiral periphery of said cam and ,a ctuated thereby, to impart a predetermined movement to said,workpiece.
  • a,-sewing machine having a head, an overhanging, arm, a. work. supporting table, stitch formingmeans includin a needle, ,a ipresserfoot, meanszfor feeding material past said needle in a predetermined direction, and driving meansifor said needleand feeding means; a movable material control member, means for guiding and ,movingsaid member for rectilinear movement on said machine in a direction transverse to saidpredetermined direction lin timed, relation to the, operation of said stitch r ng mean aidsuiding n m ng means including an element,mountedndjacentand extending along, said for slidingmovement toward nd. from said table and having workv engagingmeans at the lower end thereof, and means'normallyurging. said member downwardly toward said table.
  • said means normally urging said member downwardly m r s n a s r n herm end s said. r be P vided withhandle meanswhereby it maybe retracted u w r a a n th a t sav a sr in Re ferences (lited in thefile, of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,607 Binns Dec 1, 1885 820,446 'Stahl May.15, 1906 858,186 .Huber June 25, 1907 869,469 Wi1son Oct. 29, 1907 965,825 Locke et al.

Description

A. GUIDE 2,857,865
SPIRAL s'rI TcH ATTACHMENT FOR szwmc MACHINES Oct. 28, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20. 1954 INVENTOR ANTHONY 6mm;
ATIORNEYS SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 20. 1954 A. GUIDE Oct. 28, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR 22.2,. 8 mm t v T Nv w \R, 1% i IQ g 1, I mv 3x b 3 I .H v \l\|\|\\\\\ Q g R Q 3 SW1. .IHWH ll .L. l 1 M b v 1+||LY a Mi hm gwg g T9. a Q6 .,....4.1.J
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SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR sgwmc umcnmszs fined-oat. ,20, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ANTHONY GUIDE BY 95 m kW ATTORNEYS 2,857,865 SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed 001;. 20. 1954 A. GUIDE Oct. 28, 1958 9 Sheets-Sme t 4 INVENTOR ANTHONY Gm DE ATTORNEXS A. GUIDE 2,857,865
SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR sswmc. MACHINES Oct. 28, 1958 9 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed 001;. 20, 1954 INVENTOR.
ANTHONY v GUIDE ATTORNEYS A. GUIDE 2,857,865
SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Oct. 28, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 20, 1954 INVENTOR ANTHONY GUIDE.
flaws @9221 ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1958 A. GUIDE 2, 7, n
SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES I Filed Oct. 20. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VENTOR ANTHONY GUI DE ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1958 A. GUIDE 2,8575865 -SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 20. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR ANTHONY (-w l DE ATTORNEYS SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 20. 1954 A. GUIDE Oct. 28,1958
9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVHVTOR. ANTHONY G-ul oz ATTO R N EYS United States Patent Office 2,857,865 Patented Oct. 28, 19518 SPIRAL STITCH ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHTNES Anthony Guide, Raritan, N. .l. Application October 20, 1954, Serial No. 463,354 25 Claims. (Cl. 112-22) This invention relates to sewing machines, and particularly to an attachment for a sewing machine to guide a workpiece past the sewing head in a manner to produce a spiral seam on the workpiece.
The description herein relates to an attachment for the production of a spiral seam or line of stitching on a brassiere cup but it is to be understood that the invention may be employed for producing other articles. It is clearly within the scope of this invention to spirally stitch any fiat workpiece.
In general, the invention comprises an attachment for a conventional sewing machine wherein means are provided to be fixed to the sewingmachine head and to be driven by the drive shaft therein in timed relation to the stitching mechanism. The attachment includes a cam having a spiral periphery driven at a very low speed relative to the stitching mechanism and a cam follower actuated by the spiral cam to move continuously in one direction during the stitching operation, and at such a changing rate that the convolutions of the spiral seam are substantially equally spaced. The cam follower is directly connected to a movable material control member having a pivot pin engageable with the material to continuously move the material laterally of the norms-.1 direction of stitching and the material feeding means of the sewing machine causes the material to pivot about the pivot pin to thereby produce a spiral seam. The mechanism carrying the pivot pin is, as stated, driven directly by the cam follower so that it partakes directly of the cam follower movement, in the same direction and to the same extent. Thus, the design of the cam is simplified. The invention further includes means for releasing the cam from the driving means and for automatically returning the cam to a starting position for the commencement of a subsequent cycle of operation. This is accomplished by providing a manually releasable friction clutch between the cam and drive means and a spring normally biasing the cam to return to a predetermined starting position controlled by a fixed stop element. The fixed stop element is adjustable whereby the starting position of the cam may be regulated to adjust the distance between convolutions of the spiral seam. The invention further includes a modified form of spacing regulator involving a variable ratio transmission between the driving means and the cam.
The attachment according to the present invention lends itself readily to automatic operation and a further feature of the invention resides in an automatic stop mechanism arranged to automatically de-energize the driving'means when the cam has completed a predetermined cycle of operation. The automatic stop means consists of an element movably positioned in the path of movement of the spiral cam to be engaged and moved thereby as the cam approaches the end of one cycle of operation. The movable element is connected through suitable linkages to a drive means control whereby the drive means may be automatically stopped.
Thus, an operator may place a workpiece in the machine and energize the drive means whereupon the machine will automatically complete the stitching of a spiral pattern on the workpiece and thereafter shut itself ofi so the operator need not be in immediate attendance. By this arrangement a single operator may tend several of the machines at the same time, without having to devote his or her full attention to one machine.
it is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a spiral stitcher attachment of simplified and novel design and construction and which is economical to produce.
Another object of the invention is to provide a spiral stitching attachment for sewing machines providing for adjustment of the radial spacing between convolutions and adjustment of the overall diameter of the spiral pattern.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a spiral stitching attachment wherein the stitching of the spiral pattern is automatic and wherein the machine shuts itself off when the pattern is completed.
A further object of this invention is to provide a spiral stitching attachment including a cam drive for the material control member and a novel clutch arrangement for selectively connecting the cam to a drive means.
A still further object of this invention is to provide such an attachment that is readily adaptable for use with different standard sewing machine heads.
An additional object or" this invention is to provide an automatic spiral stitching attachment for a sewing machine wherein the attachment may be set to produce a spiral pattern of stitching with or without inner and outer boundary circles of stitching.
Still further and additional objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a sewing machine provided with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1 showing a workpiece in position therein;
Fig. 3 is an end elevational view as seen from the right hand side of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an end elevational view as seen from the right end of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the left end portion of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-d of Fig. 5 but on a somewhat enlarged scale:
Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-$ of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line illlt) of Fig. 2;
Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views taken immediately above the novel clutch mechanism and showing the clutch with the parts thereof in different positions;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a cam follower element;
Fig. 14 is a fragmentary and elevational view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified construction;
Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a front end view, similar to Fig. 4, but show ing the attachment designed for use with a zigzag and fagoting machine;
Fig. 17 is a detailed view of the cam and cam follower showing the manner of providing indicia to indicate the adjustment for the spacing of the spiral convolutions;
ames Fig. 18 is a front elevational view of a sewing machine provided with the automatic stop mechanism of the present invention;
Figh. 19 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is an end elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 18;
' '21 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2121 of Fig. 2() but with certain parts being omitted;
Figs. 22, 23., 24 and 25 are diagrammatic views illustrating various patterns of spiral stitching that may be produced with the attachment of the present invention;
Fig. 26 is a fragmentary front elevation of a form of the invention employing a different form of material control member;
Fig. 27 is 'a top plan view of Fig. 26; and
Fig. 28 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the material control member of Fig. 26.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional sewing machine head 2 having the usual reciprocating needle 4, presser foot 6 and material feeding means 3 arranged to feed material below the presser foot and needle in a direction normal to the plane of Fig. 2. The sewing machine head 2 includes a base portion mounted on a table 12. A guideway 14 of generally channel shape (see also Fig. 4) is mounted on the table 12 and extends in a direction generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sewing machinehead 2. The upper surface of the channel web is substantially flush with the upper surface of the base It) and provides a guideway for a sliding material control member 16 positioned therein. Suitable angle members 18, secured to the guideway 14, have flanges overlying the edges of the slide 16 to retain the slide in the guide channel.
The slide 16 is provided with a forwardly extending thin metal element 20 extending over the upper surface of the base 10 to a position closely adjacent the presser foot 6 when the slide is in its right hand position as shown in Fig. 1. Near its extremity the element 29 is provided with an upstanding pin 22 adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the needle 4 and adapted to move with slide 16 along a path transverse to the direction of feed of material by the feeding means 3. The line along which pin 22 moves is slightly forwardly ofthe needle 4. Thus, while the pin 22 is engaged with a workpiece A (Fig. 2) and constitutes a pivot about which the workpiece may rotate, the material feeding means 8 feeds the material in a direction tangential to the pivot 22 and past, stitch forming needle 4. By positioning the pivotf22 slightly in advance of the needle 4-,there is no tendency for the material to buckle or curl but it is always maintained relatively taut between the needle 4 and the pivot pin 22.
The slide 16 is further provided with a block 23 on its upper surface, the block 23 having a pair of upstanding ears 2 4; between which a block element 26 is pivoted on a pin 28. A spring 30 is carried by block 23 between the cars 24 and engages a cam surface 32 on the block 26.
-The cam surface 32 is so configured and arranged that the spring 30 tends to hold the block in its full line or dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. A generally U-shaped hold-down member 34 is fixed at one end to I the block 26 and is provided with a downwardly directed terminal end 36 having an axial opening 38 therein. Whenthe hold-down member 34 is moved tothe full line position of Fig. 2, the point of pivot pin 22 projects into the axial opening 38 and the spring 30 acting on cam surface 32 causes end 36 of the hold-down member 3-: to rest on and press lightly on the upper surface of the workpieceA, thus retaining the workpiece on the pivot pin.
A projection 4-42 extends forwardly from the block 23 below the ears 24 and is substantially rigid with the slide 16. The projection 10 is provided with an up;
wardly and rearwardly extending rod or pusher means 4-2 secured thereto in any suitable manner. The functioning of rod 42 will be described later.
An electric motor, or other suitable power source (not shown in Figs. ll7) may be mounted below table 12 or in any other convenient location and drives a belt 44 trained over a pulley 46 on the main drive shaft 48 of the sewing machine head. Customarily, the drive shaft 48 extends longitudinally-through the sewing machine head, which is hollow to accommodate the shaft, its bearings, and mechanisms for imparting the required movements to the needle, material advancing means and bobbing of the conventional sewing machine head.
Now referring to Figs. 3 and 6 through 9, the sewing machine head 2 is provided with an access opening through its rear wall. This access opening is usually covered by a cover plate (not shown) secured to the head by bolts or thumb screws engaging threaded open-' ings 52 in the head frame. According to the present invention a drive wheel 54 is secured to the shaft 48 within the hollow housing of the head 2 and laterally aligned with the opening 54). The drive wheel 54 may be of any desired form for driving a sprocket chain or nonslip flexible belt 56.
A composite attachment housing 58 is secured to the machine head 2 in a position overlying the opening 50, The attachment housing 58 is provided with a shaft 60 journalled therein having a driven wheel 62 aligned with the drive wheel 54 and over which the drive belt 56 is trained as clearly shown in Pig. 6. The shaft 60 has a worm 64 fixed thereto (Fig. 8) and meshing with a worm wheel 66 fixed to a second shaft 68 journalled in the housing 58.
A third shaft 769 (Figs. 6 and 7) is journalled in suitable bearings 72 in the housing 58 and has fixed thereto a worm wheel 74- meshing with a worm 76 fixed to, the second shaft 68. The shaft 70 also has a worm 7.8 keyed or otherwise fixed thereon, which worm 78 meshes with a worm wheel 8th fixed to a vertical shaft 82 journalled at 84 in the housing 53 and extending upwardly therefrom through the top of the housing 58. i
The housing, generally indicated by 5 8 is secured to the machine head 2 by bolts 85 engaging the threaded openings 52. The shaft 82 extends upwardly through the upper wall of housing 58 through a slot 86 provided to facilitate assembly of the housing parts and permit accommodating mo ements of the shaft 82,.
A clutch hub member 38 is fixed to shaft 82 above the housing 555 and spaced therefrom a substantial distance. The clutch hub member 83 may be secured to the shaft 82 by means of set screw 99 or other suitable means. A cam hub 92 is rotatable on the shaft 82 and is provided with a cam portion 94 having a spiral.- ly configured outer periphery 96. provided with a cup-shaped drum 93 fixed thereto between the hub 92 and the clutch member 33 in a position to rotatably receive the clutch member therein. Suitable washers or the like 1% are positioned about the shaft 82 and provide bearing surfaces against the housing 58 and the bottom of the cam hub 92 and also serve to hold the cam hub 92 at the proper elevation relative to clutch member 88.
A spiral spring 1% (see Figs. 1. and 6) is arranged around the cam hub 32 with its outer terminus fixed to the housing 58 at N2 (see Fig. 14) and with its inner terminus fixed to cam hub 92 by means of screw'103 or the like. The spiral spring lfil is so stressed that it no e mally biases the cam 94 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above.
Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the cam 9 is pro.
The cam 94v is also position on the bracket.
aesases Near its upper end, stud 108 is provided with a transverse threaded opening threadedly receiving a stop bolt 112 having a head 114 arranged in the path of movement of the stop lug 104 fixed to the cam 94. The stop bolt 112 may be locked in adjusted position on the stud 108 by suitable lock nuts 116. As is evident from the drawings, the spiral spring 101 normally tends to rotate the cam 94 in a counterclockwise direction relative to shaft 82 to the position shown wherein its stop lug 104 engages the head 114 of the stop bolt 112. Clearly the stop bolt 112 may be adjusted to regalate or change the exact angular position at which the cam is brought to rest.
The clutch member 88 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 11 and 12, to which reference is now made. The clutch member 88 comprises a hub fixed to the shaft 82 and an integral radial extension 116 joining the hub to a peripheral friction ring portion 118. The friction ring portion 118 is separated from the hub throughout the major portion of its circumferential extent and on the side thereof opposite the integral extension 116, the friction ring 118 is split, as at 128, to provide free terminal end portions thereof. A cam lever 122 is pivoted, at 124, near one of the terminal ends of the friction ring 118 and extends somewhat upwardly (see also Fig. 3) to position its'end 125 substantially above the clutch element 88. The end 125 is provided with a radially extending adjustable stud 126. The end of cam lever 122 adjacent the pivot 124 is provided with an angular end surface 128 terminating in a projection 134 at the outer edge of the lever. The terminal end 130 of friction ring 118 extends axially upwardly a greater distance than the terminal end to which lever 122 is pivoted so that its end face 132 is in position to be engaged by the projection 134 of the lever 122.
When the cam lever 122 is positioned with its end 125 inwardly toward the aXis of shaft 82, the projection 134 of the cam lever 122 moves away-from the end surface 132 of the end 130 of friction ring 118, thus permitting the ring to resiliently contract with clearance between its outer periphery and the inner surface of the cup 98. Thus, the cup 98 may rotate freely relative to the clutch ring and shaft 82.
When the end 125 of lever 122 is moved radially outwardly to the position of Fig. ll, the projection 134 of the cam lever engages the end surface 132 of the friction ring to force the terminal ends of the friction ring 118 apart and extend the same into tight frictional en gage-ment with the inner periphery of the cup 98 to thus frictionally clutch the cup 98 and cam 94 to the shaft 82.
Clutch-actuating member 136 (Fig. 6) is slidable on the shaft 82 immediately above clutch element 88 and is generally spool-shaped but is provided with a conical surface 138 adjacent its lower end and a peripheral groove 1.40 adjacent its upper end. An axial counterbore 142 extends downwardly from the upper end of the member 136 and accommodates a compression spring 144 arranged to abut the bottom of the bore 142 at its lower end and to abut, at its upper end, a collar 146 fixed to the shaft 82. The cone surface 138 is so positioned and arranged that when the element 136 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 6, the cone surface engages adjustable stud 126 of cam lever 122 to swing the cam lever outwardly to the position of Fig. 11, thus engaging the friction clutch as described. The spring 144 is of sufiicient strength to force the actuator element 136 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and thus forcibly engage the clutch. This is the normal position of the clutch.
Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a bracket 148 is bolted or otherwise secured to an upper edge portion of the which a stub shaft 154 is journalled. The tub shaft 1:34 projects laterallyfrom each end of the bore in the bracket 152. Closely adjacent the edges of the bracket 152, arms 156 are fixed to the shaft 154 and project therefrom parallel to each other along opposite sides of the cintch actuator member 136 in the region of the peripheral groove 148. Each of the arms 156 is provided With an inwardly directed pin 158 extending inwardly therefrom into the peripheral groove of member 136. One end of the stub shaft 154 projects laterally of a greater distance than its other end and pr vrdes a mounting for a handle 160 rigidly fixed thereto. The handle 168 projects forwardly of the machine and is long enough to extend forwardly past the sewing machine head where it is readily accessible to an ttor for manual disengagement of the clutch. It i be apparent that manual depression of the handle will cause the pins 158 to move upwardly and thereroe by slide clutch-actuating member 136 upwardly against the action of spring 144. This upwardly movement of member 136 withdraws the cone surface 138 from the region of the lever 122 and permits the resilient friction ring 118 to contract to the position of Fig. 12 wherein the clutch is disengaged and the cam 94 is free to rotate on shaft 82.
An elongated bracket 162 (Figs. 2 and. 3) is fixed to a portion of the housing 58 at its upper forward edge and extends from the housing toward the left the full length of the sewing machine head. Each end of the bracket 162 is provided with an upstanding portion 164 and the portions 164 are provided with aligned openings receiving a guide tube 166. The ends of the guide tube may be secured in the upstanding portions 164 by set screws or the like. The guide tube is slotted substantially the full length thereof to provide a guide slot 168 through its upper wall. At its left hand end the guide slot is enlarged to form a generally circular enlarged opening 170.
An actuator 'rod 172 extends through and is guided by the guide tube 166. Near its right hand end the actuator rod 172 is provided with a threaded radial opening adapted to threadedly receive a cam follower 174. The cam follower 174 is shown in detail in Fig. 13 and, as is evident from that figure, the cam follower is provided with a threaded stem portion 176 adapted to be threadedly received in the radial opening in actuator rod 172. The other end of the cam follower element is provided with a roller 178. The roller and threaded stem portions are joined by a neck of reduced diameter 180 having the opposite sides thereof cut away to provide spaced parallel substantially flat surfaces 182 (see Fig. 6 also). The distance between the flat surfaces 182 is slightly less than the width of the guide slot 168 in tube 166 and the diameter of the threaded stem 176 is slightly less than the circular opening at the end of the guide slot 168. To assemble the parts, the actuator rod 172 is first slidably positioned in the tube 166 with its threaded opening in registry with the circular opening 170 in the tube. The threaded stem of the cam follower is then inserted through the opening 170 and threaded into the opening in the rod 172 to a position where the flat surfaces 182 on neck are parallel to the sides of the guide slots 168. Then the actuator rod 172 may be moved to the right (Fig. 1) to position the roller 178 adjacent the periphery of spiral cam 94. The flat surfaces 182 thus not only cooperate with the sides of the slot 168 to prevent rotation of rod 172 but also lock stem 176 against inadvertent removal from rod 176. A connector block 184 (see Figs. 1 and 10) is provided with a bore 186 of a size to snugly receive actuator rod 172 and is clamped in adjusted position on the rod 172 by means of set screws 188. A tube 190 is arranged in a second bore 192 in the block 184 and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to the rod 172. The tube 190 is fixedly secured in the block 184 by means of set screw 194 and is provided with 7 sp'aedbti'shings 196"frictiona1ly"heldtherein at its-op- "pos-ite ends. The-'bu'shings'196 slidably receive the rod "'42, previously described, which extendsupwardly and rearwardly from the material controlling slide member 16. 'By"this construc'tion it'will be apparent that sliding -movement of the rod'172 in its guide tube 166 will also '-movethe block 1'84-and tube min the same direction. Furthermore, therod or pusher'rneans 42 and slide 16 will 'be forcedtoslide in the same direction and to the sameextent. It is 'contemplated that the guide 14'for slidelfi'be arranged as nearly parallel to tube loas possible, but obviously 'exactl parallelism is impractical to-attain. "For-"this reason-the bushings 196 are provided 'whereby'- to permit the'rod'42 to slide axially, to'a limited extent,'relat-ive to -the tube 1'90'and actuatorro'd172 to thus accommodate for differences in the distance between the center line'of the--guide'14'and rod 172.
*The rod'I72 and" slide 1 6'-are* thus directly connected together-for sliding movement alonga rectilinear path but "nosprings or other biasing means are provided for urging *this'assembly in eitherdirection. "When slidably moved 5 to any particular position along their paths of movement,
these elements tend to remain in that position.
As will be obvious, operation of the driving means to drive the shaft 48 of the sewing machine to effect sewing *ofthe material will" also rotate vertical shaft"82 at a "mu'ch'-lower=speed and,assuming the -handle 160 to be released; thecam' 94"willbe' rotated ina clockwise 'd-irection. The spiral periphery of the cam 94 will engage the cam 5 follower 1'74, thus causing the cam follower, 'r'od I72,"and slide 16tomove to the-left 'in timed relation tolthe operation'of' 'thestitch forming mechanism. Assunrin'g awo'rkpiece to be'in position as indicated at A in Fig. 2, continued 'operation ofthe' machine will result "iif tlie production of -a spiralrow of stitching on the 'workpiecedue to the fact that the pivot pin 22 is being constantly moved to' the left at acontrolled rate while the'material feeding'means-fl feeds that portion of the workpiece b'elowpresser foot 6' in a direction generally tangential -to the pivot pin 22.
The spiral periphery 96 of the cam 94 is-so designed -arid'configured' 'that it moves cam follower-174 to'the -'l'eft at aconstantlydecreasing rate. Since the radius of thespi'ral 'pattern of stitching isco-nstantly increasing, the length of" successive convolutions of the I seam 'pro gres- "sively increases. Since the numberof turns of shaft 48 "to produce a'prdetermined'length of stitched line remains constant;the cam' follower must necessarily 'move in response toicam action at-a constantly diminishing rate, since cam "94 itself rotates at a constant rate, to maintain uniform spacing between successive convolutions. lt will also-be'apparent that if the pivot' pin 22 is initially f positioned=ata predeterminedposition very close to the ne'edle 4 and the parts are-so adjusted that the cam "flfollower' engag es the' cam perl'pheryat point C (Fig. 17) the m'otion-of the' cam" follower 174 :in response to cam -'rotation='will-start at a ditferent rate thanit would if the main startingposition of cam follower 174 were such that =theflfollower initiallyengages the cam at point D. -At the start 'of -each"cycle ofoperation the cam" 94 is in. such f position lthat its 'stoplug104 is in engagement with the "-fixed stop member 114. Thus, theinitial position of the fl cam may be adjusted so that thestarting point of contact betWeenWhe camand the follower may heat C, D, or
-at otheri positions determined by the adjustment of the.
fixed stop. To indicate the spacing" between convolutions of the spiral-stitching, the guide.tube 166'may be'provided with suit-able indicia- 200 (Fig.' 17) to indicate the starting-position of the cam follower for'the production of -a"s'piral pattern having the indicated spacing between convolutions.
Toinitiallyadjust the'machine, the operator positions "the-cam follower1'74 opposite {the desired indication, then adjusts" the"stop=means"114- to bring the cam' 94 into contact with thefollower at that position. Thereof the workpiece is impaled ongpin' 22. Thereafter the presser foot 5 is lowered, the hold-doWn'memberM is moved to its full line'position tosecuretheworkhasto do is to start the'machine.
stitching. =extent that the'desired portion of the workpiece has'been stitched, the operator'may immediately stop the machine,
piece on the pin 22, and thereafter *all'the "operator Asthe machinestarts to sew on the workpiece the cam'drivesthe-camfol'lower and slide 16 to the left'to'produce-the spiral line of When the stitching has progressed'to'such an thus terminating its operation, or he or she may merely depress handle to disengagethe clutchan'dthereby stop rotation of the cam-94 while permitting the stitching mechanismto continue in'operation. Atthat time the machine -will'continue' to sew a circular row. of stitching: on the workpiece sincethe-piece'is'constrainedto pivotal movement'about the "pin-22 which itself is now stationary becausethe'clutch 88 has been disengaged. If desired, instead of disengaging the clutch, the'operator may permit the machine to operate until the outermost end'of the spiral periphery of cam 94" passesthe cam follower l74'whereupon both the cam and the sewing machine shaft 48 continue to'rotate but the actuator-rod 172 is-no longer driven'and-pin'22remains stationary while the'rnachine sews an outer boundary circle encompassing the spiral stitching. If .desired,;the machinemay be operated to produce a complete circle of stitching ncar'the center of the workpiece before starting to stitch the spiral pattern. To accomplish this, the operator sets the cam-follower oppositethe desired spacing indicia, as'previously described, then adjusts the cam stop'means so that the camis spaced a substantial distance from the follower 174. *Starting the machine under these conditions causes the-stitching mechanism to start sewing on the workpiece and the cam 94 begins to rotate but must rotate'through' a substantial angle before engaging the follower 174. .During this interval of time the pin 22 remains stationaryand the machine can produce only a circular seam near the center ofthe workpiece. When the j periphery'ofthe cam 94' reaches the position ofthe' cam follower, it starts to impart 'motion' to the pin 22 and thereafter a spiral seam is produced.
When the clutch is disengaged, as described above, spring lill acts to return the cam 94 to its starting position against stop 114.
In a machine constructed as heretofore described, the gearing in housing 58 was so proportioned that the speed ratio from shaft 48 to. shaft 82 was 2500zl. The machine was satisfactorily operated with shaft48' turning 2500 R. P. M.
Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25 illustrate different patterns that may be' produced by the operations heretofore described. To' produce the pattern of Fig. 22 the machine is initially started with the cam periphery in contact with the cam follower and the operation of the entire machine is terminated when the line of. stitching reaches the position a.
To produce the pattern of Fig. 23, the machine'is started with the cam periphery initially spaced from the follower 174 whereupon the machine first sews the cenfollower whereupon'the machine immediately commences stitching a spiral at point c. The machine is permitted to operate automatically until stitching has reached the point d at which time the operator depresses handle 168 to disengage clutch 88 and step movement of pin 22 but without interrupting the sewing function of the sewing machine, whereupon the outer boundary circle a of stitching is produced. As previously indicated, the outer boundary circle may also be produced by permitting the outermost end of the cam periphery to pass the cam follower and continue to rotate thereafter. Such a method can be employed, however, only when the workpiece is of sufficiently large diameter.
The pattern of Fig. 25 includes both the inner circle of stitching b and the outer boundary circle of stitchis not affected by means extending through the opening 50. Instead, an adjusable pulley 292 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 48 in alignment with a second adjustable pulley 284 on a shaft 286 extending laterally outwardly from the housing 58. The adjustable pulleys 2G2 and 284 may be of any conventional or well-known construction but are preferably such that their effective diameters can be changed so that belt 288 may drive shaft 206 at different selected speeds relative to the speed of shaft 48. Such adjustable drives are well know and need not be further described.
Fig. indicates schematically at 218 and 212 hand wheels or the like to effect adjustment of the pulleys 202 and 204. By providing such a variable ratio drive as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the speed ratios between machine shaft 48 and cam shaft 82 may be adjusted at will to regulate and predetermine the spacing between succeeding convolutions of the spiral seam. Fig. 16 merely indicates a modified form of housing 58 and a supporting bracket 214 therefore to adapt the present invention to a different type of sewing machine head. In all functional and operational respects, this modification is substantially identical to that previously described and may include the variable speed drive of Figs. 14 and 15. The particular sewing machine head illustrated in Fig. 16 is of the type known a zigzag and fagoting machine in which the needle is given lateral movements in addition to its vertical reciprocation.
Figs. 18 through 21 illustrate automatic stopping mechanism which may be employed with any of the modifications heretofore described. The sewing machine head 2 and all portions of the spiral stitching attachment are identical to corresponding elements heretofore described. For clarity of illustration and description, many of the spiral stitching attachment elements have been omitted from Figs. 18 through but it is to be understood that they are present.
Fig. 18 shows the table 12 previously described mounted on supporting legs 220. As shown herein, an electric motor 222 is mounted below the table 12 and its shaft 224 is provided with a pulley 226 over which the drive belt 44 is trained. A treadle device 228 is pivotally mounted on the base of the machine and through connections, not shown, is operative in the usual manner to control the motor 222. The treadle 228 may operate a starting switch and/or rheostat to start and stop the motor 222 and regulate its speed. Alternatively, the treadle 228 may be provided with a linkage connection to a clutch between the motor 222 and pulley 226 to mechanically disconnect the motor from the sewing machine without actually stopping rotation of the motor. It is immaterial, for the purposes of this invention, how the treadle 228 exercises its control of the drive means, but an arrangement is contemplated wherein a spring 238 biases the treadle 228 to swing upwardly to a first position and it is intended that the controls be so arranged that the motor is rendered inoperative to drive the machine when the treadle is in its upper or first position. Depression of the top portion of the treadle downwardly against the action of spring 230 effects the starting of the motor 222 or engages the clutch referred to, to initiate drive to the sewing machine head 2.
A mounting plate 232 is secured to the under surface of the table 12 and projects rearwardly therefrom. The plate 232 may be fixed to the table 12 by means of bolts or the like. A vertically extending rock shaft 236 is journailed in the rearwardly projecting portion of the plate 232 for oscillation about its vertical axis. Collars 238 and 24(1), fixed to the shaft 236 on opposite sides of the plate 232, hold the shaft against vertical shifting or tliting and provide thrust bearing surfaces against the plate. At its upper end the shaft 236 is provided with a collar 242 fixed thereto. Projecting from the collar 242 is a generally radial arm 244 extending toward the spiral cam 94 previously described. The arm 244 lies in a plane somewhat above the plane of cam 94 and is fixed to the shaft 236 for oscillation therewith. The portion of the arm 244 which extends over the cam 94 is provided with an adjustable clamp 246 that may be adjustably fixed in any desired position therealong by means of thumb nut 248. Carried by but depending from clamp 246 is a cam engaging release element 250. The element 254) is positioned in the plane of movement of the cam 94.
Also fixed to the collar 242 is a forwardly extending handle 252 which extends forwardly over the machine head 2 to a position readily accessible by the operator of the machine.
The collar 238 (see Fig. 21) overlying the plate 232 has an integral arm 254 extending rearwardly therefrom to oscillate with shaft 236. The arm 242 closely overlies the upper surface of plate 232 and is of substantial width. A tension spring 256 has one end thereof fixed to the arm 254 at 258 and the other end thereof fixed to the plate 232 at 268. A stop pin 262 is carried by the plate 232 in position to engage one edge of the arm 254 to limit oscillation of the shaft 236 under the influence of spring 256.
The plate 232 is provided with an opening 264, which opening is covered by the arm 254 when said arm engages the stop 262 as shown in Fig. 21. A bushing 266 (see Fig. 20) is fixed to the under surface of the plate 282 and is provided with a bore of the same diameter as the opening 264 and in alignment therewith. The bushing 266 and the opening 264 constitute a guide for a vertically slidable rod 268. The rod 268 may comprise an additional lower section 270 adjustably clamped, at 272, to the upper section 268. The section 270 is pivoted, through a ball and socket connection 274, to a laterally extending pin or arm 276 carried by the toe portion of the treadle 228.
It will be apparent that when arm 254 is in the position overlying opening 264, as shown in full lines in Fig. 21, the spring 230 cannot raise the toe portion of the treadle to its first positionsince rod 268 cannot move upwardly through the opening 264. The arm 254 extends across the path of movement of the rod 268 and thereby blocks upward movement thereof. The spring 256 normally holds arm 254 in this blocking position.
With the parts in the position thus described, the drive to the sewing machine is energized (assuming that main switch 277 is closed) and the machine is operating to produce the desired pattern of stitching. During this time the cam 94 is rotating in a clockwise direction and the clamp 246 carried by arm 244 is in the position indicated in Fig. 19. Assume that the cycle of operation has progressed to the point where cam 94 is in the full line position shown (Fig. 19) with its periphery just coming into engagement with the release element 250 carried by clamp 246 and that this position represents the posi- .11 etionrofssubstantial completion of the-spiral pattern. Fur- :thenrotation of -cam1 94i-i rraclockwise direction. will swing release; element 250. about theaxis ofshaft 236 and will -.;alsoswi-ngiarm-244 androck= shaft 236 itself in a counter- :clo'ckwise direction. 'counterclockwise-movement of the shafti236 swingsits lower arm 254 from the full line position of Fig. 21 to the-positionshownin dotted lines wherein the-opening'264iis :uncoveredand rodv 268 is free :to move upwardly. At that timespring .234) .will act to s lift the toe :portionof the treadle to its upper or first position and will-stop the machine. -At the same time rod 2&8 is moved upwardly past theadjacent edge of arm 254 and nvill beheld: in that position-by-spring 230. Thereafter, the operator may depress clutch handlelot) to permit cam '3 94 .to.' .move,s:under the' influence of springlfll, to its starting position and remove itsperiphery fromengagement .:with releaseelement 250. The release element 250, cam .244rand shaft 236,"h.owever, will not move to the position :of Fig.1 9.;at:=this time since the-rod'268blocks clockwiseumovement of arm 8254. The parts are left in this uposition until the operator has removed theworkpiece -rom the machine, moved theslide16 and'cam follower i'backtto their startingpositions and has inserted a new workpiece in themachine. At that time the treadle228 .-may-be. depressed tostart operation of the machine .and iat thesame time rod 268 will be withdrawn downwardly from the edge of arm1254 whereupon spring 256 oscil- -lates arm -254. and shaft 236 to the'full line position of Fig. 21 and thus positions release element 25? to be engaged and moved by-the cam 94 at the completion of the cycle then started.
The. operator: may-.wilii'ullyswing the handle 252 to the right at any time during the cycle tostop the machine-without returning. the cam to its starting position.
T Su'clrstopping ofthe ma'chineat an intermediate point in ,itsrcyclermay be necessary ordesirable in the event the 'threadr breaks .or. other. events occur making it necessary :to xmagewcertain. adjustments repairs or otherwise and then to continue and complete the cycle previously started.
Irrthe event the :treadle. 228' controls .a starting switch ;-.and:rheostat.wherebyothe speed. of operation of motor 222 can be regulated thereby, the clamp means 272 hold- ;.ing..rods..26$and 270xtogether=may be adjusted so that the.secoudvorrunning. position. oftthe treadle etfects the wdesiredspeed of. operation ofthe motor. 222. Obviously .whenzgthe parts are in running position the upper end of .rod3268, .and consequently. its lower end, are always in -:the .same verticaltpositions so..adjustment of the treadle vposition atuthat time can be eifected by adjusting the .,clamp'.means1=272.
'.-'Figs.l.26, 27'.and. 28 illustratea form of material con- .trol-member that may be usedas part of the attachment .ofithe present invention in place of the slide 16, guides .18,:,and' hold-down member 34 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The parts of this embodiment that are identical with parts ofrtheembodiments.already described are identified by thesame =referencenumerals.
A blockStN) is adjustably mounted on rod:172, which is: actuated by can194, and held in adjusted position there- 'on by. set screws 392. A. generally vertically arranged guide .in the form of a tube 3M extends through block fitttkand is secured. rigidly. thereto by set. screw 3%. A rod -398 extends slidably through the tube 3% and has a-hand knob 314 fixed to its upper end. A pin 312 is fixed-*to rod'BOS. andextends radially from the rod through an elongated slot 314 in the rear side of tube 304. A -pin are is fixed to tube 3&4 below the slot 314 and anchors one end of atension spring 318, the other end of which -is anchored to pin 312. The spring 318 obviously urges .rod'308 to slide downwardly in tube 394 while knob 310 may be'manually' pulled upwardly to retractro-d' fititiagainst the'action of spring'3il8.
*As shown, the tube 304 and rod3i98 extend downwardly and forwardly from block fititi-sothat the lower- 12 end of the rod ispositioned:1ateral1y;:0f:;fl16 needle The lower end of rodlziiS is tslightlybentsat :320= s0 that its tip portion is arranged -;vertically. The tipportiqn of the rod is provided with a sharp pivot pin 322 projecting downwardly from its lower end.
The pivot pin 322 projects from the end of rod 308 a sufiicient distance to penetrate awork pieceA and position its sharp end in a guide groove--324;formed in a guide plate 326 secured to the tablezlZ-With. the .guide groove extendingzfrom a position close to,needle..4.-and g-- are Ely pendicular to :the. direction :xofi feedrofs-matcriai by the feeding means 8.
At the start of a sewing, cycle the rod 172 is. in its righthand position, as previously described, whereupon the operator lifts rod '308 sufficiently thigh -to-permit:;the work piece A to be positioned as shown. .The rod's308 is then released and spring 318 moves-r0d?z3il8:dOWnwardly to project pin i322 :through the center ;;0f.- the work piece and into guide groove 324. :Thereaftenthe machine is started, completes a sewingscycle and.issthen stopped, the operatorlifts rod 308 and'removes the completed work piece and the parts are thenreturnedto starting position. I
The upper end of slot 314 is.pr0vided withra= lateral enlargement defining a shoulder 330. 41f desired, ;the rod 368 may be lifted to a position-whereait may be partially rotatedto move pin 312 into theenlargement and onto shoulder "330, thus holdinglthe rod,3,0,8 in elevated position as long as desired.
While a limited number of specific. embodiments-have been shown and-described herein, it is to be understood that those embodiments ,are;merely illustrative and, not limiting. The invention may, encompass othenmodifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
1. An attachment for a sewing machine having a head, an overhanging arm, stitch; forming means including ;a needle, means for feeding material pastsaid needlein; a predetermined direction, and driving ,means for said needle and feeding means; said attachment comprising, a movable material control member, .means. for guiding said member for rectilinear movementon said machine in a direction transverse to saidpredetermined direction, a material-piercing pivot pin on said member for engaging and moving material in said transverse direction, aflat spiral cam mounted on saidiattachment for rotation and adapted to be mounted on said machine adjacent the upper portion of said overhanging arm and. means ,on said attachment adapted; to be driven bY.=.said-.-.driving .means and including means for; rotatingeaidcam irrone direction in timed relation and at aconstant ratio to -the operationof said material feeding-means,aeamfollQwer said clutch, spring means xbiased tomotate-said camnin the other direction, and cooperating stop meanson said cam and-machine to stop-said cam, when. said clu-tchvis released, at apredetermined' position.
3. An attachment for a sewing machine havingstitch forming means including a-needle, means forfeedingmaterial past said needle in-a predetermined direction, and driving means-for. said. needle .and feeding:means;..said attachment comprising, a movable material control member, means for guiding-said member for rectilinear movement on said machine in aidirectionatransverseitoisaid predetermined i direction, amaterial-piercing pivot .-.pin
on said member for engaging and-moving inaterial insaid transverse direction, a flat spiral cam mounted on said attachment for rotation, and means on said attachment adapted to be driven by said driving means and including means for rotating said cam in one direction in timed relation and at a constant ratio to the operation of said material feeding means, a cam follower in engagement with said cam, means guiding said cam follower for rectilinear movement in said transverse direction, and means directly connecting said cam follower to said material control member whereby the move in unison in said transverse direction, said cam being shaped to move said cam follower at a constantly changing rate, said stop means being adjustable to preselect the portion of said cam to initially engage said follower after said clutch is released whereby re -engagement of said clutchcauses said cam to start moving said follower at a preselected starting rate.
4. A sewing machine as defined in claim 3 including indicia on said cam follower and guide means in the region occupied by said cam follower at the start of a cycle of operation.
5. In a sewing machine having stitch forming means,
means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; a material control member, first guide means for guiding said member for rectilinear movement in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction, driving means for moving said member along its guide means, said driving means comprising a drive element movable along a second guide means laterally spaced from but generally parallel to said first guide means, pusher means carried by said material control member and extending laterally there from toward said drive element, and laterally directed guide means on said drive element slidably receiving said pusher means whereby to compensate for differences in parallelism between said first and second guide means, and means for driving said drive element along said second guide means in timed relation to the operation of said material feeding means.
6. In a sewing machine having stitch forming means, means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; a material control member having material engaging means thereon, actuating means driven by said drive means for moving said material control member in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction in timed relation to the operation of said material feeding means, said actuating means including a rotary element having a cup-shaped hub portion rotatably mounted on a shaft driven by said drive means, a resiliently expansible clutch member fixed on said shaft within said cup-shaped hub portion, spring actuated means normally holding said clutch member in expanded condition and in frictional driving relation to said cup-shaped hub portion, and manually actnable means for rendering said spring actuated means inoperative whereby to permit said resilient clutch member to contract out of engagement with said cup-shaped hu'o portion.
7. A machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said clutch member includes a peripheral portion in the form of a split ring, a lever pivoted to one end of said ring and having a camming portion engaging the other end thereof, said spring actuated means comprising a cam element slidable along said shaft and arranged to engage and swing said lever in a direction to cam the ends of said split ring apart into frictional engagement with said cupshaped hub portion.
8. in a sewing machine having stitch forming means, means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; a material control member having material engaging means thereon, actuating means driven by said drive means for moving said material control member in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction in timed relation to the operation of said material feeding means, said actuating means including a rotary cam and a cam follower, guide means for said cam follower comprising, an elongated tubular structure having a longitudinally extending slot therein, an actuating rod rectilinearly slidable in said tubular structure, and a stem fixed to said rod and extending laterally therefrom through said slot, said cam follower being mounted on said stem outside said tubular structure.
9. An attachment for a sewing machine having stitch forming means, means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; said attachment comprising, a material control member having a material piercing pivot pin thereon, a rectilinear guide extending transverse to said predetermined direction, actuating means movable along said guide and arranged to move said control member and pivot pin rectilinearly in the direction of said guide transverse to said predetermined direction and away from said stitch forming means, a cam follower on said actuating means engaging a rotary cam driven by said drive means, said cam being so configured that uniform rotation thereof moves said pivot pin at a constantly decreasing rate whereby said material is controlled so as to have a spiral line of stitching formed thereon with all convolutions of said stitching being substantially equally spaced apart, said actuating means comprising means directly connecting said cam follower and said material control member, said connecting means including relatively adjustable elements whereby said cam follower may be moved to different starting positions along its path of travel while said pivot pin remains in a predetermined starting position adjacent said stitch forming means, and means for angularly adjusting the starting position of said cam about its rotary axis.
10. In a sewing machine having stitch forming means, means for feeding material past said stitch forming means in a predetermined direction, and drive means for said stitch forming and material feeding means; a material control member having a material piercing pivot pin thereon, rectilinearly movable actuating means arranged to move said control member and pivot pin rectilinearly in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction and away from said stitch forming means, a cam follower on said actuating means engaging a rotary cam driven by said drive means, said stitch forming and material feeding means being carried by a sewing machine head having a main drive shaft therein, a driving wheel on said shaft, an opening in said head opposite said driving wheel, a housing secured to said head and overlying said opening and having a driven wheel journalled therein in alignment with said driving wheel, an endless flexible drive member extending through said opening and trained over said driving and driven wheels, speed reducing gearing in said housing driven by said driven wheel, a cam shaft journalled in said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, said cam shaft being driven by said gearing and having said cam mounted thereon outside said housing.
11. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said gearing comprises a plurality of worm-and-gear pairs arranged in series driving relation whereby said cam shaft is driven at a Very much lower speed than said driven wheel.
12. A machine as defined in claim 16 wherein said actuating means slides in guide means fixedly secured to said housing.
13. In a sewing machine, cyclically operable means for controlling a workpiece to produce a predetermined pattern of stitching thereon during one cycle of operation of said means, said cyclically operable means including a -rotary ..-element arranged to;be.=.d1iventhrough not more than one. complete rotation-during eachcycle of operation,wdriving means-for said machine, a. control member for saiddriving means saidcontrol member being movable from a first-position.=wherein,sa1d..d1*1ve means 1 rendered inoperative, thereby to asecond position wherein said-drive .means-is; energized. thereby, means normally .urging .said. control member. to said ,first, position, --lat ch means. operative to hold said control member insaid second position, and-release means responsive to rotation of said rotary element to a predetermined position in its cycle .10 release said latch. meansand permit said control member to retur.n; to its-first position .andren-der-said drive means: inoperative.
1-4. A,machine as definedinclaim fi wherein said rotary element comprises-a cam having-a spiral periphery and ,Wherein said release meanscomprises a member positioned in the pathof movement-ofthat portion of said cam ofrgreatest radinsryvhereby.said cam engages said release-means to release said latch. means. nearthe endof each cycle of; operation of said cam.
15. A machine as-defined in claim .-13 including arod connected at one end thereof to said control-member,
,theptherend of said rodbeingguidedfor longitudinal ,movement in a-suppo-rt and-arranged so that said other end-movesina-direction toward said one end .when said rod, in blocking relation thereto, when said controlmeans is in said second position.
16. A machine; as defined in claim 15. wherein said rod comprises relatively adjustable portions so arranged that the overall length of :said rod may. be adjusted.
-17. A.machine as defined in claim '13Qwherein said release means comprises .a. shaftsjournalledfor oscillation about its. axis arranged generally. parallel to the axis of said rotary element, a generally radialarm fixed to saidshaft, armember adjustable along ,said, radial, arm
.and having. a portion positioned ,in the path of movement of. said rotary. element, means biasing said shaft to rotate .in, one direction, and. stop means, arranged tolimitthe biased rotation ,of said shaft.
, 18.. Ina sewing-machine, cyclically, operable means for controlling aworkpiece to produce ,a predetermined pattern .of stitching thereon during one cycle of operation of said means, said, cyclically operable means including a rotarycam having a spiral peripheryand arranged to be driventhrough not more than one complete rotation during each cycle otoperation, driving means for, said machine, a control member for saiddrivingmeans, said .control member, being movable from a first position wherein said drive, means is rendered inoperative thereby to a second positionwherein said drive means is energized thereby, means normally urging said control member to said first position, a shaft journalled for oscillation about its axis arranged generally parallel to the axis of said cam, a generally radial arm fixed to said shaft, a release member adjustable along'said generally radial arm and having a portion positioned in the path of movement of a portion of the spiral periphery of said cam, means biasing said shaft in rotation in a direction to move said release member toward said cam, asecond arm fixed to said shaft, stop means engageable with said second arm for limiting the biased rotation of said shaft whereby to position said-release member a predetermineddistance from said cam axis, said control member having a portion movable along a path generally parallel to said shaft, said second arm, when in engagementwith, said stop means, obstructing said pathto prevent movement of said control member to said first position.
,19. .A machine as defined in claim 18 wherein said second. arm; engages, a side of said, portion of said control memberwhensaid control-rnernber is,in. said first posi- 3110B wherebyto hold said second arm away from said stop means. I
:20. A machineyas defined in claim 18 including manually, operable. means-connected to said shaft for moving said second armout of said path, independently of said 21.'A,machine as defi ned in claim,1 8 including a cam follower engagingthespiral periphery of said cam and ,a ctuated thereby, to impart a predetermined movement to said,workpiece.
,;22.; In a,-sewing machine having a head, an overhanging, arm, a. work. supporting table, stitch formingmeans includin a needle, ,a ipresserfoot, meanszfor feeding material past said needle in a predetermined direction, and driving meansifor said needleand feeding means; a movable material control member, means for guiding and ,movingsaid member for rectilinear movement on said machine in a direction transverse to saidpredetermined direction lin timed, relation to the, operation of said stitch r ng mean aidsuiding n m ng means including an element,mountedndjacentand extending along, said for slidingmovement toward nd. from said table and having workv engagingmeans at the lower end thereof, and means'normallyurging. said member downwardly toward said table.
23. Asewing machine as defined in claim 22 wherein said, member is provided ,with a work penetrating point at its lower, end, and means defining, a guide groove on said, table to receive and guide said point in said transverse direction.
24. A sewing machine as definedin claim 22, wherein a downwardlyQdirected guide tube is carried by said element and whereinsaid, control member comprises a pointed rod extending sl idably through said. guide tube.
25. A sewing rnaehine as defined in claim 22 wherein a ownw rd directs s ta is r e bv a ment ,and wherein said control member -comprises a pointed rod extending slidably through said guide tube,
said means normally urging said member downwardly m r s n a s r n herm end s said. r be P vided withhandle meanswhereby it maybe retracted u w r a a n th a t sav a sr in Re ferences (lited in thefile, of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,607 Binns Dec 1, 1885 820,446 'Stahl May.15, 1906 858,186 .Huber June 25, 1907 869,469 Wi1son Oct. 29, 1907 965,825 Locke et al. ,J uly 26, 1910 996,467 Davis June 27, 1911 1,259,324 Weiss Mar. 12, 1918 1,361,356 AXt Dec. 7, 1920 1,466,486 .Schloss Aug. 28, 1923 2,406,623 Myers V "Abg. 27, 1946 2,437,624 Slltker Mar. 9, 1948 2,521,085 Ogden Sept. 5, 1950 2,674,963 Guide Apr. 13, 1954 2,674,964 Guide Apr. 13, 1954 2,730,974 ,Ross et al. Jan. 17, 1956 2,737,133 Desperak Mar. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,062,620 France ;Dec. 9, 1953
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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3073266A (en) * 1959-11-23 1963-01-15 Guide Anthony Spiral stitching attachment for sewing machines

Citations (17)

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US331607A (en) * 1885-12-01 Machine for sewing in a spiral or helical path
US820446A (en) * 1904-12-14 1906-05-15 William P Coffman Friction-clutch.
US858186A (en) * 1905-09-11 1907-06-25 Emil Huber Steering-gear.
US869469A (en) * 1904-11-03 1907-10-29 F Cortez Wilson Measuring-pump.
US965825A (en) * 1910-01-20 1910-07-26 Henry H Locke Clutch-pulley.
US996467A (en) * 1910-06-02 1911-06-27 Solomon Davis Sewing-machine attachment.
US1259324A (en) * 1915-10-11 1918-03-12 Cornelius Weiss Sewing-machine attachment.
US1361356A (en) * 1919-05-15 1920-12-07 George J Axt Sewing-machine attachment
US1466486A (en) * 1918-07-18 1923-08-28 Schloss Morris Machine for stitching hat brims and the like
US2406623A (en) * 1943-12-30 1946-08-27 Singer Mfg Co Work-guiding mechanism for sewing machines
US2437624A (en) * 1945-08-21 1948-03-09 Sutker Irving Work-holding and guiding mechanism for sewing machines
US2521085A (en) * 1947-09-11 1950-09-05 Floyd H Ogden Machine for sewing buffing wheels
US2674963A (en) * 1952-01-30 1954-04-13 Guide Anthony Spiral seam producing mechanism for sewing machines
US2674964A (en) * 1952-05-27 1954-04-13 Guide Anthony Spiral stitch mechanism for sewing machines
FR1062620A (en) * 1952-06-25 1954-04-26 Device intended to be adapted on a sewing machine to allow the automatic execution of stitches, in particular in a spiral, on a hat brim
US2730974A (en) * 1953-07-15 1956-01-17 Century Engineering Company Device for spiral stitching
US2737133A (en) * 1953-07-16 1956-03-06 Desperak Sam Spiral sewing attachment for sewing machines

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US331607A (en) * 1885-12-01 Machine for sewing in a spiral or helical path
US869469A (en) * 1904-11-03 1907-10-29 F Cortez Wilson Measuring-pump.
US820446A (en) * 1904-12-14 1906-05-15 William P Coffman Friction-clutch.
US858186A (en) * 1905-09-11 1907-06-25 Emil Huber Steering-gear.
US965825A (en) * 1910-01-20 1910-07-26 Henry H Locke Clutch-pulley.
US996467A (en) * 1910-06-02 1911-06-27 Solomon Davis Sewing-machine attachment.
US1259324A (en) * 1915-10-11 1918-03-12 Cornelius Weiss Sewing-machine attachment.
US1466486A (en) * 1918-07-18 1923-08-28 Schloss Morris Machine for stitching hat brims and the like
US1361356A (en) * 1919-05-15 1920-12-07 George J Axt Sewing-machine attachment
US2406623A (en) * 1943-12-30 1946-08-27 Singer Mfg Co Work-guiding mechanism for sewing machines
US2437624A (en) * 1945-08-21 1948-03-09 Sutker Irving Work-holding and guiding mechanism for sewing machines
US2521085A (en) * 1947-09-11 1950-09-05 Floyd H Ogden Machine for sewing buffing wheels
US2674963A (en) * 1952-01-30 1954-04-13 Guide Anthony Spiral seam producing mechanism for sewing machines
US2674964A (en) * 1952-05-27 1954-04-13 Guide Anthony Spiral stitch mechanism for sewing machines
FR1062620A (en) * 1952-06-25 1954-04-26 Device intended to be adapted on a sewing machine to allow the automatic execution of stitches, in particular in a spiral, on a hat brim
US2730974A (en) * 1953-07-15 1956-01-17 Century Engineering Company Device for spiral stitching
US2737133A (en) * 1953-07-16 1956-03-06 Desperak Sam Spiral sewing attachment for sewing machines

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3073266A (en) * 1959-11-23 1963-01-15 Guide Anthony Spiral stitching attachment for sewing machines

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