US2863409A

US2863409A - Sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US2863409A
Application number: US487176A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schumann Herbert; Zink Hermann; Wenz Herbert
Original assignee: GM Pfaff AG
Current assignee: GM Pfaff AG
Priority date: 1954-02-10
Filing date: 1955-02-09
Publication date: 1958-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-09
Also published as: NL100635C; FR1122045A; GB775710A; NL194667A; BE535604A; CH338083A

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 H. SCHUMANN El'AL 2,853,409

SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1' Hf/PBEAT scHuM/wm, HfkMA/VN Zl/VK, HERBERT WENZ Dec. 9, 1958 H. SCHUMANN ET AL 2,363,409

SEWING MACHINES File d Feb. 9. 1955 v s Sheets-Sheet 2 MII/ENIUPS) HERBERT SCHUMA/VN,

HERMANN Zl/V/f, HERBfRT WE/VZ Dec. 9, 1958 H. SCHUMANN ETAL 2,863,409

SEWING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 9; 1955 /NVE/VTOP\5,

.HEABERT SCHUMAA/A;

HRMANN Z/NK,

Dec. 9, 1958 H. SCHUMANN ET AL 2,863,409

SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9, 1955 I e Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 76 [-76 I? INVENTOPS) HBPBf/P? SCHl/MAA/M. HERMANN Z/NK, HERBERT WE/VZ Dec. 9, 1958 H. SCHUMANN ETAL 2,863,409

SEWING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1955 ravraes, HERBERT SCHUMA/VAL HERMAN/V Z/IVK, HERBERT WENZ Dec. 9, 1958 H. SCHUMANN ETAL 2,86

SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TDRS 19098:??? JOYUMAMMAEP- United States Patent SEWING MACHINES Herbert Schumann, HermannZink, and Herbert Wenz, Kaiserslautern, Germany, assignors to G. M.- Pfaff A.-G., Kaiserslautern, Germany, a corporation of Germany ApplicationFebruary 9, 1955, Serial No. 487,176

Claims priority, application Germany February 10, 1954 21 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) This invention relates to sewing machines, and relates more particularly to sewing machines of the type useful forproducing ornamental stitching in the nature of.embroidery and zig-zag stitches.

Desirable features for sewing machines of this type include means for setting the machine, for preselected stitching steps toproduce the desired pattern, and generally this is obtained in machines now in existence.

Present sewing machines, however, are deficient therein that either they permit the presetting for only a very limited amount of different patterns, or have so complicated a construction that the many parts require a material increase in the overall size of the. sewing machine.

It is therefore among the objects of the instant'inventionto provide a sewing machine of this type with which.

patterns may be stitched without the exchange of any parts, and without any attachments, and wherein the patterns are variable within a wide rangeof variations, without materially increasing the size of a normal sewing machine.

Broadly speaking, this;is accomplished by means of revolving control discs with a large number of selectors.

acting on leversto affect the stitching, affording a wide range of variations.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts,. as set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described-in thespecification.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description of exemplifications thereof, reference being bad to. the ac companying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a first embodiment of the sewing machine in accordance with the inven-,

tion;

Fig. 2 is a large scale fragmentary frontal perspective view showing some of the parts of Fig. 1 with the cover of the sewing machine removed;

Fig. 3 is a large scale rear perspective view of the sewing machine shown in Figs. 1 and '2, with-the cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a large scale extended perspective view of a control disc detail;

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof a detail shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken-on line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a lever shown partly in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a perspective-view showing a detail of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a frontal perspective viewof amodified sewing machine;

Fig. 10is a fragmentary largescale frontal extended;

Fig. 11 is a large scale fragmentary rearperspective view of themodification of Fig. 9; butwith the cover removed;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a control disc, taken on' line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 13a, 13b, are fragmentaryelevational views of parts of the control disc assembly shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in sec- Fig. 15a is a sectional view takenon line 15a-15a of Fig. 15;

Fig. 16 is a frontal elevational view of a co-ntrol device;

Fig. 17 is an elevational view, partlyin section, taken on line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an extended perspective view of transmission elements for the change of the stitch position;

Fig. l9- is an extended perspective view of transmission elements for the change of a width ofthe stitch;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 2020of Fig. 11; and.

Fig. 21 is aside elevationalview, partly in section, of the embodiment of Fig. 9.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description inthis speciiication, and referring now particularlyto Fig. 1, there is provided a sewing machine which includes'an arm 1 and a cover 2. To the arm 1 there is connected an ornamental stitching mechanism which includes 'two control.

discs

49 and 50, and theamechanism is partly concealed by an upper plate 3 that is connected to the cover 2, anld partly by a-lower. plate 4 which is connected to the arm A bridge 5 (Fig. 3) isconnected' to the arm 1 by means of two screws 6 and 7, and carries a vertical bushing 8 in. which there is journalled a vertical shaft 9. Near the lower end of the shaft 9 there is secured abevel gear 111 that meshes with a bevel gear 11, and the latter is driven from the power drive of the-sewing machine. To the upper end of the shaft 9 there is secured a worm 12. Two bearing brackets 13 'and 14 are connected to the bridge 5, and a shaft 15 (Figs. 3and 6) is journalled in the brackets 13 and 14.. Between the brackets 13 and 14, the shaft 15 carries a freelyturnable worm gear 16 that is driven .by the worm 12..

The worm gear 16has a key groove an enlarged bore section 18 whichextends'beyond. the radius of the shaft 15 for a distance equal to the depth of the groove 17. The shaftlS carries a key 19that ex- 17 (Fig. 6), and

tends beyondthe circumferenceoftheshaft: The shaft 15 is shiftable axially. In one of these positions the key 19 will be disposed in the bore 18s0-that'the worm gear 16 will idle and the shaft position, the key will engage the groove 17 'whereby the worm gear 16 will take along in its rotation the shaft 15. To the shaft 15 there is furthermoreconnected 'a pinion 20 that carries a key 22 (Fig. 6) which is connected to the pinion 20 'by means of a screw 21 (Fig. 3), and the': key 22 protrudes inwardly into an elongated axial groove 23 of the shaft 15. When the shaft 15 is shifted axially support plate 24 that surrounds the shaft 15 near the front end thereof, and thus the support plate 24 is tiltable about theaxis ofthe shaft 15; The support plate 24 comprises Patented Dec. 9, 1958 15 be at standstill; in the other two arms. namely an upper arm 26 and a lower arm 27 at an angle thereto. A separate support arm 28 is disposed parallel to the upper arm 26 and is connected thereto, though in spaced relationship, by means of a screw 29 and a bolt 30 (Figs. 2 and 3). A shaft 33 is journalled in the aligned bores 31 (Fig. 3) and 32 of the support arm 28 and the upper arm 26, respectively. 7

The lower arm 27 (Figs. 2 and 5) has near its lower end a recess 34, and has near its upper end a threaded hole 36. Adjacent the lower arm 27, the plate 24 has a downward extension that has in its upper portion a pin 37 and a screw 39, and has on the side which faces the lower arm 27 an elongated slot 38 that is open towards the lower arm 27 and is formed arcuately about the center of the hole 36. The lower edge of the said extension is arcuate about the center of the screw 39, and is provided on its front face with gradations 45.

To the rear of the said extension a control lever is pivoted to the screw 39 and has a lower part that extends around the lower edge of the extension to cover the front of the lower portion of the said extension and carries a mark 44 that cooperates with the gradations to determine the position of tilting of the said control lever 40 relative to the said extension of the support plate 24. The control lever 40 has a handle 42 for manually tilting the lever 40 about its pivot and is provided with a set screw 43 for adjustably securing the lever 40 in position relative to the support plate 24.

An elongated slot 35 is formed in the support plate 24 and extends arcuately about the center of the bushing 25. The shaft of a screw 35a (Fig. 2) protrudes through the 'slot 35, and the screw 35a is threaded into the bridge 5 (Fig. 3).

The cylindrical part of the bolt 30 (Fig. 3), that con nects the support arm 28 with the upper arm 27, carries freely turnably a pinion 46 that meshes with the pinion 20 of the shaft 15. The pinion 46 also meshes with a pinion 47 that is secured on the shaft 33 that is journalled in the aligned bores 31 and 32 (Fig. 5).

The shaft 33 is movable with the entire support plate 24 arcuately about the axis of the shaft 15, and the shaft 33 is in driven connection with the shaft 15 by means of the meshing pinions 20, 46 and 47.

Each of the

shafts

15 and 33 carries a control disc: the control disc 49 is disposed on the shaft 15, and the control disc 50 on the shaft 33 (Figs. 2 and 3).

Each of the

control discs

49 and 50 comprises a disc body 51 (Fig. 4) that has a plurality of axial passages 52, and a central hub 66. Each passage 52 comprises a cylindrical bore and two

grooves

53 and 54 diametrically oppositely recessed therefrom. The depth of the

grooves

53 and 54 of each passage 52 extend substantially in a direction of a chord of the disc body 51, namely at right angle to a radius. A pin 55 is mounted in each passage 52 and is axially shiftable therein. Each pin 55 has a head 56 that carries a front face 57, and on the front faces 57 of the pins 55 there are inscribed indicia 58 (Fig. 2). At the opposite end each pin 55 (Fig. 4) is provided with a slot 59 in which there is pivoted by means of a pin 61 a flat resilient tongue 60. Each tongue has a latch 62 that protrudes from the slot 59 beyond the circumference of the pin 56, and in the normal inactive position of the pin 55 is disposed in the groove 53. Each pin 55 furthermore has a nose 63 that is disposed oppositely relative to the latch 62 and is adapted to engage the groove 54 in the active position of the pin 55. A helical compression spring 64 is disposed on each pin 55 and extends between the front face of the disc body 51 and the head 56.

The hub 66 is mounted on the front end of a shaft, namely the hub 66 of the control disc 49 is mounted on the front end of the shaft 15, while the hub of the control disc 50 is mounted on the front end of the shaft 33. The control disc 49 is thereby rotatable and shiftable with throughout a small angle of rotation.

the shaft 15, while the control disc 50 is rotatable with the shaft 33.

A release disc 65 is provided that includes a base disposed adjacent the rear face of the disc body 51, and a knurled flange 69 that surrounds the circumference of the disc body 51. The release disc 65 covers the rear face and the external circumference of the disc body 51, but is rotatable relative thereto in opposite directions, The base has a central hole that surrounds the hub 66 of the disc body 51.

The base of the release disc 65 (Fig. 4), furthermore, has slots 68 that are arcuate about the center of the release disc 65, and screws 67 protrude through the slots 68 and are threaded into corresponding holes in the rear face of the disc body 51. The screws 67 serve to connect the release disc 65 to the disc body 51 in such a manner that the former can be turned relative to the latter as provided by the arcuate extension of the slots 68. A helical spring 70 surrounds the hub 66 and is connected with one end to a screw 71 that engages a threaded hole 72 of the hub 66, and with the other end of pin 73 that extends rearwardly from the base of the release disc 65. The spring 71) urges the release disc 65 into one angular direction A, and the release disc 65 may be manually turned in the opposite direction B against the power of the spring 70 by gripping the knurled flange 69 and the inactive to the active position by manually pushing against the front face 56 thereof, its latch 62 will abut from behind the rear face of the base at the wall that surrounds the hole 74 of that pin 55. When release of the selected pins is desired, the operator will grip the knurled flange 69 and turn it in direction B (which is clockwise in respect to Figs. 1 and 2). The walls surrounding the holes 74 will thereby be moved out of engagement with the latches 62, and the spring 64 will retract simultaneously all of the previously actuated pins 55, causing the tongues 62 to reenter the groove 53. When the operator relinquishes his grip of the flange 69, the spring 70 will return the release disc 65 to its previous position, so that a new selection may be made by pushing in a new batch of selected pins 55. The distance between the latch 62 and the nose 63 of each pin 55 is so arranged that the nose 63 will during pushing-in enter the groove 54 before the latch 62 has left the groove 53 of the passage 52, thereby ensuring that in all axial posi tions of the pin 55 there will be alignment between the latch 62 and the groove 53 even when the pin 55 has been pushed-in all the way and the latch 62 no longer is positioned in the groove 53.

The positioning of selected pins 55 of the

discs

49 and 50 in the active, pushed-in, position will cause a change in the stitching operation and thereby in the stitched pattern, as explained below.

A two-armed lever 76 (Fig. 2) is pivoted to the supporting plate 24 by means of a screw 75 that is threaded into the hole 36 (Fig. 5). The lever 76 (Figs. 2 and 7) has an upper arm 77 that includes a finger 78 (Fig. 7), and a lower arm 79 which includes a gear segment 80 and a rearwardly extending arresting pin 81. The gear segment 80 is in mesh with a gearing 82 (Fig. 2) that is formed on the circumference of a disc 83 the function of which is to change the width of the stitching pattern, and the disc 83 is mounted on a member 84 by means of a screw 85. The member 84 serves for zig-zag stitch,

slidable in the. grooves 53. When a pin 55 is pressed rearwardly from andis thus fixed, and extendsthrough a slot 88 ofarr indicator plate 89. A tension spring 90 extends between the movable pin 86 and the fixed pin-87.

The lower arm 27 partially surrounds with its recess 34 the member 84. The member 84 is associated with a lever 91 (Fig. 3) which is movably disposed internally of the arm 1. A helical compression spring 92 bears with one end on said lever 91 and abuts with its other end against a bracket 94 of the arm 1. A'bolt 93 is disposed on the interior of the spring 92 and is threaded into the bracket 94 and protrudes at the upper end thereof and, together with a hexagonal disc 95, holds a .carrier element 96 (Figs. 3 and 8) which is provided with two surfaces 97 and 98 (Fig; 8).

A lever 99 (Fig. 2) is provided which under the bias of a spring (not shown) maybe arrested in various positions. The purpose of changing the position of the lever 99 is to adjust the mechanism for changing the stitch position of the machine while the mechanism for the embroidery stitching is deactivated. The lever 99 carries. a pin 100 WhlChiS movably disposed in a toggle lever 101, and can be retracted by said toggle lever 101 against the power of a spring 102, into the position shown in Fig. 2. 1

Two internally threaded bushings 103 (Fig. 2) extend frontwardly from the arm 1, and the lower plate 4 (Fig. 1) that conceals the mechanism, is secured to the bushing 103 by means of screws 104. Another threaded bushing 1115 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the indicator plate 89 and carries an indicator 106 (Fig. 1) for gradations 107marked on the plate 4.

The operation of the above described embodiment is as follows:

The operator will determine the specific pins 55 of the

discs

49 and 50, that should be pushed inwardly in direction C. They are. selected in accordance with indications from an instruction sheet, and areidentified by the indicia 58 (Fig. 2).

As previously explained, each of the selected pins will be. pushed inwardly (direction C) until the latch 62.. (Fig. 4) of the tongue 60 has passed through the groove 53 and has moved resiliently outwardly behind the rear face of the release disc 65. In this position, the spring 64 maintains the latch 62 in abutment with the rear face of the disc 65.

The mechanism is started by pressing inwardly, in direction C (Fig. 3) the disc 49 and therewith the shaft 15. While pushing the disc 49, the operator will also turn it about the axis of the shaft 15, to insert the key 19 into the key groove 17 of the worm gear 16.

In Fig. 3, some of the. pins 55 are shown in inactive position and some in active position. The pins 55 of the disc 49 which have been pushed into the active position control the mechanism for changing the width of the stitch. This is accomplished by the fact that each of the pins in the active 1 position of the disc 49 are in the path of the finger 78, (Fig. 7) of the two-arm lever-76. The tilting movements of the finger 78 about the axisof the screw '75, that is threaded into the hole 36, is transmitted by the gear segment 80 to the gearing 82 of the disc 83.

Where the sewing pattern includes parts to be sewn without over-stitch, that means without zig-zag stitch and thus has a simple straight stitch, then the lever 40 will remain in the zero position so that the marker 44 points towards the zero mark of the gradation 45 (Fig. 2).

Where, however, an over-stitch will be used, it may be applied either as a smallest part of a pattern or continuously, as upon positioning of the lever 40 its side edge 41 (Fig. 5) limits the amplitude of the. rightward movement of thepin 81 (Fig. 2) within the arcuate slot 38.

86 movable with the dise The-tension spring 90,- which extends between the:- fixed pin 87 and the movable. pin 86,1 urges toreturn to zero position the mechanism that controls .thechange. of the width of the stitch. This biasing bythe spring on one hand positions the finger 78: in the. path of* the active pins 55, and on the other hand maintains the pin 81in abutmentwith the lateraledges 4.1, when the embroidering stitch mechanism is reactivated, to

render it possible to adjust the width-of the. stitch man,

ually by moving by hand the lever 40;

The mechanism for controlling and changing the po-:. sition of the stitch of the machine is adjustedtby the.

pins 55 of the disc 50. The active. amongthe. pins 55, that means those which have been pushedrearwardly, will engage either the surface 97 or the surface 98 (Fig.

8) of the carrier 96, depending on the location radially. of the disc 50 of the. specific pins 55; Tl-leengagementi between the active pins 55 and the surfaces 97 and 98' brings about a tilting movement of the support plate 24 about the axis of the shaft 15.: Thetilting.mo.ve-.v ment is transmitted through the arm 27 and the recess 34 to the zigzag member 84.

Where a pattern does. not require any change in the stitch position, the toggle lever 101 maybe tilted towards the lever 99 to release the engagementof this-1 lever, similarly to the sewing without embroidery stitching.

When it is desired to cancel the. control arrangement of the pins .55 on the discs 49. and50wpreviously. set,

the operator will grip the knurled flange 69 t of the ,re. lease disc 65 and turn it clockwisecindirection B out.

each of the

discs

49 and 50. By this turning, which:

is against the power of the. spring .70, the-release, disc;

65 will be moved relative to thedisc..body 51through out an angle within the extension ofthe ho1es.74,, and of the slots 68, and the parts of the release. disc 65 on;

which the noses 62 have rested will be. moved away,

thereby releasing the, noses 62'to return intothe, grooves; 53, and the springs 64 willretract simultaneously all of,

groove 17 and is disposed in the enlarged bore-18:01 the worm gear 16, so that the worm gear.16.;mayrotate without participation by the shaft 15.

An ornamental stitch mechanism with one control. disc is shown in Figs. 9-20.

The ornamental stitch mechanism is .mounted 01131111 arm 108 (Fig. 9) of the sewing machine below the cover 109 thereof. The cover 109 is provided with a lid 110} and with cut-outs for the shifting

levers

231 and 232 of the mechanism.

A support 111 (Figs. 10 and 11) is fastened to the-- arm 108 by means of screws that engage threaded holes 112 (Fig. 10) of the arm 108. parts of the mechanism are mounted on the support 111,;

with the exception of the driving shaft 113 of the arma- 108, of a cam 114 that is mounted on the shaft 113 and;

which initiates the movement, as well as of. certain leversfor the take-up of the control mechanism.

The transmission of the mechanism includes the cam 114 which drives a slide member 115 (Fig. 15). The

slide member 115 generally has a cylindrical outer surface, and has a quadrangular lower end'piece that has.

at its bottom a cam follower surface for thecam-114;

A latch 117 is pivoted to the end piece 1.16 by means, of a pivot pin 119, and is biassed by a compression v spring 118.

The slide member 115 has on its external surfacetwo,

flatportions 120 and 121, the portion 121.being ofi-set from the portion 120 and formed outwardly of and, A cylindrical, recess 122 higher than the portion 120. is provided at the top end of the slide member 115.

The slide member 115 is disposed on the interior of a All of the important:

sleeve 123, and the sleeve 123 is mounted on the sup port 111 (Fig. by means of a set screw 124. The sleeve 123 (Fig. has an horizontal cut-out 125 and a vertical cut-out 126 opposite thereto. A pin 128 is disposed axially movably on the interior of the sleeve 123, and is surrounded by a compression spring 130 that bears with its upper end from below against an enlarged head of the pin 128, and bears with its lower end against the bottom (not shown) of the recess 122 that is formed in the top surface of the slide member 115. The spring 130 urges the pin 128 upwardly, but this upward movement is limited by a spring ring 129 that is set in a groove 127 of the sleeve 123.

A lever 131 is pivoted to the support 111 by means of a screw that projects through a hole 132. The lever 131 has a nose 133 which, upon pivoting movement about the hole 132 of the lever 131, may protrude through the cut-out 125 into the interior of the sleeve 123. The lever 131 is biassed by a tension spring 134 one end of which is connected to the end 135 of the lever 131, and the other end of which is hooked onto a pin 136 (Fig. 10) of the support 111.

A shifting member 137 (Figs. 10 and 15) is journalled in the support 111 with a shaft portion 139 (Fig. 15).

The shifting member 137 is provided on the top with a handle 133, and the upper portions of the member 137 including the handle 138 are exposed on the top of the support 111 (Fig. 10).

Below the handle 138, the member 137 has a cylindrical portion 140 below which there is a cam portion that has cam surfaces 141, 142, and 143 (Figs. 15 and 15a), and below said rectangular portion there is formed the shaft portion 139. The cam surfaces 141 and 142 are so arranged that the distance of the surface 141 from the axis of rotation of the member 137 is smaller than the distance between said axis and the cam surface 142. Opposite the cam surface 142 the cylindrical surface of the part 140 is continued downwardly to the shaft 139 and forms the curved cam surface 143. The lever 131 includes a cam 144 that, depending on the position of rotation of the member 137, may engage one of the cam surfaces 141, 142 or 143.

A control disc 145 (Figs. 10 and 12) is mounted on the support 111. The control disc 145 comprises three sections, namely a front section 143 (Fig. 12) a rear section and an intermediate section 149, and

annular grooves

146 and 147 are formed between the sections frontwardly and rearwardly, respectively, of the intermediate section 149. On the interior of the hub of the disc 145 there is mounted by press-fit a sleeve 151. The sleeve 151 is secured to a bushing 152 by means of a spring ring 153. The bushing 152 is disposed in a bore of a bracket of the support 111 (Fig. 12), and is rearwardly secured therein by means of a set screw 154.

'A series of pins 155 are axially slidably mounted on the front section 148 of the disc 145. Each pin 155 is provided with a front head 156 (Figs. 12 and 14) and near the rear end with a spring ring 157 (Fig. 14). The sections 149 and 150 (Fig. 12) have a series of bores which are aligned with the pins 155, and which are dimensioned sufficiently large so as to permit the passage of the heads 156.

A spring holder 158 of narrow'thickness (Figs. 12 and 13a) is mounted on the section 148 by means of screws 159 (Fig. 10) that pass through holes 1611 (Fig. 13a). The disc 158 is provided with apertures 161 (Fig. 13a) for the pins 155, and each aperture 161 includes a recess 162 for a helical spring 163. A lid 164 (Figs. 12 and 13b) is mounted near the front of the disc 158 and has holes 165 through which there pass the screws 159.

The lid 164 has apertures 166 that are aligned with the apertures 161 of the disc 158 and serve for the passage of the pins 155. Frontwardly of the lid 164, there is disposed a release disc 167 (Figs. 12 and 130) that has apertures 168 for the pins 155. Therelease disc 167 is mounted on a hollow shaft 170 by means of two oppositely disposed spring washers 169. The hollow shaft 170 is axially disposed in the bushing 152, and has on its interior a bore 171 that is closed at the front end by a knob 172. In said bore 171 there is disposed a tension spring 173 one end of which is connected to a fixed pin 174 at the rear end of the bore 171, and the other end of the spring 173 is connected to a pin 175 that is connected to the bracket of the support 111. The pin 175 protrudes into the bore 171 through an elongated slot 176 that is formed in the wall of the hollow shaft 170 and is parallel to the axis thereof. The spring 173 acts to retract the hollow shaft 170 into the position shown in Fig. 12 from which it can be moved manually frontwardly by exerting finger pressure against the knob172.

The front section 143 of the disc 145 carries an annular toothed rack 177 with which there cooperates the latch 117 (Fig. 15) of the slide member 115. A roll 178 (Fig. 12) is disposed in a groove 179 of the support 111 below the

sections

149 and 150 of the disc 145; the distance of the groove 179 from the axis of rotation of the disc 145 decreases in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation.' The movement of the roll 178 in the direction of rotation of the disc 145 is limited by a spring tapered latch 180 which is slidable in a bore 181 of the support 111 and which is under the pressure of a compression spring 182 that is held by a pin 183.

An operating lever 184 (Figs. 10, 19, and 20), which forms part of the mechanism for changing the width of the stitch, is pivoted to a shaft 185 (Fig. 20). The shaft 185 is supported in the support 111 (Figs. 10 and 20). The operating lever 184 includes two integral sections 186 and 187 (Figs. 19 and 20). The section 186 has an inclined cam surface 188, and a straight cam surface 189. The section 186 protrudes into the annular groove 147 (Fig. 12) of the control disc 145. The section 187 has a threaded hole 190 and two

holes

191 and 192, equidistant therefrom, and all three

holes

190, 191 and 192 are disposed along the same line which is at an angle relative to the direction of extension of the operating lever 184. The section 186 has two

holes

191a and 192a (Fig. 20) in alignment with the

holes

191 and 192 of the section 187.

The movement of the operating lever 184 towards the center of the control disc 145 (Figs. 10 and 12) is limited by a set screw 194 (Fig. 19) that is threaded in a nose 193 of the lever 184, and during the tilting movement of the operating lever 184 the set screw 194 will abut against a surface (not shown) of the support 111.

The threaded end of a bolt 195 engages the threaded hole 190 of the section 187, and the bolt 195 carries a sleeve 196 (Figs. 10, 11, and 20) which is provided with an external marker 196a (Fig. 11). A helical compression spring 197 is provided on the interior of the sleeve 196, and presses with one end against the rear face of the head of the bolt 195, and with the opposite end against an internal surface of the sleeve 196. The sleeve 196 is provided externally with knurling for manual gripping to turn the sleeve 196 about its axis, and to pull it rearwardly against the force of the spring 197.

The sleeve 196 carries ecccntrically a pin 198 which may be inserted selectively either in the aligned

holes

191 and 191a or in the aligned

holes

192 and 192a.

A connecting rod 199 (Figs. 19 and 20) is disposed in a groove 200 (Fig. 11) of the support 111. The connecting rod 199 includes a slot 201 through which there protrudes a guiding pin 282 that is mounted in the support 111. The connecting rod 199 furthermore has an end portion that projects into the space formed between the sections 186 (Fig. 20) and 187 of the operating lever 184, and that end section is provided with an elongated slot 203 which engages the pin 198 of the sleeve 196 in either the opposite positions of the pin 198.

'The opposite end section of the connecting rod 199 includes a cam surface 204 (Fig. 19) anda groove 205. A pin 206 (Figs. 11 and 19) of an arm 207 may engage the groove 205. The arm 207 forms part of acrank shaft 208 that is journalled in the support 111. The crank shaft 208 carries on the end opposite to the arm 207 a gear segment 209 that meshes with a gear segment that forms part of a bell crank lever 210. The bell crank lever 210 is pivoted on a shaft 211 (Fig. that forms part of the sewing machine mechanism, and the bell crank lever 210 is connected to a lever 212 which in a well known manner actuates the mechanism for changing the width of the stitch in the sewing machine.

An operating lever 213 (Figs. 18 and forms part of the mechanism for changing the stitch position, and is pivoted freely turnably on the shaft 185 that is supported in the-support 111. The operating lever 213 includes a section 214 and protrudes into the annular groove 146 (Fig. 12) of the control disc 145, andthe section 214 is parallel to the section 186. The section 214 has an interior-cam surface 216. A pin 217- (Figs. 18 and 20) protrudes through the wall of the section 214. The extent of tilting movement of the operating lever 213 in direction towards the center of the control disc. 145 is limited in a similar manner as described in connection with the operating lever 184, and comprises a set screw 219 that is threaded in a nose 218 and is adapted to abut against the support 111.

A connecting rod 220 is disposed in a recess 221 (Fig. 11) of the support 111 and is in driving connection with the operating lever 213, by means of a bore 222 (Fig; 18) that'engages the pin 217 of the lever 213. The opposite end of the connecting rod 220" is bent. at right angle and forms a camsurface223 (Figs. 11 and 18); the rod'220 also has a groove 224 for engagement with a pin-225 of a bellcrank lever 226 (Figs. 10, 1'1 and 18). The pin 225 (Fig 18) is disposed eccentrically relative tothe-upper arm-of thebell crank lever 226 and is secured by means of a-screw 227. The. bell crank lever 226 is journalled'on the shaft 211: (Fig 10) adjacent the bell crank lever 210, and the lower arm of the bell crank lever 226 is interconnected to-the mechanism for the change of the stitchingposition in the sewing machine (notshown in detail).

Below the connecting

rods

199 and 220. springs. 228' (Fig. 19) and 229(Fig. 18) are disposed 'in depressions that are formed 'in the grooves 200 and221.(Fig. 11) of the support 111. A recess 230 for the depression-for the spring 228 is shown in Fig. 11.

Two toggle levers 231' and 232I(Figs. 9-11) are pivoted on a shaft 233 of the support 111 in such a manner that a nose. 234 (Fig. 11) of the toggle lever 231ican engage the cam surface 204 of the. connecting rod 199, and similarly a nose 235 of the toggle lever 232 can engage the cam surface 223 of the connecting rod 220.

Inorderto set certain .of thepins 155'(Fig. 12) simultaneously depending on the requirements of the particular job, there may beprovided interchangeable gauges. Such a gauge may either be a simple plate gauge 236*(Figs. 16 and 17) which includes a handle 237"that.:has .a-marking 238. Alternately, the gauge may .bein form of two superposed -discs236and 240 (Figs; 16 and 17), which are spaced apart from each other by spacers 239, and the plates 236 and240'may be interconnected by rivets; the secondembodiment may be without handle.

The

plates

236 and 240 have holes.241 that are circular and have a diameter th'atis larger than that .of the spring ring 1 37 (Fig. 12) of.the.-pins .1 55. plates 236 and240. may both have aligned central apertures 242 for the hollowshaftl'it), andhave aligned rec.- tangular openings 243 for engagement by a corresponding pin;244. (Figs. 10 and. .12) whichis mountedinthe section 148;: of 1 the control ,1 disc. 1 145,

rthe m r In order to, indicate the 9 active ,position of, the pins 155, there isprovidqd amark.

10 245- (Fig; 20) on the release.disc167, and anothermark 246 (Fig. 9) on the cover 109 of the sewing machine;

The member 84 which is connected to the lever 226,

has a slot A (Fig. 21) in the end portion opposite-tothe screw 85 (Fig. 2). A bifurcated lever B carries a fol lower C which is disposed in the slot A. On the shaft 113 there is mounted a gear D which drives the gear 11 that is mounted ona pin E. The rear surface of the gear 11 carries an eccentric G which is embraced by the tines F, F of the bifurcated lever B. The opposite end H of the lever B is connected to the tiltable member M by means of a pivot J. The member M is pivoted to a bolt in the head K of the sewing machine. The needle rod N, which is reciprocated by means of the shaft 113, is guided in the member M. turn for each oscillation of the needle rod N. For the movement of the eccentric G, there is set in swinging motion the bifurcated rod B, about the pivot I; In the Zero position of the member 84, the slot A will be dis posed tangentially to the pivot I so that the lever B canposition, and there will be imparted to the lever B by the eccentric Ga reciprocating movement, which is transferred to the member M and thereby to the needle N. Owing to the triangular form of the eccentric G, the stroke of a one-half turn of the eccentric G will be divided into an effective movement component of the bifurcated lever B and an ineffective component. The eccentric G is so positioned that the effective movement component will be applied to the lever B at the instant in which the needle rod N is within the. range of its top position.

The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 92() is as follows.

When it is desired to change the operation of the machine from a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch to an ornamental stitch pattern, it will be necessary first to bring the operating levers to Zero position. desired pattern can be read from instruction tables, and these instruction tables may also contain the complete instructions for manipulating the levers for setting the machine.

In accordance with these instructions, the operator will first turn the members 137 (Figs. 9, 10, and 15) from the neutral position in which the handle 138 points in the. direction towards the hand wheel of the machine, as.

shown in Fig. 9. From that neutral position, the handle 138 may be brought into either a position directed towards the operator (who sits in front of the sewing machine in such a manner that the hand wheel is to the right of the operator), or into another position in which the handle 138 looks towards the head of the. machine (in a direction 180 from the neutral position).

In theneutral position of the member 137, the cam 144 (Fig. 15) of the lever 131 abuts against the cam surface 143, and in that position the nose 133 protrudes through the cut-out 125 of the sleeve 123; the nose 133 thus abuts against the flat portion of the slide member 115 on the interior of the sleeve 123, thereby latching the member 115 against vertical movement.

If the handle 138 is turned towards the operator (for 90 from the neutral position of Fig. 9), the cam surface 141 will engage the cam 144, and the nose 133 will be retracted from the cut-out to the extent that the slide member 115 may reciprocate vertically depending on the size of the flat portion 121.

When the handle is turned towards the head of the machine (for from the neutral position of Fig. 9), the cam surface 142, which has the greatest distance from the axis of rotation of the member 137, will engage the cam144, whereby the nose 133.wi1l be retracted in its entirety out of the cut-out 125, so that the. entire stroke The eccentric G will make a one-half The of the cam 114 (Fig. may be transmitted to the slide member 115 (Fig.

In accordance with these different positions of the handle 138, the ornamental stitching mechanism may be entirely immobilized (when the handle is in the neutral position of Fig. 9), or only a part of the stroke of the cam 114 will be utilized (when the handle 138 is turned towards the operator), or lastly the entire stroke of the cam 114 will be utilized (when the handle 138 is oppositely positioned from the neutral position of Fig. 9). The utilized part of the stroke of the cam 11.4 is transmitted by the latch 117 to the toothed rack 177 (Fig. 12) of the control disc 145.

The operator will open the lid 110 of the cover 109 (Fig. 9), and will turn the hand wheel of the sewing machine until the marking 24-5 (Fig. 10) of the control disc 145 is in alignment with the marking 246 (Fig. 9) of the cover 109.

- The operator will next select from his instruction table the gauge (Figs. 16 and 17) that corresponds to the position to which the handle 138 has been turned. He will mount the gauge with its aperture 242 (Fig. 16) on the hollow shaft 170 (Fig. 12), engaging the pin 244 with the rectangular opening 243, and will exert pressure until the gauge abuts against the control disc 145. By this movement, all of the pins 155 except those which are aligned with any aperture 241 of the gauge will be pressed inwardly until the spring rings 157 engage the release disc 167; the thus actuated among the pins 155 will thereby project through the

annular grooves

146 and 147. The remaining pins 155, namely those aligned with apertures 241 of the gauge, will remain in their normal rest position shown in Fig. 12.

Where a gauge is used of the type that has two

plates

236 and 240 any pin 155 that protrudes through an aperture 241 of the plate 236 will abut against the disc 240 and will be moved to project'across the annular groove 146 only.

Thereafter, the operator will remove the gauge, and Will close the lid 110. Thereafter, again from instructions read off the instruction table, the operator will actuate the toggle lever 231 for changing the width of the stitch, and the toggle lever 232 for changing the positioning of the stitch. They are actuated by pressing down the part thereof that is directed towards the hand wheel of the machine (as shown in Fig. 10 for the toggle lever 232). The press-down of the toggle levers 231 and 232 results in a release by the nose 234 of the cam surface 204 and, respectively, by the nose 235 of the cam surface 223. This release, enables the

springs

228 and 229 to lift the connecting

rods

199 and 220, respectively, for a distance suflicient so that there will be interengagement between the groove 205 and the pin 206 and respectively between the groove 224 and the pin 225.

The reciprocating movement of the two connecting

rods

199 and 220 will be transferred into a reciprocating tilting movement of the crank shaft 208 and the bell crank I lever 226, respectively. The movement will be transmitted from the crank shaft 208 to the bell crank lever 210 and thereby to the lever 212 to control the change of the width of the stitch of the machine, while the lower arm of the bell crank lever 226 will control the change of position of the stitch of the machine.

After the change of width of the stitch has been preset in accordance with the instruction table, the operator, again in accordance with the instructions, will change the magnitude of movement of the connecting rod 199, by shifting and turning of the sleeve 196 to locate the pin 190 either in the aligned

holes

191 and 191a or in the aligned

holes

192 and 192a. The position of the sleeve 196 is indicated by the mark 196a (Fig. 11) thereof.

For the sewing of patterns with the ornamental stitch mechanism, it is possible to set the machine with existing conventional levers for normal sewing in accordance with constant values, while the automatic control of the change of the width of the stitch and of the change of' the position of the stitch will be in a state of immobilization.

For cancelling the setting of the machine, the operator will align the markings 245 and 246 and will press the hollow shaft 170 against the power of the spring 173, until the flange of the knob 172 abuts against the face of the bushing 152. By this movement, the release disc 167 will be moved towards the front of the sewing machine, away from the section 148, and, owing to the abutment with the spring rings 157, retracts the pins from the active into the inactive position (Fig. 12). The hollow shaft 170, upon manual release, will return to the original position (Fig. 12) together with the release disc 167, under the power of the spring 173.

It will be apparent to'those skilled in the art that the novel principles of the invention disclosed herein in connection with specific exemplifications thereof will suggest various other modifications and applications of the same.

It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplifications of the invention described herein. Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In an ornamental stitching mechanism, for use in connection with a zig-zag sewing machine having a power drive and means operable to change the position of the stitch and to change the width of the stitch, in combinaion, two rotatable control discs, means operable for releasably coupling said discs coupling with said power.

drive, said discs including a plurality of pins parallel of the axis of disc rotation and each pin being shiftable axially between an active position and an inactive position all of said pins in the active position extending between two parallel first planes, and all of said pins in the inactive position extending between two other parallel planes offset axially of said axis with reference to said first planes, and follower means movable in a direction at an angle to the axis of said discs and having a member of said pins disposed in the paths of said pins in the active position and operable to be engaged thereby for movement at an angle to the longitudinal direction of said pins, for actuating said changing means of the stitching position and of the stitching width.

2. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 1, some of said pins being arranged on said discs along circles concentric of the axis of rotation, and some of said pins being arranged along curves delimiting the shape of a cam.

3. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said pins being spring biassed in the active as well as the inactive positions.

4. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 1, one of said control discs rotating at one speed and the pins thereof engaging said follower means thereof for actuating said changing means of the stitching position, and the other disc revolving at a different speed and its pins engaging said follower means thereof for actuating said changing means of the stitching width.

5. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 1, one of said discs being assigned for the change of the stitching width, said coupling means being in driving connection with said one disc, the other disc being assigned for the change of the stitching position, said coupling means including means for driving said second disc from said first disc.

6. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 5, said coupling means including an axially shiftable revoluble shaft carrying said one disc, a key on said shaft, a gear on said shaft, said key being shiftable with said shaft to a first position to engage said gear for tied rotation of said gear and shaft and, respectively, to a second position of idling for disengagement of said shaft from the gear,

said key being engageable with said gear only in a pre- 1 determined position ofsaidfihanginmmeansof.said discs,

relative to each other.

directions, a gear on said shaft andimmovable relative to the shifting of, saidshaftand indrivemconnectiom with said power-drive, anda key,betweemsaid shaft and said gear rotatable and shiftablefwith,said'shaft, where-.

by said shaft may be shiftedior,coupling,with said. gear to turn said shaft and said one disc, and a pinion mounted on said shaft being immovable relative to the shifting ofsaid shaft and being keyed thereto in all shifting pos1t1ons of saidshaft.

8, In an ornamental stitching mechanism for--usein connection with a zig-Zag sewing machinehaving a body and a powerdrive and means operable,to change-the-pos1tion of the stitch and to change the width of the stitch, n combination, two rotatable control discs each including a plurality of pins parallel of the disc axis of rotation and shiftable axially between active and inactive posltions, follower means disposed adjacent each disc in the paths of the pins thereof and operable to be engaged thereby, the first of said discs being in releasable driven connection with said power drive and cooperating with the follower means thereof for actuating said changing means of the stitching position, said second disc cooperating with said follower means thereof for actuating said changing means of the stitching width, a support journalled about the axis of said first disc and tiltable about the same and including means for actuating said changing means for the stitch position, said second disc being journalled on said support and tiltable therewith about the axis of rotation of said first disc, said follower means for said second disc including abutment means connected to the body of said sewing machine, whereby upon abutment of a pin of said second disc with said abutment means, said support will be tilted and said extension will actuate said means for changing the stitch position.

9. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 8, said follower means for said first disc including a two armed lever pivoted to said support, one arm including a finger projecting into the paths of said pins of said first disc, the other arm being operable to actuate said means for changing the width of the stitch.

10. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 9, together with, a lever pivoted to said support and being operable adjustably positionable for selectively limiting in one direction the movement of said two armed lever about its pivot axis.

11. A revoluble disc, for use in connection with an ornamental stitching mechanism of a zig-zag sewing machine, in combination, a circular body having a plurality of holes parallel with the axis of rotation, a pin arranged in each hole parallel to said axis and being slidable therein axially between opposite active and inactive positions, a series of opposite grooves formed in said body, each hole communicating with two opposite grooves, each pin including a resilient tongue member for engaging one of said grooves, and having opposite to said tongue member an extension member for engaging the opposite groove, said tongue and extension members being spaced from each other axially and so arranged that in any position of sliding of a pin relative to said body at least one of said members will be in engagement with a groove to restrain rotation of the pin, and resilient means urging the pin into the inactive position wherein said tongue member engages its groove and said extension member is out of its groove.

12. A disc as claimed in claim 11, together with, said tongues being spaced from a face of said body and out of their grooves when said pin is in the active position into which it may be pressed manually against the power of said resilient means, and an apertured release disc ad '14 iacent Said asez fi aidlbedv. a i parts p it o able etw ens id aceandthete sue of a pin in e. ti

position. thereof, and; being movable for simultaneously retractingsaid partsfrom said spaces thereby releasing said tongues and enabling said resilient means to move.

the pins from the-active to the inactive position.

13; In, an ornamentalstitching mechanism, for use in connection with, a zig-zag sewing machine having a power drive. and,means operable to change the p qsition of the stitch andto1change the width of the stitch, inmco nbination, a rotatable control disc, in releasa 21Y= driven connctioh with said power drive, said,control ;disc having an annular groove formed of two groove sections adjacent each other in axial direction, a ;plurality.,of pins connectedrto ,saidtdisc and each being;,- shiftable relative thereto axially, between an x in: active position v wherein 1 the. pin, is clear of said groove and a firstactive position wherein the pin projects across the first section of the groove and a second active position wherein the pin projects across both sections of said groove, and follower means including a follower extending into each of said sections and each follower being operable to be actuated by the pins extending across the groove section of said follower, one of said followers being operable upon pin engagement to actuate said means for changing the stitch position, and the other follower upon pin engagement to actuate the means for changing the width of the stitch.

14. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 13, together with, a circular plate arranged on said disc, a holding plate arranged on said disc, said plates having apertures for the passage of said pins, the apertures of said holding plate having cut-outs, and a helical spring arranged in each cut-out frictionally engaging a pin.

- 15. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 13, together with, a release disc having apertures for said pins and being shiftable axially of said control disc, a release rod disposed axially in said control disc and being shiftable axially in opposite directions, said release disc being mounted on said release rod and shiftable therewith, and resilient means operable for urging said release rod into an extreme position wherein said release disc is positioned relative to the control disc in such a manner that the pins are unobstructed for movement from the inactive position to the active positions, and said release disc upon actuation of said release rod will engage all of the pins that have been pushed to an active position and move them to the inactive position.

16. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 13, together with, means for rotating the control disc from said power drive comprising a circumferential rack connected to said control disc, a reciprocable latch operable to engage the latch of said rack, a carrier for said latch reciprocably movable and having a cam surface, a cam driven from said power drive and engaging said cam surface imparting pulses to said carrier, resilient means for returning said carrier, and means operable for selectively adjustably limiting the reciprocation stroke of said carrier.

17. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 13, together with, each follower including a connecting rod, one of said followers including means for connecting the follower to said connecting rod comprising a pin movable between two opposite positions, the connecting rod having a slot engaging said pin in either position.

18. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 13, a com necting rod for each follower, a member adjacent each connecting rod and operable to be engaged thereby, one of said members operable to actuate said means to change the position of the stitch and the other member operable to actuate the means to change the width of the stitch, each connecting rod being movable between an inactive position out of engagement with its member and an active position in engagement therewith, resilient means urging said connecting rods towards said active position,

15 and releasably manually settable means operable to move each connecting rod to said inactive position.

19. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 13, together with, removable gauge means operable for simultaneously moving selected among said pins from said inactive position to an active position.

20. In a mechanism as claimed in claim 19, said gauge being removably mounted on said release rod, and means between said control disc and said gauge for positioning said gauge relative to said release disc.

21. In an ornamental stitching mechanism, foruse in connection with a zig-zag sewing machine having a power drive and means operable to change the position of the stitch and to change the width of the stitch, the combination of rotatable control means including a plurality of cam elements, coupling means operable for releasably coupling said rotatable control means with said power drive, said cam elements including a plurality of pins 16 parallel of the axis of rotation of said control means, each pin being shiftable axially between an active position defined by a first set of planes and an inactive position defined by a second set of planes axially offset from said first set of planes, and follower means movable in a direction and an angle to said axis and having a member disposed in the path of said pins in the active position thereof and operable to be engaged thereby for movement at an angle to the longitudinal extension of said pins operable for actuating said changing means of a stitching position and of a stitching width.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,733 Colley Nov. 16, 1897 1,611,372 Rader Dec. 21, 1926 2,310,176 Hale Feb. 2, 1943 2,484,331 Bels Oct. 11, 1949