US2962988A - Apparatus for feeding elastic material to sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1960 APPARATUS FOR Filed Aug. 29. 1957 B. PoNs 2,962,988

FEEDING ELASTIC MATERIAL T0 SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o c lo 0" @New H l A lu o 2o a1 05 al 24 1h13@ 04Y n2. l A l I \o2 E 42a 144 Il a *33 44552 i 5e |01 'OZ 51 l I' I 54% 9 gg gj e5 60 9| 9b el al s4 8 el l IU a l IIO k E25/:FZ 95 loo \ |07 BENI/41N DONS, se INVENTOR 9% aml@ BYv O G ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1960 B. PoNs 2,962,988

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELASTIC MATERIAL TO SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Q ,65 A sglg BENIAMxN PoNib INVENTOR BY am me, @www ATTORNEYS United States Patent() rfee APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ELASTIC MATERIAL TO SEWING MACHINES Benjamin Pons, Valdese, N.C., assignor to Alba Hosiery Mills, Inc., Valdese, N.C., a corporation of North Y `Carolina Filed Aug. 29, 1957, Ser. No. 681,063

1 Claim. (Cl. 112-2) This invention relates to a device for imparting tension to an elastic band by elongating the elastic band prior to itsV being sewed on fabric and maintaining the same in elongated condition while being secured to fabric by a sewing operation, thereby creating an effective gripping surface on the fabric when it is'used as wearing apparel.

The device for elongating and maintaining the elastic band material under tension is adapted to be mounted on a sewing machine of the type in which the material being stitched is arranged to be supported and fed through the sewing machineby feeding disks adapted to engage the opposite faces of the material directly beneath the path of reciprocation of the needle.

One basic application of the device is in the manufacture of ladies undergarments in which elastic material is sevved on the waist portion of the garment to provide a suitable gripping means for maintaining the garment in the desired position on the wearer. In the absence of the elastic material being elongated and sewn while in el-ongatedcondition on the garment, it is apparent that the garment will not lit properly since the stitching securing the elasticmaterial will prevent the elastic material from stretchingV or elongating.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device to. elongate the elastic band material as it is fed to feeding disks of a sewing machine, the device being so `constructed as to maintain vthe elastic material in elongated condition within predetermined limits at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for feeding elastic material in elongated condition with means for adjusting and varying the degree of elongation of the elastic material in accordance with the result desired. A

A more specic object of the invention is to provide a device for elongating elastic material and maintaining the same under tension while being fed to a sewing machine which comprises a pair of rollers, one of which is adapted to be rotated ata predetermined surface speed of less than the surface speed of the feeding -disks on the sewing machine.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in perspective showing the sewing machine with the elastic tensioning device attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1 Land showing the elastic tensioning device;

FigureY 3 is a top plan view of the elastic tensioning device;

Figure 4 is a vertical view, partially in section, taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3 and showing the details of a clutch mechanism;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along line 5 5 in Figure 4 and showing the specific clutch mechanism employed. Y

Referring to Figure l, the numeral 10 indicates a sewing machine of conventional construction having a vertically extending standard 11 and an upper overhanging arm 12 depending therefrom. The sewing machine likewise is provided with a front feeding disk 13 and a rear feeding disk 14 through which fabric is adapted t-o be fed as it is sewn. This invention contemplates the use of a device for elongating and imparting tension to an elastic band E as it is fed to the front and rear feeding disks 13 and 14. This elastic tensioning device is indicated generally by reference numeral 20 and comprises a pair of rollers 21 and 22. Rollers 21 and 22 are of knurled construction to thereby provide gripping surfaces for an elastic band which is to be fed therebetween to the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine 10. l

Roller 21 is an idler roller which is spring pressed into engagement with roller 22 by means of a horizontally disposed sp-ring urged arm 23 on one end of which it is rotatively mounted by means of a bolt or stud 24 loosely extending through the idler roller 21. To secure the stud 24 to the arm 23, a lock nut 25 is secured to the lower end of the stud 24 below the arm 23.

At the opposite end of arm 23 from that upon which idler roller 21 is mounted, a collar member 26 which includes a guide portion 27 is positioned. The guide por tion 27 is formed with an aperture therein through which the elastic band E is fed to properly position it for passage between the knurled rollers 21 and 22.

Extending through a centrally positioned, vertically dis-. posed bore in collar member 26 is a vertical stationary shaft 30 to which collar member 26 is secured as by a set screw 31 to remain stationary therewith. The stationary shaft 3i) serves as a supporting standard for a group of elements which are apertured to receive shaft 30 for vertical alignment thereon. Beginning with the rst of these elements below the collar member 26 (as best shown in Figure 4), the horizontally disposed arm 23, previously described, is provided with a hub-like portion 32 extending outwardly from the upper surface thereof attthe end of arm 23 remote from that upon which idler rollerl 21 is mounted. The hub-like portion 32 has a vertical bore therein to loosely receive stationary shaft 30. On the lower surface of arm 23, and joined thereto there is a tubular sleeve 33 which is received by shaft 30 and ex tends downwardly. Connected to the tubular sleeve 33 at its lowermost portion is a horizontally disposed plate 34 which extends laterally in the same general direction as horizontally disposed arm 23 away from tubular sleeve 33, Plate 34 has a generally triangular configuration (as best shown in Figure 3) As shown in Figure 4, arm 23, hub portion 32, tubular sleeve 33, and plate 34 are integral (although they may be separate elements, rigidly joined together), and these elements are mounted to swivel as a unit about stationary shaft 30 in response to spring pressure in a manner to be subsequently described.

Spaced below horizontally disposed plate 34 is a lower plate member 3S which is also horizontally disposed and is shaped substantially in the form of a T. The top of Y the VT in plate member 35 includes a tubular hub portion extending upwardly at each en d thereof designated at 36 and 37, respectively. Hub portion 36 receives the lower end of stationary shaft 30 and abuts the lower end of tubular sleeve 33 adjacent its connection with plate 34, A set screw 40 is threaded through an intermediate por; tion of hub 36 into engagement with shaft 30 to restrain VPatented Dec. 6, 1960 3 lower plate member 35 and its hub portions 36, 37 against movement and maintain them stationary. Hub portion 36 acts as a base to support the vertically extending shaft 30.

Roller 22 4is drivingly mounted on shaft 41 for rotation therewith. As shown in Figure 4, knurled roller 22 has a top disk-like member 42 and a bottom disk-like member 43 secured thereto by suitable means, such as screws S. These disk-like members 42 and 43 have a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of roller 22 and protrude radially outwardly therefrom to a limited extent thereby providing a guide for the elastic band E as it is fed between the rollers 21 and 22. Below the driven rollei 22, the rotatable shaft 41 extends through hub portion 37 on plate 35 and a clutch assembly 60. A space is provided between hub portion 37 and shaft 41 to receive a bearing 51, as subsequently described.

Idler roller 21 is spring pressed into engagement with driven roller 22 by the following arrangement. A coiled spring 44 is attached at one end to the triangular plate 34 at a point remote from tubular sleeve 33 which extends upwardly from plate 34. The opposite end of spring 44 extends through an aperture formed in the head of a threaded bolt 45. Bolt 45, in turn, passes freely through an aperture formed in a vertically extending post 46 mounted on the cross-leg of T-shaped plate 35. An adjustment nut 47 is threaded onto the end of bolt 45 and is held by the tension of spring 44 against the post 46 to secure the bolt 45 in a predetermined position on the post 46, thereby permitting the regulation of the tension induced in spring v44. As viewed in Figure 2, upon turning the nut 47 on the threaded bolt 45 to make the nut 47 move toward the right, the bolt 45 is automatically pulled under the influence of spring 44 to again position the adjustment nut 47 against the post 46, thereby decreasing the degree of tension in spring 44. In this manner, the tension in spring 44 may be adjusted as desired by simply turning the nut y47 on the threaded bolt 45 to make the nut 47 move in either direction.

Plate 35 remains stationary at all times, but as pointed out previously, triangular plate member 34, tubular sleeve 33, and arm 23 may swivel as a unit with respect to stationary shaft 30. This swivelling movement is brought about through the action of the spring 44. Since the spring 44 is attached at one end to triangular plate 34, when placed under tension it pulls the end of the triangular plate 34 to which it is attached toward the post 46. Consequently, the tubular sleeve 33 and arm 23 are caused to swivel about stationary shaft 30. Under the action of spring 44, the arm 23 is pivoted about its end which receives stationary shaft 30 causing the end mounting idler roller 21 to swing in a direction toward driven roller 22 thereby holding idler roller 21 against driven i'oller 22. This relationship insures a positive adjustable pressure engagement between spring pressed idler roller 21 and the driven roller 22.

The mechanism for imparting a predetermined rate of rotation to shaft 41 thereby driving knurled roller 22 may be of any known type. For purposes of illustratiton, Figure 4 shows one form of a clutch means for driving shaft 41. It is apparent that other forms may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Figure 4, the clutch assembly is shown broadly by reference numeral 60 and consists of a clutch housing 61 to which a bearing housing 50 is attached at the upper end. The bearing housing 50 has a cylindrical bore ppreciably larger than the diameter of shaft 41 to house a bearing 51 of a common sleeve type therein. At the upper end of bearing 51 there is a collar 52 held on the shaft 41 by a set screw 53. The bearing 51 is retained from rotating with shaft 41 by a set screw 54 extending through the bearing housing 50 into contact with the bearing 51. The'hub portion 37 on plate 35 surrounds bearing 51 and is suitably secured thereto by means such as a set screw 55. Within the clutch housing 61 there is 4 a drum 62 held on the shaft 41 by set screw 63. Drum 62 contains an upper and lower annular recess shown at 64 and 65, respectively. In each of these recesses there is a clutch mechanism 66 (as more specifically shown in Figure 5) to provide a predetermined rate of rotation to shaft 41.

Each of the clutch mechanisms 66 consists of a triangular plate 70 on each side of which is a roller element 71. Each roller element is spring urged by means of a coiled spring 72 against a cylindrical surface of drum 62 which defines the outer boundary of the respective recess 4in which the particular clutch mechanism 66 is held. Each spring 72 is seated against a plate 73 secured to one angle of the triangular plate 70 and is held in position by a pin 74 extending through a plurality of the spring coils. The operation of this clutch assembly will be subsequently described.

An actuating lever encloses the lower end of the clutch housing 61. `Immediately below the actuating lever S0, there is a collar member 81 which receives a reduced diameter portion of shaft 41 and is secured thereto by suitable means, such as set screw 82. Thus, shaft 41 is provided with an upper collar member 52 and a lower collar member 81 secured thereto to maintain the bearing housing 50, the bearing 51, and the clutch assembly 60 in proper position on shaft 41.

The actuating lever S0 is generally circular and includes a ange portion 83 extending outwardly therefrom provided with an upturned outer end portion 84. The driving mechanism to impart rotation to shaft 41 through the clutch assembly 60 is shown broadly by reference numeral 9). More specifically, the driving mechanism includes a reciprocating rod 91 connected to the upturned end 84 of actuating lever 80 by suitable means such as a stud and lock nut arrangement 92. On the opposite end of the reciprocating rod 91, there is a connector element 93 secured by suitable means, such as a bolt and nut arrangement 94 to the lower end of a rocker arm 95. The rocker arm 95 includes a. lower elongate groove 96 and an upper elongate groove 97 on either end thereof to provide an tdjustable mounting for the members connected to the rocker arm 9S. Intermediately positioned of the ends of rocker arm 95, there is provided a suitable pivot point, such as a stud 100, received by the rocker arm 95. The rocker arm 95 is adapted to pivot about stud 100 to impart a reciprocatory motion to rod 91. Connected to the upper end of the rocker arm 95 by a connector element 101 is an eccentrically mounted arm 102. The eccentrically mounted arm 102 is likewise connected at its opposite end by a connector element 103 to a drive cup 104 suitably connected to the conventional drive wheel 105 of the sewing machine 10.

The arm 102 is mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of drive cup 104. The drive wheel 105 of the sewing machine 10 is adapted to be rotated by any suitable power source through means of a belt 106. A bracket 107 is attached to the side of sewing machine 10 by bolts 110 and carries the linkage mechanism 90 thereon through the stud about which rocker arm 9S pivots.

The band of elastic material E is adapted to be fed to the tensioning device 20 and the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine 10 from a suitable source of supply shown in Figure l as a spool 111 containing the elastic material E wound thereon. The spool 111 is mounted on a stand 112. A table T is provided on which the stand 112 is mounted together with the sewing machine 10.

Since the elastic band E must be placed under tension and thereby stretched or elongated in the area between the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine 10 and the knurled rollers 21 and 22 of the tensioning device 20, it is apparent that the rate at which the elastic band E is fed from the knurled rollers 21 and 22 must be somewhat slower than the rate at which the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine 10 feed the stretched or elongated elastic band E and the fabric on which it is to be sewn through the sewing machine 10. If the operator attempted to feed the elastic band E from the knurled rollers 21 and 22 at the same rate of feeding speed adopted by feeding disks 13 and'14 of the sewing machine 10, no increase in the length of the elastic band E by stretching or elongating it to create tension therein could be maintained in the area between the two sets of feeding mechanisms. Accordingly, the rate at which the elastic band E is fed from the knurled rollers 21 and 22 must be somewhat less than the rate at which the tensioned elastic band E and fabric are fed from the feeding disks 13 and 14 of the sewing machine to compensate for the increased length of the elastic band E when it is placed under tension if the operator desires to maintain a constant tension in the elastic band E as it is sewn on the fabric.

When the sewing machine 10 is placed in operation, by supplying a suitable source of power to turn the belt 106 and consequently the drive wheel 105 and drive cup 104 associated therewith, the eccentric mounting of arm 102 on drive cup 104 causes a somewhat oscillatory motion to be imparted to arm 102. When arm 102 is set in motion, rocker arm 95 pivots about stud 100 to impart a reciprocatory motion to rod 91. Rod 91 through its connection with actuating lever 80 oscillates lever 80, thereby setting the clutch assembly 60 in operation to rotate shaft 41 and consequently roller 22 of tensioning device 20 at a predetermined speed.

The clutch assembly 60 operates in the following manner to rotate shaft 41. Referring to Figure 4 of the drawing, the clutch assembly 60 comprises an upper and a lower clutch mechanism 66. The function of the lower clutch mechanism 66 will be described first. The triangular plate 70 of the lower clutch mechanism 66 is rigidly secured on its lower surface to the actuating lever 80. Upon each stroke of reciprocating rod 91 (from right to left as shown in Figure 2) the actuating lever 180 on which the triangular plate 70 of the lower clutch mechanism 66 is xedly mounted will move the triangular plate 70 against the action of springs 72 to thereby wedge each of the rollers 71 between one side of the triangular plate 70 and the cylindrical wall bounding the lower recess 65 formed in the drum 62. Drum 62, being mounted on shaft 41 to rotate therewith by means of set screw 63 will be caused to revolve a predetermined amount by this wedging action which will rotate the shaft 41 also.

Referring to the upper clutch mechanism 66, the triangular plate 70 of this mechanism is rigidly secured to the lower end of stationary bearing 51. The rollers 71 associated with the triangular plate 70 of the upper clutch mechanism 66 grip the cylindrical wall bounding the upper recess 64 formed in the drum 62 upon movement of reciprocating rod 91 in the opposite direction to prevent rotation of the drum 62 and consequently the shaft 41 constrained to move therewith when the reciprocating rod 91 completes its cycle by moving in the opposite direction (from left to right as shown in Figure 2). During this period of the cycle, the actuating lever 80 and consequently the triangular plate 70 of the lower clutch mechanism 66 will be moved in a direction to free the rollers 71 from their wedging relationship with the cylindrical wall bounding the lower recess 65 formed in the drum 62. Thus, the clutch assembly 60 functions to permit intermittent rotation o-f shaft 41.

By suitably adjusting the connecting elements 93 and 101 with respect to the elongate grooves 96 and 97 formed in rocker arm 95, the length of the stroke of reciprocating rod 91 may be changed to obtain varied speeds of rotation for shaft 41. Consequently, roller 22 driven by shaft 41 may assume varied speeds of rotation thereby allowing an operator to predetermine the feeding speed of the tensioning device 20 by adjusting the stroke 6 of the reciprocating rod 91 as desired. Once this is done, the roller 22 will rotate at a particular speed and in conjunction with idler roller 21 will feed the elastic band E at the predetermined rate. It should be clear that by varying the feeding speed of the tensioning device 20, the amount of tension retained in the elastic band E as it is sewn on the fabric may also be varied, the only requirement being that the feeding speed of the tensioning device 20 must be somewhat less than that of feeding disks 13 and 14 to maintain a tension in the elastic band E.

This invention, therefore, allows a garment to be seamed while, at the same time, introducing an elastic band under tension by elongating or stretching it to thereby insure a proper gripping surface for the garment when it is worn. Although this invention has been described with reference to the manufacture of ladies undergarments and with a sewing machine having a pair of feeding disks, it is susceptible of use in the manufacture of other articles and with sewing machines of other types.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim.

I claim:

In a sewing machine having a pair of opposed feeding disks rotatable about vertical axes for receiving a fabric therebetween in performing a sewing operation thereon, improved means for feeding an elastic band in elongated tensioned condition to said feeding disks comprising an elastic band engaging device positioned adjacent the sewing machine on the intake side of said feeding disks, whereby the portion of the elastic band between said feeding disks and the device may be elongated to place it under tension, said elastic band engaging device cornprising a pair of rollers having vertical axes between which the elastic band is adapted to be fed, said pair of rollers being horizontally alined with said feeding disks for feeding the elastic band thereto in a straight horizontally disposed path of travel, one of said pair of rollers having circular anges on its opposite ends of enlarged diameter to define guideways for the edges of the elastic band, said circular flanges respectively overlapping the opposite ends of the other roller for restricting the elastic band to movement between said pair of rollers in a predetermined horizontally disposed path, a vertical shaft upon which said one roller is mounted for movement therewith, a vertical stationary standard spaced from said shaft and parallel thereto, a tubular sleeve loosely receiving said standard, said tubular sleeve having a horizontal arm extending outwardly from its upper end portion and a horizontal plate parallel to said arm and in substantial alinement therewith extending outwardly from the lower end portion of said sleeve, said other roller being rotatably mounted on the end of said arm remote from said sleeve for arcuate movement about said standard into and out of engagement with said one roller, a plate member Xed to said standard below said horizontal plate in parallel relation thereto, a vertical post on said fixed plate member disposed on the side of said one roller remote from said other roller, a threaded horizontally extending bolt penetrating said post, an adjustment nut threadably received on one end of the bolt extending through said post, a coiled tension spring having its opposite ends connected to said horizontal plate and said bolt, said nut being held against said post by said spring for adjustment on said bolt to vary the pulling force applied to said other roller by said spring for controlling the degree of engagement of the band by said pair of rollers, and means to rotate said shaft and said one roller mounted thereon to impart a predetermined slower rate of feeding of the elastic band between the pair of rollers relative to that of said feeding disks of the sewing machine to maintain the elastic band being fed to said feeding disks in elongated condition under substantially uniform tension.

References Cited in the le Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Pearson Feb. 23, 1943 Schoij ..2 Jan. 10, 1950 Hacklander ...3- Jan. 16, 1951 Pons Nov. 18, 1952 Liebowitz June 15, 1954 Liebowitz et a1 -2.. June 15, 1954 Galkn Nov. 15, 1955

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