US3103904A

US3103904A - Zig-zag sewing machine for producing different fancy-stitch seams

Info

Publication number: US3103904A
Application number: US30471A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tolle Hans Gunter
Original assignee: Kochs Adler AG
Current assignee: Kochs Adler AG; Kochs Adlernahmaschinenwerke AG
Priority date: 1960-03-07
Filing date: 1960-05-20
Publication date: 1963-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-17

Description

Sept. 17, 1963 Filed May 20, 19Go H. G. TLLE ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE FOR PRODUCING DIFFERENT FANCY-STITCH SEAMS INVENTOR 527/25 Hf/#ef 70"//6 BY am ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1963 H. G. r'I'LLE 3,103,904

ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE kFOR `PRODUCING DIFFERENT `FANCY-STITCH ISEAMS Filed May 20, 1960 5 .Sheets-'Sheet 4 INVENTOR Hans GL'zl/zzr 707/67 MM BY Cfgq ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1963 H..G. TLLE 3,103,904

zIG-zAG SEWING MACHINE FoR PRoDUcING DIFFERENT FANCY-STITCH SEAMS v Filed May 20.11960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 5

INVENTOR Afa/z5 fffef 727/0' BY q* w, n.

4 ATTORNEYS 3,103,904 ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE FR PRODUCING DIFFERENT FANCY-STITCH SEAMS Hans Gnter Tile, Bielefeld, Germany, assigner to Kochs Adlernahmaschinenwerke AG., Bielefeld, Germany, a firm Filed May 20, 1960, Ser. No. 30,471 7 Claims. (Cl. 112-158) rl"his invention relates to sewing machines, and more specifically to a Zig-zag sewing machine for producing different fancy-stitch seams by means of a pattern device which consists of at least one pattern carrier which can be selectively sensed by Ia .following means to produce a cyclic, endless repetition of a given Zig-zag stitch pattern.

In the known sewing machines of this type various automatic arrangements `are Iused; on the one hand arrangements with exchangeable separate cam discs and, on the other hand, arrangements with fixed or exchangeable cam discs in the Aform of whole cam sets. For each cam disc or eac-h set of cam Idiscs a common transmission member, for example in the form of a contact lever, is provided in one case, which lever by shifting in axial direction of the set of cams or in some other suitable manner is selectively adjustable to one or other of the cam discs. in `another case a single contact lever is provided for each cam disc. From a series of contact Ilevers the lever for a predetermined cam disc is Vthen brought in-to engagement therewith.

In the known forms of vconstruction a series of controlling and selecting operations is necessary to set the machine in operation. ln addition, these known automatic machines are very complicated to operate with the result that 'a housewife does not use such automatic controls at all or only to a limited extent and consequently utilizes them very uneconomically.

The separate exchangeable cam discs are open to the objection that a considerable amount of time is required for exchanging them. Another disadvantage is that the individual `cam discs, after being slipped onto the axle, must be engaged lwith an entrainment pin or nose. Yet another disadvantage is that for inserting o-r exchanging the cam discs or packs of cam discs there must be provided a large window, to be closed by a hinged cover, lest the outer appearance of the machine should be disturbed.

On the other hand, sets of cam discs which are fixed or exchangeably fitted, are open to the objection that several manipulations are necessary for setting the machine in operation and that only a relatively small number of stitch designs can be produced therewith. In addition, in all these constructions, a clear view of lthe available patterns is lacking.

All these known devices have the drawback in common that they require a relatively large amount of space for fitting, which in turn unfavorably alects the external shape of the sewing machine. This is true in the case of the sets of cam discs, when it is desired to combine the greatest possible number of cam discs to form a set of cams. Moreover, the cam discs must be relatively large in order .to ensure perfect adjustment values. If it is a question of a pattern :device with one contact lever for each of the individual cam discs the conditions described are rendered worse by the series of contact levers.

Moreover, such cam `discs are very complicated and expensive to produce because the stitch pattern must be transcribed on :a circle and there must be a hub extending exactly in the middle to receive the axle @for the entrainment means.

It is, therefore, lthe object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks referred to. 'I'his object is attained by providing a zig-zag sewing machine for producing different fancy-stitch seams, which comprises in United States Patent O Patented Sept. 17, 1963 ice combination at least one elongated cam member of a given, xed length with at least one multiple contoured cam surface Vformed thereon, a housing or frame arranged to exchangeably receive said elongated cam member and having a longitudinally extending slot through which said series of cams project, -an elongated tframelike member arranged beside the housing and extending parallel thereto, two spaced rotatable wheels supported by said frame, an endless member led around said wheels and carrying at least one follower element :for sensing cooperation with said cam surface, driving means connected with one of the wheels 'for circulating the endless member, spaced pivoted links connecting the housing to the frame and allowing horizontal movements of one of the elongated members with respect to the other in dependency upon the cooperation of the follower element of the endless member with the cam surface of the elongated cam member, and means for transmitting the horizontal movements of the one elongated member to a needle bar slide of the sewing machine. v

When a plurality of follower elements are carried by the end-less member, said elements are arranged so that during the sensing operation only one follower element traveling along a straight path runs over the elongated cam surface and shortly before this follower element leaves the elongated cam member the next follower element comes into contact with it.l

The arrangement of the housing of the elongated cam member in relation to the elongated fframelike member can be effected in two different ways.

rlihe rst and preferred possibility consists in that the elongated framelike member is fixed in the housing or to the frame of the sewing machine, whereas the housing of the elongated cam member is guided by means of a parallelogram guide system to transmit to the needle bar slide its movements consisting in lateral parallel displacements in relation to the straight path of the endless member.

The second and obvious reversal -is wherein the elongated cam member is fixed .to the frame or housing of the sewing machine and the elongated framelike member is operatively connected withv the needle bar slide of the sewing machine. n

Y The elongated cam member can be arranged as a separate exchangeable member which can be selected from a group of preformed different cam members for different patterns of stitches. Irrespectively of which elongated cam member is used, a funnel-shaped housing of rectangular or similar cross-section is required, into which the elongated cam member is inserted. At the same time there must be a suitable aperture in the housing of the sewing machine.

Normally, however, the engagement or `disengagement of the pattern device will be effected by a lever which projects laterally or upwardly from out of the housing arm. This lever serves at the same time for actuating the zig-Zag device if, for certain reasons, it is to be controlled by hand.

Several preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a sewing machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. `1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modified drive construction;

FIG. 4 is a top plan View of a transmission mechanism for the lateral needle bar movement, and

FIG. 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, an elongated cam member with two ydifferent series of cams, and an example of the stitching pattern created thereby.

FIG. 1 shows a Zig-Zag sewing machine with a needle o bar slide 15 and a control system for transmitting controlling movements to said needle bar slide 15. The con trol system is composed of an elongated friamelike member 1 and two spaced guide sprocket wheels 2 and 3 around which an endless member in form of a chain 4 is led. The guide sprocket wheels 2 and 3 are rotatable on axles 5 supported by the elongated framelike member 1. Lt is self-evident that instead of :a chain also a band or belt with at least one follower element formed thereon may be used.

The elongated framelike member 1 of the control sys tem is rigidly connected to the housing or frame of the sewing machine. The chain 4 carries follower elements 6, 7 and `8 fixed thereto at predetermined distances apart. The distances between the follower elements 6 and 7, 7 and 8 and 8 and 6, respectively, are dependent upon the length of an elongated cam member 9` having at least one series of cams 9' formed thereon. This elongated cam member is inserted in a housing 10. 4On the side facing the `follower' elements 6, 7 and 8 the housing 1b has an elongated slot through which the follower elements of the elongated cam member 9 projects so as to be engageable by the follower elements 6, 7 and 8.

Spaced struts or links 11 and 12 connect the housing with the elongated framelike member 1 and ,are pivoted thereon so as to form a four-link-motion coupling gear or kinematic chain in the form of a parallelogram,

the elongated framelike member 1 forming a saddle fixed to the housing of the sewing machine.

A pressure lever 13 is linked to the upper end of the housing 19 and connected to the needle bar slide 15 through the intermediary of a swing slide lever 14. The needle bar slide 15 is pivotally suspended and is urged in the direction of the housing 10 of the elongated cam member 9 by a pressure spring 16 so that the cam surface of the elongated cam member 9 is always in contact with the follower elements 6, 7 or 8 according to the respective positions of these follower elements.

The construction illustrated in FIG. l operates in the following manner:

The chain 4 circulates with the follower elements 6, 7 and 8. In so `doing these follower elements act consecutively on the cam surface of the elongated cam member 9. The follower elements `6, 7 and S are arranged on the chain 4 so that one of them comes into contact with the elongated cam member 9 shortly before the preceding follower member leaves the same. As the chain 4 ciroulates, the follower elements 6, 7 and y8 engage the elongated cam member 9 along a straight path and the horizontal movements of said member are transmitted to the needle bar slide 15 through the intermediary of the

levers

13 and 14 so that the needle bar slide 15 is caused to make corresponding movements at right angles on either side of the course of the middle of a seam.

It will be obvious that, if desired, the structure of FIG. 1 could be reversed, the housing 10 being fixed to the frame and the frame member 1 being connected to the linkage 13-14, to accomplish the same function, namely, relative movement between the cam means yand the follower means.

As shown in FIG. 2, a worm 17 is connected with a shaft 18 and arranged to transmit a rotary movement to the lower sprocket wheel 2 through the intermediary of a worm wheel 419. The chain 4 and the follower elements 6, 7 and 8 fixed thereon are driven by the sprocket wheel 2.

According to FIG. 3 the drive may also be effected from an arm shaft 20 through -the intermediary of the worm 17 and the worm Wheel 19 to the upper sprocket wheel 3 whereby the chain 4 with its Afollower elements 6, 7 and 8 is caused to circulate.

FIG. 3 shows that the drive need not necessarily be derived lfrom the shaft 18 but can be effected by any uniformly rotating shaft. i

FIGS. l and 4 show the mechanism by which tbe usual,

regular, even zig-zag stitch pattern is made. These gures :also show the mechanism by which the stitch width of the regular, even zig-zag stitch is adjusted and the manner in which this mechanism may be made to engage the automatic fancy stitching mechanism of the present invention for use.

A bevel wheel 21 mounted on the arm shaft -20 drives a stitch width adjusting cam wheel 22. The eccentric movement of the cam wheel 22 is transmitted to a stitch width slide 23 and imparts -to the latter a lateral deflection. By moving the stitch width adjusting lever 24, which is pivotally mounted on the frame support S, in the arrowed direction 4 a slide block 25 will shift in the slide 23 in the arrowed direction x. The slide block 25 will carry with it the pressure rod 26 which is connected to the lever 14 and the notch 26a of the pressure rod 26 will lbe disengaged from a rounded face 29 of a push rod Sil. The cam ywheel 22 will thus drive the slide 23, the slide block 25, the pressure rod 26 and the lever 14, causing the needle bar yslide `15 to have a repeated, even transverse movement against the bias of the spring 16, creating an even zig-zag stitch.

When it is desired, however, to use the automatic, cyclic fancy stitch pattern provided by the present invention, lthe lever 24 is moved first to its furthest position in the arrowed direction 4. A pattern 9 is then inserted into a pattern housing 28. The lever 24 is then moved back to a stop position in the arrowed direction Z. The slide block 25 moves to the position shown in FIG. 4. The pressure rod 26 and its notch 26a will engage the rounded face 29 of the push rod 30. The push rod 30 carrying the pattern housing 28 thus moves the pattern into contact with the following elements of the chain 4. The circulating movement of the chain 4 with the following elements 6, 7 and 8 sensing the cam surface ofthe pattern 9 transmits a lateral movement to the push rod 30 and through ythe pressure rod 26, to the needle bar slide 15. The transmission is maintained in positive connection by means of the spring 16.

By inserting the elongated cam member 9 (see FIG. 5) in the housing 10 and the follower elements 6, 7 and 8 sensing the series of cams 9' a sewing design A is produced by the depressions and raised portions of said series of cams 9" and by the transmission to the needle bar by the mechanism shown in FIG. 4. By turning the elongated cam member 9 through an angle of 180 and again inserting it in the housing 10, a sewing design B is produced by the Ifollower elements 6, 7 and 8 sensing the series of cams 9". In this manner a large variety of sewing designs can be produced.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in al1 respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. In a zig-zag sewing machine of the type including a frame having a needle bar slide transversely movable relative thereto across a seam path; a pattern device for cyclic, endless repetition of a given zig-zag stitch pattern, said device comprising a cam means including a multiple contoured cam surface of a given, lixed length, and a follower means including a driven, endless carrier member having at least one straight run closely adjacent to and substantially coextensive with said cam surface and at least one `follower element secured to said endless carrier member and engaging with said cam surface as said follower element is moved along said straight run by said endless carrier, said cam means and `said follower means being adapted for relative movement one toward the other, one of Isaid means being `ixedly supported relative to said frame, the other of -said means. -being connected by a linkage to said needle bar slide, whereby as said endless carrier is driven said follower member will eyelically engage said multiple contoured cani surface, causing relative movement between said cam means and said follower means accord-ing Ito the pattern of said cam :surface `and thereby a corresponding transverse Inlovernent of said needle bar slide across said seam path 4whereby `a given zig-zag stitch will be cyclically and endlessly repeated.

2. A st-itch pattern device as set forth in claim 1, 1wherein said cam means includes a holder and a cam element bearing said cam surface removably mounted in said holder.

3. A stitch pattern device as set for-'th in clmm 1, wherein said cam means includes a housing sl-idahly receiving a cam element which has said cam surface `formed thereon.

4. A stitch pattern device as set forth in claim l, wherein said cam means includes a housing slidahly receiving a cam element which has said cam surface formed thereon, said housing having a funnel-shaped upper end adapted to open through a sewing machine housing.

5. A stitch pattern device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam Imeans and said follower means are connected by parallel linkages for movement relative to each other.

6. A stitch pattern device as set forth in claim l, wherein said endless `carrier has a plurality of follower elements thereon, the elements each being spaced apart Ialong said carrier a distance substantially equal to the length of said multiple contoured cam surface whereby as one element is moved off of one end of said cam surface another element will be moved into engagement with the opposite end of said `cam surface.

7. A stitch pattern `device as set forth in claim l, wherein said connecting linkage includes a pair of link arms operatively connected in end to end relationship and lever means for disconnecting said link arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,377 Metzger Oct. 8, 1901 691,644 Mainguet Jan. 21, 1902 1,814,757 Lucas July 14, 1931 2,897,464 Miller July 28, 1959 2,958,299 Waterman Nov. 1, 1960 3,013,512 Yamashita Dec. 19, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 792,784 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1958 517,363 Italy Feb. 28, 1955 534,365 Italy Oct. 14, 1955

Claims

1. IN A ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A FRAME HAVING A NEEDLE BAR SLIDE TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE RELATIVE THERETO ACROSS A SEAM PATH; A PATTERN DEVICE FOR CYCLIC, ENDLESS REPETITION OF A GIVEN ZIG-ZAG STITCH PATTERN, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CAM MEANS INCLUDING A MULTIPLE CONTOURED CAM SURFACE OF A GIVEN, FIXED LENGTH, AND A FOLLOWER MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVEN, ENDLESS CARRIER MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE STRAIGHT RUN CLOSELY ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID CAM SURFACE AND AT LEAST ONE FOLLOWER ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID ENDLESS CARRIER MEMBER ELEMENT IS MOVED ALONG SAID STRAIGHT RUN SAID FOLLOWER ELEMENT IS MOVED ALONG SAID STRAIGHT RUN BY SAID ENDLESS CARRIER, SAID CAM MEANS AND SAID FOLLOWER