US3148645A - Buttonhole device of a zigazag sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 Se t. 15, 1964 smer-zo AIKI ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 J/-// 650 A//(/ BEA/.77 K0/ K6 BY .7

ATTOENE'Y BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51. 1961 Se t. 15, 1964 smeso AIKI ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l5 7 M? w TAW f N a K W In A Se t. 15, 1964 SHIGEO AIKI ETAL 3,148,645

BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 12 61 il y. 0. F5 7.

p 15, 1954 SHIGEO AIKI ETAL 3,148,645

BUTTONHOLE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 6777650 A//( United States Patent 3,148,645 BUTTQNHULE DEVICE OF A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Shigeo Aiki, Oaza Kitazaki, Ohbu-machi, Chita-gun, Archiken, and Renji Koike, Sarunage-machi, Nishikamo-gun, Aichi-ken, Japan, assignors to Aichi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi-ken, Japan, a corporation of Japan Filed Oct. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 149,052 Claims priority, application Japan, Nov. 11, 1960, 35/ 44,425 3 Claims. (Cl. 112-458) This invention relates to a buttonhole device of a zigzag sewing machine. More particularly it relates to a device which is characterized in that in the operation thereof the stitching of several bartack stitches at an end of a buttonhole is followed by the automatic stitching along one side of the buttonhole, and then, by suitable manipulation of a knob, stitching of several bartack stitches at the other end of the buttonhole is effected. Stitching along the opposite side of the buttonhole is controlled by means of a ratchet mechanism driven by the main shaft of the device and a cam mechanism actuated intermittently with said ratchet mechanism.

Automatic buttonhole sewing machines having complete cycle control are well known in the industrial sewing machine field. In these machines, however, it is not easy to change the length of the button hole. On the other hand, home use sewing machines are well known which have four setting positions-first: one end bar tack; second: one side row; third: the other end bar tack; fourth: the other side row-to complete a button hole. In the present invention, by setting the machine to the first position, the machine sews a predetermined number of bar tack stitches at one end of a buttonhole before the machine is set automatically to sew a side row of stitches of the buttonhole. By setting at the second position, the machine sews bar tack stitches at the other end and the other side row to complete a button hole.

It is an object of the invention to provide a buttonhole device of this type which is not only simple in construction and operation but also durably is constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buttonhole device of this type which has a mechanism that is reliable and smooth in operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a buttonhole device built in a zigzag sewing machine which makes a desired length of buttonhole by two steps of operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel, simple mechanism for adjusting both the width of the zigzag stitches and the area of the zigzag stitches simultaneously.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in longitudinal section of the fixed regulating shaft part;

FIG. 3 is an elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating the relation of the ratchet wheel and the recessed disk;

FIG. 4 is an elevation on anenlarged scale of the annular groove 54;

FIGS. 5 to 9 are drawings for describing the relative positions of the respective control parts by the type of stitching being done; and

FIGS. to 12 illustrate the varied stitch patterns which are obtainable when the manually operated stitch width adjusting knob 21 is manipulated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a main shaft 1 is journaled in the machine frame and is rotated at a constant speed by means of a suitable prime mover to which is secured a worm 2. A regulating shaft 3 having one end secured to the frame A has a worm wheel 4 journaled thereto and in engagement with the aforesaid worm 2. At one side of the worm wheel 4 and constituted integrally therewith there is provided a cam plate 5 for zigzag stitching having a plurality of equally spaced cam portions 5A around its circumference. Pivoted to the frame A by means of a pin 7 is a grooved member 6 (FIG. 1) which has an arm 8 extending therefrom. To the tip of the arm 8 with a pin 9 that is at right angles to the pin '7 the base of a rocker arm 10 is pivoted. The distal end of rocker arm 10 not only has formed on its underside stepped cam follower faces 11 and 12 but also has secured to its side a contact finger 13. The contact finger 13 is constantly urged against a hereinafter-mentioned recessed disk 26 by means of a spring 14 fitted to an arm 10A of the rocker arm 10. Numeral 15 designates the spring that exerts a pull on the grooved member 6, while numeral 16 designates the stopper that determines the lower limit to which the rocker arm 10 can move. A pitman 17 which at its extremity is coupled to a needlebar arm (not shown) is pivotally secured to a square piece 18 by means of a pin 19. The rear end of pitrnan 17 is connected by a link 20 to an arm 22 of a stitch width adjusting knob 21. Hence, by turning adjusting knob 21 it becomes possible to sew with either regular stitches or zigzag stitches. By effecting selectively the slidable contact of either one of the cam follower faces 11 or 12 with the cam portions 5A of the zigzag stitching cam plate 5, the base line of sewing of the zigzag stitches is thereby changed.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the periphery of a sleeve shaft 23 which is journaled to the fixed regulating shaft 3 in the vicinity of its idle end is pivotally supported in the frame A. To one end of the sleeve shaft 23 is secured a cam collar 24 consisting of a disk-like cam plate 25, a recessed disk 26 and a drum portion 27 connecting the foregoing cam plate 25 and recessed disk 26. As shown in FIG. S-IV, the periphery of the cam plate 25 is provided with cam portions 25A25B for reducing the width of the stitch to one half. When cam portions 25A-25B butt against the cam follower faces 1101' 12 of the rocker arm 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 as well as FIGS. 7-V and 9-V, the oscillatory angle of the rocker arm 10 is reduced to about one half, thus reducing the width of the zigzag stitches to about one half. On the other hand, on the inner side surface of the recessed disk 26 a cam protuberance 28 is provided which, when it butts against the contact finger 13, moves the rocker arm 10 laterally to the left, thereby causing the cam follower face 12 to slidably contact the cam portions 5A and thus change the base line of sewing. The drum portion 27 is provided on its periphery, as shown in FIG. 5-IV, with a work-reversing cam 29 and on both sides thereof with work feed stopping cams 29A29B. When the end of lever 30 which is pivoted together with the grooved member 6 on the aforementioned pin 7 rides cams 29A-29B, a rocking piece 35 with the intervention of an arm 31 of the lever, and successively .a link rod 32, a crank 33, and a link rod 34 are turned whereby the feed of the work is reversed or stopped. As to the make-up of the recessed disk 26, it is as follows:

On the sleeve shaft 23 adjacent to the recessed disk 26 are journaled a ratchet wheel 36 and a rocker plate 37. The ratchet wheel 36, as shown in FIG. 3, has incised therein three deep notches 36B arranged at equidistant points around the disk fine equidistantly disposed shallow notches 36A and located in between each of the pair of adjacently located deep notches 368. On the other hand, in the recessed disk 26, as shown in FIG. 3, are provided two deep notches 26A and 2613 which are of a shape identical to that of the deep notches 36B and which both on one of the sides thereof join respectively shallow recesses 38A and 38B, whose depth to the bottom of the recesses is slightly deeper than that of the shallow notches 36A of the ratchet wheel 36. The circumference 26C of the recessed disk 26 is somewhat larger than the circumference 36C of the ratchet wheel 36. Pivoted to the tip of an arm 37A of the rocker plate 37 by means of a pin 40 is a pawl 39 which engages with these notches 26A, 2613, 36A and 36B, the engagement being insured by a spring 41. The rocker plate 37 is oscillated with the intervention of a lever 43 that is oscillated by a cam member 42 of the main shaft 1 and a link 44 connected to said lever 43, whereby the pawl 39 makes constant reciprocatory movements within fixed limits (angle of FIG. 3) equal to one pitch of the notches 36A and 36B of the ratchet wheel 36. 45 is the shaft of the lever 43 and is pivotally secured to the frame of the sewing machine; 46 is the spring for maintaining the contact of the cam follower 43A and the cam member 42; and 47 is a leaf spring which being engaged with the notches of the ratchet wheel 36 prevents its uncontrolled movements.

Next, the rotation of the recessed disk 26, i.e., as to how the cam collar 24 is rotated by the ratchet wheel 36 and the pawl 39, will be described. As already described, since the circumference 26C of the recessed disk 26 is slightly greater than the circumference 36C of the ratchet wheel 36, when the recessed disk 26 is rotated manually and is so positioned that its large diameter portion is placed opposite (9 portion, the pawl 39 merely slides over the circumference 26C, and neither the ratchet wheel 36 nor the recessed disk 26 is rotated. However, if the recessed disk 26 is moved manually and positioned so that, as shown in FIG. 3, the shallow recess 38A (or 38B) is opposite the angle 0 portion, the pawl 39 becomes engaged with the shallow notch 36A of the ratchet wheel 36, and the ratchet wheel 36 is rotated intermittently in the direction of arrow D by each reciprocation of the pawl 39. The recessed disk 26, however, does not rotate and thus neither does the cam collar 24. When, upon continuance of the rotation of the ratchet wheel 36, one of its deep notches 36B coincides with the deep notch 26A (or 26B) of the recessed disk 26 directly under the regulating shaft 3, the pawl 39 engages both notches simultaneously whereby with the subsequent movement of the pawl 39 in the D direction, the recessed disk 26 is rotated together with the ratchet wheel 36 in the D direction for a distance of just the angle 6. Even though the pawl 39 then moves in a direction opposite to the D direction, since the pawl 39 rides idly over the large diameter portion 26C that adjoins the deep notch 26A (or 2613), the recessed disk 26 as well as the ratchet wheel 36 remain in their estopped positions.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeve shaft 23 at its outer end has a flange 48 whose inner surface slidably contacts the outer surface of the frame A. On the other hand, the outer surface of this flange 48 is in slidable contact with a knob 50 that is mounted at the outer end of the fixed regulating shaft 3 as to be freely rotatable or slidable, the knob 50 being constantly urged against the flange 48 by means of a spring 49 mounted between a stopper 51 and the outer surface of said knob t Projecting from the inner surface of the knob 50 is a pin 52 which extends through an arcuate slot 53 in flange 48 and fits in an annular groove 54 provided in the frame A. The arcuate slot 53 as shown in FIG. 3, has a length that is sufficiently greater than that covered by the angle 6. In the bottom of the annular groove 54 are provided three stop holes 55A, 55B and 55C, as shown in FIG. 4, for stopping the pin 52, the face of the knob 50 being marked with indicia M, B and B which with a fixed pointer 56 indicate the particular hole in which the pin 52 happens to be. By pulling out the knob 50 against the pressure of the spring 49, thus pulling the tip of the pin 52 out of either stop hole 55A or 558, and then turning the knob in the D direction while releasing the outward pull on the knob 50, the pin being urged by the spring 49 readily falls into either of the adjacent stop holes 55B or 550. In the annular groove 54 contiguous to the stop hole 550 a small partition wall 54A is provided for insuring the precise fit of the pin 52 in the stop hole 55C. If the knob 50 is pulled out sufficiently great enough as to enable the pin 52 to hurdle the small partitioning wall 54A, the knob 50 can then be continued to be turned in the D direction. It is to be noted that the pin 52 in being turned butts against the end of the arcuate slot 53, thereby rotating the flange 48 and the cam collar 24 that is coupled thereto.

While referring to FIGS. 5-9 the operation of the device of the invention will be described hereinafter.

When by manually turning the knob 50 in the D direction and the mark M is made to coincide with the pointer 56, as shown in FIG. 5-H, the pin 52 of the knob 50, as described hereinbefore, butts against the end of the arcuate slot 53 in the pins rotating direction and turns the flange 48 and the cam collar coupled thereto. Hence the cam plate 25, the drum portion 27 and the recessed dish that are all integral with the cam collar 24 rotate together. The ratchet wheel 36 however does not turn, as it is prevented from uncontrolled movements by the leaf spring 47. Moreover, one of its deep notches 36B, due to its mechanics, remains stopped, as shown in FIG. S-III, in the zone of the angle 0 at that end in the D direction. On the other hand, when the knob 50 is in this M position, with the pawl 39 riding idly over the large circumference portion 26C of the resessed disk 26, the cam follower face 11 of the rocker arm 10 that rides the cam plate 5 for accomplishing zigzag stitchings being actuated by its cam. portions 5A, and the lever 30 being disengaged from the work-reversing cam 29, it is possible to perform the regular zigzag stitchings, its stitch width being adjustable by means of the hereinbefore-described stitch width adjusting knob 21.

For accomplishing the stitching of a buttonhole the needle is positioned at one end of a buttonhole 60 and the knob 5t is turned in the D direction until the B mark, as shown in FIG. 6, comes opposite the pointer 56, whereupon while the ratchet wheel 36 remains immobile the cam collar 24 above is rotated a little, and its shallow recess 38A coincides with the reciprocatory zone of the pawl 39 within the ange 6. Then when the sewing machine is operated, the ratchet wheel 36 is rotated, and while the feed of the work is in practically a standstill state the bartack stitching 61 is started as shown in FIG. 6-1. When the prescribed number of stitches are completed, and one of the deep notches 36B of the ratchet wheel conicides with the deep notch 26A, as already described hereinbefore, the cam collar 24 is rotated together with the ratchet wheel 36 through just the angle 6 as shown in FIG. 7-H, and with the pawl 39 retracting idly the cam collar 24 and the ratchet wheel 36 remain in their estopped state.

By the rotation of the cam collar 24 through just the angle 0 the lever 30 rides the cam 29 (FIG. 7-IV), the cam protuberance 28 butts against the contact finger 13 (FIG. 7-V) thereby to bring in contact the cam follower face 12 of the rocker arm 10 with the cam plate 5 thus shifting the base line of sewing, and simultaneously the stitch width is reduced by means of the cam portions 25A of the cam plate 25. Hence, the side stitches that follow the bartack stitches are automatically begun and are continued.

Upon reaching the other end of the button hole after having completed the side stitchings on one side, the knob 50 is manually turned again in the D direction, and the mark B thereon is set opposite the pointer 56 (FIG. 8-1).

Thereupon, the shallow recess 38B coincides with the reciprocatory zone of the pawl 39 within the angle 6 (FIG. 8-111), the lever 30 leaves the work-reversing cam 29 (FIG. 8-IV), and also with the rocker arm being placed under the same condition as in FIG. 7, bartack stitchings 63 of a completely identical number of stitches as bartack stitchings 61 are accomplished, and at the point of their completion, with the deep notches 26B and 36B coming in alinement, the cam collar is moved through just the angle 0, following which the pawl 39 retracts idly and the state as shown in FIG. 9 results. In this state side stitchings 64 are begun with the feed of work continuing in the normal direction (FIG. 9IV), and the stitch width is reduced without however changing the base line of sewing (FIG. 9-V). And upon stopping the sewing machine after the side stitching has been completed by having reached the bartack stitchings 61, the stitching of the buttonhole is completed.

Thus, since according to the device of the invention buttonhole stitching is accomplished by means of a ratchet mechanism that is driven by the main shaft 1 and a cam mechanism associated therewith and actuated thereby, the objects of the invention have been achieved in that a device simple in construction and reliable and smooth in operation is provided.

Additionally, if the manually operated stitch width adjusting knob 21 is manipulated in the state as shown in FIG. 5, a pattern stitching 65 as shown in FIG. 10 can be performed; likewise, if similarly manipulated in the state as in FIG. 7 a pattern stitching 66 as shown in FIG. 11 is obtained; and similarly in the state as in FIG. 9 a pattern stitching 67 as shown in FIG. 12 is possible.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. A button hole device for a zigzag sewing machine having a frame and main shaft journaled in said frame, comprising a shaft secured to said frame, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of deep notches and a plurality of shallow notches, a recessed disk disposed adjacent to said ratchet wheel on said shaft and having a portion of larger periphery than said ratchet wheel and having at least two sets of shallow recesses and deep notches, a ratchet pawl oscillably mounted in said frame engaging both said ratchet wheel and said disk, manually operable means connected with said disk for rotating the latter, unitary control means on said shaft integrally connected with said disk for rotation and including cams for controlling the zigzag stitch width, stitching area, and direction of work feed, the abovementioned elements being operatively connected so that when said pawl engages a shallow notch of said ratchet wheel said ratchet wheel is rotated while said disk remains stationary until said pawl comes to engage a deep notch of said ratchet wheel, at this point said pawl also engages a deep notch of said disk to rotate the latter, and so that said pawl subsequently is disengaged by contact with the large periphery portion of said disk whereby said pawl ceases torotate said disk and said ratchet wheeL' 2. A buttonhole device for zigzag sewing machines having a frame and a main shaft journaled in said frame, comprising a cam shaft mounted on said frame, a unitary control means rotatably mounted on said cam shaft and having cams for controlling the zigzag stitch width, stitch area and work feed, said unitary control means being provided with at least four positions including first and fourth positions for sewing 'oar tack stitches at the ends of a button hole and including second and third positions for sewing side row stitches, manually operable means mounted on said frame and connected with said unitary control means for turning the former to set the latter to the first and third of said four positions, a pawl, means connecting said pawl with said main shaft for rocking the former in timed relation with the latter, a disk mounted on said cam shaft and connected with said unitary control means for rotation therewith, said disk having notches engageable with said pawl to be advanced from the first to the second and/ or from the third to the fourth of said four positions, said disk having enlarged portions at corresponding positions to the second and the fourth of said four positions where said pawl rocks without advancing said disk and therefore the machine continues to sew either side row.

3. A buttonhole device for a zigzag sewing machine having a frame and a main shaft journaled in said frame, comprising a cam shaft mounted in said frame, a cam on said cam shaft rotatably driven in timed relationship with said main shaft, said cam having lofts spaced by valleys on its periphery, a cam follower mounted on said frame, said cam follower having two engaging heads of different heights, means biasing said engaging heads of said cam follower towards said cam periphery, said cam follower being adapted for radial movement to and from said cam and for shiftable movement axially of said cam shaft, stop means fixed on said frame for limiting radial movement of said cam follower towards said cam, shiftable stop means disposed adjacent to said cam, means to shift said cam follower axially of said cam shaft between a first and a second position, the higher of said engaging heads of said cam follower being engageable in said first position by said cam to impart full oscillating movement of said cam follower and by both said cam and said shiftable stop means to impart a limited amplitude of oscillating movement of said cam follower at one side, and the other of said engaging heads of said cam follower being engageable in said second position by said cam to impart a limited amplitude of oscillating movement of said cam follower at the other side by cooperating action of said fixed stop means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,721 Miller July 23, 1912 1,675,508 Muller July 3, 1928 2,684,649 Scarpa July 27, 1954 3,034,461 Urscheler May 15, 1962 3,035,534 Hamlett May 22, 1962 3,060,875 lida Oct. 30, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 199,978 Austria Oct. 10, 1958 1,038,887 Germany Sept. 11, 1958 1,113,126 Germany Aug. 24, 1961 UNIT-ED STATES/PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,148,645

September 15, 1964 Shigeo Aiki et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow.

Column 4, line 50, for "ange" read angle column 6, line 5, for "fourth" read third line 6, for "third" read fourth Signed and sealed this 14th day of September 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. A BUTTON HOLE DEVICE FOR A ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE HAVING A FRAME AND MAIN SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME, COMPRISING A SHAFT SECURED TO SAID FRAME, A RATCHET WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF DEEP NOTCHES AND A PLURALITY OF SHALLOW NOTCHES, A RECESSED DISK DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID RATCHET WHEEL ON SAID SHAFT AND HAVING A PORTION OF LARGER PERIPHERY THAN SAID RATCHET WHEEL AND HAVING AT LEAST TWO SETS OF SHALLOW RECESSES AND DEEP NOTCHES, A RATCHET PAWL OSCILLABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME ENGAGING BOTH SAID RATCHET WHEEL AND SAID DISK, MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID DISK FOR ROTATING THE LATTER, UNITARY CONTROL MEANS ON SAID SHAFT INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID DISK FOR RO-

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