US3164112A

US3164112A - Apparatus comprising a magnetic pattern and follower for shaped sewing

Info

Publication number: US3164112A
Application number: US247640A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bono Luigi
Original assignee: Necchi SpA
Current assignee: Necchi SpA
Priority date: 1962-04-04
Filing date: 1962-12-27
Publication date: 1965-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-05
Also published as: DE1229825B; GB1004597A; BE629514A; AT245352B

Description

Jan. 5, 1965 1 BONO 7 3,164,112

APPARATUS COMPRISING A MAGNETIC PATTERN AND FOLLOWER FOR SHAPED SEWING Filed Dec. 27, 1962 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 InuemQor I Luigi Bop/J 5,19%, 0W,

fl riorneys Jan. 5, 1965 L. BONO APPARATUS COMPRISING A MAGNETIC PATTERN AND FOLLOWER FOR SHAPED SEWING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1962 InvenIor 2/ 8on0 By I? Attorneys Jan. 5, 1965 BONO 3,164,112

APPARATUS COMPRISING A MAGNETIC PATTERN AND FOLLOWER FOR' SHAPED SEWING F'iledDec. 2'7, 1962 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inkenlror Luigi 8on0 B Jmw; LOW, mm United States Patent 3,164,112 APPARATUS CGMPRISING A MAGNETIC PAT- TERN AND FOLLOWER FUR SHAPED SEWING Luigi liono, Milan, Italy, assignor to Necchi Societa per Azioni, Pavia, Italy Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,640 Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 4, 1962, 6,498/62 6 Claims. (Cl. 1122) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in sewing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for sewing predetermined patterns.

A primary object of this invention is to provide in conjunction a sewing machine a fabric feed which includes a removable pattern member and a follower for following the contour of the pattern member and moving a fabric holder in a like manner, the follower being driven wherein it serves as the motive power for the fabric holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel feed mechanism for a fabric holder of a sewing machine wherein interchangeable pattern members are provided, the feed mechanism including a rotating small diameter shaft which is coupled to the fabric holder and which bears against the interchangeable pattern member and effects both the driving of the fabric holder and the predetermined movement thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel pattern member and follower arrangement wherein the pattern member is of a magnetic nature and the follower is in the form of a small diameter magnetically attractive shaft whereby as the shaft rotates in contacts with the pattern member it is in non-slipping contact with the pattern member and is forcibly traveled along the pattern member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel fabric holder which is initially carried by a rigid arm and which is adjustable so as to accommodate fabrics into which patterns of different lengths are to be sewn.

The apparatus in accordance with this invention consists essentially of a sewing machine and a material-holding frame movable on the support of the sewing machine together with a carriage having guides which are supported by a second carriage movable in a direction perpendicular to the first carriage on second guides fastened to the support of the sewing machine, and there being a pattern member mounted in fixed position with respect to the sewing machine support with the first carriage having a small diameter rotating shaft which rotates in contact with the pattern member and is held in nonslipping contact therewith by magnetic attraction.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by a reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine incorporating the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the specific apparatus which is the subject of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the fabric holder with parts broken away and shown in section and illustrates the details of one of the clamps thereof.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of one of the clamp members and shows specifically the details thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the shaft portion only of the fabric holder and through a portion of a clamp assembly for locking the fabric holder to a support therefor.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a typical pattern member and shows generally the details thereof.

ice

FIGURE 7 is a rotated transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line VIII-NIH of FIGURE 6 and shows the specific constructional details thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of another form of pattern member.

FIGURE 9 is a rotated transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line IXIX of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of another form of pattern member.

FIGURE 11 is a rotated transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line XIXI of FIGURE 10 and shows more specifically the details of the pattern member of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of still another form of pattern member and shows generally the details thereof.

FIGURE 13 is a rotated transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIGURE 12 and shows more specifically the details of the pattern member of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of a further form of pattern member.

FIGURE 15 is a rotated transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of FIGURE 14 and shows more specifically the details of the pattern member thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the invention is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 where it is illustrated a conventional type of sewing machine which is driven in any desired conventional manner so as to sew a fabric placed under the needle 2 thereof. The sewing machine is mounted on a support, generally referred to by the numeral 3, and is seated in a work top or table 4 carried by the support 3. The support 3 includes two parallel horizontal guides 5 and 6 which are of circular cross-section and which are fastened at their ends to profiled tubular end parts 7 which constitute the legs of the support 3.

Referring now to figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that a carriage, generally referred to by the numeral 8 is mounted on the guides 5 and 6 for movement therealong. The carriage 8 is formed from a bent tubular member having a generally trapezoidal shape and has sleeves 9 and 1t) suitably secured thereto, as by welding. The sleeves 9 and 10 receive and slide on the guides 5 and 6, respectively.

The carriage 8 has

guides

11 and 12 which are perpendicular to the axes of the guides 5 and 6. There are two guides 11 in the form of aligned sleeves, and the guide 12 is in the form of a straight portion of the carriage 8 which is parallel to the axes of the aligned sleeves which form the guides 11.

The

guides

11 and 12 support a second carriage 13 which includes an elongated rod 14 slidably mounted in the guides 11. A plate 15 is adjustably and rigidly secured to the rod 14 and carries a generally horizontally disposed bracket 16. The bracket 16, in turn, carries a small roller 17 which rest upon and slides on the guide 12..

At the forward end of the rod 14 there is rigidly mounted a vertical arm 18 which passes through a Wide opening 19 of the work table 4 and which terminates in a clamping device 20 disposed above the table top 4 to which a fabric holder, generally referred to by the numeral 21, is fastened.

The fabric holder 21 includes a rod or shaft 22 of parallelepiped cross-section and two clamps 23 adapted to clamp a fabric a. The clamps 23 are rigidly connected with the rod 22 by means of sleeves 24 which are slidable along the rod 22 and are securable in fixed positions by means of screws 25 carried thereby.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 in particular, it will be seen that each clamp 23 is formed of two profiled

parts

26 and 27 which are annular in cross-section and which are connected together in a manner to form a downwardly facing groove 23, and a bar 29 which is pivotally mounted for movement into and out of the groove 28. The bar 29 is hingedly connected to one of the profiled parts 2d and 27 by a pivot pin in such a manner that when the bar 29 is disposed within the groove, it holds the fabrics a within the groove. The two profiled

parts

26 and 27 are secured together by means of screws 30 and the profiled part 27 is provided with slot-type openings 31 so that it is possible to adjust the relative positions of the profiled

parts

26 and 27 in a manner to vary the width of the groove 28 depending upon the thickness of the fabric a to be clamped.

The bar 29 carries at the free end thereof a spring latch which includes a spring 31 and a wedge 32 having two

inclined planes

33 and 34. The closing of the clamp 23 and the holding of the clamp 23 in its closed position is assured by the action of the spring 3f, the inclined plane 33 engaging the free end of the profiled part 26 and overlying the same.

When it is desired to open the clamp 23, it is merely necessary to press ones finger against the inclined plane 34 so as to shift the wedge 32 rearwardly against the action of the spring 31. Similarly, upon the closing of the clamp 23, the free end 35 of the profiled part 26 presses against the inclined plane 34 so as to shift the wedge 32 rearwardly after which the free end 35 is engaged by the inclined plane 33.

The clamping device at the upper end of the arm 1%, as is best shown in FIGURE 5, requires the provision of two longitudinally spaced bushings '36 in the rod 22. The clamping device 20 is provided with two horizontal pins 37 disposed within bores 38 in the clamping device 29. The pin 37 cooperate with a small lever 39 which is pivoted at a position intermediate the two pins 37 and which bears a tooth 49 adapted to retain the shaft or red 22. Each pin 37 has a shoulder 41 which faces forwardly towards a coaxial cap 42 which is rigidly secured on the pin 37. A spring 43 is mounted within the bore 33 in a large portion thereof and is arranged between the cap 42 and a shoulder 44 of the bore 38. When the fabric hold or 21 is mounted on the clamping device 20, the caps 42 press against the rod 22 and force the same forwardly against the tooth it of the small lever 35.

The lever 3% is held in a position of engagement with the rod 22 by a spring 45 which is arranged in a blind hole 46 formed in the upstanding arm 13. The spring 45 presses upwardly against a handle 47 of the lever 39,

the handle 47 and the lever 39 being pivotally mounted as a unit.

By acting on the handle 47 in opposition to the action of the spring 45, the lever 39 is raised so as to disengage the tooth 40 from the rod 22, whereupon it is possible to remove the fabric holder 21 from the clamping device 29 by sliding the same off of the pins 37.

An electric motor 48 is mounted on the plate 15 of the carriage 13, as is best shown in FIGURE 2. The electric motor is connected to a speed reducer 49 which has a small diameter shaft 5t journaled vertically in the bracket 16. The small diameter shaft 59 functions both as the drive means and the pattern enforcing means of the apparatus which is the subject of this invention.

The small diameter shaft 5t) engages an interchangeable pattern member which is shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2. The pattern member, which is referred to by the numeral 51, is interchangeably mounted on a bracket 52 fastened below the table top 4-. The bracket 52 carries pins 52' on which the pattern member 51 is removably mounted.

In accordance with this invention, the small diame er shaft 5'0 adheres to the pattern member 51 and rotates without slippage on the pattern member 51. In so doing, it follows precisely the profile of the pattern member 51 and displaces the fabric holder 21 accordingly.

'URE 6.

The adherence between the shaft 58 and the pattern member 51 is obtained by magnetic attraction.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, it will be seen that the pattern member SI consists of at least one pair of plates 53 of ferromagnetic material separated by a layer 5d of non-magnetic material, tie plates and the layer 54 bein rigidly bound together. The magnetic force necessary to create a sufficient attraction to rotate the small diameter shaft 5%!) without slippage on the contoured portion of the pattern member 51 to displace the fabric holder 2?; is created by at least one magnet 55 arranged behind the pattern member 51 and is secured to the plates 53 thereof in the manner shown in FIGURE 7. Magnet 55 creates a magnetic flux in plates 53 whereby the plates are of opposite polarity to each other. Follower 50 bridges the gap between the plates 53 and provides a path of minimum reluctance for the flux to pass from one plate to the other whereby a strong magnetic bond between follower and plates results.

In FEGURES 8 and 9 there is illustrated a second embodiment of the pattern member, which pattern member is generally referred to by the numeral 51A. The pattern member 51A differs from the pattern member 51 in that the plates 53 and the layer 54 of non-magnetic material are of reduced cross-section and are held fast between two additional plates 56 of ferromagnetic material which are separated at spaced intervals by sections 67 of nonmagnetic material. The magnet 55 is connected directly to the plates 56 as opposed to being connected to the plates 53.

A third form of pattern member generally referred to by the numeral 513, is illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 11. The pattern member 51B is constructed identically to the pattern member 51A with the exception that in lieu of having one large electromagnet 55 as in the case of the pattern members Sland 51A, two or more smaller electromagnets 55' are arranged between the plates 56. This is best shown in FIGURE 11.

Referring now to *IGURE 2 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a sewing pattern or seam b which has sharp angles 57. It is obvious that when these sharp angles must be described by the axis of the small diameter shaft 5t) and by the contours of the pattern members, it is necessary that the pattern members must also have sharp angles such as the angle 58 illustrated in FIG- It then becomes necessary to avoid at such a sharp angle 58 the shaft 54 becoming simultaneously attracted from both sides of the sharp angle, the sides being identified by the numerals 59 and 6!), since this will prevent the shaft 5tl from rotating correctly. In order to avoid this, the plates 53 have reliefs 61 immediately adjacent the corners 53 so that as the shaft 5t reaches the corners 53, it is subject to attraction, only one of the two sides defining the corner. It is, however, obvious that this solution can be adopted only when it is contemplated that the shaft 5t} will rotate in a single direction, such as the direction x shown in FIGURE 2, and that it will move along the pattern member 51 in one direction only. It is to be noted that the pattern members 51A and 51B are similarly contoured at the corners thereof.

If it is desired for the shaft St? to be able to rotate in both directions and therefore be able to move along the pattern member in both directions, the magnetic circuit of the pattern member can be divided in two in each corner of the pattern surface so that the side which is to be left by the shaft 5% can be demagnetized in timed relation to the movement of the shaft St). This can be obtained with a pattern member 51C illustrated in FIGURES l2 and 13. In this pattern member in lieu of utilizing one pair of plates 53 separated by one magnetic layer 54, there is a pair of plates 53 for each side of the pattern member. Each pair of the plates 53 is magnetized by a corresponding electromagnet 55.

In FIGURES l4- and 15, there is illustrated still another form of pattern member which permits the reverse travel to the shaft 5b. This pattern member is generally Referring once again to FIGURE 6, it will be seen L that there is illustrated a suitable arrangement of

microswitches

64 and 65 which may be incorporated in the pattern members disclosed above. The

micro-switches

64 and 65 are connected in a conventional manner to the electrical system of the sewing machine 1 and the motor 48 in such a manner that the starting of the operation of the sewing machine 1 and the driving of the shaft 5i can be effected only when the shaft 51) is in contact with one of the micro-switches and the operation is interrupted when the shaft 50 comes into contact with the other of H the micro-switches. If desired, the micro-switch which starts the operation of the sewing machine 1 may also be utilized for deenergizing the electromagnets so it is possible to move the shaft away from the corresponding pattern member.

Although several preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that other minor variations may be made in the apparatus within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for sewing a predetermined pattern comprising a sewing machine having a support, a fabric holder, means mounting said fabric holder for two directional movements relative to said support, a pattern member releasably mounted on said support, a follower for following said pattern member, and a motor connected to said mounting means for movement therewith, and means connected to said motor to drive said follower whereby said follower simultaneously guides and drives said fabric holder, said pattern member being in the form of parallel magnetic material plates separated by nonmagnetic material, and at least one magnet across said plates for creating a magnetic field along said plates with said plates having opposite polarity, said follower serving as a magnetic bridge between said plates whereby magnetic flux from one plate can pass through said follower and into the opposite plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pattern member has a corner defined by adjacent sides, and means for varying the magnetic attraction of one of said sides at said corner to facilitate the transfer of said follower from said one to the other.

3. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pattern member has a corner defined by adjacent sides, and means for varying the magnetic attraction of one of said sides at said corner to facilitate the transfer of said foilower from said one to the other, the last-mentioned means being in the form of a relief.

4. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pattern member has a corner defined by adjacent sides, and means for varying the magnetic attraction of one of said sides at said corner to facilitate the transfer of said follower from said one to the other, the last mentioned means including the forming of said sides by separate magnetic members. i

5 The apparatus of claim 4- wherein said pattern member has a corner defined by adjacent sides, and means for varying the magnetic attraction of one of said sides at said corner to facilitate the transfer of said follower from said one to the other, the last mentioned means including the forming or" said sides by separate magnetic members which are independently magnetizable.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said magnetic plates are made attractive by at least one permanent magnet having an electromagnetic coil associated therewith for varying the attraction of said permanent magnet.

References in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,329,411 Kanta et al. Feb. 3, 1920 2,142,476 McDonald Ian. 3, 1939 2,261,644 Cockerell Nov. 4, 1941 2,880,683 Abel Apr. 7, 1959 2,939,368 Eisengrein June 7, 1960 3,001,489 Bond et al Sept. 26, 1961 3,046,921 Schwarzberger July 31, 1962 3,072,081 Milligan et al Ian. 8, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 581,451 Italy Aug. 29, 1958

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SEWING A PREDETERMINED PATTERN COMPRISING A SEWING MACHINE HAVING A SUPPORT, A FABRIC HOLDER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID FABRIC HOLDER FOR TWO DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENTS RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT, A PATTERN MEMBER RELEASABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, A FOLLOWER FOR FOLLOWING SAID PATTERN MEMBER, AND A MOTOR CONNECTED TO SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR TO DRIVE SAID FOLLOWER WHEREBY SAID FOLLOWER SIMULTANEOUSLY GUIDES AND DRIVES SAID FABRIC HOLDER, SAID PATTERN MEMBER IN THE FORM OF PARALLEL MAGNETIC MATERIAL PLATES SEPARATED BY NONMAGNETIC MATERIAL, AND AT LEAST ONE MAGNET ACROSS SAID PLATES FOR CREATING A MAGNETIC FIELD ALONG SAID PLATES WITH SAID PLATES HAVING OPPOSITE POLARITY, SAID FOLLOWER SERVING AS A MAGNETIC BRIDGE BETWEEN SAID PLATES WHEREBY MAGNETIC FLUX FROM ONE PLATE CAN PASS THROUGH SAID FOLLOWER AND INTO THE OPPOSITE PLATE.