US3216380A

US3216380A - Automatic sewing machine

Info

Publication number: US3216380A
Application number: US307979A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bono Luigi
Original assignee: Necchi SpA
Current assignee: Necchi SpA
Priority date: 1962-09-10
Filing date: 1963-09-10
Publication date: 1965-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-09
Also published as: DE1485250A1; BE636458A; GB1008288A

Description

Nov. 9, 1965 L. BONO 3,216,380

AUTOMATIC SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Lu lGi Bouo ATTORNEYS Nov. 9, 1965 L. BONO 3,216,380

AUTOMATIC SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lu lGl 5on0 BY 392M ATTORNEYS NOV. 9, 1965 BONO AUTOMATIC SEWING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 10, 1963 IN VENTOR LUlGl Some @442 WfiZ h 9 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,216,380 AUTOMATIC SEWING MACHINE Luigi B0110, Pavia, Italy, assignor to Necchi Societa per Azioni, Pavia, Italy Filed Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,979 Claims priority, application Italy, Sept. 10, 1962, Patent 678,248 10 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in equipment for sewing machines, and more particularly to novel equipment for the execution of seams according to patterns designed beforehand.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel sewing machine equipment which is of a construction to permit, through easy and rapid adjustment, the changing of the over-all length of a predetermined seam pattern whereby the sewing machine equipment is readily adaptable to the sewing of like patterns of different lengths.

This invention particularly relates to equipment which includes a sewing machine having a table, and a fabric holding frame movable on the table through a rigid connection with a slide or follower particularly adapted to follow the movements of a feeler pressing against a shaped pattern.

Accordingly, another object of this invention is to provide in a sewing machine of the automatic pattern sewing type, a patterning device which may be readily extended or retracted to a desired length.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in an automatic operating sewing machine a fabric holder which is adjustable in length to accommodate like pattern fabrics of different lengths, and the sewing machine including a guide pattern which is in accordance with the sewing to be executed on the fabric in the fabric holding frame, the pattern also being adjustable in length and both the fabric holding frame and the pattern being provided with like adjusting indicia whereby after a setting of the fabric holding clamp the pattern may be likewise set to effect the forming of seams in accordance with the fabric held by the fabric holding clamp.

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 front perspective view of a sewing machine formed in accordance with this invention and shows generally the environment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view rotating 180 degrees from that of FIGURE 1 and shows generally the details of the fabric holding frame and the specific manner in which the fabric holding frame is moved through a predetermined pattern to effect a predetermined sewing of fabric held thereby.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the pattern of this invention and shows generally the details thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a rotated transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 3 and shows the specific cross-section of an intermediate portion of the pattern.

FIGURE 5 is a longitiudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line VV of FIGURE 3 and shows further the details of the pattern.

Before making specific reference to the structure illustrated in the drawings, it is pointed out that there is illustrated, by way of example only, equipment for controlling the execution of the necessary sewing operation by joining together the pieces of fabric which constitute a shirt collar. The drawings show the manner in which the 3,216,380 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 same equipment may be utilized for the purpose of forming collars of different sizes and accordingly different lengths. It is to be understood that the invention is in no way restricted to the forming of shirt collars.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the equipment of this invention includes a sewing machine 1 which is mounted on a table 2 and which is suitably driven by an electric motor 3 so as to sew pieces x of fabric which is shifted relative to a needle 4 of the sewing machine.

The fabric pieces x are stretched on a fabric holding frame 5. The fabric holding frame 5 is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 as being primarily formed of a rod 6 on which there are mounted two fabric clamps 7 and 8. These clamps are specifically constructed to receive and to tighten the fabric pieces x which have been previously cut in accordance with the desired shirt collar profile, while leaving free the edges of the pieces of fabric along which the sewing is to be effected. The fabric clamps 7 and 8 are held in fabric clamping closed relation by means of resilient hold-down strips 9 which are pivotally mounted for movement to positions wherein opening of the fabric clamps 7 and 8 is permitted.

The fabric clamp 8 is mounted for adjustment along the rod 6 in accordance with the particular size of shirt collar to be sewn. An indicator 10 is carried by the fabric clamp 8 and cooperates with graduations 11 on the rod 6 to permit the rapid positioning of the clamp 8 in the desired position. The cooperation of the indicator 10 with the graduations 11 also indicates to an operator of the sewing machine 1 at a rapid glance the setting of the fabric holding frame 5.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 in particular, it will be seen that the fabric holding frame 5 is secured to the upper end of a vertical arm 12 which passes through an enlarged slot 13 (FIG. 1) in the table 2. The vertical arm 12 is driven in a transverse direction by means of a slide 14 which is movable beneath the table 2 on a second slide 15 which is, in turn, movable in a longitudinal direction.

It will be seen that the slide 14 includes a horizontal arm 16 which extends transversely of the rod 6 and which is slidable between pairs of rollers 17 carried by the slide 15. The slide 14 also includes an arm 18 which is provided at an end remote from the arm 16 with a small roller that rides on a small plate 21 carried by the slide 15.

The slide 15 carries a plurality of small rollers 22 that are mounted for movement along a pair of bars 23 which are suitably fixed underneath the table 2 in positions parallel with the rod 6.

The slide 15 carries an electric motor 24 which is connected to a speed reducer. The speed reducer has extending therefrom at generally right angles to the axis of the motor 24, a small drive shaft 26 which is suitably journaled in the slide 15 for rotation. In the operation of the sewing machine, the shaft 26 adheres to a shaped body 27 which forms the pattern or guide that determines the pattern of the sewing accomplished by the sewing machine 1. It is to be understood that the shaft 26 rolls along the pattern or guide 27 and exactly follows the contour thereof to consequently displace the fabric holding frame 5 in the vicinity of the needle 4 in accordance with the outline of the pattern 27.

Referring once again to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the supporting frame for the table 2 includes a pair of cross members 2a and 2b between which two

guide bars

28 and 29 extend. The

guide bars

28 and 29 are parallel to each other and to the bars 23. Referring now to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that the bar 28 is embraced by

sleeves

30, 31 and 32 to which there are secured by means of screw 33 (FIG. 4) three

plates

34, 35 and 36 r 3 which are spaced longitudinally along the bar 28. The

plates

34, 35 and 36

support sectors

27a, 27b and 270, respectively, of the pattern 27. The bar 29 is embraced by sliding blocks 37 (FIG. 4) which are rigidly secured to the

plates

34, 35 and 36 by means of screw type fasteners.

At this time it is pointed out that the above construction may be varied to the extent that the shaft 26 could be mounted on the table 2 and the cross members 2a and 2b could be fixedly secured to the slide 14. It is also pointed out at this time that the

plates

34 and 36 are symmetrical with respect to the intermediate plate 35.

The cross member 2a has rotatably journaled thereon a hand wheel 38 to which there is connected a shaft 39 which is rotated by means of the hand wheel 38. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 3, the shaft 39 is disposed intermediate the

bars

28 and 29. The shaft 39 has a central section 40 and an extreme section 41 which are threaded, the threaded section 40 being of a larger diameter than the section 41 and having a pitch twice that of the threads of the extreme section 41. The plate 35 carries a sleeve 42 which is interiorly bushed with an internally threaded bushing 43 threaded on to the section 40 of the shaft 39. Similarly, the plate 36 carries a sleeve 44 having an internally threaded bushing 45 which is threaded on the section 41 of the shaft 39.

The position of the plate 34 along the

bars

28 and 29 is adjustable and the plate 34 is secured in an adjusted position by means of

screws

46 and 47 which lock the two sleeves 30 and the plate 34 on the bar 28. Once the position of the plate 34 is adjusted, it is normally retained in the fixed position.

The plate 36 carries an indicator 48 which cooperates with graduations 49 on a bracket 50. The bracket 50 is fixed to the cross member 2b. The three

plates

34, 35 and 36 are mounted on the

bars

28 and 29 in a manner wherein when the indicator 48 is in the vicinity of the lowest value of the graduations 49, adjacent edges of the three plates are substantially in contact, with the plate 35 being spaced equidistant between the

plates

34 and 36. When the hand wheel 38 is rotated, the plate 34 remains stationary while the

plates

35 and 36 move along the

bars

28 and 29. It will be apparent that the construction of the shaft 39 is such that the displacement of the plate 36 is double that of the plate 35 so that the

plates

34 and 36 always remain in a symmetrical position with respect to the plate 35 irrespective of the position of the indicator 48 with respect to the graduations 49.

It is to be understood that once the

plates

35 and 36 have been adjusted, accidental movement of the

plates

35 and 36 is prevented by tightening a lock and screw 51 carried by one of the sleeves 32. This sufficiently secures the sleeve 32 on the bar 28 and prevents shifting of the plate 36. This, in turn, prevents the rotation of the shaft 39.

Screws 52 are utilized to secure to the plate 35 to a bracket 53 and the bracket 53 has arms 54 to which there are secured two blocks 55 forming guide surfaces of the guide sector 27b. The blocks 55 are preferably formed of iron or similar magnetic materials and have substantially straight line guiding surfaces.

The

plates

34 and 36 .are provided with bearings or bushing 56. Certain of the bearings 56 carry upstanding pins or plugs 57 which are utilized for the purpose of aligning the guide sectors 27a and 270 with the

plates

34 and 36, respectively.

The

guide sectors

27a and 27b of the guide or pattern 27 have profiles corresponding to the sections a and c of the shirt collar x (FIG. 2). The

sectors

27a and 27c project beyond the

plates

34 and 36 in generally overlying relation to the plate 35 and include portions 58 and 59, respectively, which are of a substantially rectilinear profile and which extend between the bars 55. It is to be understood in all possible positions of the indicator 48 with respect to the graduations 49, there is an overlapping 4 of the portions 58 and 59 with the bars 55. Thus the small bars or blocks 55 insure the continuity of the profile of the guide or pattern 27. The pattern 27, therefore, turns out to be extendable or shortenable with constant continuity throughout the length thereof in accordance with the size of the shirt collar to be sewn. It is to be understood that the length of a shirt collar to be sewn varies as between sizes only as to the central portion 5 thereof which is rectilinear.

The guide sector 27:: is formed of three plates 60, 61 and 62 while the guide sector 270 is formed of three plates 63, 64, 65. Each set of plates is joined together by means of a plurality of bolts. The upper plates 60, 63 and the lower plates 62, 65 are formed of a magnetic material, whereas intermediate plates 61, 64 are formed of a non-magnetic material. The plates 69, 62 are mounted in rear brackets 66, 67 whereas the plates 63, 65 are mounted in

brackets

68, 69. The sets of brackets have disposed therebetween electromagnets 70 and 71, respectively, which are suitable to create a magnetic tension sufficient to make the shaft 26 adhere against the three sectors of the pattern or guide 27 in order that the shaft 26 may roll without slippage along the contour of the pattern 27.

It is to be understood that in order to make a more practical use of the equipment described hereinabove, it is advised that the graduations 11 showing the distance between the clamps 7 and 8 of the fabric holding frame 5 be equal to the graduations 49 and show, for every size of shirt collars, the required distance between the

plates

34, 35 and 36 to position the

sectors

27a, 27b and 270 of the pattern or guide 27. Preferably, the graduations 11 and 49 will be provided with suitable numbered markings to indicate the sizes of the shirt, collars to be sewn.

In carrying out the sewing of a shirt collar of a desired size, the screw 51 is loosened, and the hand wheel 38 is turned in a manner whereby the

plates

35 and 36 are shifted with respect to the plate 34 in the desired direction. Once the length of the pattern 27 is adjusted, the screw 51 is again tightened to lock the pattern 27 in its adjusted size. The clamp 8 of the fabric holding frame 5 is also adjusted in accordance with the adjustment made to the pattern 27. This having been accomplished, pieces x of fabric for the proper size of shirt collar are then suitably mounted Within the fabric holding frame 5. The fabric holding frame 5 is then shifted by hand until the shaft 26 reaches one of the ends 72 of the profile of the pattern 27. At the ends of the pattern 27 there are provided small recesses 73 formed in protecting plate 74. The plates 74 carry micro-switches 75 and when the shaft 26 is seated in one of the recesses 73, it locks the contacts of the associated micro-switches 75.

The micro-switches 75 and their protecting plates 74 are fixed on brackets 76, which, in turn, are fixed on the

plates

34 and 36 in proper relation to the ends 72 of the pattern 27. The micro-switches 75 are connected, in a conventional manner, with the customary electric means for operating the sewing machine 1, with the electric motor 24 controlling the rotation of the shaft 26 and with the electromagnets 70 and 71 in order that the operation of the sewing machine 1, the rotation of the shaft 26 and the energization of the electro-magnets may be controlled only when the shaft 26 is in contact with one of the microswitches. It is to be understood that one of the microswitches 75 is utilized for the starting of the sewing operation and the other of the micro-switches is utilized for the stopping of the sewing operation. When the sewing of the pieces x of the shirt collar is ended, the fabric holding frame 5 may be shifted by hand first to an outof-the-way position for the purpose of replacing the pieces of fabric which have been sewn together by other pieces of fabric which are to be sewn together, and then to a return position wherein the shaft 26 is again in its starting position.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the disclosed sewing machine equipment within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in an automatic sewing machine, an adjustable guide pattern which is adaptable to be adjusted to selectively provide various edge outlines, comprising, a plurality of members each comprising a separate pattern edge, said members being arranged relative to each other so that said separate pattern edges define in plan view a continuous pattern edge, said members being successively contiguous with each other with the pattern edges of adjacent ones of said members overlapping each other, said members being adjustably movable along a straight line relative to each other to selected positions, said separate pattern edges defining a different continuous pattern edge for each one of said selected positions.

2. For use in an automatic sewing machine, an adjustable guide pattern which is adaptable to be adjusted to selectively provide various edge outlines, comprising, a plurality of members each comprising a separate pattern edge, said members being arranged relative to each other so that said separate pattern edges define in plan view a continuous pattern edge, said members being successively contiguous with each other with the pattern edges of adjacent ones of said members overlapping each other, said members being adjustably movable relative to each other to selected positions, said separate pattern edges defining a different continuous pattern edge for each one of said selected positions, wherein a one of said members defines a rectilinear pattern edge and another of said members defines a non-rectilinear pattern edge.

3. The guide pattern of claim 2, wherein said pattern comprises at least three said members, with one defining a rectilinear pattern edge and being positioned between two other members which each define non-rectilinear pattern edges.

4. The guide pattern of claim 3, wherein said member which defines a rectilinear pattern edge comprises two spaced parallel blocks each defining an identical pattern edge, said blocks overlapping each one of said other members with said other members having ends thereof fitted between said spaced blocks.

5. The guide pattern of claim 3, including an adjustment means and wherein any two of said members are drivingly connected to said adjustment means.

6. The guide pattern of claim 5, actuation of said adjustment means moving each of said any two members unequal distances relative to the third member.

7. The guide pattern of claim 6, wherein said distances are unequal by a ratio of two to one.

8. In a sewing machine, a fabric holder, drive means for effecting the movement of said fabric holder in accordance with the desired shape of sewing, said drive means including a guide for controlling the movement of said fabric holder, said fabric holder being adjustable in predetermined direction, said guide being adjustable in a like direction, and means coordinating the adjustment of said guide with the adjustment of said fabric holder, wherein said guide includes two end portions and a bridging intermediate portion, one of said end portions and said intermediate portion being shiftable with respect to the other of said end portions, and means for effecting the simultaneous shifting of said intermediate portion and said one end portion with the shifting of said intermediate portion being to a lesser degree than the shifting of said one end portion.

9. In a sewing machine, a fabric holder, drive means for effecting the movement of said fabric holder in accordance with the desired shape of sewing, said drive means including a guide for controlling the movement of said fabric holder, said fabric holder being adjustable in predetermined direction, said guide being adjustable in a like direction, and means coordinating the adjustment of said guide with the adjustment of said fabric holder, and wherein said guide includes two end portions and a bridging intermediate portion, a guide support, means slidably mounting said guide portions on said guide support for individual movement, means for locking one of said end portions in a fixed position on said guide support, and shifting means for simultaneously shifting the other of said end portions and said intermediate portion with the shifting of said intermediate portion being to a lesser degree than the shifting of said other end portion.

10. In a sewing machine, a fabric holder, drive means for effecting the movement of said fabric holder in accordance with the desired shape of sewing, said drive means including a guide for controlling the movement of said fabric holder, said fabric holder being adjustable in predetermined direction, said guide being adjustable in a like direction, and means coordinating the adjustment of said guide with the adjustment of said fabric holder, and wherein said guide includes two end portions and a bridging intermediate portion, a guide support, means slidably mounting said guide portions on said guide support for individual movement, means for locking one of said end portions in a fixed position on said guide support, and shifting means for simultaneouly shifting the other of said end portions and said intermediate portion with the shifting of said intermediate portion being to a lesser degree than the shifting of said other end portion, said shifting means including a feed screw having two different thread portions, and two different nuts engaged by said thread portions and secured to said intermediate guide portion to said intermediate guide portion and said other guide end portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 61,926 2/67 Copeland 33/192 1,942,128 1/34 Sommer 112-2 2,754,7 7/56 Holmes-Higgins 1122 2,768,592 10/56 Bihaly 112-2 2,867,911 1/59 Atkinson 33194 3,001,489 9/61 Bond et al. 112--2 3,084,640 4/ 63 Hayes et al. 112-2 3,111,051 11/63 Holfmann 62 FOREIGN PATENTS 581,451 4/52 Italy.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.