US3382828A

US3382828A - Sewing machine with vacuum-operated means

Info

Publication number: US3382828A
Application number: US503979A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reta G Denora
Original assignee: Reta G. Denora
Current assignee: RETA G DENORA
Priority date: 1965-10-23
Filing date: 1965-10-23
Publication date: 1968-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 1985-05-14

Description

May 14, 1968 R. G. DENORA SEWING MACHINE WITH VACUUM-OPERATED MEANS Filed Oct. 23, 1965 United States Patent 3,382,828 SEWING MACHINE WITH VACUUM-OPERATED MEANS Reta G. Denora, 4895 SW. 99th Ave., Beaverton, Oreg. 97005 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,979 3 Claims. (Cl. 112218) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sewing machine with an evacuator member spaced laterally from the needle in the machine cradled in an aperture provided in the top of the sewing machine table. The evacuator member is supplied a vacuum through a flexible conduit, and is liftable from its cradled position to clean remote areas of the sewing machine.

This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to a sewing madhine featuring vacuumoperated means for clearing a work-supporting bed in the machine of loose thread, bits of cloth and other waste typically produced during the operation of sewing. With conventional sewing machines, such material accumulates and is picked up and carried away by the Work being sewn, with the result that a product is produced which has waste sewing materials adhered thereto and is untidy. With the machine of the invention, sewn articles may be produced which are neat and require little cleaning. Furthermore, because the work-supporting bed is maintained free of debris, the operating parts of the machine are best maintained in working order.

A general object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved sewing machine with novel vacuumoperated means for clearing a work-supporting bed in the machine of threads and other waste material.

More particularly, this invention contemplates vacuumoperated means for clearing a work-supporting bed in a sewing machine which features an evacuator mounted in a position protruding above the top of the work bed, with an exposed mouth which by sucking in air produces a rush of air over the work-supporting bed operating to draw material into the evacuator.

In a specific and preferred embodiment of the invention the evacuator member is mounted in a region spaced laterally from the needle in the sewing station of the machine, preferably adjacent the usual standard which forms part of the sewing machine frame. The mouth described preferably faces a portion of the work bed which is located on the feed side of the sewing station and directly in front of the sewing machine operator. During the act of sewing, as bits of waste are accumulated, these are sucked into the evacuator member, and the operator if necessary may assist in the removal of such waste, especially in the case of larger pieces, by brushing the same toward the evacuator.

A further object is to provide such a machine where the evacuator is detachably mounted in a protruding position above the work bed of the machine, and may be removed from the work bed by drawing it upwardly therefrom, with the evacuator remaining attached to a vacuum producer in the machine. The evacuator may then be employed for cleaning areas remote from the normal mounting point of the evacuator.

A related object is to provide an organization as described, wherein when the evacuator is situated in its normal mounted position, where it protrudes from the top of the work bed of the machine, means in the work bed cooperating with the evacuator positions the evacuator in a predetermined position with the mouth of the mem- 3,382,828 Patented May 14, 1968 her facing a set direction which is toward a region located directly in front of the operator.

The vacuum producer is provided with a bag or other receiver for collecting waste material removed by the evacuator. In a preferred embodiment, a construction is selected wherein heavy metallic objects, such as pins, needles, etc., are inhibited from being inadvertently sucked into the evacuator and the receiver described.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, and the same is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, somewhat simplified, illustrating a sewing machine including vacuum-operated means for clearing the work-supporting bed in the machine as contemplated herein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, and on a slightly enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating portions of the work-supporting bed in the machine, and a cross section of the evacuator member provided in the apparatus contemplated, taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein a particular embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and specifically to FIG. 1, shown generally at 10 is a sewing machine. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the machine comprises a table 12 and projecting upwardly from the top of the table a standard 14 having projecting laterally out from the top thereof a bracket arm 16.

The top of table 12 is formed by a plate 18, a plate 19 on the feed side of plate 18, and an encompassing plate 20. These plates have top surfaces which are all substantially flush, and the plates together form the work-supporting bed for the machine. It should be obvious, of course, that the work-supporting bed may be formed of other than three plates as specifically described, and the particular construction which is utilized will vary somewhat depending upon the make of the machine and the particular model.

What is referred to as a sewing station in the machine is shown generally at 22. It is in this sewing station that stitches are actually performed in the work, i.e., cloth, which is being processed or sewn. As is conventional with the usual sewing machine, the sewing station includes an end-wise reciprocating needle designated at 24 which is disposed immediately above and adjacent the work-supporting bed of the machine and which reciprocates up and down upon operation of the machine to produce stitches in cloth advanced through the sewing station.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to this invention there is provided an evacuator member shown at 26 which protrudes above the work bed of the machine. The member is positioned preferably adjacent standard 14, at a point located laterally from the sewing station. The evacuator member in the embodiment illustrated takes the form of a nozzle with a right angle bend between its ends. Portion 26a of the nozzle generally parallels the plane of the work-supporting bed. The left extremity of this nozzle portion in FIG. 2 is bounded by a lip 26b defining a mouth for the nozzle which faces a direction paralleling the top of the work-supporting bed. Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that this month is substantially wider than it is high. Portion 26c of the nozzle extends downwardly in FIG. 2, and has mounted on the lower end thereof the upper end of a flexible conduit or hose 28. Within the nozzle is a passage 30 which opens to the atmosphere through the mouth described, and which has its other end communicating with the interior of conduit 28.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the evacuator member or nozzle is shown in its normal resting place, which is seated in the work-supporting bed of the machine, with the upper portion thereof projecting above the top of the work bed. In

this position portion 26c projects downwardly through an aperture 32 provided in plate 19, such aperture constituting cradling means in the invention loosely mounting the evacuator member. The aperture is of irregular outline, more specifically approximately rectangular in outline, as shown in FIG. 3, and this outline is matched by the transverse cross-sectional outline of nozzle portion 26b. As a consequence, with the nozzle portion in its normal resting position, lip 26b defines a mouth which faces a set direction in the machine, more specifically a region 34 which is generally in front of the machine operator and on the feed side of the sewing station.

Mounted on the underside of the table top is a motor 36 which may be a conventional electric motor. The motor has its output shaft (not shown) connected in the usual manner to the fan of a conventional blower 38. Intake 40 of the blower has the end of conduit 28 opposite the end earlier described fastened to it, as by clamp 42. Mounted on the discharge end 44 of the blower is a bag or receptacle 46 used for collecting material which is drawn downwardly through the conduit into the blower. The bag is detachably mounted in place by clamp 48.

Motor 36 which runs the blower has its operating periods controlled by a switching unit 59, which unit controls the supply of electricity to the motor through an electric cord 52. The switching unit is actuated in the embodiment illustrated by a knee-operated lever 54.

While in the specific embodiment illustrated the motor and blower unit are shown supported on the underside of table 12, in certain types of machines, of course, this mounting might be changed in order to permit collapse of the machine or for some other reason. Furthermore, control of the motor may be by other means than the knee-operated lever shown. For instance, a foot pedal or other switching control could be utilized.

Describing now generally how the sewing machine may be operated to produce a sewn product free of waste threads and cloth accumulations, the sewing station of the machine is run in the usual manner with the operator passing the cloth to be sewn beneath the needle described. Preparation of the cloth to be sewn is done in region 34. Upon the accumulation of bits of thread, pieces of cloth, etc. in this working region, the same may be swept clean by starting the motor and blower 38 using lever 54. With the blower running a vacuum is produced in conduit 28, whereby air is drawn over the top of the table into the open mouth of the nozzle, with a current of air resulting over region 34 effective to sweep the region of material. While this air current in itself is sufficient to remove most of any waste material which may collect in working region 34, the operator may assist in clearing the region by brushing material generally toward the direction of the mouth of the nozzle using the side of the hand or other means. With the region cleared of material, the motor and blower are stopped by the release of lever 54.

When it is desired to clean specific portions of the machine remote from the location of aperture 32, the evacuator member or nozzle may be lifted upwardly out of the work-supporting bed with such movement accommodated by the reach of flexible conduit 28 which extends beneath the bed.

It will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention illustrated lip 26b includes a bottom reach, shown at 27, which is slightly above the plane of the work bed with the nozzle portion seated in the aperture described. Thus,

a slight ridge is present which prevents heavy metallic objects such as pins, etc. from being sucked into the nozzle and carried into the blower unit. This is preferable, as it inhibits damage to the working parts of the blower, reduces possible injury in handling the bag when emptying it, and enables such objects to be separated out and reused.

Because portion 26a extends parallel to the top of the work-supporting bed, there is no opening in the construction which is exposed upwardly, into which objects may fall on being dropped inadvertently. The mouth to the evacuator, in order words, by facing the plane of the table top, produces the desired current of air, with the hose at the same time being shielded from above.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, obviously changes and variations are possible without departing from the invention. It is desired to cover all such modifications and variations as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a sewing machine having a work-supporting bed and a sewing station including an end-wise reciprocating needle disposed above and adjacent said bed for stitching work passed thereunder,

an evacuator member having a mouth disposed in a rested position located laterally from said needle, with said mouth being exposed to the top of said Work-supporting bed,

a vacuum producer,

flexible conduit means connecting said vacuum producer and evacuator member whereby a vacuum is applied to the top of said bed through the mouth of the member and movement of air occurs over the top of said bed away from said needle and into the open mouth of said evacuator member, and

cradling means mounting the evacuator member loosely in said rested position, the evacuator member being separable from the cradling means and elevatable with respect to said cradling means and the level of said bed with such movement accommodated by said flexible conduit means whereby the evacuator member may be employed in cleaning areas remote from said cradling means.

2. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein said cradling means and evacuator member are cooperatively shaped whereby with said evacuator member mounted in said cradling means, the mouth of the evacuator member faces a set direction.

3. The sewing machine of claim 2, wherein said cradling means comprises an irregular outline aperture facing upwardly from the bed of the machine, and said evacuator member comprises a nozzle with a right angle bend between its ends, one end of said nozzle having a crosssectional outline matching the outline of said aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,661,51'9 12/1953 Rubin. 2,827,867 3/1958 Happe 1l22l8 XR 3,084,647 4/ 1963 Matchett et al. 112-252 3,125,052 3/1964 Spivey 1l2-252 3,142,279 7/ 1964 Rubin 1l2252 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Examiner.