US3509840A - Lockstitch sewing method and system providing bobbinless feed of the bottom thread from a bulk source - Google Patents

Lockstitch sewing method and system providing bobbinless feed of the bottom thread from a bulk source Download PDF

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Publication number
US3509840A
US3509840A US645183A US3509840DA US3509840A US 3509840 A US3509840 A US 3509840A US 645183 A US645183 A US 645183A US 3509840D A US3509840D A US 3509840DA US 3509840 A US3509840 A US 3509840A
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Prior art keywords
thread
spool
bottom thread
needle
stitching
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US645183A
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English (en)
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Herman Rovin
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Ivanhoe Research Corp
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Ivanhoe Research Corp
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B85/00—Needles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H65/00—Securing material to cores or formers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B59/00—Applications of bobbin-winding or -changing devices; Indicating or control devices associated therewith
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
    • B65H2701/31—Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments

Definitions

  • the bottom thread is supplied directly from a bulk source, such as a large cone shaped winding, being metered out from the source, and it is then injected into the basket cavity of a lockstitch sewing machine (where the bobbin would normally be placed) to cooperate with a conventional reciprocating needle carrying a top thread to form lockstitches between the top thread and the bottom thread.
  • the invention makes possible the supplying of the bottom thread by high-speed injection in a fraction of a second from a continuous supply, rather than using a limited bobbin supply.
  • a predetermined length of bottom thread is metered out which is just suflicient in each instance for producing the desired stitching path in the respective workpiece to be stitched, and this length is injected into the basket cavity.
  • the predetermined length of bottom thread is spent, and it is not necessary to cut the bottom thread upon completion of the stitching path.
  • the bottom thread never runs out during stitching.
  • a freely rotatable turbine spool in the basket cavity is accelerated to high velocity by an air blast impinging upon turbine vanes, and this high-speed turbine spool seizes the injected thread and serves to hold temporarily the predetermined metered length which has been loaded in readiness for stitching.
  • the invention is applicable to any existing Type 301, lockstitch sewing machine, be it single or double needle.
  • This empty bobbin reel is placed in a rewinding jig on the sewing machine, and the sewing machine is operated in such a way as to rotate the bobbin to wind up a limited supply of bottom thread thereon. Then the operator reinserts the bobbin into its case and loads the full case back into the basket of the sewing machine. The operator can then carry on with the stitching operation. This involves retracing a portion of the stitching Where the bottom thread had run out, if it occurred in an intermediate portion of a stitch path.
  • the bottom thread is supplied from commercially available pre-wound bobbins wherein the reel is formed of inexpensive materials such that the operator removes the 3,509,840 Patented May 5, 1970 bobbin and case and discards the spent bobbin reel and inserts a new pre-wound one into bobbin case and reloads the case into the machine so as to carry on with the production operation 'without the delay of rewinding the bobbin itself.
  • the bottom thread supplied by the bobbin runs out at an indeterminate time and place; so that the operator must remain alert for the contingency.
  • a substantial period of time is involved in removing the case, removing the spent bobbin therefrom and in replacing it with a full bobbin and then reloading the full case into the basket of the machine.
  • the desired length of the thread is injection loaded into the basket cavity to be received on a freely rotatable turbine spool having associated turbine blades, and an air jet impeller is arranged for rotating this turbine spool at high velocity.
  • the desired predetermined length of the bottom thread is injected into the basket cavity near the high-velocity turbine spool which effectively catches the end of the metered thread and winds up this desired length of thread almost instantaneously.
  • this length of bottom thread is placed in the basket cavity in a fraction of a second.
  • the injection into the basket cavity is accomplished in less than the time which is required for the operator to remove the finished workpiece and to locate the next workpiece in the sewing station near the needle of the machine.
  • the operator tails up one piece right after another and keeps the sewing machine running.
  • the metered length of bottom thread which is injected into the basket cavity is suflicient to complete the desired stitching path extending through a predetermined number of pieces.
  • This invention greatly simplifies the supplying of the bottom thread and enables the entire operation to be car ried out completely automatically without removal or replacement of any bobbin.
  • Equipment embodying this invention can be sold as an attachment for existing Type 301 sewing machines. The equipment does not require any mechanical'lin'kage to the existing machine drives and thus is very well suited to comprise an attachment.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is its utility in, automated sewing systems wherein the only scheduled demand upon the operator is to change the bobbin. Accordingly, there is .much down time when the bobbin runs out and the machine sits idle waiting for the operator to get tothe machine- This invention solves that problem of down time and relieves the operator of the task of changingbobbins.
  • the bottom thread is enabled to be supplied directly from a bulk source, such as a continuous coneshaped spool of thread, similar to that now used to supply the top thread.
  • a bulk source such as a continuous coneshaped spool of thread
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sewing method and system for a lockstitch sewing machine wherein predetermined lengths of bottom thread are metered out from a bulk source and are automatically injected into the basket cavity of the machine;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the high-speed rotatable turbine spool including turbine blade elements thereon and a novel case for housing this turbine spool which is adaptedfor having thread injected therein;
  • FIG. 3 is a' front elevational view, shown on enlarged scale, of the high-speed turbine spool and its case latched in place in a basket within a conventional revolvable hook member.
  • This hook member when it revolves during stitching, loops the top thread around the basket and case for interengaging the top and bottom threads.
  • the bottom thread injection needle is shown inserted into the case;
  • FIG. 4- is'a sectional view shown on the same enlarged scale as FIG. 3, illustrating the bottom thread being injected into-the high-speed rotating turbine spool which has been accelerated by an air jetfrom a nozzle;
  • @FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the thread transporting and injection mechanism, including a cut-off device for providing a predetermined length of the bottom thread as previously metered out;
  • FIGQ'6 is a front-elevational view of this thread trans- :port'and injection mechanism as seen in the direction 66 inFIG-URE 5;
  • FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 88 in FIG. 7; and.
  • FIGS. 9,10 and 11 are front elevational views similar to FIG. 6 and showing the parts in different operating positions during a cycle of operation.
  • a workpiece W is positioned in the sewing station 10 of a sewing machine and is being 4. T stitched by the reciprocating needle N forming a desired path of stitches S in the workpiece W.
  • a to thread 12 is carried by the eye of a reciprocatable needle N. This needle N is driven up and down by conventional mechanism of the lockstitch sewing machine, and the top thread 12 is handled in a conventional manner. To simplify the drawings to illustrate the'invention as clearly as possible all of this conventional sewing machine equipment has been omitted.
  • the conventional support surface upon which the workpiece W is handled, including a so-called throat plate.
  • a conventional revolvable hook member 16 which is located in the conventional position beneath the throat plate near the needle.
  • This hook member 16 is secured to and is revolved by a conventional hook shaft 18 which is driven !by the sewing machine in synchronized relationship with the movement of needle N.
  • the hook member 16 has a generally annular configuration with a hub 20 secured to the shaft 18.
  • This hook 16 is in effect an annular revolvable ring-like member and it has a hook point 22 mounted on it.
  • the hook shaft 18 and hook member 16 revolve in a counter-clockwise manner when the sewing machine is running.
  • the hook member 16 revolves synchronously with, the stroke of the needle N in phased relation ship with the needle-so that the hook point 22 on the hook member 16 is in position to engage the top thread 12 upon each stroke to draw the top thread around a basket 24 (FIG. 3) mounted within the annular hook member 16.
  • the basket 24 is held stationary at all times by a stationary finger (not shown) in the machine which engages in a notch 26 in the basket 24.
  • a case 28 is located in a cavity 27 within the basket 24, and a detent 29 on the case engages in a notch in the basket for holding the case in a fixed position in the stationary basket.
  • case 28 (as seen also in FIG. 2) having a novel injection open ing 30 and novel thread tensioner spring 32.
  • Supported within case 28 is a freely rotatable high-speed turbine spool 34 having turbine vanes 36 formed on the outer radially extending surface of one flange 37 of the turbine spool for accelerating it to high velocity prior to injection of the desired predetermined length of thread into the basket cavity.
  • the turbine flange 37 is relatively thicker than the other flange of the turbine spool 34.
  • the vanes 36 are under cut, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and they are curved aft (as seen in FIG. 4). That is, if the reader traces one of the vanes .36 as illustrated in FIG. 4, beginning at the perimeter of the flange 37 and tracing radially inwardly therealong, the reader will see that each under cut vane 36 curves aft, or backward, relative to the intendeddirection of rotation of the turbine spool.
  • the bulk supply 38 is shown as a commercially available cone shaped winding containing a continuous strand of thread many thousands of yards long. This invention is adapted to utilize any bulk supply containing a continuous strand of thread.
  • a predetermined length of thread is metered by a thread metering device 40. This length of thread which is metered out is just suflicient to accomplish the stitching path in the second workpiece W-2, that is shown in the distance in FIG. 1.
  • the thread metering device 40 may include any suitable measuring elements such as a friction snubber, a pair of rubber-coated rollers engaging the thread 14 and driven by a gear train so as to pull a measured length of the thread through the friction snubber, and a receptacle such as a moving conveyor belt for receiving the measured length of thread so as to support the thread free of snarls available to be pulled off from the receptacle almost instantaneously.
  • suitable measuring elements such as a friction snubber, a pair of rubber-coated rollers engaging the thread 14 and driven by a gear train so as to pull a measured length of the thread through the friction snubber, and a receptacle such as a moving conveyor belt for receiving the measured length of thread so as to support the thread free of snarls available to be pulled off from the receptacle almost instantaneously.
  • the desired stitching path may extend through more than one workpiece.
  • the stitching path continues through several individual pieces which may collectively be considered as constituting one workpiece, and the metered length of bottom thread is suflicient to accomplish the desired stitching path without interruption.
  • a thread transport and injection mechanism serves to remove the available metered length of thread from the device 40 and injects it into the basket cavity 27.
  • This injection of the bottom thread 14 into the basket cavity occurs during the brief time period while the first workpiece W is being removed from the sewing station and the second workpiece W-2 is being moved into the station 10. Thus, no delay in production occurs.
  • the sewing machine is temporarily stopped in a predetermined position and so the hook member 16 is stationary, and its position is known at this time.
  • the invention is equally applicable whether the workpieces W and W-2 and so forth are manually handled or automatically handled.
  • the top thread 12 is cut by any suitable automatic cutting mechanism, such as are commercially available or manually by a pair of scissors.
  • the thread transport and injection mechanism 42 will be described by reference to FIGS. 1 and 511.
  • This mechanism 42 includes a hollow injection needle 44 mounted upon a movable support 46 which is raised and lowered by a piston rod 47 (FIGS. 1 and 7) extending from a fluid actuated cylinder 48.
  • a thread feed passage 50 extends upwardly through the movable support 46 and extends past a clamping zone 52 defined by an exposed region of the passage 50, and then this thread feed passage enters the bore. of the needle 44.
  • a clamping element 54 is formed by a bent spring and normally clamps the bottom thread 14 against a side wall of the passage 50.
  • This spring 54 is held in its clamping position as shown in FIG. 8, by engagement against a track member 56 which extends parallel to the line of movement of the support 46.
  • the track member 56 is secured by a bracket 58 which is fastened, as shown in FIG. 7, to a main frame member 59 of the injector mechanism 42.
  • the cylinder 48 is rigidly mounted upon this same frame member 59'.
  • the track member 56 not only controls the clamping spring 54 but also serves as guide means for the movable support 46.
  • This support 46 has a pair of projecting guides 60 which straddle the track 56.
  • the cylinder 48 When the time comes for injecting the metered length of the bottom thread 14 into the basket cavity, the cylinder 48 is actuated, raising the support 46 so as to insert the injection needle 44 through aligned openings 61 and 62 in the hook member 16 and in the basket 24 and through the injection opening 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) into the interior of the case 28.
  • the sewing machine is stationary with the needle N in a raised position which is predetermined so that the hook member 16 is in a known position with its injection loading opening 61 aligned with the basket opening 62. Both of these openings are aligned with the path of the tubular injection needle 44 into the opening 30 in the case.
  • the cylinder 48 may be actuated by any suitable control means such as an automatically or manually operated switch serving to energize a normally closed solenoid valve 67.
  • a normally closed solenoid valve 67 serving to energize a normally closed solenoid valve 67.
  • the valve 67 becomes opened to feed compressed air from an air supply source 64 through the valve 67 and through a pressure regulator 73 to the cylinder 48, causing its piston rod 47 to move upwardly.
  • the supply 64 may have any suitable pressure, and in this example has a nominal pressure of pounds per square inch.
  • the fluid actuated cylinder 48 is shown as being of the spring return type. However, it will be understood that this cylinder 48 may be of the double-acting type which is returned by air.
  • a solenoid 63 is energized to open its valve so that compressed air from a supply 64 is fed through a tube 65 to a nozzle 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4).
  • This nozzle is aimed through an opening in the hook member 16 and through an opening of the basket 24 so as to direct an air jet against the turbine vanes 36 described hereinabove.
  • the air from the supply 64 is fed to the nozzle 66 at full line pressure, for example approximately 100 p.s.i.
  • This nozzle aims a high pressure air jet inwardly with a com ponent forwardly, as will be understood from FIGS. 3 and 4, to impinge upon the curved vanes 36.
  • the turbine 34 is almost instantaneously accelerated to a high speed of many thousand r.p.m.s.
  • the air from the source 64 also feeds through the now open valve 63 and through a pressure regulator 70 and then through a flexible plastic tube 68 and through a small duct 69 converging upwardly with the bore of the injection needle 44.
  • the regulator 70 is set to supply low pressure air, for example about 2 or 3 p.s.i. to the bore of needle 44.
  • the clamp spring 54 rides off of the upper end of the track member 56 thus releasing this clamp 54.
  • the continuous upward flow of air through the needle 44 quickly propels the bottom thread 14 into the region between the flange 37 and another flange 71 of the high-speed rotating turbine spool 34.
  • the turbine spool 34 includes a hub 72 and high friction gripping means 74 formed by a plurality of elements 74 capable of catching the leading end portion of the injected thread with a high frictional grip.
  • these elements 74 comprise a plurality of small diameter wires extending parallel to the axis of the turbine spool 34 and spaced outwardly a small distance from the hub 72.
  • the leading end portion of the injected bottom thread becomes detachably caught (FIG. 4) upon one of these gripping elements 74 and the metered thread length is almost instantaneously wound up by this spinning spool.
  • the spool 34 is rotating at very high speed at this moment, for example about 6,000 r.p.m.
  • this spool In order to grip the leading end of the thread 14 and to wind it up properly upon the spool 34, this spool should be turning sufficiently fast relative to the velocity of the air flowing up the bore of the injection needle 44, that the gripping elements 74 are travelling faster than the thread 14 when its leading end is injected.
  • the end of the injection needle 44 is cut off on an angle facing inwardly toward the axis of the spool 34 and is shaped to direct the thread inwardly around the hub of the spool as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the air jet from nozzle 66 continues to apply torque to the turbine 34 so as to hold the thread taut and to prevent backlash of the rotatable turbine 34.
  • the taut thread 14 trips a control switch 75 (FIG. 1) which deactuates the cylinder 48, and a spring therein causes the piston rod 47 to retract so as to lower the movable support 46, as shown by the movement arrow in FIG. 10.
  • the thread 14 remains held taut by the air jet from the nozzle 66 applying torque to the turbine spool 34 as the support 46 is lowered to retract the injection needle 44.
  • the clamp means 54 is caused to clamp the thread 14 at 52 (FIG. by re-engagement of the clamp element 54 against the side of the control track member 56.
  • a hook arm 76 seen in perspective in FIG. 1 which extends from the support 46, catches over a projecting lever arm 78, pivoted at 80 (FIGS. 6, 9 and 11) to the main frame 59.
  • This hook 76 pulls down upon the lever arm 78, as seen in sequence in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, thus causing the other end 81 of this lever to rise up.
  • a thread end control rod 82 is pivotally connected to the lever end 81 and is slidingly held by a pivot bearing 84 on the upper end of the main frame 59. The upper end of this rod 82 has a transverse portion 85 with a U-bend 86 (FIG. 1).
  • the rising lever end 81 moves the control rod 82 upwardly, sliding it through the bearing 84 and pivoting it about this bearing so that the U-bend 86 describes an arcuate path 88 (FIG. 11) as indicated by a dash-anddotted line about the case 28.
  • the thread is held taut by the torque on the spool 34 caused by the air jet from nozzle 66, as described previously.
  • the thread end portion is positioned beneath the bight 89 of the tension spring 32 with the thread itself passing through an eyelet end region 90 of the elongated injection opening 30.
  • the bight 89 is adjacent to the eyelet end 90.
  • the spring 32 is secured to the case 28 by mounting means 92.
  • a return spring 93 (FIGS. 6 and 9) stretches from the end 81 of the lever arm 78 to a connection bracket 94 (FIG. 9) on the main frame 59. This spring 93 returns the control rod 82 and lever arm 78 to their initial positions when the hook 76 slips off of the end of the arm 78 (FIG. 11) near the completion of the retraction of the support 46.
  • a pivoted knife blade 95 (FIGS. 1 and 5) is swung between a pair of closely spaced shear plates 96.
  • the taut thread 14 passes through aligned holes 98 in the plates 96.
  • a twisted strip actuator 100 is slidingly engaged by a slot in a tab 102 (FIG. 7) projecting from the movable support 46.
  • an abruptly twisted region 104 (FIG. 7) of the strip 100 is passed by the slotted tab 102 causing the knife blade 95 to swing to cut 01f the thread.
  • the point of the injection needle 44 is withdrawn to a level just below the plates 96 so that the needle does not interfere with the moving blade.
  • the thread is cut oif just above the end of the injection needle 44 in readiness for the next injection.
  • the tension spring 32 includes an upwardly and outwardly sloping portion 97 facing toward the main region of the injection opening 30 so that the thread 14 can readily be slid around beneath the spring 32 by the positioner 82, 85, 86 so as to become positioned beneath the bight 89.
  • the end 106 (FIG. 4) of the needle 44 is out off at an angle tending to direct the propelling air stream and the thread in the direction of the arrow 108 (FIG. 4) about the axis of the spinning spool.
  • the hub 72 of the spool is formed of low friction material, for example slippery plastic and has an axial opening 109 therein freely journaled upon a conventional bearing post 110 mounted within the basket 24.
  • a conventional latch mechanism 111 engages a recess in the post 110 to hold the case 28 in position in the basket cavity.
  • Control means automatic or manual, initiates the injection loading of the bottom thread 14.
  • This control means is responsive to the completion of the automatic positioning of the sewing machine (Step 2) and in this example is a normally open switch which becomes closed upon inactive positioning of the sewing machine.
  • This control means energizes the solenoid valves 63 and 67 so as to open these values to:
  • a control switch 107 is actuated to cause the valve 63 to close, thus shutting off the air jet to remove torque from the turbine spool 34 and also stopping flow of air up the bore of the needle 44.
  • the bottom thread remains held in the needle 44 by the clamp means 52, 54.
  • the control switch 107 serves to permit the sewing machine to begin operation as soon as the next workpiece W-2 is properly positioned in the sewing station 10.
  • the control switch 107 serves to signal that the injection loading cycle of the bottom thread is completed and that the sewing machine may resume operation as soon as the next workpiece W-2 is ready.
  • the pre-metering of the thread 14 occurs during the previous sewing operation, and so it occasions no utilization of non-productive time.
  • the mechanism shown in FIG. 3 comprises thread carrying means for carrying the bottom thread 14.
  • the thread carrying means includes the revolvable hook member 16 which carries a basket 24 having a cavity 27 therein for carrying the bottom thread.
  • the hook member 16 serves to engage the top thread 12 with the bottom thread 14 by looping the top thread around the bottom thread.
  • hook member 16 may oscillate or shuttle so as to accomplish the interengagement of the two threads and in each arrangement there is means for carrying the bottom thread to which this invention is applicable, as will be understood from my detailed specification herein given.
  • the method of injection loading the bottom thread into the thread carrying means comprising the steps of providing a bulk source of the bottom thread positioned outside of the thread carrying means, feeding the bottom thread into a passage, directing the passage into the thread carrying means, and flowing air along the passage moving the bottom thread into the thread carrying means.
  • a turbine spool for use in the thread carrying cavity of lockstitch type sewing machines for loading a thread in the cavity by winding thereon comprising turbine vanes for rotating the turbine spool upon the application of an 1 1 air jet thereto, and high friction gripping means enabling the rotating turbine spool to releasably engage the leading portion of a thread loaded into the basket cavity for winding the thread upon the rotating turbine spool.
  • a turbine spool for use in the basket cavity of lockstitch type sewing machines for loading the bottom thread of the sewing machine into the basket cavity by winding the bottom thread by means of the turbine spool, said turbine spool comprising a hub, a flange extending outwardly from the hub, a plurality of turbine vanes on said flange on the opposite side thereof from said hub for rotating said flange and hub upon the application of air jet to said vanes, and means for engaging the thread to be wound on said turbine spool.
  • a turbine spool for use in the basket cavity of lockstitch type sewing machines for loading the bottom thread of the sewing machine into the basket cavity by winding the bottom thread by means of the turbine spool as claimed in claim 7, in which said turbine spool includes a second flange spaced from the first flange and extending outwardly from said hub, and high friction gripping means in the region between said flanges enabling the rotating turbine spool to releasably engage the leading end portion of the bottom thread loaded into the basket cavity for winding the bottom thread upon the turbine spool in the region between said flanges.
  • a system for loading the bottom thread into the basket cavity of a lockstitch sewing machine of the type having a reciprocatable needle carrying a top thread engageable with the bottom thread extending from the basket cavity to form lockstitches said system comprising means for supplying a continuous strand of the bottom thread, said supplying means being separate from the top thread, a hollow injection needle having an enclosed bore extending longitudinally within said needle to a free end thereof, movable support means for moving said free end of the injection needle to place said bore into communication with the basket cavity and for retracting said free end therefrom, and means for feeding the bottom thread through said bore into the basket cavity when said free end has been moved to place said bore in communication therewith.
  • a system for loading the bottom thread into the bottom thread carrying means of a sewing machine of the type having a reciprocable sewing needle carrying a top thread engageable with the bottom thread provided by the carrying means to form stitches comprising means for supplying a continuousstrand of bottom thread, a hollow injection needle having a .thread passage therein terminating at a free end of the injection needle, movable support means for moving the free end of the injection needle into communication with the thread carrying means and for retracting the free end of the needle therefrom, a source of air, and air conducting means flowing air along the thread passage toward the free end of the injection needle 12 for feeding the bottom thread along said passage in the injection needle into the thread carrying means when the free end of the needle is in communication therewith.
  • a system for loading the bottom thread into the bottom thread carrying means of a sewing machine as claimed in claim 11 including clamp means for clamping the bottom thread to hold it in said injection needle passage and for releasing the bottom thread for allowing it to feed through said injection needle.
  • a system for loading the bottom thread into the bottom thread carrying means of a sewing machine as claimed in claim 14 in which said clamp means is controlled in its clamping and releasing conditions by engagement with a member extending near the path of movement of the injection needle, said clamp means being released when the free end of the injection needle is advanced into communication with the thread carrying means, and said clamp means clamping the bottom thread for holding it in the passage upon retraction of the injection needle.
  • a system for loading the bottom thread into the bottom thread carrying means of a sewing machine as claimed in claim 14 in which said system includes a thread cut olf mechanism engageable with the bottom thread extending between the injection needle and the thread carrying means, and actuating mechanism for operating said thread cut off mechanism after the bottom thread has been loaded into the thread carrying means and after said clamp means has clamped the bottom thread to hold it in said injection needle passage following cutting of the thread.
  • the method of loading thread onto the spool while the spool remains in its operating position in the sewing machine comprising the steps of mounting the spool to be freely rotatable, directing a jet of air to apply torque for accelerating the spool into rotation, introducing an end of the thread into the vicinity of the rotating spool for engagement with the rotating spool, and allowing the rotating spool to wind the thread upon itself.
  • the method of loading thread onto the spool as claimed in claim 19 in which the end of the thread is engaged with the rotating spool by flowing air along a passage toward the rotating spool, and using the flowing air to propel the thread end into position to become engaged by the rotating spool.
  • the method of replenishing the bottom thread onto the spool while the spool remains in its operating position near the stitching needle in the sewing machine comprising the steps of mounting the spool to be freely rotatable, directing a flow of air accelerating the spool into rotation at high speed, introducing an end of the thread into the vicinity of the spool while it is rotating at high speed, frictionally engaging the bottom thread with the rotating spool, and winding 20 the bottom thread upon the rotating spool by rotation of the spool.
  • a sewing machine apparatus for replenishing the bottom thread onto a spool located near the stitching needle of the sewing machine comprising a spool adapted to detachably engage the end portion of a thread, means rotatably mounting said spool near the stitching needle, source of bottom thread located remote from said spool, means defining a thread passage directed toward said spool, means for rotating the spool when the sewing ma- 0 chine is inactive and with the spool remaining near the stitching needle, air supply means connected to said thread passage for flowing air along said thread passage toward said spool for moving the thread along said thread passage toward the rotating spool to bring the end portion of the 3 thread into a position to he detachably engaged by the rotating spool and thereafter winding the thread upon the rotating spool, and means for cutting the thread between said spool and said source.
  • said means rotatably mounting said spool includes a basket positioned about the spool and having an opening therein providing access to the spool, said means defining the thread passage being movable, and drive means for moving said passage defining means into alignment with said opening in the basket when the sewing machine is inactive.
  • a sewing machine apparatus for replenishing the bottom thread onto a spool located near the stitching needle of the sewing machine as claimed in claim 22 including thread tensioning means located near the spool for controlling the bottom thread coming from the spool during stitching, means for clamping the thread for holding the thread taut extending from said thread passage to the spool after thread has been wound thereon, a movable member, and means for moving said member to engage the taut thread between the end of said thread passage and said spool for moving the taut thread along an arcuate path for positioning the thread extending from the spool into operating relationship with said thread tensioning means.
  • apparatus for loading the bottom thread into the thread carrying means and bringing it into operating position comprising means defining a thread passage directed to said thread carrying means, clamping means for releasably clamping the thread for holding the thread in said thread passage, means for flowing air along said thread passage toward said thread carrying means, means for releasing said clamping means to allow the air flowing along said thread passage to move the thread along said passage into said thread carrying means, thread tensioner means associated with the thread 14 carrying means for tensioning the bottom thread running from the thread carrying means during stitching, means positioning the thread in operating relationship with said thread tensioner means to place the bottom thread in operating position, and means for cutting oif the thread after it has been loaded into said thread carrying means.
  • the method of sewing stitching paths in a multiplicity of workpieces in sequence as claimed in claim 27 including the steps of directing an air jet into the basket cavity for accelerating a turbine spool therein to a high rotational velocity before the flowing air propels the metered length of bottom thread into the basket cavity.
  • a method of sewing stitching paths in a multiplicity of workpieces in a sequence as claimed in claim 30 in which said metered length of bottom thread is injected into the basket cavity by feeding it through an elongated passage, placing an end of the passage in communication with the basket cavity, and propelling the metered length of thread along the passage into the cavity.
  • a method of sewing stitching paths in a multiplicity of workpieces in sequence utilizing a sewing machine having a sewing station with a reciprocatable needle carrying a top thread and having means for carrying a bottom thread which is engaged by the top thread to form the respective stitches of the stitching path, said method comprising the steps of feeding the bottom thread from a bulk source entirely separate from said top thread and positioned remote from said bottom thread carrying means and metering out a first length of said bottom thread at a position remote from said bottom thread carrying means, said metered length being suflicient for forming the first stitching path in a first workpiece of the sequence, transporting said first length of bottom thread into said bottom thread carrying means, stitching said first path of lockstitches in said first workpiece using said first length of bottom thread, while stitching said first workpiece metering out a second length of said bottom thread from said bulk source at a position remote from said bottom thread carrying means, said second metered length being sufiicient for forming a second stitching path in a second workpiece of the
  • the method of replenishing the thread onto the spool comprising the steps of mounting the spool to be freely rotatable, directing a flow of air accelerating the spool into rotation at high speed, engaging the thread with the spool, winding the thread upon the rotating spool by rotation of the spool, and maintaining the spool in said normal operating position at the lower point of travel of the stitching needle during said replenishing.
  • the method of replenishing the bottom thread onto a spool in the bottom thread carrying means near the stitching needle of a sewing machine comprising the steps of providing a spool in the bottom thread carrying means which is adapted to be frictionally engaged with the end portion of a thread, providing a bulk source of thread at a location remote from said spool, applying torque to the spool While the spool remains in said thread carrying means near the stitching needle to rotate the spool, moving the end portion by feeding the thread through a pas sage directed toward the rotating spool and flowing air along said passage toward the rotating spool to move the thread, frictionally engaging the end portion of the thread with the rotating spool, winding the thread upon the spool by rotation of the spool as the thread is wound thereon, and cutting the thread to separate the thread which has been wound on said spool from the bulk source.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)
US645183A 1967-06-12 1967-06-12 Lockstitch sewing method and system providing bobbinless feed of the bottom thread from a bulk source Expired - Lifetime US3509840A (en)

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Cited By (17)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4117789A (en) * 1977-09-14 1978-10-03 Automatech Industries, Inc. Automatic, in situ bobbin spool loading
FR2403288A1 (fr) * 1977-09-14 1979-04-13 Automatech Ind Mecanisme de chargement de la canette d'une machine a coudre
US4244313A (en) * 1978-04-17 1981-01-13 Automatech Industries Inc. Automatic, in situ bobbin spool loading
US4289085A (en) * 1979-09-19 1981-09-15 Herman Rovin Bobbin loading apparatus for sewing machines
EP0117706A2 (de) * 1983-02-23 1984-09-05 Nikolaos Kosmas Austauschvorrichtung für Greiferspule bei Nähmaschine und Leergangdetektor dafür
US4577572A (en) * 1983-09-06 1986-03-25 Hirose Manufacturing Company Limited Fully rotating hook for a lock stitch sewing machine
FR2670511A1 (fr) * 1990-12-12 1992-06-19 Peugeot Dispositif de rechargement de la canette pour une machine a coudre a point de navette.
EP0747522A1 (de) * 1995-06-05 1996-12-11 FALAN S.r.l. Vorrichtung zum Laden einer Fadenlänge innerhalb des Greifers in einer Doppelsteppstichnähmaschine
US5788171A (en) * 1995-07-12 1998-08-04 Juki Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting residual bobbin thread in a sewing machine
US5839679A (en) * 1994-10-26 1998-11-24 Juki Corporation Bobbin thread winding apparatus
JP2001062179A (ja) * 2000-08-10 2001-03-13 Juki Corp 下糸巻回装置
US20120234223A1 (en) * 2011-03-18 2012-09-20 Mccue Geoff Sewing bobbin assembly and method thereof
US20140048003A1 (en) * 2012-08-17 2014-02-20 Nike, Inc. Stitching Machine
US20140209234A1 (en) * 2013-01-30 2014-07-31 Geoff McCue Spool-less, continuous bobbin assembly and method of use
US10060061B2 (en) 2015-07-09 2018-08-28 Bargain Basement Fitness, LLC Bobbinless sewing machine and stitch
US10156034B1 (en) * 2018-02-03 2018-12-18 Templeton Colum Dean Hancock High velocity bobbin sewing system
WO2019150329A3 (en) * 2018-02-03 2019-10-03 Templeton Colum Dean Hancock Everlasting bobbin sewing system

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DE4134627C1 (en) * 1991-10-19 1992-11-26 Duerkopp Adler Ag, 4800 Bielefeld, De Replenishment of lower thread to a double back-stitch sewing machine - includes sensor to monitor thread to generate signal when amt. drops to preset min. length
DE102019103847A1 (de) * 2019-02-15 2020-08-20 Vetron Typical Europe Gmbh Nähmaschine

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US2836136A (en) * 1951-09-13 1958-05-27 White Sewing Machine Corp Thread tensioning means for sewing machine bobbin case
US2965057A (en) * 1958-11-24 1960-12-20 American & Efiral Mills Inc Sewing machine apparatus to prevent backlash of bobbin thread
US3012530A (en) * 1958-05-21 1961-12-12 Singer Mfg Co Lock stitch sewing machines
US3075714A (en) * 1954-09-24 1963-01-29 Saint Gobain Apparatus for automatically loading and changing bobbins
US3331343A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-07-18 Singer Co Bobbin thread replenishing programming mechanisms for sewing machines
US3332381A (en) * 1964-07-30 1967-07-25 Pfaff Ag G M Automatic underthread winding apparatus for lockstitch sewing machines

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1978474A (en) * 1931-04-30 1934-10-30 Vaughn Machinery Co Continuous winding mechanism
US2283393A (en) * 1941-07-10 1942-05-19 Hydrawmatic Machine Corp Reeling or spooling device and method of reeling wire and other materials
AT180873B (de) * 1951-01-10 1955-01-25 Stow & Partners Ltd Fadenfördervorrichtung an Garnwickelmaschinen
US2836136A (en) * 1951-09-13 1958-05-27 White Sewing Machine Corp Thread tensioning means for sewing machine bobbin case
US3075714A (en) * 1954-09-24 1963-01-29 Saint Gobain Apparatus for automatically loading and changing bobbins
US3012530A (en) * 1958-05-21 1961-12-12 Singer Mfg Co Lock stitch sewing machines
US2965057A (en) * 1958-11-24 1960-12-20 American & Efiral Mills Inc Sewing machine apparatus to prevent backlash of bobbin thread
US3332381A (en) * 1964-07-30 1967-07-25 Pfaff Ag G M Automatic underthread winding apparatus for lockstitch sewing machines
US3331343A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-07-18 Singer Co Bobbin thread replenishing programming mechanisms for sewing machines

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4117789A (en) * 1977-09-14 1978-10-03 Automatech Industries, Inc. Automatic, in situ bobbin spool loading
FR2403288A1 (fr) * 1977-09-14 1979-04-13 Automatech Ind Mecanisme de chargement de la canette d'une machine a coudre
US4244313A (en) * 1978-04-17 1981-01-13 Automatech Industries Inc. Automatic, in situ bobbin spool loading
US4289085A (en) * 1979-09-19 1981-09-15 Herman Rovin Bobbin loading apparatus for sewing machines
EP0117706A2 (de) * 1983-02-23 1984-09-05 Nikolaos Kosmas Austauschvorrichtung für Greiferspule bei Nähmaschine und Leergangdetektor dafür
EP0117706A3 (en) * 1983-02-23 1985-05-29 Nikolaos Kosmas Bobbin run-out detector, and a bobbin changing mechanism incorporating the detector
US4681050A (en) * 1983-02-23 1987-07-21 Nikolaos Kosmas Bobbin in run-out detector, and a bobbin changing mechanism incorporating the detector
US4577572A (en) * 1983-09-06 1986-03-25 Hirose Manufacturing Company Limited Fully rotating hook for a lock stitch sewing machine
US4671196A (en) * 1983-09-06 1987-06-09 Hirose Manufacturing Company Limited Fully rotating hook for a lock stitch sewing machine
USRE32809E (en) * 1983-09-06 1988-12-27 Hirose Manufacturing Company Limited Fully rotating hook for a lock stitch sewing machine
FR2670511A1 (fr) * 1990-12-12 1992-06-19 Peugeot Dispositif de rechargement de la canette pour une machine a coudre a point de navette.
US5839679A (en) * 1994-10-26 1998-11-24 Juki Corporation Bobbin thread winding apparatus
DE19539936B4 (de) * 1994-10-26 2007-04-26 Juki Corp., Chofu Spulenfadenwickelvorrichtung zur Verwendung in einer Nähmaschine
EP0747522A1 (de) * 1995-06-05 1996-12-11 FALAN S.r.l. Vorrichtung zum Laden einer Fadenlänge innerhalb des Greifers in einer Doppelsteppstichnähmaschine
US5788171A (en) * 1995-07-12 1998-08-04 Juki Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting residual bobbin thread in a sewing machine
JP2001062179A (ja) * 2000-08-10 2001-03-13 Juki Corp 下糸巻回装置
US20120234223A1 (en) * 2011-03-18 2012-09-20 Mccue Geoff Sewing bobbin assembly and method thereof
US20140048003A1 (en) * 2012-08-17 2014-02-20 Nike, Inc. Stitching Machine
US20140209234A1 (en) * 2013-01-30 2014-07-31 Geoff McCue Spool-less, continuous bobbin assembly and method of use
US9200396B2 (en) * 2013-01-30 2015-12-01 Geoff McCue Spool-less, continuous bobbin assembly and method of use
US10060061B2 (en) 2015-07-09 2018-08-28 Bargain Basement Fitness, LLC Bobbinless sewing machine and stitch
US10156034B1 (en) * 2018-02-03 2018-12-18 Templeton Colum Dean Hancock High velocity bobbin sewing system
WO2019150329A3 (en) * 2018-02-03 2019-10-03 Templeton Colum Dean Hancock Everlasting bobbin sewing system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1239575A (de) 1971-07-21
GB1239576A (de) 1971-07-21
DE1760622A1 (de) 1971-12-02

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