US3680505A

US3680505A - Embroidery machine

Info

Publication number: US3680505A
Application number: US64690A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudolph Reich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-20
Filing date: 1970-08-18
Publication date: 1972-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-01
Also published as: AT318368B; AT310540B; JPS5017905B1; CH524707A; DE1942274B2; DE1942274A1; DE1942274C3

Abstract

Embroidery machine having vertical embroidery tool carriers parallel to the vertically fed fabric to-be-embroidered and infinitely adjustable sideways in a plane parallel to the fabric plane on top and bottom traverses, with the tool units on the carriers being heightwise infinitely adjustable thereon.

Description

[151 3,680,505 [451 Aug. 1,1972

United States Patent Reich [54] EMBROIDERY MACHINE 3,377,969 4/1968 Reich.....

[ 1 hwemon- Rudolph Reich, An der s 6, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 545 Neuwied, Germany Aug. 18,1970

[21] App1.No.: 64,690

23,417 9/1883 Germany........................112/90 ..l12/83 1909 Great Britain................

[22] Filed:

Primary ExaminerAlfred R. Guest Attorney-Walter Spruegel mmmwm t vw D at y T [bat e .1 d nme -mto est wmm mww m efmmb flw flafi .wf T ml umm C vflmnc 09. %05. .mm qem e O s Mv mne r h V..1Oe .el m mmm i e hm b nm c ma a a ifm m d tu wm mw Pdm y m mlml 0 36 m 1 m m m w mmwm m .lEcbPs.m 3 343 4 NN 7 23 2 1C9 2 J5 4 m6 9 m. m 1 D J V. m m MI W m 1 .m m mmm n m a U m "U a r mm mi N A w n H mm .8 mmna L mz CO0 F d u A UIF m HUN B. UUU

11 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,183,866 5/1965 Walbert etial.

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' sum 10 [1F 11 FIG. 14 f SHEET 11 0F 11 PATENTEflAus 1 I972 EMBROIDERY MACHINE This invention relates to embroidery machines.

In known embroidery machines, the embroidery tool carriers are arranged horizontally and, hence, in the direction of the tensioned fabric section of 9.20 m and/or 13.20 m length. These horizontal carriers, which already obstruct a clear view of the embroidery area and prevent ready access to the embroidery tools, require on account of their great length numerous vertical supports to prevent their bending or vibration. These vertical supports also prevent the arrangement of guide columns or other carrier elements by means of which knives for cutting the bobbin threads between the fabric and bobbins could move along the carrier. Further, on a bobbin-set exchange, the bobbins must be removed from the guides singly or over a great breadth due to the projecting rear guide surface.

In other known embroidery machines, in which the fabric is, by needle hooks or the like at its opposite side margins, tensioned only width-wise, the fabric will lengthwise be unevenly contracted especially by the embroidery being applied, which results in the unsightly appearance of alleys or half-moons between individual successive embroideries which reduce the value of the embroidered fabric or render the same useless.

Further, in all known embroidery machines the fabric field available for stitching by each needle, i.e., the needle stitch field, is the same at the same needle spacing, whereby the production of embroidery patterns of different widths must always be within the bounds of the lateral needle spacing.

These and all other known embroidery machines have as the basic pattern unit the 4/4 needle stitch field with a French measure equal to 27.07 mm as lateral on line measure. However, this 4/4 needle stitch field is unlimited in height. All embroidery machines are limited to this 4/4 rapport, with the lateral needle spacing being 27.07 mm. If larger patterns are to be embroidered, it is necessary to remove from the machine every second or third needle, for example.

With the productivity of an embroidery machine being measured by the number of stitches per time unit, this means that with the most usual needle stitch fields of 8/4 2 X 4/4) equal to 54.14 mm, or 12/4 (=3 X 4/4) equal to 81.21 mm, the productivity of the machine is limited to 50% or even 66%.

It is among the objects of the present invention to keep the stitch production at different pattern widths always at the same optimum of 100%, to provide for more ready view of the embroidery area and of the embroidery tools and also for more ready access to them, to keep the higher machine productivity springing from automation within favorable economic limits by a vertical carrier system, to afford infinite, spaced embroidery of fabric sections without distortion of the pattern arrangement, and to provide the machine with a basic needle stitch field system by which the cost of the embroidery machine is considerably reduced and its productivity increased without, however, limiting thereby the needle stitch field size.

Contrary to previous practice, a size is to be set for the new needle stitch field which affords by numerous sub-divisions a plurality of smaller needle stitch fields. Still further, the new embroidery machine must afford considerably more changes in and contrasts between patterns.

These objectives are attained according to the invention, by arranging the embroidery tool carriers in the direction of the fabric feed direction in the machine for lateral adjustability parallel to the fabric on traverses which extend normal to the fabric feed direction at the upper and lower entry and exit ends of the embroidery field. Preferably, the embroidery tool carriers are arranged vertically between the traverses at vertical fabric feed direction.

By arranging the tool carriers so that they extend in the fabric feed direction preferably vertically, they may, if extending over the entire height of the embroidery field, be without any support over their height and may be of less structural strength and more slender, so that in addition to the necessary access and observation space between successive vertical carriers along the fabric, the basic pattern size is also fixed in order that the embroidery field may be embroidered over its entire area under the control of a punch card and without displacement of the embroidery frame or embroidery tools. By the vertical arrangement of the principal guides in line with vertically superposed embroidery areas, and due to the spacing between successive ones of these principal guides, the entire embroidery field may, during operation of the embroidery frame and embroidery tools,.be readily observed. Malfunction of the thread, embroidery tools, etc., can quickly be detected and corrected.

By virtue of the vertical arrangement of the embroidery tool carriers, the embroidery rows of successive embroidered areas may be continuous with each other over the entire fabric section without any lateral carrier displace-ment, and hence merge with each other for continuity.

The catching, arresting and cutting of the threads prior to each fabric feed step and prior to each bobbinset exchange is considerably accelerated and facilitated by the vertically arranged carriers and the mount of the cutting tools, bobbin guides, etc., on these carriers, and bobbin exchange is accomplished quicker and simpler because the bobbins can by gravity drop from their guides.

The vertical carriers serve, for still further machine simplification, also for the mount of the suction nozzle at each individual embroidery point, and of the associated suction pipe along the principal vertical guides.

Further in accordance with the invention, the activation and inactivation of needles and punches over the vertical carriers for the production of so-called needle stitch field change productions may be simplified and centrally controlled without having to undertake, as heretofore, laborious and time-consuming unscrewing of needles and punches and their rescrewing, not linearly but over the entire embroidery area. Further in accordance with the invention, the individual embroidery areas may over the associated vertical carriers, and at any desired height, be displaced axially with respect to each other. Further, by providing for infinite adjustability of the embroidery tool carriers between the two traverses, i.e., normal to the fabric feed direction, the embroidery may be more extensive, more contrasting and more widely differing.

Further, since the basic needle stitch field should have a horizontal or line measure of 84 mm, there are afforded numerous sub-divisions of whole numbers of this line measure, so that within the bounds of this basic rapport or lateral needle spacing, embroideries of several smaller needle stitch fields are possible. This is made possible by a corresponding design of the punch card, while by lateral displacement of the carriers larger needle stitch fields may be achieved. The needle stitch field height depends on the up and down bobbin stroke of the particular bobbin size, and shall in this instance be 108 mm by reason of the presently largest embroidery bobbins and the sub-division.

Further in accordance with the invention, and especially be virtue of the vertical carriers, the controls may be arranged for the production of more interesting patterns. This is achieved by providing for two-color embroidery at the vertical carriers. In this connection, the tools on the carriers may embroider differently, by having those on even-numbered carriers embroider, for ex ample, a border of a tablecloth in one color, and have those on uneven-numbered carriers embroider the interior of the cloth in another color. Also, the individual embroidery stations over the carriers may embroider differently, and a combination of both procedures is also possible.

Also, by having at the start and end of the embroidery field movably supported and fabric-penetratable claw provisions, distortion of the fabric, especially by the embroidery process, is prevented. Usually, the fabric is within the embroidery field distorted predominantly in the middle, and the distortion decreases toward the firmly clamped side margins of the fabric. This accounts for the hitherto formation within the embroidery field of the aforementioned half-moons and alleys. This is avoided according to the invention, in that the fabric in the embroidery field is immovably held not only on the sides by needle hooks or the like, but is at the entry and exit ends of the embroidery field so further held and clamped that the same cannot stretch and thereby avoid the appearance of alleys and half-moons. These claw provisions, which are to hold the fabric in the embroidery field taut against any stretch, are preferably rolls with claws. More particularly, each claw provision at the entry and exit ends of the embroidery field is to consist of three superposed claw rolls, which are provided with claws over such peripheral parts, and are so controlled in their turning motions on stub shafts by spaced cams through intermediation of an operating lever and preferably operated by springs, that the claws on the separate peripheral roll parts will on turning motion of the rolls successively and in overlapping fashion penetrate the fabric. Each roll of a roll trio thereby undergoes the following successive motions, namely penetration of the claws into the fabric, firmly holding the fabric with the claws, and retraction of the claws from the fabric. The claw rolls of a trio always successively penetrate the fabric at each feed step and turn with the fed fabric, because each roll turns in the fabric feed direction under cam control and by spring action, and is after such turning motion returned to home position by the action of a spring on the operating lever, and the cams are so angularly displaced that the claw rolls successively penetrate the fabric.

Further in accordance with the invention, the claw rolls are to be in the form of fabric-transport rolls and longitudinal fabric stabilization rolls, of which the fabric-transport rolls are provided with needle hooks curved in the fabric feed direction, and the stabilization rolls are provided with needle hooks which are curved opposite to the fabric feed direction. Further, the stabilization rolls are to be arranged at the entry end of the embroidery field in the middle between two fabrictransport rolls and inactivated at the proper times by solenoids, for example. The fabric is thereby firmly held by the stabilization rolls in the very middle in which the same is displaced or stretched the most in the embroidery process, with these rolls being, like the fabric-transport rolls, provided over angularly displaced parts of their peripheries with needle hooks. In contrast to the fabric-transport rolls, the stabilization rolls, which have needle hooks that are curved opposite to the fabric feed direction as already mentioned penetrate the fabric only when the same and the embroidery field are at a stop. In order that these stabilization rolls penetrate the fabric only at these stop times, they are at the proper times inactivated by preferred solenoids which, therefore, hold these rolls out of reach of the fabric during feed steps of the latter, and bring them into penetration with and retraction from the fabric during a stop and preferably at the end and start, respectively, of a fabric feed step.

Finally, the claw rolls are turnably adjustable by hand, whereby on their adjustment after penetration of the stabilization rolls into the fabric, the latter may be further tensioned to avoid under any circumstances the unsightly appearance of alleys between individual fabric embroidery units.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section through an embroidery machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a lower part of the machine with a bobbin drive and nearby part of a bobbin carrier;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the machine part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the embroidery tools and carriers as seen from the fabric;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional bottom part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section through an embroidery tool aggregate showing the needle bar;

FIG. 7 is a section similar to FIG. 6, showing the punch and other tools of the aggregate;

FIG. 8 shows schematically the fabric stock as held taut between side transport chains and upper and lower claw rolls;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section through the upper fabrictransporting claw roll trio and drive therefor;

FIG. 10 is a cross-section through the lower fabrictransporting claw roll trio and drive therefor;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section through a longitudinal fabric stabilization roll trio with drive and disabling means;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged section through a fabric-transporting claw roll;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged section through a longitudinal stabilization claw roll;

FIG. 14 illustrates the pattern possibilities with horizontally and vertically infinitely adjustable embroidery tool aggregates; and

FIG. illustrates the finish possibilities of finish-embroidered fabric with horizontally and vertically infinitely adjustable embroidery tool aggregates.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the embroidery machine provides a bobbin-guide carrier 1, a needle-aggregate carrier 2 and a thread-guide carrier 3, which are arranged vertically, with the fabric to-be-embroidered being passed between the

carriers

1 and 2 downwardly in the direction of the arrows 4.

The bobbin-guide carriers 1 are arranged parallel to each other vertically between upper and

lower traverse pieces

5 and 6 in accordance with the fabric width and the selected, hereinafter described, embroidery pattern system or linear pattern width, respectively. The bobbin-guide carriers 1 are infinitely adjustable in dove-tail guides 7 and 8 in the upper and

lower traverse pieces

5 and 6, and are locked thereto in any adjusted position by

bolts

11 and 12. With this arrangement, the bobbinguide carriers 1 may be positioned at any lateral distance from each other in conformity with the selected embroidery pattern.

Slidable and infinitely adjustable in their height on the carriers 1 are bobbin guides 13 (FIG. 2). To this end, the bobbin carriers 13 are adjustable heightwise in longitudinal slots 15 in lateral flanges 16 of the carriers 1 and are locked thereto in any adjusted position by screws 14.

Extending throughout the height of the bobbin-guide carriers 1 and through the bobbin guides 13 thereon, are bobbin operating rods 17 which carry thereon infinitely adjustable upper and

lower bobbin drivers

18 and 19, whereby it is possible infinitely to adjust these

bobbin drivers

18 and 19, the same as the bobbin guides 13, in their relative height positions.

Provided in the lower traverse piece or frame 6 is the bobbin drive. Turnable in this traverse frame 6 is a horizontal shaft 20 with a crankarm 21 which is oscillated back and forth by a cam on a main drive shaft through intermediation of a bar 22 (see also FIG. 3). There are preferably provided in the lower traverse frame 6, at least two, and preferably more, for example five, such drives. Carried by the shafts 20 on the side of the traverse frame 6 next to the bobbin guides 13 are .crankarms 23 which are operatively connected with a drive rail 24 that extends over the entire length of the traverse frame 6, whereby the rail 24 is oscillated back and forth, with the vertical component of this oscillation determining the bobbin stroke.

Adjustable in a dovetail guide on the drive rail 24 and releasably lockable thereto by clamps 26 are coupling members which are spaced the same as the bobbin-guide carriers 1 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The coupling members 25 are through connecting rods 27 pivotally connected at 28 with the operating rods 17, whereby the latter are by the oscillatory motion of the drive rail 24 moved up and down at the length of the bobbin stroke. Since the coupling members 25 are adjustable on the drive rail 24, the operation of the rods 17 can be changed on the rail 24 to conform to the adjustment of the bobbin-guide carriers 1 in accordance with the embroidery pattern.

Laterally adjustable on, and lockable in any adjusted position to, upper and lower traverse frames 29 and 30 in a main machine frame are the carriers 2 of the embroidery tool aggregates. This is achieved by mounts 33 which are slidable in

guideways

31 and 32 in the traverse frames 29 and 30, with these mounts 33 being in any position locked to these frames by clamps 34 and bolts 35 (FIG. 1).

Releasably bolted to each mount 33 is a foot member 36 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Mounted by screws 39 to the upper andlower foot members 36 are front and

rear uprights

37 and 38 which together from a carrier 2 of the embroidery tool aggregates, with a front and rear upright being provided for each upright tool aggregate row. Carried for heightwise adjustment on the laterally adjustable front and

rear uprights

37 and 38 are the tool aggregates 40.

Each aggregate 40 consists of two parts, i.e., a casing 41 and a cover 42 which by screws 43 is mounted on the casing 41 (FIGS. 4 to 7). Extending through the casings 41 are operating

shafts

44, 45 and 46 for the needles, punches and thread catchers, respectively. Mounted in hearings in each cover 42 are a needle bar 47 with needle 48, a punch bar 49 with a punch 50, a thread-guide rod 51 with a thread guide 52, and a rod 53 with a fabric presser 54.

Each casing 41 is by means of screws 55 and slots 56 mounted on a pair of

uprights

37 and 38 for infinite heightwise adjustment. Since the mounts 33 and foot members 36, which carry the

uprights

37 and 38, are laterally adjustable on the traverse frames 29 and 30, the tool aggregates may be adjusted to any desired lateral spacing from each other. Further, since the tool aggregates are vertically adjustable on the

uprights

37 and 38, these aggregates may be adjusted to any desired heightwise spacing from each other.

A main drive shaft (not shown) oscillates a shaft 57, with its oscillation being through a clamp block 58 and fork 59 transmitted to the needle-operating shaft 44 as reciprocatory motion (FIG. 5). The shaft 44 operates the needle bars 47 through an arm 60, link 61 and transport 62. In order selectively to disconnect each needle bar 47, the transport 62 carries a pawl 63 which is releasably connectible with a follower 64 on the needle bar.

In order to disable the tool aggregates on individual carriers 2, the needle drive shaft 44 is interrupted at the lower foot member 36 so that a coupling 65 affords a releasable connection between the shaft sections.

The punch drive (FIG. 7) is arranged similarly as the needle drive (FIG. 6), wherefore a description of the punch drive is unnecessary.

The fabric presser drive operates in timed relation with the needle drive, and is as follows. Rod 53 is with its fabric presser 54 forced by a spring against the fabric (FIG. 5). Release of the fabric from the presser is achieved thereby that the transport 62 of the needle bar 47 is provided with a coupling which takes along the presser rod 53 on retraction of the needle bar and after the needle has left the fabric. On advance of the needle bar, the presser on the rod 53 is by its spring forced against the fabric before the needle reaches the fabric.

In order reliably to perform thread-cutting, the single thread, which passes from each thread spool via a thread guide and through the eye of a needle, to the fabric, must first be safely caught and arrested against self-retraction from the needle eye after the thread is cut. To this end, there is provided a thread catcher 51 with a specially shaped slot (FIG. 4).

When the embroidery cycle is finished and the thread is to be cut, the shaft 46, through intermediation of an arm 66, moves the thread catcher 51, 52 against the fabric against the force of a spring 67. By appropriate motion of the embroidery frame, which is programmed and controlled by a punch card, the thread to-be-cut is accurately guided into the slot in the thread catcher 52, and the latter will, on return oscillation of the shaft 46 and by the force of the spring 67, bring the thread within efiective reach of the nozzle 68 of a suction pipe 69 (FIG. 7), whereupon by an electromagnet (not shown) a knife 70 on a lever parallelogram 71 is brought into cutting relation with the thread. After fabric advance and a start of the next embroidery pattern to about six stitches, the thread end is again brought to cut position and cut. These cut thread ends are removed by the nozzle 68 through the suction pipe 69, and to this end the thread catcher 52 is by the rod 51 briefly advanced to release the thread ends. With this arrangement, no cut or torn thread ends become embroidered in a pattern.

In order to produce novel patterns by vertical embroidery rows adapted to be connected or disconnected within the overall embroidery field, the tool aggregates on the individual vertical carriers 2 can be activated or disabled by manipulation of the respective couplings 65 (FIG. The same holds true if a particular pattern requires activation or disabling of individual tool aggregates on a vertical carrier 2. To this end, the respective pawl or pawls 63 are manipulated (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 8, the fabric is within the embroidery field 72 held taut over its width by needle elements 74 on the opposite transport chains 73. The transport chains 73 are adjustable in their spacing according to the fabric width, and are preferably received in guideways for holding the fabric taut widthwise.

At the entry end of the embroidery field there are provided separately operated

claw roll trios

75, 76 and 77, and at the exit end there is provided a claw roll trio 78 which extends over the greater part of the width of the fabric. The outer

claw roll trios

75, 76 at the entry end of the embroidery field are, like the lower claw roll trio 78, fabric transport rolls, and the upper middle claw roll trio 77 forms a longitudinal fabric stabilization roll trio. The fabric

transport roll trios

75, 76, 78 are provided with needle hooks which are curved in the direction of the fabric transport or feed (FIG. 12), while the fabric stabilization roll trio 77 is provided with needle hooks which are curved opposite to the fabric feed direction (FIG. 13).

Each roll 79 of each fabric

transport roll trio

75, 76, and 78 is turnable on a stub shaft 80, with the stub shafts of a trio being carried by a bracket 81 which by an arm 82 is supported on a traverse 83 on the machine frame (FIG. 9). Turnable on each stub shaft 80 is a roll member 84 to the outer periphery of which is attached a strap 85 by rivets 86 and screws 87. This strap or band is over part of the periphery of the roll body 84 provided with needle books 88 which are curved in the feed direction of the fabric (FIGS. 9 and 12). A spring 89, which at 90 is anchored with one end to the roll body 84 and is with its other end 91 anchored to a fixed part, normally urges the roll body 84 and needle hooks thereon in clockwise direction (FIG. 12), i.e., in the fabric feed direction, when the roll body is by the band 85 released for turning motion.

Each strap or band of each fabric transport roll trio is connected with the end 93 of an arm 92 of a lever which at 94 is pivotally mounted, and the other arm 95 of which is connected with a spring 96 which urges the lever in counterclockwise direction. The arm 92 of the lever carries a follower roll 97 which by the spring 96 is held in follower relation with a cam 98 on an upper sprocket shaft of the chain drive (FIG. 9). Each cam 98 for a roll of a fabric transport roll trio is provided with five equiangularly spaced crests 99 which, therefore, are spaced 72 apart. Each cam is angularly displaced from the other two cams by 24, so that the follower rolls 97 on the several levers reach cam crests after successive 24 displacements of the cams, thereby pulling the band and retracting the part with the needle hooks thereon into the upper inoperative position in which the upper roll of the roll trio is shown in FIG. 9. When the sprocket shaft 100 is turned clockwise (FIG. 9), the rolls of a fabric transport roll trio are by the crests 99 of the cams successively returned into their upper inoperative position, and they are successively turned according to the coordination of the parts and by the force of the springs 96, whereby their needle hooks enter the fabric and hold the same taut in the fabric feed direction. Since the crests 99 of the cams are displaced by 24, the needle hooks on the rolls of a trio successively enter the fabric in overlapping fashion, as is illustrated with the three rolls in FIG. 9. Thus, when the lower roll reaches its illustrated position, the needles on the upper roll enter the fabric, while the needles on the middle roll are hooked in the fabric. After a short time lapse, the lower roll is returned to its upper inoperative position when the associated. follower 97 rides onto a cam crest, and this roll is then turned further in accordance with the cam design. Since the needle hooks on the fabric transport rolls are curved in the fabric feed direction, they may be returned into the upper inoperative position without damaging the fabric. Since the cams 98 are carried by the sprocket shaft 100, the fabric transport rolls are turned only when the fabric is fed.

Contrary to the fabric transport rolls, the needle hooks on the fabric stabilization rolls 78 are curved 0pposite to the fabric feed direction (FIG. 13). These claw rolls 78 function to hold the fabric within the embroidery field taut especially in the middle where the fabric is contracted the most in the embroidery process. The stabilization claw rolls, which enter the fabric only when the latter is at rest, thus hold the fabric taut over its longitudinal extent and prevent con traction of the same and, hence, the formation of unsightly alleys or half-moons between adjacent embroideries within the embroidery field. In order that one of the rolls of a fabric transport roll trio will always be in holding penetration with the fabric, each of these rolls passes through the following sequence-penetration-holding firm-retraction, with this sequence being so overlapping for the several rolls that needle hooks will always be in holding penetration with the fabric.

For each revolution of a chain sprocket on the shaft 100, each fabric transport roll participates in five fabric transport or feed steps because its operating cam 98 on the shaft 100 has five crests 99. Accordingly, the rolls of a fabric transport roll trio participate in fifteen successive fabric transport steps during each revolution of shaft 100.

The fabric stabilization rolls 77 (FIGS. 8, 11 and 13) are operated similarly as the fabric transport rolls, except that the needle hooks are curved opposite to the fabric feed direction, the springs 102 are arranged for action oppositely to that of the springs 89 in FIG. 12, and there is provided in lieu of cams a solenoid 103 (FIG. 11) which acts on the

lever

92a, 95a and prevents, during fabric feed, entry of the needle hooks into the fabric, but when the fabric comes to stops, this solenoid is by a switch energized to cause entry of the needle hooks into the fabric. On energization of the solenoid, its armature 104, which bears against a shoulder 105 on the lever, is retracted so that the lever will by the spring 96a be turned anticlockwise, whereby the needle hooks enter the fabric and remain tensioned anticlockwise (FIG. 13) by the springs 102 and thereby hold the fabric taut during intermittent stops of the same. Preliminary to the next fabric feed step, a switch deenergizes the solenoid 103, whereupon the armature 104 turns the lever at the shoulder 105 clockwise and causes retraction of the needle hooks from the fabric.

Preferably, the roll bodies 84, 84a are by pawl and ratchet

provisions

85a and 85b connected with the

respective stub shafts

80 and 100a on which they are turnable (FIGS. 12 and 13), whereby on hand adjustment of the fabric stabilization rolls in anticlockwise direction (FIG. 13) the fabric may be further tensioned.

Inasmuch as the claw rolls are driven, not directly by the chains, but by the cams on the sprocket shaft 100, their drive is independent of the chains. This is important because overtravel or undertravel of the fabric relative to the chain transport can thereby be prevented or regulated. Further, inasmuch as the fabric is always, i.e., during feed and rest, subjected to the action of penetrating needle hooks, slackening of the fabric at any place is prevented. It is also within the purview of the invention to change the relative coordination and number of the fabric transport and stabilization rolls.

The thread-guide carriers 3 behind the tool aggregate carriers 2 are slidable and infinitely adjustable in dovetail guides 106 in the upper and lower traverse frames 29 and 30 (FIG. 1), with these carriers 3 being locked in any adjusted position by clamps 107 and bolts 108. Each thread-guide unit 109 provides a thread brake, a small thread guide and a large thread guide. Each of these units is infinitely vertically adjustable on the carrier 3. Accordingly, the carriers 3 may be adjusted laterally, and the thread-guide units may be adjusted in their heightwise positions to conform to the adjustments of the bobbin and tool aggregates. In FIG. 1, the numerals 110 designate thread brakes, the numerals 111 designate small thread guides, and the numerals 112 designate large thread guides.

Extending along each carrier 3 is an operating rod 1 13 with which the small thread guides 111 are infinitely adjustably connected, and an operating rod 114 with which the large thread guides 112 are infinitely adjustably connected. The

rods

113 and 114 are slidably connected with horizontal

main operating rods

115 and 116.

Accordingly, all embroidery tool carriers are infinitely adjustable on fixed traverse frames, and the tools or tool aggregates on these carriers are also infinitely adjustable, whereby it is possible to embroider at any desired lateral and heightwise spacing.

In the base needle stitch field, the basic lateral spacing of the embroidery tools, is in this instance 84 mm, while the basic needle stitch field height is in this instance 108 mm. If smaller needle stitch fields are to be embroidered, this is done under the control of a punch card. This would result in embroidery of a small needle stitch field within the large rapport. If the embroidery is to be of larger rapport, the carriers are moved to one side according to the desired needle stitch field, and either remove the inactive carriers or move them sideways and disable them. There is thus available an embroidery machine which will always have high embroidery productivity. Numerous divisions are possible at a line or lateral needle stitch field of 84 mm, which means that within this linear rapport a plurality of whole numbers of small needle stitch fields are possible.

FIG. 14 shows the pattern possibilities with horizontal and vertical infinitely adjustable embroidery tool units as well as with active and inactive groups of such units. Thus, this Figure indicates how patterns may be arranged circular by changing the distance between the tool carriers, which became possible only by the present invention and the adjustability of the tool carriers between traverse frames.

FIG. 15 indicates the finish possibilities of fabric products in the overall-field embroidery machine with horizontally and vertically infinitely adjustable embroidery tool units. Here, an embroidery field is equal to two tablecloths, for instance. After the embroidery process, the fabric may be cut and seamed immediately behind the embroidery machine.

What is claimed is:

l. Embroidery machine, having an upright embroidery field with an upper entry end and a lower exit end through which passes fabric on its intermittent vertical feed in downward direction; different sets of longitudinal carriers; different sets of embroidery tool units mounted on the carriers of said sets, respectively, with the tool units of each set being independently infinitely adjustable on and longitudinally of the carriers of the respective set; sets of fixed upper and lower longitudinal traverses at said field entry and exit ends and extending horizontally and parallel to said field, with each set of traverses being associated with a set of carriers, and the carriers of each set extending vertically between the upper and lower traverses of the as sociated set, with the carriers of each set being mounted on the traverses of the associated set for infinite adjustment longitudinally thereof for disposition of the vertical carriers of each set at infinitely variable spacing from each other.

2. Embroidery machine as in claim 1, in which one of said sets of tool units includes bobbins and bobbin guides, and the carriers of one of said sets are bobbin carriers, with said bobbin guides being infinitely adjustable on the respective bobbin carriers, there is further provided an operating rod extending through all bobbin guides on each bobbin carrier, and upper and lower actuators for each bobbin guide, with said actuators being independently infinitely adjustable on said operating rod, the traverses of one of said sets are bobbin traverses on which said bobbin carriers are adjustably mounted, and there is further provided a main bobbin drive in the lower bobbing traverse, a rail extending over the length of said lower bobbin traverse and being reciprocated by said main bobbin drive, links associated with said operating rods, respectively, and having pivot connections with the latter and with said rail and operating to reciprocate said operating rods on reciprocation of said rail, with said pivot connections of said links with said rail being independently infinitely adjustable on said rail longitudinally thereof.

3. Embroidery machine as in claim 1, in which one of said sets of tool units are stitch tool units, the carriers of said stitch tool units are mounted on the traverses of one of said sets, and there is further provided in the lower one of the traverses of said one set a main drive for said stitch tool units, the traverses of said one set provide guideways in which the carriers of said stitch tool units are received and adjustable, said stitch tool units are independently infinitely adjustable on the respective carriers on which they are mounted, and each stitch tool unit includes a needle bar and needle, a fabric presser, a punch bar and punch, a thread catcher and a thread suction nozzle.

4. Embroidery machine as in claim 3, which further provides main operating shafts in and extending throughout the length of the lower traverse of said one set, drive shafts for said needle bars, punch bars and thread catchers, respectively, with each drive shaft being associated with a main operating shaft, and an operating connection between each main operating shaft and associated drive shaft, with said operating connections being adjustable longitudinally of the respective main operating shafts.

5. Embroidery machine as in claim 4, which further provides releasable couplings between said needle bars and punch bars and their respective drive shafts for disabling needle bars and punch bars for a needle stitch field change.

6. Embroidery machine as in claim 1, which further provides at said field entry and exit ends movably supported holding means movable into holding engagement with fabric in said field, said holding means at each of said field entry and exit ends provide three superposed rolls carrying claws over parts of their peripheries, stub shafts on which said rolls are tumable, angularly displaced rotary cams, pivoted levers in follower relation with said cams, respectively, and operatively connected with said rolls, respectively, and springs normally urging said rolls in one direction, and said cams and levers turning said rolls in the opposite direction and controlling their rotation in said one direction, with said peripheral claw parts of said rolls, cams and levers being coordinated so that on rotation of said rolls in said one direction, said peripheral claw parts successively claw into the fabric in overlapping fashion.

7. Embroidery machine as in claim 6, which further periphery of a rotary disc, with said discs being carried by one of said sprocket shafts.

8. Embroidery machine as in claim 7, in which the cam periphery of each disc includes a set of five equiangularly spaced cam crests, with said discs being carried by said one sprocket shaft, and the cam crest sets of said discs being displaced 24 from each other.

9. Embroidery machine as in claim 6, which further provides a pawl and ratchet connection between each stub shaft and roll thereon for manual angular adjustability of the roll.

10. Embroidery machine as in claim 1, which further provides at said field entry and exit ends movably supported holding means movable into holding engagement with fabric in said field, with said holding means being rotary rolls carrying claws, and said rolls being fabric-transport and fabric-stabilization rolls, of which the claws on said transport and stabilization rolls are needle hooks curved in the fabric feed direction and opposite to the fabric feed direction, respectively.

1 l. Embroidery machine as in claim 10, in which two fabric-transport rolls and an intermediate fabric-stabilization roll are provided at said field entry end, with said intermediate roll being in the middle of said field entry end, and there is further provided a solenoid for turning said fabric-stabilization roll from clawing engagement with the fabric.

Claims

1. Embroidery machine, having an upright embroidery field with an upper entry end and a lower exit end through which passes fabric on its intermittent vertical feed in downward direction; different sets of longitudinal carriers; different sets of embroidery tool units mounted on the carriers of said sets, respectively, with the tool units of each set being independently infinitely adjustable on and longitudinally of the carriers of the respective set; sets of fixed upper and lower longitudinal traverses at said field entry and exit ends and extending horizontally and parallel to said field, with each set of traverses being associated with a set of carriers, and the carriers of each set extending vertically between the upper and lower traverses of the associated set, with the carriers of each set being mounted on the traverses of the associated set for infinite adjustment longitudinally thereof for disposition of the vertical carriers of each set at infinitely variable spacing from each other.

6. Embroidery machine as in claim 1, which further provides at said field entry and exit ends movably supported holding means movable into holding engagement with fabric in said field, said holding means at each of said field entry and exit ends provide three superposed rolls carrying claws over parts of their peripheries, stub shafts on which said rolls are turnable, angularly displaced rotary cams, pivoted levers in follower relation with said cams, respectively, and operatively connected with said rolls, respectively, and springs normally urging said rolls in one direction, and said cams and levers turning said rolls in the opposite direction and controlling their rotation in said one direction, with said peripheral claw parts of said rolls, cams and levers being coordinated so that on rotation of said rolls in said one direction, said peripheral claw parts successively claw into the fabric in overlapping fashion.

7. Embroidery machine as in claim 6, which further provides fabric feed chains and sprocket shafts therefor, and the cams for each roll is formed by a cam periphery of a rotary disc, with said discs being carried by one of said sprocket shafts.

8. Embroidery machine as in claim 7, in which the cam periphery of each disc includes a set of five equiangularly spaced cam crests, with said discs being carried by said one sprocket shaft, and the cam crest sets of said discs being displaced 24* from each other.

11. Embroidery machine as in claim 10, in which two fabric-transport rolls and an intermediate fabric-stabilization roll are provided at said field entry end, with said intermediate roll being in the middle of said field entry end, and there is further provided a solenoid for turning said fabric-stabilization roll from clawing engagement with the fabric.