US3788249A

US3788249A - Sewing machine having a plurality of intelligence record systems associated therewith

Info

Publication number: US3788249A
Application number: US00300537A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Weisz
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: SSMC Inc
Priority date: 1972-10-25
Filing date: 1972-10-25
Publication date: 1974-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-29

Abstract

A sewing machine having stitch-forming instrumentalities, actuating mechanism for imparting operative stitch-forming movements to said stitch-forming instrumentalities and a control link operatively associated with said stitch-forming instrumentalities to thereby influence the formation of a pattern of stitches. A plurality of different intelligence record systems is provided each having its own output element which is separately connectable to said control link to impart a predetermined pattern of movements thereto, and operator influenced switching means is provided for effecting operative interconnection between the output element of any selected one of said intelligence record systems and said control link.

Description

1 1 Jan. 29, 1974 United States Patent [191 Weisz 3,067,702 12/1962 Shimada......................... 112/158 A 3,081,724 3/1963 112/158 A SEWING MACHINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF INTELLIGENCE RECORD SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH Attorney, Agent, or Firm Marshall J. Breen, Chester A. Williams,J r. & Joel Halpem [75] Inventor: William Weisz, Rockaway, NJ. [73] Assignee: The Singer Company, New York,

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9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU JAN 2 91974 saw 1 or 3 PATENIEB JAN 2 91974 saw 2 u; 3

PATENTED JAN 29 1974 SHEET 3 BF 3 SEWING MACHINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF INTELLIGENCE RECORD SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED THEREWITII BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly, to one which is provided with alternate and diverse systems of intelligence record means such as cams and adder mechanisms. The invention has special value with ornamental stitch sewing machines.

It was heretofore appreciated that the value of sewing machines is greatly enhanced by making available to the operator a broader range of stitch patterns. Customarily, this has been accomplished by providing the machine with a multiplicity of cams, the individual tracks of which define differing stitch patterns. One such cam arrangement, typical of the prior art, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,726 granted Mar. 17, 1959. Another is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,862,468 granted Dec. 2, 1958. Both of these patents issued to The Singer Manufacturing Company. However, there appears to have been no appreciation of the advantages inherent in providing parallel systems for the selection of a needle bar vibratory pattern and for applying the selected pattern to the needle bar, the two systems being interconnected in a simple manner such that the integration of the selected system with the needle bar driving mechanism simultaneously effectuates a disengagement of the other system from said driving mechanism.

It will be understood that by providing for the accommodation in a single machine of alternative systems of intelligence records and a non-complex manner of selecting and integrating a particular system, the invention enables a sewing machine operator to select not only one of a set of discrete stitch patterns as was heretofore possible, but also to select between diverse control systems which may possess widely different capabilities. For example, the operator may select from one system utilizing pattern cams as intelligence records and another system utilizing punched or magnetic tape carrying digital pattern information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide a sewing machine by which an operator can select a desired stitch pattern from parallel and diverse intelligence record means.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental stitch sewing machine having alternate systems of intelligence records, the systems being interconnected such that the integration of one system into the needle bar driving mechanism simultaneously effectuates a disengagement of the other system from said driving mechanism.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an ornamental stitch sewing machine in which a simplified manually adjustable mechanism for regulating stitch width is incorporated into a mechanical linkage arrangement which also provides for the availability of parallel and diverse systems of intelligence records.

According to the present invention, there is provided in an ornamental stitch sewing machine which includes a frame, needle bar guide means pivotably mounted in said frame, a drive shaft rotatably supported in said frame, a needle bar operatively connected to said shaft and adapted to receive a needle for movement therewith, said needle bar being mounted in said guide means for longitudinal reciprocating movement therein and for vibratory movement in a direction transverse to the direction of reciprocation, and intelligence record means operatively connectable to needle bar driving means for imparting a predetermined pattern of vibratory movements to said needle bar, the improvement which comprises a plurality of systems of said intelligence record means each including associated lever means separately connectable to said needle bar driving means for transmitting the respective patterns of vibratory movements thereto, said separately connectable lever means being interconnected so as to effectuate simultaneous connection of one of said lever means with said needle bar driving means and disengagement of the other of said lever means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully comprehended, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an ornamental stitch sewing machine embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sewing machine of FIG. 1 with the top cover removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the various lever and linkage assemblies of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the latch mechanism of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the stitch width regulating mechanism and of the means for positioning of the needle bar when ornamental stitching is not employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown anomamental stitch sewing machine 21 which includes arm standard 22, hollow arm bracket 23, and head 24. The front face of the machine is provided with a pair of push-

buttons

25, 26 each of which is associated with a particular stitch pattern and associated intelligence record system. A shift lever 27 extends through slot 27' in the face of the machine directly beneath the push-buttons and is for the purpose of positioning the needle bar in a particular relationship with respect to the work so as to produce a line of stitches in the desired location. As shown, the lever may be shifted to any of three positions, i.e. L (left), C (center) or R (right). Another lever 28 extends through the face of the machine and rides within slot 28'. This lever is for the purpose of regulating the width of the stitches being produced as can be noted from the indicia immediately below the slot. The manner in which the stitch pattern, stitch width, and positioning of the needle bar is effected will be described hereinafter in greater detail. A lever 29 is shown on the standard of the machine and is movable between a range of stations to vary the stitch length as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an upper drive shaft 30 is mounted rotatably in the frame 31 of the machine. It is operatively connected in known manner to reciprocate needle bar 32 which is endwise slidable in needle bar gate 33, which in turn, is pivotably carried in the frame of the machine as by means of a pivot screw 34. The needle bar is adapted to reciprocate within the needle bar gate and to vibrate laterally with the gate according to a predetermined pattern of vibratory movements imparted to the gate by means of zigzag controlling link 35. The needle bar has affixed thereto a sewing needle 36 so as to produce either a line of straight stitches or ornamental stitches.

A base plate 37 is secured to the frame of the machine above the upper drive shaft and is provided with a pair of transverse grooves or

keyways

38, 39. One of such keyways is given a slot 40 which extends through the base plate. The purpose of the slot is to accommodate the reciprocation therein of a cam follower 41 which is connected to a cam driven slide block 42 adapted to slide within keyway 38 in response, for example, to the cam track pattern on intelligence record means such as barrel cam 43. The barrel cam may be driven by upper drive shaft 30 in conventional manner. Any suitable locking means such as lock washer 44 may be employed to lock follower 41 to slide block 42. A lever 45 is secured at one end to slide block 42 and at its other end to one extremity of a latch link 46. The lever 45 is pivotably secured at a location intermediate its ends to a post 47 carried by the base plate. Thus, reciprocatory movement of slide block 42 within keyway 38 resulting from the predetermined pattern of needle bar vibratory movements set into the cam track of barrel cam 43 is transmitted via lever 45 to latch link 46, and thence, to the needle bar as will be hereinafter described.

A second intelligence record slide block 48 is adapted to slide within keyway 39 and to be operatively connected to second intelligence record means such as an adder mechanism 49. The slide block is also connected, such as by screw 50, with a second latch link 51. Thus, reciprocatory movement of slide block 48 responsive to a predetermined pattern of needle bar vibratory movements set into the adder mechanism 49 is transmitted to latch link 51 for ultimate transmission to the needle bar as will be hereinafter described.

Each of

latch links

46 and 51 is formed with a hooklike projection at one end thereof so that either, as desired by the machine operator, may be brought into locking engagement with the needle bar driving means as will be described hereinafter, to simultaneously integrate one intelligence record system with the needle bar driving means and disengage the other system.

The base plate is provided with a centering stud 52 which may be pressed thereinto or otherwise affixed adjacent one end thereof. The centering stud may be formed with an intermediate raised portion 53 which offers a seating surface for a rocker plate 54. The rocker plate is secured pivotably about the center thereof to the centering stud and may be locked thereto by means such as a lock washer 55. To one end of the rocker plate lever 56 is pivotably connected, this lever extending through the face plate of the machine and terminating in push button 26. Link 57 is pivotably connected to the same end of the rocker plate and thus to lever 56 by means such as a collar pin 58. The other end of link 57 is connected to approximately the midpoint of latch link 46. The other end of rocker plate 54 is operatively connected to lever 59 (carrying push button 25), link 60 and latch link 51 in similar manner. As shown in FIG. 3, link 60 is provided with a vertically offset intermediate portion 61 such that when assembled latch link 51 will be reciprocated in a plane below that in which latch link 46 is caused to move.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the base plate is provided with a pivot post 62 and with an elongated slot 63 for a purpose to be described presently. A driving arm positioning bracket 64, to which lever 27 is secured, is mounted atop the base plate such that the pivot post of the base plate is accommodated within an aperture 65 in the bracket, the bracket thus being pivotable thereabout. Stop

brackets

66, 67 are screwed into the base plate above the driving arm positioning bracket and serve to prevent upwards displacement of the bracket and to limit the pivotal movement of such bracket. The elongated slot 63 is angularly disposed with respect to the front and sides of the base plate and is adapted to receive in slidable relation therewith a pin member 68 carried by a needle bar driving member to be hereinafter described. The pin member extends through needle bar driving member 69, which is mounted in overlying relationship to positioning bracket 64, and into slot 63. Pin member 68 serves a dual function, i.e. as the pivot axis for driving arm 69 and as a guide pin during pivotal movement of bracket 64. It will be appreciated that within the limits imposed by

stop brackets

66 and 67, manipulation of lever 27 will result in pivotal movement of the positioning bracket about pivot post 62 along a path, the limits of which are determined by pin member 68 within slot 63. When the lever arm of the needle bar driving member is zero as indicated by the positioning of driving arm slide block 70 (also to be later described herein), directly over pin 68 manipulation of lever 27 and the resultant pivotal movement-of positioning bracket 64 causes the needle bar driving arm 69 to pivot and thereby reciprocate link 35. Needle bar gate 33, being operatively connected to the extension of link 35, is also caused to pivot and carry the needle bar therewith to thus position the needle bar in relation to the work, so as to perform a line of stitches along the center line of the throat plate or to the left or right thereof, as desired by the operator.

A slot 71 is formed in positioning bracket 64 adapted to receive the lower end of pin 72 set into the needle bar driving arm. During pivotal movement of bracket 64, pin 72 rides within slot 71.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, there is shown a needle bar driving member or arm 69 of generally elongated configuration. A longitudinal recessed portion or groove 73 is formed in the top surface of this member. Spaced from the top surface, the member is provided with a horizontal slot 74 which extends from one end of member 69 lengthwise to a point short of the other end. Preferably, the slot terminates approximately midway through the member but extends completely through the lateral dimension of the driving arm. A pin 72 is set into the driving arm and extends vertically through slot 74 and through lower tongue 75, a portion of the pin depending below tongue 75 of sufficient dimension to ride within slot 71 of positioning bracket 64 as heretofore described. The needle bar driving arm 69 is mounted atop positioning bracket 64, pin member 68 extending through aperture 76 of the bracket and into slot 63 of the base plate. It will be understood that by pulling lever 56, via push-button 26, rocker plate 54 is caused to pivot about centering stud- 52 and cause the hook of latch link 46 to engage with pin 72 within horizontal slot 74. Simultaneously, the other end of the rocker plate is pivoted so as to move link 60 in a direction opposite to that of link 57. This results in a disengagement of the hook of latch link 51 from that portion of pin 72 depending below tongue 75. This is depicted in FIG. 5. In such position, the intelligence record means associated with latch link 46 will determine the pattern of vibratory movements to be imparted to the needle bar.

Immediately above the needle bar driving member 69, there is positioned a stitch width regulating assembly 77 including pivot arm 78 to which is affixed lever 28 that extends through the face plate for operator manipulation as shown in FIG. 2. Depending from the pivot arm, there is a socket element 79, which may be provided in the form of a sleeve, pressed into an aperture in the pivot arm. Such aperture must be of sufficient dimension to permit assembly 77 to fit over centering stud 52 and seat thereon. Lock washer 80 secures the assembly in proper seating position.

One end of pivot arm 78 rotatably carries slide element 81. The slide element is provided with a through aperture of sufficient diameter to receive link 35 in sliding relation. Adjacent the end of link 35, there is affixed thereto a driving arm slide block assembly which includes a sleeve 82 positioned over the end of link 35 and held in place by set screw 83 and a slide block 70 which is set on a reduced end portion of sleeve 82 as by a force fit. Slide block 70 is adapted to fit within groove 73 of the needle bar driving arm 69 and to be reciprocated therein from a point directly above pin member 68 to a point adjacent the other extremity of the groove. It will be noted that as slide block 70 is moved towards its outermost position in groove 73, the effective lever arm of the driving arm 69 will be increased. On the other hand, when the slide block is positioned above pin member 68 (approximately the innermost position) the lever arm of the driving arm will be substantially zero. In this position, the machine will perform only straight stitches, the ornamental stitch mechanism being rendered inoperative. By manipulating lever 28, the operator of the machine is thus able to regulate the length of the lever arm. Since the extension of link 35 is operatively connected to needle bar gate 33, the amplitude of the pivotal movement of the gate, and thus the stitch width, can thereby be regulated.

In order that binding of the slide block within the groove 73 be eliminated, the needle bar driving member 69 is preferably constructed of arcuate form, and the groove constitutes a segment of an arc struck by utilizing the pivot point of the needle bar gate as its center.

It will thus be seen that an integrated lever assembly has been provided which is extremely simple, yet provides for parallel systems of needle bar vibratory movement patterns, regulation of needle stitch width and positioning of the needle bar with relation to the work, so as to produce a line of stitches where desired.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, arrangements of parts, and operating conditions which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame and stitchsewing instrumentalities carried thereby including a needle bar mounted in said frame for reciprocatory movement and for vibratory movement transverse to the feed of the machine, needle bar driving means including a pivotably mounted needle bar driving member and a control link operatively connecting said driving member and said needle bar at variable locations with respect to the fulcrum of said member for imparting said vibratory movement to said needle bar, a plurality of intelligence record systems selectively connectable to said control link, and operator-influenced switching means for operatively connecting one of said systems to said control link and for disconnecting the other of said systems, the improvement comprising providing said needle bar driving member with connecting means thereon located along a common axis therethrough cooperable with said switching means for selectively and disengageably connecting said driving member with an output element of each of said intelligence record systems, whereby the output element of the selected intelligence record system and the output element of the non-selected intelligence record system may be simultaneously connected and disconnected respectively without changing the effective lever arm of said driving member.

2. A sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said needle bar driving member is formed with a longitudinal recessed portion in its top surface, said member further being provided with a horizontal through slot which extends from one end thereof to an intermediate point lengthwise of said member to thereby define a lower tongue, a pin being carried by said member extending vertically through said slot and depending below the lower surface of said tongue, and said member being mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis therethrough adjacent the other end thereof.

3. A sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein said control link comprises a driving arm link connected adjacent one end thereof to a driving arm slide block adapted to seat within said recessed portion of the needle bar driving member and to be reciprocable therein from a position at said pivot axis to the other extremity thereof, a manually operable lever being connected to said driving arm link for reciprocating said driving arm slide block and thereby determining the lever arm of said needle bar driving member and thus the amplitude of the movement of said driving arm link.

4. A sewing machine according to claim 3, wherein a rocker plate is pivotably mounted about its center in said frame, a first lever is connected to one end of said rocker plate and a second lever is connected to the other end of said rocker plate, a first link being pivotably connected adjacent one end thereof to said rocker plate and to said first lever, said first link being pivotably connected adjacent its other end to first latch means, a second link being pivotably connected adjacent one end thereof to said other end of said rocker plate and to said second lever, said second link being pivotably connected adjacent its otherend to second latch means, said first and second latch means being movable respectively in planes atdifferent elevations.

5. A sewing machine according to claim 4, wherein said first latch means is operatively connected to first intelligence record means adapted to provide a first series of predetermined vibratory movements to said needle bar, said second latch means being operatively connected to second intelligence record means adapted to provide a second series of predetermined vibratory movements to said needle bar 6. A sewing machine according to claim 5, wherein said needle bar driving member and said rocker plate are mounted in said frame in such relationship that by manipulation of one of said first and second levers, the latch means operatively connected therewith is caused to enter the horizontal slot in said needle bar driving member and to disengageably lock with the portion of the said pin extending through said slot, the said other latch means being simultaneously caused to disengage from locking engagement with the portion of said pin depending below the surface of said tongue.

7. A sewing machine according to claim 5, wherein said first and second intelligence record means are diverse control systems.

8. A sewing machine according to claim 4, wherein a base plate is secured to said frame above the drive shaft, said base plate having first and second transverse keyways formed therein, one of said keyways being provided with a slot extending through said base plate, a centering stud being fixed to said base plate adjacent one end thereof adapted to rotatably carry said rocker plate and a manually operable lever for regulation of the amplitude of movement of said needle bar driving arm link, a first intelligence record slide block being positioned within said slotted keyway and reciprocable therein, first intelligence record means, first intelligence record follower means extending through said slot and being operatively connected to said slide block such that said slide block may be reciprocated thereby in response to the pattern of vibratory movements incorporated on said first intelligence record means, said slide block being connected to one of said latch means for transmission of said pattern of vibratory movements thereto, and thence, to said needle bar driving member, second intelligence record means, a second intelligence record slide block being positioned in said other keyway for reciprocation therein, said second slide block being operatively connected with said second intelli gence record means such that said second slide block may be reciprocated in response to the pattern of vibratory movements incorporated on said second intelligence record means, said second slide block being connected to the other of said latch means for transmission of said second pattern of vibratory movements thereto, and thence, to said needle bar driving member,

9. A sewing machine according to claim 8, wherein said base plate is provided with an elongated slot angularly disposed with respect to the front and sides thereof and with a pivot post, a needle bar driving member positioning bracket being mounted on said base plate pivotable on said pivot post, a manually operable lever connected to said bracket extending therefrom, said needle bar driving member being mounted on said bracket by a pin member extending therethrough and into the elongated slot in said base plate, manipulation of said manually operable lever when said driving arm slide block is at said pivot axis thus effectuating pivotal movement of said bracket about said pivot post and reciprocation of said pin member within said elongated slot to thereby position the needle bar in relation to the work so as to determine the orientation of the line of stitches to be made.

Claims

1. In a sewing machine having a frame and stitch-sewing instrumentalities carried thereby including a needle bar mounted in said frame for reciprocatory movement and for vibratory movement transverse to the feed of the machine, needle bar driving means including a pivotably mounted needle bar driving member and a control link operatively connecting said driving member and said needle bar at variable locations with respect to the fulcrum of said member for imparting said vibratory movement to said needle bar, a plurality of intelligence record systems selectively connectable to said control link, and operatorinfluenced switching means for operatively connecting one of said systems to said control link and for disconnecting the other of said systems, the improvement comprising providing said needle bar driving member with connecting means thereon located along a common axis therethrough cooperable with said switching means for selectively and disengageably connecting said driving member with an output element of each of said intelligence record systems, whereby the output element of the selected intelligence record system and the output element of the non-selected intelligence record system may be simultaneously connected and disconnected respectively without changing the effective lever arm of said driving member.

4. A sewing machine according to claim 3, wherein a rocker plate is pivotably mounted about its center in said frame, a first lever is connected to one end of said rocker plate and a second lever is connected to the other end of said rocker plate, a first link being pivotably connected adjacent one end thereof to said rocker plate and to said first lever, said first link being pivotably connected adjacent its other end to first latch means, a second link being pivotably connected adjacent one end thereof to said other end of said rocker plate and to said second lever, said second link being pivotably connected adjacent its other end to second latch means, said first and second latch means being movable respectively in planes at different elevations.

5. A sewing machine according to claim 4, wherein said first latch means is operatively connected to first intelligence record means adapted to provide a first series of predetermined vibratory movements to said needle bar, said second latch means being operatively connected to second intelligence record means adapted to provide a second series of predetermined vibratory movements to said needle bar.

6. A sewing machine according to claim 5, wherein said needle bar driving member and said rocker plate are mounted in said frame in such relationship that by manipulation of one of said first and second levers, the latch means operatively connected therewith is caused to enter the horizontal slot in said needle bar driving member and to disengageably lock with the portion of the said pin extending through said slot, the said other latch means being simultaneously caused to disengage from locking engagement with the portion of said pin depending below the surface of said tongue.

8. A sewing machine according to claim 4, wherein a base plate is secured to said frame above the drive shaft, said base plate having first and second transverse keyways formed therein, one of said keyways being provided with a slot extending through said base plate, a centering stud being fixed to said base plate adjacent one end thereof adapted to rotatably carry said rocker plate and a manually operable lever for regulation of the amplitude of movement of said needle bar driving arm link, a first intelligence record slide block being positioned within said slotted keyway and reciprocable therein, first intelligence record means, first intelligence record follower means extending through said slot and being operatively connected to said slide block such that said slide block may be reciprocated thereby in response to the pattern of vibratory movements incorporated on said first intelligence record means, said slide block being connected to one of said latch means for transmission of said pattern of vibratory movements thereto, and thence, to said needle bar driving member, second intelligence record means, a second intelligence record slide block being positioned in said other keyway for reciprocation therein, said second slide block being operatively connected with said second intelligence record means such that said second slide block may be reciprocated in response to the pattern of vibratory movements incorporated on said second intelligence record means, said second slide block being connected to the other of said latch means for transmission of said second pattern of vibratory movements thereto, and thence, to said needle bar driving member.