WO2017042770A1

WO2017042770A1 - Automatic needle threader

Info

Publication number: WO2017042770A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/055864
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorena DEL CARMEN RAMOS; Juan Bosco GUEVARA PERÉZ; Rut Saray SIERRA BATISTA; Rigoberto BETHANCOURT; Zoila Y. GUERRA DE CASTILLO
Original assignee: Universidad Tecnológica De Panamá
Priority date: 2016-07-28
Filing date: 2016-09-30
Publication date: 2017-03-16

Abstract

Automatic needle threader that allows threading the needle and cutting the thread to the length desired by the user. It allows improving the situation of people with reduced vision and for which, currently, the threading of needles requires a great deal of time and intuition. The threader comprises a power source, a sewing thread spool holder, a thread immobilizer, a needle channel wherein is disposed the needle to perform the threading, an actuation element connected to a threading motor mechanism and a thread-cutting actuation element connected to a cutting mechanism to cut the thread to the required length.

Description

AUTOMATIC NEEDLE THREADER

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention The present invention describes a device to automatically thread the sewing thread in a needle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays there are various devices dedicated to simplify the sewing process, which starts with threading the needing and ends with the stitches. It should be highlighted that the existing threading devices are generally incorporated in a sewing machine such as that presented in patent US005345888A which consists of an automatic threader which uses compressed air to thread the needles of sewing machines.

Patent US3523511 is also known which discloses a device for automatically threading a sewing machine needle by means of the passage of a hook through the eye of the needle, hooking the thread and pulling the thread and the hook-shaped element through the eye of the needle.

Both patents disclose devices exclusively created for sewing machines but cannot be used to perform a manual task wherein said work is traditionally performed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an automatic needle threader for people involved in manual work related to sewing who have limited vision. The solution provided is not only in the manual sewing process comprising the thread, cutting the needle, calculating the amount of thread to use and stitching but also has an impact on preventing the decrease in the degree to which their eyesight is affected.

This invention allows the development of new automatic threading techniques of needles for manual use. It also allows optimizing the necessary time for needle threading and, therefore, optimizing sewing time. The threader described is driven by a power source, which is preferably an electric motor for automatically threading the sewing thread in a needle, this passes through a circular cutter that allows its cutting to be later threaded in the eye of the needle. It comprises an actuation element, which is preferably a switch-on button, by means of pressing whereof the threader hooks the thread and inserts it in the eye of the needle. Likewise, the threader comprises a cutting element that is a second button of the device and that enables actuating the thread cutter when said thread reaches a certain point. An object of the present invention is to perform an automatic threading of a thread in a needle to facilitate the work of people with poor vision or with certain visual disabilities, and who work in sewing in a traditional manner.

Another objective of the present invention is to show the needle threading process to the user viewing the process from start to finish.

Another objective of the present invention is to maintain the thread spool fixed to facilitate handing of the thread through the system. Another objective of the present invention is that the needle, once threaded, can be extracted through an outlet of the threader.

Another objective of the present invention is that the threader comprises means to determine a length of thread established by the user and means to cut the thread a certain distance.

Another objective of the present invention is that the entire electric motor mechanism of the threader is located in the inner part of the device so that only the thread is disposed in the exterior of the threader.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complement the description being made and in order to aid towards a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description wherein, with illustrative and non-limiting character, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows an external front view of the automatic needle threader.

Figure 2.- Shows a front view of the inner part of the automatic needle threader. Figure 3.- Shows a top view of the automatic needle threader. Figure 4.- Shows the side view of the automatic needle threader. Figure 5.- Shows a view of the cutting system elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An example of embodiment is described below with the aid of figures 1 to 5. These figures are not to scale. The actual dimension and/or form of the automatic needle threader may vary. Only the relevant details of threading are shown.

The main function of the automatic needle threader is that it facilitates the threading of a thread in a sewing needle, which passes through a circular cutter that allows cutting the thread after threading the eye of the needle. An advantage of the proposed threader is that it can be used without any prior experience.

Figure 1 shows a front view of the automatic needle threading device. The device contains an actuation element (1) that allows activating the automatic threader, a thread-cutting actuation element (2), a protective panel of the needle channel (3) disposed on a needle channel (13) wherein the needle is disposed (the needle channel protector (3) avoids the needle from exiting the needle channel (13)), a sewing thread immobilizer (4) with hook form, where it winds the thread manually stabilizing and tightening the thread, securing it to the device surface and a sewing thread spool holder (5). Figure 2 shows the front view of the inner part of the automatic needle threader. In this figure, in addition to the previously described elements, a threading motor mechanism (6) is observed which includes a set of combined gears and belts adhered to a needle threader (7), which is an element similar to a hook. The threading motor (6) is connected to the actuation element (1) and is activated when said actuation element (1) is pressed.

The needle threader (7) has the possibility of vertical movement and of rotation and is configured to trap the thread and displace it until making it pass through the eye of the needle.

The needle channel (13) makes it possible to guide the needles in the correct position to the needle threader (7) by means of a roller mechanism with a needle immobilizer

(8) . This needle immobilizer (8) acts as a stop for the needle so that it is in the correct position to the angle of the threading hook.

Before activating the device, the user introduces the needle inside the needle channel (13) and secures and tightens the thread in the thread immobilizer (4). When the user presses the actuation element (1) the device immobilizes the needle, obstructing the needle channel (13) with the needle immobilizer (8), avoiding it from displacing, securing its position to the protective panel of the needle channel (3).

Figure 2 also shows a channel band of the needle (9) that is disposed in the needle channel (13) and is designed to guide the displacement of the needle inside it. The threader also comprises a cutting mechanism (10) configured to cut the thread to a determined length.

When the needle has already been threaded, it exits the channel band of the needle

(9) , the user takes it and displaces it until obtaining the desired thread length. Then the user actuates the thread-cutting actuation element (2) and cuts the thread with the cutting mechanism (10) that is connected to it. Figure 5 shows the cutting mechanism

(10) comprising blades which cut the thread. As observed in the figure, the blades are a left blade (14) and a right blade (15). At the time represented in the figure, the left blade (14) opens, similarly to a guillotine, to cut the excess thread after it has been threaded in the needle. The right blade (15) remains immobile.

The threader of the present invention comprises a power source (1 1) which provides the necessary power to the threading motor mechanism (6). This mechanism is what pushes, as previously described, the needle threader (7) until reaching the thread found in a thread channel (13). The needle threader (7) during its movement in vertical direction displaces inside a needle threading channel (12). Figure 3 shows the actuation element (1) of the automatic threader, the thread cutting actuation button (2) and the sewing thread spool holder (5).

Figure 4 is a side view of the automatic threader, which shows the actuation element (1) which activates the threading motor mechanism (6), the needle channel (13) where the needle is located protected by the protective panel of the needle channel (3) so that it does not exit the device. It also shows an opening which corresponds with the outlet of the needle threading channel (12). Through it, the thread exits to be secured in the sewing thread immobilizer (4).

Claims

1.- Automatic needle threader comprising at least: a power source; a sewing thread spool holder, a thread immobilizer, a needle channel wherein is disposed the needle to perform the threading; an actuation element connected to a threading motor mechanism and to a needle threader which has hook configuration and the possibility of vertical movement and of rotation, designed to collect the thread and displace it until threading it in the needle; a thread-cutting actuation element that is connected to a cutting mechanism to cut the thread to the length required after the threading.

2.- Threader of claim 1 , additionally comprising a needle immobilizer configured to act as a stop for the needle in the needle channel.

3. - Threader of claim 1 , additionally comprising a needle threading channel wherethrough the needle threader is displaced in its vertical movement.

4. - Threader of claim 1 , additionally comprising a protective panel of the needle channel to avoid the needle from exiting the needle channel.

5. - Threader of claim 1 , additionally comprising a needle channel band, disposed inside the needle channel, designed to guide the displacement of the needle in the needle channel.

6. - Threader of claim 1 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a left blade and a right blade with possibility of relative displacement, configured to cut the thread.