Sewing – Special machines – Embroidering
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-23
2001-12-04
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Sewing
Special machines
Embroidering
C112S241000, C112S302000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325006
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to automatic embroidering or needle-working machines, and more particularly, to a thread feeding apparatus for use in an automatic embroidering machine.
Generally, an automatic embroidering machine serves to automatically decorate clothes, shoes, or labels thereof with a variety of colored threads according to a predetermined program, to make embroidery for patterns, signs or marks, etc. Considering this, the automatic embroidering machine can be referred to as an automatic sewing machine.
In order to selectively use a variety of different colored threads, this kind of embroidering machine is comprised of a thread supplying unit for supplying a variety of colored threads, and a multiplicity of head stems corresponding to multiple threads supplied from the thread supplying unit. Because the machine has the multiple head stems, it has been referred to as a multi-head automatic embroidering machine. Each head stem of the embroidering machine is comprised of a needle for making embroidery by moving vertically, a presser foot for pressing a web on which embroidery is made, according to an operation of needlework, a thread taking-up unit for straining and loosening the thread passing through the eye of the needle, according to an upward and downward movement thereof.
However, the conventional multi-head automatic embroidering machine requires head stems as many as the number of threads in use. Further, each head stem has to be equipped with a needle, a presser foot, a thread taking-up unit and the respective driving means therefor, for which the head stem becomes very complicated in structure. Additionally, in order to replace the using thread with a thread different in color, the new thread must pass through the thread taking-up unit and the eye of the needle by hand, thereby making it inconvenient to replace a thread and also consuming a lot of time for replacement.
An automatic embroidering machine to solve this problem was disclosed in the Germany Laid-Open Print (offenlegungsschrift) under the number DE 196 24 344. The disclosed machine is comprised of a single head stem including a needle, a presser feet and a thread taking-up unit, and a thread supplying unit for selectively supplying threads of a plurality of colors to the head steam. The thread supplied by the thread supplying unit is drawn by a suction nozzle and transferred to the needle through a guide pipe.
However, the guide pipe for guiding the thread into he needle forms a curved path comprised of a pair of vertical sections and a horizontal section between the air of vertical sections. The curved path does not allow the thread to be smoothly transferred, thereby making it difficult to reach the needle.
On the horizontal section is formed a space through which the thread taking-up unit is allowed to pass in a transverse direction relative to the thread supplying direction, and therefore, the thread is highly likely to fall out of the needle when it passes through the space on the horizontal section.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above-described shortcomings, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved thread feeding apparatus for an automatic embroidering machine, having a single head stem simplified in structure, wherein a supplying path of the thread is prevented from being curved, to thereby efficiently feed the thread.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thread feeding apparatus for an automatic embroidering machine wherein a space formed on a thread supplying path may be removed as necessary, so as to prevent the supplied thread from being falling out of a needle.
These and other objects of the present invention ay be achieved by providing a thread feeding apparatus for an automatic embroidering machine, comprising a head stem having a needle-working unit; a thread supplying unit supplying a colored thread selected among a plurality of threads; a guide pipe assembly provided at the head stem, having a first guide pipe receiving the thread from the thread supplying unit and a second guide pipe having an upper end spaced axially from the first guide pipe and a lower end adjacent to the needle-working unit; and a thread taking-up unit having a take-up lever moving up and down across a thread transferring path, and a take-up bar coupled with the take-up lever in a transverse direction relative to movement of the take-up bar, moving reciprocally through a space between the first and second guide pipes according to the movement of the take-up lever, to allow the thread to be strained or loosened.
The thread supplying unit comprises a plurality of thread passages arranged in parallel above the head steam, horizontally relative to an axial direction of the first guide pipe, within which the end parts of the threads are respectively positioned; a tension adjusting unit adjusting a tension status of the threads; and a thread transfer nozzle transferring the end parts of the threads through the first and second guide pipes by blowing air into to thread passages.
The apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a main frame supporting the head stem; a movable frame installed to the main frame to support the thread supplying unit, being slidable above the main frame so that one thread passage among the thread passages aligns with the first guide pipe; and a sliding driver for sliding the movable frame relative to the main frame.
The thread supplying unit has a plurality of air holes penetrated thereinto, inclining downward toward the thread passages from outside; and wherein the thread transfer nozzle is coupled to an upper part of the head steam, blowing air into the air holes, through which the air is supplied into one thread passage selected by the movement of the movable frame.
The guide pipe assembly comprises an auxiliary guide pipe coaxially installed to the first or second thread guide pipes; and an auxiliary guide pipe driver closing and opening the space between the first and second thread guide pipes by elevating or moving said auxiliary guide pipe transversely relative to the axial direction.
The guide pipe assembly comprises a guide elevating driver closing and opening the space between the first and second guide pipes by elevating the first or second guide pipes.
Thread taking-up unit comprises a pair of the take-up levers arranged such that the first guide pipe is placed therebetween; and the take-up bar connecting free ends of the pair of take-up levers.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an auxiliary take-up unit including a thread suspension ring elevatably installed coaxially relative to the first guide pipe; and a ring driver elevating the thread suspension ring, to have the thread strained below the take-up bar.
These and other objects of the present invention may also be achieved by providing a thread feeding apparatus for an automatic embroidering machine comprising a head stem having a needle-working unit; a thread supplying unit supplying one thread selected among a plurality of threads; a guide pipe assembly provided to the head stem, having a thread guide pipe receiving the thread from the thread supplying unit and having a lower end adjacent to the needle-working unit, and a guide pipe driver elevating the guide pipe so that a predetermined space is formed between the thread passage and the guide pipe; a thread taking-up unit having a take-up lever moving up and down across a thread transferring path, and a take-up bar coupled with the take-up lever in a transverse direction relative to movement of the take-up bar, moving reciprocally through space between the first and second guide pipes according to the movement of the take-up lever, to allow the thread to be strained or loosened.
The thread supplying unit comprises a plurality of thread passages arranged in parallel above said head steam, horizontally relative to an axial direction of said guide pipe, within which the end parts of said threads are respectively pos
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Izaguirre Ismael
LandOfFree
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