Sewing – Special machines – For sewing plural workpieces under tension
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-30
2004-01-20
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Sewing
Special machines
For sewing plural workpieces under tension
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fabric tensioning device for stretching work fabric in the sewing location of a sewing machine.
2. Description of Related Art
Devices for tensioning a piece of tube-like fabric, such as a material for socks and wrist bands, using a cylindrical frame are used in embroidering on a sewing machine. One of such fabric tensioning device is disclosed in International Patent Publication Number WO0/53836. This device has a cylindrical frame
101
that is placed to cover the outside of the cylinder bed (not shown) of the sewing machine as shown in
FIG. 11. A
sewing window
102
is formed in cylindrical frame
101
for exposing the sewing, area of the cylinder bed. A fabric clamping member
103
capable of opening and closing vertically is provided in order to clamp down the fabric, which is arranged to cover sewing window
102
, against cylindrical frame
101
. Fabric clamping member
103
is formed by bending a steel rod to form a rectangular shape with a closed front end, to clamp down the fabric against cylindrical frame
101
to hold it on three sides, i.e., the front, left and right sides, of the sewing area.
However, with this fabric tensioning device, because fabric clamping member
103
is a frame-like member made of a highly rigid material, the contact of fabric clamping member
103
against the fabric is often localized. This causes a clamp mark in a certain area, and insufficient clamping in other areas of the fabric, which are all undesirable. Moreover, since fabric clamping member
103
does not hold the fabric on the rear side of the sewing area, it may cause looseness in the fabric on the left and right sides of the sewing area particularly when the fabric is a thin or slippery piece of processed fabric, thus affecting the sewing accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a fabric tensioning device for a sewing machine that can solve the abovementioned problems by holding down the fabric on the four sides of the sewing area evenly and stretching the fabric securely on the cylindrical frame without causing any clamping marks or slacks.
In order to solve the abovementioned problems, the fabric tensioning device according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical frame having a sewing window and a fabric clamping member for clamping down against said cylindrical frame a work fabric that is covering said sewing window, wherein said fabric clamping member is provided in such a way as to be able to open or close against said cylindrical frame, and said fabric clamping member is equipped with a pair of fabric clamps on the left and right hand side that are oblong in the longitudinal direction having open-end front edges, wherein said fabric clamps are tightened against said cylindrical frame at the front and rear ends of a sewing area by means of a pair of belts provided in the front and the rear of the area.
While the direction that the fabric clamping member opens or closes can either be a vertical direction or a lateral direction, it is preferable for the fabric clamping member to be mounted in such a way to open or close in the lateral direction as it makes it easier to open the sewing window fully and to spread the fabric over the area. It is preferable in this case that the fabric clamping member is pivot-mounted on the cylindrical frame at a location outside of one of the fabric clamps so that a wide space can be formed between the fabric clamp and the cylindrical frame and the work fabric can be easily inserted. More specifically, it is preferable to form the fabric clamping member in a rectangular shape with an open-ended front edge by connecting the rear end of the left and right hand side fabric clamps, and to attach the rear end of the fabric clamping member to the cylindrical frame via a pivot shaft located outside of one of the fabric clamps so that the fabric clamping member can be opened in the lateral direction.
The belts that tighten the fabric clamps do not have to be made of a specific kind of material; for example, rubber belts, fabric belts, surface fastener belts, etc., can be used, as long as they are flexible so that they are unlikely to leave clamping marks. Surface fastener belts with open-ends are preferable as they can be used to tighten the fabric clamps with one-touch operation. It is preferable in this case to provide a surface fastener on one of the fabric clamps in such a way that the position of the rear belt can be adjusted in the forward and backward direction in order to be able to tighten the fabric clamp close to the rear end of the stitch forming area as needed in accordance with the sewing area of an embroidery pattern, etc. The front belt should preferably be threaded through the hole provided on the front end of the left and right fabric clamps so that it will not be lost.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5553560 (1996-09-01), Tajima et al.
patent: 5887534 (1999-03-01), French et al.
patent: 5915314 (1999-06-01), Moore, III
patent: 6213037 (2001-04-01), Hattori et al.
patent: 6532882 (2003-03-01), Tajima et al.
patent: 401239151 (1989-09-01), None
patent: WO 00/53836 (2000-09-01), None
Darby & Darby
Izaguirre Ismael
Kabushikikaisha Barudan
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