Thread-cutting attachment for sewing machines

Claim 2

In an apparatus for removing surplus thread from a stitched article immediately subsequent to the stitching thereof; first guide means for guiding the article along a predetermined path in a predetermined plane during the stitching thereof, second, lowfriction guide means located along said path immediately subsequent to said first guide means for continuing the guiding of the article with low friction immediately subsequent to the stitching of the article, the stitched article sliding along an exposed upper surface of said second guide means, and cutting means having cooperating fixed and oscillatable blades, said cutting means being situated immediately beneath said second guide means for cutting surplus threads extending from the article as it moves along said second guide means, said second guide means being located in its entirety at an elevation no higher than said first guide means and said second guide means having a front edge formed with an entrance notch for receiving surplus thread hanging down from a stitched article, said cutting means being situated in the path of movement of the surplus thread hanging down from the stitched article and entering said notch of said second guide means, said entrance notch being defined only by a pair of opposed side edges and a rear edge and having an open front end preceded by a substantial free open space for assuring entry of the surplus thread into said notch.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said second guide means is situated in the same plane as said first guide means.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said second guide means is situated in a plane different from and parallel to the plane of said first guide means.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said second guide means is inclined with respect to and extends slightly lower than said first guide means.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said oscillatable blade which coacts with said fixed blade swings about an axis normal to said plane.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 and wherein a suction means has a suction inlet located in the region of said cutting means for sucking away threads cut by said cutting means.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 and wherein said low-friction guide means is in the form of a stationary plate fixed to and located directly over said cutting means and having a smooth exposed upper surface of a low coefficient of friction along which the stitched article slides subsequent to said first guide means, said plate of said second guide means having a front edge formed with said entrance notch of said second guide means.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for removing surplus thread from a stitched article immediately subsequent to the stitching thereof: first guide means for guiding the article along a predetermined path in a predetermined plane during the stitching thereof, second, low-friction guide means located along said path immediately subsequent to said first guide means for continuing the guiding of the article with low friction immediately subsequent to the stitching of the article, the stitched article sliding along an exposed upper surface of said second guide means, and cutting means having cooperating fixed and oscillatable blades, said cutting means being situated immediately beneath said second guide means for cutting surplus threads extending from the article as it moves along said second guide means, said second guide means being located in its entirety at an elevation no higher than Said first guide means and said second guide means having a front edge formed with an entrance notch for receiving surplus thread hanging down from a stitched article, said cutting means being situated in the path of movement of the surplus thread hanging down from the stitched article and entering said notch of aid second guide means, said low-friction guide means being in the form of a stationary plate fixed to and located directly over said cutting means and having a smooth exposed upper surface of a low coefficient of friction along which the stitched article slides subsequent to said first guide means, said plate of said second guide means having a front edge formed with said entrance notch of said second guide means, said fixed blade of said cutting means being located directly beneath and carrying said plate of said low-friction guide means, said fixed blade being formed with an entrance notch aligned with said entrance notch of said second guide means and into which said surplus threads move during sliding of the article along said plate, said fixed blade terminating at said notch thereof in a pair of opposed lower substantially parallel cutting edges extending in the direction of movement of the stitched article, and said oscillatable blade swinging about an axis normal to said plane and having an upper surface provided at its opposed sides with a pair of cutting edges which respectively coact with the stationary cutting edges at the lower end of said notch.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for removing surplus thread from a stitched article immediately subsequent to the stitching thereof: first guide means for guiding the article along a predetermined path in a predetermined plane during the stitching thereof, second, low-friction guide means located along said path immediately subsequent to said first guide means for continuing the guiding of the article with low friction immediately subsequent to the stitching of the article, the stitched article sliding along an exposed upper surface of said second guide means, and cutting means having cooperating fixed and oscillatable blades, said cutting means being situated immediately beneath said second guide means for cutting surplus threads extending from the article as it moves along said second guide means, said second guide means being located in its entirety at an elevation no higher than Said first guide means and said second guide means having a front edge formed with an entrance notch for receiving surplus thread hanging down from a stitched article, said cutting means being situated in the path of movement of the surplus thread hanging down from the stitched article and entering said notch of aid second guide means, said low-friction guide means being in the form of a stationary plate fixed to and located directly over said cutting means and having a smooth exposed upper surface of a low coefficient of friction along which the stitched article slides subsequent to said first guide means, said plate of said second guide means having a front edge formed with said entrance notch of said second guide means, said fixed blade of said cutting means being located directly beneath and carrying said plate of said low-friction guide means, said fixed blade being formed with an entrance notch aligned with said entrance notch of said second guide means and into which said surplus threads move during sliding of the article along said plate, said fixed blade terminating at said notch thereof in a pair of opposed lower substantially parallel cutting edges extending in the direction of movement of the stitched article, and said oscillatable blade swinging about an axis normal to said plane and having an upper surface provided at its opposed sides with a pair of cutting edges which respectively coact with the stationary cutting edges at the lower end of said notch.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 and wherein said oscillatable blade is formed at an end distant from said notch with an elongated cutout, and a swingable drive lever swinging about a second axis normal to said plane and having a pin received in said cutout of said plane and having a pin received in said cutout of said oscillatable blade for oscillating the latter during swinging of said drive lever about said second axis.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 and wherein said fixed blade of said cutting means is itself in the form of a plate of substantial thickness extending beneath substantially the entire plate which forms said low-friction guide means.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 5 and wherein a drive means is operatively connected with said blade for oscillating the latter, and said drive means including a curved flexible motor-driven shaft.