Automatic embroidery machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for selecting a given number of needles out of a larger number for changing thread colors and/or needle ratios in an embroidery machine in which a needle frame having said larger number of needles mounted thereon in a standard pitch arrangement produces a movement of all the needles toward and away from a fabric being embroidered, comprising: a plurality of needle-carrying sliders mounted on the needle frame for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of working movement of said needles to move the needles from a non-working position in which the needles do not engage the fabric during movement of the needle frame to a working position in which the needles engage the fabric during movement of the needle frame to effect embroidery thereon; a selection bar mounted on said needle frame for movement in two substantially orthogonal directions; and means for engaging said selection bar with at least one selected needle-carrying slider during movement of said selection bar in one of said orthogonal directions, said selected at least one slider being moved from said non-working position of said needles to said working position thereof by said selection bar during its movement in the second of said two substantially orthogonal directions.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection bar has a plurality of members disposed thereon projecting toward said sliders in pre-established positions, said sliders having transverse slots formed thereon for engagement with selected ones of said plurality of members, said members engaging said slots during movement of said selection bar in said one orthogonal direction.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said selection bar is formed with a plurality of holes extending therethrough in a spaceD longitudinal pattern, said plurality of members comprising pins removably secured in said holes according to a predetermined pattern of selection.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of spaced longitudinal patterns of said holes is at least equal to the number of said sliders to be selected at one time.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said selection bar has a stepped profile, each of said longitudinal patterns being formed on a corresponding step of said selection bar.

Claim 7

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which, for each alignment, all the members project from the selection bar by an equal height, intermediate between the heights of the members of the two adjacent alignments, the alignment provided with the highest members being on the side of the selection bar turned towards the fabric to be embroidered.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each group of said sliders comprises all the sliders spaced from one another according to a predetermined ratio of said embroidery machine.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: guide means for guiding said selection bar for sliding movement parallel to said needle-carrying sliders; a control bar mounted for longitudinal movement on said needle frame transversely of the axes of movement of said sliders; and connecting means connecting said control bar to said guide means for translating the longitudinal movement of said control bar into the sliding movement of said selection bar parallel to said sliders.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said translating means comprises at least one lever mounted for pivotal movement on said needle frame and having two arms disposed substantially at right angles with respect to each other, a first arm being pivoted directly on said control bar and a second arm being connected to said guide means.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said translating means comprises a cam profiled section formed in said control bar, said guide means comprising a cam following roller engaging said cam-profiled section.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said needle-carrying sliders are provided with first and second notches; said apparatus further comprising: a locking bar movable along a longitudinal locking axis, said locking bar having teeth for engaging said first notch of said at least one slider selected by said selection bar and moved into said working position and for engaging said second notch of non-selected sliders remaining in said non-working position to lock said sliders in their respective positions; and connecting means connecting said locking bar to said control bar, the longitudinal movement of said locking bar being controlled by movement of said control bar, said connecting means comprising at least one further cam profiled section of said control bar and a further cam-following roller engaging said further cam profiled section and connected to said locking bar; wherein said cam profiled section and further cam profiled section are so disposed on said control bar that when said control bar is moved in a first longitudinal direction said locking bar is moved into engagement with said sliders after said at least one selected slider has been moved into said working position by movement of said selection bar, and in an opposite direction of movement of said control bar, said locking bar is moved out of engagement with said sliders before said selection bar is moved by movement of said control bar to return said at least one selected slider to its non-working position.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said needle-carrying sliders are provided with first and second notches; said apparatus further comprising: a locking bar movable along a longitudinal locking axis, said locking bar having teeth for engaging said first notch of said at least one slider selected by said selection bar and moved into said working position and for engaging said second notch of non-selected sliders remaining in said non-working position to lock said sliders in their respective position; and connecting means connecting said locking bar to said control bar, the longitudinal movement of said locking bar being controlled by movement of said control bar.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said connecting means comprises: a member engaging said locking bar; a cam profiled section of said control bar; and a cam-following roller connected to said member and engaging said cam profiled section.

Claim 15

The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said member comprises a two-armed lever mounted for pivotal movement on said needle frame, one arm of said lever carrying said cam-following roller and the other arm contacting said locking bar directly.

Claim 16

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle-carrying sliders are provided with first and second notches; said apparatus further comprising a locking bar movable along a longitudinal locking axis, said locking bar having teeth for engaging said first notch of said at least one slider selected by said selection bar and moved into said working position and for engaging said second notch of non-selected sliders remaining in said non-working position to lock said sliders in their respective positions.

Claim 17

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle-carrying sliders have an upside-down T-shaped section.

Claim 18

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle-carrying sliders have a circular shaped section.

Claim 19

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle-carrying sliders have a semi-circular shaped section.

Claim 20

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle-carrying sliders have a triangular shaped section.

Claim 21

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the pre-selection operation of said selection bar is performed by longitudinally shifting the bar itself.