US3721204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic needle positioning and presser foot lifting mechanism
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
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Filing: 1971-11-17
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1991-11-17
Abstract
Abstract Needle cooling apparatus, and needle and presser foot position controlling apparatus for use with sewing machines of the type having reciprocable needles and a raisable and lowerable presser foot, the needle cooling being effected by discharging cool air directly onto the needles while they are carrying out stitching with the air discharge being terminated as soon as stitching ceases. On-off operation of the air is provided by a control operated by the sewing treadle. Relative position control of the needle and presser foot is carried out automatically under control of the operator by means of a mode control, a needle positioner mechanism, a presser foot actuating device and a second control operated by the sewing treadle when the latter is heeled. During stitching the presser foot is always down, and when stitching is terminated, the needle is always down while the presser foot may remain down or move up as determined by the position of the mode control. Heeling of the treadle causes the needle to rise and causes the presser foot to rise if it were down, but if the presser foot had been up it is caused to descend until the needle rises and to thereafter rise. Release of the treadle from its heeled position causes the presser foot to descend.
Inventors
- 👤 P Schaffer
- 👤 B Hoverter
- 👤 K Haas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:46
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B69/00; D05B69/22; D05B71/00; D05B71/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
Needle and presser foot position controlling apparatus for use with sewing machines of the type having a raisable and lowerable presser foot structure and a reciprocable needle, the needle being respectively driven for stitching and stopped by a main needle drive when the main drive is actuated and deactuated by an operator controlled stitching control, and including an auxiliary needle positioning drive mechanism operative to position the sewing machine needle in the down or up position independently of the main needle drive as determined by the sewing machine operator, comprising in combination. a. actuatable presser foot shifting means engageable with the sewing machine presser foot lift mechanism effective when actuated to raise the presser foot and when deactuated to lower the presser foot, b. actuatable needle position control means coupled to the needle positioning drive mechanism effective when actuated to move the needle to its up position and when deactuated to move the needle to its down position, c. master control means coupled to the operator controlled stitching control and to said presser foot shifting means and said needle position control means, said master control means preventing actuation of said presser foot shifting means and needle position control means when the operator controlled stitching control is operated to carry out stitching, and said master control means permitting actuation of said presser foot shifting means and needle position control means when the operator controlled stitching control is not carrying out stitching, d. auxiliary control means coupled to said presser foot shifting means and needle position control means effective when actuated to actuate both said latter named means to thereby raise the presser foot and move the needle to its up position, and effective when thereafter deactuated to deactuate at least said presser foot shifting means and lower the presser foot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
Needle and presser foot position controlling apparatus for use with sewing machines of the type having a raisable and lowerable presser foot structure and a reciprocable needle, the needle being respectively driven for stitching and stopped by a main needle drive when the main drive is actuated and deactuated by an operator controlled stitching control, and including an auxiliary needle positioning drive mechanism operative to position the sewing machine needle in the down or up position independently of the main needle drive as determined by the sewing machine operator, comprising in combination. a. actuatable presser foot shifting means engageable with the sewing machine presser foot lift mechanism effective when actuated to raise the presser foot and when deactuated to lower the presser foot, b. actuatable needle position control means coupled to the needle positioning drive mechanism effective when actuated to move the needle to its up position and when deactuated to move the needle to its down position, c. master control means coupled to the operator controlled stitching control and to said presser foot shifting means and said needle position control means, said master control means preventing actuation of said presser foot shifting means and needle position control means when the operator controlled stitching control is operated to carry out stitching, and said master control means permitting actuation of said presser foot shifting means and needle position control means when the operator controlled stitching control is not carrying out stitching, d. auxiliary control means coupled to said presser foot shifting means and needle position control means effective when actuated to actuate both said latter named means to thereby raise the presser foot and move the needle to its up position, and effective when thereafter deactuated to deactuate at least said presser foot shifting means and lower the presser foot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including second auxiliary control means coupled to said actuatable needle position control means effective to maintain the latter actuated and the needle in its up position independently of the actuated or deactuated condition of said auxiliary control means once the latter has been actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including additional auxiliary control means coupled to said presser foot shifting means effective when actuated to cause the latter to be deactuated and lower the presser foot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said actuatable presser foot shifting means comprises a solenoid actuated linkage mechanism, wherein said master control means is an electrical switch which is opened during stitching and which is closed when stitching is terminated, and wherein said auxiliary control means is also an electrical switch which is rendered inoperative by said master control electrical switch when the latter is opened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said second auxiliary control means is also coupled to said master control means and is rendered inoperative by the latter whenever the operator controlled stitching control is operated to carry out stitching.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said auxiliary control means is effective while in its actuated state to overide said additional auxiliary control means and raise the presser foot, after the needle has been moved to its up position by the needle positioning drive mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said additional auxiliary control means is also coupled to said master control means and is rendered inoperative by the latter whenever the operator controlled stitching control is operated to carry out stitching.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including needle coOling apparatus, comprising in combination, a. an air conduit having an inlet end and an open outlet end, said outlet end of said conduit being positionable to discharge air directly upon the sewing machine needle portion which is directly above the position of work being stitched, b. an openable and closable air valve having an air inlet and an air outlet, said air conduit inlet end being coupled to said valve air outlet, and said valve air inlet including means for coupling to a source of pressurized air, c. selectively operable air control means coupled to said air valve for opening and closing the latter, said air control means being coupled to and controlled by the sewing machine stitching control so that said air control means opens said air valve to discharge air upon the sewing needle when the stitching control actuates the sewing machine needle drive and closes said air valve to terminate air discharge when the stitching control deactuates the sewing machine needle drive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein the sewing machine has a presser foot, and said air conduit outlet end is secured to and moves with the sewing machine presser foot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as described in claim 8 further including adjustable air flow control means in the air flow line by means of which the volumetric air discharge upon the sewing machine needle may be regulated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein the sewing machine stitching control is an operator controlled treadle, wherein said air valve is a solenoid controlled valve, and wherein said air control means is an electrical switch openable and closeable in accordance with the stitching and nonstitching positions of the operator controlled treadle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |