US2160090A - Tufting attachment for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1939 w. F.0scHMlEDEL l 2,160,090 I 'IUFTINGV ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Shea?I l, v

INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY- May 30 1939- wA F. sCHMu-:DEL 2,160,090

TUFTING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINS Filed May 14, 1957 2 sheetssheet 2 ATTOFNEY.

atente May 30, i939 OFFICE 'rnFTING A'r'mcnivmnrron snwme MAcs- Wiiiiam F. Schmiedel; Oshkosh, Wis., assigner to Deltox Rug Company, (ishkosli, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 14, 1937, Serial No. '142,534 'i claim. (oi. i12- '29,

l wherein the looper receives its reciprocatory motion directly from the main drive of the sewing machine, while the cutting instrumentality receives its power from anA independent source, thereby relieving the main drive of the machine l' of an undue burden and strain.

A further object of the invention is to provide tufting attachments of the character described which can be arranged for use with either single or multiple needle sewing machines. g@ Heretofore, in sewing machine tufting attachments,` looped threads have been severed by means of cutters which are swung or. reciprocated to and from' the formed loops. Where the severing of loops is accomplished with cutting in- 25 strumentalities of this nature, the formed loops are necessarily severedl with a drawing or chopping action of the cutter. The present invention has as another object the provision of a revolving circular cutter mounted on a relatively g@ xed axis and arranged so that the formed loops are brought into contact with the revolving cutter. This arrangement has the advantages of providing substantially greater cutting edges which are not subjected to undue wear, provides 35 for cleaner and sharper severing of the formed loops, and also results in a construction wherein the cutters are removable without changing or losing the original and proper adjustment or positioning of the cutters relative to the work.

4@ A further object of theinvention is to provide a tufting attachment for sewing machines wherein the cutter is susceptible of adjustment in all directions with the advantage that it may be adjusted very minutely relative to the'wrk to 45 properly position it-for different types of yarn or thread being utilized and with the further advantage that as the knife edge wears down from usage, this may be compensated for by adjustment of the cutter axis. l 50 A further object 'of the invention is to provide, in a tufting attachment for sewing machines, a

lcoper which is of very simple construction and which may be machined and mounted in a very simple and expeditious manner, said looper furgg ther being formed with an integral guiding sur- .face to act as a supporting guide for the sewing machine needle during certain positions of the same. y y

A further object of the invention is to provide a tufting attachment for sewing machines where- 5 in the looper is adjustable so that different height piles may be'eected in the tufted fabric produced on the sewing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the class described-wherein a l0 previously formed and engaged loop on the looper is severed during a reciprocation of the looper in one direction and atthe same time that another loop is being engaged and formed. AA further object of the invention is to provide a tufting attachment for sewing machines which is oi very simple' construction, is strong and durable and inexpensive, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved tufting attachment for sewing machines and its parts and. combinations as set forth in the claim, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary end elevation oi a sewing machine Vshowing the improved tufting mechanism incorporated therein, portions of the malchine being broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of a sewing machine having the improved tufting mechanism incorporated therein, with portions of the base of the machine in section, showing a dierent position of the needle and looper from that disclosed in Fig. 1, during the formation of a loop and severance of a previously formed loop;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 only showing the arrangement of the needle and tuiting mecho anism during .another point oi" the sequence of operation of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on l line li-i of Fig. 1 with certain cover plates removed; 45

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view of the ends of a pair of 1oopers and showing the position of a pair of needles relative thereto;

Fig. 'l is av detail sectional view taken on line i-'i of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8 9 of Fig. 2. 55

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will appear that the sewing machine head is indicated generally by the nufneral I2 and said head includes a base portion I3. Extended longitudinally below the base I3, mounted in suitable bearings, is an oscillatory drive shaft I4. Said drive shaft receives oscillatory motion from the usual pulley shaft I5 extending through the u-pper endV of the head I2 by the following mechanism: The pulley shaft is driven by the usual pulley (not shown) mounted on its outer end, and the inner end of the pulley shaft, within the upper portion of the head, has fast thereon an end of a crank I6. The outer end of said crank has pivotally secured thereto the upper end of a crank arm I1 and the lower end portion of said crank arm is pivotally secured to a portion of a slotted casting I8, and said casting is mounted fast on an intermediate portion of a lower rocking stud shaft I9. The adjacent end of the drive shaft i4 has fast thereon an arm 2D, and the other end portion of said arm carries a block 2| which is movably engaged within the slot 22 in the casting I8. Hence, when the pulley shaft is turned, through the before described connections, oscillatory movement Will be imparted to the drive shaft I4.

Above the end of the base I3 opposite the head I2, there are mounted the usual vertical feeding foot and needle carrying rods designated by the numerals 23, 24 and 25 respectively. In the particular exemplication of the invention .illus-- trated, the sewing machine operates a pair of needles 29 and 28 and said needlesv are depended from a bracket at the lower end of the needle `rod 25. it should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be restricted to any particular number of needles employed by the sewing machine, as it is possible to utilize any number of needles within certain ranges and in the latter event, the looping and cutting mechanism, later .to be described, will be suited in numbers to the number of needles employed. The rod 23 carries ,an outer bifurcated element 26 of an improved feeding foot, while the rod 24 carries an inner foot element 21 adaptedto be reciprocated in a horizontal path relative to the outer foot element 26. Also, during certain portions of the movement of said foot element 21, it is'raised and lowered slightly with respect to the work supporting plate 28 over which it is disposed. Conventional means are employed for jointly reciprocating the rods 24 and 25 vertically and in a slightly orbital path. Inasmuch as the needles 29 and 29 are depended from the rod 25, the same are reciprocated orbitally and vertically relative to slotted openings 33 in the foot element 21. Said needles are also adapted to pass through needle slots 30 in the work'supporting plate 28 and into close proximity to the serrated edges 3l and 3|' of a yarn engaging plate member 32 secured to the under surface of the work engaging plate adjacent the needle slots 38.

Disposed below the plate I3, transversely thereof and adjacent the needle slot 36, is a slotted supporting bracket 34. Within the slot thereof is slidably mounted a plate 35. One end portion of said plate has longitudinally and' vertically adjustably secured thereto (see Figs. 3 and 8) the vertical flange of a right angular looper bracket 36. On the top flange of said looper bracket there are secured in spaced relationship the o-uter ends of a pair of looper members 31. The inner end of each looper member is bent upwardly and forwardly to provide a hooked portion and at the pose of pinching the yam strands.

vcam 5I having an eccentric cam groove 52.

extremity of each hooked portion, there is a shoulder 38. It should also be observed that the inner ends and hooked portions of the loopers are slotted, as at 39. During operationof the sewing machine, the needles 29 and 29' reciprocate in an orbital path adjacent the inner face' portions of the hooked extremities of the loopers 31, and said inner face portions are slightly dished as at 40 to permit close engagement of the needle ends and to act as supports and needle guides.

As previously mentioned, the drive shaft I4 has an oscillatory movement imparted thereto. The

end of said shaft I4 adjacent the looper mechv anism, has fast thereon a wheel 4 I pivotally secu ed to the outer face of. said wheel in an off-'cen er relationship. Said block, while being free to move on its pivot 43, is slidably confined within a vertical slot 45 in a rear extension of a looper slidable plate 35. Through this connection, therefore, oscillatory movement of the shaft I4 is translated into Ireciprocatory movement imparted to the plate 35, which plate, carrying the bracket 36 and loopers 3i, causes said loopers to move back and forth adjacent the needles 29 and 29 and below the supporting plateA 28.

As previously mentioned, the attachment includes a yarn engaging plate member 32 having a pair of spaced end edges 3l and 3i' for the pur- The plate member 32 is slidably mounted longitudinally of the base I3 immediately below the top surface thereof. An inner portion of said plate 32 carries on its lower surface a depending block 43 which is longitudinally movable in a slot 4S in a lower supporting plate 58. The yarn pinching plate 32 is adapted to slide on the upper surface of said plate 50, between the same and the work supporting plate 26 of the base i3. Mounted fast on the drive shaft M, below the block 48, is a A cam roller 53 is adapted to ride in said cam groove and said roller is carried by a pin 54 depending from the plate member 32. The cam groove is so shaped, that through the connections with the pinching plate member 32, when the needles 29 and 29 are in raised position, the serrated edges 3i and 3|' of the plate 32 will be away from the adjacent edges of the slotted openings in the work supporting yplate 28. However, when the' needles are in an intermediate position and the loopers positioned so that the loops are engaged by cutting instrumentalities later to be described for severing purposes, the plate 32 moves in a proper direction to pinch the strands of yarn between it and adjacent plate portions so that the formed loops will be held taut during severing operations. During continued travel of the needles and in an orbital path toward the left in the drawings. the pressure foot 26 reciprocates to move the fabric, the movement of the fabric being aided by the orbital movement of the needles toward the left while the needles are passed through the fabric, and during this period, the cam 5I causes a quick short movement of the plate 32 in a direction so as to release the yarn.

Extending longitudinally of the base I3 and below the rear edge thereof is a cutter drive shaft 55 journaled at its ends in suitable bearings. The end of said shaft adjacent the head I2 has fast thereon a pulley wheel 56 engaged by a belt 51 extending to a suitable source of power (not shown). The other end portion of said shaft also carries` fast thereon a pulley 58 engaged by a aicopeo belt which belt also engages a pulley t@ fast on the free end of a revoluble cutter shaft tl.

On the inner end portion of the shaft @i adjacent and alined with the slots il@ in the hooked ends of the loopers 3l, are a pair of spaced circulai or disc, revolving cutters 62 and`62. Said discs are maintained in spaced relation relative to each other and relative to a bearing block t3 in which the shaft di revolves by means of collars tl. Said bearing block is embraced by the U-shaped end portion t5 at the free end of an adjustable arm t5. Normally the block 63 is maintained firmly within said end portion (55' by a releasable clamp @Sie However, when said clamp is released, the bearing block, collars i513 and cutters 52 and 52' may be moved or adjusted slightly longitudinally of the shait iii. This arrangement provides for minute adjustments of the cutters to insure perfect alinement of the same with the slots @il of the loopers Sl in which the cutters revolve.

There is mounted on the cutter drive shaft 55? one end portion of a bearing bracket tl. The inner face of the other end portion of said bracket is engaged by the shank of the arm t5. This portion of 'the arm is provided with an elongated slot @il through which the attened portion of a bolt 69 extends. The'bolt also has a rounded portion which extends through the bracket lil. When the bolt is loosened, the entire arm 65 and parts carried thereby including the cutter shaft di and the cutters, may be swung arcuately in a vertical plane. This permits adjustments of the cutters upwardly Aor downwardly relative to the loopers and the work.. Also, by virtue of the slot 6d, the arm b5 may be shifted longitudinally and this will advance or withdraw the peripheries of the cutters relative to the loopers and provides for another desirable form of adjustment.

A piece of fabric ld, of a predeterminedsize to forni a rug, is positioned on the base i3 and work supporting plate 2d and the strands of yarn lli, or other material to be used, are threaded through the needles 29 and 29', and when sewed through the material, the same form two spaced apart parallel lines of looped stitching, and the loops of each are cut to form the pile ofthe rug.

The outer free hooked'ends of the loopers are beveled, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to permit easy entrance of the same between the needle sides and the strands in forming the loops, and the shoulders 3d at the outer ends of the loopers, prevent the loops from slipping oi when the loopers are reciprocated rearwardly, or toward the cutters. In the formation of loops, the strands li have upwardly extending portions which engage in notches in the plate 2t, and these means serve to hold formed loops tightly on the loopers and-prevent slippage when the loopers and feed reciprocate forwardly during upward reciprocation of thel needles. Also, the engagement of the yarn strands with said plate is important in connection with theapinching operation of the pinching plate 32 during loop cutting operations, as previously mentioned.

n operation, the needles 29 and 29' having the strands threaded therethrough, reciprocate downwardly through the fabric and through the needle slots 3@ of the plate 28. At the lower end of their reciprocation theneedles enter the dished `portions d@ on the inner faces of the loopers whereby lateral flexure of the needles is prevented. The upward movement of the needles will cause the yarn to slacken, and at the same time, the looper plate, carrying the loopers, will move forwardly to cause the shouldered ends of the loopers to move between the strands and the 'needles to a point where the looper shoulders 33 have passedbeyond the strands. As the needles rise out of the fabric, the feeding members 25 and 2li operate to push the fabric rearwardly, which movement has been started by the orbital movement of the needles, and the loopers also reciprocate rearwardly, during which time the upwardly extending strand portions of the loops are held taut, as previously described.

In Fig. l there is illustrated a needle in its uppermost position with the looper in itsk vforwardmost position. At this stage, a previously formed loop has been forced rearwardly on the looper and another loop is engaged on the looper adjacent the shoulder 3i?. As the needle moves downwardly, the looper is reciprocated rearwardly toward the revolving cutter t2 until it reaches a point where the previously formed loop is engaged kand severed by the cutter, as inFig. 2, the last formed loop, however, being maintained intact.`

After this operation, the needle starts to move upwardly and the looper then reciprocates forwardly into a newly formed loop and as the up- Ward movement of the needle is continued and as the looper reciprocates forwardly, the loop thus formed is engaged on the looper, as in Fig. 3..

Thereafter, the sequence of operations described is repeated, and it will be observed that only one loop in a row is severed at a time and the looper always has engaged thereon a later formed loop. Obviously, the cut loops form tufts on the fabric, andas the work progresses, said tufts move rearwardly in the elongated needle slot and are accommodated thereby. 'When the tufts reach the end of the needle slot, they are withdrawn therefrom by a rearward movement of the fabric.

It will be appreciated that with the improvedv tufting attachments the ordinary drive rnecha.-4 nism for the sewing machine, which is also utilized to reciprocate the loopers, is not subjected to undue strain or overload. because a separate driving instrumentality is utilized for revolving the disc cutters tit, which may be continuously revolved at a high rate of speed. Due to the fact vthat the cutters are circular, they present4 much greater cutting surfaces than is found in other forms of cutters for this purpose and there is no undue wear on any one edge portion of the cut ter. Due to the fact that the cutters are main tained on a relatively fixed axis and that the loops are reciprocated toward the cutters, the loops are severed with ya clean and quick cut instead of by 4a hackingor chopping action as is the case where reciprocal or pivotal cutters are utilized. The cutters in the present attachments are readily removable for sharpening or replacement, and when it is necessary to temporarily remove a cutter from its shaft 6 l, the cutter may be readily replaced without losing the position r of adjustment of the same, due to the fact that same sewing machine, and it is also obvious that' 'IISl the machine may be equipped with any number of needles and a like number of cutters and loopers.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved tufting attachment is of simp1`e and novel construction, requires little modication of a standard sewing machine, and

on a normally fixed axis toward which the looper is reciprocated, an adjustable mounting for the cutter comprising a supporting member, an arm having its outer end angularly and longitudinally adjustably mounted on the supporting member,

a bearing block adjustably secured in the inner end of said arm, and a driven cutter shaft journaled in said bearing block, the circular cutter being mounted on said shaft to turn therewith and beiner axially adjustable on said shaft.

WILLIAM F. SCHM'JEDEL.

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