Patent ID: 6019053
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: D05C,D10B

Abstract:
A curved workpiece fabric holder device for use in an embroidery machine having at least one cylinder bed extending in a frontward/rearward direction, and a fabric feed frame movable in the frontward-rearward direction and a lateral direction perpendicular thereto, the holder device comprising:a base frame positioned adjacent the at least one cylinder bed and movable in the frontward/rearward direction;a rotary frame rotatably supported by the base frame and positioned to surround the at least one cylinder bed, the rotary frame having an uppermost end;a workpiece retainer for retaining a curved workpiece and detachably mounted on the rotary frame; anda translation mechanism connected between the fabric feed frame and the rotary frame for translating the movement of the fabric feed frame in the lateral direction into a rotational movement of the rotary frame, the translation mechanism comprising:a wire looping around the rotary frame and having one end area portion extending from the uppermost end of the rotary frame away from the rotary frame in the lateral direction, and having another end area portion extending from the uppermost end of the rotary frame opposite away from the rotary frame in the lateral direction, the wire having one and another distal ends;a pair of first and second wire attaching portions spaced away from each other in the lateral direction and supported to the fabric feed frame, the first and second wire attaching portions having outermost edges in the lateral direction, the one end area portion of the wire leading up to the outermost edge of the first wire attaching portion and the one distal end of the wire being fixed to the first wire attaching portion, and the another end area portion of the wire leading up to the outermost edge of the second wire attaching portion and the another distal end of the wire being fixed to the second wire attaching portion, the one end area portion of the wire and the another end area portion of the wire being positioned below the first and second wire attaching portions until the one end area portion and the another end area portion reach the outermost edges of the first and second wire attaching portion:a fixed segment connected to the fabric feed frame; anda movable segment movable in the lateral direction with respect to the base frame, the movable segment having an elongated shape, and having one longitudinal end portion to which the first wire attaching portion is fixed, and another longitudinal end portion to which the second wire attaching portion is fixed, the movement of the movable segment in the lateral direction being translated into the rotational movement of the rotary frame about its axis through the wire;wherein the uppermost end of the rotary frame is positioned below the movable segment;wherein the one and another end area portions of the wire are bent in a hairpin manner at the outermost edges so that the one distal end of the wire is fixed to an upper surface of the first wire attaching portion and the another distal end of the wire is fixed to an upper surface of the second wire attaching portion; andwherein the first wire attaching portion comprises:a link plate extending in the lateral direction and projecting frontwardly from the movable segment at its longitudinal one end portion, the link plate having an outer longitudinal edge and an inner longitudinal end provided with an upwardly bent portion;a movable link piece extending in the lateral direction and movable upon the link piece in the lateral direction, the link piece having an inner longitudinal end provided with an upwardly bent portion connected to the upwardly bend portion of the link plate, an outer edge, and an upper surface to which one distal end of the wire is fixed.