Patent GB-910042-A (GB)
Title: Work clamp loading device for sewing machines
IPC: D05B3/14
Filed: 1961-08-25
Abstract: 910,042. Sewing-machines. SINGER MANUFACTURING CO. Aug. 25, 1961 [Sept. 23, 1960], No. 30689/61. Class 112. [Also in Group XXX] A sewing-machine having a work-feeding clamp including a lower jaw and a raisable upper jaw provided with means for gripping an article to be sewn to a workpiece held between the jaws, is provided with means for automatically loading articles into said gripping means and comprising a block formed with an article-accommodating track aligned with said gripping means when the upper jaw is raised, means for introducing articles in succession into the track, stop means mounted on the block for engagement with an article in the track to prevent movement of articles in the track towards the work clamp, an article-advancing member mounted for reciprocation in the track and biased by spring means towards the work clamp, means for releasing the stop means on raising of the upper jaw, and means operative on feeding movement of the work clamp for retracting the article-advancing member a distance than that occupied by a single member in the track. As shown, the machine is adapted to sew an eyelet 23 to a workpiece and has a work-feeding clamp with a lower jaw 15 and an upper jaw 17 having a vertical shank 18 slidable in a clamp bracket 16 and biased downwardly by a leaf spring 19. Jaw 17 has spaced fingers 24 formed with a transverse slot 25 for receiving an eyelet 23. A leaf-spring 26, fixed by screws 27 to jaw 17, has fingers 28 adapted to hold an eyelet within the jaw. A pin 20 on shank 18 overlies an arm 21 on a clamp-opening rod 22 adapted to be raised by a knee press or treadle. The clamp-loading means is mounted on a plate 40 secured by screws 41 to the machine head and carrying an angle bracket 42 adjustably secured by screws 44 thereto. A support member 45 is adjustably secured at its upper end to bracket 42 by a pivot screw 46 and a screw-and-slot connection 47, 48, and is formed at its lower end with a flange 51. A block 49, secured by screws 50 to flange 51, may thereby be arranged parallel to jaw 17. Block 49 is formed with an eyeletfeeding groove 60 which becomes aligned with slot 25 when jaw 17 is raised. An eyeletfeeding blade 70 is disposed in slot 60 at the end remote from jaw 17 and is retained therein by a cover-plate 71. A pin 73 on blade 70 is engaged by the forked end of a lever 76 pivoted at 77 on block 49. A spring 78, connected between lever 76 and arm 21, biases blade 70 towards jaw 17. A lobe 79 on lever 76 is disposed in the path of movement of a flange 80 fixed to the clamp bracket 16. A leaf-spring 90, fixed to block 49, has a downturned lug 92 which enters groove 60, at the end adjacent jaw 17, to retain an eyelet 23 therein. A lug 93 on spring 90 overlies jaw 17, whereby lug 92 releases the eyelet when jaw 17 is raised. Secured to support 45 by screws 61 is an eyelet-guiding shoot 62 which is aligned with the centre portion of groove 60. The eyelets are threaded on a rod 63 which extends into shoot 62 and is hung from a pin 64 on a bracket 65 carried by plate 40, rod 63 being retained by by a spring clip 67. At the commencement of a sewing operation an eyelet 23 is retained by lug 92, and blade 70 underlies shoot 62. As the sewing progresses, flange 80 engages lobe 79 to withdraw blade 70 from under shoot 62, to allow an eyelet to pass from the latter into groove 60. When jaw 17 is subsequently raised and the sewn eyelet is withdrawn therefrom, blade 70 moves the eyelet released by lug 92 into jaw 17 and positions a fresh eyelet under lug 92. Blade 76 may be manipulated by a finger grip 83 provided thereon.