Patent GB-941409-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatically controlled sewing apparatus
IPC: D05B35/10
Filed: 1962-02-09
Abstract: 941,409. Sewing; folding fabrics. UNION SPECIAL MACHINE CO. Feb. 9,1962 [Feb. 13, 1961], No. 5013/62. Headings D1G and D1S. Starting and stopping. Using movement of air. Automatically-controlled sewing apparatus comprises a work-supporting table, a sewing machine, an electric motor driving the sewing machine through a clutch actuated by poweroperated means means for projecting a control medium in the path of movement of a workpiece towards the sewing machine, and means controlled by the projecting medium and the interruption thereof by a workpiece to control the clutch-operating means for respectively disengaging and engaging the clutch. As described, a workpiece sliding on an inclined table towards the sewing machine interrupts a beam of light directed on a photo-electric cell, whereby solenoids are energized to start the sewing machine and to actuate a work-engaging foot which serves both to advance the leading edge of the workpiece into the work-feeding means and also to shift the workpiece transversely into engagement with a work-guiding surface. The sewing machine drive is disengaged when the trailing edge of the work piece clears the beam of light, the last stitches being completed by the momentum of this machine. As the completed workpiece slides away from the sewing machine a further beam of light falls upon a photo-electric cell, whereby a device is actuated for severing the thread chain, and means for stacking the completed workpiece are brought into operation. It is stated that the control medium could be a current of air which is cut off from a switch-operating member as the workpiece passes transversely through the current, and that the solenoids could be replaced by pneumatically-operated devices. Stands, Driving. Work supporting, guiding and holding, feeding. A column 11 rises from a base 11a and supports an upper arm 15. Fixed to the latter are two angle members 16, the overhanging ends of which are supported by struts 17 rising from the base 11a. Fixed transversely to members 16 are two single members 18 which support a shaft 19 on which is journalled a bracket 22 fixed to a worksupporting table 13, the inclination of which may be adjusted by means of a telescopic strut 24, 25. Hinged at 23 to table 13 is a worksupporting table 14 the inclination of which may be adjusted by means of a telescopic strut 29, 30. A plate 33, mounted on arm 15 by means of pins 34 and resilient bushes 35, is pivoted at 39 to the baseplate 36 of a conventional over-edge sewing machine 10. Plate 33 is also connected to baseplate 36 by a pivoted and slotted strut 42, whereby the clothplate 46 of the sewing machine can be made flush with the surface of table 13. The sewing machine is driven by a belt 63 from a motor and clutch unit 65. The clutch is normally held disengaged by a spring 66a, and may be engaged by a lever 66 actuated either via a chain 71 by a treadle 70, or via a link 69 by an energized solenoid 68. Located immediately in advance of the sewing machine is a work-positioner comprising a two-armed lever pivoted on a horizontal pin 97. One arm 99 is counter-weighted to engage the armature 101 of a solenoid 100. The other arm has pivoted about its axis a radial arm 102 carrying a work-engaging foot 104. A shoulder 102a on arm 102 is normally engaged with a pin 107 rigid with arm 96, by means of a torsion spring 105. A polished plate 143, located immediately in advance of the sewing machine presser foot 109, receives a beam of light from a lamp 141 and reflects the beam to a photo-electric cell 142. When the leading edge of a workpiece, sliding down table 13, covers plate 143 to interrupt the beam of light, the solenoids 68 and 100 are energized. The sewing, machine is thereby driven, and arm 96 swings downwards to engage a corner 104a of foot 104 with the workpiece. Further movement of arm 96 thereby causes pivoting of arm 102 against spring 105, whereby foot 104 positively moves the leading edge of the workpiece under the presser foot 109, while said further movement also causes foot 104 to shift the work piece transversely into engagement with a vertical work-guiding surface 108. The presser foot 109 co-operates with a main feed dog 48 and a differential feed dog 49. The throat plate 47 is cut away as to 47a to accommodate conventional edge-trimming means. When the trailing edge of the workpiece clears plate 143 solenoids 68 and 100 are de-energized, and the final stitches are formed by the momentum of the machine. The main feed dog 48 is carried by a feed bar 50, and the differential feed dog 49 is carried by a feed bar 52, not shown, carried slidably by feed bar 50. The feed bars have slotted ends which slidably embrace respective blocks pivoted on a fixed bolt 55. Feed bar 50 embraces an eccentric corner by a rotary shaft 61 for imparting feed-lift movement to the feed bars. An eccentric, not shown, on shift 61 is connected by a pitman 73 to a pin 74 on feed bar 50 for imparting feedadvance movement thereto. An eccentric 72 on shift 61 is connected by a pitman 75 to a pin 75a on an arm 76 pivoted on a fixed pin 77. A block 79 slidably in an arcuate slot 78 in arm 76, is connected by a link 81 to a pin 92 on the differential feed bar 50, and is also connected by a link 84 to one arm of a lever 86 pivoted on a fixed pin 87. A spring 88 biases the other arm of lever 86 against a pin 89a on a slidable but non-rotatable nut 89, the position of which may be altered by a screwed rod 90 for varying the position of block 79 and thereby varying the stroke of the differential feed bar. Thread cutters. A knife 117 is carried by the armature 114 of a solenoid 113. A plate 118 reflects a beam' of light thrown by a lamp 144, on to a photo-electric cell 145, whereby, when the leading end of the workpiece covers plate 118 a condenser is charged, and when the trailing end of the workpiece leaves plate 118 the condenser discharges to energize solenoid 113 momentarily. Knife 117 is thereby projected downwardly, against the bias of a spring 116, to co-operate with plate 118 for severing the thread chain. In a modification the rear edge of the throat plate forms a fixed blade for co-operation with the knife blade 117. Finger guards. Threading of the sewing machine is prevented by a wire finger guard 223 pivoted on a fixed pin 222 and held by a spring 225 either in the lowered, guarding position, or in a raised position, to which it can be moved by an arm 224. Raising of guard 223 opens a switch to prevent energization of the solenoids. The completed workpiece slides down the steeply inclined table 14 and is received by a stacking device, comprising a horizontal bar 124 at the upper edge of a vertical plate 123 mounted on a carriage 125, rearward movement of which, on a stand 122 is initiated when the plate 118 is uncovered by the complete workpiece,the arrangement being such that the latter is folded over bar 124. Specifications 691, 894, 724, 591, 730,019, 835, 386 and 941, 410 are referred to.