Patent Publication Number: US-2005126462-A1

Title: Transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine and particularly to a sewing machine that has a cylinder axis directed towards the operator. The cylinder axis is normal to the axial direction of the entire transverse work station of the sewing machine.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Conventional industrial high speed cylinder sewing machines generally can be divided into longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine and transverse-cylinder sewing machine. The longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine has a cylinder axis directed towards the operator; the axial direction of the transmission axle of the entire sewing machine is also the same. By contrast, the cylindrical axis of the transverse-cylinder sewing machine is transverse at the front side of the operator. The longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine is widely used for sewing cuffs, elastic wristbands, auxiliary sewing or ornamental sewing for circular articles and the like. In terms of operational convenience, the adjustment mechanisms of longitudinal-cylinder sewing machines are hindered by their sewing mechanisms at the front end of the cylinder; they are both inconvenient for operation and adjustment.  
      In addition, during operation, the internal mechanisms of the sewing machine need lubrication to smooth the operation of movable parts. Lubrication is usually accomplished by forming a hollow interior in the transmission shaft or some larger size component and stuffing with oil-dipped cotton strands or floss. During operation, the lubricating oil seeps through the cotton strands/floss to grease the movable parts and thus ensure smooth operation. Such a design is applicable only to larger components of a sewing machine. It is not suitable for smaller elements.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Therefore the primary object of the invention is to resolve the aforesaid disadvantages. The present invention provides various transmission mechanisms driven by the same axle. The front and rear fabric driving teeth that are normal to the co-axle are driven to move to form a transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine equipped with a differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide first and second adjustment mechanisms to adjust the deviations of a first and second push mechanism to control the relative operating displacements of the front and rear fabric driving teeth. The adjustment mechanisms are rearranged on one side of the sewing machine to enable operators and repair technicians to make adjustments easily.  
      Yet another objective of this invention is to provide an improved design for the lubricating oil supply for various transmission mechanisms so that the lubricating oil may flow through the mechanisms for smooth operation.  
      In order to achieve the foregoing objectives, the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine according to the invention includes an automatic thread loosening device, a tension adjustment mechanism, an automatic thread cutting bi-directional solenoid device and a differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device, The differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device is located in a transverse work station and includes a primary transmission mechanism, first and second push mechanisms, a rocking mechanism first and second adjustment mechanisms driven by the same axle, and first and second fabric driving mechanisms located in the cylinder normal to the co-axle. Thereby the axis of the cylinder is directed towards the operator, and the axis of the cylinder is normal to the axial direction of the entire transverse work station of the sewing machine.  
      The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine and various devices thereof.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device located in the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the primary transmission mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the primary transmission mechanism, the first push mechanism and the first adjustment mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device for assembling.  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the second push mechanism and the first push mechanism and the second fabric driving mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device for assembling.  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the second adjustment mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device.  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the second adjustment mechanism and the second fabric driving mechanism and the rocking mechanism and the first fabric driving mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device for assembling.  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the first adjustment mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device in adjusting operations.  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the lubrication system of the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine.  
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic views of lubricating oil passages in various mechanisms of the transverse longitudinal- cylinder sewing machine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Please refer to  FIG. 1 , the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine  9  according to the invention includes a cylinder  92  with the axis directed towards the operator. The axis of cylinder  92  is normal to the axial direction of a entire transverse work station  91  of the sewing machine. The transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine  9  according to the invention includes an automatic thread loosening device  100 , a tension adjustment mechanism  200 , an automatic thread cutting bi-directional solenoid device  300  and a differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device  400 .  
      The automatic thread loosening device  100  is mainly to relax the tension of yarns as desired and provides a desirable thread loosening means and location. It includes a thread connection assembly  101 , a driving power supply  102  and a linking mechanism  103 . The thread connection assembly  101  is located on the rear side of the top section of the sewing machine  9 . The driving power supply  102  (solenoid valve) is located at the bottom of the thread connection assembly  101 . The linking mechanism  103  is connected to the thread connection assembly  101  and the driving power supply  102 . Its operation principle is thus: the thread connection assembly  101  has a thread clip  105  which loosens the clamps first; a thread hook  104  unfastens the thread; when the thread hook  104  is located at the first position it does not move and does not pull the yarn; when the driving power supply  102  provides power to move the thread hook  104  to a second position, the yarn is pulled. When the thread hook  104  returns to the first position, the yarn unwinds.  
      The tension adjustment mechanism  200  drives external bottom threads. The sewing machine  9  has a driving power source  201  which is coupled with a third shaft  202 . When the operator faces the sewing machine  9 , the third shaft  202  and the yarn feeding arm of the sewing machine  9  are in the same axial direction transversely located in front of the operator. The third shaft  202  is located in the main frame of the sewing machine  9  on the right side of the needle sinking position below the yarn feeding arm. The elevation of the third shaft  202  is lower than the work station of the cylinder  92  of the sewing machine  9 . The third shaft  202  further is extended to one side of the sewing machine  9  to couple with a cam  203 . The construction thus formed can adjust the tension of the bottom threads.  
      The automatic thread cutting bi-directional solenoid device  300  includes a thread cutting unit  301  specially built for the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine  9 , a guiding stem  303  of the bi-directional solenoid  302  and a horizontal moving bar  304  connected to the guiding stem  303 . The horizontal moving bar  304  can drive the thread cutting unit  301  to cuts the yarn. There is a micro-spring  305  to precisely maintain the horizontal moving bar  304  and the thread cutting unit  301  as the guiding stem  303  drives the horizontal moving bar  304  to its original position to prevent loosening or wobble. The bi-directional solenoid  302  drives the thread cutting unit  301  to cut the yarn. Coupled with the micro-spring  305 , it can improve the unsatisfactory operation occurring in the automatic thread cutters of conventional sewing machines that drive their cutting units in a single direction.  
      Refer to  FIG. 2  for the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device located in the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine  9 . The differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device  400  includes a primary transmission mechanism  1 , first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3 , first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5  driven by the first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3 , a rocking mechanism  8  and first and second adjustment mechanisms  6  and  7  for controlling forward and backward movements of the first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5 . All are driven by the same co-axle  11 . The primary transmission mechanism  1 , first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3 , and first and second adjustment mechanisms  6  and  7  are located in the transverse work station  91  of the sewing machine  9 . The first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5  are normal to the primary transmission mechanism  1  and located in the cylinder  92 . When the primary transmission mechanism  1  is driven by an external motor (not shown in the drawings), the first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3 , and the rocking mechanism  8  are driven. The first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5  are driven to oscillate in an ellipsoidal track to move the fabric.  
      Refer to  FIG. 3  for the primary transmission mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device. The primary transmission mechanism  1  includes a co-axle  11  which is assembled, in this order, a first crank  12 , a third crank  13  and a second crank  15 . The first crank  12  is first coupled with an first axle sleeve  121  of a first bearing  122 . The first axle sleeve  121  is fastened to one end of the co-axle  11 . The third crank  13  is first coupled on one end of an second axle sleeve  14  of a second bearing  141 , and then coupled to one side of the first crank  12 , spaced by a washer  123 . The second axle sleeve  14  has another end to couple with a third bearing  142  which couples to the second crank  15  from the outside. The second crank  15  has another side corresponding to the second axle sleeve  14  to couple with an anchor assembly  16  to enable the co-axle  11  to couple with a lower arched wire mechanism  160  and is housed in the transverse work station  91  of the sewing machine  9 . The anchor assembly  16  has a crank  161  which is pivotally coupled with the lower arched wire mechanism  160 . The lower arched wire mechanism  160  has an arched wire  162  at the distal end that may be moved forwards and backwards to perform complex thread picking or threading operations.  
      In addition, the third crank  13  has another end  13 ′ to couple with a needle damping mechanism  130 . And the second crank  15  has another end  15 ′ located in the same direction of the first and third cranks  12  and  13  to couple with the second push mechanism  3 . The needle damping mechanism  130  stabilizes the stitching needle of the sewing machine  9  without wobbling under high speed when it is moved downwards to the sewing station thereby preventing the stitching needle from breaking or skipping stitches. The needle damping mechanism  130  may be designed independently. The oscillating period of the damping needle may be adjusted separately. The needle damping mechanism  130  has a needle damper  131  which includes a movable member  133  and front and rear damping wires  134  and  135 . The rear damping wire  135  is fixed to the movable member  133 . The front damping wire  134  straddles the movable members  133 . When the primary transmission mechanism  1  provides power, the movable member  133  moves reciprocally. The front damping wire  134  swings in the opposite direction to the aforesaid reciprocal motion and moving close to the rear damping wire  135  when the stitching needle is sinking thereby to steady the stitching needle without wobbling.  
      Refer to  FIG. 4  for the primary transmission mechanism, the first push mechanism and the first adjustment mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device for assembling. The co-axle  11  has another end corresponding to the first crank  12  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) fastened to an third axle sleeve  17  which is coupled with a fourth bearing  171  and a washer ring  172 . The third axle sleeve  17  is coupled with a fourth crank  18  which has a slot  181  formed on one end to pivotally couple with two linkage arms  21  and  61  through a first shaft  182 . The linking arms  21  and  61  connect respectively to the first push mechanism  2  and the first adjustment mechanism  6 .  
      The first push mechanism  2  includes a fifth crank  22  pivotally coupled with the other end of the linking arm  21 . The fifth crank  22  is coupled with a second shaft  24  through an fourth axle sleeve  23 . The other end of the second shaft  24  couples with a sixth crank  25  with a second end  25 ′ pivotally coupling to a first push arm  26  through an anchor member  27  and connecting to the first fabric driving mechanism  4  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ).  
      The first adjustment mechanism  6  has a driving member  62  which has apertures  621 ,  622  and  623 . The aperture  621  engages with the fastener  6211 . The aperture  622  is coupled with a driving shaft  63  of a rocker adjustment assembly  64 . The aperture  623  is pivotally coupled with the linking arm  61  through a seventh shaft  611  and connected to the primary transmission mechanism  1 .  
      Refer to  FIG. 5  for the second push mechanism, the first push mechanism and the second fabric driving mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device for assembling. The second crank  15  of the primary transmission mechanism  1  has another end  15 ′ connecting to the second push mechanism  3  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). First, the distal end  15 ′ of the second crank  15  is pivotally coupled with one end  31 ′ of a seventh crank  31  through a third shaft  311 . The end  31 ′ of the seventh crank  31  is located inside the sewing machine and not shown in the drawings. The seventh crank  31  is driven by an axle  32 . The axle  32  located on one side of the seventh crank  31  is pivotally coupled with the fifth crank  22  of the first push mechanism  2  through an fifth axle sleeve  36 , a self-lubricating bearing  35 , a linking element  34  pivotally coupled with a linking arm  37 . The axle  32  located inside the seventh crank  31  is coupled with a self-lubricating bearing  39  and a linking element  33  sandwiched between sixth and seventh axle sleeves  38  and  38 ′. The linking element  33  is connected to the second adjustment mechanism  7 .  
      Refer to  FIG. 6  for the second adjustment mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device. The second adjustment mechanism  7  is pivotally coupled with the linking element  33  through one end  711  of the eighth crank  71  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). The eighth crank  71  has another end  712  pivotally coupled with a linking arm  72  and the ninth crank  73  through a fourth shaft  721 . The ninth crank  73  has one end  73 ′ connecting to a driven member  75  through a fifth shaft  74 . The driven member  75  has apertures  751 ,  752  and  753 . The aperture  751  is coupled with the fifth shaft  74 . The aperture  753  receives an anchor member  76  for anchoring. The aperture  752  is coupled with a driving shaft  78  of a rocker adjustment assembly  79 .  
      Refer to  FIG. 7  for the second adjustment mechanism, the second fabric driving mechanism, the rocking mechanism and the first fabric driving mechanism of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device for assembling. The linking arm  72  of the second adjustment mechanism  7  has another end  72 ′ driving the second fabric driving mechanism  5  through the tenth and eleventh cranks  57  and  52 .  
      The first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5  includes first and second sliding arms  41  and  51  which have sliding troughs,  44  and  54  respectively at the bottom to couple with a bracing shaft  55 . The first and second sliding arms  41  and  51  slide forwards and backwards in a preset space underneath the sliding troughs  44  and  54  about the bracing shaft  55  which serves as the fulcrum. The first and second sliding arms  41  and  51  have a distal end with rear fabric driving teeth  43  and front fabric driving teeth  53  located thereon. The first and second sliding arms  41  and  51  have another distal end opposite to the front and rear fabric driving teeth  53  and  43  to couple with the rocking mechanism  8  through a sixth shaft  84 .  
      The rocking mechanism  8  is held in place by an anchor member  82 . The rocking mechanism  8  has one end fastened to a rocker arm  81  mounted on the sixth shaft  84 . The rocker arm  81  has another end coupled with the first crank  12  of the primary transmission mechanism  1  through a coupling member  83  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The first fabric driving mechanism  4  has a distal end coupled with the other end  26 ′ of a first push arm  26  of the first push mechanism  2  through a coupling member  42  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The second fabric driving mechanism  5  has a distal end coupled with the second push mechanism  3  and the second adjustment mechanism  7  through a second push arm  56  (as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ).  
      Refer to  FIG. 2  for the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device located in the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine. When an external motor drives the main axle  11  (not shown in the drawings), various components of the primary transmission mechanism  1  are driven to rotate. The second crank  15  of the primary transmission mechanism  1  drives the first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3  to swing reciprocally, in the mean time, the first and second sliding arms  41  and  51  of the fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5  slide horizontally and reciprocally in the sliding troughs  44  and  54  about the fulcrum of the bracing shaft  55 . Meanwhile, the first crank  12  of the primary transmission mechanism  1  drives the rocking mechanism  8  to induce a swinging motion in the first and second sliding arms  41  and  51 . Thereby through the first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3  and the rocking mechanism  8 , the first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5  are driven synchronously. The first and second sliding arms  41  and  51  oscillate along an ellipsoidal track; the front and rear fabric driving teeth  53  and  43  move at a predetermined interval to drive the fabric.  
      Refer to  FIGS. 2 and 8  for the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device located in the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing mechanism and the first adjustment mechanism in adjusting operation. As shown in  FIG. 2 , as the rocker adjustment assemblies  64  and  79  of the first and second adjustment mechanisms  6  and  7  are located outside the lateral side  91  of the transverse work station  91  of the sewing machine  9 . An operator can easily adjust the deviation of the first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3  by driving the rocker adjustment assemblies  64  and  79 , thereby to control the relative displacement of the front and rear fabric driving teeth  53  and  43  of the first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5 . Thus, an operator can make fine tuning adjustment according to fabric nature to achieve the desired quality when sewing fabrics of different elasticity.  
      Refer to  FIG. 8 , with the first adjustment mechanism  6  stationary and the rocker adjustment assembly  79  of the second adjustment mechanism  7  adjusted, when the rocker adjustment assembly  79  is moved upwards, the driven member  75  turns clockwise, the linking arm  72  is driven downwards the fifth crank  22  is driven, and the crank  52  and second push arm  56  are turned clockwise. Finally the second push arm  56  drives the second sliding arm  51  forwards so that the relative operating interval (differential feed distance) between the front and rear fabric driving teeth  53  and  43  may increase.  
      By the same token, with the second adjustment mechanism  7  stationary and the first adjustment mechanism  6  adjusted, when the rocker adjustment assembly  64  is moved upwards, the driven member  61  turns clockwise, the linking arm  21  is driven; the fifth crank  22 , sixth crank  25  and first push arm  26  turn clockwise at the same time; finally the first push arm  26  drives the first sliding arm  41  forwards so that the relative operation interval (differential feed distance) between the front and rear fabric driving teeth  53  and  43  may decrease.  
      Moreover, to meet different sewing requirements, the first and second adjustment mechanisms  6  and  7  can be adjusted at the same time to make the relative operation interval (differential feed distance) between the front and rear fabric driving teeth  53  and  43  to be maximum or minimum.  
      Refer to  FIG. 9  for the lubrication system of the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine. To smooth the operation of all moving parts, reduce friction and prevent wear and tear, a comprehensive lubrication system  94  is provided in the sewing machine  9 . The lubrication system  94  according to the invention is located in the main frame  93  of the sewing machine  9 . It mainly includes an oil pump  941 , a filter  942  and a plurality of oil ducts  943 . The oil pump  941  has a lower spindle and an impeller  9411  that rotates to drive lubricating oil from an oil reservoir through the oil ducts  943  to the filter  942 . Forcing the lubricating oil to the upper dock (not shown in the drawings) of the sewing machine  9  and the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device  400  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
      Refer to  FIGS. 10A and 10B  for the lubricating oil passages in various mechanisms of the transverse longitudinal-cylinder sewing machine. The primary transmission mechanism  1 , first and second push mechanisms  2  and  3 , first and second fabric driving mechanisms  4  and  5 , and first and second adjustment mechanisms  6  and  7  of the differential fabric driving teeth displacement control device  400  have oil passages  95  (indicated by thick broken lines) and oil ports  96 . After various mechanisms are assembled, the oil ports  96  communicate with one another so that the lubricating oil may flow through every element. Under high speed operation, the lubricating oil transfer&#39;s to lubricate every component. Where the oil port  96  does not correspond to another oil port  96  for connection, the oil port  96  is sealed by a sealing element A (as shown at two ends of the shaft  32  in  FIG. 5 ). Therefore oil leakage may be prevented to achieve smooth operation of every transmission mechanism.