Patent Grant
11834293
This invention relates to a bobbin loader device. In particular, in accordance with one embodiment, the invention relates to a bobbin loader apparatus including a bobbin connected with a first motor. A thread holder is connected with a second motor where the thread holder is configured to hold thread. A thread guide is connected with a third motor where the thread guide directs thread from the thread holder to the bobbin. A motor controller is connected with the first motor, the second motor and the third motor where the motor controller operates the first motor to turn the bobbin in a first direction and the second motor to turn the thread holder in a second direction such that tension is applied to the thread as thread is added to the bobbin.
A problem exists in the sewing art with regard to adding thread to a bobbin, for example only and not by limitation. The state of the art is a manually operated spring tension device that puts tension on a thread as the thread is added to the bobbin. Several problems exist with this prior art system. To begin with, it is cumbersome to attach and difficult to adjust accurately. As a result, typically, thread is added to a bobbin either too loosely or too tightly which results in tangles on the bobbin or thread breakage.
Additionally, springs used in the prior art device are subject to degeneration over time and expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature and humidity such that the tension set by a user changes.
Further, thread added by prior art systems overlap as added which reduces the amount of thread capable of being added to a bobbin and increases the chances of tangles and breakage as thread is removed from the bobbin when in use.
Still further, bobbins come in a variety of sizes such that adding thread to different bobbins requires tedious, inexact, readjustment of the prior art bobbin loading devices.
Thus, there is a need in the art for bobbin loading device that is easy to use, easy to adjust from one bobbin to another and that loads thread on a bobbin without overlapping the thread.
It therefore is an object of this invention to provide an easy to use economical automated bobbin loader that allows the user to add thread to any size bobbin, under adjustable tension, without overlap.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a bobbin loader that allows the user to determine exactly how much thread a bobbin can accommodate and how much thread is added to each bobbin no matter the size of the bobbin.
Accordingly, the bobbin loader apparatus and method of the present invention, according to one embodiment, includes a bobbin connected with a first motor, where the bobbin has a connecting shaft connecting a first end and a second end and where the connecting shaft has a length and an outside diameter and the first end and the second end are separated by a width approximately equal to the length of the connecting shaft. A thread holder is connected with a second motor where the thread holder is configured to hold thread. A thread guide is connected with a third motor where the thread guide directs thread from the thread holder to the bobbin. A motor controller is connected with the first motor, the second motor and the third motor where the motor controller operates the first motor to turn the bobbin in a first direction and the second motor to turn the thread holder in a second direction such that tension is applied to the thread as thread is added to the bobbin.
All terms used herein are given their common meaning so that “bobbin” identifies and describes a device used in sewing that contains thread wrapped around a central axis with two circular end pieces. Bobbins come in a variety of sizes, holding more or less thread and are well known in the art. Certainly, the present invention is not limited to bobbins and thread but is applicable in any endeavor where material is moved from one device or location and wrapped onto another device. Optic cables, electric wires, fishing line, for example, are manufactured in length and distributed for use wrapped on carriers. The carriers have a central axis and end pieces, for example, similar to bobbins.
“Motor controller” describes and identifies a device for manipulating a motor including on, off and speed variations. Further as the term is used herein, motor controller includes computing devices for manipulating data as is known in the art and may include wireless control, for example only and not by limitation.
“Tension” describes a measure of resistance to movement as one end of a thread is pulled in one direction while the opposite end of the thread is pulled in the opposite direction, for example only and not by limitation.
In another aspect, the motor controller operates the third motor such that the thread guide moves back and forth the length of the connecting shaft as thread is added to the bobbin.
In one aspect, the motor controller, upon receiving input data including the width of the bobbin, the length of the connecting shaft, the outside diameter of the connecting shaft and a diameter of a thread to be added to a bobbin, operates the third motor such that the thread guide moves back and forth the length of the connecting shaft such that thread is deposited without overlap.
In one aspect, the motor controller, upon receiving input data including bobbin dimensions and thread dimensions, determines the amount of thread a bobbin will hold.
In another aspect, the motor controller determines the amount of thread added to a bobbin.
In one aspect, the thread guide includes a thread channel guide into which thread enters and from which thread exits such that thread is aligned with the thread channel guide as it exits the thread channel guide.
In a further aspect, the thread channel guide is free to move such that as current layers of thread are added to a bobbin, the thread channel guide is aligned with the level of the current layer of thread.
In one aspect, the thread guide includes a thread gate where the thread gate includes a pair of horizontal contacts between which thread from said thread holder is directed.
In one aspect, the thread guide includes a pair of vertical contacts between which thread is directed in an “S” pattern.
According to another embodiment a bobbin loader apparatus includes a bobbin removably connected with a first motor, where the bobbin has a connecting shaft connecting a first end and a second end and where the connecting shaft has a length and an outside diameter and the first end and the second end are separated by a width approximately equal to the length of the connecting shaft. A thread holder is connected with a second motor where the thread holder is configured to hold thread. A thread guide is connected with a third motor where the thread guide directs thread from the thread holder to the bobbin. A motor controller is connected with the first motor, the second motor and the third motor where the motor controller operates the first motor to turn the bobbin in a first direction and the second motor to turn the thread holder in a second direction such that tension is applied to the thread as thread is added to the bobbin and where the motor controller operates the third motor such that the thread guide moves back and forth the length of the connecting shaft as thread is added to the bobbin and where the motor controller, upon receiving input data including bobbin dimensions and thread dimensions, determines the amount of thread a bobbin will hold.
In one aspect, the motor controller, upon receiving input data including the width of the bobbin, the length of the connecting shaft, the outside diameter of the connecting shaft and a diameter of a thread to be added to a bobbin, operates the third motor such that the thread guide moves back and forth the length of the connecting shaft such that thread is deposited without overlap.
In one aspect, the motor controller determines the amount of thread added to a bobbin.
In another aspect, the thread guide includes a thread channel guide, including a vertical thread channel and a horizontal thread channel, into which thread enters and from which thread exits such that thread is aligned with the thread channel guide as it exits the thread channel guide.
In one aspect, the thread channel guide is free to move such that as current layers of thread are added to a bobbin, the thread channel guide is aligned with the level of the current layer of thread.
In one aspect, the thread guide includes a thread gate where the thread gate includes a pair of horizontal contacts between which thread from said thread holder is directed.
In one aspect, the thread guide further includes a pair of vertical contacts between which thread is directed in an “S” pattern.
In a further aspect, the thread guide includes:
According to another embodiment, a bobbin loader method consists of:
In one aspect, the motor controller operates the third motor such that the thread guide moves back and forth the length of the connecting shaft as thread is added to the bobbin and where the motor controller, upon receiving input data including bobbin dimensions and thread dimensions, determines the amount of thread a bobbin will hold and where the motor controller, upon receiving input data including the width of the bobbin, the length of the connecting shaft, the outside diameter of the connecting shaft and a diameter of a thread to be added to a bobbin, operates the third motor such that the thread guide moves back and forth along the length of the connecting shaft such that thread is deposited without overlap.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including equivalent constructions to those described herein insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example, the specific sequence of the described process may be altered so that certain processes are conducted in parallel or independent, with other processes, to the extent that the processes are not dependent upon each other. Thus, the specific order of steps described herein is not to be considered implying a specific sequence of steps to perform the process. In alternative embodiments, one or more process steps may be implemented by a user assisted process and/or manually. Other alterations or modifications of the above processes are also contemplated.
In addition, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on other embodiments to yield a still further embodiment. Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or features not mentioned yet which perform the same or similar functions. It is therefore intended that such modifications and variations are included within the totality of the present invention.
It should also be noted that a plurality of hardware and software devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components, may be utilized to implement the invention. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative configurations are possible.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in
A thread holder 22 is connected with a second motor 24 where the thread holder 22 is configured to hold thread 26. A thread guide 28 is connected with a third motor 30 where the thread guide 28 directs thread 26 from the thread holder 22 to the bobbin 12.
A motor controller 32 is connected with the first motor 14, the second motor 24 and the third motor 30. Motor controller 32 operates the first motor 14 to turn the bobbin in a first direction (see direction arrow 34 on
Additionally, motor controller 32 is connected with and operates the third motor 30 such that the thread guide 28 moves back and forth the length “L” of the connecting shaft 16 as thread 26 is added to the bobbin 12. As shown in
It should be understood that motor controller 32 is a computing system as known for receiving, processing, manipulating and sending data and instructions to and from connected devices. As such, motor controller 32, upon receiving user input data including bobbin dimensions and thread dimensions, determines the amount of thread 26 a bobbin 12 will hold. This is a significant improvement over the art that relied mostly upon visual observations as thread 26 was added. In another aspect, the motor controller 32 determines the amount of thread 26 added to a bobbin 12.
Importantly, motor controller 32, upon receiving input data including the width “W” of the bobbin 12, the length “L” of the connecting shaft 16, the outside diameter “OD” of the connecting shaft 16 and a diameter of a thread 26 to be added to a bobbin 12, operates the third motor 30 such that the thread guide 28 moves back and forth the length “L” of the connecting shaft 16 such that thread is deposited on bobbin 12 without overlap. (See
In one aspect of the bobbin loader apparatus 10 (see
In a further aspect, the thread channel guide 46 is free to move such that as current layers of thread 26 are added to a bobbin 12, the thread channel guide 46, and the thread 26 leaving thread channel guide 46, are aligned with the level of the current layer of thread 26 on a bobbin. That is, as the thread 26 loaded onto a bobbin 12 increases, thread channel guide 46 is lifted by the thread 26 to the same level as the highest level being added. This reduces undue stress on thread 26 and enables an accurate and untangled loading.
In one aspect, the thread guide 28 includes a thread gate 48 where the thread gate 48 includes a pair of horizontal contacts 50 between which thread 26 from said thread holder 22 is directed. Still further, in one aspect, the thread guide 28 includes a pair of vertical contacts 52 between which thread 26 is directed in an “S” pattern as shown in
The description of the present embodiments of the invention has been for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. As such, while the present invention has been disclosed in connection with an embodiment thereof, it should be understood that other embodiments may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5865394 | Giese | Feb 1999 | A |
| 8936209 | Knierim | Jan 2015 | B1 |
| 20150217966 | Ruff | Aug 2015 | A1 |
| 20190218055 | Ruff | Jul 2019 | A1 |
