1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sewing machine and a needle threading device mounted to a sewing machine.
2. Related Art
So far, many inventions have been made in connection with a device for threading a needle of sewing machine. For example, the Japanese patent laid open 2003-38886 discloses a needle threading device of a sewing machine wherein a threading bar is moved down in association with operation of a threading lever, and is stopped at a position where the eye of machine needle is located.
As the threading lever is further pressed down, the threading bar is rotated by means of a cam which is so formed to rotate the threading bar. Then a hook is inserted into the eye of needle from the rear side to the front side of the needle. The operator hangs the upper thread to the hook and releases or moves up the threading lever. Then the hook is moved back as the threading bar is moved up and the upper thread is pulled to pass through the needle eye. Thus the threading operation is finished.
However the conventional threading devices require the machine operator to pay a special attention for guiding the upper thread to hang it to the hook. Further the machine operator is required to hold the upper thread as is hanged to the hook until the hook is moved back and the threading bar is moved up. Otherwise, the upper thread may slip out from the hook. Namely the machine operator of little experience will often fail to thread the machine needle. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to eliminate the defects and inconveniences of the prior art and to provide a threading device wherein the upper thread may be guided to the hook without requirement of the machine user to hold the upper thread, and the upper thread may be securely held in a pocket of the hook before the hook is moved back and slipped out from the needle eye.
The sewing machine of the invention is provided with a needle having a needle eye formed at the lower end thereof, a threading hook which may be inserted or passed through the needle eye and may catch an upper thread of sewing machine which is brought to engage the threading hook, a hook inserting means for inserting the threading hook through the needle eye and for pulling the threading hook out of the needle eye, a thread holding means for holding the upper thread with a tension applied thereto, a thread moving means which is operated in association with the hook inserting means to move the upper thread held by the thread holding means to a position where the upper thread may be caught by the threading hook which is inserted through the needle eye, the threading hook being pulled back from the needle eye to pass the upper thread through the needle eye.
The thread moving means is operated to move the upper thread in a manner that the upper thread is caught by the threading hook which is inserted through the needle eye and is pulled back from the needle eye. In a preferred embodiment, the upper thread is brought to a position where the upper thread is caught by the threading hook when the threading hook is retreated from the needle eye.
It is preferable that the threading hook, the hook inserting means, the thread holding means and the thread moving means are normally maintained in a vertically higher position with respect to the machine needle and are moved down as is necessary. In the structure, the thread holding means and the thread moving means are moved up and down with the threading hook in association with operation of the hook inserting means.
It is preferable that the upper thread to be passed through the needle eye is attached to the thread holding means by the machine operator when the latter is in a lower position with respect to the machine needle.
In a preferred embodiment, the thread holding means holds the upper thread on the side of machine needle where the threading hook is protruded through toward the machine operator such that the upper thread may be moved up along the needle to a position where the upper thread is caught by the threading hook as the thread holding means is moved up by the thread moving means. The threading hook is typically of a shape of horizontally extending shank having a downwardly extending thread catching hook, the hook being pulled back from the needle eye as the upper thread is moved up along the needle in contact therewith to a position where the upper thread is caught by the hook. The threading operation is finished when the threading hook is pulled back because the upper thread is caught by the threading hook and is passed through the needle eye together with the threading hook.
In a preferred embodiment, the thread inserting means, the threading hook and the thread holding means are normally urged in the upper direction by spring action and are normally held in an upper inoperative position. The thread inserting means is manually operated against spring action to move down the threading hook and the thread holding means to a lower operative position where the threading hook is inserted through the eye of machine needle and the thread holding means moves the upper thread to a position where the upper thread is caught by the threading hook.
Subsequently when the thread inserting means is released from manual operation, the thread inserting means is moved up by spring action while the threading hook is pulled back from the needle eye catching the upper thread held by the thread holding means.
The thread moving means includes a mechanism for jumping up the thread holding means to a position where the upper thread is caught by the threading hook as the latter is pulled back from the needle eye.
Typically the threading hook is supported by a threading member which is moved down as the thread inserting means is moved down from an upper inoperative position to a lower operative position where the threading member is rotated in a manner that the threading hook is passed through the eye of machine needle. Subsequently the threading means is released and returned to the upper inoperative position by spring action while the threading member is rotated back and the threading hook is accordingly pulled back from the needle eye and is returned to the upper inoperative position.
(a) is a front elevational view of a threading device of the invention showing the structure thereof.
(b) is a rear side view of the threading device.
(a) is a perspective view of the threading device shown as located at a lower position.
(b) is an exploded view of the threading device.
(a) is a perspective view of the essential part of the threading device.
(b) is the rear side view of the essential part of the threading device.
(a) is a side elevational view of the essential part of threading device showing an auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread to be threaded.
(b) is a perspective view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread to be threaded.
(c) is an exploded view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread to be threaded.
(a) is a front elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as located at an upper position relative to a machine needle.
(b) is a perspective view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as located at a lower position relative to the machine needle.
(c) is a front elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle.
(d) is a plan elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism shown in lateral section as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle.
(a) is a perspective view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle with a threading hook being inserted through the eye of machine needle.
(b) is a plan elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown in lateral section as located at a lower position relative to the machine needle with the threading hook being inserted through the eye of machine needle.
(c) is a side elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown in vertical section as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle with the threading hook being inserted through the eye of machine needle.
(a) is a perspective view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle with the threading hook being inserted through the eye of machine needle.
(b) is a front elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle with the threading hook being inserted through the eye of machine needle.
(c) is a plan elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown in lateral section as located at the lower position relative to the machine needle with the threading hook being inserted through the eye of machine needle.
(d) is a side elevational view of the threading hook shown in vertical section as inserted through the eye of machine needle with the upper thread being moved to hang to the threading hook.
(a) is a perspective view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown as having inserted the upper thread through the eye of machine needle.
(b) is a plan elevational view of the auxiliary mechanism for holding the upper thread shown in lateral section as having inserted the upper thread through the eye of machine needle.
The invention will now be described in reference to preferred embodiments as shown in the attached drawings. As particularly shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The threading hook 4b is arranged at one end part of the arm 4a and is opposite to the hollow cylindrical part 4c which is arranged at the other end of the arm 4a. The threading hook 4b is of a size which may freely pass through an eye 17 of a machine needle 17 which is attached to the lower end of a needle bar 16 as will be described in detail hereinlater. The arm 4a has a pair of spaced guides 4e, 4e provided therewith on both sides of the threading hook 4b such that the guides 4e, 4e may engage the opposite edges of the machine needle 17 as the arm 4a is moved toward the needle 17. Further the threading member 4 has a thread anchor 4f formed therewith adjacent the hollow cylindrical part 4c for anchoring and guiding the upper thread as will be described in detail hereinlater in reference to
The guide pin 3 and the arm 4a of the threading member 4 are arranged with a predetermined angle provided therebetween. The angle is determined by the rotation angle of the threading bar 2 which is axially rotated by cooperation between the guide pin 3 and a guide groove 7 of the fixed guide member B as will be described in detail hereinlater. The threading bar 2 is normally urged in the upper direction by a coil spring 5 which is provided around the threading bar 2 between the guide pin 3 and the lower support 1a of the needle bar holder 1. Namely the threading member 4 secured to the lower end of the threading bar 2 is normally located at an upper position.
As particularly shown in
The inclined region 7b of the guide groove 7 is so formed as to enable the threading hook 4b to avoid the parts of sewing machine while the hook is moved down in threading operation. The set groove region 7c is the second region in which the guide pin 3 is positioned to rotate the threading member 4 to a predetermined position. Thus the guide groove 7 is so formed as to guide the guide pin 3 such that the threading hook 4b of the threading member 4 may move toward the eye 17a of the machine needle 17 attached to the lower end of the needle bar 16. Namely the threading bar 2 begins to axially rotate when the guide pin 3 comes to engage the inclined groove region 7b, and when the guide pin 3 comes to engage the set groove region 7c, the threading bar 2 is further rotated to pass the threading hook 4b through the needle eye 17a.
The inclined groove region 7b rotates the guide pin 3 axially of the threading bar 2 as the guide pin 3 is moved down along the inclined groove region 7b. The threading bar 2 and the arm 4a of the threading member 4 are rotated accordingly. The set groove region 7c is continuous from the inclined region 7b in the lower direction and is opened toward the inclined direction.
As shown in
The stopper projection 13a and the cutout 13b of the positioning member 13 determine the position where the threading hook 4b may pass through the needle eye 17a while preventing the vertical movement of the guide pin 3, thereby to prevent the damage of the threading hook 4b and the machine needle 17. The connecting member 13c of the positioning member 13 is secured to the needle bar 16 at an appropriate position by means of a screw or the like such that the guide pin 3 may be stopped in accordance with variation of the height of the needle eye 17a.
The operating member C is provided so as to be vertically moved relative to the fixed guide member B. The operating member C includes a movable base 8, a movable guide 9 formed with a guide groove portion 10 and further includes an operating lever 11. The movable base 8 is formed with a vertical hole 8a through which the threading bar 2 is inserted in a manner that the movable base 8 is supported by the threading bar 2.
As shown in
As shown in
The inclined slot 9a is so inclined to give a desired rotation speed of the guide pin 3 as the inclined slot 9a moves along the inclined groove region 7b of the guide groove 7. In case the inclination of the inclined slot 9a is acute, the rotation speed of the guide pin 3 is fast and in case the inclination of the inclined slot 9a is obtuse, the rotation speed of the guide pin 3 is slow. Namely the rotation speed of the threading bar 2 and of the arm 4a of the threading member 4 is determined by the degree of inclination of the slot 9a. The slot 9a may be formed as generally extending horizontal. In this case, the rotation speed of the guide pin 3 is fastest.
The operating lever 11 includes a trunk 11b having a knob 11a formed at the lower end of thereof. The trunk 11b is extended vertically from the movable base 8 and is formed with a projection 11c laterally extended therefrom. The knob 11a may be pressed down with a finger of machine operator against the force of the coil spring 5 to move down the threading shaft member A. The operating member C is mounted to the fixed guide member B with the groove portion 10 being placed in engagement with the guide plate 6 of the fixed guide member B.
As shown in
The movable plate 21 includes a body 21a having a pair of pins 21b, 21ba which are inserted into the vertical groove 20b1 of the base plate 20a such that the movable plate 21 may be vertically moved as guided by the vertical groove 20b1. The movable plate 21 is bent at the lower end thereof to provide a horizontally flat surface 21c which is to be pressed down by the protrusion 4d of the threading member 4 such that the movable plate 21 may be moved down. The movable plate 21 has an upper part 21d for anchoring the lower end of the tension spring 25. Thus the movable plate 21 is normally urged in the upper direction by the tension spring 25.
The thread holder 22 has a pivot hole 22a by which the thread holder 22 is pivotally mounted to the movable plate 21. The thread holder 22 has one end bent to be an engaging part 22b which is to be pressed down by the lateral projection 11c of the operating lever 11 on one side of the pivot hole 22a. Further the thread holder 22 has an arm 22c on the other side of the pivot hole 22a, the arm 22c having a thread holding assembly 23 arranged on the free end 22c1 thereof. The thread holding assembly 23 includes a dish-shaped thread presser 23a which is mounted on the free end 22c1 of the arm 22c by a screw 23c with a coil spring 23b intervened therebetween. As a means for changing the position of the thread holder 22, a toggle spring 24 is arranged between the movable plate 21 and the thread holder 22 such that the thread holder 22 may swing around the pivot 22a between a lower position as shown with solid line and a upper position shown with imaginary line as shown in
With the combination of the constituent elements as mentioned above, the threading operation will now be described in reference to
As shown in
The downward movement of the guide pin 3 is stopped as the guide pin 3 comes to engage the stopper projection 13a of the positioning member 13, and the threading bar 2 is stopped accordingly while the threading hook 14b of the threading member 4 is located at a level of the eye 17a of the machine needle 17. In this case, the thread holding assembly 23 is located at a level that is lower than the needle eye 17a. As the operating lever 11 is further moved down, the threading bar 2 is axially rotated by the guide pin 3 which is in engagement with the slot 9a of the movable guide 9. With rotation of the threading bar 2, the arm 4a of the threading member 4 is rotated accordingly, and the threading hook 4b is passed through the needle eye 17a of the machine needle 17 as shown in
Immediately after the threading hook 4b is passed through the needle eye 17a, the lateral projection 11c of the operating lever 11 is pressed against the engaging part 22b of the thread holder 22. Then the thread holder 22 is rotated around the pivot 22a and the thread holding assembly 23 is jumped up axially of the machine needle 17 to the position slightly above the position of the needle eye 17b due to the jump up force of the toggle spring 24 which acts as a position setting means of the thread holding assembly 23 as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and (b).
In this condition, the upper thread n is hanged to the threading hook 4b which is in the position as passed through the needle eye 17b as shown in FIGS. 7(c) and (d). Subsequently when the operating lever 11 is released, the operating lever 11 is moved up by the coil spring 5, and the threading bar 2 is moved up accordingly while the threading member 4 is rotated to retreat the threading hook 4b from the needle eye 17a as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and (b). Thus the threading operation is finished. As the threading bar 2 is moved up, the movable member 21 is released and is moved up by the tension spring 25. The thread holder 22 which is moved up with the movable member 21 is stopped by a projection or the like of the machine arm (not shown) engaging the arm 22c of the thread holder 22), and is rotated back to the inoperative position where the thread holding assembly 23 is located in the lower position. Incidentally in this embodiment the toggle spring 24 is used as a means for changing the position of the thread holder 22. However the toggle spring 24 may be replaced with a rotary solenoid or a spring activated link mechanism.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-284107 | Jul 2003 | JP | national |