Patent Grant
9587335
This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-239388 filed on Nov. 26, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to a threading device of a sewing machine.
An overlock sewing machine is provided with a plurality of loopers. It is necessary to thread each of the loopers with respectively different looper threads. Therefore, threading operations were troublesome.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a device for threading a thread to a hollow looper point using compressed air.
In a threading device, it is necessary to select an upper looper thread or a lower looper thread and to accordingly switch air paths. In the above-mentioned conventional device, an operating portion for switching was slid in lateral directions when seen from the front surface of the sewing machine to select a looper to be threaded.
However, since an air inflow member (the coupling switching member in Patent Literature 1) and a tube (the air supply pipe in Patent Literature 1) are connected to this operating portion, the air inflow member and the tube move laterally each time the operating portion is operated, so that it was necessary to secure additional moving space thereof proximate of the operating portion on the front surface of the sewing machine.
Further, since the tube itself moves laterally, the tube which is a soft floating member was intermixed in a space for various moving parts in the interior of the sewing machine, so that the arrangement was unstable.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H06-277383
One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a threading device of a sewing machine which can be further downsized and which can be configured to be of high stability.
Embodiment (1): One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a threading device of a sewing machine in which a thread is introduced into a thread guiding pipe which is selected from among a plurality of thread guiding pipes by using a gaseous body. The threading device includes a flow path switching member, a base portion, and a plurality of thread introducing portions. The flow path switching member includes a gaseous body inlet portion for receiving a compressed gaseous body, a gaseous body outlet portion provided to communicate with the gaseous body inlet portion for exhausting the gaseous body, and a cylindrical outer surface portion at which the gaseous body outlet portion is opened. The base portion includes a cylindrical inner surface portion into which the cylindrical outer surface portion of the flow path switching member is inserted and for supporting the flow path switching member in a rotatable manner, and a plurality of flow paths formed to communicate with the cylindrical inner surface portion such that any one of the flow paths can communicate with the gaseous body outlet portion to correspond to a rotating position of the flow path switching member. The plurality of thread introducing portions are provided at the base portion to communicate with respective outlet sides of the plurality of flow paths, for delivering—the threads inserted into respective thread inserting openings with the gaseous body, to each of the thread guiding pipes.
Embodiment (2): One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a threading device of a sewing machine wherein in the threading device of a sewing machine according to claim 1, the plurality of flow paths is disposed to be symmetric with the cylindrical inner surface portion being the center.
Embodiment (3): One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a threading device of a sewing machine wherein in the threading device of a sewing machine according to claim 1 or 2, the cylindrical inner surface portion is formed by a through hole formed to pierce through the base portion, wherein an operating portion which can rotationally operate the flow path switching member is provided on one side (front side) of the through hole, and wherein the air inlet portion is formed on the other side (rear side) of the through hole.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the threading device can be further downsized and can be configured to be of high stability.
A best form for carrying out the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings and others.
In this respect, each of the drawings indicated hereinafter including
Further, while explanations are made upon indicating specific numerical values, shapes and materials in the following explanations, they may be suitably changed.
Moreover, for ease of understanding and for convenience sake, explanations will be made by suitably using the six directions of front (or near), rear (or back, behind), left, right, up and down as indicated by arrows in
In the present embodiment, explanations will be made by giving a case of an overlock sewing machine comprising two loopers (upper looper 17, lower looper 18). However, the present invention is also applicable to sewing machines in which threading to one or more than three loopers is performed.
The overlock sewing machine according to the present embodiment includes a looper portion A, an looper thread path B, a main shaft fixing mechanism C and an air flow path switching mechanism D as main configurations as shown in
The looper portion A comprises an upper looper 17 and a lower looper 18 including an upper looper point 17a and a lower looper point 18a. An upper looper thread 16a and a lower looper thread 16b are delivered to the upper looper point 17a and the lower looper point 18a by means of the air flow path switching mechanism D and the looper thread path B.
The looper thread path B includes an upper looper conducting pipe 25 and an upper looper sliding pipe 23 which are to be a thread guiding pipe for the upper looper thread 16a, and a lower looper conducting pipe 26 and a lower looper sliding pipe 24 which are to be a thread guiding pipe for the lower looper thread 16b. When the user rotationally operates a threading switching knob 27, the upper looper sliding pipe 23 and the lower looper sliding pipe 24 move in lateral directions, and their tip portions 23a, 24a are inserted and removed for an upper looper receiving opening 17b and a lower looper receiving opening 18b.
The main shaft fixing mechanism C has a function of restricting rotation of a main shaft 19 which rotates at the time of performing sewing. A main shaft fixing outer shaft 28 moves in the front and rear direction together with the rotation of the threading switching knob 27 and is inserted and removed for a notch 20a of a main shaft fixing plate 20 integrally provided with the main shaft 19.
Switching between a sewing enabled state and a threading state is performed by the looper thread path B and the main shaft fixing mechanism C. In the sewing enabled state, the main shaft fixing outer shaft 28 is not inserted in the notch 20a and the upper looper sliding pipe 23, and the lower looper sliding pipe 24 are remote from the upper looper receiving opening 17 band the lower looper receiving opening 18b. On the other hand, in the threading state, the main shaft fixing outer shaft 28 is inserted in the notch 20a, so that rotation of the main shaft 19 is restricted. Additionally, the upper looper sliding pipe 23 and the lower looper sliding pipe 24 are inserted in the upper looper receiving opening 17b and the lower looper receiving opening 18b.
The air flow path switching mechanism (threading device) D includes a flow path switching base 1, thread introducing portions 21, 22, connecting pipes 31, 32, an air inflow shaft (flow path switching member) 4, a tube 5, the looper selecting knob 6 and a base plate 12.
The flow path switching base (base portion) 1 has a through hole 1a in the center thereof, concave portions 1b which receive the thread introducing portions 21, 22 at two spots and female screw holes 1c at two spots on an upper surface thereof. The connecting pipes 31, 32 are provided at a lower portion of the flow path switching base 1.
The cylindrical outer surface portion 4a of the air inflow shaft 4 is inserted into the through hole (cylindrical inner surface portion) 1a to support the air inflow shaft 4 in a rotatable manner.
The flow path switching base 1 incorporates the upper looper side flow path 1d and the lower looper side flow path 1e. The upper looper side flow path 1d and the lower looper side flow path 1e are disposed to be symmetric with the central through hole 1a being the center, and either path flow is selected by the rotation of the air inflow shaft 4.
The thread introducing portions 21, 22 are assembled to the flow path switching base 1, and includes conical thread inserting openings 21a, 22a and small diameter through holes 21b, 22b continuing thereto into which threads are inserted from above. Lower cylindrical ends of the thread introducing portions 21, 22 are comprised as conical ends 21c, 22c formed to have a conical shape, and a plurality of narrow grooves 21d, 22d are formed on outer peripheries of the conical ends 21c, 22c. Flange portions 21e, 22e are formed at intermediate portions which divide upper and lower portions of the thread introducing portions 21, 22. O rings 10 are fitted with the upper portions of the flange portions 21e, 22e for preventing leakage of compressed air after switching the upper and lower loopers within the flow path switching base 1. The thread introducing portions 21, 22 are provided to communicate with outlet sides of the upper looper side flow path 1d and the lower looper side flow path 1e, respectively, and deliver the upper looper thread 16a and the lower looper thread 16b inserted into the thread inserting openings 21a, 22a to the upper looper conducting pipe 25 and the lower looper conducting pipe 26 together with a gaseous body.
The connecting pipes 31, 32 are respectively connected to holes that are opened at the flow path switching base 1 downward of the thread introducing portions 21, 22. The connecting pipes 31, 32 are also pipe members for respectively connecting to the upper looper conducting pipe 25 or the lower looper conducting pipe 26, which has been switched to either the upper looper side or the lower looper side within the flow path switching mechanism D.
The air inflow shaft (flow path switching member) 4 fits with the through hole 1a of the flow path switching base 1 in a rotatable manner. The air inflow shaft 4 includes a cylindrical outer surface portion 4a, protrusions 4b, an exhaust opening (gaseous body outlet portion) 4c, a gaseous body inlet portion 4d, fitting grooves 4e, a screw through hole 4f, a nut receiving chamber 4g and a hollow hole 4h.
The cylindrical outer surface portion 4a is a portion which outer periphery is formed to have a cylindrical shape and to extend in the front and rear direction, and is fitted with the through hole 1a in a rotatable manner.
The protrusions 4b are formed at two spots rearward of the air inflow shaft 4 to expand and project to the right and left. The protrusions 4b restrict a rotatable range of the air inflow shaft 4 by abutting the base plate 12.
The exhaust opening (gaseous body outlet portion) 4c is provided to open at the cylindrical outer surface portion 4a.
The exhaust opening 4c is formed to have a cylindrical shape, and an O ring 9 is disposed at the periphery thereof. Leakage of compressed air is prevented by interposing the O ring 9 between the through hole 1a and the air inflow shaft 4.
The gaseous body inlet portion 4d is a pipe-like portion provided to project rearward of the air inlet shaft 4 on a cylindrical central axial line of the cylindrical outer surface portion 4a. The tube 5 is connected to the gaseous body inlet portion 4d.
The gaseous body inlet portion 4d and the exhaust opening 4c are connected by means of the hollow hole 4h. Accordingly, compressed air supplied from the gaseous inlet portion 4d passes through the hollow hole 4h and is exhausted from the exhaust opening 4c.
The fitting grooves 4e are provided at a front portion of the air inflow shaft 4, and fit with fitting protrusions 6d of the looper selecting knob 6.
A screw 7 for fixing the looper selecting knob 6 passes through the screw through hole 4f, so that the air inflow shaft 4 and the looper selecting knob 6 are integrated by means of the screw 7 and a nut 8.
The nut receiving chamber 4g for reception is a space in which the nut 8 receiving the screw 7 is accommodated.
The hollow hole 4h is provided at a shaft center of the air inflow shaft 4, and connects the gaseous body inlet portion 4d and the exhaust opening 4c.
The tube 5 is a soft tube connected to a compressed air supplying device (not shown) and the gaseous body inlet portion 4d, and transmits compressed air supplied from the compressed air supplying device from the gaseous body inlet portion 4d into the air inflow shaft 4.
The looper selecting knob (operating portion) 6 is mounted at a front side of the air inflow shaft 4 to rotate integrally with the air inflow shaft 4. The looper selecting knob 6 is a member which the user operates for selecting whether the upper looper side or the lower looper side when threading. Selecting operations are performed by rotationally operating the knob either clockwise or counterclockwise.
The looper selecting knob 6 includes a screw through hole 6a, a concave portion 6b, a fitting hole 6c and fitting protrusions 6d.
The screw through hole 6a pierces through the looper selecting knob 6 in the front and rear direction and is open at the center thereof.
The concave portion 6b which fits with a cap 11, is provided on a front surface of the looper selecting knob 6.
The fitting hole 6c which fits with the cylindrical outer surface portion 4a of the air inflow shaft 4, is provided on a rear surface of the looper selecting knob 6.
The fitting protrusions 6d which fits with the fitting grooves 4e of the air inflow shaft 4, are formed to project towards the inside of the fitting hole 6c and.
The base plate 12 is disposed at an upper portion of the flow path switching base 1, and includes window holes 12a for the thread introducing portions 21, 22, screw through holes 12b for fixing the flow path switching base 1 by means of screws 13, and screw through holes 12c for fixing the flow path switching mechanism D to a unit base 14 by means of screws 15. With this arrangement, the base plate 12 fixes the flow path switching base 1 by means of the screws 13 and fixes the flow path switching mechanism D associated with the flow path switching base 1 to the unit base 14.
Next, flow path switching operations of the flow path switching mechanism D will be explained.
For switching the flow paths, the user performs rotating operations of the looper selecting knob 6 either clockwise or counterclockwise to select which of the upper or lower looper is to be threaded and the upper looper thread 16a or the lower looper thread 16b is inserted to the thread conducting portions 21 or 22 corresponding thereto. Next, the compressed air supplying device (not shown) is operated to make compressed air enter from the tube 5 to the flow path switching mechanism D.
As shown in
As shown in
The upper looper side flow path 1d communicates with the concave portion 1b on the left side wherein the thread introducing portion 21 is disposed at the concave portion 1b while interposing the O ring 10 between itself and the base plate 12 for preventing upward leakage of air. The upper end of the thread introducing portion 21 is comprised as the conical thread inserting opening 21a and communicates with the small diameter through hole 21b. The lower end of the thread introducing portion 21 is comprised as the conical end 21c with the small diameter through hole 21b piercing through its center, and the plurality of the narrow grooves 21d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the conical end 21c.
At the center of a bottom of the concave portion 1b of the flow path switching base 1, a conical hole 1f and a stepped hole 1g continue from a center of the conical hole, and the connecting pipe 31 is fixed to the lower end of the stepped hole 1g.
The conical end 21c of the thread introducing portion 21 fits with the conical hole 1f, and compressed air which has reached the concave portion 1b passed through the plurality of narrow grooves 21d of the thread introducing portion 21 to reach from the stepped hole 1g to the connecting pipe 31. When passing the narrow grooves 21d, a flow of air of increased flow velocity is generated, and the upper looper thread 16a inserted from the thread inserting opening 21a of the thread introducing portion 21 is delivered to the connecting pipe 31 together with this air flow.
As shown in
The configuration of the upper looper side extending from the upper looper side flow path 1d over the thread introducing portion 21 up to the connecting pipe 31 and the configuration of the lower looper side extending from the lower looper side flow path 1e over the thread introducing portion 22 up to the connecting pipe 32 are disposed to be symmetric with the through hole 1a as the center. Accordingly, the following configurations and operations are identical to those of the case of the above-described upper looper side.
Namely, the lower looper side flow path 1e communicates with the concave portion 1b on the right side wherein the thread introducing portion 22 is disposed at the concave portion 1b while interposing the O ring 10 between itself and the base plate 12 for preventing upward leakage of air. The upper end of the thread introducing portion 22 is comprised as the conical thread inserting opening 22a and communicates with the small diameter through hole 22b. The lower end of the thread introducing portion 22 is comprised as the conical end 22c with the small diameter through hole 22b piercing through its center, and the plurality of the narrow grooves 22d is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the conical end 22c.
At the center of the bottom of the concave portion 1b of the flow path switching base 1, the conical hole 1f and the stepped hole 1g continue from the center of the conical hole, and the connecting pipe 32 is fixed to the lower end of the stepped hole 1g.
The conical end 22c of the thread introducing portion 22 fits with the conical hole 1f, and compressed air which has reached the concave portion 1b passed through the plurality of narrow grooves 22d of the thread introducing portion 22 to reach from the stepped hole 1g to the connecting pipe 32. When passing the narrow grooves 22d, a flow of air of increased flow velocity is generated, and the lower looper thread 16b inserted from the thread inserting opening 22a of the thread introducing portion 22 is delivered to the connecting pipe 32 together with this air flow.
After passing the connecting pipes 31, 32, the upper looper thread 16a or the lower looper thread 16b is delivered with compressed air upon passing the looper thread path B up to the upper looper point 17a or the lower looper point 18a.
As explained so far, according to the air flow path switching mechanism (threading device) D of the present embodiment, since basic operations for switching the flow paths are of rotating style and switching of the flow paths is performed by means of the rotating air inflow shaft 4, the delivering spot of compressed air will not move in a sliding manner. Accordingly the space required for switching can be reduced. Namely, in a condition in which various operating parts of the overlock sewing machine come close to each other, there is no necessity of particularly securing a moving space for components which are moved by the flow path switching operations. Particularly, since the connecting portion of the tube 5 is coincident with the center of rotation of the air inflow shaft 4, there is no necessity of considering moving the tube 5, and the position of the tube which is a soft floating member can be secured so as to provide a configuration of high stability.
Further, in the air flow path switching mechanism (threading device) D of the present embodiment, as a place at which distribution of compressed air takes place is focused at the cylindrical outer surface portion 4a of the air inflow shaft 4, it is possible to improve the air leakage preventing performance.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible which are included in the scope of the present invention.
The present embodiment has been explained by giving a case as an example in which two flow paths are switched in the air flow path switching mechanism. The present invention is not limited to this, and the air flow path switching mechanism might, for instance, be configured to switch three or more flow paths.
Further, the present embodiment has been explained by giving a case as an example in which the tube 5 is directly connected to the gaseous body inlet portion 4d of the air inflow shaft 4. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is, for instance, possible to provide a rotating joint between the tube 5 and the gaseous body inlet portion 4d of the air inflow shaft 4 with freely rotating connecting portions so as not to transmit rotation of the air inflow shaft 4 to the tube 5.
In this respect, while the embodiments and modified embodiments might be used upon suitably combining them, detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. Further, the present invention is not to be limited by the above-explained embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-239388 | Nov 2014 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2413014 | Wall | Dec 1946 | A |
| 5327841 | Sakuma | Jul 1994 | A |
| 20040149192 | Horiuchi | Aug 2004 | A1 |
| 20080236466 | Sadasue | Oct 2008 | A1 |
| 20150267332 | Shomura | Sep 2015 | A1 |
| 20150267333 | Shomura | Sep 2015 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1448395 | Sep 1976 | GB |
| 06-277383 | Oct 1994 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| Patent Examination Report issued in Australian Patent Application No. 2015202620, dated on Feb. 5, 2016 (5 pages). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160145787 A1 | May 2016 | US |
